Monday, Dec. 14, 2020

á           The first public coronavirus vaccinations in the United States were administered as the pandemicÕs reported death toll approached 300,000 people. ÒBy the time we get into the fall,Ó Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, Òwe can start approaching some degree of relief where the level of infection will be so low in society we can start essentially approaching some form of normality.Ó

á           The Electoral College officially chose Joe Biden as president elect and Kamala Harris as vice president elect. ÒIn this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,Ó Biden said. ÒWe the people voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact. And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite. To heal.Ó

Tuesday, Dec. 15

á           Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recognized Biden as the president elect on the floor of the Senate after weeks of declining to due so in light of President Donald TrumpÕs widely debunked claims of election tampering.

á           The inauguration committee asked the public to stay home on Jan. 20 and participate in the event virtually, given the global pandemic.

á           Biden picked former South Bend, Indiana, mayor and former competitor in the Democratic presidential nomination race Pete Buttigieg for transportation secretary. Although he has little transit policy experience, Buttigieg will be the first openly gay cabinet secretary in U.S. history, which some consider a win for LGBTQ+ representation.

Wednesday, Dec. 16

á           Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should no longer lead Congressional Democrats in her most direct criticism yet against the two leaders. ÒI do think that we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,Ó Ocasio-Cortez said.

á           The Trump administration accused Vietnam and Switzerland of manipulating their currencies, the first time the Treasury Department has accused either country of doing so. The administration previously accused China of doing the same in 2019, which was the first such accusation by the federal government since 1994.

Thursday, Dec. 17

á           A report from Politico indicated Vice President Mike Pence is planning to leave the country for at least a week after overseeing the final confirmation on BidenÕs presidential victory.

á           Rep. Kathleen Rice won a much-sought seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, beating out Ocasio-Cortez who was favored by some members of the House for the position.

á           Federal officials warned that last weekÕs cyberattacks, which were almost assuredly performed by the Kremlin according to American intelligence agencies, affected a far wider swath of sensitive federal department information than first believed, including data from the Commerce, Treasury and Defense Departments.

á           The Supreme Court refused to exempt religious schools in Kentucky from Gov. Andy BeshearÕs order temporarily shutting down all public and private elementary, middle and high schools in the state to quell the spread of the coronavirus.

Friday, Dec. 18

á           Pence publicly received the coronavirus vaccine, becoming the highest ranking elected official to be inoculated against the virus. Second Lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received the vaccine.

á           Pence announced the new Space Force branch of the military will name its members ÒGuardians.Ó

á           The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. ModernaÕs vaccine, along with the previously approved Pfitzer vaccine, will allow millions more doses to be sent across the nation, although the debate on who should get the vaccine first continues.

á           Congress approved a two-day spending extension to avoid a government shutdown to finalize the $900 billion stimulus deal.

Saturday, Dec. 19

á           The Senate failed to advance two Trump inspector general nominees because 12 Senate Republicans were absent.

á           Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of the operation to send coronavirus vaccines to states, apologized after a number of states received fewer doses than they had been lead to believe they would get.

Sunday, Dec. 20

á           Sen. Mitt Romney said Russia performed the last weekÕs cyberattacks on the federal government Òwith impunityÓ because they have no fear of reprisal from Trump. The Russians were able to perform such a broad espionage attack on U.S. data despite billions spent on federal cybersecurity.

á           Congressional leaders unveiled a $900 billion fiscal stimulus package and $1.4 trillion government funding deal to avoid an impending government shutdown that includes an offer of $300 a week in unemployment benefits, earmarks $325 billion in small business stimulus and provides a meager $600 stimulus to most Americans among other benefits and funds, including monies for TrumpÕs border wall.