Georgia recount unearths more than 2,600 uncounted ballots in Floyd County: report

More than 2,600 uncounted ballots unearthed in Georgia county: report

More than 2,600 ballots in Georgia’s Floyd County that have not been tallied were recently found during a recount in the state for the 2020 presidential election, according to reports.

Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger blamed the problem on Floyd County election officials failing to upload votes from a memory card in a ballot-scanning machine.

Georgia began recounting its nearly 5 million ballots by hand on Friday after President Donald Trump and the Republican Party requested a statewide audit. 

The 2,600 previously uncounted ballots in the county marked the most significant issue so far uncovered in the recount process. Floyd County Republican Party chair Luke Martin called the mishap “concerning” but insisted that it “doesn’t appear to be a widespread issue.”

“I’m glad the audit revealed it, and it’s important that all votes are counted,” Martin told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.  
Other counties so far have not found uncounted ballots, with recount figures closely matching their original numbers, Raffensperger said.

Though President Trump has decried alleged voter fraud, the accounted ballots will likely do little to close the 14,000-vote gap with President-Elect Joe Biden.

In other developments:
- Trump seizes on local Nevada race to raise suspicions of wider problem.
- Hannity slams Georgia GOP gov, secretary of state over recount 'decree': They 'seem completely clueless.'
- Turley: Trump election challenges 'long on allegations and rather short on evidence.'
- Kelley Paul says DC violence of Trump supporters 'brings back awful memories,' calls out 'media bias.'
- CNN's Brian Stelter skips Jeffrey Toobin's firing from New Yorker, MSNBC's Jon Meacham snafu on media show.
- Washington Post editorial board calls to 'abolish the Electoral College.'

Bill Hemmer calls out media 'love fest' following another Biden press conference
Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer called out the reporters for their questioning of President-elect Joe Biden. 

On Monday, Biden made remarks about how his administration will handle the economy but then took a handful of questions from pre-selected reporters, which were mostly focused on President Trump and his refusal to concede the election.  
The "Bill Hemmer Reports" anchor offered his reaction immediately after Biden left the podium. 

"You've been watching to what amounts to a bit of a love fest here between the media," Hemmer told viewers. 

During a panel discussion with Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen and Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee, Hemmer offered a sampling of what was asked by reporters. 

"By my count, Marc, here were the questions: If the president doesn't give up, what are you gonna do?" Hemmer said. "One reporter called it 'unprecedented blocking of the transition plans.' ... Another question: Will you get the vaccination? What did you think about the president's tweet on Saturday? Another question as to whether or not families should get together for Turkey Day."

Reporters have long been criticized for how they questioned the then-Democratic candidate on the campaign trail, specifically when Biden was asked what flavor ice cream he got at a campaign stop instead of being pressed about the controversy surrounding his son Hunter Biden.

In other developments:
- Biden’s campaign manager headed to White House as deputy chief of staff.
- Jake Tapper deletes tweet boasting how CNN journalists 'survived' the 2020 election.
- Biden says public health experts recommend 10 people max at Thanksgiving gatherings.
- Laura Ingraham shares ‘hard truth’ with Biden: Insulting Trump supporters will ‘only incite more violence.'
- Biden denounces 'all acts of violence' after attacks on Trump supporters at MAGA rally; Pelosi silent.
- Trump swipes at DeWine after GOP governor's comments on Biden transition.
- Sen. Susan Collins says voters rejected Bernie Sanders' 'far-left agenda', calls for moderate compromise.

California authorities insist people stay home -- meanwhile, they're escaping to lavish getaway in Hawaii
California lawmakers are reportedly descending on a week-long policy conference in Hawaii as the Golden State urges its citizens to refrain from travel and indoor gatherings.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Independent Voter Project (IVP), which is hosting the conference, declined to name the fewer than 20 lawmakers, who collectively came from California, Texas, and Washington.

The conference is taking place at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui, where rooms reportedly run $600 and over per night, with policy discussions and "schmoozing" with corporate sponsors, the Chronicle said Monday.

Its website says the event is four days long and the purpose "is to provide a setting, away from the Capitol, for elected officials and a diverse group of industry experts to consider policy matters in a nonpartisan manner."

News of the event came just days after the California Department of Public Health issued a travel advisory, urging residents to stay home and not to leave their "region."

"Californians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries," reads the advisory from Friday. "Avoiding travel can reduce the risk of virus transmission and bringing the virus back to California." It also recommends people returning to California to quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

The Hawaii conference was just the latest to raise questions about how politicians spent their time while directing citizens to isolate themselves. For example, Gov. Gavin Newsom came under fire after attending a dinner party with his wife on Nov. 6. The gathering included at least a dozen people and took place at an upscale restaurant in Napa Valley.