The Hill Articles: December 16, 2020

Interior secretary tests positive for COVID-19 after two days of meetings with officials: report Washington state eyes reopening schools no matter the rate of COVID-19 infections Booker: Proposed COVID-19 relief bill is ‘far short’ of desired pandemic aid for states and communities CNN’s Acosta shares video of White House staffer calling lid by song Republicans hold slight edge in Georgia Senate runoffs: poll Oklahoma GOP lawmaker says he will introduce bill to criminalize and end all abortions in the state South Carolina Republican tests positive for coronavirus hours after speaking on House floor Virginia panel suggests replacing statue of Lee at Capitol with one of Barbara Johns Trump to name Giuliani’s son to role on Holocaust Memorial Council Army issues combat face masks for soldiers in 2021 FDA says Pfizer vaccine supply is up to 40 percent higher than previously thought as vials hold multiple doses Biden would save US $2.6 billion by halting border wall construction: report Creed frontman Scott Stapp signs on to upcoming Reagan biopic Ex-teachers union leader seen as leading candidate for Biden’s Education secretary Biden plans to get COVID-19 vaccination publicly as early as next week Chris Christie posts video to people refusing to wear a mask: ‘Learn from my experience’ The fourth ‘W’ needed to defeat the virus On The Money: Sweeping COVID-19, spending deal hits speed bumps | Deal set to include smaller stimulus checks, jobless benefit support | Biden, Powell praise progress toward agreement Celebrities react to Tom Cruise COVID-19 rant: ‘I’ve never liked him more’ Amazon aims to lower the cost of health care by offering new medical services through an app: report Pence, other Trump officials to get vaccine publicly House must come home to begin a new Congress Sen. Alexander plays Christmas carols in Senate office building Cuomo signs bill banning sale of Confederate flag on New York state grounds Overnight Defense: AI co-pilots Air Force flight for first time | Government funding, COVID-19 relief hit last-minute snags | Top veterans groups call for Wilkie’s firing Overnight Health Care: Trump official pushed for herd immunity, calling for low-risk Americans to be infected | Congress close to coronavirus deal, including stimulus checks | US officials had to return Pfizer vaccine doses after they got too cold Nearly 2,500 California nurses threaten Christmas Eve strike over work conditions OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden reportedly taps former EPA head Gina McCarthy as domestic ‘climate czar’ |  Biden reportedly to select Brenda Mallory to lead White House environmental council | Pelosi, Hoyer nod to support for Haaland for Interior Missouri woman who lost job due to pandemic says landlord removed front door over late rent Fox News boasts fifth consecutive year as most-watched cable network, CNN celebrates ‘best year ever’ in ratings Hillicon Valley: Texas, other states bring antitrust lawsuit against Google | Krebs emphasizes security of the election as senators butt heads | Twitter cracks down on coronavirus vaccine misinformation It’s time to unshackle recreation from oil and gas Dem lawmaker says he owes hammers apology after calling DeVos ‘dumb as a bag of hammers’ Foreign students are still stranded in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic House chairman to press ahead for McGahn testimony in new year HBO Max strikes deal to become available to subscribers on Roku Sweeping COVID-19, spending deal hits speed bumps Health care worker in Alaska experienced serious allergic reaction to Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Schiff calls for ‘urgent’ work to defend nation in the wake of massive cyberattack Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos invest in hydrogen-powered plane How a divided Senate can unite us Who is Jennifer Granholm, Biden’s reported Energy Secretary nominee? Netherlands’ public prosecutor office finds evidence of Trump Twitter hack Supreme Court to hear dispute over NCAA’s athlete compensation rules Biden to select Brenda Mallory to lead White House environmental council: reports Biden spokeswoman defends incoming deputy chief of staff’s ‘spicy language’ in Glamour interview Judge clears way for transgender Ohioans to change birth certificates Senate confirms two more Trump judicial nominees Cruz: Mexico damaging security, relationship with US by undermining DEA A crisis that unites veterans MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, gives away $4 billion in four months Powell praises progress on COVID-19 relief bill as economy weakens Amazon: Warehouse, grocery workers should be prioritized for vaccine The holidays are different this year. Here’s how you can cope — and hopefully find joy Six largest veterans groups call for VA secretary’s firing Five ways Biden can fight climate change Winter storm is delivering huge blow to Northeast Postal Service worker surprises quarantining Houston family with care package Party leaders back another short-term funding bill — if needed A new policy for Hong Kong Krebs emphasizes security of election as senators butt heads Justice expected to unseal charges against Lockerbie bombing suspect Former Vatican envoy convicted in French court of sexual assault Calls for lockdown rise in Sweden: report Kate Freeman makes history as first openly transgender contestant to win ‘Jeopardy!’ Fake accounts posing as GOP leaders on Parler are selling Trump hats and CBD oil: report McConnell’s knockout blow against Trump Congressional panel announces guest limits at Biden inauguration Community groups complain California police department violated coronavirus orders Pelosi, Hoyer nod to support for Haaland as Biden weighs Interior pick Twitter to label, remove coronavirus vaccine misinformation California breaks single-day coronavirus death record, as fatalities rise 35 percent in a week DeJoy’s calendar released by Postal Service is almost entirely redacted Why not forgive military members their deferred taxes come January? Biden considering Bob Iger, Jeffrey Katzenberg as ambassadors: report Fed officials improve economic projections, leave rates unchanged Senate Republicans once again ignore the unemployed Biden introduces Buttigieg as Transportation nominee Fauci says he won’t be seeing his children for Christmas for first time since they were born Kangaroos can communicate with humans, researchers say Texas, other states bring antitrust lawsuit against Google Americans move less, but those doing so are leaving urban centers Energy Department allows for more powerful showers after Trump complaints State Department cancels holiday party after Pompeo goes into quarantine Richard Hanania discusses ‘Obama-Trump’ voter phenomenon Former Sanders spokesperson: Progressive base confused by ‘ambiguity’ over how to replace Pelosi Rand Paul claims election ‘in many ways was stolen’ during Krebs hearing 85.4 million face trouble paying bills: census Minnesota man sentenced to life as juvenile is freed from prison US officials had to return Pfizer vaccine doses after they got too cold More than 150 Minnesota businesses vow to defy governor’s shutdown order Senate Democrat: Party’s message to rural voters is ‘really flawed’ Wisconsin warns against the ‘cannibal sandwich,’ a traditional holiday dish made of raw meat How science will save the world Asian lawmakers set sights on Biden’s Labor secretary pick Reporter covering Biden tests positive for COVID-19 Scientists are fascinated by bizarre dinosaur find MLB grants ‘Major League’ status to Negro Leagues, calling it ‘longtime oversight’ Massie, Gabbard team up on bill to repeal the Patriot Act From the lab bench to the upper arm: how COVID-19 vaccines came into being Alaskan health worker experiences serious but rare reaction to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Conservative outlet OAN won’t recognize Biden as president-elect until Congress certifies A national crisis requires a national response Poll: 60 percent approve of Biden’s job as president-elect What America’s Thinking: December 16, 2020 Democratic Caucus chair predicts ‘strong support’ for COVID-19 relief package Scotsman jailed for violating coronavirus restrictions after riding Jet Ski to see girlfriend on Isle of Man MLB elevating Negro Leagues to ‘Major League’ status Trump official pushed for herd immunity, calling for low-risk Americans to be infected, emails show Treasury labels Switzerland, Vietnam currency manipulators Biden says approaching coronavirus relief deal would be a ‘down payment’ Why your neighborhood community pharmacy may close 302 officers have died from COVID-19 in line of duty, FOP says Biden says he’s ‘confident’ his son Hunter Biden did nothing wrong Boston Celtics call on Massachusetts governor to regulate facial recognition Russia has tested anti-satellite missile, US Space Command says Johnson, Lee don’t plan to challenge Electoral College results Ardern hopeful about working with Biden, cites similar ‘ideas and values’ Oliver Stone says he’s taken Russian coronavirus vaccine Daily reported coronavirus deaths dropped in Florida ahead of election: report Air pollution listed as an official cause of death in the UK for the first time The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Congressional leaders close to a COVID-19 relief deal McConnell and Schumer need to make the most of this moment French court finds all 14 defendants tied to Charlie Hebdo attackers guilty Kenyan man trained to conduct 9/11-style attack in US, prosecutors say Not the FBI I remember: William Barnett’s troubling interview Michigan governor invites Santa to tell kids to ‘follow the rules’ on COVID-19 Owner posts obituary for Michigan bowling alley closed by pandemic: ‘She is dying slowly’ Bodies of two missing miners recovered after salt mine roof collapse in Louisiana UK will proceed with looser Christmas restrictions despite calls to toughen them Ocasio-Cortez: I’m ‘not ready’ to be Speaker but Pelosi and Schumer need to go Durbin says alleged Russian hack ‘virtually a declaration of war’ Fox News inks new multiyear deal with Laura Ingraham Trump, the last action hero George Clooney: ‘Just put a f—— mask on’ Rising: December 16, 2020 5,000 body bags and 60 morgue trucks sent to COVID-ravaged California Nearly 8 million Americans fell into poverty since June: study Air Force uses AI on military flight for first time Historic DC church raises new Black Lives Matter sign after possible hate crime Prosecutor: Former cop held gun to man’s head claiming he had 750K fake ballots Don Lemon to ex-CNN colleague McEnany: ‘Girl, bye’ With climate team taking shape, Biden weighs picks for EPA, Interior Sen. Angus King proposes Netflix, Disney, HBOMax stream free over holidays to stop COVID-19 spread Kansas Mayor resigns over threats about COVID-19 mask mandate CDC appointees describe messaging winning out over science at the agency The ‘Biden Team’ is risk-averse, but capable and ready Watch live: Senate holds hearing on 2020 election security Pompeo to quarantine after contact with someone COVID-19 positive Harris: ‘Don’t let anyone put you in a box because of your gender’ Airline satisfaction at record high despite pandemic Watch live: Biden introduces Buttigieg as Transportation chief pick Emmy winner Andrew Cuomo’s no good, horrible, very bad month Facebook launches ads criticizing new Apple privacy changes Recommendation to rename San Francisco school named after Lincoln stirs national debate Obama reveals his favorite TV shows Industry groups, unions hail Buttigieg pick for Transportation secretary Paris mayor: Fine for employing too many women ‘absurd’ DC passes bill allowing reduced sentences for young offenders Biden campaign manager calls GOP lawmakers ‘a bunch of f—ers’ What is the matter with Michigan? Congress close to coronavirus deal that includes stimulus checks Senators press federal agencies for more information on Russian cyberattack Federal government executed more prisoners in 2020 than all states combined: research Warren planning April release of new book, ‘Persist’ Obama: Republican Party ‘is the minority party in this country’ Germany closes shops, schools as coronavirus deaths hit new record Kansas mayor quits after being threatened over mask order: ‘They frightened me’ Franklin Graham thanks Trump ‘as we come to the end of this election season’ The Constitution itself should block Trump’s attempt to overturn election Retail sales fell 1.1 percent in November as COVID-19 surge slowed spending Republican NC state senator: Trump should ‘invoke the Insurrection Act’ Kamala Harris says there will be no ‘punishment’ for not wearing masks under Biden With Senate at stake, Georgia is on all our minds Democrats press to bar lawmakers from carrying guns in the Capitol Neighbors argue Trump can’t live at Mar-a-Lago after leaving White House Exceed your loftiest reading goals with this book summary app Expand your business capabilities by becoming a Microsoft Office power user Lawsuit by Republican attorneys general makes a mockery of their belief in the 10th Amendment Khamenei says hostility toward Iran will linger under Biden White House counsel’s office advised Trump against firing FBI director: report No, Biden hasn’t won yet — one more nightmare scenario Trump mulling push for special prosecutor to investigate Hunter Biden: report Trump tells McConnell it’s too soon to ‘give up’ after GOP leader congratulates Biden The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Mastercard – Moderna vaccine nears US approval; Congress cites ‘progress’ toward relief bill Senate GOP to Trump: The election is over Democrats see stimulus checks as winning issue in Georgia runoffs Tyson joins growing list of companies hiring chief medical officers amid pandemic Stung by Trump, Fed chief gets fresh start with Biden Ex-Capitol Hill staffers build food pantry in pandemic