Democrats And Some Republicans Push To Add Stimulus Checks To COVID-19 Relief Bill Bipartisan negotiators are still trying to finalize a coronavirus deal with money for states, unemployed Americans and vaccine distribution, but some want another round of direct payments. Kelsey Snell
Morning News Brief Joe Biden is expected to nominate retired General Lloyd Austin as defense chief. Vaccinations against the coronavirus have begun in the U.K. Plus, new data show how COVID-19 is stressing hospitals. Noel King
Lloyd Austin, Retired 4-Star General, To Be Picked As Defense Secretary President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as his defense secretary. If confirmed, Austin would be the first African American to head the Pentagon. Franco Ordoñez
Biden Expected To Nominate Gen. Lloyd Austin As Defense Secretary Austin will bring to the Pentagon decades of military experience. He would be the first African American to lead the department. Alana Wise
GOP Strategist Suggests How Republicans Can Hang On To The Senate NPR's David Greene speaks with Republican strategist Alex Conant about what the GOP needs to do to maintain control of the U.S. Senate, and counter Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Biden Picks California Attorney General Xavier Becerra For Top Health Post The state official and former congressman would enter the job with a historic public health crisis raging. In his current role, Becerra has fought Trump efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Tamara Keith
Rudy Giuliani Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Trump Says President Trump said on Twitter that his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, had tested positive for the coronavirus. Matthew S. Schwartz
Saxby Chambliss Discusses Georgia's Upcoming Runoff Elections NPR's Debbie Elliott speaks with former Georgia lawmaker Saxby Chambliss about the upcoming Senate elections there.
Trump Weakens Protections For Class Of Federal Workers Just before the election, President Trump issued an executive order creating a new category of federal employees, which some worry may politicize the civil service. Brian Naylor
Defunding the police, rising hate crimes and the ethics of the COVID vaccine, this week Bill Radke reviews the week's news with the founder of the South Seattle Emerald and contributor to the Sea Sarah Leibovitz