5 Stories to Watch Next Week | November 7, 2020

5 Stories to Watch Next Week Trump Campaign Files Election Lawsuits in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia On Wednesday, President Trump’s campaign sought the Supreme Court’s permission to intervene in a pending appeals case that asks the justices to pull back the three-day extension for accepting ballots mailed by Election Day in Pennsylvania. The campaign also filed suits to protect Republican poll-watchers and to ensure that first-time voters provide proof of identity in a timely manner. In Michigan, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit arguing for a halt on the counting of absentee ballots, alleging that state officials were counting them without having inspectors from both parties present. In Georgia, the Trump campaign filed a suit in Chatham County, asking a judge to ensure that mail-in ballots received after the state’s deadline of 7 pm on Election Day are not included in the state’s tally. Watch next week to find out how the various courts involved rule on the suits filed by the Trump campaign. Also, look to find out how those judicial rulings impact vote tallies in the presidential race. North Carolina Unlikely to Release Full Results for Several Days The North Carolina State Board of Elections announced on Wednesday that it would take until next week to release full “unofficial” results for the state. In a statement, the board said that that all 100 county boards in the state will count provisional and absentee ballots throughout the week and release unofficial results next week. The state remains crucial to President Trump’s prospects of winning reelection as he trails Joe Biden in the electoral vote count. The Trump campaign remains optimistic about the president’s chances to win the state but are concerned about the long delays in vote counting. Watch for the final results from the state and whether either campaign chooses to take legal action. Also look to find out how these results affect the electoral prospects of both candidates. Landmark Obamacare Case to Be Argued in Supreme Court Next week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case California v. Texas, which concerns the constitutionality of the individual mandate contained in the Affordable Care Act. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the law on the grounds that the mandate was constitutional when construed as a tax. However, in 2017, congressional Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which repealed the financial penalties contained in the provision. Plaintiffs in the upcoming case argue that the individual mandate is unconstitutional without the tax and that Obamacare is invalid altogether without the mandate. Watch to see how the justices, including newly minted Justice Amy Coney Barrett, approach the questioning to indicate how they will vote on the matter. Also look to find out if the counsel involved in the case discuss the potential loss of coverage to millions of Americans if the statute is struck down. McConnell to Focus on Stimulus Bill When Senate Resumes After being reelected to his seat by a comfortable margin, Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) made a commitment to work to pass a COVID-19 stimulus bill through the Senate when it returns to work next week. Talks before the election on a stimulus package with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had stalled over disputes surrounding the cost of the package and funding for Democratic cities and states. Although some key Senate races remain uncalled or headed to runoffs, McConnell remains confident that the GOP will retain their Senate majority and be able to pass the relief bill if there is no dissension among their ranks. Watch to find if McConnell is able to reopen negotiations on the bill given that the outcome of the presidential election remains uncertain. Also, look to find out if Speaker Pelosi will pass competing stimulus legislation in the House. South Korean Intelligence Chief to Visit Japan to Discuss North Korea Threat South Korean intelligence chief Park Jie-won is considering visiting Japan next week to meet with Japanese ruling party bigwig Toshihiro Nikai. Park, a major politician, was a close aide to the late President Kim Dae-jung and has friendly relations with Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party. Aside from bilateral ties, the two are set to discuss the threat posed by North Korea given the uncertain outcome of the US presidential elections. Park, head of the National Intelligence Service in South Korea, and Hiroaki Takizawa, director of Cabinet intelligence in Japan, plan to meet in the next few weeks to discuss the same subject. Watch out for any policy announcements from the two nations following the meeting next week. Also, look to find out if the outcome of the US presidential election has any bearing on their bilateral strategy toward North Korea. Newt's Latest Podcasts: Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future

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