Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Friday, December 25, 2020 (Merry Christmas!)

Below are some of the top political news stories of the day:

Trump doubles down $2,000 coronavirus check demand
President Trump on Friday doubled down on his demand for increased coronavirus-related stimulus checks to working-class Americans.

Anger at Congress, Trump mounts among governors

Italian ambassador to the U.S.: "January 20 will be a very important day"

'Squad' introduces bill for $2,000 stimulus checks backed by Trump

Nashville RV explosion: Possible human remains found in vicinity, mayor declares civil emergency

Joe Biden bets on old allies to help him confront new crises

Nashville police investigating Christmas morning vehicle explosion described as 'intentional'

GOP seeks to avoid messy Trump fight over Electoral College

Downtown Nashville explosion knocks communications offline

Human remains found at site of Nashville RV explosion: Sources

LISTEN: Recording captured chilling bomb warning moments before Nashville explosion

Washington Post identifies Powell's secret witness as pro-Trump podcaster

Cincinnati police say 'suspicious' RV cleared 'without incident'
$2,000 stimulus checks in limbo as Congress unable to agree on COVID relief payments

FBI press conference on Nashville explosion

Trump, Biden briefed on Nashville explosion preceded by warning

In official Christmas Day message, Trump barely mentions Covid; Biden talks of pandemic's pain

For a Defeated President, Pardons as an Expression of Grievance

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer relieved at not being picked as Biden’s VP

Judge won't enforce Maricopa voting machines subpoenas

In very different Christmas messages, Biden discusses Covid and Trump barely makes reference

China announces one-year extension of tariff exemptions on some US products

Judge delays execution of only woman on US death row

Nashville mayor says there is "determination" to solve "intentional" Christmas bombing

Top Michigan state senator: Questions remain for Dominion

The complete list of Donald Trump’s pardons and commutations

Russia opens criminal case against Navalny ally

Here's What Christmas Around The World Looks Like This Year

Disturbing Video: Video shows creep stalking Cuomo staffer before bashing her with concrete

Pope on Christmas: 'Vaccines for everybody, especially for the most vulnerable and needy'

COVID relief bill flown to Florida, where Trump went golfing

Pollster predicts Loeffler victory but is less confident on Perdue's chances

Meet Biden's pick to lead the US intelligence community

Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balance

Now what happens to the $892 billion COVID aid bill? Here are three options

Biden says coronavirus will be first, second & third priority come Jan. 20

Judge throws out GOP lawsuit to close Georgia ballot drop boxes after business hours

Trump campaign suffers another legal setback in Wisconsin case

Americans suffer at Christmas while Trump golfs and sows chaos

Barr announces more than 6K arrests due to Operation Legend

Suspected Russian hackers used Microsoft vendors to breach customers

Trump's final weeks create chaos for Congress

Live updates: Ossoff reports more than $106M fundraising in last 2 months in Georgia runoffs

Democrats Ossoff and Warnock each raise more than $100 million for Georgia Senate runoffs

'I don't see the money': Silicon Valley residents struggle as tech companies flourish

Hackers accessed Microsoft cloud customers' information through third party: report

Pompeo slams 'unethical' report tying wife's positive coronavirus test and holiday parties
No, Flynn’s Martial Law Plot Isn’t Sedition. But It’s Not Necessarily Legal Either.

Powell says White House aides won't let her help Trump

Trump irked Pence not helping to overturn election

Roger Stone vows to sue lawmaker for claiming he covered up Trump misconduct for clemency

USPS agrees to treat Georgia runoff ballots as express mail

Democrats shatter fundraising records ahead of Georgia Senate runoffs

Japan aims to eliminate gasoline vehicles by mid-2030s, boost green growth

SNAP benefits yield greatest economic output, research says

President-elect Joe Biden’s dogs wish Americans a Merry Christmas

Bipartisan, bicameral group urges Trump to sign COVID-19 relief package

UK and EU have struck an historic trade deal. But what is in it?

Biden transition team holds talks with biofuel groups -sources

What's open Christmas Day 2020? CVS, Starbucks, McDonald's and 7-Eleven make the list but Walmart is closed

House GOP kills bid for $2,000 stimulus checks

Pakistani court orders release of man charged in Daniel Pearl killing

Miami mayor urges Wall Street firms to leave NYC for friendlier city

Russian opposition activist Lyubov Sobol taken in for police questioning - ally
Rush Limbaugh says he didn't expect to be alive in an emotional last show of 2020

Brexit: EU diplomats to get trade deal briefing

Gov. Cuomo grants clemency to 21 for showing remorse, rehabilitation

Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balance

The President and First Lady share message to the nation on Christmas Eve (video)

Voters still prefer capitalism over socialism: Poll

Ohio Officer's Bodycam Shows He Shot Unarmed Black Man Within 10 Seconds Of Encounter

2020 was a year of reckonings across the United States

Iran behind pro-Trump 'hit list' of U.S. election officials, FBI says

Cuomo staffer hit in head with cinder block during random NYC attack

What Biden's key appointments mean for his administration

Brexit deal ratification race begins

Syria’s air defences ‘intercept barrage of Israeli missiles’

In Baltimore, These Santa Clauses Bring Pork And Christmas Trees To Your Door

Pair of Nazi headstones with swastikas removed from U.S. national cemetery in Texas

Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder claims he's being extorted by one of team's minority owners

Benchmark US 30-year mortgage drops to record low

Coronavirus dampens Christmas joy in Bethlehem and elsewhere

Asian shares mixed with most markets closed for Christmas
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch sold to billionaire Ron Burkle

Coronavirus News and Updates:

Why you still need to mask up after getting COVID-19 vaccine
States are rolling out vaccination plans. Track the numbers inoculated across the country.

A pandemic Christmas: Services move online, people stay home

California COVID cases surge despite strict lockdowns

Coronavirus: France finds first case of new variant

A pandemic Christmas: Services move online, people stay home

Coronavirus updates: Antibodies may provide protection for up to 6 months or longer; California reaches 2M cases

'Don't lose hope': ICU nurse goes home after 8 months in hospital battling COVID-19

Influential coronavirus model projects the US death toll will climb significantly by April

California deaths spur pleas to stay home for Christmas

Another new COVID strain found in Nigeria, says Africa CDC

Trump threat to veto Covid relief bill delays $9 billion in state vaccine funds

How will you be told when it's your turn for a COVID-19 vaccine? It's complicated.

US military confirms pandemic won’t sideline Santa Claus

Christmas brings most air passengers since start of COVID

Kentucky family loses 3 members to Covid-19 in weeks before Christmas

Hong Kong imposes 21-day quarantine for visitors, adds South Africa to banned list

Chinese vaccines are poised to fill gap, but will they work?

'It's So Much Worse Than Before.' Dread And Despair Haunt Nurses Inside LA's ICUs

South Korea to decide on tougher distancing as COVID-19 count hits another high

Record COVID surge in South Korea despite tough distancing rules

Lions coach to miss game due to COVID-19 protocols

'No other case like this': 3-year-old in Missouri had stroke after Covid diagnosis, doctors say

A pandemic atlas: China's state power crushes COVID-19

What Killed St. Joseph's Residents: COVID-19 Or A Decision To Evacuate Them?

U.S. mandates negative Covid test for flights from the United Kingdom

Which countries have rolled out COVID vaccine?

Nurses fear what's to come in California's COVID crisis

One person's 'superspreader action' caused 7 deaths and put 300 families in quarantine

The Worst Of COVID-19 Should Be Over For 1 Hard-Hit Brazilian City. But It's Not