The Hill Articles: December 17, 2020

Pelosi to get COVID-19 vaccine in ‘next few days’ as vaccination program begins for lawmakers Maryland-Michigan State football game canceled after 15 players test positive for COVID-19 Los Angeles mayor announces he won’t be joining Biden administration Jill Biden: Doctorate is one of the things I’m ‘most proud of’ Azar tells Health Department staff his wife has COVID-19: ‘Mild symptoms but otherwise doing well’ 8 nuns die of COVID-19 at Milwaukee retirement home in one week Former California employee accused of cheating pandemic benefit system of $200K Ex-FDA head celebrates rule change that will allow frozen cherry pies to be ‘especially thick’ Michigan reinstates pandemic-related moratorium on water shutoffs READ: Deb Haaland’s official statement on historic nomination to Interior secretary McConnell says he will get coronavirus vaccine in ‘coming days’ Federal inmate set to be executed next month tests positive for COVID-19 Overnight Defense: Top US general meets with Taliban | House panel launches probe into cyberattack | Army to issue face masks for soldiers in 2021 Emmy-nominated ‘Circus of Books’ director on gay culture and family McConnell tees up weekend votes on nominations as coronavirus talks drag Pompeo speaks with Turkish counterpart following US sanctions On The Money: Fight over Federal Reserve powers holding up year-end deal | Congress set to blow past shutdown deadline amid coronavirus talks | Experts say stimulus deal could head off double-dip recession Rice selected over Ocasio-Cortez for spot on Energy & Commerce panel Man sentenced to life for selling $20 in marijuana is freed after 12 years Obama praises MLB for elevating Negro Leagues to major league status ICU availability reaches 0 percent in Southern California amid coronavirus surge Maryland governor orders residents who travel out of state to get tested or quarantine Toxic fumes appear to leak into airplane cabins more often than reported: LA Times Congress set to blow past shutdown deadline amid coronavirus talks Rep.-elect Issa says Trump should attend Biden inauguration Boko Haram returns hundreds of kidnapped Nigerian schoolboys Overnight Health Care: FDA panel endorses Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | Governors say the CDC is cutting vaccine allocations | Top GOP senator warns of potential for brief shutdown Twitter unveils effort to reduce ‘toxic’ tweets Biden adviser Richmond tests positive for COVID-19 Supreme Court rejects Christian school’s push for COVID-19 carve-out Overnight Energy: Biden makes historic pick with Haaland for Interior | Biden set to tap North Carolina official to lead EPA | Gina McCarthy forges new path as White House climate lead Hillicon Valley: Google hit with another antitrust lawsuit by states | Federal government finds evidence hackers used multiple methods to access agency networks | Energy Dept., nuclear agency breached as part of massive cyberattack: report UN secretary general warns against ‘vaccinationalism’ on COVID-19 vaccine Nearly a dozen immigrants kept in solitary confinement for more than two months: report Study: Blood oxygen detection device gives Black people inaccurate readings more often Romney: ‘Stunning’ for White House not to respond on Russian cyberattack Global Gag Rule is just the tip of the iceberg: Why Repealing the Helms Amendment matters Black family in Texas say cars set on fire, house vandalized with ‘Trump 2020’ sign Loeffler repeatedly dodges questions about winner of White House race Florida health scientist after home raided: ‘I will continue to speak truth to power’ Biden to nominate Rep. Deb Haaland to be first Native American interior secretary, report FDA panel endorses Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Trump administration finalizes second rule in days limiting habitat protections Repeating past mistakes could mean lights out for many Americans College Athlete Bill of Rights would require revenue sharing, cover medical expenses Energy Dept., nuclear agency breached as part of massive cyberattack Huge new study shows trickle-down economics makes inequality worse, researchers say Democrat rips Sackler family, Purdue doctors during House questioning Ocasio-Cortez defends Biden’s incoming deputy chief of staff amid blowback Will House Democrats steal a congressional seat in Iowa’s 2nd District? Pandemic-driven decline in real estate deals cost NYC $1.6 billion in revenue through November EPA gives Florida authority over managing wetlands, waterways Progressives celebrate Biden’s historic pick of Haaland for Interior Secretary Drug overdose deaths accelerating due to pandemic: CDC Top GOP senator warns of potential for brief shutdown Pompeo holds call with Australian counterpart from quarantine Washington Post to add more than 150 jobs next year, bringing newsroom to record size How the SEC can and should fix insider trading rules New Zealand offers free COVID-19 vaccines to neighboring nations Don’t let partisan squabbling block COVID relief Hawley to try to force vote on proposal for $1,200 stimulus checks Incoming Biden deputy chief of staff says she shouldn’t have referred to lawmakers as ‘f—ers’ China tightens censorship of foreign films Governors say CDC cutting vaccine allocations Federal government finds evidence hackers used multiple methods to access agency networks Georgia student jailed for 4 months after violating COVID-19 quarantine Pence seeks to reassure Georgia voters amid Trump attacks House panels launch probe into massive cyberattack that breached federal agencies Biden’s energy and climate appointments: A return to ‘the swamp’ Chicago officials tried to block release of bodycam footage that showed police handcuffing naked woman in botched raid In historic ruling, air pollution listed as cause of death for 9-year-old girl Clyburn: We may need a 9/11-like commission on COVID-19 response Lawsuit alleges Kansas sheriff’s deputy purposely ran over Black former officer Biden vows to make cybersecurity ‘imperative’ following massive hack Biden makes historic pick with Haaland for Interior secretary Fire kills 240,000 chickens at one of nation’s largest egg farms Getting to ‘yes’ on a post-Brexit deal Sackler family points fingers at Purdue Pharma during House hearing on opioids America’s poverty rising at fastest rate ever Judge dismisses GOP lawsuit against Georgia absentee voting rules Fight over Federal Reserve powers holding up year-end deal How Joe Biden must view Libya California reports massive 50 percent spike in coronavirus cases Atlantic City auctions off chance to blow up Trump Plaza 5 films take viewers inside hospitals during a time of crisis Outgoing Rep. Cunningham opens beer on House floor in goodbye toast to bipartisanship Sen.-elect Tuberville suggests he’ll back effort on challenge Electoral College vote Pfizer says no COVID-19 vaccine production problems or shipment delays First USMCA report raises ‘serious concerns’ on Mexico labor law implementation Obama reveals list of his favorite reads of 2020 More than 370 international spiritual leaders call for ban on ‘conversion’ therapy Communications — not curfews — are the keys Judge rules strip clubs exempt from California restrictions Pence and Biden will get COVID-19 vaccine shots to build public support Biden set to select top North Carolina environmental official to lead EPA Tropicana apologies for ad campaign suggesting alcohol was the answer to pandemic relaxation 21 arrested as part of ‘large drug network’ involving Duke, UNC and Appalachian State University What America’s Thinking: December 17, 2020 Google hit with another antitrust lawsuit by states Dominion voting machines demands pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell retract ‘defamatory’ accusations Senators request IRS briefing on SolarWinds hack The US government just reduced its IoT attack surface; private sector should step up José Andrés responds to Ann Coulter calling him ‘some nut foreigner’ The Hill’s 12:30 Report: FDA considers second COVID-19 vaccine for approval Mexico City mayor resists call for lockdown as hospitals hit 75 percent occupancy Grand jury indicts six men over alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer Alabama Republican tests positive for COVID-19 Domino’s will pay frontline workers nearly $10M in holiday bonuses Joel Osteen got a $4.4 million PPP loan — good for him King of Sweden blasts ‘failed’ COVID-19 strategy Elon Musk sparks controversy about pronouns on Twitter after his company touts LGBTQ+ inclusivity Body camera footage shows suspect in Ahmaud Arbery case describing shooting with blood on hands Hospitals boost security, seek to stop vaccine ‘line-jumping’ The music industry needs to change. Here’s their roadmap. Environmental groups press Biden to take executive action to curb fossil fuel emissions Scammers offering fake, early COVID-19 vaccine access: public health officials Ian McKellen tweets photos of getting coronavirus vaccine Hillary Clinton slams Trump supporters ‘claiming to be offended’ by Biden staffer cursing Who gets the vaccine? It’s time to be great ‘Game of Thrones’ star Sophie Turner slams anti-maskers: I wore a mask giving birth Senate GOP looks to stopgap as relief talks drag on Black man released after 19 years in jail amid series of exonerations in Philadelphia The ocean under Biden Russia barred from using name at Olympics, world championships for two years News industry must seize opportunity restore trust Chinese official unveils future moon mission plans including possible lunar base West Virginia school superintendent tells kids to ‘go build a snowman’ in viral letter For NY Times, no news is fit to print about Rep. Swalwell and a spy NFL to honor health care workers, encourage coronavirus vaccinations at Super Bowl Political division is dangerously defining our COVID-19 conversation Rising: December 17, 2020 Top US general meets with Taliban negotiators Putin says he will delay taking Russian coronavirus vaccine because it hasn’t been fully tested on his age group Putin says Russian agents didn’t poison Navalny: ‘They would’ve probably finished it’ ‘We have a big problem’ says Fauci; urges less travel for Christmas Tucker Carlson doubles down on mocking ‘illiterate’ Jill Biden American renters need this lifeline Iranian leader predicts Biden will reenter nuke deal, lift sanctions South Korea hits new record with 634 total coronavirus deaths Stocks rise to record highs on talk of COVID-19 relief deal Tyson fires 7 after probe into managers coronavirus betting We can’t sacrifice Africa’s Okavango Delta for oil Rockefeller tree owl is subject of new Christmas book for children COVID-19: Where are the prisoners? Pence may leave for overseas trip after certifying vote: report Sweden’s king on coronavirus strategy: ‘We have failed’ Biden cuts ad for Georgia Senate candidates Joe Biden’s looming disaster Phoenix officials release video showing police fatally shooting former NFL player Denmark begins nationwide shutdown amid COVID-19 surge Weekly jobless claims rise to 885,000 Lincoln Project co-founder, former New Hampshire GOP chair leaving Republican Party One year after reauthorization, EXIM is helping American workers and keeping China at bay Watch live: FDA meets to discuss emergency approval for Moderna vaccine Trump cuts $200M in health care funds to California over abortions COVID-19 vaccine campaign must include fair compensation for side effects California reports daily record of more than 50,000 coronavirus cases, nearly 400 deaths Win the ultimate home gym with a Peloton, Mirror, TRX, Theragun, and more US hits grim new daily record with 3,656 coronavirus deaths Stay safe, comfortable, and cool with this face mask that’s over 20% off French President Macron tests positive for coronavirus The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Mastercard – Congress slogs toward COVID-19 relief, omnibus deal Senators urge IRS to provide late filing and payment relief amid pandemic Lawmakers, officials stress need to expand broadband access Biden looking for Commerce secretary to rebuild relationships with business community McConnell getting much of what he wants in emerging relief deal Gina McCarthy forges new path as White House climate lead Experts say stimulus deal could head off double-dip recession Groups hope Buttigieg opens door to more LGBT nominees