Texas Fracking Billionaires Drew Covid-19 Aid While Investing in Rivals  —  Sen. Ted Cruz helped rework program rules, enabling Wilks brothers and others in oil industry to get relief funding  —  WASHINGTON—As the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices walloped U.S. frackers this spring …

Covid-19 Aid Bill Remains Uncertain as Trump Calls for Larger Payments  —  Delay could result in millions having their unemployment benefits suspended and possible shutdown of federal government  —  WASHINGTON—Some unemployment programs expired Saturday night, as President Trump's demand …

Until Biden's win is certified, the U.S. remains vulnerable  —  Not to be alarmist, but we should recognize that the United States will be in the danger zone until the formal certification of Joe Biden's election victory on Jan. 6, because potential domestic and foreign turmoil could give President Trump an excuse to cling to power.

Steve King files ethics complaint against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy  —  U.S. Rep. Steve King filed an ethics complaint against House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday, objecting to the manner in which he was stripped of all of his House committee assignments last year.

Unemployment benefits expire for millions as Trump rages  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet lapsed overnight as President Donald Trump refused to sign an end-of-year COVID relief and spending bill that had been considered …

QAnon Rep. Vows to Disrupt Electoral College Vote Count as Trump Tweets ‘See Everyone in D.C.’  —  Incoming Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, has once again stated that she intends to formally object when Congress gathers will gather next month to receive the election results …

Mnuchin's loyalty to Trump could end with painful setback as president shreds stimulus deal  —  Democrats and Republicans had thought Mnuchin was speaking for the president in negotiating the $908 billion pact, but Trump quickly called it a “disgrace.”  —  President Trump on Saturday continued …

William Barr: ‘One Standard of Justice’  —  The departing attorney general talks about John Durham, Robert Mueller, Hunter Biden, Mike Flynn and the flak he's taken from both parties.  —  The U.S. attorney general is meditating on one of his frustrations with the modern Justice Department …

Sen. Toomey: Trump going too far with pardons  —  He noted the connection of some of those pardoned to the president.  —  Sen. Pat Toomey on Sunday criticized some of the Trump Administration's pardons.  Alex Wong/Getty Images  —  Sen. Pat Toomey on Sunday said President Donald Trump …

Understanding Black Americans: Don't ask liberals  —  Many liberals apparently have had trouble coming to grips with the views and beliefs of America's Black populace.  For example, in explaining the increased vote for President Trump among Black, Latino and LGBTQ communities …

Person of interest identified in connection to Nashville bombing  —  A law enforcement source told CBS News a person of interest has been identified in connection to the Christmas morning explosion in Nashville.  The person is connected to the RV that exploded.

Trump's Fraud Claims Died in Court, but the Myth of Stolen Elections Lives On  —  For years, Republicans have used the specter of cheating as a reason to impose barriers to ballot access.  A definitive debunking of claims of wrongdoing in 2020 has not changed that message.

How I became mayor of Danzhai, a small Chinese village  —  When Lonely Planet's China editor Megan Eaves received an email inviting her to become mayor of a Danzhai, she thought it was a scam After accepting the position she realised the power that tourism can have as a force …

December is the deadliest month in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began — and projections for January are ‘nightmarish,’ expert says  —  Black doctor dies of Covid-19 after accusing hospital of racial bias  —  (CNN)December has been the nation's deadliest month since the Covid-19 pandemic's start …

‘This Week’ Transcript 12-27-20: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams  —  This is a rush transcript for “This Week,” airing Sunday, December 27.  —  Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.  —  Jemal Countess/Getty Images, FILE

People's Daily Slams Hong Kong Court for Releasing Lai on Bail  —  Hong Kong's High Court's decision to grant bail to media tycoon Jimmy Lai is “unbelievable,” according to a commentary in the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party, which warned there are legal grounds for the case to be transferred to the mainland.

A Racial Slur, a Viral Video, and a Reckoning  —  A white high school student withdrew from her chosen college after a three-second video caused an uproar online.  The classmate who shared it publicly has no regrets.  —  [To read more stories on race from The New York Times, sign up here for our Race/Related newsletter.]