New York Times: “Deaths nationwide were 18 percent higher than normal from March 15 to Nov. 7. Altogether, the analysis shows that 326,000 more people than normal have died in the United States during that period, a number that may be an undercount since recent death statistics are still being updated.”
Twitter Will Hand @POTUS to Biden When He’s Sworn In
The presidential @POTUS Twitter handle will automatically transfer to President-elect Joe Biden the moment he’s sworn in at noon on Inauguration Day — whether or not President Trump has conceded, Politico reports.
Georgia Governor Certifies Biden as Winner
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) certified results showing Joe Biden won the presidential race over Donald Trump, “bringing the state one step closer to wrapping up an election fraught with unfounded accusations of fraud by Trump and his supporters,” the AP reports.
Biden Has Picked His Secretary of State
President-elect Joe Biden has made his choice for secretary of state, moving quickly to assemble a Senate-confirmable Cabinet even as President Trump refuses to concede the election, Axios reports.
Biden is expected to roll out several top Cabinet picks next week.
Michigan Lawmakers Not Persuaded by Trump
Michigan’s top Republican lawmakers said Friday after a meeting with President Trump at the White House that they have not seen any information that would change President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state, a blow to the president’s efforts to undermine the election results, the Washington Post reports.
In a statement, they vowed not to interfere with the certification process that is expected to be finalized on Monday.
Don Jr. Tests Positive
Donald Trump Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus, Bloomberg reports.
Meadows Will Not Run for Senate
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who represented far-western North Carolina in the U.S House, said Friday he would not run for U.S. Senate in 2022, the Raleigh News and Observer reports.
Said Meadows: “I love the people of North Carolina. But I not only have no plans, I have no intentions to run for the Senate in 2022.”
He added: “I’ve had a number of people talk about running for that seat, if indeed Sen. Burr retires. My conversations have included some of the sitting House members as well as Lara Trump, and, to my knowledge, no one’s made a definitive decision on whether to toss their hat in the ring or not. But in terms of my hat, it won’t be in the ring.”
Willing to Die for Trump
A caller who is near tears and distraught over the presidential election results, told Rush Limbaugh that he’s willing to die for Donald Trump.
Cuomo Gets an Emmy for His Coronavirus Briefings
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will receive an International Emmy Founders Award for his “leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic” and “his masterful use of TV to inform and calm people around the world.”
Trump Could Be No Show at Virtual G-20 Summit
Washington Post: “Less than 48 hours before the scheduled start of the global summit, the White House will not say whether President Trump will participate in the event, which is being hosted by Saudi Arabia but held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Madigan Loses His Grip on Power In Illinois
“Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan — the longest-serving state legislative leader in American history — is losing his grip on power as a federal investigation pounds his allies and lackluster election results undermine his influence,” Politico reports.
“Democrats began to publicly turn on Madigan over the summer, after the inquiry into influence peddling by a local electric utility company came to light. But the revolt against Madigan accelerated this week, and by Thursday enough legislators had fled Madigan to deny him his title in January, potentially stripping him of the post he’s largely held since 1983.”
“The speaker’s downfall would mark a major turning point in Illinois politics and carry with it major implications for the future of the Democratic Party in the state.”
House Democrats Will Bring Back Earmarks
House Democratic leaders are proceeding with plans to bring back earmarks for the 117th Congress, Roll Call reports.
The three candidates to replace retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) are all on board with restoring “congressionally directed spending,” as it has come to be known.
Trump Lawyers to Avoid Michigan Lawmakers
“Rudy Giuliani and other key members of President Trump’s outside legal team won’t be attending today’s meeting with two Michigan lawmakers because they’ve been exposed to the coronavirus,” Axios reports.
“This added turmoil inside the president’s legal operation comes at a time when the president is urging Republican state lawmakers to interfere with the electoral process and reverse Joe Biden’s victory to a Trump win.”
How Biden Intends to Revamp Virus Testing
Politico: “The strategies under discussion, according to four experts advising Biden, include increasing the availability of cheap, rapid tests; using the Defense Production Act to beef up the supply of pipettes, chemicals and other key testing materials; and strengthening federal coordination of testing.”
“If successful, Biden’s approach would turn the testing system into a tool capable of reducing infections, rather than merely documenting the pandemic’s toll.”
Michigan Lawmakers Visit with Trump
“A delegation of Republican state lawmakers from Michigan arrived in Washington on Friday as part of President Trump’s Hail Mary attempt to usurp the results of the election he lost,” Politico reports.
NBC News: “Michigan Republican lawmakers slated to meet Friday with President Donald Trump at the White House could be risking legal exposure back home depending on what actions they take in regards to the state’s election results.”
Pfizer Seeks Emergency Authorization for Vaccine
Stat: “It is unclear how long the FDA will take to review the application, though the agency is expected to move swiftly. Agency officials have pledged to seek advice from an expert panel of outside experts…”
“It is widely expected that the FDA will then issue an emergency use authorization for the two-dose vaccine, which has been shown to be highly effective in preventing Covid infections. Officials have said they hope to begin vaccination of health workers — who will be at the front of the line for the limited first doses — in some locations within days of the authorization.”
Pelosi Calls Trump a ‘Psychopathic Nut’
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on a House Democratic leadership call Thursday night that President Trump is a “psychopathic nut,” Politico reports.
Biden Team Lacks Full U.S. Cybersecurity Support
“When it comes to protecting sensitive information from foreign hackers, President-elect Joe Biden’s team is largely on its own,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The federal government, which has some of the most sophisticated antihacking technologies in the world, is offering limited assistance to Mr. Biden’s transition operation in securing its email and other communications, despite concerns that the team is likely a top espionage target for Russia, China, and other adversaries, according to people familiar with the transition.”