good morning.
Kamala Harris formally recognized Donald Trump’s election on Wednesday and called on her supporters to “never give up” and fight for American democracy as Trump prepares to choose his top team.
“While I recognize this election, I do not recognize the fight that drove this campaign,” Harris said in a speech at her alma mater, Howard University, after Republicans secured the more than 270 votes needed to win the Electoral College. “Listen to me: As long as we never give up, the light of America’s promise will always burn, she received loud applause as she told the crowd she would help facilitate a peaceful transition of power.
For the first time in two decades, the Republican Party is on track to win the popular vote: at the time of writing, Trump has 51% support and Harris 48%. With election results still coming in, Joe Biden will address the nation on Thursday.
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How many more people voted for Trump compared to 2020? Counting is still ongoing, but Trump is expected to reach the 74 million votes he won in 2020, while Harris looks set to fall short of the 81 million votes Biden won in 2020.
US election 2024: House control remains unclear
Control of the U.S. House of Representatives remained unclear early Thursday morning, even as Republicans secured a widely expected majority in the U.S. Senate.
With Republicans already in control of both pillars of power, the stakes for Democrats are higher than ever, as winning control of the House may be their only way to curb President Trump’s power.
As of this writing, 38 races remain open, with Republicans leading by one seat to 206 seats and Democrats down one seat to 191 seats.
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When will we find out? It could still be days before the House winner is determined, and more than a week in 2022.
U.S. special prosecutor to end criminal case against Trump
Special counsel prosecutors will wrap up criminal cases against Trump before he takes office in January because his victory means they will not go to trial, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The decision was made because the case will not be completed before Inauguration Day and the special counsel’s office will be barred from taking further criminal action once Trump is in the White House.
The Justice Department has long been aware that Trump’s attorney general might drop charges that he withheld classified documents and overturned the 2020 election if the Republican candidate was elected.
In other news…
Today’s statistics: 2 million people in Myanmar state at risk of hunger
Two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state are at risk of starvation within months as conflict and a trade blockade lead to economic collapse and looming famine, a senior United Nations official has warned. Kanni Wignaraja, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and regional director of the United Nations Development Program, said many families interviewed reported “eating only one meal a day, and some even less.”
Don’t miss this: ‘Trump can’t stop global climate action’
If you want to inject much-needed optimism into the future of climate negotiations, read this article by Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analysis. Hale said the wheels of the energy transition have already been set in motion and argued that even with Trump in the White House, the rest of the world can unite and take meaningful action to combat global warming. Even in the United States, cutting green investment may not be in Republican political interests.
Climate check: 2024 ‘almost certain’ to be hottest year on record
The European Union’s space program said it was “almost certain” this year would be the hottest on record. Its report found that 2024 could be the first year with temperatures more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than before the industrial revolution, a shocking milestone. Although world leaders have pledged to prevent the planet from warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, global warming is expected to double.
One last thing: make the bed? I’m afraid this goes against the doctor’s instructions
Now, professional medical advice is casting doubt on what parents of teenagers have been trying to get them to do for decades: make their beds. Doctors let TikTok know that the dust mites that live in all our bedding prefer beds that are well-made, which locks in moisture and helps them thrive. Other suggestions that may be less popular with those who hate housework include changing bedding once a week.
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