Scoop: Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman says Trump lost  —  It's over.  That's what Blackstone chairman, CEO and co-founder Steve Schwarzman — one of President Trump's most loyal allies — and other top Republicans are signaling to the defeated president, 16 days after Joe Biden clinched the win.

Biden Chooses Antony Blinken, Defender of Global Alliances, as Secretary of State  —  The president-elect is also expected to name Jake Sullivan, another close aide of his, as national security adviser, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a 35-year Foreign Service veteran, as his ambassador to the U.N.

Refusing to certify legitimate votes is a felony  —  The people have spoken.  They delivered Joe Biden a decisive electoral victory, including a 150,000-vote margin in Michigan.  Yet Republican Party officials have asked the Michigan Board of State Canvassers to delay certification on Monday.

Republicans created an anti-democratic mob  —  CNN's Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” summed up the state of the Republican Party on Sunday: “State election officials and judges throughout the country are serving as protectors of our democracy at a time when, frankly, Republican leaders in Washington …

Trump set on veto of defense bill over renaming bases honoring Confederates  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is threatening to veto legislation to fund the military as one of his final acts in office unless a widely supported, bipartisan provision to rename military bases honoring …

Trump's Legal Farce Is Having Tragic Results  —  There is nothing funny about the Republican Party's multipronged attack on voting rights.  —  Mr. Hasen is the author of “Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust and the Threat to American Democracy.”  —  Even as the campaign lawsuits brought …

Why Won't Emily Murphy Just Do Her Job?  —  I don't know for certain that Emily Murphy gets up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says to herself, “You are a good person.”  But I am willing to bet that she does.  Most people in her position—most people who are undermining the rules of their group …

Netanyahu Held Secret Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince, Israeli Media Reports  —  The reported visit on Sunday night would be the first known meeting between high-level Israeli and Saudi leaders.  —  BEIRUT, Lebanon — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel flew to Saudi Arabia …

Trump attorney Lin Wood tells Republican supporters NOT to back GOP candidates in the Georgia runoff election because they've ‘failed’ to help the President's fight to overturn the election  — Trump Attorney Lin Wood has suggested voters should not back Republican candidates David Perdue (R-GA) and Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA)

Business Leaders, Citing Damage to Country, Urge Trump to Begin Transition  —  At the urging of New York's attorney general, business leaders in New York push for the Trump administration to begin a transfer of power.  —  Concerned that President Trump's refusal to accept the election results …

3rd major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective and cheaper  —  LONDON (AP) — Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Monday that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper …

Trump 2024.  —  Losing a presidential election is a crushing experience.  In 2004, shortly before midnight on the day of the election, it became clear that President Bush would win Ohio and thus win re-election.  The networks, out of an abundance of caution, didn't call it until later the next day.

Republicans dash to defend perilous 2022 Senate map  —  Sen. Chuck Grassley will be 89 when the 2022 midterm campaign rolls around.  Republicans are counting on him to run for an eighth term.  —  “I hope Chuck Grassley comes back.  He's very healthy and I hope he comes back really strong.

The Republican Party has split in two.  Let's keep it that way.  —  The Republican Party has split in two.  The dividing line is not ideological.  To the contrary, if anything, the collapse of a once great party during the Trump era demonstrates that ideology is secondary in politics; values, norms and character are primary.

No proof of mass fraud that would change election result  —  I have supported the Trump campaign's right to count every lawful vote, request state recounts and pursue lawsuits regarding election fraud or other irregularities.  —  Based on polling, a substantial majority of the nearly 74 million Americans …

Get Me Meacham!  Biden Brings Back the Media's Good Old Days  —  The next president promises to do for old-line newspaper columnists what Donald Trump did for cable.  What a time to be George Will!  —  One afternoon in the spring of 2009, Jon Meacham sat in front of the freighted wooden bookshelf …

Biden Can Echo Trump's Favorite Phrase: 'You're Fired'  —  The president-elect has the power to get rid of Trump loyalists in a number of agencies on day one.  —  A good number of appointees throughout the government serve at the pleasure of the president, and Biden should use that power.