The Hill Articles: December 22, 2020

Georgia Senate candidates Ossoff, Warnock back Trump’s call for $2K checks Newsom taps Shirley Weber to serve as California secretary of state White House wishes Birx well after she announces retirement Pelosi responds to Trump: Let’s push for $2K checks ‘this week’ Karl Rove tears into Michael Flynn, Sidney Powell over election claims Israeli parliament fails to pass budget, setting up snap election Trump attacks Thune: ‘He will be primaried in 2022’ Biden announces Connecticut commissioner Cardona as Education nominee Michelle Obama reflects on Black Lives Matter movement this year: ‘We’ve endured so much’ Trump pardons George Papadopoulos in latest batch of pardons Republican AGs back NRA in legal battle against New York Trump slams relief bill, calls on Congress to increase stimulus money Trump pardons individuals charged in Russia probe, ex-GOP lawmakers Biden says no ‘obvious choice’ for attorney general Suicides decline in 2019, first time in two decades Overnight Defense: Congress plans session to override potential Trump veto | Miller makes unannounced trip to Afghanistan Oprah sells most of her stake in OWN channel to Discovery House Democrats push Biden’s Pentagon pick on civilian control of military Questions and answers about the second round of stimulus payments Sen. Paul, Reps. Omar and Gabbard and other lawmakers refuse early access to COVID-19 vaccine White House advisers preparing to launch nonprofit to promote Trump policies: report Hillicon Valley: Google denies allegations in DOJ antitrust complaint | Biden faults Trump after hack | Biden campaign says Twitter will wipe POTUS account’s followers OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA revises lead rule, sidestepping calls for more stringent standards | In massive energy investments, some see just a start OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA revises lead rule, sidestepping calls for more stringent standards | In massive energy investments, some see just a start Cayman Islands reduces sentence for US woman who violated coronavirus rules In massive energy investments, some see just a start Coroner confirms passenger who died on United flight had COVID-19 Federal Bureau of Prisons reverses on withholding COVID-19 vaccine from inmates On The Money: Relief bill’s passage sets off scramble to declare victory, assign blame | Democrats say more COVID-19 relief needed after current measure becomes law | Biden economic adviser expects ‘very challenged’ economy early next year US boosts military presence off coast of Somalia to relocate 700 troops Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch joins NFL investigation into Washington Football Team owners Congress’s 5,593-page porky ‘relief’ bill is essence of the swamp Anti-vaccination movement sees COVID-19 as an opportunity, taking efforts online New York suspends facial recognition use in schools What does it take to create a new Smithsonian Museum? Washington quarterback apologizes for partying maskless at a strip club Tom Hanks says he’d take the COVID-19 vaccine publicly ‘after everybody who truly needs to get it’ Biden says he has not discussed son’s federal tax probe with AG candidates Acting US Attorney overseeing Giuliani, Bannon probes to stay on We need to fight forest fires when they aren’t burning Feds blame Walmart for role in the nationwide opioid crisis Former Rep. Katie Hill files lawsuit against ex-husband, Daily Mail over nude photos Catholic Church, DC mayor agree on eased attendance limits for worship services Biden faults Trump administration on cybersecurity following massive hack Governor names California’s first Latino senator as replacement for Kamala Harris Capitalism will take over COVID-19 testing if the government allows Biden: Pandemic will get worse despite vaccine Poll finds Andrew Yang favored for New York City mayor Deutsche Bank says Trump’s private bankers have resigned DOJ investigation finds staff sexually abused women at Florida prison Air Force-Navy football game scheduled on 20th anniversary of 9/11 ‘Borrow-and-spend’ stimulus bill is a fiscal monstrosity Delaware-sized iceberg breaking up in South Atlantic Trump selects Hicks, Bondi, Grenell and other allies for positions Florida Democrat files petition to disbar Gaetz Amazon accused of allowing anti-LGBT organizations to flourish France to fast-track 700 front-line workers for citizenship as reward for risk Warren and other senators seek investigation into Trump administration resuming federal executions When fighting a global pandemic, all options must be on the table Palm Beach to address residency ‘if and when’ Trump moves to Mar-a-Lago EPA revises lead rule, sidestepping calls for more stringent standards For the first time, scientists find microplastics in placentas of babies Birx says she will help Biden team but plans to retire Justice Department sues Walmart, alleging role in opioid crisis To recover endangered species, reduce conflict and reward landowners who restore habitat Former Bernie Sanders campaign aide describes strategy with Latino voters Growing number of GOP lawmakers back Electoral College challenge CDC says new UK strain of coronavirus could ‘already be in the United States’ Acting Pentagon chief makes unannounced trip to Afghanistan amid drawdown EU executive calls on members to lift travel restrictions on UK Congress should help hungry Americans, not rich farmers Biden won’t immediately roll back Trump immigration restrictions, advisers say Apple Car coming with revolutionary technology: report Comedian Eddie Izzard’s pronouns are ‘she’ and ‘her’ Google denies allegations in DOJ antitrust complaint South Carolina governor tests positive for COVID-19 after wife’s diagnosis Graham responds to ‘clueless’ Biden: ‘It’s not personal’ Flint City Council approves $20M portion of settlement over lead-tainted water Consumer confidence drops to lowest level since summer Naval Academy physics exams reviewed over ‘inconsistencies’ Harris: ‘It is my hope and prayer … to work across party lines’ Navy needs a strategic communications adjustment Watch live: Biden delivers pre-holiday remarks Biden nominee: VA staff hampered by ‘mismanagement’ Sean Penn jokes Russians hacked his hair in viral ‘Morning Joe’ appearance Newsom picks Padilla for California Senate seat Poll: 59 percent say Biden’s mask request will increase use of facial coverings Iowa Democrat asks House to review race she lost by 6 votes US tops 18M coronavirus cases Biden should bet on virtual and augmented reality to ‘build back better’ Russia bars more European officials from entry over Navalny sanctions Trump sanctions Syrian president’s wife, family over ongoing civil war Biden campaign says Twitter will wipe POTUS account’s followers Pro-Trump PAC launches $500,000 ad buy for Loeffler, Perdue Major US newspaper apologizes for decades of racism Tennessee county commissioners move to strip health board’s powers Nurse who gave Biden his COVID-19 vaccine: ‘This vaccine is safe’ The Hill’s 12:30 Report : Congress passes mammoth funding bill, heads to Trump’s desk Approach to end endless wars Migrant women file lawsuit against doctor for alleged forced medical procedures Biden economic adviser expects ‘very challenged’ economy early next year Agricultural company fined for violating COVID-19 procedures after workers die COVID-19 has now reached Antarctica, infecting 36 at research base Don’t forget Americans held hostage abroad Google-Fitbit deal creates rift among foreign regulators Canada blocks Chinese takeover of Arctic gold mine citing national security A new variant of the coronavirus in the UK: what you need to know NAACP files suit accusing Trump, GOP of violating KKK Act Former FDA head thinks highly contagious new mutation of COVID-19 is ‘already in the U.S.’ An unraveling in the Horn of Africa? Fauci says new COVID-19 strain is likely already in US 2020 on track to be deadliest year in US history Fauci, Azar receive COVID-19 vaccine Overdose deaths outnumber COVID-19 deaths more than 3 to 1 in San Francisco Consumers increasingly buy organic, but for the wrong reasons Gingrich won’t accept Biden as president, says Democrats, Republicans ‘live in alternative worlds’ Antarctica reports first COVID-19 cases Republican club’s indoor holiday party in Queens goes viral for conga line Gingrich: Trump should attend Biden inauguration Lobbying world Dr. Fauci made the right house calls Rising: December 22, 2020 Transportation nominee Buttigieg says millions of new electric vehicles needed on US roads Watch Live: Fauci, Azar, Collins get COVID-19 vaccine Chances that Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine works against new COVID-19 mutation ‘highly likely’ Denver renames Columbus Park as La Raza Park Apple eyes 2024 for first passenger vehicle: report Public school enrollment slips, showing pandemic’s toll on education We can help the Chinese people change their communist regime Stocks open flat following COVID-19 relief passage Kremlin mocks Navalny over underwear poisoning account Christie says he won’t rule out running against Trump in 2024 Biden to nominate Connecticut commissioner Cardona as Education secretary Two passengers trigger slide to exit moving plane with service dog Fighters scrambled after Russian, Chinese military aircraft enter South Korean defense zone Two cardinals test positive for coronavirus at Vatican: reports 2021 will be the year we put climate action over activism South Korea banning private gatherings of five or more people New COVID-19 strain spreads to Italy, Denmark, Netherlands The tangled webs of Christopher Krebs and Russia’s cyberattack This inverted lighter prevents burnt fingers, and is on sale for only $40 Invest in your business intelligence with this $40 course bundle Beating the rap — with the help of ‘woke’ prosecutors Dozens of US organizations also used software targeted by Russian hackers: analysis Pennsylvania Trump supporter charged with voter fraud Federal prosecutors mulled request for Giuliani electronic communications: report The light at the end of the tunnel is here Press: Biden inauguration: Don’t invite Trump Republicans split on whether Trump should return to reality TV: poll Moscow is fearful of Biden’s Balkan policy Fauci: Assume new COVID-19 strain is in US Slim majority of Democrats in new poll say Pelosi should retain Speakership BioNTech CEO confident vaccine will work against new COVID-19 strain The Hill’s Morning Report – Congress passes year-end COVID-19 relief, omnibus deal Relief bill’s passage sets off scramble to declare victory, assign blame Trump eyes unusual move on government accountability before Biden takes office Democrats say more COVID-19 relief needed after current measure becomes law Growing number of lawmakers decline early access to COVID-19 vaccine McConnell: Senate to return Dec. 29 for potential Trump veto override vote