IT: SCOTUS Justice Amy Coney Barrett, and... 🎅🏽 Should Santa get early COVID-19 vaccine?

Welcome to Tuesday, October 27th, bells and whistles...

Meet the newest Supreme Court Justice:

The Senate voted 52-48 on Monday to confirm Barrett, filling the vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Barrett’s elevation from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court makes her the 115th justice in the Court’s history, the fifth woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, and the first mother of school-age children to serve as a justice. 

The vote went along party-lines as no Democrats voted in favor, which makes Barrett’s the first Supreme Court appointment since 1869 to be confirmed without bipartisan support.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) was the lone Republican to vote no, citing her preference that the nomination vote be delayed until after the election. 

The confirmation process concluded 30 days after Barrett was nominated, which made the process the second fastest in the modern era. With only eight days remaining before the election, it also occurred closer to Election Day than any other Supreme Court confirmation in history.

How do you feel about the confirmation of Barrett to the Supreme Court?

On the Radar

Washington, D.C. March 4, 1801. 4:00 a.m. John Adams, the second president of the United States, escapes The District under the cloak of darkness. He could not bear to watch the inauguration ceremony of his friend-turned-rival, Thomas Jefferson. Adams was hurt. He was humiliated. He was bitter and broken. But in his departure, he established what would become a hallmark of the budding nation’s democracy: the peaceful transfer of political power. 

For over 200 years, the defeated presidential candidate has gracefully accepted their loss and conceded the election, clearing the path for a smooth transition of power from the outgoing administration to the president-elect.

President Trump, however, has repeatedly passed on committing to a peaceful transfer of power or making it contingent on not counting certain ballots.

Late last month, Trump said, “we’re going to have to see what happens” and reiterated his complaints about mail-in voting, urging the electorate to “get rid of the ballots.”  

Are you worried about a peaceful transfer of power after this election?

Under the Radar

Santa's Little Helper: COVID-19 Vaccine

The Trump administration has cancelled plans to offer Santa Claus performers early COVID-19 vaccine access in exchange for their participation in promoting it publicly.

Michael Caputo, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, had proposed that the St. Nick look-alikes would promote the benefits of a coronavirus vaccine at rollout events in dozens of cities.

Ric Erwin, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas, called the news "extremely disappointing" in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story.

"This was our greatest hope for Christmas 2020, and now it looks like it won't happen."

Should Santas be used to promote a COVID-19 vaccine?

Today Could Be The Most Important Election In Your Lifetime

• Today is the final day to register to vote in New Hampshire. Register here.

And, in the End…

On this date in 1904, the New York subway system officially opened.

Have a #$@% Cranky Co-Workers Day,

—Josh Herman

Talk to us via email at editorial [at] causes.com. And don’t forget to keep in touch @Causes.