The Hill Articles: December 10, 2020

Biden and Harris named Time’s 2020 ‘Person of the Year’ US believes reports of Eritrean forces in Ethiopia Tigray region are ‘credible’: report US to sanction Turkey over Russian defense system: report Federal government executes Brandon Bernard despite last-minute appeals Barr knew about federal probes into Hunter Biden’s financial dealings in spring: WSJ FDA panel member says she voted against vaccine authorization because of limited data on ‘younger participants’ Haaland backers ask Udall to step aside in bid for Interior post Georgia House speaker calls for secretary of state to be chosen by general assembly, not voters Florida man pays 114 households’ utility bills about to be disconnected Michigan AG says Texas ‘has no standing to disenfranchise’ millions of voters Top GOP lawmaker touts ‘more flexible’ PPP loans in bipartisan proposal Nearly 90 percent of Black women voters in Georgia say they’re likely to vote in runoffs: survey GOP senator blocks Smithsonian Latino, women’s history museums Veterans healthcare fight snagging government funding deal Hillicon Valley: New FCC commissioner’s arrival signals gridlock early next year | FCC rejects Huawei appeal of national security threat designation | Top election security official to depart federal cyber agency Democrats urge Biden to address ‘infodemic’ of COVID-19 disinformation, misinformation Coalition warns wealthier countries are hoarding COVID-19 vaccines ‘Christmas Star,’ not seen in 800 years, will light up on longest night of the year OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Biden taps ex-Obama chief for VA | Shutdown looms amid standoff | SCOTUS rules on rape cases in military Sanders, Hawley team up to demand vote on second round of stimulus checks Michigan AG to appeal court ruling that companies can refuse service to gay customers On The Money: Millions of Americans in poverty as Black, Native American wages stagnate | Jobless claims jump to 853K | Economists warn against excluding state aid from COVID-19 relief Lebanese prime minister charged in connection with Beirut explosion Biden says FDA panel vote on Pfizer vaccine a ‘bright light in a needlessly dark time’ Top election security official to leave federal cybersecurity agency The first woman may walk on the moon in 2024 Harris and husband Emhoff celebrate start of Hanukkah Overnight Health Care: FDA panel recommends authorizing Pfizer vaccine | CDC director gives grim death projection | More states impose restrictions Trump administration implements new restrictions on asylum eligibility State watchdog finds Susan Pompeo traveled without proper certification Latino, Black Americans dramatically more hopeful since election, poll says Smugglers busted throwing seven pounds of chicken wings, other contraband over prison wall Dozens of species declared extinct in latest IUCN report Delaware-sized iceberg could collide with island in South Atlantic this month FDA panel votes in favor of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Disney+ reports 86 million subscribers a year after launch OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Energy issues rule allowing companies to develop own efficiency tests for products | GOP lawmakers push back on Federal Reserve’s climate risk efforts GOP chairman calls Trump’s Western Sahara deal ‘shocking and deeply disappointing’ MasterCard, Visa to stop allowing their cards to be used on Pornhub Bette Midler blasts McConnell: ‘How did he win with an 18% approval rating?’ FCC rejects Huawei appeal of national security threat designation Pennsylvania governor bans indoor dining, gyms under new virus order GOP lawmakers push back on Federal Reserve’s climate risk efforts Here’s proof that promises for health care are fraudulent Senate squabbling sparks shutdown threat Trump official subpoenaed by House panel for Census documents State Department No. 2 hits North Korea over lack of negotiations, acknowledges Biden win Education reform should start with wraparound services for low-income students Pfizer VP: Company looked for the safest coronavirus vaccine candidate possible Energy issues rule allowing companies to develop own efficiency tests for products Fudge: ‘I can do so much of the same things’ at HUD as agriculture More than 100 House Republicans sign brief backing Texas lawsuit challenging election results Texas lawmaker to file bill calling for vote on secession from US Virginia to impose overnight curfew as COVID-19 cases rise Why did Congress strip the Chinese drone ban from the NDAA? Trump signs executive order to brand foreign aid with common logo Biden in leaked audio says ‘defund the police’ being used to ‘beat the living hell out of’ Democrats CDC director: US COVID-19 deaths likely to exceed 9/11 toll for 60 days NYT’s Haberman: Trump ‘can’t handle the concept of the label ‘loser’ Top House Democrat warns against Trump’s Western Sahara designation Airbnb tops $100B in first day of trading 25-year-old new mom becomes California’s youngest woman of color to be mayor GoFundMe names the most generous cities in America GOP lawmaker: Texas election lawsuit represents ‘a dangerous violation of federalism’ Gannett to outsource 465 business jobs to India Asian American households saw the most income growth over the last decade Poll: Trump approval steady at 49 percent VA watchdog releases report on Wilkie’s efforts to disparage assault survivor Starbucks set to raise wages, bringing 30 percent of employees above $15 minimum wage McDonald’s eliminating monthly Happy Meal subsidies for toys to franchisees Time to hang up on a bad anti-robocall law Pennsylvania AG blasts Texas election suit as ‘seditious abuse’ of judicial process Longtime Emily’s List head Stephanie Schriock stepping down Fox anchor takes issue with panelist who criticized lack of discussion on COVID-19 deaths Mehdi Hasan blasts tweet from Newsweek opinion editor: ‘This is racism plain and simple’ Pentagon withdrawing support from CIA counter-terrorism efforts: report New Hampshire House Speaker dies of COVID-19 one week after swearing in Judge denies Trump administration request to enforce in-person pickup requirement for abortion pill Supreme Court rules unanimously that Muslim men can sue FBI agents over no-fly list After 5 decades of private credit reporting, it’s time for a change Boris Johnson: ‘Strong possibility’ of UK not reaching trade deal with EU Authorities seize $600K worth of counterfeit N95 masks from Texas warehouse Why the ‘Digital Health Passport’ will send air travelers jetting for private options Conservative group head: Trump administration failed at coordinating ‘consistent agenda’ Matt Yglesias says Biden Cabinet picks give ‘extraordinary level of look back’ to Obama administration Supreme Court rules military rape cases have no statute of limitations Mnuchin faces heat over coronavirus rescue loan to trucking company How the pandemic brought us opportunity for health, wealth and happiness Pelosi warns of ‘danger’ as Republicans supportive of QAnon poised to join Congress U.S. Olympic committee announces athletes will be allowed to protest racial injustice AFL-CIO praises Biden trade pick Tai as ‘worker-champion’ Minnesota town grants permission for white supremacist group to take over church It’s time to change the way we measure pollution EU coronavirus regulations could ban UK travelers as of Jan 1 This company wants to bring the ‘mother cannabinoid’ to the masses US slaps sanctions on alleged human rights abusers in Russia, Yemen and Haiti Millions of Americans in poverty as Black, Native American wages stagnate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reveals he had prostate cancer in essay calling for equity in health care Germany investigating Facebook over virtual reality products What America’s Thinking: December 10, 2020 Bill Gates backs battery company that says it’s twice as fast as Tesla Multiple senior FBI officials accused of sexual harassment over last 5 years: AP Ellen DeGeneres tests positive for coronavirus Immigrant essential workers have helped us through this long, dark pandemic Supreme Court allows Muslim men to sue FBI agents over no-fly list Adelson to make push for casinos in Texas: report Biden will have White House disinfected after Trump leaves Graham says Stacey Abrams ‘conned’ Georgia GOP into helping Biden win Kamala Harris’s husband Doug Emhoff to join Georgetown faculty ‘Elf’ cast reunites to fundraise for Democrats in Georgia Senate runoffs HHS shows how to sunset red tape on small business Pennsylvania AG calls Ted Cruz a ‘sad sack’ after Trump asks for his help in Texas lawsuit US flies two B-52s over Persian Gulf amid tensions with Iran Five places to find BIPOC businesses for holiday shopping this year Kaepernick teams up with Ben & Jerry’s for new flavor, plans to donate his proceeds to racial justice effort CEOs vow to create 1M new jobs for Black Americans Google CEO says company will review disputed dismissal of top AI researcher CDC official tells Congress she was told to delete email seeking to alter scientific report AT&T fielding offers of more than $15B for DirecTV: report Cotton calls for special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden Hillary Clinton: Republicans that ‘humor’ Trump election claims ‘have no spines’ The nature of conservation is inherently bipartisan Biden makes Fudge, Vilsack, Tai nominations official Hispanic Caucus ramps up Cabinet pressure campaign Trump says Morocco to resume diplomatic relations with Israel Gates Foundation commits another $250 million to fight COVID-19 Biden to nominate Denis McDonough for VA secretary Grammys apologize after asking Tiffany Haddish to host without compensation Giuliani released from hospital after getting treatment for coronavirus Hawley introduces bill for second round of stimulus checks Amazon becomes largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy Taylor Swift recalls the moment she learned Biden won the election: ‘Quiet, cautious elation and relief’ Trump’s election antics weaken America — at home and abroad Taylor Swift donates $13K to two mothers facing eviction during pandemic Saudi Arabia approves Pfizer coronavirus vaccine Coronavirus identified in Italy months before first confirmed case Watch live: Pelosi holds weekly press conference Congressional Progressive Caucus announces new leadership team Biden selects Susan Rice to lead Domestic Policy Council, McDonough for Veterans Affairs Virginia city board votes unanimously to remove names of Thomas Jefferson and George Mason from schools because they were slaveholders Joe Biden’s economic challenge Rising: December 10, 2020 18 states join Texas case seeking to overturn Biden win New Baltimore mayor closing restaurants for indoor and outdoor dining U.S. records more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in just one day, higher than 9/11 Erectile dysfunction drug packaged with antidepressant in ‘product mix-up’ CDC reports record flu vaccine distribution ‘We’ll make a very careful decision:’ FDA director assures safe COVID-19 vaccine review Fox seen on White House grounds Money talks: Why China is beating America in Asia Rush Limbaugh: US ‘trending toward secession’ Stocks drop as unemployment claims spike Biden COVID-19 adviser: ‘There is not a safe Christmas party in this country right now’ ICUs in Stockholm reach 99 percent capacity: report White House task force recommends lifting ban on travelers from Europe, Brazil: report Add $200 billion to the next stimulus package — at zero cost to taxpayers New CDC coronavirus forecast: 362,000 dead by Jan. 2 Biden, Trump, Fauci among finalists for Time’s Person of the Year Trump’s political future depends on whether he can change The dangerous dance of dealing with a nuclear North Korea China limiting US officials’ travel to Hong Kong Jobless claims jump to 853K as record coronavirus cases hinder economy Watch live: FDA panel considers emergency authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Congress’ penchant for unpunctuality Ocasio-Cortez: Biden agenda ‘a little hazy’ Minneapolis City Council approves police budget cuts, staffing levels unchanged Mike Pompeo’s disastrous legacy Boost your brand and your productivity with this Google apps boot camp Learn how to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies in your spare time The logistics of transporting the COVID-19 vaccine Almost 3 in 4 say pandemic is getting worse: Gallup The troubling agenda of LA’s new ‘progressive’ prosecutor and fellow ‘reformers’ Biden to campaign in Georgia for Democrats in Senate runoffs The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Congress moves to avert shutdown as virus talks stall again Relief talks show GOP divisions The Memo: Democrats grapple with ‘elite’ tag Legislatures across country plan sweeping election reform push Supreme Court deals reality check to Trump’s post-election legal fight Kemp faces possible primary fight as President Trump steps up attacks New FCC commissioner’s arrival signals gridlock early next year Economists warn against excluding state aid from COVID-19 relief The Hill’s Top Lobbyists 2020