DEMOCRATS and Republicans alike are focusing on Georgia, where a runoff election for two Senate seats could have important consequences (Shutterstock).

A recording of a phone call in which President Donald Trump pressured the top Georgia election official to “find” enough votes to tip that state’s Electoral College votes away from President-elect Joe Biden may have an effect on Tuesday’s much-watched special runoff elections in Georgia to select two United States senators.

According to comments made by some Republican officials to several news organizations, Trump’s accusations that the Georgia election system was not safe might lead to lower turnout among discouraged Republicans.

Currently, the GOP holds 50 seats in the U.S. Senate and the Democrats (including two independents who caucus with them) have 48. Two seats are up for grabs, and if Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and David Warnock defeat incumbents David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, that would give each party 50 seats. As Vice President, Kamala Harris will be able to cast tie-breaking votes and put her party in control of the upper House. The Democrats already have a majority in the House of Representatives.
Trump traveled to Georgia on Monday to headline a rally for the incumbents, and Biden and Harris also visited the state. According to United Press International, almost 3 million early votes have been cast. Political observers in the state believe that Democrats are likely to vote before election day, while Republicans tend to cast their ballot on Election Day, so turnout is key in what is expected to be a very close election.

The News: Proud Boys leader arrested

Enrique Tarrio, the chairman of the right-wing Proud Boys group, was arrested Monday afternoon by Washington, D.C. police on a charge of destruction of property for allegedly destroying as “Black Lives Banner” last month. Tarrio, who is a convicted felon, was also charged with being in possession of a two high-capacity firearms magazines, according to USA Today.

PROTESTS PLANNED: Wednesday’s formal acceptance by Congress of the result of the Electoral College voting making Joe Biden the 46th president will draw protestor to the national capital. They will be there to support President Donald Trump’s claim that the election was riddled with fraud and that Trump, not Biden, had actually won. D.C. police and the National Guard are making plans to head off any violence or disorder.

Sports: Goodbye to Chargers’ head man

After two losing seasons, Anthony Lynn was fired Monday from his job as head coach of the San Diego Chargers. Lynn’s record was 33-31 in four seasons. The Bolts had a good season in 2018 with a 12-4 mark and a playoff victory. But the team went to 5-11 in 2019 and finished 7-9 this year.