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3 votes
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EU lawmakers declare that Hungary is no longer a democracy
13 votes -
Swedish rightwing on verge of narrow election win but waits on final tally – bloc including far-right Sverigedemokraterna on course for one-seat majority
11 votes -
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson tackles crime and energy fears on the campaign trail a week before the national election
4 votes -
Ex-rebel sworn in as Colombia’s president in historic shift
5 votes -
America’s self-obsession is killing its democracy
11 votes -
Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid agree on dissolving Knesset; Israel heads for fifth election in three years
7 votes -
United Nations committee finds Finland violated an international convention on racial discrimination when it comes to the political rights of Sámi
5 votes -
How the next election will be stolen
10 votes -
Australia election: Conservative government voted out after nearly a decade
19 votes -
The esoteric social movement behind this cycle’s most expensive House race
12 votes -
German state elections show populism in decline on left and right
9 votes -
France re-elects Emmanuel Macron with 58% of votes
25 votes -
French election 2022: full live results
17 votes -
EU triggers mechanism to strip Hungary of billions worth of budget funds
11 votes -
Texas is quietly using redistricting lawsuits to launch a broader war against federal voting rights law
5 votes -
Gabriel Boric, 36, to usher in new era for Chile as he takes presidential oath
14 votes -
Conservative candidate squeaks to victory in South Korean election: Yoon Suk-yeol declares victory in presidential election after liberal opponent concedes defeat with 98% of ballots counted
12 votes -
Gabriel Boric wins election as Chile’s next president
22 votes -
Iceland's governing parties led by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Vinstrihreyfingin–grænt framboð agreed on Sunday to continue their working coalition for another term
6 votes -
Conservative politician Péter Márki-Zay wins Hungarian opposition race as six parties come together to challenge Viktor Orbán
15 votes -
David Shor is telling US Democrats what they don’t want to hear
8 votes -
Norwegian parties agree to form a centre-left minority government – two-party coalition will have to negotiate with other parties to pass laws
6 votes -
When I ran for US President, it messed with my head
13 votes -
Norway's billionaires spent the election campaign smearing Rødt – but the party kept its focus and secured a historic electoral breakthrough
4 votes -
Iceland elects Europe's first female majority parliament – but Katrín Jakobsdóttir's future as PM looks to be in doubt after her party lost several seats
7 votes -
Iceland is voting in a general election that is expected to reflect the country's fragmented political landscape – nine parties could enter parliament
4 votes -
Hong Kong leader defends election after single non-establishment figure picked for 1,500-strong committee
6 votes -
Pro-Vladimir Putin party maintains majority in Russian elections despite declining support, many results almost certainly rigged
15 votes -
California Governor Gavin Newsom beats back GOP-led recall
29 votes -
SPD candidate Olaf Scholz consolidates German election lead with TV debate win
5 votes -
The opposition Arbeiderpartiet has won Norway's general election – brings an end to eight years of conservative government, paving the way for a centre-left coalition
16 votes -
Norwegian polls show Arbeiderpartiet is on course to replace PM Erna Solberg's coalition – would need support from Rødt and Miljøpartiet De Grønne to secure a majority
6 votes -
Stefan Löfven steps down as Sweden's prime minister after seven years – finance minister Magdalena Andersson widely tipped to be his successor as leader of Socialdemokraterna
8 votes -
Japan moves (slowly) toward electoral reform (2016)
4 votes -
Millions in UK face disenfranchisement under voter ID plans
7 votes -
New vote totals show tighter Democratic race for New York City mayor
5 votes -
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen lose out as French voters shun local elections: Abstention rate estimated at 68%, and exit polls suggest Le Pen’s National Rally failed to get expected support
13 votes -
Sweden's parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven – Socialdemokraterna leader has a week to resign or call a snap election
7 votes -
Chileans head to polls to pick architects of new constitution
7 votes -
Keir Starmer struggles to counter Boris Johnson’s ‘vaccine bounce’ as UK polls loom
5 votes -
Greenland heads to the polls on Tuesday in snap elections which could have major consequences for international interests in the Arctic
8 votes -
We selected 10,000 American neighborhoods at random. If we dropped you into one of them, could you guess how most people there voted?
29 votes -
China approves Hong Kong electoral system reform bill, further reducing the power of the Hong Kong electorate
10 votes -
Georgia House passes sweeping bill that would restrict voting access, setting up final vote next week
8 votes -
Brazil judge annuls Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's convictions, opens door to 2022 run
8 votes -
Greenland's government called a national election after parliament threatened it with a no-confidence vote – coalition torn apart by dispute over mining project
5 votes -
In Georgia Runoff Elections, (D) Warnock wins vs (R) Loeffler, (D) Ossof very likely wins vs (R) Purdue
Text post because the big news companies are cowards playing it safe and not calling Ossof yet, though it's basically over Warnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority (AP News) My...
Text post because the big news companies are
cowardsplaying it safe and not calling Ossof yet, though it's basically overWarnock makes history with Senate win as Dems near majority (AP News)
My takes below:
What does this mean?
This gives Democrats a thin majority in the senate. Does it mean they have free reign? No, the party is not that unified. In particular, as you probably have heard his name many many times now, Manchin, the "conservative Democrat" from WV is likely to be the kingmaker in votes. So it's not like just anything can get passed, and Manchin will not eliminate the filibuster easily.
So is it pointless?
ABSOLUTELY NOT
It's a huge victory nonetheless for Democrats. Remember, with control of the Senate, Chuck Schumer will be Senate Majority Leader, who controls what legislation the senate votes on. Even bipartisan bills were consistently torpedoed by McConnell who would refuse to even have a vote on it. Now, there is politics that can be done - deals, compromise, whatever. If you can't vote on something, nothing can be done. Things that are overall popular like increased stimulus are also going to pass.
Additionally, perhaps an even bigger deal, Biden can get his nominations through for cabinet and judges. There's an insane amount of unfilled heads of state departments right now, and the rest are filled with people absolutely unfit for the job. Having a real human being be the head of the EPA, or Department of Education, or the Department of Energy, and so forth is a big deal.
It also means that Justice Breyer can safely retire and have another "liberal" Justice take his place.
It's not sweeping control over the government, but it's a immensely superior political situation to McConnell stone walling anything he doesn't want, and Biden having to haggle with McConnell over how incompetent his cabinet needs to be.
48 votes -
Joint session of US Congress for counting of Electoral College ballots (objections to certify election)
10 votes -
‘This is the reality’: Far-right Newsmax and One America channels grapple uneasily with Joe Biden’s electoral college victory
20 votes