Pence Said to Have Told Trump He Lacks Power to Change Election Result  —  A day before he presides over a joint session of Congress to ratify Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s victory, the vice president tried to lower the president's expectations while seeking ways to mollify him.

Republicans turn on Trump after Georgia loss  —  Democrats have pulled off at least one Senate win in Georgia, with another likely to follow.  And Republicans are pointing a frustrated finger at Donald Trump.  —  With control of the Senate at stake in the state's two races …

James Comey: Donald Trump should not be prosecuted after leaving office  — Fired FBI director: next attorney general must ‘foster trust’  — President has insulted Comey and threatened him with jail  —  Donald Trump should not be prosecuted once he leaves the White House no matter …

Election Needles: Georgia U.S. Senate Runoff  —  Democrats need to win both runoff races to control the Senate. … How the needle estimates have changed so far:  —  The table below shows our expectations for results, based on where they came from, what type of vote they were, and other results already reported.

This Isn't Just Political Theater  —  If people “define situations as real, they are real in their consequences,” William Isaac Thomas and Dorothy Swaine Thomas wrote in 1928.  That sociological insight—often referred to as the Thomas theorem—offers the best way to think about this peculiar moment in American politics.

Hong Kong Police Arrest Dozens of Pro-Democracy Leaders  —  The officials and activists were detained under the national security law for their efforts to choose candidates to run in the city's legislative elections.  —  HONG KONG — The Hong Kong police arrested dozens of elected pro-democracy officials …

GOP senators remove Lt. Gov. Fetterman from running first day of new session  —  Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media.  Sign up for our free newsletters.

Lawyer on Trump Election Call Quits Firm After Uproar  —  The law firm, Foley & Lardner, had distanced itself from Cleta Mitchell after a recording of the call revealed she helped the president pressure Georgia elections officials.  —  A lawyer advising President Trump in recent weeks …

Dr. Dre Shares Message After Suffering Brain Aneursym  —  8:12 PM PT — Dre just posted a message thanking everyone for their love and support, saying, “Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes.  I'm doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are getting a divorce: 'She's done'  —  Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are over.  —  Multiple sources tell Page Six that “divorce is imminent” for the Hollywood couple, with Kardashian hiring divorce attorney to the stars, Laura Wasser.

Breach of air traffic control sends chilling threat as revenge for killing of Iranian general  —  Multiple air traffic controllers in New York heard a chilling threat Monday in audio obtained exclusively by CBS News: “We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday.  Solemani will be avenged.”

Justice Dept. Seeks to Pare Back Civil Rights Protections for Minorities  —  A late move by the Trump administration would stop enforcement of protections against discriminatory practices that have a “disparate impact” on protected groups.  —  WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has embarked …

China blocks entry to WHO team studying Covid's origins  —  Officials say visas not yet approved for World Health Organization delegation due to visit Wuhan  —  China has blocked the arrival of a team from the World Health Organization investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic …

We Laugh, They Rule  —  No columnist's cleverness could do justice to the absurdity of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's opening prayer for the 117th Congress on Sunday.  Cleaver, a Methodist pastor, closed his prayer for national peace “in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘God’ known by many names by many different faiths.

Inside the West Wing: Trump didn't want to go back to Georgia  —  With his anger rising at Georgia officials, President Trump resisted going back to the Peach State after his first runoff rally on Dec. 5.  —  Behind the scenes: He told advisers he didn't think he needed to go back.