The GOP Abandons Democracy  —  When Donald Trump was granted a coat of arms for his Scottish golf courses in 2012 (after a lengthy court battle, of course), he chose as its motto “Numquam concedere”: Never concede.  He has not, even as it has become clear that he lost the presidential election by a wide margin.

Biden taps Susan Rice for top White House domestic policy job  —  President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Barack Obama's former national security adviser Susan Rice to run the White House Domestic Policy Council, according to people familiar with the decision.  —  Rice, who also served …

N.H. House Speaker Dick Hinch died from COVID-19, medical examiner finds  —  New Hampshire House Speaker Dick Hinch died from COVID-19, a medical examiner ruled Thursday following his unexpected death.  —  Hinch, who was only sworn in as leader of the state's newly Republican-led Legislature a week ago, died Wednesday.

In leaked recording, Biden says GOP used defund the police to ‘beat the living hell’ out of Democrats  —  WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden appeared to blame the “Defund the Police” movement for contributing to surprising Democratic downballot losses in the November election …

CDC's Redfield told staff to delete email, official tells House watchdog  —  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield instructed staff to delete an email from a Trump political appointee seeking control over the agency's scientific reports on the pandemic …

‘Get off our damn asses’: Stimulus debacle exposes broken Washington  —  Congressional leaders are barely talking.  Renegade centrists are trying to cut a deal that Republicans don't like.  And the president is predominantly focused on overturning an election that he lost.

Georgia on My Mind  —  Which is better for America?  Divided government or a repudiation of illiberalism?  —  Georgia, oh Georgia  —  No, no, no, no, no peace I find  —  Just an old sweet song  —  Keeps Georgia on my mind.  —Hoagy Carmichael, 1930  —  PODCAST

F.D.A. Advisory Panel Gives Green Light to Pfizer Vaccine  —  The blessing of these experts means that the agency will OK the vaccine's use, paving the way for health care workers to begin getting shots next week.  —  Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine passed a critical milestone on Thursday …

Rep. Dan Crenshaw Linked to Smear Campaign of Female Vet Led by VA Secretary, Watchdog Says  —  An investigation from the government watchdog that oversees the Department of Veterans Affairs concluded Thursday that a Republican member of Congress was involved in an orchestrated campaign by V …

Chuck Schumer ‘forced to have serious and painful talks’ with Dianne Feinstein over apparent cognitive decline  —  ‘Her staff have to defend her and make her seem normal’  —  Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has reportedly been forced to have several “serious and painful talks” …

Swalwell Spoke At Same 2013 Event As Alleged Chinese Spy Who Worked For Dianne Feinstein  — Rep. Eric Swalwell spoke at an event in 2013 along with a former staffer for Sen. Dianne Feinstein who is alleged to have spied for the Chinese government.  — The group that hosted Swalwell and Russell Lowe …

‘Numb’ and ‘Heartbroken,’ the U.S. Confronts Record Virus Deaths  —  For the first time, the United States reported more than 3,000 coronavirus deaths in a day.  But with cases still rising, experts warn “the worst is yet to come.”  —  DALLAS — Lillian Blancas was a fighter …

Website targeting U.S. election officials draws attention of intelligence agencies  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The harassment campaign against U.S. election officials following President Donald Trump's defeat took an ominous turn on Thursday after a website surfaced that accused them of …

Secession?  Rush Limbaugh floats a startling notion — then quickly backs off.  —  Rush Limbaugh isn't saying he wants the country to split into red and blue factions as a result of conservative fury over the election results.  As he attempted to make clear Thursday, he's just saying that other people are saying it.

Shutdown a possibility as Rand holds up defense bill  —  Rand Paul is at it again.  And his moves could force another brief government shutdown.  —  The Kentucky Republican is objecting to swift passage of the annual defense policy bill, effectively forcing senators to remain in Washington …

Stealing to survive: More Americans are shoplifting food as aid runs out during the pandemic  —  Retailers, police departments and loss prevention researchers are reporting an uptick in theft of necessities like food and hygiene products  —  Early in the pandemic, Joo Park noticed …

Fiery crash of SpaceX's Starship rocket ignites dreams of future spaceflight  —  Elon Musk is reshaping a remote South Texas shoreline to build and test the largest space launch system the world has ever seen.  Spaceflight—and the once quiet beach—will never be the same.