Trump invites Michigan Republican leaders to meet him at White House as he escalates attempts to overturn election results  —  DETROIT — President Trump has invited the leaders of Michigan's Republican-controlled state legislature to meet him in Washington on Friday, according to a person familiar …

Taking Giuliani's Insane, Un-American Press Conference Seriously  —  Trump's election-theft conspiracy theory exists in an uncanny valley.  —  My desire to check out from the Trump administration's madness following his decisive electoral defeat was so deep that it emanated from the stem cells in my bone marrow.

Disturbing new details in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer  —  CHICAGO (WLS) — There is new and disturbing information in the alleged militia plot against the governor of Michigan.  —  The 14 men charged had far more violent plans than just a kidnapping, according to federal and state authorities.

‘The Dumbest Coup’  —  Noah Rothman's excellent piece in Commentary, “The Dumbest of Coups,” deserves to be widely read.  —  I've been writing about conspiracy theories for a while now — QAnon, the Flat-Earth gang, etc. — and one of the things you quickly learn about conspiracy theories …

Will Lara Trump Be the Next Trump on a Ballot?  —  The president's daughter-in-law is said to be considering a Senate run in her native state of North Carolina.  —  WASHINGTON — Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law who emerged during the 2020 presidential campaign as a defender …

All the president's ‘Guys’  —  Remember Rob Goldstone?  He was the portly British publicist who took selfies wearing wacky hats, and who sent Donald Trump Jr. an email offering documents from the Russians that would “incriminate” Hillary Clinton.  —  “If it's what you say I love it,” …

Donald Trump whiffs on what's left of his presidency as COVID-19 deaths pass 250,000  —  Our View: As the coronavirus war hunts down Americans waiting for vaccines, the commander in chief settles scores and denies Joe Biden a presidential transition.  —  The Editorial BoardUSA TODAY

Mnuchin Declines to Extend Several Fed Emergency Lending Programs  —  Fed's corporate credit, municipal lending and Main Street Lending programs won't be renewed  —  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin declined to extend several emergency loan programs established jointly with the Federal Reserve that are set to expire on Dec. 31.

Biden mounts lobbying blitz to crack GOP resistance to his transition  —  Joe Biden's transition team has tried to project calm as President Donald Trump refuses to concede and many Republicans — and even one key part of the federal government — continue to have his back.

Census Officials Say They Can't Meet Trump's Deadline for Population Count  —  Officials have concluded the Census Bureau won't have data on time to carry out the administration's goal of stripping unauthorized immigrants from population totals for apportionment.

‘Reach Out to Trump Supporters,’ They Said.  I Tried.  —  I give up.  —  73 million Americans voted for Donald Trump.  He doubled down on all his worst vices, and he was rewarded for it with 10 million more votes than he received in 2016.  —  The majority of people of color rejected his cruelty and vulgarity.

Dear Joe Biden: are you kidding me? … For years, I've been trying to impart a simple concept that Superman is not coming.  —  Dare I say, I had hopes that this new administration would usher in the dawning of a new day.  As picks for President-elect Joe Biden's Environmental Protection Agency …

Kenosha: How two men's paths crossed in an encounter that has divided the nation  —  Kyle Rittenhouse, in a jailhouse interview, said he used stimulus money to get a gun.  The first man he shot had just left a psychiatric hospital.  —  In a summer roiled by protests for racial justice …

The Future of the GOP Madison Cawthorn is 25, far-right, and already faces accusations of racism and sexual misconduct.  And he's headed to Congress.  —  When Madison Cawthorn was elected to represent North Carolina in the House of Representatives last week, he made history.

Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld arrested on federal corruption charges  —  Sharon Coolidge Dan HornCincinnati Enquirer  —  FBI agents arrested Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld Thursday morning on federal charges accusing him of accepting bribes in exchange for favorable votes …

How Many Americans Are About to Die?  —  Editor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers.  Find the collection here.  —  The United States has made huge advances in fighting the coronavirus.  The astonishingly high death rates the country saw during …

BuzzFeed to Acquire HuffPost in Stock Deal With Verizon Media  —  New-media companies have been exploring mergers as they try to jump-start growth  —  BuzzFeed Inc. has agreed to acquire Verizon Media's HuffPost in a stock deal, the companies said Thursday, uniting two of the larger players …

Tom Donohue — CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and longtime confidant of Republican presidents — tells Axios that Joe Biden is president-elect, and President Trump “should not delay the transition a moment longer.”  —  What he's saying: “President-elect Biden and the team around …

In the waning days of Trump's presidency, White House press pool reports are getting snarkier  —  The pool reports shared by White House correspondents can be as mundane as a grocery list and about as informative — the who, what and when of the president's daily comings and goings …

Democrats And Media Are Reaping Fruit Of 4 Years Of Anti-Trump Conspiracy Theories  —  If taking claims to court undermines democracy, how to defend Democrats' vociferous and repeated claims that Donald Trump stole the election in 2016 with the help of Russia?

Are Covid Patients Gasping 'It Isn't Real' As They Die?  —  An ER nurse's anecdote of deranged denialism went viral.  But when the media caught wind of the story, reporters didn't do their jobs.  —  A DESPERATE, OUTRAGED Twitter thread from a South Dakota emergency room nurse went viral last weekend …

Trump's election challenges are revealing how obvious and unassailable his loss was  —  President Trump's frantic post-election challenges are having the opposite effect of what he intended: He's documenting his demise through a series of court fights and recounts showing Joe Biden's victory to be all the more obvious and unassailable.

Trump Broadens His Efforts to Overturn Election Outcome  —  As key states prepare to certify their results, the president is pressuring Republicans to back his fraud claims and refusal to concede  —  WASHINGTON—President Trump has broadened his push to overturn the election outcome …

Mitt Romney says consequences of lame duck period are ‘potentially more severe’ than delayed transition  —  What's at risk when the President doesn't concede  —  Washington (CNN)Republican Sen. Mitt Romney is warning that the consequences of actions taken by President Donald Trump during …

Judge to decide whether to toss out Arizona GOP lawsuit requesting new Maricopa County vote audit  —  A Maricopa County Superior Court judge will rule Thursday on whether to toss out the Arizona Republican Party's attempt to force a new audit of Maricopa County ballots.

Senate 2022: An Early Look  —  Dear Readers: Our 22nd annual American Democracy Conference is now available on our YouTube channel, UVACFP, and at this direct link.  It features New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie, CNN commentator Tara Setmayer, and Democratic strategist John Lapp discussing …