Geeking Out on Politics

NYU School of Law: mail-in voter fraud statistically insignificant and not enough to “rig” an election

Elections that had been meticulously studied for voter fraud found incident rates between 0.0003 percent and 0.0025 percent. Even if there was a precipitous increase in cases, election outcomes will not be altered.

What is Trumpism?

Heard of Trumpism, but not sure what it stands for? Let’s take a look.

Health care workers protest the protestors

Freelance photographer Alyson McClaran of Denver, Colorado captures an epoch showdown between lockdown protestors and those who are battling the pandemic.

What are the Iowa caucuses?

Iowa isn’t the only state that caucuses but–as the first in the election cycle–it’s the most famous, and most able to make or break a candidate.

Impeachment defenses and their rebuttals

Defense strategies to the impeachment have evolved over time. Here’s a look at a few.

Impeachment trial rules, draft by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell

After a first draft was distributed, and McConnell got push-back from Republican moderates for the ways in which the rules differed from Clinton rules, two changes were made.

Simplest summary ever: What is Medicare-for-all?

Medicare-for-all is a topic that divides Democratic candidates so it’s probably going to come up many more times in future debates. No worries. Here’s a simple explanation you’ll never forget.

President Trump’s pre-impeachment letter to Nancy Pelosi

“There is nothing I would rather do than stop referring to your party as the Do-Nothing Democrats. Unfortunately, I don’t know that you will ever give me a chance to do so…”

Articles of Impeachment – full report

“President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law.”

House Impeachment Report – Executive Summary

Must read: House Intelligence Committee executive report on impeaching findings

Reconstructed transcript of phone call between President Trump and President Zelensky

I would like you to do us a favor though…

Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989

The purpose of this Act is to strengthen and improve protection
for the rights of Federal employees, to prevent reprisals, and to help
eliminate wrongdoing within the Government by–
(1) mandating that employees should not suffer adverse consequences as a
result of prohibited personnel practices;

Trump/Zelensky phone call, full text

“I would like you to do us a favor though…”

FULL TEXT: Whistleblower report and Trump & Zelensky phone call transcript

Dear Chairman Burr and Chairman Schiff:
I am reporting an “urgent concern” in accordance with the procedures outlined in 50 U.S.C. §3033(k)(5)(A)…

A little more info on Crowdstrike’s approach to the DNC hack

Crowdstrike didn’t give the DNC’s physical server to the FBI, which has been the central issue in a conspiracy theory that suggests that Crowdstrike provided false information to the FBI to incriminate Russian hackers.

Talking points memo from Whitehouse to Republicans – full text

Talking point, from the Whitehouse, meant for Republican ears only.

What is impeachment?

The House Judiciary Committee prepares the articles of impeachment, or charges brought against the president. The entire House of Representatives votes on the articles of impeachment; a majority vote passes them on to the Senate.

Social media summit: full talk by President Trump

“…I don’t think that the mainstream media is free speech either because it’s so crooked. It’s so dishonest. So, to me, free speech is not when you see something good and then you purposely write bad. To me, that’s very dangerous speech and you become angry at it. But that’s not free speech…”

Mueller’s statement: full text

“…under longstanding department policy, a president can not be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that too is prohibited.”

What is it about Stacey Abrams?

High school students at KIPP Dubois Collegiate Academy in Philadelphia listened to Abrams’ State of the Union response and then reacted to the delivery and message.