• Politics

Why Donald Trump’s Election Tweets Are Troubling

3 minute read

If you only read one thing: Donald Trump is spreading false information about the election, responding to a liberal push for a recount in Wisconsin by alleging voter fraud in three states where he lost. The baseless allegations of millions of illegal votes is far from the first time that the President-elect has entertained conspiracy, but it’s his first foray into the same since winning on Election Day. Trump’s refusal to change was mystifying on the campaign trail and will be troubling in the White House.

Meanwhile, divisions within the Trump transition are coming to light as the fight over the Cabinet intensifies. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway worked to torpedo the nomination of Trump critic Mitt Romney, warning of a grassroots backlash, while dueling leaks surround other jobs.

A recount in Wisconsin and potential recounts in Michigan and Pennsylvania aren’t going to change the result, but they are frothing the frustrations of liberals still coming to grips with the election outcome. Obama expands the War on Terror. And new profiles of Bannon and Kushner.

Here are your must reads:

Must Reads

Donald Trump Falsely Says Millions of People Voted Illegally in the Election He Won
No evidence to support claim [TIME]

Donald Trump’s Bogus Claim That Millions of People Voted Illegally for Hillary Clinton
No basis in fact [Washington Post]

Obama Expands War With Al Qaeda to Include Shabab in Somalia
Expanding war on terror he hoped to end [New York Times]

Kellyanne Conway Publicly Slams Mitt Romney as Potential Secretary of State Pick
Trump campaign manager campaigns against Cabinet candidate [Associated Press]

For Trump Son-in-Law and Confidant Jared Kushner, a Long History of Fierce Loyalty
Praise for Bridgegate [Washington Post]

Trump’s Data Team Saw a Different America—and They Were Right
The president-elect’s analysts picked up disturbances others weren’t seeing [Bloomberg]

Sound Off

“So we’re all for party unity. I don’t think a cost of admission for party unity has to be the secretary of state position. — Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on the prospect of Mitt Romney serving as Trump’s Secretary of State

“Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California – so why isn’t the media reporting on this? Serious bias – big problem!” — President-elect Trump, making a baseless accusation in a Sunday tweet

Bits and Bites

Goodbye to Barack Obama’s world [Financial Times]

Federal Judge Blocks President Obama’s Overtime Pay Expansion [TIME]

All Eyes on Trump as Two-Year U.S.-Cuba Thaw May Be in Limbo [Bloomberg]

Teachers Rework Lesson Plans After Donald Trump’s Election [Wall Street Journal]

Donald Trump Picks Charter School Advocate Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary [Associated Press]

Harvard classmates barely recognize the Bannon of today [Boston Globe]

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com