McConnell says push for $2,000 stimulus checks has “no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate”  —  The Senate leader said the measure would be too costly, would not be targeted towards needy, and help families that are living comfortably.  —  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) …

Ted Cruz's Georgia Runoff Fundraising Is Actually Going to His Campaign.  He's Not Alone  —  The runoff is a gold mine for politicians.  And now that they can run Facebook ads in Georgia, they're rushing for it.  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) needs your help to keep the U.S. Senate in Republican hands.

Feds probing if Nashville bomber believed in lizard people conspiracy  —  Investigators are exploring several conspiracy theories as potential motives behind the Christmas Day bombing outside an AT&T building in Nashville, including evidence that the bomber believed in lizard people …

Trump Could Still Start a Last-Ditch War With Iran  —  Donald Trump is intent on creating as much chaos as possible on his way out of the White House.  Could that include saddling Joe Biden with another war in the Middle East?  —  We already know that Trump is thinking about attacking Iran.

Hilaria Baldwin Talks About Her Heritage, Spain, Boston, Alec and Instagram  —  Accused of a “decade long grift where she impersonates a Spanish person,” the entrepreneur and spouse of Alec Baldwin talks about Spain, Boston, her children, Instagram and more.

Biden's Team Tells Senate Democrats To Send Him Judicial Nominees ASAP  —  The president-elect wants recommendations for all existing district court vacancies by Jan. 19, says his incoming White House counsel.  —  President-elect Joe Biden is signaling that he's ready to move quickly with nominating judges once he's sworn into office.

Governor cancels inaugural, citing mask protests at his home  —  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire's Republican governor said Wednesday that he is canceling his outdoor inauguration ceremony next month because of public safety concerns — namely, armed protesters who have been gathering outside …

Trump calls on Georgia Gov. Kemp to resign  —  President Trump called for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's (R) resignation on Wednesday, hammering him for refusing to back up the president's claim that he carried Georgia in the November presidential election — despite his loss by 12,000 votes …

Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies with COVID  —  Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport with COVID-19, a family friend confirmed Tuesday night.  —  Letlow, 41, was transferred from St. Francis Medical Center to the Ochsner LSU Health ICU …

Biden to tap longtime officials for top Pentagon roles  —  President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate two former senior officials to fill the Pentagon's No. 2 and No. 3 jobs, transition officials said, further signaling the new administration's intent to forge a more predictable foreign policy …

Dr. Drew reveals COVID-19 diagnosis months after apologizing for downplaying coronavirus  —  Celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky has tested positive for COVID-19.  Pinsky, known as “Dr. Drew,” is “under surveillance” according to a message shared on his Instagram account.

Trump pardon of Blackwater Iraq contractors violates international law - UN  —  GENEVA (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's pardon of four American men convicted of killing Iraqi civilians while working as contractors in 2007 violated U.S. obligations under international law, U.N. human rights experts said on Wednesday.

Man hospitalized for COVID-19 after Queens Republican club Christmas party  —  At least one person has been hospitalized for COVID-19 after attending an indoor Christmas dance party hosted by the Whitestone Republican Club earlier this month, the Eagle has learned.

Even If It's ‘Bonkers,’ Poll Finds Many Believe QAnon And Other Conspiracy Theories  —  Toggle more options  —  A significant number of Americans believe misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus and the recent presidential election, as well as conspiracy theories like QAnon, according to a new NPR/Ipsos poll.

Oregon mayor tells residents to ignore coronavirus restrictions  —  Stan Pulliam thinks the economy should open up as usual but with masks and social distancing  —  Oregon mayor encourages coronavirus lockdown defiance  —  A Republican mayor in Oregon is encouraging business owners to defy the state's coronavirus restrictions.

Trump's big policy win: Stronger showers, faster dishwashers.  It's something almost no one asked for.  —  One change he talked about frequently won't happen: A reversal of water limits on toilet flushes  —  President Trump was on a roll, standing before an adoring crowd in Carson City …

America's Vaccine Rollout Is Already a Disaster  —  It's happening all over again.  For months, Americans who despaired about the country's coronavirus-suppression efforts looked desperately to the arrival of a vaccine for a kind of pandemic deliverance.  Now that it has arrived …

The Cruise Ship Suicides  —  Confined mostly to tiny cabins as the pandemic unfolded, crew members struggled to cope.  —  At first, Jozsef Szaller's crewmates didn't think much of his absence.  Szaller, after all, usually skipped going to dinner on the Carnival Breeze …

The multiple hypocrisies of officials who flout Covid precautions  —  6 states facing record coronavirus hospitalizations  —  Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of emergency medicine; co-founder of GetUsPPE; and a CNN medical analyst.  The opinions expressed in this commentary are her own.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Announce Additional Members of White House Staff  —  Transition Names 100 Accomplished, Diverse White House Staff Members by End of 2020  —  WASHINGTON - Today, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris …