Trump's last-ditch effort to steal the election is the biggest farce of all  —  “We will be INTERVENING in the Texas (plus many other states) case.  This is the big one.  Our Country needs a victory!” tweeted the soon-to-be-ex-president of the United States.  A filing at the Supreme Court soon followed.

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 …

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” …

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

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Billionaire behind pardon effort pledged massive donation to Trump: Sources  —  Despite $6 million in donations to the president, no pardon was ever issued.  —  Justice Department investigates possible bribery for pardons  —  Speculation has swirled that President Trump may pardon …

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 …

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.

What Really Saved the Republic From Trump?  —  It wasn't our constitutional system of checks and balances.  —  Mr. Wu is a law professor at Columbia University.  —  Americans are taught that the main function of the U.S. Constitution is the control of executive power: curtailing presidents who might seek to become tyrants.

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 …

Supreme Court rules in favor of Muslims suing FBI officials for targeting faith  —  The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled unanimously in favor of three Muslim men suing FBI officials for targeting their religious faith.  —  Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in the court's opinion that under …

Va. governor imposes curfew while toughening restrictions; Pr.  George's to eliminate indoor dining  —  The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free.  For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read.

The “Intellectual” Right's Assault on Democracy  —  Politicians have constituents to please, but what about the “thinkers” of the Trumpist right?  —  The politics of intimidation has worked well for Donald Trump since he announced his candidacy for president in 2015.

Relax, A Trump Comeback In 2024 Is Not Going To Happen  —  Donald Trump lost the presidency, but his opponents so far have not achieved the victory they want most: A fatal puncturing of the Trump movement, a repudiation so complete that it severs his astonishing grip on supporters and leaves …

Biden's transition contends with probe into son's finances  —  Associated Press (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden's historically challenging transition to power is suddenly becoming even more complicated.  —  A federal investigation into the finances of Biden's son, Hunter …