Biden takes on 'the challenge of our time'

Fresh off his first major bipartisan victory, President Biden is turning to larger efforts aimed at shoring up faith in democracy around the world. He will convene a virtual democracy summit with heads of state from other democratic nations on Dec. 9-10. "The challenge of our time is to demonstrate that democracies can deliver by improving the lives of their own people and by addressing the greatest problems facing the wider world," a White House statement said.

• — Attendees will discuss "the challenges facing democracy so as to collectively strengthen the foundation for democratic renewal," focusing on "defending against authoritarianism, fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights," according to the statement. The summit will also include representatives of civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector, who will commit to a year of action and a follow-up session one year later.
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• — Western democracies cast a wary eye at the U.S. under Donald Trump, who tore up traditional alliances and praised stronger ties with Russia and China. Needless to say, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and ongoing Republican support for new voting laws based on the ex-president's baseless claims about election fraud have left them guarded about American leadership.
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• — But Biden, heavily invested in his $1 trillion infrastructure bill—which passed the Senate on Tuesday with the backing of 19 Republicans—says the bipartisan effort shows that U.S. democracy is still vital, and the U.S. can come together to tackle big issues and compete with authoritarian countries like China. —Reuters

Rubin: The election threat we're not addressing

"Democrats, in their efforts to pass legislation that would protect voting rights, have yet to address the biggest threat voters now face: the blatant attempt by state Republicans to override the will of the voters by taking control of election administration away from local officials and handing it to partisans. Such efforts cannot be countered by boosting turnout. The only way to foil Republicans' attempted election rigging is for Democrats to update and pass their reform bill and for the Justice Department to move aggressively against those who attempt to subvert democracy." —Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post

Jennifer Rubin is an attorney and political opinion columnist at The Washington Post.

MORE: As Congress recesses, democratic successes do not include voting rights —The New York Times

The coup that almost was

Back on Jan. 5, we reported in THE TOPLINE that U.S. Attorney Byung Pak resigned his position in the Northern District of Georgia a day earlier due to "unforeseen circumstances." It sounded, well, sketchy to us. Now we know why. Pak revealed to congressional investigators yesterday that his abrupt departure was prompted by Justice Department officials' warning that Donald Trump planned to fire him for refusing to say that widespread voter fraud had been found in Georgia. During a three-hour, closed-door interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Pak testified that the ex-president was furious that he had investigated allegations of voter fraud in Fulton County and, finding no evidence to support them, spurned Trump's request to say otherwise. —The New York Times

MORE: Secretary of state races emerge as newest U.S. political flashpoint —CNN

Fields: It should be about facts, not politics

"A good many people were very vocal early on that they wanted life to get back to normal. Then, when offered the very thing they were told from the start would make that possible, pivoted to argue about their rights, cast doubts about how quickly the vaccines were developed, and said no one can tell them what to do. They're not wrong on that last part. We can't tell other people what to do. But going down that road has consequences, as we're seeing right now. I understand the advice of public health officials has frequently changed. It can be confusing. So is navigating an unprecedented pandemic. Viruses mutate. Recommendations for prevention change as more data becomes available. This is all being done in real time, and, frankly, the work of scientists, public health officials, and healthcare workers has been astonishing, while the handiwork of politicians has been baffling." —Ben Fields in Charleston Gazette-Mail

Ben Fields is the opinion editor at the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

MORE: Fauci says everybody will likely need a Covid vaccine booster shot eventually —CNBC

A new policy for ICE

The Biden Administration has issued new guidance instructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to refrain from detaining and deporting immigrants who were victims of crimes—even if they don't have a pending immigration application. Absent "exceptional" cases, ICE agents also must request permission from top agency officials to apprehend witnesses of crimes who are part of ongoing law enforcement investigations or prosecutions. "This policy update facilitates victim cooperation with law enforcement, enhances ICE's criminal investigative efforts, and promotes trust in ICE agents and officers," interim ICE Director Tae Johnson said. "It is ICE's commitment to assist victims of crime regardless of their immigration status." —CBS News

MORE: Immigration: Biden Administration increases border deportations and prosecutions to deter migration —CBS News

Focus on global democracy

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is facing new criminal charges in connection with his foundation, which the Investigative Committee of Russia says "infringes on people's rights." The committee alleges that the organization induced citizens to commit "unlawful acts" by encouraging them to participate in demonstrations last January. Navalny is already serving two-and-a-half years in prison for "violating parole" while recovering from being poisoned by Russian agents. "No one infringes on the...rights of citizens like [President Vladimir] Putin himself and all his henchmen, including the Investigative Committee," Navalny's allies said in response to the new charges. —The Hill

• — Germany. A British man has been arrested in Potsdam on suspicion of spying for Russia. German federal prosecutors say the man, who worked at the British embassy in Berlin, passed documents to Russian intelligence "at least once" in exchange for an "unknown amount" of money. German officials are said to be taking the case "very seriously.” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, "Spying on a close ally on German soil is absolutely unacceptable, and we are in full solidarity with our British friends." —BBC News
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• — Brazil. Brazilian lawmakers have rejected a proposal to require printed receipts at some electronic ballot boxes. Without presenting evidence, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro claims the country's voting system is prone to fraud, and printouts would allow for auditing election results. Electoral officials and even many of Bolsonaro's political allies opposed the proposal, saying the system is reliable, and the change could create opportunities for vote-buying. Critics say Bolsonaro is trying to sow doubt among his supporters ahead of the 2022 election. It's no wonder he's called "Trump of the Tropics." —Associated Press
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• — Zambia. Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema said yesterday that the country's election is likely to test the stability of Zambia's democracy. He warned the military deployed on the streets ahead of today's election against "aiding a particular party," and raised concern that the country could fall into chaos if the polls are "mismanaged." President Edgar Lungu says he sent the army into the streets to curb growing violence, but the opposition claims the move was meant to intimidate its supporters. —WAVY

Bourgault & Rashid: The Afghan press needs the world's help

"The Taliban have already launched a major offensive, capturing rural districts and encircling provincial cities. In its wake, journalists have been systematically threatened and killed, media outlets shuttered, and studios repurposed to broadcast Taliban propaganda. In the past three months, 51 media outlets have closed. The Taliban commandeered six media stations, replacing independent journalists with lackeys. One thousand reporters and staff members have lost their jobs. Two journalists have been killed." —Jeanne Bourgault & Ahmed Rashid in The New York Times

Jeanne Bourgault is the president and chief executive of Internews. Ahmed Rashid is a board member of the Committee to Protect Journalists and the author of "Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia."

MORE: U.S. troops to help evacuate some embassy staff in Afghanistan —Associated Press

Spot on, Bill T. of Arizona! It's simply astounding, the extent to which the "Party of Destruction," as I now refer to them, is either incapable or unwilling to acknowledge the double standard and outright dishonesty in their messages. —Taylor J., Idaho

You want a job, get the vaccine! You want to fly, get the vaccine! —Wane D., California

It puzzles me that OSHA and the Dept. of Labor do not have the power to mandate worksite masks and perhaps vaccines during a pandemic.

They can mandate that a ladder has a circular railing, how high a door jam has to be, or the amount of carbon dioxide allowed inside, but they can't mandate employees wear masks on all worksites during an airborne respiratory illness pandemic? SMH —Ken G., Colorado

The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Stand Up Republic Foundation.