[Here’s what you need to know about President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s
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President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. plans to nominate Judge Merrick B. Garland, whose Supreme Court nomination Republicans blocked in 2016, to be attorney general, placing the task of repairing a beleaguered Justice Department in the hands of a centrist judge, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Strong Republican support for Judge Garland helped secure his place in the incoming Biden administration, which greatly values bipartisan support for cabinet choices even as Democrats secured the necessary seats in the Senate to confirm all of Mr. Biden’s nominees.
GOP lawmakers eye three to six states to protest election results Follow Us
Question of the Day By Alex Swoyer - The Washington Times - Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Republicans on Capitol Hill are unclear on exactly which states’ election results they will object to just hours ahead of Congress convening to approve the November results, suggesting President Trump’s allies in Congress lack a cohesive strategy.
Rep. Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, said Republicans plan to object to at least three states when Congress meets at 1 p.m. in a joint session to approve each state’s panel of electors.
If a member from the House and a member from the Senate both object to one state, the chambers are forced to debate the issue for two hours. Members then hold a vote and if a majority moves to reject the state’s electors, that state is tossed.
Democrats Win Both Georgia Races to Gain Control of Senate
Victories by Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, which were overshadowed by violence from Trump supporters in Washington, will reshape the balance of power in Congress.
Jon Ossoff, left, and the Rev. Raphael Warnock promised a more robust response to the coronavirus pandemic and an expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.Credit.Chang W. Lee/The New York Times
Jan. 6, 2021
ATLANTA Jon Ossoff completed a Democratic sweep of Georgia’s Senate runoffs on Wednesday, a striking political validation for his party in a state that has been challenging for Democrats for most of the last two decades.
Early Biden Climate Test: Groups Demand Tougher Rules on Building
A new push for stricter rules in flood zones could force Biden’s team to choose: Increase construction costs, or leave people exposed to climate change.
Homes under construction in Kissimmee, Fla., last year. “You can upset a lot of voters,” one analyst said.Credit.Mario Cruz/EPA, via Shutterstock
Published Jan. 6, 2021Updated Jan. 25, 2021
WASHINGTON President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has promised to help communities prepare for the effects of climate change. A new demand for tougher building standards could test that commitment.
On Wednesday, two influential organizations that advocate for stronger measures to withstand natural disasters, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Association of State Floodplain Managers, filed a petition with the federal government urging more stringent building standards for homes and infrastructure along rivers and coasts.
Democrats woke up Wednesday on the doorstep of pulling off a stunning sweep of two high-profile runoff races Tuesday in Georgia and flipping control of the U.S. Senate.