Rachel Maddow discussing issue (and my blog post) starting around the 8 minute mark.

Earlier:

Alabama SOS Merrill Still Won’t Engage on the Merits Over Whether Roy Moore Can Get a Recount If He Pays for It, But Disparages Attorneys and Judges from California

Still no response on the merits from Moore:

Just talked to Alabama SoS, who continues to maintain Moore can request recount (@rickhasen disputes this). Anyone with standing, he says, can request.

SoS said recount can only occur once certification is done, and would have to be completed by Jan 3.

— Sam Levine (@srl) December 13, 2017