Weekend open thread: 37 days until the election....

Biden is continuing to lead strong in polls, and Trump is getting more desperate

Welcome to The Signorile Report, where you’ll read hard-hitting political commentary and exposés; find interviews with newsmakers; hear me “engage” with right-wingers who call my radio program; and connect with like-minded, passionate people everywhere committed to fighting against hate and corruption. Subscribe now to get all of this in your email box a few times a week.

We usually have an open thread on Saturday for you all to jump in with your thoughts on the week, and discuss what’s happening where you are and what you’re up to this weekend.

But yesterday, with the official announcement of Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s nominee to fill the seat left open by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we were immersed in that discussion and I wrote about the ominous signs for LGBTQ rights. So there was lots going on!

And as happens with Trump, it’s almost like the announcement is forgotten already — though of course there’s a battle ahead — because he was on to his usual crazy and increasingly desperate claims. Now he’s again challenging Biden take a drug test, which is actually a tired old Trump tactic, as he’d done the same to Hillary Clinton. Sounds like more Trump projection.

Joe Biden responded to the Barrett nomination, focusing in all the critical issues from abortion to immigration but really going in like a laser beam on the threat to Obamacare in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic: “They see an opportunity to overturn the Affordable Care Act on their way out the door.”

Aaron Rupar @atrupar

Joe Biden on Trump nominating Amy Coney Barrett: "It's no mystery about what's happening here. President Trump was trying to throw out the Affordable Care Act. He's been trying to do it for the last four years. The Republican Party has been trying to eliminate it for a decade."

Biden once again demanded that Trump and the GOP wait for the next president to fill the seat. But Trump and Republicans are moving forward — and some Democratic senators are refusing to meet with Barrett, not wanting to give this process any legitimacy. I stand by my argument that this is only going to hurt the GOP (and embattled senators) and help Biden in the election — and yes we’ll have to use all options to right these wrongs when Democrats take power, including expanding the Supreme Court.

In a new ABC/Washington Post poll Joe Biden maintains his lead of 10 points, and polls from NBC Marist show him with a clear lead in Michigan and Wisconsin, where majorities also believe the winner of the election should nominate a justice to the court.

And we just saw the largest single-day increase in coronavirus nationally since mid-August, as the pandemic is surging again.

So much else going on, but I’m going to let you all jump in and I’ll join the conversation. What’s happening where you are? How are you feeling about things and what are you to this weekend? Yeah, I know the weekend’s almost over, but there’s still time to chat.