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, Business Insider, USA Today, Cyprus Mail, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Reuters and NewsNation Now
Associated Press:
Pence seeks dismissal of suit aiming to overturn election
Pence seeks dismissal of suit aiming to overturn election
Discussion:
NBC News, KTLA, The National Interest and Florida Politics
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
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
Discussion:
New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, Patterico's Pontifications, Outside the Beltway, The Carpentariat, Newsmax, The Sun, Fox News, Conservative News Today, Twitchy, New York Times, RedState, Deseret News, The Hill, Forbes, Roll Call, Business Insider, Breitbart, Slate, Liberty Unyielding, CNBC, Mediaite and Washington Examiner
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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Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice:
EXCLUSIVE: Ossoff campaign launches dynamic campaign mobilizer program in final weeks of runoff
EXCLUSIVE: Ossoff campaign launches dynamic campaign mobilizer program in final weeks of runoff
Discussion:
Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate, POLITICUSUSA and CNBC
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, Washington Post 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 and Fox News
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
RELATED:
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
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.
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.
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 …
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
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
Christopher Ingraham / Washington Post:
World's richest men added billions to their fortunes last year as others struggled — Billionaires have added about $1 trillion to their total net worth since the pandemic began. — The pandemic has forced untold hardships onto many Americans, with tens of millions of families now reporting …
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
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 …
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:
Associated Press and KRON4
Jake Rosen / CBS News:
D.C. attorney general prepares for protests over Electoral College — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine is preparing for another round of protests in the nation's capital next week, when supporters of President Trump are expected to travel to Washington to protest Congress' certification …
Discussion:
Raw Story and New York Post
Robert Mann / Louisiana Illuminator:
The Good, Bad and Ugly in 2020 Louisiana politics — Columnist Bob Mann explains who performed well — and who failed us — this year. — No year in recent memory offered Louisiana's political leaders more opportunity to shine than 2020. If the state's citizens ever needed those who manage …
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:
Washington Examiner, The Guardian, Washington Post, NewsNation Now, WINK NEWS and The Hill
Christopher Flavelle / New York Times:
How Trump Tried, but Largely Failed, to Derail America's Top Climate Report — The White House repeatedly attempted to thwart the country's premier climate science document, one meant to steer policy for years. Scientists got in the way. — The National Climate Assessment …
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
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.