New York Times: "CNN and MSNBC thrived during the Trump years, reaching new heights in ratings and revenue while devoting countless prime-time hours to criticizing a White House antagonist that their viewers just could not quit."

"Now faced with a Trump-less future, top executives at the rival cable news networks have summoned star anchors and producers to private meetings in recent weeks, seeking answers to a pressing question: What's next?"

Georgia voters shattered records on the first day of early voting ahead of the run off Senate races next month, according to Nate Cohn.

Approximately 168,000 people voted in-person yesterday, up from 136,000 on the first day of in-person early voting for the presidential election.

"Only a tiny fraction of the more than 900 guests invited to an indoor holiday party hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his wife Susan showed up on Tuesday following an outcry from public health officials and U.S. lawmakers warning that the reception bore all the hallmarks of a super-spreader event," the Washington Post reports.

"Pompeo, whose name was on the invitation and who was scheduled to speak at the event, canceled his speech and tapped a substitute speaker."

"Roughly 70 people RSVP'd for the event as of Monday night and even fewer showed up."

Dobbs started the segment by saying, "There are lots of opinions about the integrity of the election, the irregularities of mail-in voting, of election voting machines and voting software. One of the companies is Smartmatic, and we reached out to one of the leading authorities own open source software for elections, Eddie Perez, for his insight and views."

UPDATE -- Mediaite has learned that the same fact check will be airing on Jeanine Pirro's show Saturday night and Maria Bartiromo's Fox News show on Sunday.

Rudy Giuliani called Ken Cuccinelli, second in command at the Department of Homeland Security, on Thursday night and asked him whether DHS could seize voting machines, a source familiar with the call confirmed to Axios.

The state of play: Cuccinelli responded that DHS does not have that authority, the source said.

Between a global pandemic and inspiring activism, 2020 has already had its share of life-changing moments -- but the stars are just getting warmed up. On December 21, a rare alignment between Jupiter and Saturn, also known as a Great Conjunction

This conjunction is special because it's in Aquarius, the sign of social change, humanitarian efforts, and justice for all. We had a preview of Saturn in Aquarius this year when it traveled through the sign from March 21 and July 1, before retrograding back into Capricorn in the summer. During that period, a global outpouring of support for the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd opened people's eyes both to the intransigent disparities that exist within our culture, and to our personal responsibility to help where we can, in whatever way we can, whether by protesting, donating money to Black-led organizations, or doing whatever we can to heal ourselves and our communities from a history of trauma. In the same way, the movement is poised to gain even more momentum under the Great Conjunction in Aquarius.

The Great Conjunction is also happening at 0 degrees, which
signifies a completely new beginning. This means that as a society, we get to start from scratch and rethink our approach to freedom, equality, and what it means to care for the common good.

Even better, it's happening on the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Witches believe that the solstices are turning points in the natural cycle of the year and are great times for doing magic. With the Great Conjunction and winter solstice in sync, the effects of both are amplified, which makes it perfect for doing a ritual, reading tarot cards, or simply writing down what most want to manifest in the coming year.

On a private conference call, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urged his Republican colleagues not to join House members on January 6 to object to state electoral results, CNN reports.

George Conway: "The importance of this is that, in order for an objection to an electoral vote certificate to be considered, it must be made by at least one member of each chamber... If an objection is made by at least one member from each house, then both houses must repair to their respective chambers for debate and a vote, with the objection being sustained only by a vote of a majority of both houses."

"So basically McConnell is telling his caucus not to let the crazies in the House to make a circus of the electoral vote counting on January 6."

One day after the Electoral College affirmed Joe Biden's presidential victory, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he acknowledged Biden as the president-elect and believed the election was legitimate.

But he added he will still hold a Senate hearing Wednesday on election "irregularities," saying there are "legitimate questions" about the way the election was administrated in Wisconsin and other states.

Anthony Fox, secretary 2013-2017, was mayor of Charlotte,NC, and Ray LaHood, secretary 2009-2013, was a Republican Congressman from Illinois.  Both had experience and interest in transportation development, but did not seem to be strong spokespersons for their agendas.  

U.S. officials have been scrambling over the last several days to assess the damage from a potentially devastating breach across multiple U.S. government computer networks, include those at the State, Commerce and Treasury departments.

"President Trump on Friday discussed making Sidney Powell, who as a lawyer for his campaign team unleashed a series of conspiracy theories about a Venezuelan plot to rig voting machines in the United States, a special counsel investigating voter fraud," the New York Times reports.

"It was unclear if Mr. Trump will move ahead with such a plan."

This would be the best possible choice.  Not even a veneer of legitimacy.

Jonathan Swan: "Senior Trump administration officials are increasingly alarmed that President Trump might unleash -- and abuse -- the power of government in an effort to overturn the clear result of the election."

"These officials tell me that Trump is spending too much time with people they consider crackpots or conspiracy theorists and flirting with blatant abuses of power."

"Their fears include Trump's interest in former national security adviser Michael Flynn's wild talk of martial law; an idea floated of an executive order to commandeer voting machines; and the specter of Sidney Powell, the conspiracy-spewing election lawyer, obtaining governmental power and a top-level security clearance."

Maggie Haberman: "Sources who have gotten used to Trump's eruptions over four years sound scared by what's transpired in the past week when I've talked to them."

they were just talking about this on CNN

"One by one, several European Union nations banned flights from the U.K. on Sunday and others like Germany were considering such action, all in hopes of blocking a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England from establishing a strong foothold on the continent," the AP reports.

The editorial presents dilemmas for acting (jeopardizing efforts for national unity/healing v. accountability; investigation v appearances of a political hit job). And, not acting: uninhibited wrong doings by future presidents, perhaps more competent wannabe authoritarians).

No definitive answers are given to the questions raised, other than instituting reforms to address, particularly, Trumpian corruption and abuse of
power. While most of the legislative and other reforms mentioned have become glaringly apparent (e.g., candidates tax returns, independence of DOJ), the matter of prosecution and penalties for violations was not addressed.

It is true that President Biden immediately upon taking office will be confronted with a pile-up of emergencies and corrective actions, and investigations of Trump and his administration may inflame the political divide all the more, it seems to me that the circumstances soon to be uncovered will, essentially, dictate further investigation and action. Trump's curious relationship with Putin and Russia needs to be investigated and revealed.

It will be unjust if Trump, himself, for some reason is not subject to consequences (other than voter rejection after one term and impeachment), but other wrong doers down the line in the Administration should be investigated, and if warranted, prosecuted to the full extent of the law. While not entirely satisfactory, it may serve as a deterrent to future "just following orders" sycophants and those holding Lou Dobbs-like Trumpian fervor.

"National Republicans are desperate to avoid a floor fight in Congress over the certification of the Electoral College vote next month, believing it would be horrible politics to continue waging what most recognize to be a hopeless battle to overturn the outcome of the election," The Hill reports.

"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has intervened, asking his members not to join Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) or any other House members looking to object to the results on Jan. 6, when Congress meets to certify the Electoral College count."