NEW THINGS: @23:53, , 12/14/20

Scope of Russian Hack Becomes Clear: Multiple U.S. Agencies Were Hit

David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth and Eric Schmitt, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 19 minutes ago

The Pentagon, intelligence agencies, nuclear labs and Fortune 500 companies use software that was found to have been compromised by Russian hackers. The sweep of stolen data is still being assessed.

An easy way to know is to read the file.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court denies a last-ditch Trump effort to toss 200,000 votes from Milwaukee and Madison.

Reid J. Epstein, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 46 minutes ago

Moot.

4 Takeaways From Biden’s Electoral College Victory

Shane Goldmacher and Adam Nagourney, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 53 minutes ago

Joe Biden was confirmed as the winner of the election, but President Trump’s war on the results is likely to have lasting effects for the country.

Democracies are fragile.

With Selfies, Emojis and Little Disruption, the Electoral College Makes It Official

Lisa Lerer, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 53 minutes ago

Some electors met in person to carry out their duties, and statehouses were on high alert for protests. Others stayed remote, and completed yet another 2020 task on Zoom.

The medium is less important than the information.

Electoral College Vote Officially Affirms Biden’s Victory

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

The vote made official Joe Biden’s victory, despite President Trump’s attempt to subvert the nation’s democratic process, and it put pressure on Republicans to acknowledge the outcome.

Done.

After Electoral College Votes, More Republicans Warily Accept Trump’s Loss

Nicholas Fandos, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

“At some point, you have to face the music,” said the second-ranking Senate Republican. But Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, was notably silent.

The Republicans are dragging their feet.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/15/us/joe-biden-trump

Mary Nichols Appears to Be Out of Running to Lead E.P.A.

Coral Davenport, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago

The president-elect’s transition team is scrambling to find a new candidate for the E.P.A. after advocates objected to Mary D. Nichols.

The transition team is being excessively sensitive.

Families at Border Present Familiar Test for Biden’s Homeland Security Pick

Zolan Kanno-Youngs, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The Biden administration will be expected to balance demands for more lenient policies with moderates’ concerns that any show of tolerance could lead to more illegal migration.

Let them in.

William Barr Is Out as Attorney General

Katie Benner, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

Mr. Barr was one of the most powerful members of President Trump’s cabinet and faced widespread criticism over his willingness to advance Mr. Trump’s political agenda.

Barr earned his future.

A Day That Settled an Election and Brought Hope for Defeating a Pandemic

Peter Baker, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

“I honestly can’t recall two independent events of such extreme importance occurring on the same day,” said one historian. “A good day,” said another.

There is a future.

Donald Trump Lost His Battle. The Culture War Goes On.

James Poniewozik, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

The reality-TV president was a practitioner, and a product, of a style of pop-cultural grievance that will outlast him.

Now Trump belongs to history. History will not be kind.

You get to pick your stone. I am not wealthy.

Moderates Pare Back Stimulus Plan in Hopes of Breaking Stalemate

Emily Cochrane, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

The group separated out the two most contentious issues — aid for state and local governments and liability protection for businesses — aiming for a consensus that could be agreed upon before week’s end.

The block on relief is intentional and not subject to compromise.

Can Congress Overturn the Electoral College Results? Probably Not

Nicholas Fandos, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

Republicans are planning one final showdown. They are almost certain to fail, but not before Vice President Mike Pence is thrust into having to declare President Trump the loser.

Trump belongs to history.

Electoral College Voter: Long an Honor, and Now Also a Headache

Lisa Lerer and Reid J. Epstein, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago

Casting votes in the Electoral College has been a routine part of election mechanics, but this year electors have been thrust into the cross hairs of President Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn the results.

Honors have prices, often not in money.

The Electoral College Meets

Giovanni Russonello, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

An archaic institution finds itself in the spotlight: This is your morning tip sheet.

The past does not change.

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Turkey Over 2017 Purchase of Russian Missile Defenses

Lara Jakes, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

Trump had resisted the economic penalties against Turkey in favor of his personal relationship with President

Trubles with Turkey are troubles with Islam.

CNN and MSNBC Fret Over Post-Trump Future

John Koblin and Michael M. Grynbaum, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

Ratings have hit new highs, but executives and journalists at both networks are uneasy about the year ahead.

They were editorily wrong.. They should worry.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court denied a last-ditch Trump effort to toss 200,000 votes from Milwaukee and Madison.

Reid J. Epstein, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

Properly.

“Nice Guys” and Using People

Ian Welsh, Ian Welsh - 10 hours ago

This is a outside what I usually write about, but I think it’s worth a bit of time. It’s a general issue, “nice guys” is a small subset of the issue. Humans do a lot of what we do to get things. We all know that and while we may find it distasteful sometimes, it’s […]

Ian Welsh is not wrong. His perception of situations is limited and often mistaken.

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on 2 Iranian Officials in Robert Levinson Case

Michael Crowley, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

The Treasury imposed sanctions on two Interior Ministry officials, who it said were “involved in the abduction, detention and probable death” of Mr. Levinson, a former F.B.I. agent.

Other nation's practical politics must be tollerated.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

@12/15/20, , 10:10

‘Faith in Our Institutions Held’

Giovanni Russonello, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Biden passes an electoral milestone as the Republicans’ dam cracks: This is your morning tip sheet.

A good thing.

Inside Biden’s Struggle to Manage Factions in the Democratic Party

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

The competition for senior offices has strained valuable political alliances, vexing some of Joe Biden’s key supporters from the Democratic primary contest.

Managing the party factions is part of the job of president.

Inside the Right-Wing Media Bubble, Where the Myth of a Trump Win Lives On

Jeremy W. Peters, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The Electoral College has affirmed Biden’s victory. That doesn’t mean that Trump-friendly news outlets have accepted it.

A ghost story.

Dysfunctional Prison and Court Pose

Guantánamo Headaches for Biden

Carol Rosenberg, Charlie Savage and Eric Schmitt, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The new administration confronts decaying infrastructure and a military justice system moving at a glacial pace.

Guantánamo is a war crime.

Spend the money.

Scope of Russian Hack Becomes Clear: Multiple U.S. Agencies Were Hit

David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth and Eric Schmitt, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

The Pentagon, intelligence agencies, nuclear labs and Fortune 500 companies use software that was found to have been compromised by Russian hackers. The sweep of stolen data is still being assessed.

The Russians looked over over the U.S. sholder. If no changes were made it was not an attach.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court denies a last-ditch Trump effort to toss 200,000 votes from Milwaukee and Madison.

The Trump effort was properly quashed.

4 Takeaways From Biden’s Electoral College Victory

Shane Goldmacher and Adam Nagourney, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

Joe Biden was confirmed as the winner of the election, but President Trump’s war on the results is likely to have lasting effects for the country.

All true.

With Selfies, Emojis and Little Disruption, the Electoral College Makes It Official

Lisa Lerer, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

Some electors met in person to carry out their duties, and statehouses were on high alert for protests. Others stayed remote, and completed yet another 2020 task on Zoom.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/14/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html

Electoral College Vote Officially Affirms Biden’s Victory

Nick Corasaniti and Jim Rutenberg, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

The vote made official Joe Biden’s victory, despite President Trump’s attempt to subvert the nation’s democratic process, and it put pressure on Republicans to acknowledge the outcome.

Biden is president elect.

After Electoral College Votes, More Republicans Warily Accept Trump’s Loss

Nicholas Fandos, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

“At some point, you have to face the music,” said the second-ranking Senate Republican. But Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, was notably silent

Trump will be absent from power.

25.

Mary Nichols Appears to Be Out of Running to Lead E.P.A.

Coral Davenport, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

The president-elect’s transition team is scrambling to find a new candidate for the E.P.A. after advocates objected to Mary D. Nichols.

Some pressure groups do not know when to stop.

Families at Border Present Familiar Test for Biden’s Homeland Security Pick

Zolan Kanno-Youngs, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

The Biden administration will be expected to balance demands for more lenient policies with moderates’ concerns that any show of tolerance could lead to more illegal migration.

Let them in.

William Barr Is Out as Attorney General

Katie Benner, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

Barr .must enter his future.

A Day That Settled an Election and Brought Hope for Defeating a Pandemic

Peter Baker, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

“I honestly can’t recall two independent events of such extreme importance occurring on the same day,” said one historian. “A good day,” said another.

An effective day for the good side.

Donald Trump Lost His Battle. The Culture War Goes On.

James Poniewozik, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 14 hours ago

The reality-TV president was a practitioner, and a product, of a style of pop-cultural grievance that will outlast him.

Sadly the faithful must see the sun rise.

The world did not end.

Moderates Pare Back Stimulus Plan in Hopes of Breaking Stalemate

Emily Cochrane, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 14 hours ago

McConnell will spend no money outside Kentucky.

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Turkey Over 2017 Purchase of Russian Missile Defenses

Lara Jakes, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago

Trump had resisted the economic penalties against Turkey in favor of his personal relationship with President