Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Wednesday, December 9, 2020

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


Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images

U.S. government calls for breakup of Facebook
The Federal Trade Commission sued to break up Facebook on Wednesday, asking a federal court to force the sell-off of assets such as Instagram and WhatsApp as independent businesses.

As coronavirus surges, countries spend more on economic aid. But not the U.S.

Trump touts Texas Supreme Court case as 'the big one,' says 'we will be intervening'

U.S. inches closer to vaccine approval, economic relief as pandemic rages on

Retiring Rep. Kennedy says greed hinders aid to needy

Rep. Porter: McConnell putting 'imaginary need' of corporations ahead of helping Americans

Biden picks leave Democrats with slimmest House majority in modern history

NAACP pushes Biden to appoint a racial equity adviser to the White House

Trump files at SCOTUS for federal intervention in TX election challenge

In letter to Trump, House Republicans call for special counsel to investigate election

Covid relief talks hit another wall as Congress runs short on time to send help

Bipartisan coalition releases details of $908B coronavirus package

Trump ally lobbying fellow House Republicans to support Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election
Facebook hit with antitrust lawsuit from FTC and 48 state attorneys general

Katie Porter slams McConnell: Here to 'expose corruption in real time'

Electoral College is last long-shot chance for Trump allies to challenge election results

Supreme Court is leaving Trump tax case in limbo as end of his term nears

How Facebook grew into trouble

Pompeo unloads on US universities for China ties

Romney: 'Madness' for Republicans to challenge Electoral College vote

Ex-FBI lawyer who altered email in Russia investigation seeks probation; prosecutors want imprisonment
Analysis: Mitch McConnell stands in the way of Biden's economic recovery plans

Trump says he will intervene in Texas election lawsuit

Pelosi, Schumer blast $916B White House coronavirus relief proposal

Return of a politicized IRS? Democrats' push to expand tax agency raises concerns

Hunter Biden says he's under tax investigation

House votes to expand marijuana research

MI to conduct audit in Antrim County amid Dominion fracas

Weeks after election, YouTube cracks down on misinformation

Durbin's fate unclear after rule change vote sparks disarray

Missouri, 16 other states file brief supporting Texas suit to delay presidential elector appointment

New York's Electoral College will meet in person, as Gov. Cuomo says his hands are tied.

MI Supreme Court rejects another post-election lawsuit

Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin: 'America is strongest when it works with its allies'

Trump tries to revive stalled election-eve drug discounts

A lot rides on Fed Chair Powell’s work with Yellen – possibly even his job

Trump’s drug-card plan smacks into another roadblock

Iran moving key nuclear facility underground: report

Melania Trump 'just wants to go home'
Biden says 'right moment' for first Black Pentagon chief, amid congressional concerns

John Kerry aims to strengthen Paris Climate Accord when Biden administration takes power

Senate Homeland Security Committee to hold first hearing on 2020 election 'irregularities'

Video of Warnock accusing America of being 'racist,' 'sexist' surfaces

Biden hails historic Pentagon pick, but some Dems in a bind

Federal campaign finance watchdog has full slate for first time in years

46 states and FTC file antitrust lawsuits against Facebook
Azar vows to make sure "no balls are dropped" on COVID-19 during transition

Biden appears with Gen. Lloyd Austin as he lobbies Democrats to back waiver for defense secretary nominee

Warnock allegedly 'extremely uncooperative' during 2002 child-abuse investigation, police records show

GOP senator won't rule out challenging Electoral College results in Congress

Advocates, mental health experts pressure Biden to commit to reuniting separated families in the U.S.

The Latest: Austin reveres idea of civilian military control
Agreement elusive on U.S. coronavirus relief as bipartisan group releases plan details

California congressman: Talking to anti-mask lawmakers like ‘talking to a brick wall’

Georgia's Cobb County adds 2 more early voting sites after outcry from voting rights advocates

GOP recruits 4,000 poll watchers for 'most aggressive ballot security operation in Georgia history'

Thousands expected to attend pro-Trump rallies in DC this weekend

Appointment of new VOA chief raises fears for US broadcaster

Stimulus checks aren't in the bipartisan relief proposal. Here's what Congress is offering instead

Democrats seek intel on QAnon from DHS, FBI as backers join Congress

While seeking credit for vaccine, Trump says he may invoke Defense Production Act

Mnuchin makes $916B COVID-19 relief proposal; Pelosi, Schumer call it 'unacceptable'

Attorney general remains key spot to fill in Biden Cabinet, with Doug Jones seen as a leading contender

President-elect? GOP may wait for January to say Biden won

Trump holds self-congratulatory vaccine 'summit'

READ: Judge Emmet Sullivan's opinion in Michael Flynn case

Sanders, Warren and other Democrats demand $1,200 payments in new Covid deal

McCarthy trolls House Dems' photo op of defeated incumbents

As pandemic lifelines expire, Americans in housing free fall

‘Very worried that this affects our brand’: Georgia Lt. Gov. tells GOP to accept election results

Seattle Police Ruled In Contempt For Firing Less Lethal Weapons At BLM Protesters

Trump's bid to disenfranchise millions by threatening democracy going is nowhere in court

Georgia Republicans vow legislation to limit mail voting despite no evidence of fraud

State, federal suits against Facebook expected as tech antitrust fight escalates

Texas AG Paxton breaks down last-ditch election challenge before Supreme Court, claims 'unreliable results'

"Totally unacceptable": Army secretary condemns command climate, says Fort Hood report "will change the Army"

GOP leadership rejects resolution acknowledging Biden as President-elect

Biden defends nomination of recently retired Gen. Lloyd Austin for Defense secretary

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

CO governor sued for earmarking relief for minority-owned businesses

"Alarming" and "extraordinary" rate of change as the Arctic warms, NOAA report says

Live Updates: RNC files Georgia lawsuit ahead of Senate runoffs

Mexican president set to recognize Biden win

The push is on for a new round of COVID-19 stimulus payments

Andrew Yang calls NYC officials in consideration of mayoral run

Biden's extremely ambitious first 100 days

Trump's new religious exemptions for employers an invitation to discriminate, critics say

Politics live updates: House approves defense bill amid Trump veto threat

2020 was socialists' most successful election year ever, report finds

Commerce chief Wilbur Ross touts business with China despite military threat

Georgia counties cut back early voting locations ahead of Senate runoffs, prompting outcry

Questions swirl over Austin's limited experience

A new face to the GOP: Diverse candidates win in California

A new McConnell-aligned super PAC plans $43 million ad blitz to sway Georgia runoffs

10 senators propose new bill to help victims of 'Havana Syndrome'

Newsom chief of staff on Biden's shortlist for admin role to leave office

Twitter, Tumblr, Vimeo push back against EU rules on illegal online content

UK says will drop tariffs on US goods to ease aircraft trade dispute

Iraqis slowly rebuild Mosul, with little aid from government

What are retailers doing with all that data they collect from us online?

Stock market bull run continues, sterling faces Brexit test

Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson won't join Biden administration

Ethiopian forces fire at UN team as aid groups seek Tigray access

Dollar slips as vaccine optimism saps haven demand; sterling on edge

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman denies sending hit squad to Canada

Tracking all the monoliths that have appeared (and disappeared) around the world

Toyota unveils new fuel cell car in fresh push on hydrogen technology

The ‘Christmas Star,’ not seen in 800 years, will light up on the longest night of the year

Brexit: Boris Johnson to fly to Brussels as time running out for trade deal

A decade long treasure hunt in the Western US captivated thousands. Here's who found it.

Coronavirus News and Updates:

Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller US cities

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf tests positive for COVID-19
UK probes allergic reactions to COVID-19 shot

Covid: Canada latest country to approve Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Wyoming health official resigns after calling COVID-19 pandemic a communist plot

Pentagon confirms some senior leaders to receive coronavirus vaccine in earliest phase
'The canary in the coal mine?' What teacher layoffs in one city could mean for U.S. schools

Pentagon set to begin COVID-19 vaccinations on small scale

ICU beds across U.S. becoming scarce as hospitals face surge of COVID cases (video)

FDA scientists to report Pfizer vaccine safe and effective

Latest news on the pandemic / Follow Live

10,000 restaurants around the U.S. have closed since September

US virus deaths hit record levels with the holidays ahead

How Operation Warp Speed plans to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

Rich countries hoarding Covid vaccines, says People's Vaccine Alliance

Coronavirus live updates: Vaccine won't curb virus in US until spring, WH report says

Cases in coastal states continue steady growth as Midwest hits peak

Coronavirus updates: Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis reportedly positive for COVID-19

Biden calls for action on virus as he introduces health team

Fauci tells Black leaders he is "perfectly comfortable" getting vaccine: "The time is now to put skepticism aside"

Air freight prices 'outrageous' as COVID-19 shots rolled out, says WHO expert

Trump admin has yet to launch promised effort to get Americans to trust Covid-19 vaccines

Will I have to wear a mask once I get the COVID vaccine?

California pastor, church found in contempt, fined over Covid rules
American Airlines offering at-home coronavirus tests to passengers flying to states with restrictions

'We messed up': Ex-senator on virus before death

California warns non-essential activity is a "serious risk"

UAE says Chinese vaccine 86% effective, offers few details