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Trump Has No Events Nov. 25, White House Says, Contradicting Reports of Pennsylvania Trip

Brexit Deal ‘Down to Political Will’ From UK, Says Irish PM

The prime minister of Ireland—where the impact of a Brexit deal will be felt most keenly within the European Union—says he hopes the outline of a free-trade deal between the UK and the EU will emerge by the end of the week. The fate of the deal rests on UK political will, he said. Talks started up again on Monday, albeit online, with the EU’s chief negotiator saying that “fundamental divergences remain.” In just six weeks the UK will sever ties with the trading bloc, regardless of whether a deal has been struck or not. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he had received a sense of progress from both negotiating teams. “I would be hopeful that, by the end of this week, that we could see the outlines of a…

Trump Has No Events Nov. 25, White House Says, Contradicting Reports of Pennsylvania Trip

President Donald Trump has no public events on his schedule on Wednesday, even though reports indicated he’d participate in an election-related hearing in Pennsylvania.

The traveling press pool—reporters who travel with the president and cover what he does—were getting ready to leave for Gettysburg but were told at the last minute that their trip was canceled.

The White House said Trump’s schedule has no updates.

Pennsylvania’s GOP had said Trump was going to participate in the hearing, along with his lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

The apparent cancellation came after Boris Epshteyn, a surrogate, tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Both Trump and Giuliani have had the disease in recent months, meaning they’re likely immune.

The hearing starts at 12:30 p.m. It is being held at the Wyndham Hotel in Gettysburg.

Attendance was not on Trump’s public schedule.

The Senate Majority Policy Committee agreed to hold the hearing at the request of state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Republican. The hearing will discuss “issues and irregularities” related to the election, Pennsylvania Senate Republicans said.

“Elections are a fundamental principle of our democracy—unfortunately, Pennsylvanians have lost faith in the electoral system. It is unacceptable,” said Mastriano, who has called for the resignation of Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar for alleged negligence and incompetence.

“Over the past few weeks, I have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians regarding issues experienced at the polls, irregularities with the mail-in voting system, and concerns whether their vote was counted. We need to correct these issues to restore faith in our republic.”

State Sen. David Argall, a Republican who chairs the committee, is set to join the hearing, as well Senate Majority Leader-Elect Kim Ward and state Reps. Dan Moul, Rob Kauffman, and Paul Schemel.

Trump Has No Events Nov. 25, White House Says, Contradicting Reports of Pennsylvania Trip Allegheny County election employees organize ballots at the Allegheny County elections warehouse in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Nov. 7, 2020. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

“We want assurance that the issues encountered during this past election don’t happen again,” said Argall in a statement. “Senator Mastriano requested this meeting because Pennsylvanians deserve a fair election.”

Trump and his campaign have alleged irregularities with the way Pennsylvania conducted the Nov. 3 election, including an extension of the deadline for reception of mail-in ballots.

That case is being weighed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ordered Boockvar to separate late-arriving ballots in the event they’re declared invalid.

According to results from the state, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden beat Trump by over 80,000 votes.

Biden received nearly 2 million votes by mail, compared to under 600,000 for Trump. The president beat Biden in Election Day voting by over 1.3 million.

Biden’s campaign has dismissed the Trump campaign’s legal efforts.

“Trump did everything he could to disenfranchise voters and stop the results from being certified in Pennsylvania,” the Biden campaign’s legal adviser Bob Bauer said in a statement Tuesday after the state certified its results.

“Trump did not succeed in Pennsylvania and he will not succeed anywhere else,” he added.

Follow Zachary on Twitter: @zackstieber

Focus News: Trump Has No Events Nov. 25, White House Says, Contradicting Reports of Pennsylvania Trip

Kirkup to Step up as the Youngest Leader of WA Liberals

The 33-year-old Member of Parliament Zak Kirkup will become the youngest West Australian Liberal leader in 20 years as his rival pulled out shortly before the party room meeting. Kirkup’s opponent, former cabinet minister Dean Nalder, announced his withdrawal in a statement released on Tuesday, saying it was clear that the numbers were not on his side, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “It has become apparent that I don’t have the majority support of my parliamentary colleagues and therefore will clear a path for the new leader,” Nalder told AAP. “I have been humbled at the level of support from my electorate and the wider community.” Kirkup’s victory means the Liberal party would welcome its youngest leader since Matt Birney’s short-lived reign in the mid-2000s. “I think anyone should judge a…