Politics roundup: Florida elections are still up in the air a week after the midterms

Votes in Florida senate and governor races are still being counted, even though the election was last week. What’s happening in the Sunshine State?

Florida elections still undecided

It’s not as if lingering election results are much of a historical anomaly. Between runoffs, hand recounts, and the now practically mythical “hanging chad”, it is normal for elections to fully take shape. This year’s midterm elections, however, have some unique and significant qualities. First, the intense political landscape and record voter turnouts made for some intensely watched races.

Those same factors also made some elections incredibly close. With some district’s voting systems operating at what felt like a snail’s pace, results are still trickling in.

For instance, Kyrsten Sinema has now become the Democratic Senator from Arizona. Initially, it appeared that her Republican opponent, Martha McSally, was the one who would take office. However, ballots were still being counted past election day and eventually secured Sinema’s victory.

In Florida, both the governor’s race and one senate seat are still up in the air. The congressional election between former governor and Republican Rick Scott and Democrat incumbent Bill Nelson are embroiled in a hand recount, so close is their race.

A federal judge also ruled on Thursday that voters have two extra days to resolve questions about their signatures, which delayed the count of some ballots. That said, it seems more and more clear that Scott will be heading to Capitol Hill in January, rather than Nelson.

Brexit deal on unsteady ground

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is set on seeing her Brexit legislation make it through to reality. However, the current state of her government makes her situation and that of her Brexit deal quite precarious. Two of her Cabinet Ministers have resigned in protest of the process, while those remaining are riven by conflict.

One of those ministers, Dominic Raab, was the primary architect of May’s Brexit deal. He resigned the day after the Prime Minister’s cabinet approved the latest draft of Brexit. His resignation letter claimed that May’s government had not met what he believed were necessary requirements to break from the European Union.

Esther McVey, now the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, announced her resignation soon after Raab. Though McVey’s departure was not as dramatic as Raab’s, it speaks to the general discord in May’s cabinet.

Much of the drama has focused on the negotiations between the U.K. and the E.U., including trade agreements, travel regulations, and the state of the border between U.K.-controlled Northern Ireland, and the E.U.-member Ireland.

Negotiations had stalled for months until this week, when it looked as if progress were finally being made. People on both sides may have breathed a sigh of relief that something at least was happening. Indeed, even with all of the drama swirling around the latest version of Brexit, lawmakers may have little choice. There isn’t much time to come up with something different.

Both sides face a hard deadline of March 29, 2019 – that’s when the U.K.’s membership in the European Union will officially expire, no matter what. Without a formal agreement in place, the sudden termination could be disastrous for the British. Four months is hardly any time to come up with a brand new deal for such a huge move.

The exits of McVey and Raab not only threaten the current Brexit negotiations, but undermine the power of May herself. So much of her governing has been tied up in this deal that its dismantling could leave the Prime Minister open to attack by members of her own Conservative Party. Now, there is even talk of a no-confidence vote against May. Her attempts to project confidence and to reassure lawmakers that the deal is only a draft have done little to quell fears.

Reporter Jim Acosta’s White House ordeal

Last week, CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta crossed paths with the president at a news conference. Acosta, who asked the president about both immigration and Robert S. Mueller’s Russia investigation, refused to give up the microphone. Later that day, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the White House had revoked Acosta’s press pass, meaning he would no longer be allowed on White House grounds.

Sanders and the president claimed that Acosta had touched a White House aide who attempted to take the microphone. Sanders tweeted a video that purportedly showed Acosta striking the aide in question, though it’s now clear that the clip was doctored.

CNN sued the administration over the matter, claiming that the removal of Acosta’s credentials constitutes a violation of his First Amendment rights. Other news networks pledged to join CNN by filing amicus briefs, including The Washington Post and Fox News.

In response, the White House has argued that it has “broad discretion to regulate access to the White House for journalists.” Neither, it claims, has the president curtailed Acosta’s rights, since he can still report on the White House. He just has to do it from outside the premises.

A federal judge ruled today that Jim Acosta’s hard pass must be — at least temporarily — reinstate by the Trump administration. This has been deemed a victory for both the network and press as a whole.

White House revolving door gearing up again?

For a moment, it may have seemed that White House staffers were enjoying a period of stability. Few major resignations or firings were announced for weeks. Yet, it now seems as if that was only a facade. Indeed, we may see a new slate of former White House employees soon.

Some of them could be big names. One is reportedly Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. While protestors have strongly criticized her for immigration policy, including family separation practices, the president may be upset that Nielsen is not stringent enough.

If Nielsen were to leave, then that may open the door for White House Chief of Staff John Kelly to depart as well. The two have supported each other in the past, often to the point of defending one to the president. Still, that may not work in the long run. Reportedly, the president has already been inquiring about replacements for both Kelly and Nielsen.

Meanwhile, Melania Trump’s office has released a statement disparaging another White House staff member. Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel apparently incurred the first lady’s wrath when she bad-mouthed members of Melania’s staff on a trip to Africa.

In an email addressed to the press, spokesperson Stephanie Grisham wrote that “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that [Mira Ricardel] no longer deserves the honor of serving in the White House.”

The move came as a surprise, given the limited political power of the first lady’s office. Spouses of presidents more typically take on ceremonial and social roles. While their social cachet can be considerable, first ladies have very rarely had a say in making policy or firing anyone outside of their own staff.

And, finally, your palate cleanser

Okay, it looks as if the maybe-comet ‘Oumuamua is, well, just that. It’s not that the whole process of identifying it hasn’t been interesting. ‘Oumuamua (from the Hawaiian term for “scout”) is the first interstellar object observed passing through our solar system, for one. It’s also a weirdly shaped tumbling little thing, hurtling by at surprising speed. Now, alas, it is out of our sight forever.

Some observers, including Harvard scientists, briefly entertained the idea that ‘Oumuamua was a literal scout ship or other vessel sent here by intelligent beings. That’s pretty unlikely at this point, though it’s kind of nice to think that there may be life somewhere apart from this spinning dirt ball we call Earth.

If the story of this interstellar traveler has you in the mood for some science fiction, then check out Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous With Rama. There, astronauts encounter a mysterious (and much, much larger) cylinder passing through our system. This 1973 sci-fi novel isn’t exactly known for its deep characterization, but the concept and story are plenty intriguing.

Perhaps ‘Oumuamua has pushed you to think more about the real-life wonders we might encounter in space. If so, check out concepts like rogue planets, rectangular galaxies, and a planet whose mass might be one-third diamonds.