5 Stories to Watch Next Week | December 5, 2020

5 Stories to Watch Next Week Election Safe Harbor Deadline Is Coming A major deadline for states to complete recounts and settle legal disputes in the presidential race arrives on Tuesday. President Trump’s campaign is continuing to pursue legal challenges in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and other states. If these contested states are able to settle these disputes and certify their results by Tuesday, Dec. 8, they will be freed from facing further legal challenges. Whatever decision each state reaches is conclusive. This protection is enshrined in federal law (3 U.S. Code § 5). Following this deadline, the states will have six days to pick electors before the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14. Watch next week to see how the Trump campaign’s lawsuits continue to play out in the courts. Furthermore, look to find out if state legislatures assume a more active role in the presidential election by demanding recounts and blocking the certification of electors. Landmark Holocaust Restitution Case to Be Argued in Supreme Court The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case, Federal Republic of Germany v. Philipp, brought by the heirs of Jewish art dealers who say they were coerced into selling a collection of medical reliquaries to Nazi leaders in the aftermath of the 1929 Great Depression. The collection is currently on display in a German museum and the heirs’ previous attempts at recovering it have been rebuffed by an advisory commission. The heirs have brought suit against Germany, arguing foreign sovereign immunity does not apply in cases where lawful property has been expropriated in violation of international law. Watch next week to get a sense of how the justices view the case and to see whether they support Germany’s claims that the court has no jurisdiction in the matter. US Senate to Hold Hearing on COVID Treatment On Tuesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), will hold a hearing on solutions to certain crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing is slated to focus on early outpatient treatment, especially given that new vaccines for the virus are on the horizon. The emphasis on outpatient treatment comes from the high number of people who test positive while exhibiting little or no symptoms. Watch next week to see whether lawmakers at the hearing outline new policies to streamline outpatient treatment and improve health care access. Also look out for discussions on the stalled COVID relief package and how that fits into the topic of the hearing. Facebook to Face Antitrust Lawsuit From at Least 20 States State attorneys general are preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against technology giant Facebook as early as next week. This reporting comes as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) indicated a willingness to pursue its own lawsuit against Facebook either in federal court or in front of its administrative law judge. Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and Whatsapp have made it the subject of scrutiny from antitrust regulators. If Facebook loses its cases, it may be compelled to spin off parts of its business or change its business practices. Watch next week to find out which states join the lawsuits against Facebook and what kind of anti-competitive behavior they allege. Also look out for how Facebook responds to the impending lawsuit. UK to Begin COVID Vaccine Distribution The United Kingdom became the first Western nation to authorize a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for emergency distribution beginning next week. This announcement means that the UK jumped ahead of the US and the European Union in authorizing a vaccine for a pandemic that has been responsible for numerous deaths this year. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that the UK had ordered 40 million doses of the vaccine, enough to inoculate 20 million British citizens. Watch next week to find out how the British government distributes the vaccine, and which demographic groups get it first. Also look to see if there are any public reports of adverse reactions to the vaccine that may create disincentives for further vaccine distribution. Newt's Latest Podcasts: Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future