Nicole Lafond

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Nicole Lafond is TPM’s deputy editor, based in New York. She has also worked as the special projects editor and as a senior newswriter for TPM. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University and previously covered education in central Illinois.

Its Time To Cast Your Vote For The Duke Of Dukes
Where Things Stand: A Mess For Biden? Prime Badge
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The Trump administration is setting some pretty lofty expectations for when Americans can actually expect to see widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. During an interview on the “Today Show” Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar used the platform to suggest that the average American can expect to start seeing widespread distribution of the vaccine — meaning they can get vaccinated at their local pharmacy — by late February or early March. Read More 

Where Things Stand: The Coming Dissolution Of Trumpworld Prime Badge
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Much of Trump’s 2020 infrastructure, established solely around the cause-célèbre of President Trump and his reelection, has not made the jump to the President’s post-election crusade to overturn his loss. Instead, that space is being filled by the President himself and a rag-tag band of allies.

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Where Things Stand: Trump Enlists Pence Prime Badge
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President Trump often enlists the vice president to fight his more serious battles for him.

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Where Things Stand: Fox News Punished After Lack Of Enthusiasm For Trump’s Delusion Prime Badge
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Don’t give the cable news outlet too much credit. It’s done little besides the most basic function of a major news outlet during a presidential election — which is, declare a winner when there’s a winner. 

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CONYERS, GA - DECEMBER 05: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Raphael Warnock during an outdoor drive-in rally on December 5, 2020 in Conyers, Georgia. Warnock faces Republican candidate Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) in a runoff election that will take place January 5th.  (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images) Where Things Stand: The ‘Radical Liberal’ Strategy Prime Badge
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It seems the GOP’s strategy in Georgia is to say “radical liberal” enough times that it sticks.

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Where Things Stand: Flynn’s Descent Into Q Continues Prime Badge
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Since he’s been pardoned from various crimes related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, Michael Flynn has embarked on a concerning descent into the swamps of QAnon.

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WILKES BARRE, PA - AUGUST 02: David Reinert holds up a large "Q" sign while waiting in line on August 2, 2018 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to see President Donald J. Trump at his rally. "Q" is a conspiracy theory group that has been seen at recent rallies.    (Photo by Rick Loomis/Getty Images) Where Things Stand: Republicans Had A Pretty Clear Warning Sign Prime Badge
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It turns out, President Trump’s top allies got a warning this summer that should have foreshadowed where we find ourselves now in December.

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 09: RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters on November 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. Trump campaign and Republican Party officials continued to push theories of voter intimidation, fraud, and illegal votes but were unable to provide proof at the time of the press conference. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ronna McDaniel Where Things Stand: The Squirming Prime Badge
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The ginger detachment commences.

And it appears the squirm away from Trumpism will involve quite a lot of calculated political maze navigation for the RNC.

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Where Things Stand: Georgia Is A Litmus Test Of Trump’s Waning Relevance Prime Badge
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No matter which way you splice it, Georgia is now all about Trump.

As his rhetoric puts the safety of innocent election workers, and even state officials, at risk, the outcome of the two runoff Senate races in the Peach State will show the value of President Trump’s waning political influence — at least over Republican voters in Georgia.

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