NEWS THIS MORNING
Mike Pence shows us how it’s done — and like a champ, I might add:
Vice President Pence, second lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on live television this morning. https://bit.ly/34ouaFi
Pence said: That he “didn’t feel a thing.”
Sitting front and center:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) separately said last night that they will receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days.
From Pelosi: "With confidence in the vaccine and at the direction of the Attending Physician, I plan to receive the vaccine in the next few days … Even with a vaccine, I will continue to follow [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines by continuing to wear a mask and take other science-based steps to stop the spread of the virus.” https://bit.ly/34ouaFi
From McConnell: “Because of government continuity requirements, I have been informed by the Office of the Attending Physician that I am eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, which I will accept in the coming days … Even with a vaccine, I will continue following [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] CDC guidelines by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing my hands frequently.” https://bit.ly/34luN2g
Happy Friday! Christmas is a week from today! Today is also National Answer the Phone Like Buddy the Elf Day! I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.
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LATEST WITH THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING DEADLINE
Why yes, the deadline is today.:
Congress is set to blow past the midnight deadline to fund the government as lawmakers continue to work out the details of a coronavirus relief package. https://bit.ly/3mt5iCn
MCCONNELL SAYS ITS ‘HIGHLY LIKELY’ THAT TALKS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND:
Via CBS’s Grace Segers, “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that the Senate is "highly likely" to work through the weekend as congressional leaders scramble to reach a deal on a government funding measure and a coronavirus relief bill.” https://cbsn.ws/3r8QHiV
Soo, what happens at midnight?: “[McConnell] suggested Congress may have to pass a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open past a Friday deadline to avert a shutdown and give lawmakers more time to negotiate.”
HOW DEMOCRATS ARE JUSTIFYING THE SMALLER PRICE TAG:
Senate Democrats are treating this coronavirus relief package as a “down payment” on a larger future bill. https://bit.ly/3ai5Icq
The problem with that: Republicans are signaling that they have no plans to pass another relief bill.
HOW THIS FUNDING WILL MAKE A NEW CHALLENGE FOR BIDEN NEXT YEAR:
IN CONGRESS
This is a BIG deal:
Via The Hill’s Maggie Miller, “Lawmakers are raising questions about whether the attack on the federal government widely attributed to Russia constitutes an act of war.” https://bit.ly/3rd2ey2
For context on this hack: It may be the biggest cyberattack in U.S. history.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told CNN: “We can’t be buddies with Vladimir Putin and have him at the same time making this kind of cyberattack on America. This is virtually a declaration of war by Russia on the United States and we should take that seriously.”
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on SiriusXM's "The Big Picture with Olivier Knox”: "Our national security is extraordinarily vulnerable… In this setting, not to have the White House aggressively speaking out and protesting and taking punitive action is really, really quite extraordinary."
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY:
LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
Another step in approving a second vaccine:
“A second coronavirus vaccine is one step closer to being delivered, after a federal panel of outside experts on Thursday endorsed a coronavirus vaccine from Moderna, and recommended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) move forward with emergency authorization.” https://bit.ly/2Wnksyq
The vote: 20-0
What’s different about this vaccine endorsement: The panel considered the Moderna vaccine for patients 18 and up. Pfizer’s vaccine approved was for patients 16 and up.
THE NUMBERS:
Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 17,233,022
U.S. death toll: 311,010
IN THE BIDEN TRANSITION
Tidbit — why Joe Biden has no events scheduled for today:
Bloomberg’s Jennifer Epstein tweeted, “President-elect Biden has no public events on his schedule [today]. It's the anniversary of the 1972 traffic accident that killed his wife Neilia and daughter Naomi.” https://bit.ly/2WqGS1Q
NOTABLE TWEETS:
The best of Capitol Hill:
This is a funny clip about Biden family traditions:
ON TAP:
The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are in Washington, D.C.
President-elect Biden has no public events scheduled.
Today: Vice President-elect Harris meets with transition advisers.
1 p.m. EST: First votes in the House. Last votes are still up in the air. The House’s full agenda today: https://bit.ly/3nq88JH
3:30 p.m. EST: President Trump meets with Vice President Pence and acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller in the Oval Office.
WHAT TO WATCH:
8 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence and second lady Karen Pence received the COVID-19 vaccine. Livestream: https://bit.ly/34sid1o
4 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence holds a birthday celebration for Space Force. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3ai2upk
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:
Today is National Roast Suckling Pig Day. And for weekend planning purposes, tomorrow is National Hard Candy Day and Sunday is National Sangria Day.
Today in clever 2020 modifications:
Via Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon, “National Cathedral takes Its 2020 Christmas services virtual.” Details and photos: https://bit.ly/2WsKFMe
How many of us had even heard of Zoom a year ago now?:
Zoom is temporarily lifting its 40-minute restriction so users can talk to family during the holidays. Details from Reuters: https://reut.rs/38mTcG