Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Tuesday, November 24, 2020

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


Rudy Giuliani holds up a mail-in ballot as he speaks to the press about various lawsuits related to the 2020 election at Republican National Committee headquarters on Nov. 19 in Washington.Drew Angerer / Getty Images

'Beyond an embarrassment,' legal experts say of Trump and Giuliani's floundering efforts in court
Rudy Giuliani was brought in to lead an "elite strike force" of lawyers to guide President Donald Trump's legal challenges to the 2020 election, but their efforts have been "dysfunctional" and "an embarrassment," based on "unsubstantiated evidence" and "outlandish claims," legal experts told NBC News.

For Trump, defections and gaffes hamper 2020 election court challenges

Biden Cabinet picks may face rough Republican reception in Senate

Flournoy could be first woman to run Pentagon, may pick many women for top roles

Pennsylvania, Nevada certify election results for Biden despite Trump legal challenges

Trump-Biden transition live updates: Biden introduces nominees for key positions
Pennsylvania certifies Biden win, dimming Trump hopes of overturning election results

CDC ready for Biden transition: 'This is what we've been waiting for'

Dems worry about future elections as GOP set to control redistricting

Biden vows shift from Trump with national security team

Biden, congressional leaders call for COVID relief but still seem far apart on a deal

With Senate on the line, Trump's claims of election fraud put Georgia Republicans in bind

Meadows pushed Trump to allow transition to begin: sources

US census manager told counters to use fake answers: Texts

Joe Biden picks for top jobs: A spy chief who fixes cars, an envoy who practices 'gumbo diplomacy'

Trump counternarcotics strategy nets 216 metric tons of cocaine, 74,000 lbs marijuana

POLITICO Playbook PM: NEW: What Paul Ryan is saying about Biden and Trump

Michigan AG Investigating Threats Made Against Wayne County Election Officials

Trump addresses pandemic but not election during annual turkey pardon

Biden emphasizes foreign policy team will 'lead the world, not retreat'

The Latest: Azar says HHS now working on Biden transition

Kash Patel, recently installed Trump loyalist, now leading Pentagon transition

African travelers could be required to pay a $15,000 bond to enter the U.S.

Here's who Joe Biden has selected for his Cabinet

'Almost impossible': As education divide deepens, Democrats fear a demographic problem for future power

Biden's 'balancing act' with early personnel picks shows how he'll govern

In Atlanta, Warnock supported controversial end to cash bail before Democratic Party embraced policy in 2020

Trump adviser tells allies Biden will ‘stand up to China’

AP FACT CHECK: Trump still uses distortion in hopeless quest

Rubio calls Biden's national security team 'polite & orderly caretakers of America’s decline'

Trump makes one-minute appearance to tout Dow's 30,000

What is the QAnon conspiracy theory?

Biden mum on defense secretary pick as progressives push against top contender Flournoy

Biden urges Senate to take up confirmation process for cabinet picks (video)

Key government agency acknowledges Biden's win and begins formal transition

Biden tries to cast gov veterans as 'next generation' of foreign policy

What we've learned about Biden's administration from his picks: FiveThirtyEight

Biden says U.S. 'ready to lead' again, vows to work with allies

Virginia Democrats, Thrilled With Biden Victory, Aren't Looking for Carbon Copy - NY Times

Trump transition order follows chorus of GOP criticism

Dow crests 30,000 points on vaccine hopes, Biden transition

Trump pardons turkey as he ignores election defeat

US warship warned by Russian ship after challenging claims in Sea of Japan

Trump advisers pushed for transition to begin as GOP calls for it grew

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma pleads guilty in criminal case

Wisconsin recount turns up 386 uncounted ballots, as official blames human error

Biden begins an unprecedented push to reverse climate change

Texas men charged with trying to sell 50 million bogus N95 masks to foreign government

Joe Biden's presidential transition allowed to proceed after 16-day standoff

Approval for transition gives Biden team access to resources

Secret Service asked about protecting soon-to-be-former president in Florida: Sources

Biden announces top picks (video)

READ: GSA letter to Biden stating that transition can formally begin

Biden announces historic picks for foreign policy and national security Cabinet posts

Trump downplays GSA move to ascertain Biden as ‘apparent winner’

Trump carries on fight to overturn Pennsylvania's election even as his administration green-lights Biden transition

Biden set to formally introduce his national security team

Inner circle get key posts as John Kerry named climate envoy

Trump set on veto of defense bill over renaming bases honoring Confederates

Trump strips Biden’s options to boost the economy

Democrats Insist On Tuesday Briefing By GSA Head On Delayed Transition

5 takeaways from Biden's first wave of nominations and appointments

Biden to name Yellen to Treasury to lead U.S. from sharp economic downturn

MI canvassers vote to certify the election in blow to Trump

Graham warns Biden, Pelosi and Schumer would form 'trifecta from hell' if Democrats take Senate
Biden reveals national security team stacked with Obama veterans

Yellen brings history of policymaking, bipartisan support to Treasury

Twisting the facts on ‘dirty money’ in Perdue-Ossoff Georgia Senate race

Durbin seeks to become top-ranking Democrat on Judiciary panel
Trump campaign loses 5 more cases in Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision

Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign's effort to block counting certain absentee ballots

Biden aide Ricchetti to be a White House liaison for Congress, business world

Live Updates: Use of absentee ballot drop boxes extended for Georgia Senate races

Trump ally: 'Folly' for president to stump for Georgia senators

Biden’s choice for secretary of Defense still in flux

GSA chief says decision to allow transition to begin was 'solely mine'

Biden picks Avril Haines as director of national intelligence

Dem divide over Confederate bases threatens massive defense bill

Democrats face increasing pressure to back smaller COVID-19 stimulus

Biden Administration: Here's Who Has Been Named So Far

Trump-Biden transition live updates: Trump administration recognizes Biden's win

Biden picks loyal lieutenant to lead mission to restore US reputation on world stage

GSA offers to brief lawmakers on Biden transition next week; Emily Murphy won’t host

Avril Haines Nominated As First Female Director Of National Intelligence

Awaiting Yellen at Treasury: Yet another daunting crisis

'Freedom Squad': The GOP answer to AOC's left-wing 'Squad'

The secretive consulting firm that’s become Biden’s Cabinet in waiting

Live Updates: Trump's legal team criticized by Rush Limbaugh

Biden pledges to work with mayors

Ghislaine Maxwell quarantined after jail staff member tests positive for COVID-19

Texas and Louisiana can cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, federal appeals court rules
GM flips to CA's side in Trump pollution fight

Rashida Tlaib accused of anti-Semitism for reaction to Biden's Jewish Sec of State nominee

GM withdraws support for Trump’s lawsuit against California over emissions

Republicans Rewrite an Old Playbook on Disenfranchising Black Americans

More GOP senators back transition as GSA recognizes Biden's win

Tucker Carlson: Here's how the Dems 'rigged' the 2020 election

Gun-toting congresswoman-elect may carry Glock at Capitol

Russia caught U.S. warship in its waters, chased it off: defence ministry

Trump's FCC nominee sought to enlist Fox's Laura Ingraham in anti-tech fight

Biden team wants to understand Trump effort to 'hollow out government agencies'

Biden transition gets govt OK after Trump out of options

Giuliani explains why Trump legal team split with Powell

Georgia Is a Purple State, but Don't Expect Centrist Politicians - NY Times

Biden Picks Foreign Service Veteran Linda Thomas-Greenfield For U.N. Ambassador

US should encourage China's rise, Biden national security pick Jake Sullivan says

Mayorkas could bring stability to DHS after years of interim leadership

Limbaugh: Trump legal team better produce something fast

Fifteen alleged Philly mobsters charged with racketeering, other charges

Feinstein will not seek Senate Judiciary Committee leadership

Stocks rise as investors cheer Biden transition, vaccine progress

'Special jeopardy': 100 former Republican national security officials warn Trump must allow transition

Biden turns to familiar faces to grapple with a changed world

China accuses ‘dangerous’ US of ‘creating chaos’ in Asia

Biden's new WH national security adviser downplayed Antifa threat

Tigray force: Ethiopia mechanised division ‘completely destroyed’

GOP senator: No indication of widespread voting irregularities, window for Trump challenges is 'closing'

China fumes after extraordinary leak exposes secret US military visit to Taiwan

How Trump's fundraising could benefit his post-White House political life

In Tigray’s Humera, scars of Ethiopian conflict everywhere (video)

Michigan certifies Biden win, Trump challenge thwarted again

Former NY City Mayor David Dinkins dies at 93: reports

Rand Paul says DC US Attorney won't investigate protesters who confronted him at RNC

Asian shares mostly rise on virus vaccine, Yellen hopes

Yemen’s Houthis hit Saudi Aramco site in Jeddah

Whoopi Goldberg blasts Republicans not speaking against Trump: 'This is an attempted coup'

Trump campaign says it will continue legal fight after Michigan certification

Majority of voters say they prefer GOP controlling Senate

Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger expects 'very similar' results after third vote recount

Behind the scenes, Trump frustrated with his legal team's maneuvers

Donald Trump accepts US presidency transition to Joe Biden must begin

Republican official: Trump efforts to undermine Georgia results could 'suppress the vote' in U.S. Senate runoff elections

Coronavirus News and Updates:

White House coronavirus task force calls for 'significant behavior change of all Americans'

'On fire with COVID': Officials plead with Americans to stay home
'We can't win': Covid is devastating nursing homes. Some staff say they are unprotected.

Vaccine Expert: Once A COVID Vaccine Is Available, 'Don't Overthink it, Don't Wait'

Azar says states will decide who gets first Covid-19 shots

Coronavirus live updates: Global airline body developing COVID-19 'Travel Pass'

‘We’re drowning’: COVID cases flood hospitals in America’s heartland

To Combat The Pandemic, Biden Will Aim To Depoliticize Mask-Wearing

Keep the mask: A vaccine won’t end the US crisis right away

Brazil has enough infection data to analyze Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine: officials

More Kids Are Getting COVID-19, Kentucky Pediatrician Says

Fauci: US could see 'well over 300,000' COVID-19 deaths

Thanksgiving could be make-or-break in US virus response

Millions traveling for Thanksgiving despite warnings (video)

White House to hold indoor holiday parties despite surge in coronavirus cases

Spain's king in quarantine after coronavirus exposure: report

Los Angeles to discuss stay-home COVID order

Promising news about virus vaccines as officials look to distribution

Live Updates: Latest news on the pandemic

CDC urges overwhelmed contact tracers to prioritize efforts as cases soar

A Revamped Strategic National Stockpile Still Can't Match The Pandemic's Latest Surge

Colorado order allows hospitals to stop admitting, transfer patients when at capacity due to COVID-19

Thanksgiving travelers give U.S. airports their busiest weekend since March

AstraZeneca, Oxford say their vaccine is up to 90% effective

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Family Quarantining After 3 Kids Exposed To Coronavirus

'Alone in the dark': South Korea's small businesses reel from new virus clampdown

Surgeon General Adams: All Americans, even at the White House, should avoid large holiday gatherings

Americans are anxious: See how mental health symptoms vary in all 50 states