Top Items:
Mike Allen / Axios:
McConnell swats back at Trump amid Republican power struggle — It took four years and an election defeat. But someone with real power inside the Republican Party is standing up to — and swatting back — President Trump: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Discussion:
Cyprus Mail and HotAir
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Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Hawley faces heat from Senate Republicans over Electoral College plans — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressed Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley on a Thursday morning conference call to explain his plans to object to the Electoral College vote next week, which sets up an awkward vote …
Discussion:
HotAir, Washington Examiner and Roll Call
John F. Harris / Politico:
I've got a feeling '21 is gonna be a good year ... DRIVING THE DAY … It's your POLITICO founding editor here, part of a roster invited to have some fun with this space in the transition to a new Playbook team that will be taking the helm with the inauguration of Joe Biden 19 days from now.
Discussion:
NBC News, USA Today, Cyprus Mail, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Reuters and NewsNation Now
Associated Press:
Pence seeks dismissal of suit aiming to overturn election — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to dismiss a last-gasp lawsuit led by a House Republican that seeks to give Vice President Mike Pence the power to overturn the results of the presidential election won …
Discussion:
NBC News, The National Interest and Florida Politics
Jake Rosen / CBS News:
D.C. attorney general prepares for protests over Electoral College
D.C. attorney general prepares for protests over Electoral College
Discussion:
Raw Story and New York Post
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
McConnell calls Jan. 6 certification his “most consequential vote”
McConnell calls Jan. 6 certification his “most consequential vote”
Discussion:
Politico, Daily Mail, CNN, The Dispatch, Conservative News Today, Raw Story, Political Wire, Fox News, The Daily Caller and Washington Examiner
Dan Berman / CNN:
Pence asks judge to reject Gohmert lawsuit asking the VP to interfere in the Electoral College count
Pence asks judge to reject Gohmert lawsuit asking the VP to interfere in the Electoral College count
Matt Naham / Law & Crime:
On Mike Pence's Behalf, DOJ Tells Court That Louie Gohmert's Attempt to Sue VP Is ‘A Walking Legal Contradiction’
On Mike Pence's Behalf, DOJ Tells Court That Louie Gohmert's Attempt to Sue VP Is ‘A Walking Legal Contradiction’
Discussion:
Business Insider and Townhall
Jake Tapper / CNN:
At least 140 House Republicans to vote against counting electoral votes, two GOP lawmakers say
At least 140 House Republicans to vote against counting electoral votes, two GOP lawmakers say
Sadie Gurman / Wall Street Journal:
Pence Seeks to Dismiss GOP Lawsuit Aiming to Let Him Overturn Election
Pence Seeks to Dismiss GOP Lawsuit Aiming to Let Him Overturn Election
Discussion:
USA Today
Mark Niesse / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Early voting ends with record 3M Georgia voters for US Senate runoffs — A record 3 million Georgia voters cast their ballots before early voting ended for the U.S. Senate runoffs, setting up a showdown that will be decided on election day Tuesday. — The high turnout so far reflects …
Discussion:
HuffPost and Associated Press
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New York Times:
Georgia Republicans Deliver Persistent Message: Fear the Democrats
Georgia Republicans Deliver Persistent Message: Fear the Democrats
Discussion:
Associated Press, NewsNation Now, HotAir, CNBC and Washington Post
Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice:
EXCLUSIVE: Ossoff campaign launches dynamic campaign mobilizer program in final week of runoff
EXCLUSIVE: Ossoff campaign launches dynamic campaign mobilizer program in final week of runoff
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA and CNBC
Jaclyn Diaz / NPR:
Georgia Sen. David Perdue Quarantines After Possible Coronavirus Exposure
Georgia Sen. David Perdue Quarantines After Possible Coronavirus Exposure
Discussion:
Breitbart, Slate, The Week, Media Matters for America, Business Insider, Bloomberg, The Atlanta Voice, CBS News and Fox News
Senator Mitt Romney:
Romney: Urgent Action Needed on Vaccination Plan — Lack of comprehensive federal plan “inexcusable” — WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), a member of the Senate HELP Committee, released the following statement today regarding the urgent need for a comprehensive vaccination plan …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller
Meagan Flynn / Washington Post:
Rep. Jamie Raskin announces the death of his 25-year-old son — Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) announced the death of his 25-year-old son in a statement Thursday evening, saying his family was “devastated” by the loss. — His son, Thomas Bloom Raskin, was a second-year student at Harvard Law School …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and WTOP
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Congressman Jamie Raskin:
Congressman Raskin Announces Loss of Son Tommy Raskin — TAKOMA PARK, M.D. - With profound sorrow, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Sarah Bloom Raskin today announced the loss of their son Thomas (Tommy) Bloom Raskin, 25, who was a second-year student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Amherst College.
Discussion:
Fox News, The US Sun, The Daily Caller, NBC News, The Hill and New York Post
Ben Bradley / WGN-TV:
CTU board member facing criticism for vacationing in Caribbean while pushing remote learning — CHICAGO - A Chicago Teachers Union leader is facing criticism for vacationing in the Caribbean while at the same time claiming it's unsafe for teachers to return to the classroom.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Chicago Tribune, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, RedState, Twitchy, Instapundit and The Daily Caller
Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Meet the Trump saboteur in charge of undermining Biden — and America — If, in the new year, pandemic vaccines aren't available as promised, Americans can't return to work because economic relief isn't delivered or an adversary successfully attacks the United States because national security agencies …
John Drescher / Washington Post:
How a courageous Southern governor broke ranks with segregationists in 1961 — Sixty years ago, as Southern governors criticized civil rights protests and fought integration, one broke ranks and gave a remarkable inauguration address: He called for equal opportunities for all his state's residents.
Felix Salmon / Axios:
Post-Brexit Britain arrives — It took two general elections, three prime ministers, and just over 4 1/2 years, but as of today Britain finally has the Brexit it voted for in June 2016. — It's not a pretty sight. — The big picture: Britain has left Europe's single market and customs union …
Discussion:
Washington Post and UPI
Todd Richmond / Associated Press:
Wisconsin hospital worker arrested for spoiled vaccine doses — MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities arrested a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist Thursday suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine by removing them from refrigeration for two nights.
Discussion:
NewsNation Now, WINK NEWS, The Hill and WCCO | CBS Minnesota
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Joseph Goldstein / New York Times:
Virus Numbers Are Surging. Why Is New York's Vaccine Rollout Sluggish? — With a new variant of the virus emerging elsewhere in the country, it's crucial to vaccinate New Yorkers quickly. But so far, only about 88,000 have received the shots. — As the final hours ticked away in a harrowing year …
David Patrikarakos / Spectator:
Corbyn's legacy is here to stay — It's been just over a year since the British people finally squashed a hard-left push for power under the dismal but unyieldingly dangerous leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. On 12 December 2019 we dodged a collective bullet. But Corbynism lasted almost half a decade …
Ilana E. Strauss / The Atlantic:
The Dark Reality of Betting Against QAnon — QAnon—the conspiracy theory that elite Democrats, government officials, and celebrities are part of a cannibalistic, child-sex-trafficking cult, and Donald Trump is the hero destined to stop them—has allegedly inspired kidnappings, car chases, and a murder.
Discussion:
CBS News
Tracy Connor / The Daily Beast:
Federal Judge Scorches Gov. Kristi Noem Over COVID Response — ‘DANGEROUS PLACE’ — A federal judge took a rhetorical blowtorch to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, saying in a ruling this week that the state has done “little, if anything” to stop COVID-19 from ravaging the state.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
After Trump's drubbing in the courts, liberals fear a legal hangover — As President Donald Trump's campaign and its allies piled up loss after embarrassing loss in court in recent weeks, the cheers from Democrats, liberal law professors and civil rights litigators built into a deafening, contemptuous roar.
Brian Melley / Associated Press:
Once a model, California now struggles to tame COVID-19 — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ambulances waited hours for openings to offload coronavirus patients. Overflow patients were moved to hospital hallways and gift shops, even a cafeteria. Refrigerated trucks were on standby, ready to store the dead.
Discussion:
KRON4
Meridith McGraw / Politico:
The new center of Trump's political world: Palm Beach — PALM BEACH, Fla. — The center of gravity for the MAGA universe is moving zip codes with President Donald Trump. — In anticipation of Trump setting up permanent residence at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach after leaving …
Discussion:
Raw Story and No More Mister Nice Blog
Politico:
Janet Yellen made millions in Wall Street, corporate speeches — In the past two years, President-elect Joe Biden's pick to be Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, has raked in more than $7.2 million in speaking fees from Wall Street and large corporations including Citi, Goldman Sachs, Google …
Discussion:
The Hill, Forbes, The Daily Caller and Wall Street Journal