10.40am GMT

Daniel Strauss in DC has been looking at the possible impact of Trump’s refusal to concede on January’s crucial Senate run-off races in Georgia. Some argue that it could fire up Trump’s base to protect the two Republican incumbents. But there is a worry in some Republican quarters that his baseless claims of election fraud could backfire and even depress Republican turnout.

Republican thinking goes that if voters are still paying attention to politics through November and December instead of taking a break because major elections have been decided, they are more likely to donate and come out to vote in Georgia (if they live there).

That is vital in that keeping control of the Senate will give Republicans a powerful weapon to hobble Biden, frustrating his policy agenda and even limiting who he can pick for his cabinet posts.

Related: Will Trump’s refusal to concede help his base turn out in Georgia’s runoffs?

10.31am GMT

If you didn’t catch our award-wining Today in Focus podcast yet today, you can have a listen to it here. The episode is about Donald Trump’s refusal to concede an election which he has lost badly. While his behaviour may seem shocking, it’s not a great surprise, says Lawrence Douglas, the author of Will He Go?

He tells Anushka Asthana that Trump’s refusal to accept defeat was inevitable given the campaign he ran, and that his legal challenges are almost entirely without merit. However, while there is little he can practically do to remain in power, there is a political impact of a sitting president refusing to follow the norms of peaceful transition, which could have a lasting effect on US democracy and the country’s reputation abroad.

10.20am GMT

The New York Times is reporting the names of key members of the Joe Biden White House team that he is expected to announce later today.

President-elect Biden will formally announce key members of his White House staff on Tuesday, tapping Rep. Cedric L. Richmond of Louisiana to oversee public outreach and installing Jen O’Malley Dillon, who successfully managed his presidential campaign, as a deputy chief of staff, a person familiar with the transition said.

Biden will also announce that Steve Ricchetti, a longtime confidant, will serve in the White House as a counselor to the president.

10.14am GMT

Donald Trump’s latest attempt to try and overturn the way the election count is headed in Pennsylvania will be up in court later today. The campaign’s federal lawsuit is seeking to prevent Pennsylvania officials from certifying the results.

Trump’s team had asked for a delay, but US Middle District Judge Matthew Brann told lawyers for Donald J. Trump for President Inc. that they must show up and “be prepared for argument and questioning” at the Williamsport federal courthouse.

10.03am GMT

Here’s a reminder of Joe Biden’s words yesterday: “The idea the president is still playing golf and not doing anything about it is beyond my comprehension. You’d think he’d at least want to go off on a positive note” he said.

“I find this more embarrassing for the country than debilitating for my ability to get started”, he added. Biden warned that if outgoing president Donald Trump continues blocking a US transition of power as the coronavirus pandemic worsens, “more people may die”.

10.00am GMT

Welcome to our live coverage of US politics, as Joe Biden sharpened his tone in his criticism of Donald Trump’s failure to accept his election defeat.

Continue reading…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/joebiden

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