Weekend open thread: What's happening where you are?

A record 200,000 coronavirus cases in one day, as deaths surge. Trump gets stinging court rebuke. The wheels are coming off the Georgia GOP -- just before Senate runoffs.

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An open thread for discussion on this holiday weekend. What was Thanksgiving like this year? A lot to be thankful for — for sure! —and yet the pandemic prevented most of us from the usual gatherings. Did you travel and what was that like? Or did you stay home, and keep it small, as I did — just me and my husband, David (and Artie, our pit bull). And what are you up to this weekend? Join in with whatever you want to discuss.

The U.S. reached a record number of coronavirus cases yesterday, at over 205,000 on Black Friday, following Thanksgiving. And deaths are reaching the horrific levels per day of early spring, at 2000 per day. Los Angeles issued a shelter in place order, as other cities and states move to further restrictions.

Vox @voxdotcom

A new Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling means election results will stand in Pennsylvania. In the decision, Judge Stephanos Bibas wrote, "Calling an election unfair does not make it so."

vox.comFederal appeals court firmly rejects a Trump election lawsuit: “Calling an election unfair does not make it so”The Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision means election results will stand in Pennsylvania — in the ruling, Judge Stephanos Bibas wrote, “Calling an election unfair does not make it so.”

A federal appeals court dealt a stinging blow to Donald Trump’s attempt to block certification of the election in in Pennsylvania. The judge who wrote the decision is a Trump appointee on an all-Republican three-judge panel. Per The Washington Post:

In a scathing 21-page opinion, the 3rd Circuit said the Trump campaign’s challenge of the district court’s decision had “no merit.” The opinion was written by Judge Stephanos Bibas, who was appointed to the court by Trump. Bibas was joined by two other Republican-appointed judges in a unanimous vote by the three-member panel.

“Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” Bibas wrote. “Voters, not lawyers, choose the President. Ballots, not briefs, decide elections.”

The Trump campaign has said it will bring one of its over 30 losing cases to the U.S. Supreme Court. So this should be interesting.

The Republican National Committee chair Rona McDaniel faced resistance and protest while trying to get the vote out for embattled GOP senators in the January r runoff elections — from Trump supporters. They howled, “Kemp is a crook!” referring to Georgia governor Brian Kemp, and one man asked, “Why should we vote in this election when we know it’s already decided?” It was clear evidence of how Trump, by sowing seeds of “election fraud” with baseless claims, is now hurting Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler, facing runoff elections in January, as Republicans are fighting one another.

This, of course, couldn’t be a better environment for Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, who are hoping for record-shattering turnout. Let’s get them elected!

What’s happening where you are? Jump in and discuss whatever you’re thinking about this weekend. And I’ll be joining in over the weekend too.