1 Georgia Heads To The Polls Today, Deciding Control Of The Senate
Early voting aside, the people of Georgia will head to the polls today in a runoff election that will decide who holds the keys to the power of the Senate. While Democrats hold the House and after January 20th, will run the White House, the Senate is truly up for grabs. The runoff features Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. If Perdue and Loeffler hang on, Joe Biden’s agenda would be effectively blocked. If Ossoff and Warnock win, Republicans will have to mind their manners until the midterm elections give them the opportunity to regain any ground. As you might recall, it was back in 2010 when President Obama and the Dems received as he put it, “a shellacking.” The GOP took over the House and the Dems barely hung on to the Senate. Officials say that early voting has seen big numbers – but it’s anyone’s guess what today will bring.
2 DC National Guard Requested For Pro-Trump Rallies
The nation's capital is bracing for pro-Trump marches and demonstrations as the Electoral College gets set to certify the results of the presidential election tomorrow. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants the DC National Guard to help out today and tomorrow due to fears of violence. The largest rally is expected tomorrow with streets closed in downtown. Guns will not be allowed at any of the rallies, but the fact that the so-called Proud Boys group is promising to show up dressed like their Antifa adversaries is creating plenty of concern about violence. Meanwhile, business leaders are calling on Congress to certify President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College win. As we told you yesterday, politicians on both sides of the aisle are promising to fight for and against the certification. The Chamber of Commerce said some efforts to disregard certified election results and change the outcome "undermines our democracy." The Partnership for New York City noted the election has been decided and challenges to the electoral process have been rejected."
3 CDC: Arizona Has Highest Rate Of COVID Cases In Nation
Arizona is now dealing with the highest rate of new coronavirus cases in the nation, again. Infections have skyrocketed over the past seven days with 57-thousand positive tests. That's a 32-percent jump from the week before. No relief at hospitals either as ICU beds have been just about full since November 29th. The CDC puts California second for its rate of new cases, followed by Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas. If there’s good news to be had it’s that researchers say the more contagious strain of the coronavirus first detected in the UK still isn’t proving to be more deadly. At last check, the variant, called B.1.1.7, has turned up in at least four states and 33 countries. Still, while it’s not more deadly, it does spread faster and threatens to overwhelm already strained health care systems. Health experts are optimistic that current vaccines rolling out will still be effective against the new strain.