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.

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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Where Things Stand: Diverging Realities Prime Badge
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Not that we needed any more reason to declare it over, but, as of yesterday, all six states where President Trump has attempted to contest the results of the election have finalized their vote counts. Joe Biden was and is and will be the next president.

Yet, even after Wisconsin and Arizona both officially certified the results of their elections yesterday, the Trump campaign filed another lawsuit this morning — this time in Wisconsin. The campaign is alleging “abuse” of absentee ballots, targeting 270,000 ballots.

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ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp speaks during a press conference announcing statewide expanded COVID testing on August 10, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images) Where Things Stand: Even The Bare Minimum Isn’t Enough Prime Badge
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Alas, even the bare minimum enforcement of basic elements of democracy is too much for President Trump.

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Where Things Stand: Even The Tiger King Prime Badge
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President Trump has been laying the groundwork for years at this point.

Even if he had won the election, he’d probably continue floating it — letting a potential Michael Flynn pardon swing in the breeze while he waits for the right moment to let it drop. Now we’ve reached an hour so ripe with presidential turmoil that he might as well fling a distraction at his base.

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Where Things Stand: Cooperate But Don’t Prime Badge
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The news out of the GSA last night was obviously newsworthy — the strongest indication yet that President Trump is running out of options to keep his claims of a stolen election afloat.

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Where Things Stand: Ex-GOP National Security Officials Have, Apparently, Had Enough Prime Badge
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Perhaps it’s easier to speak out against President Trump and the flailing, chaotic, dwindling days of his presidency when you’re no longer in an official position.

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