PoliticsBusiness InsiderAlan Dershowitz says Texas lawsuit tossed by Supreme Court should tell Trump's allies that they 'can't count on the judiciary' to invalidate election results
Alan Dershowitz on Sunday said that the Supreme Court's decision to toss the Texas election lawsuit signaled a message to President Donald Trump's camp that they "can't count of the judiciary" to invalidate the election results, according to The Hill. Dershowitz said that Trump's campaign needed a "perfect storm" in order to invalidate the election results, with courts, governors, and state election officials aiding his cause. "I suspect on Monday we will see the electors…elect Joe Biden," he said.
WorldThe WeekRussian report claims Putin is secretly working at a duplicate office in seaside resort
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a visible presence during Russia's COVID-19 pandemic, but only on TV, shown working from his office at his official residence outside Moscow. Few people have seen Putin in person since March, and those who are allowed into his office have to first quarantine for two weeks then walk through a tunnel that sprays a fine mist of antiseptics, Russian journalists say. Putin, a former spy, has actually been working at an identical office set up at his residence in Sochi, a resort town and popular vacation destination on the Black Sea, Proekt reports, citing anonymous sources plus presidential plane flight logs and other circumstantial evidence.
WorldThe Telegraph'We have no oxygen': First journalist to access Yemen after Covid discovers major cover up in country of her birth
Like many others in March I was spending my days locked down in my London flat, listening to reports about how overwhelmed the NHS was and the struggle to get essential supplies. If the UK was struggling to cope, I thought to myself, just how would the authorities in Yemen fare? From London I set about trying to find out what was truly happening, but it was near impossible.
U.S.ReutersGunman shot dead by police at NYC church after concert; no one else wounded
A gunman shouting "Kill me!" opened fire from the steps of New York City's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine just after an outdoor choir performance there on Sunday, and was himself shot dead by police, according to police and a Reuters photographer at the scene. No one else was struck by gunfire thanks to quick action by three officers on the scene who confronted the suspect, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told reporters following the late-afternoon violence on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The shooting occurred outside the landmark cathedral for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, located at Amsterdam Avenue and West 112th Street, about 15 minutes after the conclusion of an outdoor choir performance on the church steps attended by about 200 people.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderBill Gates said the transition between presidential administrations is 'complicating' the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, but 'we'll get through this in a positive way'
Bill Gates said that, while the transition of administrations "is complicating" the vaccine distribution process, he believed "we'll get through this in a positive way," he said during a segment of CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday. Moncef Slaoui, the head scientist of the federal vaccine initiative Operation Warp Speed, said on Sunday that Moderna's vaccine will also "likely" to be approved by Friday of the upcoming week.
U.S.The WeekNational Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, wife are reportedly making Europe event a holiday vacation
National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien is heading to Paris on Monday as head of a U.S. delegation to the 60th anniversary of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Convention, the White House announced Sunday. His wife, Lo-Mari, is accompanying him on the lame-duck trip, which will double as "a holiday tour of the romantic Mediterranean and European capitals, including seeking a private tour of the Louvre despite it being closed because of coronavirus restrictions," Axios reports. Most Americans are barred from traveling to France or other European countries, and U.S. citizens already in Paris are supposed to leave their homes only for grocery shopping or work.
HealthThe TelegraphFather who 'begged' GP for an MRI scan dies from cancer after Covid backlog
A father-of-two who had to "beg" to get an MRI scan because of the coronavirus crisis has died of cancer, his family have revealed. Sherwin Hall, 27, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, went to hospital on March 23 suffering from leg pain but despite repeated visits he was only given a course of antibiotics for a misdiagnosis of prostatitis. After "begging for a scan" and 13 hospital visits in four weeks, Mr Hall was finally given an MRI on May 26 which revealed a 14cm malignant tumour in his pelvis and 30 small tumours on his lungs.
U.S.INSIDERTwo Ohio girls who ran away from home together were located states apart - but only one of them was found safe and alive
Ohio police are investigating a case involving the death of a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing on last month, Fox News reported. Kathryn McGuire, 15, and Haylie Vance, 15, ran away from their homes with 19-year-old Aaron Larkin, according to a news release from the Painesville Police Department. Vance was found safe by California police on December 4.
U.S.USA TODAYMan climbs on wing of Alaska Airlines plane departing Las Vegas airport, takes off shoes and socks
Police have arrested a man who managed to climb the wing of a departing Alaska Airlines plane at Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport on Saturday. Passengers watched in shock — and filmed — inside Alaska Airlines flight 1367 from Las Vegas to Portland when they saw the man climbing onboard the wing, sitting down and eventually taking off his shoes and socks during his estimated 45-minute stint. "WTH did I just witness?" passenger Erin Evans asked on Twitter, posting video of the incident.
- PoliticsFOX News Videos
Rudy Giuliani on Trump election fight: We have ‘1,000 affidavits from witnesses in 6 different states’
President Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani provides insight into the strongest piece of evidence he will present for legal challenge.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderGeorgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler posed for a photo with a former KKK chief - but says she didn't know who he was
Sen. Kelly Loeffler has been photographed with Chester Doles, a former head of the Ku Klux Klan and member of the neo-Nazi National Alliance. Doles posted a selfie of them at a rally for Loeffler in Dawsonville, Georgia, on Friday, on the Russian social-media site VKontakte. The image was reshared on Twitter by a Jewish advocacy group, which criticized Loeffler.
PoliticsThe WeekJudge appointed by Trump heard his case to overturn Biden's win, wholly rejected it on the merits
President Trump told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Saturday, in a clip broadcast Sunday, that no judges have had "the courage" to allow his lawyers and allies to argue his baseless claims that the election was "stolen," specifically criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court for declining to "go into the evidence" on his cases because of "little technicalities, like a thing called standing." In fact, several courts have offered to hear pro-Trump lawyers argue their case, and U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig in Wisconsin shot down the latest of those cases on Saturday. "A sitting president who did not prevail in his bid for reelection has asked for federal court help in setting aside the popular vote based on disputed issues of election administration, issues he plainly could have raised before the vote occurred," wrote Ludwig, a Trump appointee.
WorldAssociated PressFamilies marry off daughters to ease finances amid COVID-19
Before long, Marie was seated on a floor mat in a new dress as his family presented hers with 500,000 leones ($50) inside a calabash bowl along with the traditional kola nut. The day they paid for me was on a Friday and then I went to his house to stay," she says flatly, adding that at least now she gets to eat something twice a day. Many countries had made progress against such traditional and transactional marriages of girls in recent decades, but COVID-19's economic havoc has caused significant backsliding: The United Nations estimates that hardships resulting from COVID-19 will drive 13 million more girls to marry before the age of 18.
U.S.Miami HeraldTwo inmates who escaped a Tennessee prison arrested in South Florida
The two inmates wanted by the who escaped from a prison in Tennessee were arrested in Pompano Beach Sunday night, officials said. According to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, Robert Lee Brown and Christopher Osteen were arrested by the Broward County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service after the two absconded from Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville on Friday. Brown, 36, was serving an 18-year sentence for aggravated rape and Osteen, 34, was serving an 8-year sentence for burglary.. Brown's sentence was set to expire in 2022 and Osteen's was set to expire in 2023.
U.S.Business InsiderAn Arizona ER doctor who was fired for tweeting about COVID-19 is set to go back to work this week - but he says healthcare workers still need more protections
An emergency-medicine doctor in Arizona said he was fired from his position at Yuma Regional Medical Center over posts he made on social media about the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Cleavon Gilman, an Iraq War veteran, said he was told not to return to his job after tweeting about Arizona running low on available ICU beds. He told Business Insider doctors everywhere are afraid to speak out about their experiences during the pandemic for fear of retribution, and that healthcare workers generally need more protections.
PoliticsThe WeekIn 1st public remarks since pardon, Michael Flynn says courts won't decide next president
In his first public remarks since President Trump pardoned him last month, retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn told Trump's supporters not to "get bent out of shape" after the Supreme Court tossed a Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. Speaking at a pro-Trump demonstration from the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., Flynn — who briefly served as Trump's national security adviser in 2017 before pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia's ambassador — echoed other Trump allies who have been pushing unfounded allegations that the president lost the November's election to President-elect Joe Biden because of widespread voter fraud.
PoliticsUSA TODAY'Simply no truth to these claims': Gov. Cuomo's office denies former aide's sexual harassment allegation
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been accused of sexual harassment by a former development aide who is now running for office in New York City. Boylan further tweeted "And I *know* I am not the only woman." Boylan, 36, has not provided any corroborating information or detailed allegations against the governor.
BusinessBusiness InsiderTesla is reportedly shutting down Model S and X production for 18 days, forcing staff to take unplanned, unpaid time off - or they can 'volunteer' in other parts of the business
Tesla is suspending production of two of its Model S and X electric vehicles for 18 days from December 24, according to a Friday staff email seen by CNBC. Affected staff have to take five unpaid days off work, but Tesla said they could seek limited paid opportunities, or even "volunteer" elsewhere in the business. Tesla is suspending production of its Model S and Model X vehicles for 18 days from late December, according to an email to factory staff seen by CNBC.
PoliticsThe TelegraphTrump does U-turn on plan to vaccinate senior White House officials early as vaccinations begin in US
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested late Sunday that senior White House officials would wait longer for Covid-19 vaccines hours after media outlets reported senior officials were to receive doses within 10 days. Late Sunday night, Trump said on Twitter he had asked for an "adjustment" to be made to the plans to vaccinate White House officials. "People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary," Trump wrote, adding: "I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time."
PoliticsAssociated PressWith his star dimmed, California's Newsom could face recall
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has had a rough year. The next one might be even tougher as a recall effort appears to be gaining momentum, fueled partly by outrage over the first-term Democrat dining with friends at an opulent restaurant while telling state residents to spurn social gatherings and stay home. It's not uncommon in California for residents to seek recalls but they rarely get on the ballot — and even fewer succeed.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderFormer Cuomo staffer says the New York governor sexually harassed her 'for years'
A woman who was once an advisor to Andrew Cuomo said the New York governor sexually harassed her for years. "Yes, @NYGovCuomo sexually harassed me for years," said Lindsey Boylan, who worked for him between 2015 and 2018. Boylan, who is a Democratic candidate for Manhattan Borough President, was an aide to Cuomo, as well as the deputy secretary for economic development, according to her LinkedIn profile.
- PoliticsCBS News Videos
New questions emerge about GOP Senator David Perdue's financial dealings
As the Democrats look to swing Georgia blue in the crucial January 5th Senate runoff races, there are new questions surrounding incumbent Republican Senator Dave Perdue's personal financial dealings. An article published by ProPublica details the Senator's off-market sale of his Washington D.C. home. The buyer was a finance industry official whose organization was lobbying a bill in the Senate that the Georgia Senator had been overseeing.
PoliticsUSA TODAYDonald Trump, Mike Pence, Congress, Supreme Court will be offered COVID-19 vaccine in coming days, officials say
President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other top federal office-holders will be offered COVID-19 vaccines over the next week-and-a-half to guard against an outbreak that could cripple the functions of government, officials said Sunday. The shots will be offered to officials across all three branches of government, including leaders at the White House, in Congress, and on the Supreme Court, officials said. White House staff members who work in close proximity to Trump are also expected to get early vaccines.
U.S.LA TimesUnwelcome in other countries, Americans are fleeing lockdowns and flocking to Mexico
At the same time, travel from the United States appears to have contributed to an uptick in coronavirus cases and deaths in many tourism hot spots. Mexico's official death toll last week surpassed 113,000 — the fourth highest in the world — although officials say that many cases have gone undetected and that the true tally is likely double that. Citing a "very high level of contagion," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cautioned against vacationing in Mexico.
U.S.The Guardian'People are desperate': California shutdown pushes businesses to breaking point
It is tragic,” said Thomas, who also heads the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, adding that she expected hundreds more restaurants in San Francisco would shut down in the coming weeks, leaving thousands without jobs. Data from San Francisco's Chamber of Commerce shows up to 85% of bars and restaurants in formerly bustling parts of the city have already closed. California's new stay-at-home order is a desperate attempt to contain the fast-spreading virus as hospitals in the statenear capacity.
“The prospect of a 2024 run is politically significant. It’s also a complete fiction.”
“His flirtation with a 2024 bid ensures he’ll remain the dominant force in the Republican Party.”
“He shouldn’t run for president again. There’s a better job and life for him on the horizon.”
“Trump is in for years of scandals and humiliations…He’ll have to devote much of his energy to trying to stay out of prison.”
“If Trump himself passes on the opportunity, his two very political children could also potentially pick up the mantle.”