Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Thursday, December 17, 2020 (1 Viewer)

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


Photo credit - Sarah Silbiger - Getty Images

Congressional leaders putting 'finishing touches' on Covid relief deal as funding deadline nears
The package will include a new round of stimulus checks, likely about $600 for every adult who qualifies, sources familiar with the discussions said.

McConnell says pandemic relief deal with aid to individuals, businesses is 'close'

Biden taps Deb Haaland to be first Native American interior secretary

Trump vows to veto defense bill that Congress sent him

US jobless claims rise to 885,000 amid resurgence of virus

Biden: Additional Covid aid depends on Georgia Senate wins for Warnock, Ossoff

GA judge tosses out GOP suit on absentee ballots, drop boxes ahead of January runoffs

Congress braces for painful veto clash with Trump on defense bill

50 years of tax cuts for the rich failed to trickle down, economics study says

Biden warns he will be tough on state sponsors of cyberattacks, as U.S. suffers massive cyber hack

McConnell getting much of what he wants in emerging relief deal

Ex-election security chief Christopher Krebs calls out GOP on threats against election officials: 'It's got to stop'

Raging pandemic lights fire under U.S. Congress for fresh round of aid

Hunter Biden associate texts hint at push to ‘get Joe involved,’ make it look like ‘truly family business’

Romney: 'Stunning' for White House not to respond on Russian cyberattack

Homeland Security: Hacking campaign poses 'grave risk' to all levels of government, private sector

Biden picks North Carolina environmental chief to lead EPA

Navarro releases report: Election fraud 'more than sufficient' for Trump victory

Nuclear weapons agency breached amid massive cyber onslaught

McConnell says Senate "highly likely" to work through weekend on COVID, funding bills

Voting machine firm demands Sidney Powell retract bogus claims about 2020 election

Tucker Carlson doubles down on mocking 'illiterate' Jill Biden
U.S. whistleblower was pressed to exaggerate leftist role in urban protests, lawyer says

Dems fret about possible Merrick Garland AG pick, opening circuit court spot

'Cautiously optimistic' on Obamacare lawsuit, Becerra to focus on health disparities at HHS

As Senate runoff vote approaches, Georgia remains as divided as ever

Trump wants to make southern anti-drug fight permanent

America's top general meets with Taliban, calls for a reduction in violence

With eye on climate change, Biden filling environmental, interior posts

Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville suggests he might challenge Electoral College count; other GOP senators mum

Rand Paul calls for Trump to pardon Edward Snowden

How Georgia is driving Congress toward a stimulus deal

As Trump Leaves the White House, His Imprint on the Judiciary Deepens - NY Times

Trump’s move to his Florida estate challenged by neighbor

Nearly a dozen immigrants kept in solitary confinement for more than two months: report

Pro-gun groups far outspend gun control activists in tight Georgia Senate runoffs

Ratcliffe delays meddling report amid China speculation

How Biden just gave House Republicans a major boost

'Morally bankrupt': Purdue Pharma leaders face reckoning at congressional hearing

Google hit with another antitrust lawsuit by states

Biden to pick North Carolina environmental regulator to run EPA

Who is Mitch McConnell: What you need to know about the Republican Senate leader

U.S. Supreme Court rejects religious school challenge to Kentucky shutdown order

Relief bill could slam door on Biden’s ability to extend emergency economic support

US inmate scheduled to be executed tests positive for virus

Statue of Barbara Johns, Virginia civil rights icon, expected to replace Robert E. Lee in US Capitol

Analysis: What do US sanctions on Turkey mean for NATO?

Loeffler repeatedly dodges questions about winner of White House race

EU, UK leaders concede big gaps remain in post-Brexit talks
Historic snowfalls of up to 45 inches blanket U.S. Northeast

Close but not yet: Deal near on COVID-19 economic aid bill

Glimmers of progress in stimulus negotiations as Trump's election sideshow drags on

Trump administration to withhold Medicaid funding from California over abortion insurance requirement

Republicans hold slight edge in Georgia Senate runoffs: poll

LIVE UPDATES: Georgia's Senate runoffs draw more than 700K early votes so far

‘It is madness’: Governors rage over stimulus snub

Trump-Biden transition live updates: Biden meets with governors on COVID-19 response

Wray: FBI has 'zero tolerance' for sexual misconduct

Texas, nine U.S. states accuse Google of working with Facebook to break antitrust law

House conservative pushes back on 'surrender caucus' after McConnell urges senators to let election results stand

House intends to continue pursuing McGahn testimony in 2021

Secretary of State Pompeo quarantines after virus exposure

States grapple with next steps on evictions as crisis grows

As more Republicans acknowledge Biden’s win, Trump presses on

Ex-teachers union leader seen as leading candidate for Biden's Education secretary

Chicago mayor 'blindsided' by report of botched police raid, handcuffed naked woman

White House counsel's office warned Trump not to fire Chris Wray

Google Hit With 2nd Big Lawsuit Testing Its Monopoly Power — This One Over Digital Ads

Bill to restrict info about judges stumbles in Senate

Carl Bernstein: List of GOP senators who dislike Trump is 'much greater' than 21 names

Dem lawmaker says he owes hammers apology after calling DeVos 'dumb as a bag of hammers'

George W. Bush sends holiday card with pointed message as Trump denies election loss

Loeffler declines to rule out formal protest of Biden’s win

Trump administration blocks funding for California, brings DOJ suit over abortion issues

Former Obama HHS official criticizes Trump administration’s global Covid approach

Washington state eyes reopening schools no matter the rate of COVID-19 infections

U.S. calls Switzerland, Vietnam currency manipulators in Trump trade shot

Biden says schools should reopen within first 100 days in call with governors

Hill leaders eye new round of stimulus checks as part of $900 billion Covid relief deal

Kenyan nabbed in the Philippines plotting ‘9/11-style hijacking’

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez says Democrats need new leadership in Congress

Ocasio-Cortez: I'm 'not ready' to be Speaker but Pelosi and Schumer need to go

GOP places focus anywhere but Atlanta in Georgia runoffs

How suspected Russian hackers outed their massive cyberattack

Jon Ossoff's view of the Georgia Senate runoff elections

KT McFarland: There is 'significant evidence' Hunter Biden has been 'compromised by Chinese'

Biden's search for an attorney general complicated by 'competing questions'

Biden's expected Energy Department pick, Granholm, could lead charge on electric cars

NY bans sale of hate symbols on state property

Pompeo cancels party after virus exposure

Family behind Purdue Pharma to face congressional scrutiny

Trump expected to attend January RNC meeting, a hub for presidential hopefuls

Chicago mayor accused of video cover-up

UK and US in talks over mini trade deal

Factbox-U.S. government, state lawsuits pile up against Big Tech market dominance

Australians fed up with News Corp’s climate scepticism

House Republicans urge Trump to veto omnibus spending bill, call it example of ‘swamp politics’

Google, Facebook made secret deal to divvy up market, Texas alleges

Holiday package deluge overwhelms Postal Service

Booker: Proposed COVID-19 relief bill is 'far short' of desired pandemic aid for states and communities

Exclusive: Successor to exiting U.S. attorney general Barr won't say if he will name special counsels

Giant waves feared as Fiji braces for Category 5 Cyclone Yasa

After Trump's toilet rant, efficiency standards rolled back on showers, laundry machines

Stocks and oil soar, dollar sinks as stimulus beckons

Harris to Robin Roberts: 'I feel a very big sense of responsibility' as historic VP

Liberals warn against picking Emanuel for Biden post

Direct cash payments likely as lawmakers near Covid aid deal

Twitter To Remove Or Place Warning Labels On COVID Vaccine Conspiracy Tweets

Oklahoma GOP lawmaker says he will introduce bill to criminalize and end all abortions in the state

With nomination, Pete Buttigieg reflects on historic moment for LGBTQ Americans

Macron and the moguls: Inside the fight over a 'French Fox News'

US plans new charges in 1988 Lockerbie airline bombing

Pete Buttigieg: 'Eyes of history' on LGBT appointment to Biden cabinet

Bitcoin surges past $20K, erasing 3 yrs. of losses

At least two dead as winter storm slams Northeast

Scores Of Private Charitable Foundations Got Paycheck Protection Program Money

Democratic governor encourages people to stay home, get caught out at wine bar

Global rich must cut their carbon footprint 97% to stave off climate change, UN says

With 3 more federal executions scheduled, Democrats appeal to Biden

Fed: Brighter forecast but challenging months still ahead

Stocks making the biggest moves after the bell: Roku, Amgen & more
Mike Rowe blasts student loan forgiveness

Trump to name Giuliani's son to role on Holocaust Memorial Council

From Fixing Potholes to Managing Billions: Is Buttigieg Ready to Be Transportation Chief

Coronavirus News and Updates:

Biden advisers warn Trump mass vaccine timeline may be too optimistic

Tool tells when you may be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine

States told by federal government they will receive fewer Pfizer vaccine doses next week, sparking confusion
Second U.S. vaccine ready to ship after daily record 3,580 COVID-19 deaths

FDA vaccine experts clear way for Moderna authorization

Upstart Moderna takes on outsized role in U.S. vaccine effort

Governors say CDC cutting vaccine allocations

Canada: Is ‘me first’ COVID vaccine policy hurting other nations?

Debunked COVID-19 myths survive online

WHO: Vaccines won't 'end the pandemic in the near future'

WHO says Beijing welcomes COVID-19 investigators trip to China

US sets new daily records of 3,700 Covid deaths, 250,000 cases

Meet the frontline heroes of the coronavirus pandemic

FDA says Pfizer vaccine supply is up to 40 percent higher than previously thought as vials hold multiple doses

Groups mount lobbying blitz to be next in line for Covid shots

Devices Used In COVID-19 Treatment Can Give Errors For Patients With Dark Skin

Dr. Ben Carson recounts his battle with COVID-19: 'Fevers and chills, couldn't even keep water down'

Tokyo says COVID-19 strain on hospitals is severe, raises alert to highest

Chris Christie stars in national ad saying it was a mistake not to wear a mask at the White House

Texas couple of 30 years die of Covid-19 within minutes of one other while holding hands

South Carolina Republican tests positive for coronavirus hours after speaking on House floor

Minnesota loosens COVID-19 restrictions after 4 weeks of strict regulations — but it's not enough for some business owners

Latest news on the pandemic / Follow live

CA to consider 'historical injustice' for vaccine distribution order

Supply issues hampering Pfizer providing additional vaccine faster

New Zealand Will Give Free Coronavirus Vaccines To Residents, Neighboring Nations

U.S. Interior Secretary Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19

S.Korea reports record coronavirus deaths as lockdown fears spark panic buying

WHO: Vaccination in Asia-Pacific expected mid or late 2021

A sigh of relief': How FDA chief stood firm in politicized vaccine approval process

Ambulance services nearing 'breaking point' receive federal aid

Asia Today: S. Korea marks deadliest day, over 1,000 cases

Pregnant? Allergies? Immunocompromised? You're still eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

Palestinians left waiting as Israel is set to deploy vaccine