Top Items:
Alayna Treene / Axios:
Multiple senators plan to oppose certifying election results — A growing number of Republican senators — led by Ted Cruz — are set to announce today they also will object to certifying state Electoral College votes on Wednesday, congressional sources familiar with their conversations tell Axios.
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Axios:
Trump is torching his own party and its leaders on his way out of power — President Trump is torching his own party and its leaders on his way out of power — and tossing gas on the fire with a public call for mass protest next week and a vote to overturn his defeat.
Discussion:
CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, CBS News, Raw Story, The Hill, Washington Times, New York Post, Los Angeles Times and Forbes
Adam Shaw / Fox News:
GOP senators, led by Cruz, to object to Electoral College certification, demand emergency audit — The lawmakers call for an electoral commission to be established to audit results. — Democrats push back on electoral college night — A group of GOP senators led by Sen. Ted Cruz …
Discussion:
The Hill, Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, POLITICUSUSA, The Election Wizard and WKRN-TV
Politico:
Cruz leads group of senators seeking to challenge Electoral College count — Nearly a quarter of Senate Republicans are officially preparing to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win on Jan. 6, a stunning development that demonstrates just how far some in the GOP …
New York Times:
As Understanding of Russian Hacking Grows, So Does Alarm — Those behind the widespread intrusion into government and corporate networks exploited seams in U.S. defenses and gave away nothing to American monitoring of their systems. — On Election Day, General Paul M. Nakasone …
Discussion:
The Week, more at Techmeme »
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Slater Teague / WRIC-TV:
Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications — LEBANON, Va. (WJHL) — Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin (R-Lebanon) died Friday from COVID-19 complications, the senator's office confirmed Friday night. — Chafin had been hospitalized at VCU Medical Center for two weeks, according to a news release.
Discussion:
Fox News, New York Post and Blue Virginia
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Celine Castronuovo / The Hill:
Virginia state senator dies from COVID-19 — Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin (R) has died from complications due to COVID-19, his office announced Friday. He was 60. — Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus confirmed the passing of Chafin, who represented the state's 38th district for the past six years.
Discussion:
Richmond Times-Dispatch, WTVR-TV, The Daily Caller, Raw Story and Associated Press
Virginia Governor / Virginia Governor Ralph Northam:
Governor Northam Statement on the Passing of Senator A. Benton Chafin, Jr.
Governor Northam Statement on the Passing of Senator A. Benton Chafin, Jr.
Discussion:
Business Insider, USA Today, Talking Points Memo, CNN, Washington Examiner, DNyuz, New York Times, UPI and WTOP
Michael Laris / Washington Post:
Sneezed on, cussed at, ignored: Airline workers battle mask resistance with scant government backup — As the man returned from the lavatory with a mask dangling from one ear, a flight attendant asked him to put it on properly. — “Why? Is something going on that I should know about?” …
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Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review:
The Risky Wager of Betting on Trump — NRPLUS MEMBER ARTICLE W ere the anti-Trumpers right all along? — They point to the president's performance over the last two months, ranging from the bizarre to the shameful, and point out that this Trump is the only Trump there has ever been.
Discussion:
Salon, Raw Story, The Sun and Washington Post
The Daily Beast:
Trump Plans to Fight the Election Even After ‘Stop the Steal’ Rally Ends — The president has told advisers he isn't deterred by the setbacks in the courts and won't be deterred by Congress certifying Joe Biden's win. — Many of Donald Trump's most dogmatic supporters see a mass protest in Washington …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Breitbart, The Guardian, CANNONFIRE, The Sun, Lawyers, Guns & Money, emptywheel, Reason, Off the Kuff, The Last Refuge, WTOP and Washington Post
The Times of Israel:
Iran says killers of top general Soleimani, including Trump, ‘not safe on Earth’ — Meanwhile successor to assassinated Quds force chief threatens ‘severe revenge’ — which may come from within the United States — 1,235 shares — TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's judiciary chief warned Friday …
Discussion:
Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner, Conservative News Today and Townhall
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Eric Schmitt / New York Times:
In Abrupt Reversal of Iran Strategy, Pentagon Orders Aircraft Carrier Home
In Abrupt Reversal of Iran Strategy, Pentagon Orders Aircraft Carrier Home
Discussion:
Al Jazeera, New York Post, Forbes and The Daily Caller
Tal Axelrod / The Hill:
Iran plans 20% uranium enrichment in rebuke of nuclear deal
Iran plans 20% uranium enrichment in rebuke of nuclear deal
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and Radio Free Europe/Radio …
Agencies / The Guardian:
Iran to enrich uranium to up to 20% purity, UN nuclear watchdog says
Iran to enrich uranium to up to 20% purity, UN nuclear watchdog says
Discussion:
NPR, The Week, The New Arab and The Iran Project
Ben Tobin / Courier-Journal:
Mitch McConnell's Louisville home vandalized following his blockage of $2,000 stimulus checks — LOUISVILLE, Ky. — United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's Louisville home has been vandalized following his blocking of $2,000 stimulus checks to most Americans.
Discussion:
USA Today, Fox News, Raw Story, The Sun, NewsNation Now and The US Sun
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Kayla Galloway / ABC7:
Nancy Pelosi's home vandalized with graffiti, fake blood on New Year's Day
Nancy Pelosi's home vandalized with graffiti, fake blood on New Year's Day
Discussion:
CBS San Francisco, Breitbart and Daily Mail
Marissa Lang / Washington Post:
D.C. is becoming a protest battleground. In a polarized nation, experts say that's unlikely to change. — For years, West Coast cities have borne the brunt of violent confrontations between far-right extremists and counterprotesters who come to meet them.
Discussion:
The Hill
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Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:
Judge dismisses Gohmert lawsuit seeking to stymie Biden electoral college count — A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a long-shot lawsuit by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) that sought to overturn the presidential election, saying neither the congressman nor his allies have legal standing to pursue the case.
Discussion:
Vox, CNN, New York Times, The Week, Slate, Business Insider, The Intellectualist, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Townhall
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Niall Stanage / The Hill:
Five GOP contenders — other than Trump — for 2024 — President Trump casts a long shadow over the Republican Party even as his attempts to cling to power look doomed to failure. — Trump could run again in 2024. If he does, it is hard to see anyone beating him for the Republican nomination.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Derek Robertson / Politico:
The Eight Pieces of Pop Culture That Defined the Trump Era — Certain cultural figures loom so large that they eventually serve as shorthand for the spirit of their times. There's Michael Jackson, the personification of the smiley-face maximalism of Reagan's 1980s; Lucille Ball …
Isabel Kershner / New York Times:
How Israel Became a World Leader in Vaccinating Against Covid-19 — Badly hit by the coronavirus, Israel has distributed the first of two vaccine doses to more than 10 percent of its population. Prime Minister Netanyahu is leading the charge, bolstering his own battered image along the way.
Discussion:
The Times of Israel
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Kalhan Rosenblatt / NBC News:
Ohio police gave Andre Hill no aid for several minutes, bodycam footage shows … Andre Hill, the unarmed 47-year-old Black man fatally shot by police in Columbus, Ohio, just three days before Christmas received no aid for several minutes after being mortally wounded, new police body camera footage shows.
Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
After pardon, Blackwater guard defiant: ‘I acted correctly’ — WASHINGTON (AP) — Evan Liberty was reading in the top bunk of his cell one evening late last month when a prison supervisor delivered news he had hoped for. — “He says, ‘Are you ready for this?’” Liberty recalled.
Discussion:
The Hill, Business Insider and New York Post
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Martyn McLaughlin / Scotsman:
Donald Trump's Turnberry resort posts losses of £2.3 million — Donald Trump's flagship overseas property at Turnberry has posted annual losses of £2.3 million, marking the sixth year in a row it has failed to turn a profit under his ownership. — The property, the jewel …
Discussion:
The Intellectualist