NEW THINGS: @18:15, , 9/22/20

Justice Dept. Case Against Google Is Said to Focus on Search Dominance

Cecilia Kang, Katie Benner, Steve Lohr and Daisuke Wakabayashi, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 minutes ago

The decision to narrow the case to search could set off separate lawsuits from states over Google’s power in other business segments.

William P. Barr will not be deterred before inauguration day.

His case may be good.

F.D.A. to Release Stricter Guidelines for Emergency Vaccine Authorization

Noah Weiland and Sharon LaFraniere, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 29 minutes ago

The new guidelines underscore the fact that a vaccine is highly unlikely before the election.

The vaccine must meet standards.

How a Supreme Court Justice Is (Usually) Appointed

Daniel Victor, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 51 minutes ago

A step-by-step guide to the nomination process to come, and how Republicans might look to speed it up.

The Democrats will take every opportunity to torture Trump and McConnell.

Put Away the Pamphlets: Voter Registration Day Goes Digital

Nick Corasaniti, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

Celebrities from Bob Weir to Zendaya are getting involved as voter registration drives shift to texting campaigns, livestreamed rallies and other pandemic-proof techniques.

Covid-19 is far more real than any of Trump's fantasies.

TikTok and WeChat: What They Tell Us About the Global Internet

John Herrman, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

Banned apps, nefarious theories, trade wars, voiceless users. The case of TikTok isn’t news to most of the world.

The web is not a neutral friendly space.

The monsters are human if draconian.

In Biden, China Sees an ‘Old Friend’ and Possible Foe

Steven Lee Myers and Javier C. Hernández, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

Some in China believe Biden, if elected, might do damage to the nation’s ambitions, taking a harder line on human rights and rallying allies to stand up to Beijing.

China is looking at a hostile U.S. Biden is sane, Trump is not.

Sane is more predictable.

British Give U.S. Evidence Against ISIS ‘Beatles,’ Clearing Way for Trial

Charlie Savage, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

The men were half of a cell of Britons who held Westerners hostage in Syria, some of whom were beheaded for propaganda videos.

Boris Johnson is a weak leader.

Pompeo’s Quest to Redefine Human Rights Draws Concern at U.N.

Pranshu Verma, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

European allies are skeptical of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s push to elevate religious liberty and property rights, which they fear could come at the expense of protecting marginalized groups.

The worries are deserved.

Uber and Lyft Could Gain From U.S. Rule Defining Employment

Noam Scheiber, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The Labor Department proposal would most likely treat drivers and other gig workers as contractors, not employees.

Sharecropping is not popular with tenants.

Slow starvation only looks better than quick death.

There are no benefits with gig work.

Facebook Takes Down Fake Pages Created in China Aimed at Trump, Biden

Adam Goldman, Sheera Frenkel and Julian E. Barnes, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The social media campaign was small but targeted all sides of the debate. Officials said Beijing had not decided whether to wade more directly in the American presidential race.

"lets you and him fight"

Here’s how the Supreme Court could affect voting rules on Election Day.

Michael Wines, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

The supreme court is an appeals court.

Cases will get there slowly.

‘It affects virtually nobody,’ Trump says, minimizing the effect of the coronavirus on young people as the U.S. death toll hits 200,000.

Glenn Thrush, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Trump is known to lie.

The schools should not attempt to hold in person classes.

The topics for the first presidential debate include the Supreme Court, the coronavirus and race.

Michael Gold, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Trump will be speaking to an empty room.

There will be no cheers.

A Georgia poll shows Trump and Biden running neck-and-neck; both Senate races are tight.

Glenn Thrush, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/

The Biden campaign is gaining on Trump.

C.I.A. Reasserts Putin Is Likely Directing Election Influence Efforts to Aid Trump

Julian E. Barnes and David E. Sanger, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

The assessment, which the agency has moderate confidence in, buttresses earlier findings that the Russian president supports President Trump’s re-election.

The C.I.A. has not been eviscerated.

It’s National Voter Registration Day, and more than 61.4 million absentee ballots have already been requested or sent out.

Michael Gold, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The Republican effort to disenfranchise voters is failing.

What happens in North Carolina has ramifications for control of the White House, Senate and Supreme Court

Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago

Trump has no coat.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/north-carolina/

Biden’s response to voters concerned about socialism: ‘I beat the socialist.’

Thomas Kaplan, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 8 hours ago

Easy answers to easy lies.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers urged the House to remain in Washington until a pandemic relief bill is passed.

Catie Edmondson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

The house will remain in session until inauguration day.

When Joe Biden's in Town Practicing Social Distancing

Mark Leibovich, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

An expert retail politician has become perhaps the most conspicuous practitioner of social distancing in America.

Biden will answer calls on television.

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TikTok and WeChat: What They Tell Us About the Global Internet

John Herrman, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

Banned apps, nefarious theories, trade wars, voiceless users. The case of TikTok isn’t news to most of the world.

In Biden, China Sees an ‘Old Friend’ and Possible Foe

Steven Lee Myers and Javier C. Hernández, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

Some in China believe Biden, if elected, might do damage to the nation’s ambitions, taking a harder line on human rights and rallying allies to stand up to Beijing.

British Give U.S. Evidence Against ISIS ‘Beatles,’ Clearing Way for Trial

Charlie Savage, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

The men were half of a cell of Britons who held Westerners hostage in Syria, some of whom were beheaded for propaganda videos.

Pompeo’s Quest to Redefine Human Rights Draws Concern at U.N.

Pranshu Verma, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

European allies are skeptical of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s push to elevate religious liberty and property rights, which they fear could come at the expense of protecting marginalized groups.

Uber and Lyft Could Gain From U.S. Rule Defining Employment

Noam Scheiber, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

The Labor Department proposal would most likely treat drivers and other gig workers as contractors, not employees.

Facebook Takes Down Fake Pages Created in China Aimed at Trump, Biden

Adam Goldman, Sheera Frenkel and Julian E. Barnes, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The social media campaign was small but targeted all sides of the debate. Officials said Beijing had not decided whether to wade more directly in the American presidential race.

A fear of voles.

‘It affects virtually nobody,’ Trump says, minimizing the effect of the coronavirus on young people as the U.S. death toll hits 200,000.

Glenn Thrush, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The bats did it.

C.I.A. Reasserts Putin Is Likely Directing Election Influence Efforts to Aid Trump

Julian E. Barnes and David E. Sanger, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

The assessment, which the agency has moderate confidence in, buttresses earlier findings that the Russian president supports President Trump’s re-election.

The C.I.A. exists.

It’s National Voter Registration Day, and more than 61.4 million absentee ballots have already been requested or sent out.

Michael Gold, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

Another Republican failure.

What happens in North Carolina has ramifications for control of the White House, Senate and Supreme Court

Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

Trump has no coat.

The White House, Senate and Supreme Court Could All Hinge on North Carolina

Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago

Thom Tillis, who has embraced President Trump’s plan to quickly replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, could become the deciding vote in the Senate.

Trump has no coat.

Justice Dept. Denies House Panel’s Request for Officials to Appear After Combative Barr Hearing

Katie Benner, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

The department cited what it called Democrats’ “scolding and insulting” of Attorney General William P. Barr at a contentious hearing in July.

Barr will not plead guilty.

Bernie Sanders Talks 'Nightmare Scenario' of Trump Losing But Not Stepping Down

Sydney Ember, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

Warning that this election is an “extremely dangerous moment” for the country, he said in an interview that he would aggressively push to try to stop President Trump from delegitimizing the vote.

Bernie Sanders is an aly.

Biden’s response to voters concerned about socialism: ‘I beat the socialist.’

Thomas Kaplan, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pogo_(comic_strip)

Absentee Voting: Has Trump Handicapped The Republican Party's Efforts?

Stephanie Saul, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 8 hours ago

A Republican vote-by-mail campaign in swing states may be undercut by President Trump’s rhetoric about election fraud.

Trump is consistently fraudulent.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers urged the House to remain in Washington until a pandemic relief bill is passed.

Catie Edmondson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

This senate will not pass a relief bill.