“Because life isn’t fair.” — John McCain on Fox and Friends after being asked why the crashing economy has boosted Obama’s poll numbers. [Fox News]
new york city
David Dinkins, New York’s First and Only Black Mayor, Has Died at 93
THE FEED
coronavirus
U.S. COVID Hospitalizations Break Record for 14th Day in a Row
biden administration
Joe Biden’s Cabinet Begins to Take Shape
presidential transition
Biden Transition Begins After Trump Appointee Calls Him ‘Apparent Winner’
Months after the Coney Barrett confirmation debacle
Sen. Dianne Feinstein: “After serving as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years, I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress.”
—@kylegriffin1
biden administration
Biden to Nominate Janet Yellen for Treasury Secretary
this is normal
Biden Names First Cabinet Picks, None of Whom Want to Destroy World Order
The drama is over in Michigan
BREAKING: Michigan’s election results have been certified via a 3-0 vote by the Board of State Canvassers. Republican board member Norm Shinkle abstained.
—@freep
the national interest
Trump’s Absurd ‘You Did It First’ Argument for Stealing the Election
coronavirus stimulus
Democrats Should Seek Quick Stimulus Compromise
Well, someone’s optimistic
Per pool — Biden, when asked whether Republicans will put up any road blocks to his nominations, responds: “Are you kidding me?”
—@seungminkim
evictions
For Millions Facing Eviction, There’s a Lot Riding on Trump’s Lame-Duck Period
new york strong
Andrew Cuomo Praises New Yorkers and Threatens Ben Stiller During Emmys Speech
A major new Biden appointment
BREAKING: Biden transition team: Former Sec. of State John Kerry to serve as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and will sit on the National Security Council, “reflecting the president-elect’s commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent national security issue.”
—@NBCNews
The trends are not looking good in NY
NEW: Statewide rate, which @NYGovCuomo discounts, is UP to 3.08%.
Hospitalization UP sharply, net increase of 162, to 2,724.
33 deaths.
—@jessemckinley
Hospitalization UP sharply, net increase of 162, to 2,724.
33 deaths.
Carl Bernstein’s Twitter shaming of GOP senators is already working
GOP @senrobportman says there “no evidence” of widespread fraud. “I voted for President Trump… I also believe that there is no more sacred constitutional process in our great democracy than the orderly transfer of power after a presidential election.” https://t.co/mouaiiAmE6
—@sahilkapur
Some figures to help quantify the sudden lack of Trump in our lives
In the 19 days since the election, 12 have included no events on the president’s schedule. He has appeared at public events four times and has played golf at his own Virginia course six times. He has taken no questions from reporters.
Since Election Day, he has spoken 8,143 words over 18 days through Saturday, according to Factba.se, a website which tracks all of his utterances and movements. On average in 2020, he spoke 8,398 words daily, according to Bill Frischling, the website’s owner, but only 454 words per day since Nov. 3. On the last day of the campaign alone, he uttered more than 55,000 words.
He averaged about 48 minutes on camera every day in 2020, Frischling said. He has spent about 50 minutes on camera total since Nov. 3.
cruise ships
‘All People’ Should Avoid Cruise Ships, CDC Warns
fear vs. fun
Cops Bust 80-Person Party at a Sex Club in Queens
hunger
America’s Hunger Crisis Won’t Take a Break for Thanksgiving
covid-19
A Third COVID Vaccine Is Shown to Be Effective — and It’s Cheap
In a series of tweets posted last night, Carl Bernstein shamed 21 senators who have privately expressed “extreme contempt” for Trump while supporting him publicly
I’m not violating any pledge of journalistic confidentially in reporting this: 21 Republican Sens–in convos w/ colleagues, staff members, lobbyists, W. House aides–have repeatedly expressed extreme contempt for Trump & his fitness to be POTUS.
… The 21 GOP Senators who have privately expressed their disdain for Trump are: Portman, Alexander, Sasse, Blunt, Collins, Murkowski, Cornyn, Thune, Romney, Braun, Young, Tim Scott, Rick Scott, Rubio, Grassley, Burr, Toomey, McSally, Moran, Roberts, Shelby.
… With few exceptions, their craven public silence has helped enable Trump’s most grievous conduct—including undermining and discrediting the US the electoral system.
A third COVID vaccine shows encouraging early results, and it’s easier to store than the other two
The coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is up to 90 percent effective when administered at a half dose and then a full booster dose a month later, scientists said Monday.
The announcement follows upbeat results from two other front-running vaccine candidates, by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, in the last two weeks.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is likely to be cheaper than those made by Pfizer and Moderna, and it does not need to be stored at subzero temperatures but can be kept in ordinary refrigerators in pharmacies and doctor’s offices.
AstraZeneca executives said the vaccine is already being manufactured. The first 4 million doses could be ready in December, and 40 million could be delivered in the first quarter of 2021, they said. By the spring, the company and its global partners in India, Brazil, Russia and the United States could be cranking out 100 million to 200 million doses a month.
joe biden
Biden to Name Longtime Aide Antony Blinken as Secretary of State: Report
president trump
Trump Campaign Distances Itself From Conspiracy-Minded Trump Lawyer
coronavirus
650 Bodies From NYC COVID Spring Are Still Being Held in Freezer Trucks: Report
2020 presidential election
Federal Judge Rebukes Trump’s Effort to Overturn Pennsylvania Election Results
georgia
Senator Kelly Loeffler May Have COVID-19
More angst in Michigan
Michigan’s attorney general is exploring whether officials there risk committing crimes if they bend to President Trump’s wishes in seeking to block the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in their state, according to two people familiar with the review.
The move by Dana Nessel, a Democrat, reflected a growing sense of unease among many in her party and some Republicans that the president was continuing his unprecedented efforts to reach personally into the state’s electoral process as he seeks to prevent Michigan from formally declaring a winner there.
vision 2020
Will Trump Screw Up Republican Efforts to Hang On to the Senate?
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