Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Tuesday, December 29, 2020

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


AP / Jackquelyn Martin

McConnell blocks Democratic attempt to unanimously pass $2,000 relief payments
The president said that “unless Republicans have a death wish,” they will approve the $2,000 checks for COVID-19 relief.

Trump’s $2,000 checks stall in Senate as GOP blocks vote

McConnell moves to combine Trump asks in potential 'poison pill' for stimulus checks

Defying Trump, McConnell delays vote on $2,000 checks, urges Senate to override defense veto
Biden takes Trump to task over lagging pace of vaccinations

Trump campaign asks Supreme Court to review Wisconsin voter fraud case

GOP senator says he'll block consent for $2,000 stimulus checks

First stimulus checks could hit bank accounts tonight

Federal judge in Iowa ridicules Trump’s pardons

Biden's grim COVID speech offers contrast with Trump

Transition mistrust: Roadblocks on troops, cyber hack and budgets

Pence refused to sign on to plan to overturn election, lawyers say

America has a hate problem. Facebook and Google are part of it, D.C.’s top attorney says.
Thousands of residents without heat after attack on gas service

Biden says Trump administration’s plan to distribute vaccines falling ‘far behind’

Outside Trump's Inner Circle, Odds Are Long for Getting Clemency - NY Times

U.S. appeals court upholds Trump health care price disclosure rule

Biden's Incoming National Security Adviser Faults Pentagon's 'Obstruction'

Louisville PD signals intent to fire officers in Taylor death

Trump targets congressional Republicans on multiple fronts

Top federal prosecutor resigns following ballot fraud investigation

Pelosi has narrow path to the speakership

Appeals court backs subpoena-like power for minority in House
Georgia's GOP candidates support Trump's demand for $2,000 stimulus checks

Georgia breaks runoff turnout record for Senate races

Barr Leaves a Legacy Defined by Trump - NY Times

Pentagon hasn't granted meeting with Biden transition team since Dec. 18

Unemployment aid: When would the $300-per-week benefit begin?

Feds decline charges against officers in Tamir Rice case

Georgia's secretary of state cracking down on voter line electioneering

Conviction upheld for Chinese businessman linked to Hunter

From 'contentious to business as usual,' transition cooperation covers full spectrum

Here’s why Trump is linking stimulus, defense spending to a contentious tech protection

U.S. State Department approves potential sale of 3,000 smart bombs to Saudi Arabia

Trump angered by Mar-a-Lago renovations, sources say

U.S. And EU Condemn Jailing Of Lawyer Who Reported On Coronavirus In Wuhan

Manhattan DA brings in forensic accounting specialists for Trump probe: report

Alexei Navalny: Russian officials bring new fraud charges

Trump lashes out at GOP after override vote on defense bill

Biden picks 3 coordinators for Covid-19 response

Atlanta mayor goes from star to scapegoat as violence surges

Post-presidency at Mar-a-Lago; What Donald Trump can expect when he leaves the White House

Massachusetts lowers age for abortions without parental consent

DOJ says US 'stands ready' to try man who killed journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan

Organ Donation Nonprofits Face New Scrutiny Under Trump Administration Rules

Battle over $2,000 COVID-19 aid checks shifts to U.S. Senate

Biden warns security agencies "incurred enormous damage" during Trump administration

Trump faces looming decision on extending visa suspension

House Rejects Trump's Defense Bill Veto In Highly Unusual Vote

Live Updates: Biden blasts transition ‘obstruction’ by Defense Department

U.S. judge orders two Georgia counties to halt voter purge ahead of Senate runoff

House veto override may show Trump's grip on GOP slipping

The ways Donald Trump and Republicans have tried to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 win

Trump's unplanned gift to Biden: Clean energy on the rise
Domestic terrorism exploded in 2020. Here's what the Biden administration must do.

Religion, Abortion, Guns And Race. Just The Start Of A New Supreme Court Menu

Yellen’s looming headache: Treasury’s vanishing ranks

Special Report: UAE emerges as hub for companies helping Venezuela avoid U.S. oil sanctions

Trump ends Obama's 12-year run as most admired man: Gallup

Biden accuses Trump political appointees of obstructing transition process

Can Trump chop pork from $900B package he signed?

Bernie Sanders, Senate Dems see defense bill veto override as avenue to $2G checks

Omni Hotels Accepted Millions In PPP Funds But Didn't Pay Workers
Nashville bomber left hints of trouble, but motive elusive

Biden’s nominees will face a China gauntlet

Mitch McConnell faces decision over vote to increase stimulus payments to $2,000

House backs increasing coronavirus stimulus checks to $2,000

Boeing 737 Max set to return to US skies

The Spectacular Rise Of SPACs: The Backwards IPO That's Taking Over Wall Street

Live Updates: Loeffler responds to allegations of abuse at Warnock-led camp

5 Lessons Democrats Can Learn From The 2020 Elections

Sanders pledges to hold up defense budget unless Senate votes on $2,000 stimulus checks

Fate of Trump’s $2,000 checks now rests with GOP-led Senate

U.S. House approves $2,000 coronavirus aid checks sought by Trump

EXPLAINER: Brexit ends Britons’ right to live and work in EU
Protesters, police face new challenges after milestone year of racial unrest

New law bars NYC evictions, foreclosures through May 1

U.S. House overrides Trump's veto of key defense bill
Strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Croatia

Child labor in palm oil industry tied to Girl Scout cookies

U.S. appeals court blocks NY governor's limits on religious gatherings

Bomber made now-chilling comment before blast, thought he was hero: report

Stimulus checks should start going out this week but timing could slide, administration official says

Biden warns of Trump officials’ ‘roadblocks’ to transition

Schumer to try to pass $2K stimulus checks bill Tuesday

Judge blocks voter purge in 2 Georgia counties

Nashville bomber was 'loner,' IT consultant, sources say

House OKs $2,000 stimulus checks, but Senate may void them

Jon Ossoff Got Some Breaks in Politics. And He Made a Few of His Own - NY Times

Perdue: Loeffler and I are 'last line of defense' against socialist takeover of Congress

Bomber to neighbor: The world is ‘never going to forget me’

House passes stimulus check boost as Republicans splinter

Biden: Trump aides setting 'roadblocks' for his transition team

Fact-checking Sen. Rubio's criticism of Dr. Fauci

Michigan mayor draws criticism with Facebook posts suggesting rebellion: report

House overrides Trump's veto of $740 billion defense funding bill

Joe Biden: 'Enormous damage' to US security agencies by Trump

Confusion after Trump tweets about 205K-vote discrepancy in PA

Russia’s ultimatum to Navalny: Return immediately or face jail

Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic

Ocasio-Cortez rails against both Democrats and Republicans who opposed $2,000 direct payments

After Nashville bombing, Tennessee lawmaker wants securing telecom infrastructure examined

Politics updates: Biden calls for 'continuing vigilance' against domestic attacks following Nashville bombing

Becerra faces GOP confirmation concerns over abortion, health care

‘We have encountered roadblocks’: Biden rips Pentagon over transition foot-dragging

Congressman, other Republicans sue Pence in last-ditch effort against Biden win

Alexander Vindman says he has 'no regrets' about how impeachment saga played out

Biden calls for modernizing US defenses following massive hack

'Nothing about' Nashville explosion suspect 'raised any red flags': Neighbor

Ohio police officer fired for fatally shooting unarmed Black man

FAA to allow small drones to fly at night, over people in step toward broader deliveries

Twitter sued for defamation for Hunter laptop story

Ghislaine Maxwell again denied bail

Georgia senator fighting for reelection personally lobbied Trump to sign spending bill

Nashville bombing raises fears of "lone wolf" terror threats
Did DeVos just expand school choice? Officials won't say, exactly.

Michael Cohen interview sparks questions after he mentions prison friends 'Tony Meatballs and Big Minty'

Loeffler calls abuse allegations at camp overseen by rival Warnock 'disqualifying'

Oil rises on hopes U.S. pandemic stimulus to spur fuel demand

Green Beret suspect in bowling alley shooting remanded to jail

Alexander Vindman: I was able to do my part to defend this nation (video)

Saudi Activist Who Urged Women's Driving Rights Gets Nearly 6-Year Prison Term
Dollar languishes amid pandemic aid optimism, pound meanders

Arizona congresswoman backs calls for Hunter Biden special counsel

Trump calls for end to 'religious persecution worldwide' on 850th anniversary of Thomas Becket's death

Each year, 1,000 Pakistani girls forcibly converted to Islam

Errol Louis: Trump's real target is Section 230 (video)

U.S. Implementing 1st-Ever Airplane Emission Rules; Critics Say They're Ineffective

Trump names Roisman acting SEC chairman

2020 was brutal for airlines. Next year could be even trickier.

Lawyer: Soldier charged in Rockford shooting may have PTSD

Fired Tyson boss says COVID office pool was a 'morale boost'

Coronavirus News and Updates:

Coronavirus live updates: UK variant detected in US for 1st time

Adequately vaccinating Americans will take 10 years at current pace

Vaccine rollout slower than expected as Americans wait for doses

U.S. detects first case of COVID-19 variant as Biden offers gloomy vaccine outlook

Here's what we know about the new Covid-19 variant found in Colorado
Nurse tests positive for COVID-19 shortly after getting vaccinated

Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff receive COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna in talks with South Korea to supply about 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine

White House coronavirus task force warns of 'unstable' data during the holidays
'Like a bathtub filling up': Alabama is slammed by the virus

US hospitalizations from COVID-19 hit all-time high

Wealthy hospitals rake in U.S. disaster aid for COVID-19 costs
Some California hospitals rationing care due to spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations

Red states prioritize elderly and vulnerable in vaccine distribution

AstraZeneca vaccine not ready for quick European approval, watchdog official says

In Atlanta, A Wave Of Coronavirus Deaths And The Questions Left In Its Wake
Lockdowns likely to be extended as California hospitals fill

COVID drives Dutch death rate up to highest level since WWII

New COVID lockdowns likely in Southern California as ICUs stay filled

More COVID-19 vaccines in the pipeline as US effort ramps up

Over 11.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines distributed, 2.1 million administered: U.S. CDC

China Covid-19: How state media and censorship took on coronavirus

Dr Nicole Saphier: US lagging in COVD-19 vaccination rate (video)

Trump opens up federal dollars for private school vouchers amid pandemic

Kremlin mum about when Putin will take Russia’s virus vaccine

U.S. COVID-19 deaths and new cases drop over Christmas week

India reports six cases of new UK variant of coronavirus

Coronavirus live updates: Kamala Harris to receive COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday

VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underway

Trump admin: Vaccinations much higher than reported 2M

Russia admits COVID death toll third-worst in the world

'Toxic Individualism': Pandemic Politics Driving Health Care Workers From Small Towns

The Latest: S Korea reports biggest daily death toll so far

Congressional staffers eligible to receive coronavirus vaccine

CVS, Walgreens begin Wisconsin nursing home vaccinations