The people have spoken, but Donald Trump does not want to know what they have to say.
In a press conference that was no less remarkable and dismaying for being pre-briefed, the President demanded that outstanding votes in key swing states not be counted, for fear they are heavily pro-Biden.
None of this should come as a surprise. Trump cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2016 election — a contest he won. It was therefore wholly foreseeable he would do the same for an election that could yet go against him.
What we do know is that this is no Biden landslide. Trump held on to Florida thanks to support from Hispanic voters, while Biden turned Arizona blue for the first time since 1996.
As of now, both Trump and Biden have numerous paths to 270 electoral votes.
Like last time, it will all come down to narrow margins in the Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
The good news is election day itself proceeded smoothly. There were no major outages, while turnout is projected to reach the highest levels in over a hundred years.
In a normal, mature democracy, all that would be left to do is count the votes and then go home. But this is the US, it is rarely so straightforward.
Lawsuits are being filed and Trump is looking towards the Supreme Court — a body he has packed with voting rights sceptics — to curtail the counting.
This is wrong and without legal standing. That Trump says the quiet part loudly makes him no less of a danger to democracy.
This is a crucial moment for the US. Whatever the outcome, every vote must be counted.
Pints to help pubs
This newspaper has long run campaigns on some of the most important issues affecting the country, from our homelessness fund to Food for London Now appeal and our latest to let football fans back into stadiums.
Takeaway beers during lockdown may not appear to have the same gravitas, but being able to bring in some cash during this time will save historic drinking houses across the city from devastation.
The Government’s U-turn to allow the sale of takeaway alcohol is welcome, but it does not go far enough. At present, punters must order booze remotely via a website, app or phone.
This is in contrast to the spring lockdown, when people simply turned up at the pub to pick up their drink.
It also makes little sense, given that supermarkets and off-licenses will still be able to sell alcohol under the regulations.
We should be helping pubs weather the next few weeks by making it easier for people to pick up a drink. It would be a small change to make lockdown that little bit bearable and save London’s iconic pubs.
Get well, Maradona
Diego Maradona, the hero of Argentinian football, is recuperating following successful surgery to treat a blood clot on his brain.
While he may be most famous in this country for the “hand of God” incident at the 1986 World Cup, he is also widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.
