Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Wednesday, February 24, 2021

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


AP Photo - Susan Walsh

GOP rallies solidly against Democrats’ virus relief package
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rallied solidly Wednesday against Democrats’ proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill as lawmakers awaited a decision by the Senate’s parliamentarian that could bolster or potentially kill a pivotal provision hiking the federal minimum wage.

Updated 10:31 PM CST

Awkward moment as House Republican leaders clash over Trump speaking at CPAC

U.S. senators weigh paring back Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid plan

Democrats weaponize identity politics to shield vulnerable Biden nominees

Congressional leaders argue over potential commission to study Capitol riot

Republicans push back on Pelosi proposal for riot commission

Funding behind 'Stop the Steal' movement shrouded in mystery

Donald Trump Jr. deposed by DC attorney general as part of inaugural funds lawsuit

Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House

Democrats attack fake news, and Republicans cry foul

Democratic leader says AG may look at Trump in Capitol riot probe

'Top Secret' Saudi documents show Khashoggi assassins used company seized by Saudi crown prince

Biden lifts Trump-era ban blocking legal immigration to US
Lawyers find parents of 105 separated migrant children in past month

Cuomo, facing sexual harassment allegations, once called for Brett Kavanaugh to take lie detector test

Austin eyes rolling back Trump-era policy on special operations

Miscalculating Sinema and Manchin could end up costing Biden

Klain on Manchin's objection to Neera Tanden: He 'doesn't answer to us at the White House'

Acting Capitol police chief: No 'specific credible threat' before riot; officers unsure of lethal force authority

Biden's big task: Keeping 50 Democrats in line

Biden revokes Trump orders on ‘anarchist’ cities and more

House set to vote on Equality Act after heated debate

Close ally of Marjorie Taylor Greene among those in Capitol mob

Federal judge allows deportations to continue despite Biden's attempt at pause

‘It was like the old days’: Biden praises meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers

Kamala Harris plans to prioritize cybersecurity and global health in foreign policy platform

Biden nominates 3 to postal board as delays persist

Louisiana GOP Rep. Higgins challenges Biden 'to live without oil & gas'

Biden Reopens Gateway For Green Cards, Work Visas Reversing Trump COVID-19 Freeze

Chief: Capitol Police were warned of violence before riot

Ron Klain: Admin will find another job for Tanden if not confirmed for OMB

Australia passes law to make Google and Facebook pay for news

AP FACT CHECK: Biden on virus deaths, Kerry’s climate crisis

House Judiciary witness compares U.S. Capitol rioters unfavorably with Civil War secessionists

Team Biden taps Asian American groups to help save Tanden
'Pervasive harassment': Former Cuomo adviser says governor 'kissed me on the lips'

Manchin backs Haaland for interior secretary after opposing Biden's budget pick

'Get used to me': Defiant Postmaster General Louis DeJoy pushes back at lawmakers at tense hearing on mail delays

White House stands by budget pick Tanden as Senate support wavers

Southern wildlife found battered following surprise cold snap

Biden CIA nominee Burns to focus on 'authoritarian adversary' China

Biden aims to distribute masks to millions in ‘equity’ push

Dominion, Smartmatic cases against Trump backers are credible, experts say

House GOP held secret climate summit in Utah

DC Congresswoman introduces bill to remove 'Emancipation Memorial' featuring Lincoln

Pentagon report reveals disturbing details about White supremacists in the ranks

Pennsylvania Republicans to weigh censure of senator over Trump impeachment vote

Klain says Harris would not overrule parliamentarian on minimum wage increase

4 takeaways from Xavier Becerra’s confirmation hearings

Acting Capitol Police chief admits 'internal challenges' during Jan. 6 response

U.S. Postal Service on 'death spiral' without urgent reform - chief
Proposal for 9/11-style commission to probe Capitol attack mired in partisanship

Myanmar students, doctors plan more protests against military rule

John Kerry meetings with Iran and Michael Flynn talks with Russian officials: Two different treatments?

More than 700 migrant children in Border Patrol custody: report

Under Pressure, Postmaster General Calls For Changes To Mail Delivery

Becerra says he didn't sue Little Sisters of the Poor

El Chapo’s wife goes from obscurity to celebrity to arrest

Republican senators send letter to Jeff Bezos asking why Amazon pulled book by conservative author

Donald Trump Jr. deposed in probe of dad’s 2017 inauguration funds

'Union guy' Joe Biden keeps his distance from Amazon union fight

Chinese American organization denounces critical race theory

New Evidence Shows Fertile Soil Gone From Midwestern Farms

U.S. Supreme Court set to weigh Republican-backed voting restrictions

Prude’s family says videos show crime; Officers say no

Biden HHS pick Xavier Becerra refuses to say whether he supports any restrictions on abortion
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Posted 7:05 AM CST

Judge bans enforcement of Biden's 100-day deportation pause

CPAC to put 2020 election claims center stage just weeks after Capitol attack

FBI's intel failure ahead of Capitol riot goes beyond a missed email, experts say

Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach

Liz Cheney calls on Republicans to "make clear we aren't the party of white supremacy"
Biden to sign executive order targeting America's supply chains in critical areas

Blinken expresses intention to return to UN Human Rights Council

Stephen Miller set to brief House conservatives

Manchin flexes muscle in 50-50 Senate

Trudeau tells Biden US leadership has been 'sorely missed'

Republican-backed voting curbs set for U.S. Supreme Court scrutiny

Biden struggles on filling Cabinet suggest a slog ahead on legislation

Congress rocked by consequential battles that will shape Biden's presidency

AOC tears into Biden admin for reopening child migrant facility: 'This is not okay'

The first 4 early states start scramble to lead 2024 primary calendar - GMA

Tech firms say there’s little doubt Russia behind major hack

The Memo: DC honeymoon period for Biden comes to a quick end

Over 235 charged so far: What we know about the Capitol riot arrests

Pentagon wades into political minefield in hunt for extremists

Trump's role in Jan. 6 siege looms over business of Washington: The Note

Analysis: Urban states come out ahead, rural states get less in Biden's COVID-19 relief bill

Biden corporate tax hike would cut 159K jobs and lower wages

Biden To Sign Order Seeking Homegrown Fixes For Shortfalls Of Foreign-Made Items

Romney says Trump likely Republican nominee if he runs in 2024
Manchin responds to sexism charges after opposing Neera Tanden's confirmation

Xavier Becerra, HHS nominee, largely escapes Republican attacks

The Biden administration is relying on a Trump-era policy to turn away migrants at border

Five big takeaways on the Capitol security hearings

Texas disaster puts Beto O’Rourke back in business

Biden admin misses deadline to update carbon cost

A look at how Biden’s Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday

Biden still sees 'good shot' at confirming Neera Tanden despite bipartisan opposition

Biden to call Saudi Arabia’s King Salman about Khashoggi report

Biden rushes to address global computer chip shortage via latest executive order

Dominion’s claim for $1.3 billion against MyPillow’s Lindell won’t be its last election suit: CEO

Hawley decries 'outrageous' Honoré appointment: 'He has no business leading a security review'

The Justice Department is facing a tougher climb trying to keep Capitol rioters locked up

5 board members of Texas utility grid operator ERCOT are quitting. They all live out of state

Federal judge indefinitely blocks Biden administration's 100-day moratorium on most deportations

GOP answers Biden call for cuts to COVID bill — is he listening?

Iran and world powers hint at talks over nuclear deal

DeJoy set for grilling by House Oversight panel

Imperiled Tanden nomination expected to face key Senate committee votes

San Francisco School Board reaches agreement on reopening, but no date in sight

Evangelical Leaders Condemn 'Radicalized Christian Nationalism'

For Senate rules arbiter, minimum wage is latest minefield

Judge rejects internet providers' challenge, net neutrality to go into effect in CA

Biden CIA nominee Burns faces easy path to U.S. Senate confirmation
States had to decide how to count nursing home deaths. In N.Y., Cuomo used an 'outlier' method, experts say

Kentucky panel says governor, AG should not be impeached

Biden leans into empathizer-in-chief role

Haaland faces second day of confirmation hearing questions over Interior nomination

US, Canada to hold climate talks, paving road to Biden's Earth Day summit

Trump takes up mantle of consoler in chief to predict a Tiger Woods comeback

'Society is changing': Record 5.6% of US adults identify as LGBTQ, poll shows

Trump should focus on 2022 elections, not 2024, in CPAC address: Newt Gingrich

Experts fear fresh wave of political prisoners in Myanmar

Congress to weigh reforms to U.S. Postal Service over finance woes

Democrats now at odds over whether to immediately seek postmaster general's ouster

Regulators keep close eye on Facebook's deal with Australia

Biden moves to reengage with Palestinians after Israel focus

The future of USPS trucks is electric: The new fleet will replace, expand more than 230K vehicles

North Dakota House passes bill banning mandatory face masks

Woods faces hard recovery from serious injuries in car crash

Ghislaine Maxwell offers to renounce French, UK citizenship in exchange for bail

Anti-Big Tech antitrust push expected under Biden

Oil edges higher as surprise U.S. stock build weighs

Fact-checking the Biden administration's sliding scale on vaccines and school reopening goals

Democrats look to improve outreach to Asian and Latino communities

Coronavirus News and Updates:
Updated 10:31 PM CST

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine works well in big ‘real world’ test

Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in major study

US hits game-changing moment in COVID-19 fight

People with antibodies after COVID-19 may have short-term virus protection: Study

CDC Launches Web Tool To Help Americans Find COVID-19 Vaccines
Here are the states with the best — and worst — vaccination track records

Georgia teachers to be next in line in state for coronavirus vaccine

FDA says single-dose shot from J&J prevents severe COVID

Vaccines 'encouraged' but not compulsory for athletes at Tokyo: Coates

New coronavirus variant spreading in New York City

DC Mayor Bowser's sister dies from COVID-19

Business group to fight North Dakota bill that would ban mask mandates
Moderna set to test new booster shot that targets South African variant
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Posted 7:05 AM CST

After a dark year, COVID-19 vaccines bring renewal, hope to hard-hit nursing homes

Johnson & Johnson to fall short of 10 million vaccine doses promised by end of February

Cancer patients are frustrated at states making them wait for the COVID-19 vaccine despite federal guidelines

Biden's Covid plan gets backing from more than 150 top business leaders

High-End Medical Provider Let Ineligible People Skip COVID-19 Vaccine Line

India warns of worsening COVID-19 situation, vaccinations to expand

‘Don’t worry, come forward’: Asian nations get 1st shots

Biden's Straight-Talking CDC Director Has Long Used Data To Save Lives

2 hard-hit cities, 2 diverging fates in vaccine rollout

Exhausted by COVID-19 fight, Portuguese nurses want pay not applause

Not All COVID-19 Aid Is Spent. But Schools, Cities And States Say They Need More

Cuomo says New York couldn't report nursing home deaths in hospitals. But other states did.

Covid: WHO scheme Covax delivers first vaccines

Ghana is first nation in world to receive COVAX vaccines