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If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and political commentator Van Jones. Explaining why the customary concession speech is one of the most important safeguards for democracy, Jones exposes shocking legal loopholes that could enable a candidate to grab power even if they lose both the popular vote and the electoral college — and shares what ordinary citizens can do if there’s no peaceful transfer of power.
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Anthony Broaddus
October 27, 2020 at 12:47 am
Trunp is all talk. He’ll leave.
Edwin Hitt
October 27, 2020 at 12:47 am
There is no legal requirement that the loosing candidate concedes…Biden can refuse to concede as long as he wants as Hillary has said. It doesn’t matter; he’s still the looser whether or not he acknowledges it.
Concerned Civil Citizen
October 27, 2020 at 12:48 am
You know what I think will come out of this post election scenario, should it go wrong: WE WILL HAVE PROVEN TO THE COMMUNISTIC THINKERS THAT DEMOCRACY WAS ALWAYS JUST A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT THAT AMERICANS USED AS A SYSTEMIC MECHANISM, WHO WANTED TO PUSH IT ON OTHER NATIONS FOR WHATEVER THE GAIN OF POWER OR SOURCES ACROSS TIME! America will eat itself from the inside out! No one will be safe on the streets for a long time…. this is sad. Van, you explained it better than I have ever heard it said. Thank you. God Help Us All…
Christian Prepper
October 27, 2020 at 12:49 am
*CLINTON: “DON’T CONCEDE BIDEN!”*
Natural Freeness
October 27, 2020 at 12:50 am
Democracy does not work without civility. Forgotten behavior like goodness.
Christian Prepper
October 27, 2020 at 12:54 am
*I’m ashamed of TED for allowing this “progressive” infomercial. TED should remain “political atheists”.*
Eric P.
October 27, 2020 at 12:55 am
It’s funny how you say to stick to universal values and stay away from the partisan stuff. In the next breath, you say orange man bad. You don’t bring up how the Speaker if the House, the former Secretary of State both made public statements that Biden should not concede if he loses. You’re still a partisan hack, even though you tried (a little) not to sound like one. You’re also a racist, Mr. Whitewashing.
Sebastian Molineaux
October 27, 2020 at 12:55 am
16 minutes of fearmongering
THE MACK SHOW
October 27, 2020 at 12:59 am
We need a new government governed by God the New World Order
Mrs Gray
October 27, 2020 at 1:00 am
Be anxious in nothing, but God. It may be the last thing we know. Philippians 4:13.
idk
October 27, 2020 at 1:00 am
Um this did and is still happening. 2016. How soon we forget.
Christian Prepper
October 27, 2020 at 1:01 am
*HURRAY for 2020!*
*The easiest year of the early 20s!*
*(Hint: It’ll be worse next year.)*
jcseiji
October 27, 2020 at 1:02 am
There is one more consideration not discussed in the video. the role of the US military services. Check this link for some information on the what ifs
mxachary
October 27, 2020 at 1:05 am
This is why you need a federal election commission that controls the entire process and declares the winner
Henry
October 27, 2020 at 1:09 am
you just taught trump how to be a dictator. good luck us of a.
A Woodmann
October 27, 2020 at 1:11 am
Thank You
LightningAussie
October 27, 2020 at 1:14 am
Why do you think trumps been stacking the courts
juleous camper
October 27, 2020 at 1:15 am
Omg fear mongering garbage right off the bat, I’m disappointed in TED talks.
P. B Amygdala
October 27, 2020 at 1:19 am
I respectfully disagree. Past precedent is no longer a sufficient guide in these uncertain times. Sure, Gore’s concession helped the nation move on. But when Hillary conceded, Dems did not embrace or even tolerate Trump: copious protest rallies.
Regardless of who loses, no concession speech will reduce the collective anxiety and hate.
Both teams have been raised to fever pitch by their respective media echo chambers and are ready to burst. Neither will accept losing graciously. It’s about to get ugly.
junkmail1203
October 27, 2020 at 1:20 am
Everyone tweets “concede you ahole”
Fred Bretz
October 27, 2020 at 1:21 am
I don’t suppose he noticed that it’s always the progressives who want to throw our traditions in the trash.
Tracey Guilliams
October 27, 2020 at 1:21 am
Van I love you but you’re scaring the crap out of me
C4commando
October 27, 2020 at 1:22 am
It’s not going to happen
H. Smirnov
October 27, 2020 at 1:25 am
What if a candidate does not know that he is running?
Jessica Freeborn
October 27, 2020 at 1:26 am
Just gotta say I’m very impressed and motivated by how positive the comments are on this video, or at the very least not trolling or looking to pick degrading nonsense fights in support of the current president. It’s quite refreshing. Best of luck to you this election America
Mike Powell
October 28, 2020 at 12:20 am
what if a party cheats and gets caught?
Dinngg0
October 28, 2020 at 12:22 am
It’s encouraging to see the high turnout already. Looks like this won’t be so close after all, but we have dodged a bullet. Something we should be thinking about long after the inauguration.
wally crail
October 28, 2020 at 12:22 am
America criticizes other countries over corrupt electoral processes, yet they have corruption built into their own constitution..
pavelow235
October 28, 2020 at 12:24 am
Not a fan of this race baiting guy.
shenggiepoo
October 28, 2020 at 12:24 am
Can’t wait to end this year with a Civil War!!
wally crail
October 28, 2020 at 12:24 am
“Universal American values”. There is no such thing. America is the most divided country on the planet, and beyond.
ShootinItStr8
October 28, 2020 at 12:25 am
Lol so you’re just gonna sit here and tell him exactly what to do huh? Wth lol🤣😂
wally crail
October 28, 2020 at 12:28 am
7 more sleeps to go, and it’s civil war time. YAY!!!!!
tm502010
October 28, 2020 at 12:31 am
*TRUMP WILL **-NEVER-** CONCEDE!!*
Even if Biden wins a landslide: HE WILL NOT DO IT! We are in deep trouble!
Pyro- Jeewlian
October 28, 2020 at 12:33 am
This is used as a Strawman argument, because they ran out of “orange man bad” stories.
If you look it up, Trump very clearly answered on this, at at least 2 rally’s… look it up.
This is not a concern! It’s litterally crying for unbroken eggs!
Michael Heins
October 28, 2020 at 12:36 am
I hope at least some Americans realize how truly insane this is.
Eric S
October 28, 2020 at 12:38 am
This is scary af
Kevin Zingg
October 28, 2020 at 12:44 am
What everybody in this country wants to know and the media refuses to talk about it is if Trump loses how much damage can he do and what powers does he have between November 3rd 2020 and January 20 20 21 question
Steven
October 28, 2020 at 12:50 am
Good luck sleeping tonight, folks!
John Smith
October 28, 2020 at 12:55 am
*The most dangerous evil virus on this planet is not COVID19, but rather BIDEN 20*
HK-1
October 28, 2020 at 12:56 am
Van much appreciated your observations of this dysfunctional system if you were running for office you would have my vote.
Allie Metcalf
October 28, 2020 at 12:56 am
This is exactly why they pushed Barrett into scotus so quickly and at any cost. Think it through. They’re planning for the election results to be contested in every way possible. This is what a cult does. Get ready, 2020 is about to get seriously jacked up.
photokeith01
October 28, 2020 at 1:04 am
You are pushing bias! Lawyers are always corrupt looking for loopholes. Van is part of the problem!!!! Inciting violence against trump!!!!
Bryan W
October 28, 2020 at 1:04 am
Even when trump loses both the popular and electoral, he won’t concede. 100 to 1 he uses emergency powers to prevent someone else coming in.
ADMA
October 28, 2020 at 1:07 am
Every one needs to see this presentation.
L. Real
October 28, 2020 at 1:12 am
Electoral College must end.
Suzanne Romero
October 28, 2020 at 1:12 am
Hello! Um…it happened in 2016. Trump lost the popular vote by 3 million votes but was sworn in as President all because of the electoral college.
Something needs to be done about the electoral college.
Bloviator Magnus
October 28, 2020 at 1:22 am
GOP doesn’t believe every vote should count LOL. what world have you been living in?
Prince of Light
October 28, 2020 at 1:24 am
Trump didn’t concede. Greetings from November 4th!
DP RP
October 28, 2020 at 1:27 am
Van Jones, you should be on CNN, MSNBC and other MSM outlets screaming this every evening to millions of viewers not only to 100K+ viewers on TED. We need you bro
david reed
October 28, 2020 at 11:50 pm
Or we just play the end to a Looney Tunes cartoon – “Bedi, bedi, bedi that’s all folks!”
Bee Quinn
October 28, 2020 at 11:51 pm
This is the best advice to the American people regarding the upcoming elections, I honestly hope it will be a peaceful transfer of power in the event Trump looses. America is in enough of crisis due to the pandemic 😷. God bless all at the moment.
Uriel238
October 28, 2020 at 11:51 pm
The problem with peaceful protest is having to risk / suffer getting shot at by violent law enforcement. No one wants to end up wounded or in detention even though it means three to five others will join the resistance. And for those who are dead, it’s _no_ consolation that their death will draw one hundred to one thousand new recruits into the fold of the resistance.
Personally, I’m pissed off already. I want to shell the Capitol building and the Supreme Court building until they’re both rubble-filled craters. I want our traitorous officials and the whole DHS hunted to the ends of the earth for the crimes against humanity to which they’re all complicit.
CHEETOS HOTFRIES
October 28, 2020 at 11:57 pm
the only con man whos willing to throw us all under the bus is mosalini trump
CHEETOS HOTFRIES
October 28, 2020 at 11:57 pm
Biden for president
James Manley
October 29, 2020 at 12:08 am
The Crow nation just jumped the train.
Who wants to ride the freedom train?
Bryan Wilkens
October 29, 2020 at 12:16 am
Easy, we have the numbers. We take it back.
#revolution2020
Maddy Palfrey
October 29, 2020 at 12:16 am
What would be considered a close vote for all of this to potentially happen?
Nelson Callon
October 29, 2020 at 12:19 am
What if we actually elect a traitor! Joe Biden has sold America to foreign governments. Proof is out there. Not made up crap. Real evidence. Look it up. This happened with nothing to do with Trump.
whuzzzup
October 29, 2020 at 12:27 am
Lefties will so mad when Trump just leaves and does not make the fuss they want him to do. Kinda pathetic.
Richard Manfredi
October 29, 2020 at 12:30 am
Good grief, Van has gone off the deep end . TDS has rotted his brain.
frank lucas
October 29, 2020 at 12:36 am
Whatever Van Jones. Are you talking about Biden? Didn’t Hiliary tell Biden not to concede, no matter WHAT!!! I’m Black and I just voted Trump AGAIN. Eat your heart out.
Connie Shelton
October 29, 2020 at 12:42 am
Thank you for bringing this to light. It scares the the begeebers out of me. He’s (we all know who) has already said many times that the votes are rigged and mail in voting is fraudulent. Voter suppression is obvious. This is outrageous! I mailed my ballot in a week ago. I’m out of my state due to a family medical emergency. I just heard that if you haven’t mailed your ballot in yet it’s too late and you must hand deliver it now or your vote will not be counted! This scares me! Please get your vote in now!!
Sai Thao
October 29, 2020 at 12:44 am
So no matter what happens, millions will die.
Jacque Christy
October 29, 2020 at 12:45 am
Thanks, Van for the info and your time.
iam stevenson
October 29, 2020 at 12:47 am
Stand by Don Jr and Eric; cancel hunting down extinct animals and come to the aid of daddy.
Steve Causley
October 29, 2020 at 12:48 am
All your doing is giving Trump an easy way to not leave you must be a Trump supporter. If he uses this your at fault.
Val H
October 29, 2020 at 12:56 am
Gee, you just told him how to cheat. Nice job.
rey esco
October 29, 2020 at 1:02 am
Why tall about it when Republicans will do it now
Pishposh Magoo
October 29, 2020 at 1:06 am
Next time you talk to Sleepy, Creepy Uncle Joe make sure that you ask him.
Thomas Halecky
October 29, 2020 at 1:13 am
What you are describing is the end of America.
Dolp Turdman Is The Antichrist
October 29, 2020 at 1:13 am
Why would anyone listen to this guy? He cried when he found out trump was racist.
bayskiff90
October 29, 2020 at 1:19 am
Well Pelosi already told biden to under no circumstances concede to Trump so….
Ryan Myrvang
October 29, 2020 at 1:26 am
<3
Sille Drof
October 29, 2020 at 1:27 am
Van is about to experience another white lash like he has never seen before. Except this time there will be a lot of black lash and brown lash to go along with it.