Below are some of the top political news stories of the day: ¯\_(?)_/¯
- Trump names Rep. Mark Meadows his new chief of staff - AP | The move comes as Trump has been pulling together a team of loyalists and allies ahead of what is expected to be a bitter reelection fight.
- Behind the scenes, scientists prep for COVID-19 vaccine test - AP | Dozens of research groups around the world are racing to create a vaccine as COVID-19 cases continue to grow.
- Trump's mismanagement helped fuel coronavirus crisis - Politico | ... officials blame the president for creating a no-bad-news atmosphere that stifled attempts to combat the outbreak.
- US death toll rises to 19, New York declares state of emergency - ABC News | Coronavirus is now confirmed in at least 31 states.
- FDA head says 2.1 million coronavirus tests will have been shipped to labs by Monday - Reuters | as the Trump administration aims to counter criticism over response...
- Nursing home grappling with coronavirus outbreak struggles for answers - ABC News | The virus has killed at least 13 at the facility in Washington state.
- AP FACT CHECK: Trump’s sunny side up take on coronavirus - AP | President Donald Trump is looking on the sunny side of an economy clouded by the coronavirus.
- Trump impeachment witness: U.S. still ‘vulnerable' after Russian meddling - Politico |The interview is Fiona Hill's first since testifying before House impeachment investigators in November.
- Officials confirm first coronavirus case in nation’s capital - AP | A man in his 50s tested positive for coronavirus — the first presumptively confirmed case in the nation’s capital...
- Venezuela on agenda for Trump’s meeting with Brazil’s leader - AP | “The friendship is probably stronger now than it’s never been,” Trump said.
- 2020 becomes the dementia campaign - Politico | Biden and Trump partisans trade charges of senility in an era of aging candidates.
- Dozens of health screeners at LAX ordered to self-quarantine: U.S. official - Reuters | after two colleagues tested positive for the coronavirus, a federal official told Reuters.
- Just How Good Is Trump's Economy, Anyway? - Reason.com | ...the administration has delivered some economic expansion, some job creation, and some investment growth.
- U.S. financial regulators start contingency planning as virus reaches Washington - Reuters | including travel restrictions and home-working, to ensure they can effectively oversee the financial markets...
- Sanders, Biden camps clash over Arizona debate format - Politico | A proposal to have the candidates seated for the first time sparks tension.