Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Tuesday, December 8, 2020

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

House passes defense bill with veto-proof majority despite Trump's objections
The House passed a sprawling defense spending bill Tuesday in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote despite numerous veto threats from President Donald Trump.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Republican challenge to Biden's Pennsylvania win

New White House offer adds $600 checks to COVID-19 relief

Supreme Court denies 1 pro-Trump election case as another hits its doorstep

Judge dismisses Michael Flynn case but notes Trump's pardon implies guilt, not innocence

Biden’s 3-part plan to tackle the coronavirus: Masks, vaccinations, opening schools

Trump's threats to democracy are going nowhere in court

As U.S. companies push to get workers vaccinated, states disagree on who's essential

Bipartisan fix for 'surprise' medical bills hits roadblock

‘A new movement’: Trump’s false claims take hold in states

Republicans play FCC hardball to jam Biden’s tech ambitions

Trump appeals to legislatures and Supreme Court in attempt to overturn the election he lost

NAACP meets with Biden, Harris, pushes for 'civil rights envoy' to spearhead racial justice reforms

Pelosi, Schumer hit Trump but cite 'progress' in COVID relief talks

Trump-Biden transition live updates: SCOTUS denies GOP effort to block Pa. results

Mnuchin makes $916 billion offer to Pelosi for COVID relief bill

Biden's trailblazing Pentagon pick set to make history unless Democrats resist

Judge takes final shots at Trump, Flynn as he agrees to dismiss case

Trump hails vaccine ‘miracle,’ with millions of doses soon

2021 CPAC to be held in person in Florida

GOP hopes for escape hatch from showdown with Trump

As Biden passes 'safe harbor' milestone, Republicans on inaugural committee refuse to say he won

Biden confirms Austin as defense pick, but Dems signal opposition

Trump backs new stimulus checks amid Hawley push

Multiple Senate Democrats signal opposition to Biden's Pentagon pick

Biden faces Democratic pushback over waiver to allow retired general to lead Pentagon

McConnell Suggests Dropping Biggest Sticking Points to Reach COVID-19 Relief Deal

Texas AG asks Supreme Court to overturn Trump's losses in key states. Don't hold your breath.

Texas asks U.S. Supreme Court to help Trump upend election in long-shot lawsuit

Biden defense secretary pick puts Democrats who opposed Mattis' waiver in a tough spot

McCarthy says he and McConnell back $600 stimulus checks

The Supreme Court was *never* going to hand the election to Donald Trump

Armed Mexicans Were Smuggled In to Guard Border Wall, Whistleblowers Say - NY Times

On eve of U.S. vaccine approval, Trump cranks up the politics

Judge says he leaned against dismissing Flynn case prior to Trump pardon

Cotton: Wall Street CEOs are effectively 'lobbyists for communist China'

Judge grants former Rep. Katie Hill temporary restraining order against her ex-husband

Warren says she will vote against waiver for Biden's Pentagon pick

14 fired or suspended following Fort Hood investigation into violence and sexual assault

Vilsack chosen as Biden's Agriculture secretary

Trump taps Conway, Chao to government posts in waning days of administration

Top Cybersecurity Firm Says It Has Been Hacked By A Foreign Government

Why Dictionary.com changed their definition of ‘court packing’

AL, LA attorneys general back SCOTUS election challenge

Rudy Giuliani, diagnosed with COVID-19, says will leave hospital soon

Source of money behind GOP’s new Georgia super PAC a mystery

Republicans Make Clear Their Georgia Senate Strategy: Attack Warnock - NY Times

Trump Jr. cuts ad for Loeffler, Perdue in Georgia

After Giuliani Hearing Last Week, Michigan House Is Accused Of COVID-19 Violations

Black Lives Matter co-founder fires back at Obama for criticizing ‘defund the police’

Vanessa Guillén's family vows to keep fighting after Army firings

Rep. Swalwell says Trump criticism behind spy story

Ex-election security chief Christopher Krebs sues Trump campaign, lawyer for defamation

Senate rebellion brewing against F-35 deal with UAE

Biden, introducing health teams, vows 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations in first 100 days

Biden expected to name Marcia Fudge as HUD secretary, but she comes with a controversial past

Senate OKs Trump pick for FCC, adding hurdle to Biden plans

Raid of former Florida Covid data scientist's home could affect other state employees, legal experts warn

Terry McAuliffe wants to be governor again. Women: Not so fast.

Biden to nominate Marcia Fudge to lead Department of Housing and Urban Development

Arizona Republican governor rebuffs party tweet asking if supporters willing to die over election

Judge orders review of challenged ballots in neck-and-neck NY House race

Dual events will starkly contrast Biden's and Trump's approaches to pandemic

'It's not just misleading, it's insulting': Democracy activists angered by Trump's election claims

Biden's secretary of defense nomination will make history if confirmed

Bipartisan support for new PPP loans gains momentum in Congress

Today marks an important Electoral College deadline. Here's why that's bad news for Trump

Safe harbor law locks Congress into accepting Biden’s win

MISINFORMATION WATCH Fact checking Trump's baseless claims for why he lost

Trump blows a hole in the GOP on his way out

Many Georgia Republicans put Trump ahead of party and expect him to stay as president, hurting chances in Senate runoff

Live Updates: Georgia Senate runoff candidates differ on coronavirus restrictions for religious gatherings

Congress dares Trump to veto defense bill

For millions of Americans, fear over expiring pandemic benefits

Feds passed up chance to lock in more Pfizer vaccine doses

Trump administration pushes back on report that it declined to buy more Pfizer vaccine doses

DeSantis faces heat over raid of former Covid-19 analyst — Ivanka and Jared moving to Miami? — Another candidate for Florida Democratic Party chair

Becerra's big challenge: Vaccinating Americans against virus

Trump's window for election subversion is closing

Democrats give Trump the sideshow treatment in Georgia Senate races

GOP lawmaker asks Barr to appoint special counsel for Hunter Biden investigation

Latinos to run two agencies that play key role in lives of nation's largest minority group

Trump's options dwindle as safe harbor deadline looms

U.S. Treasury official says G20 debt relief scheme must be transparent

As His Term Ends, Trump Faces More Questions on Payments to His Hotel - NY Times

Let's make a deal: A Joe Biden presidency and narrow majorities in Congress could boost moderates' clout

NYC Rep.-elect Nicole Malliotakis says AOC's growing influence in New York politics must stop

Research: Millions of smart devices vulnerable to hacking

Appeals court denies NSA leaker Reality Winner's request to leave prison early

Trump administration awarded millions to companies with checkered records to care for migrant children

LA's new district attorney announces sweeping reforms on first day

Bipartisan group seizes spotlight, and more clout

Stocks take a breather, Brexit weighs down sterling

Expert on China and Biden: 'They're going to do things which are dangerous, because we're going to have to push back'

China condemns new US Hong Kong sanctions, Taiwan arms sale

Republican lawmaker says the GOP under Trump is 'advocating for crap' he never could've predicted - BI

Liability reform compromise remains elusive

Rashida Jones named next president of MSNBC

Live Updates: Ted Cruz says election-related case 'raises very serious issues'

Biden's Victory Cemented As States Reach Deadline For Certifying Vote Tallies

Here's who Trump has granted pardons and commutations to during his presidency

Women make record-breaking gains across state legislatures

UK-EU talks near collapse ahead of Johnson Brussels trip

New Mexico eliminated cash bail — but now one county locks up more people before trial

Trump’s health nemesis gets a new starring role: Reversing Trump’s policies

A year on, markets bustling in Chinese city where COVID-19 emerged

SEE IT: Ore. teacher suspended after erupting on anti-lockdown protesters

DeLauro intends to be 'strong chair' as Appropriations leader

State Republicans continue to break with Trump, while those in Congress remain silent

Taiwan: 'Massive’ attack by China may be a few years away

What Joe Biden reads and watches

Trump loyalist plots new purge at federal media agency before Biden takes office

Biden taps Walensky to head CDC

Global stocks follow Wall Street lower amid virus worries

UK’s Johnson says ‘long way apart’ from EU on Brexit talks

British PM Johnson says Brexit is 'very tricky', 'very difficult'

Lou Dobbs rages at Republicans not defending Trump

Chick-fil-A sues chicken producers, alleging price fixing on billions of dollars of poultry

Biden pledged to undo Trump’s immigration policies. It will take time.

Goya CEO names AOC ‘employee of month’ over boycott call

Schumer calls on Biden to forgive $50,000 in student debt per borrower

Baltimore's New Progressive Mayor Is Ready To Tackle The City's Biggest Problems

Trump's challenges failed but there's still room for drama

Anti-abortion groups: Biden health secretary pick 'a pro-abortion extremist'

Durbin leads opposition to COVID-19 liability shield with eye on Judiciary post

Pressure mounts on Hungary, Poland to unlock EU stimulus

Company offering stock tips accused of $137M fraud

Ghislaine Maxwell losing her hair, weight from imprisonment: lawyers

British source warns EU: give ground on Brexit or it's no deal: Times reporter

How Private Money From Facebook's CEO Saved The 2020 Election

China threatens measures over new U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

US Supreme Court hears dispute over Nazi treasure trove

China, Nepal say Everest a bit higher than past measurements

Judge rejects election lawsuit from Michigan sheriff

Iran upholds death sentence against France-based journalist it caught last year

Michigan, Arizona legislatures postpone work due to Covid diagnosis for Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani

Coronavirus News and Updates:

With vaccine drawing closer, U.S. tops 15 million coronavirus cases

Pentagon planning to prioritize medical personnel then senior leaders in coronavirus vaccine rollout

Trump hails vaccine ‘miracle,’ with millions of doses soon

How the pandemic is complicating taxes for millions of Americans

Trump makes another largely symbolic effort to combat coronavirus
'Shocking': US virus deaths hit record levels

U.S. could face months of vaccine shortages amid global competition

The US sees its deadliest Covid-19 week since April, with more than 15,600 deaths

‘New start:’ Medics juggle surgery backlogs and virus fight

U.K. Begins Nationwide Coronavirus Immunization, Largest In Nation's History

British grandma is first in world to get Pfizer vaccine

The Note: Vaccine gets Trump’s hype but will test Biden

White House task force warns states that vaccines will not reduce Covid spread until late spring

WHO says immune barrier from vaccines ‘still far off’: Live news

UK begins ‘historic’ mass vaccination program against coronavirus

Latest news on the pandemic / Follow Live

California hospital beds are filling up and doctors and nurses are just worn out

UK PM says vaccine will overcome COVID-19 but only gradually

Pandemic emergency benefits to expire this month

In NYC, Christmas Without Tourists Is Not Merry For Businesses

A doctor who treated some of Houston's sickest Covid-19 patients has died

Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine: What you need to know in 500 words

I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?

‘Turning point’: UK giving 1st doses of COVID-19 vaccine

Restaurants, bars brace for most challenging winter ever

Some Canadians thought they were beating Covid because they were better off than the US. Then that all changed

Hardly Any 1918 Flu Memorials Exist. Will We Remember COVID-19 Differently?

Vaccines are coming soon to hard-hit nursing homes. But plenty of challenges remain.

What Changes Minds About Masks? In This Small Town, It Was A Child's Death