@melissadancey@mastodon.au The lack of clear answers from officials, and the level of secrecy is really quite extraordinary! The most likely explanation I've heard is that they're doing a "Weekend at Bernie's" act to prevent a special election for the vacant position. GOP tactics have taken a bizarre new twist in the last couple of days: citing several unreliable sources, saying they had a phone call with Mitch McConnell, though nobody can verify the claims. If Mitch McConnell's death is announced before the mid-term election, they'll have to elect someone to the Senate seat, and the Republicans have good reason to fear how the people of Kentucky will vote.