POLITICO
Biden’s nominees will face a China gauntlet
Every would-be Cabinet official and his or her underlings can expect questions about how they ll confront Beijing.
Top lawmakers and others expect Joe Biden’s team to face a barrage of questions about how they plan to handle the Chinese government’s yawning ambitions. | Mark Makela/Getty Images
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If you’re Antony Blinken, you know you’ll have to answer questions about America’s relationship with China during your Senate confirmation hearing to serve as secretary of State.
But what if you’re President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of Education? Or his pick for assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity? Or the person he wants as general counsel at the Transportation department?
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, husband receive COVID-19 vaccine
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Vice President-elect Kamala Harris receives an initial dose of Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris receives an initial dose of Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks to reporters Tuesday after she received Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine at United Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Afterward, she urged everyone to get vaccinated when it becomes available. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
In the headlines:
► Americans who have direct deposit set up through the Internal Revenue Service could be receiving their stimulus payment as early as Tuesday night, according to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Paper checks will begin to be mailed Wednesday, according to a press release from the Treasury Department. The new round of stimulus includes $600 direct payment to qualifying individual Americans, or $1,200 for couples.
► California extended its regional stay-at-home order for Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, where there is 0% ICU capacity. Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state s health and human services secretary, said the order is in effect for the time being with no set expiration date for the restrictions, the Los Angeles Times reported. Ghaly said ICU projections will determine when the orders will be lifted.
The U.S. new cases 7-day rolling average is 14.7 % LOWER than the 7-day rolling average one week ago. U.S. hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are now 3.8 %
HIGHER than the rolling average one week ago. U.S. deaths due to coronavirus are now 15.9 %
LOWER than the rolling average one week ago. Today s posts include:
U.S. Coronavirus New Cases are 150,092
U.S. Coronavirus hospitalizations are at an elevated 118,720 (for the next two weeks this is the number to watch as new cases and deaths will not be accurately reported)
U.S. Coronavirus deaths are at a holiday reduced number of 1,209
U.S. Coronavirus immunizations have been administered to 0.6% of the population