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4000 new U.S covid 19 deaths.
Way more cases and deaths expected in February.

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What you need to know

A CDC ensemble forecast now projects there will be up to 438,000 Covid-19 deaths in the US by Jan. 30 as the nation reports record hospitalizations and fatalities.

More than 50 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the UK and which appears to spread more easily have been found in the US, according to the CDC.

The European Union has authorized Moderna's vaccine.

The head of WHO is "very disappointed" that scientists investigating the origins of Covid-19 were prevented from entering China due to delayed paperwork.

Some 253,145 new cases of Covid-19 and a record-setting 3,865 new virus-related deaths were recorded in the United States on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.

As of the end of the day Wednesday, there have been at least 21,299,340 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 361,123 people who contracted the virus have died.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

Vaccine numbers: At least 17,288,950 vaccine doses have been distributed across the country. At least 5,306,797 shots have been administered, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another day, another grim Covid-19 record in the United States.

At least 3,865 Covid-19-related deaths were reported in the country on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University -- the most in a single day of the pandemic.

The previous record -- 3,775 -- was set Tuesday, and public health officials have warned things could get worse before they get better.

The US has reported 361,123 total deaths, according to JHU data.

Winter surge: Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed throughout the country in recent months, partly due to the cold winter weather and surges caused by people gathering during the holiday season. The nation's epicenter remains in Los Angeles County, where more than 1,000 people were killed by the virus in less than a week.

Vaccines provide a glimmer of hope as case numbers climb, but their distribution has gone slower than expected. US governors are now taking new measures to get the distributed vaccines into arms faster, including mobilizing National Guard members and training more volunteers to administer doses.
Track US cases:

The US coronavirus vaccine rollout has been slow, and some states eager to move more doses are beginning to vaccinate more than the health care workers and nursing home residents initially at the front of the line.

Just 5.3 million of the 17.3 million doses distributed have been administered in the United States -- only 30.7%. That doesn't come to close to the target the Trump administration set in the fall to administer 20 million vaccines to Americans by the end of 2020.

So, many states are taking steps to speed things up.
Read more about what states are doing:

California officials are urging residents to limit all non-essential travel to within 120 miles from one's home and avoid traveling to neighboring states or countries.

Anyone arriving in or returning to the state is urged to self-quarantine for 10 days, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said in a statement.

California -- the epicenter of the current coronavirus surge in the United States -- is also discouraging any non-essential visitors from out of state.

The recommendations are not mandatory, but the statement said local officials could consider enacting "measures that are more restrictive than this statewide order."

The department warned that visitors or residents returning to California could introduce new sources of infection, including the new strains of the virus.

"Intra-state travel, likewise threatens to exacerbate community spread within California- particularly because travel itself (especially the use of shared conveyances in air, bus, or rail travel) can increase a person's chance of spreading and getting Covid-19," CDPH said.

For reference, the distance from Los Angeles to San Diego is approximately 120 miles. The distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is approximately 381 miles.

Japan's health authority identified 5,953 Covid-19 infections Wednesday, a single-day record for new cases in the country.

Another 72 virus-related deaths were also reported Wednesday, authorities said.

The government is preparing to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba and Kangawa -- where cases are spiking. Tokyo set its own record for number of infections identified in a day on Wednesday, with 1,591 new cases.

Health Ministry data shows that as of Wednesday, the number of patients in serious condition across Japan rose to 784, while 41,054 patients are being treated in hospital.

At least 259,105 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Japan, killing 3,904 people.

The United States reported 132,476 current Covid-19 hospitalizations on Wednesday, setting a new record high since the pandemic began, according to the Covid Tracking Project (CTP).

This is the 36th consecutive day the US has remained above 100,000 current hospitalizations.
The highest hospitalization numbers according to CTP data are:

An ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects there will be between 405,000 and 438,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States by January 30.

Unlike some individual models, the CDC's ensemble forecast only offers projections a few weeks into the future. The previous ensemble forecast, published December 30, projected up to 424,000 coronavirus deaths by January 23.

As of 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, at least 360,693 people have already died from Covid-19 in the US, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

At least 52 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom have been found in the United States, according to data posted Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This includes at least 26 cases in California, 22 cases in Florida, two cases in Colorado, and one case each in Georgia and New York.

CDC says this does not represent the total number of cases circulating in the US, but rather just those that have been found by analyzing positive samples. The agency cautions that its numbers, which are expected to update Tuesdays and Thursdays, may not immediately match those of state and local health department.

While the variant appears to spread more easily, there's no evidence that it's any more deadly or causes more severe disease, according to CDC.

Experts suspect there could be many more cases in the country and have criticized the US for not doing more genetic sequencing of virus samples to surveil for mutations.
Read more:

The European Union has authorized Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, the second coronavirus vaccine to be approved for use in the EU.

The move finalizes the recommendation of the European Union drugs regulator, which earlier on Wednesday recommended granting the drug a conditional marketing authorization.

Emer Cooke, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) executive director, said on Wednesday that "this vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency."

"It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO," she said.

The EU has secured the purchase of up to 160 million doses of the Moderna vaccine -- enough to vaccinate 80 million people of its 448 million citizens -- as part of a joint vaccine strategy aimed to ensure equitable access across the bloc.

Under that contract, the US biotech firm has promised to deliver all their doses between now and September 2021, the European Commission said.

Moderna said in a statement that the first deliveries of their vaccine "from Moderna's dedicated non-US supply chain are expected to begin next week."
Read the full story:

What you need to know

A CDC ensemble forecast now projects there will be up to 438,000 Covid-19 deaths in the US by Jan. 30 as the nation reports record hospitalizations and fatalities.

More than 50 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the UK and which appears to spread more easily have been found in the US, according to the CDC.

The European Union has authorized Moderna's vaccine.

The head of WHO is "very disappointed" that scientists investigating the origins of Covid-19 were prevented from entering China due to delayed paperwork.

Some 253,145 new cases of Covid-19 and a record-setting 3,865 new virus-related deaths were recorded in the United States on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.

As of the end of the day Wednesday, there have been at least 21,299,340 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 361,123 people who contracted the virus have died.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

Vaccine numbers: At least 17,288,950 vaccine doses have been distributed across the country. At least 5,306,797 shots have been administered, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another day, another grim Covid-19 record in the United States.

At least 3,865 Covid-19-related deaths were reported in the country on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University -- the most in a single day of the pandemic.

The previous record -- 3,775 -- was set Tuesday, and public health officials have warned things could get worse before they get better.

The US has reported 361,123 total deaths, according to JHU data.

Winter surge: Coronavirus cases have skyrocketed throughout the country in recent months, partly due to the cold winter weather and surges caused by people gathering during the holiday season. The nation's epicenter remains in Los Angeles County, where more than 1,000 people were killed by the virus in less than a week.

Vaccines provide a glimmer of hope as case numbers climb, but their distribution has gone slower than expected. US governors are now taking new measures to get the distributed vaccines into arms faster, including mobilizing National Guard members and training more volunteers to administer doses.
Track US cases:

The US coronavirus vaccine rollout has been slow, and some states eager to move more doses are beginning to vaccinate more than the health care workers and nursing home residents initially at the front of the line.

Just 5.3 million of the 17.3 million doses distributed have been administered in the United States -- only 30.7%. That doesn't come to close to the target the Trump administration set in the fall to administer 20 million vaccines to Americans by the end of 2020.

So, many states are taking steps to speed things up.
Read more about what states are doing:

California officials are urging residents to limit all non-essential travel to within 120 miles from one's home and avoid traveling to neighboring states or countries.

Anyone arriving in or returning to the state is urged to self-quarantine for 10 days, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said in a statement.

California -- the epicenter of the current coronavirus surge in the United States -- is also discouraging any non-essential visitors from out of state.

The recommendations are not mandatory, but the statement said local officials could consider enacting "measures that are more restrictive than this statewide order."

The department warned that visitors or residents returning to California could introduce new sources of infection, including the new strains of the virus.

"Intra-state travel, likewise threatens to exacerbate community spread within California- particularly because travel itself (especially the use of shared conveyances in air, bus, or rail travel) can increase a person's chance of spreading and getting Covid-19," CDPH said.

For reference, the distance from Los Angeles to San Diego is approximately 120 miles. The distance from Los Angeles to San Francisco is approximately 381 miles.

Japan's health authority identified 5,953 Covid-19 infections Wednesday, a single-day record for new cases in the country.

Another 72 virus-related deaths were also reported Wednesday, authorities said.

The government is preparing to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures -- Saitama, Chiba and Kangawa -- where cases are spiking. Tokyo set its own record for number of infections identified in a day on Wednesday, with 1,591 new cases.

Health Ministry data shows that as of Wednesday, the number of patients in serious condition across Japan rose to 784, while 41,054 patients are being treated in hospital.

At least 259,105 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Japan, killing 3,904 people.

The United States reported 132,476 current Covid-19 hospitalizations on Wednesday, setting a new record high since the pandemic began, according to the Covid Tracking Project (CTP).

This is the 36th consecutive day the US has remained above 100,000 current hospitalizations.
The highest hospitalization numbers according to CTP data are:

An ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects there will be between 405,000 and 438,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States by January 30.

Unlike some individual models, the CDC's ensemble forecast only offers projections a few weeks into the future. The previous ensemble forecast, published December 30, projected up to 424,000 coronavirus deaths by January 23.

As of 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, at least 360,693 people have already died from Covid-19 in the US, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

At least 52 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom have been found in the United States, according to data posted Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This includes at least 26 cases in California, 22 cases in Florida, two cases in Colorado, and one case each in Georgia and New York.

CDC says this does not represent the total number of cases circulating in the US, but rather just those that have been found by analyzing positive samples. The agency cautions that its numbers, which are expected to update Tuesdays and Thursdays, may not immediately match those of state and local health department.

While the variant appears to spread more easily, there's no evidence that it's any more deadly or causes more severe disease, according to CDC.

Experts suspect there could be many more cases in the country and have criticized the US for not doing more genetic sequencing of virus samples to surveil for mutations.
Read more:

The European Union has authorized Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, the second coronavirus vaccine to be approved for use in the EU.

The move finalizes the recommendation of the European Union drugs regulator, which earlier on Wednesday recommended granting the drug a conditional marketing authorization.

Emer Cooke, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) executive director, said on Wednesday that "this vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency."

"It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO," she said.

The EU has secured the purchase of up to 160 million doses of the Moderna vaccine -- enough to vaccinate 80 million people of its 448 million citizens -- as part of a joint vaccine strategy aimed to ensure equitable access across the bloc.

Under that contract, the US biotech firm has promised to deliver all their doses between now and September 2021, the European Commission said.

Moderna said in a statement that the first deliveries of their vaccine "from Moderna's dedicated non-US supply chain are expected to begin next week."
Read the full story:

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coronavirus update: latest vaccine and world news

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By Joshua Berlinger and Adam Renton, CNN

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Coronavirus update: Latest vaccine and world news

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What you need to know A CDC ensemble forecast now projects there will be up to 438,000 Covid-19 deaths in the US by Jan. 30 as the nation reports record hospitalizations and fatalities. More than 50 cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in the UK and which appears to spread more easily have been found in the US, according to the CDC.

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Various aspects of viral infection with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (Covid-19) have dominated the news cycle for several months now

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Collateral Damage: Assessing the Impact of Coronavirus on Wildlife Populations

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From the pages of The Explorers Journal, Michael J. Manyak, M.D., FACS, underscores the importance of understanding how COVID-19 can affect certain wildlife populations, including the most vulnerable ones.

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Drew Brees and the Saints go some back lash after Brees wore a say her name shirt. People believed that it was for a women who had died when rioting the capitol building.

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The New Orleans Saints received some backlash on social media Sunday before their wild-card playoff game after deleting a tweet that showed Drew Brees in a "#SayHerName" shirt.

Brees and his Saints teammates have worn the shirt throughout the season in support of getting justice for Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a police raid in Kentucky in March.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The picture of Brees was tweeted by the Saints and caused some to believe he was supporting a woman who was killed by police in Washington, D.C., when a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

New Orleans deleted the tweet and posted another one showing defensive back Malcolm Jenkins in the same shirt along with an explanation of why they were wearing the shirts. Jenkins has been one of the biggest NFL voices in the fight for social justice. It's unclear why the Saints deleted the original tweet in the first place.
DREW BREES ON FACING TOM BRADY IN THE DIVISIONAL ROUND: 'I GUESS IT WAS INEVITABLE'
Brees created a firestorm over the summer when he said players should stand for the national anthem.

Brees told Yahoo Finance in June he would "never agree" with anyone who would kneel during the national anthem. NFL players had vowed to protest in some way during the season to draw attention to police brutality and social injustice in the U.S. in the wake of George Floyd's death on May 25 while in police custody in Minneapolis.

His comments drew sharp rebuke from several players, including his own teammates.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He would apologize and later call his comments a "missed opportunity."

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Saints delete tweet of Drew Brees in '#SayHerName' shirt after backlash

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The New Orleans Saints received some backlash on social media Sunday before their wild-card playoff game after deleting a tweet that showed Drew Brees in a "#SayHerName" shirt. Brees and his Saints teammates have worn the shirt throughout the season in support of getting justice for Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a police raid in Kentucky in March.

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new wanted posters out for people who rioted inside the capitol

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The FBI has released four posters showing dozens of people wanted for storming Capitol Hill earlier this week in an unprecedented attack on the nation's capital.

The FBI's Washington Field Office early Friday morning released 40 photos of people who illegally broke into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday afternoon while Congress was tallying Electoral College votes that would confirm Joe Biden as president-elect.

Dozens of people, some armed with guns, roamed the halls of the federal building, smashed or dismantled property, and barged into House and Senate leaders' chambers. Meanwhile, Hill staffers and lawmakers were under lockdown or hid behind chairs or under tables.
CAPITOL PROTESTS: FBI MANHUNT FOR RIOT SUSPECTS GOES HIGH-TECH
Police have also announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads them to the person they believe planted two pipe bombs at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters on Wednesday.

Benjamin Phillips, a 50-year-old Pennsylvania man; Rosanne Boylan, a 34-year-old Georgia woman; and Kevin Greeson, a 55-year-old from Alabama, died after suffering "medical emergencies" related to the breach, law enforcement officials said Thursday during a news conference.
POLICE SEEKING PEOPLE OF INTEREST IN CAPITOL HILL UNREST
A fourth person -- identified as Ashli Babbitt -- was fatally shot by police during the riots.

U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) later announced the death of Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died as a result of injuries he suffered Wednesday. Sicknick was injured while engaging with the rioters on Wednesday and collapsed when he returned to his office, the USCP said. His death was announced late Thursday night.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The FBI is asking anyone who recognizes someone from the wanted posters or who witnessed any of Wednesday's activity to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit information online here.

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New FBI wanted posters in Capitol riot manhunt

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The FBI has released four posters showing dozens of people wanted for storming Capitol Hill earlier this week in an unprecedented attack on the nation's capital. The FBI's Washington Field Office early Friday morning released 40 photos of people who illegally broke into the U.S.

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Arecibo the telescope is well know because of its place in the middle of a jungle is finally being retired.

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There aren't a lot of telescopes that are also movie stars. In fact, I can think of only one: the famed Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

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A 7-year-old named Kennedy Maxie was shot and killed whille christmas shopping with her family. The police now arrested a 24 year old man Daquan Reed.

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Atlanta police say they arrested a suspect in connection with the death of 7-year-old Kennedy Maxie, a Georgia girl who was struck and killed by an apparent stray bullet after Christmas shopping with her family.

Atlanta investigators coordinated with U.S. Marshals to arrest 24-year-old Daquan Reed in Hampton Roads, Virginia on Wednesday, according to Atlanta Police Department officer Steve Avery. Reed awaits extradition to Georgia.

"We are very appreciative of work our investigators and the US Marshals put into locating and apprehending Mr. Reed," Avery wrote in a statement.

Officers announced on Dec. 29 that they had a warrant for Reed's arrest to face murder and gun charges.

When news broke that a stray bullet had killed a young girl in a major business district, it riveted the city of Atlanta, which saw a surge in homicides in 2020.

"As of the end of the week 52 reporting period we are at 154 homicides compared with 99 for the same period of 2019," Avery said in a statement. "That is an increase of 61%."

Kennedy's aunt told police that on Dec. 21, she was driving past Phipps Plaza on Peachtree Road when she heard gunshots. The aunt kept driving, and shortly thereafter noticed that Kennedy was "acting strangely," according to a police statement. She then realized that Kennedy had been shot and drove to a hospital.

The bullet struck Kennedy in the back of her head, police said. Kennedy was in critical condition for days before succumbing to her injuries on Dec. 26.

Some Atlanta city leaders linked Kennedy's death to their endorsement of a plan to increase security in Buckhead, the commercial neighborhood where she was shot.

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Atlanta police arrest suspect in shooting death of 7-year-old Kennedy Maxie

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Atlanta police say they arrested a suspect in connection with the death of 7-year-old Kennedy Maxie, a Georgia girl who was struck and killed by an apparent stray bullet after Christmas shopping with her family. Atlanta investigators coordinated with U.S. Marshals to arrest 24-year-old Daquan Reed in Hampton Roads, Virginia on Wednesday, according to Atlanta Police Department officer Steve Avery.

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Jon Ossoff beat David Perdue and Raphael Warnock beat Kelly Loeffler. Democrats now have 48 Senators and 2 Democrat favoring independents, and with Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker Democrats control the Senate.

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ATLANTA (AP) - Democrats won both Georgia Senate seats - and with them, the U.S. Senate majority - as final votes were counted Wednesday, serving President Donald Trump a stunning defeat in his turbulent final days in office while dramatically improving the fate of President-elect Joe Biden's progressive agenda.

Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Democratic challengers who represented the diversity of their party's evolving coalition, defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler two months after Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1992.

Warnock, who served as pastor for the same Atlanta church where civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, becomes the first African American from Georgia elected to the Senate. And Ossoff becomes the state's first Jewish senator and, at 33 years old, the Senate's youngest member.

This week's elections were expected to mark the formal finale to the tempestuous 2020 election season, although the Democrats' resounding success was overshadowed by chaos and violence in Washington, where angry Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from certifying Biden's victory.

Wednesday's unprecedented siege drew fierce criticism of Trump's leadership from within his own party, and combined with the bad day in Georgia, marked one of the darkest days of his divisive presidency.

Still, the Democrats' twin victories in Georgia represented a striking shift in the state's politics as the swelling number of diverse, college-educated voters flex their power in the heart of the Deep South. They also cemented the transformation of Georgia, once a solidly Republican state, into one of the nation's premier battlegrounds for the foreseeable future.

In an emotional address early Wednesday, Warnock vowed to work for all Georgians whether they voted for him or not, citing his personal experience with the American dream. His mother, he said, used to pick "somebody else's cotton" as a teenager.

"The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton picked her youngest son to be a United States senator," he said. "Tonight, we proved with hope, hard work and the people by our side, anything is possible."

Loeffler, who remains a senator until the results of Tuesday's election are finalized, returned to Washington on Wednesday morning to join a small group of senators planning to challenge Congress' vote to certify Biden's victory. She didn't get a chance to vocalize her objection before the violent protesters stormed the Capitol.

Georgia's other runoff election pitted Perdue, a 71-year-old former business executive who held his Senate seat until his term expired Sunday, against Ossoff, a former congressional aide and journalist.

"This campaign has been about health and jobs and justice for the people of this state - for all the people of this state," Ossoff said in a speech broadcast on social media Wednesday morning. "Whether you were for me, or against me, I'll be for you in the U.S. Senate. I will serve all the people of the state."

Trump's false claims of voter fraud cast a dark shadow over the runoff elections, which were held only because no candidate hit the 50% threshold in the general election. He raised the prospect of voter fraud as votes were being cast and likened the Republicans who run Georgia's election system to "chickens with their heads cut off" during a Wednesday rally in Washington.

Gabriel Sterling, a top official with the Georgia secretary of state's office and a Republican, said there was "no evidence of any irregularities."

"The biggest thing we've seen is from the president's fertile mind of finding fraud where none exists," he said.

Both contests tested whether the political coalition that fueled Biden's November victory was an anti-Trump anomaly or part of a new electoral landscape. To win in Tuesday's elections - and in the future - Democrats needed strong African American support.

AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 3,700 voters in Tuesday's contests, found that Black voters made up roughly 30% of the electorate, and almost all of them - 94% - backed Ossoff and Warnock. The Democrats also relied on the backing of younger voters, people earning less than $50,000 annually and newcomers to the state.

The Republican coalition backing Loeffler and Perdue was the mirror opposite: white, older, wealthier and longtime Georgia residents.

The coalition closely resembles the one that narrowly handed Georgia's Electoral College votes to Biden in November, making him the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state in almost three decades.

Trump's claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election, while meritless, resonated with Republican voters in Georgia. About 7 in 10 agreed with his false assertion that Biden was not the legitimately elected president, AP VoteCast found.

Election officials across the country, including the Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, as well as Trump's former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed that there was no widespread fraud in the November election. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, where three Trump-nominated justices preside.

Publicly and privately, some Republicans acknowledged that Trump's monthslong push to undermine the integrity of the nation's electoral system may have contributed to the GOP's losses in Georgia.

"It turns out that telling the voters that the election was rigged is not a great way to turn out your voters," said Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican and a frequent Trump critic.

Even with Trump's claims, voters in both parties were drawn to the polls because of the high stakes. AP VoteCast found that 6 in 10 Georgia voters say Senate party control was the most important factor in their vote.

Turnout exceeded both sides' expectations. Ultimately, more people cast ballots in the runoffs than voted in Georgia's 2016 presidential election.

Former President Barack Obama, the nation's first Black president, issued a statement praising the election of Georgia's first African American senator and his ability to improve divisions in Washington.

"Georgia's first Black senator will make the (Senate) chamber more reflective of our country as a whole and open the door for a Congress that can forego gridlock for gridlock's sake to focus instead on the many crises facing our nation," Obama said.

___

Peoples reported from New York. Bynum reported from Savannah, Ga. Associated Press writers Haleluya Hadero, Angie Wang, Sophia Tulp, Ben Nadler and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.

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Warnock, Ossoff win in Georgia, handing Dems Senate control

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ATLANTA (AP) - Democrats won both Georgia Senate seats - and with them, the U.S. Senate majority - as final votes were counted Wednesday, serving President Donald Trump a stunning defeat in his turbulent final days in office while dramatically improving the fate of President-elect Joe Biden's progressive agenda.

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people compare response to BLM protestors vs. DC rioters

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blm vs capitol protests: this was the police response when it was black protesters on dc streets last year - cnn

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Rioters breached US Capitol security on Wednesday. This was the police response when it was Black protesters on DC streets last year

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As hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, breaking windows and wreaking havoc, politicians and activists were among the many who drew comparisons between the police response on Wednesday to that of last year's Black Lives Matter protests.

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Pro Trump Crowds stormed and took control of most of the capital. Many people once inside took items, But many also took photos.

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The U.S. Capitol was overtaken Wednesday by supporters of President Donald Trump, who, spurred on by his comments and angered by his loss, breached police lines and forced their way into the building, inside lawmakers' offices and onto the Senate floor in a bid to stop the peaceful transfer of power.

The rioting protesters sat at the desk of the Senate president, hung off balconies and milled about in tear-gas filled hallways. Lawmakers crouched and cowered in the House gallery as the mob attempted to break inside. Trump and Confederate flags flew outside and were waved inside the Capitol.

A woman was shot inside the Capitol and later died, according to reports. It was not immediately clear who the victim was or who shot her.

Trump supporters shattered glass in the halls of the Capitol, looting and destroying offices. Some forced their way into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's offices. In the House chamber, law enforcement drew their guns and pointed them at the doors to the chamber as protesters attempted to break inside.

The violent chaos started earlier Wednesday afternoon, when mobs swarmed the Capitol shortly after Congress entered into a joint session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win.

By about 6 p.m officials said the Capitol building was "secure," though it was not apparent what exactly that meant. Law enforcement appeared to successfully disperse some of the crowd, but many demonstrators remained well past the 6 p.m. curfew implemented by the District of Columbia, milling about as police stood around and gradually attempted to push them out of the area.

Lawmakers reconvened at 8 p.m., pledging to continue with the certification of votes.

Trump Supporters Storm Capitol Building

The day's events, while stunning, were perhaps not surprising. Trump has for months refused to concede the election, whipping supporters into a frenzy by claiming without a shred of evidence that there was widespread voter fraud, the election was "stolen" from him and that he is the rightful winner. A group of Republican lawmakers have backed those claims and planned to object to the electoral votes from three key states in a desperate and ultimately symbolic gesture that does not stand to change the outcome of the election.

Trump's insistence that the election was rigged spurred the crowds of supporters to congregate Wednesday on the National Mall in a demonstration couched as a "defense" of American democracy. Trump spoke to the crowd, again claiming the election was rigged.

Lines of Capitol Police were quickly broken. The FBI and other agencies also later joined enforcement efforts, but reinforcements either did not arrive in time or were not enough to stop the crowds from breaching the Capitol.

Trump remained relatively silent during the first couple hours of the siege, tweeting two tepid messages asking demonstrators to "stay peaceful" but not to leave the Capitol.

Around 4:20 p.m., more than two hours after the unrest began and as demonstrators remained in and around the Capitol, Trump tweeted a video in which he repeatedly and again said the election was stolen. But he told demonstrators to "go home."

Then, roughly two hours later, Trump appeared sympathetic to the demonstrators.

"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!" Trump tweeted.

Twitter later removed the tweets and locked the president's account in an unprecedented step for the social media giant.

Biden earlier in the day delivered a televised speech declaring that democracy was "under unprecedented assault" and said the day's events amounted to an "insurrection." He called on Trump to "demand an end to this siege."

Lawmakers and officials also took to Twitter to denounce the mobs. Some pointed at Trump, calling for impeachment proceedings or accusing him of inciting the attack on the Capitol through his rhetoric.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah pointed to Trump as the root cause of the violence.

"What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States," Romney said.

"Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress," said Boris Johnson, the prime minister of the U.K. "The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power."

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Pro-Trump Mobs Lay Siege to Capitol, Lawmakers Return to Certify Biden Win

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The U.S. Capitol was overtaken Wednesday by supporters of President Donald Trump, who, spurred on by his comments and angered by his loss, breached police lines and forced their way into the building, inside lawmakers' offices and onto the Senate floor in a bid to stop the peaceful transfer of power.

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NBPA executive director Michele Roberts is outraged over the mob that stormed the U.S. capitol Wednesday. She is upset about the racial double standards that are occurring.

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National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts expressed outrage over the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday and how the event reflected racial double standards in America.

Roberts told ESPN that her conversations with multiple NBA players throughout the afternoon kept returning to the contrast between the scene of President Donald Trump's supporters storming the Capitol with the Tuesday announcement that police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, would not face any charges in the shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black.

In the aftermath of the Blake shooting in August, the Milwaukee Bucks decided against playing a playoff game against the Orlando Magic in the league's bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. More teams joined the Bucks and the league shut down in protest for three days before restarting again.

"Today started yesterday, when the Jacob Blake shooting was being justified, although I'm not sure there was a single human surprised at that finding," Roberts told ESPN on Wednesday. "Every single player that contacted me -- or that I contacted -- saw the same connection to the Blake shooting being justified. We were watching these people essentially committing treason at the Capitol and I have yet to hear about a single shot being fired.

"We saw a Black police officer being chased and players said to me, 'So this is what they can do?' And people don't get this privilege stuff? I know how they're feeling. I am so angry and pained -- and refusing to cry. It reminded me of something that James Baldwin said, when asked what it was like to be a Negro in the United States of America. He said that if you're conscious of what's going on in the country, and you're a Negro, you're in a constant state of rage.

"On a day like this, it's the first thing that comes to mind. And all I can say is that I'm grateful knowing that hopefully nobody who looks like me is going to Capitol Hill to respond to this, because if they do, you'll see a different response by law enforcement. You know it -- and I know it."

Players and coaches across the NBA commented on Wednesday's events in Washington.

The Heat and Celtics left the court together shortly before their game in Miami, with the two teams issuing a joint statement just prior to tipoff saying they would play the game "with a heavy heart after yesterday's decision in Kenosha, and knowing that protesters in our nation's capital are treated differently by political leaders depending on what side of certain issues they are on."

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said the game came close to not being played, and that his players would have had "the full support of my staff, myself and our organization" had they elected not to take the floor.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr called the day's events "a pretty clear reminder that the truth matters." The Warriors, many of them wearing Black Lives Matter shirts, knelt for the anthem along with the Clippers before their game tipped off Wednesday night at Chase Center.

While Clippers coach Ty Lue called the show of unity "powerful," veteran Paul George said he thought the NBA should have canceled games. Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard believes the day's events at the U.S. Capitol would have been much different had it been African-Americans and other minorities who stormed the building.

For 76ers coach Doc Rivers, who was part of many discussions about how the league could use its platform in the Orlando, Florida, bubble during the NBA restart, it was a moment to remember those efforts have not been in vain.

"But what's it not ... is an attack on democracy," Rivers said, adding, "Democracy will prevail. It always does."
ESPN's Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.

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NBPA executive director Michele Roberts upset over racial double standard

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National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts expressed outrage over the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday and how the event reflected racial double standards in America.

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Many people on social media bring back light to Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protests in 2016 in regards to the way Washington's Capitol riot was handled compared to his.

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Colin Kaepernick 's decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest against police brutality and racism was recalled as a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a chaotic day.

Many people watching the events unfold in Washington tweeted they were reminded why Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in the first place.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM SPORTS WORLD REACTS TO US CAPITOL STORMED BY PROTESTERS: 'THIS IS A SHAMEFUL DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY'
Kaepernick has not played a down of football since the 2016 season. He started his protest that year against systemic racism across the U.S. His decision to kneel prompted outrage from almost everywhere, including the upper echelon of the White House.

President Trump 's remarks about Kaepernick caused more players to kneel during the 2017 season. But the quarterback remained without a role on any team. He and former teammate Eric Reid would accuse the NFL of blackballing them and keeping them out of the league. The lawsuit was eventually settled, and Reid would find a place with the Carolina Panthers for two seasons.

Kaepernick received a hasty NFL-sponsored workout in 2019, but after an issue of an injury waiver, he took matters into his own hands and held his own workout in front of about six teams.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
While one scout reportedly said Kaepernick still has "elite" arm talent, he is still a free agent.

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Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest remembered as US Capitol stormed by violent Trump-supporting mob

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Colin Kaepernick 's decision to kneel during the national anthem to protest against police brutality and racism was recalled as a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a chaotic day. Many people watching the events unfold in Washington tweeted they were reminded why Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in the first place.

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The capitol was put on lock down after pro-Trump rioters invaded the capitol building during the congress meeting to Certify the Electoral College votes for president and vice president.

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photos: pro-trump rioters breach the us capitol on historic day in congress

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Photos: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress

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In a stunning display of insurrection, supporters of President Donald Trump breached the US Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College's votes for president and vice president.

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A noose was erected outside and at least one improvised explosive device was found on the grounds, law enforcement officials said.

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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Capitol descended into chaos and violence Wednesday as hundreds of pro-Trump rioters swarmed the building, leaving four people dead and forcing the Senate to evacuate and Vice President Mike Pence to be ushered to safety.

The frenzied scene after rioters broke through barricades forced Congress to evacuate parts of the building and abruptly pause a ceremonial event affirming that President-elect Joe Biden won the November election. In one dramatic moment, police officers drew guns as rioters tried to break into the House chamber.

Pence, who was presiding over the joint session of Congress, could be seen rushing out of the Senate chamber amid the sounds of throngs of President Donald Trump's supporters who surrounded the Capitol. Pence and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the Senate president pro tem, were taken to a secure location, a senator told NBC News.

A woman was fatally shot by U.S. Capitol Police and three other people died in "medical emergencies," Washington Police Chief Robert Contee said.

The doors of the Senate were closed and locked, and senators were told to stay away from the area. The doors to the House were barricaded, and some lawmakers were seen praying. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a 12-hour curfew in the city that began Wednesday evening.

Twitter and other social media channels were flooded with images of protesters skirmishing with police officers, and there were multiple reports of rioting inside the Capitol as some rioters broke windows, battered down doors and postured in the Senate chamber.

Improvised explosive devices were found on the Capitol grounds, several law enforcement officials said. Officers were in the process of destroying the devices, and it was not clear whether they were functional. At least one was made of a small section of galvanized pipe.

The woman who was fatally shot by Capitol Police was Ashli Babbitt, 35, of San Diego, family members told NBC San Diego.

Her brother-in-law, Justin Jackson, said in a statement to the station: "Ashli was both loyal as well as extremely passionate about what she believed in. She loved this country and felt honored to have served in our Armed Forces. Please keep her family in your thoughts and respect their privacy during this time."

Five weapons were recovered from the complex, and three arrests were made, D.C. police said. None of the people were residents of the District of Columbia. There were 12 arrests in the two days leading up to Wednesday.

Images from the clashes were rife with disturbing hate symbols: a photo of a noose that had been hung on the west side of the Capitol, protesters waving Confederate flags or using white power gestures.

Trump directed the National Guard to head to the Capitol, he said in a tweet, and U.S. Capitol Police requested additional support. The FBI was deployed, and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted, too.

As Bowser's 12-hour curfew went into effect, most of the protesters dispersed, but pro-Trump demonstrators were seen in videos on social media roaming the city's streets amid a heavy police presence.

Washington police announced several arrests related to the protests and about 50 curfew-violation arrests as of 10:30 p.m. The police department said that most of the arrestees were from out of state and that it was processing additional arrests.

Bowser said the city is working with federal law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute people who stormed the chambers of Congress.

All four living former presidents decried the rioting.

Former President George W. Bush condemned the violence in a statement and also indirectly criticized Trump and his supporters.

"It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic - not our democratic republic," he said. "I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement."

Bush said the passions of protesters were "inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes."

Former President Barack Obama excoriated Trump in a statement and denounced the violence, calling it "a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation."

"Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy. They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires," Obama said. "Or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America."

Former President Jimmy Carter said in a statement, "This is a national tragedy and is not who we are as a nation," while Bill Clinton tweeted, "The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, confirming on Fox News that shots had been fired inside the Capitol, called the mayhem "un-American" and said: "We can disagree, but we should not take it to this level. ... You do not do what is happening right now. People are being hurt. This is unacceptable."

Biden called on Trump to go on national television to "fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege."

"It's not protest. It's insurrection," he said. "The words of a president matter, no matter how good or bad it is."

The top Democrats in Congress echoed Biden's message: "We are calling on President Trump to demand that all protestors leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Grounds immediately," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a joint statement.

Pelosi, in another statement Wednesday, called the violence "a shameful assault" on democracy and vowed that both chambers would finish certifying Biden's win under heightened protection.

Congress reconvened late Wednesday evening, with members of both parties sharply rebuking the violence and vandalism of the chamber. Pence called it "a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol."

"To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today: You did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people's house," he said.

Former Attorney General William Barr, who was with Trump last summer as National Guard members sprayed tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters so the president could hold a Bible for a photo opportunity, admonished the rioters.

"The violence at the Capitol Building is outrageous and despicable. Federal agencies should move immediately to disperse it," he said.

Dan Eberhart, a prominent donor to Trump and the Republican Party, also sharply criticized the protests and the president.

"If President Trump wants to have any kind of political future within the Republican Party, he needs to condemn the violence at the Capitol and stop claiming the election was stolen," Eberhart told NBC News. "President Trump had his day in court. It's time to concede defeat and think about his political future."

He added, "The desecration of the Capitol is not going to be forgotten. He cost Sen. [Mitch] McConnell his leadership position, and now he's s------g all over the Capitol."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the violence in a series of tweets and called for arrests and prosecution.

"Let us swiftly bring justice to the criminals who engaged in this rioting," he said in the tweet.

McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate majority leader, rebuked the rioters - without noting the source of the violence - and called them "thugs."

"Criminal behavior will never dominate the United States," he said. He did not identify its source, nor did he call on his members to drop their objections to the count. "This institution is resilient. Our democratic republic is strong. The American people deserve nothing less."

Schumer, who is poised to succeed McConnell as majority leader, sharply criticized the protests but squarely placed the blame on Trump in a fiery speech before Biden's win was certified.

"Make no mistake. Make no mistake, my friends. Today's events did not happen spontaneously," he said. "This mob was, in good part, President Trump's doing - incited by his words, his lies. This violence, in good part, his responsibility, his everlasting shame."

Schumer also called for rioters to be "prosecuted to the full extent of the law - hopefully by this administration. If not, certainly by the next."

Trump, who earlier Wednesday called on his supporters to march to the Capitol and even suggested that he might join them before he ultimately returned to the White House, addressed the chaos and the unrest in a series of tweets that Twitter eventually flagged for spreading false election claims and posing "a risk of violence."

He asked people to go home but did not condemn the violence.

The chaos erupted after Trump spoke to a large crowd in front of the White House. He angrily vowed never to concede to Biden and baselessly asserted that the election results were fraudulent.

"We will never give up. We will never concede. You don't concede when there is theft involved," Trump told supporters, some of whom chanted "USA!" or waved anti-Biden banners. He later falsely claimed that Biden would be an "illegitimate" president.

In the White House after the violent clashes in and around the Capitol, chief of staff Mark Meadows, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior advisers Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were among those meeting with the president, a person familiar with the matter said.

Some aides appear shaken by the events, which aired on televisions in the West Wing.

"There's been some hard days and some challenging days," a person familiar with meetings said. "I would say that this one's the toughest."

Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trump's chief of staff and a former White House press secretary, submitted her resignation Wednesday.

Twitter also, for the first time, locked Trump's account after it flagged and removed several of his tweets for "repeated and severe violations" of the company's civic integrity policy. The company threatened permanent suspension if the tweets were not deleted. Facebook also blocked Trump's access to his account for 24 hours.

Trump had tweeted several messages, some of which were removed for "contributing to the risk of ongoing violence."

Trump's groundless claims of voter fraud have been widely debunked, and his legal team's efforts to challenge the election results in court have been rejected by a succession of judges. Trump had claimed that Wednesday's joint session of Congress was a chance to overturn the election, even though state electors had already certified the results and the event inside the Capitol was ceremonial.

Trump had put pressure on Pence to intervene in the count. In his lengthy and digressive remarks, Trump called on Pence to "do the right thing," even though Pence's ceremonial role did not give him with power to intervene. Pence sent a letter to Congress before the ceremony saying he would not be doing what Trump had hoped.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., tweeted that she was drawing up articles of impeachment against Trump.

"We can't allow him to remain in office, it's a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath," she tweeted.

Trump was impeached by the House in late 2019 and acquitted by the Senate in early 2020.

Jason Bjorklund, who flew to the capital from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said he did not know what to expect when Congress convened.

"I just felt compelled to be here, because it seems like our republic is slipping away from us," Bjorklund said. He added, baselessly, that there were "mountains of evidence of fraud" and detailed conspiracy theories about voting machines using software made by Dominion Voting Systems.

When asked to account for the judges who have rejected the Trump legal team's attempts to challenge the results, Bjorklund said: "I think we've got corruption from the top to the bottom."

Before Trump's speech, it appeared that some senators were being approached by Trump supporters near the Capitol, including an apparently exasperated Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., who said he would not vote against affirming Biden's victory because he was bound to follow the law.

"I took an oath under God, under God!" Young said. "Do we still take that seriously in this country?"

Theresa Reilly and her husband, Bill, came to the nation's capital from Michigan - a key Midwest swing state that fell into the Democratic column in November - to participate in the protests because they believe Biden's triumph was fraudulent.

"We don't believe they're honest, true voters," Theresa Reilly said as Celine Dion's theme song from the movie "Titanic" played on a speaker system in the background. "There's a lot of cheating going on, and I think everybody knows that, including Democrats."

Bill Reilly said that even without "doing too much research," it was clear that "something's up" with the November election results

"The only thing I can say is, however many people are here, this isn't going to go away," he said. "If you thought 2020 was weird, 2021 is going to be 'hold my beer,' if you ask me."
Allan Smith, Ginger Gibson, Pete Williams, Shannon Pettypiece, Haley Talbot, Kristen Welker, Carol E. Lee, Hallie Jackson, Monica Alba and Peter Alexander reported from Washington; Daniel Arkin, Dartunorro Clark and Tom Winter from New York; and Lauren Egan from Georgia.

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4 dead, Congress evacuated, National Guard activated after pro-Trump rioters storm Capitol

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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Capitol descended into chaos and violence Wednesday as hundreds of pro-Trump rioters swarmed the building, leaving four people dead and forcing the Senate to evacuate and Vice President Mike Pence to be ushered to safety.

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Matt Pottinger, Trump's deputy security advisor, has resigned and rumors of the national security advisor and the deputy chief of staff stepping down as well are going around.

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Donald Trump's deputy national security adviser, Matt Pottinger, has resigned, and two other senior White House officials - the national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, and the deputy chief of staff, Chris Liddell - are reportedly considering stepping down after a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building.

Pottinger's departure comes amid speculation that others will also quit after the US president incited and praised rioters while continuing to air baseless grievances over his loss of the presidency.

So far six officials associated with Trump and his inner circle have said they are quitting, including members of the first lady Melania Trump's team, after the deadly violence that surrounded the Congressional vote to certify Joe Biden's presidential election victory in November.

Senior Republican figures have also indicated splits from the president.

Tweeting from his personal account, O'Brien - a staunch Trump loyalist - praised the behaviour of the vice-president, Mike Pence, who resisted Trump's pressure to overturn the election certification, , while making no mention of Trump.

"I just spoke with Vice President Pence. He is a genuinely fine and decent man," he tweeted. "He exhibited courage today as he did at the Capitol on 9/11 as a Congressman. I am proud to serve with him."
Video: AP FACT CHECK: Trump's false claims, fuel on a day of chaos (Associated Press)
In further fall out that underlined the fracturing of the Trump administration's inner circles, Marc Short, Pence's chief of staff, indicated to journalists he had been banned from the White House by Trump after the president "blamed" him for advice he gave to Pence on Trump's demands he overturn the election result.

According to reports in the US media, some senior administration officials have also begun talking informally about invoking the 25th amendment to remove the president before his term expires on 20 January, while calls are also growing for a second impeachment to ensure Trump cannot run for public office again.

In stark language that underlined the toxic and swirling sense of crisis, the Washington Post quoted one administration official describing Trump's behaviour on Wednesday as that of "a monster," while another said the situation was "insane" and "beyond the pale".

Two of the first lady's top aides resigned on Wednesday night including Stephanie Grisham, a longtime Trump loyalist who previously served as White House press secretary. Anna Cristina Niceta, the White House social secretary, also resigned.

The deputy White House press secretary, Sarah Matthews, also announced her resignation, saying she was "deeply disturbed" by the storming of the Capitol.

"I was honoured to serve in the Trump administration and proud of the policies we enacted. As someone who worked in the halls of Congress I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today," Matthews said in a statement. "I'll be stepping down from my role, effective immediately. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power."

The sense of anger within a Republican party at war with itself was increasingly in full view. "[Trump] screwed his supporters, he screwed the country and now he's screwed himself," a 2016 Trump campaign official told Politico.

The former New Jersey governor Chris Christie - who said he repeatedly tried to call Trump during the crisis - also laid the blame squarely at Trump's feet.

"The president caused this protest to occur," Christie told ABC News. "He is the only one who can make it stop."

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Trump adviser resigns and two other senior officials consider quitting

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Donald Trump's deputy national security adviser, Matt Pottinger, has resigned, and two other senior White House officials - the national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, and the deputy chief of staff, Chris Liddell - are reportedly considering stepping down after a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building.

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counting of electoral votes was stopped today by proud boy protesters

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What you need to know

Congress affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol.

The House and Senate rejected objections to throw out electoral votes for Biden.

Certification proceedings were halted when the riot began. A woman was shot and killed on the Capitol grounds during the riot, DC police said.

Our live coverage of today's events has moved here.

4:18 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Trump pledges an "orderly" transfer of power to Biden

Following a formal affirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, President Trump said the decision "represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history."

"Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement.

"I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again," Trump said while repeating false claims about the election that incited a mob to storm the Capitol.
CNN's Kaitlin Collins has more:

4:09 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Following violent day, Senate chaplain delivers powerful prayer concluding joint session proceedings

From CNN's Josiah Ryan

Senate Chaplain Barry Black delivered a powerful prayer just moments after Congress had affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, condemning the "desecration" of the Capitol building and reminding lawmakers of the weight of their words and actions.

"We deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol Building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy," he said.

"These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue," he continued. "We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom's price."
Read his prayer:

"Lord of our lives and sovereign of our beloved nation, we deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy.
These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom's price.
Lord, you have helped us remember that we need to see in each other a common humanity that reflects your image.
You have strengthened our resolve to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies domestic as well as foreign.
Use us to bring healing and unity to our hurting and divided nation and world. Thank you for what you have blessed our lawmakers to accomplish in spite of threats to liberty.
Bless and keep us. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to do your will and guide our feet on the path of peace. And God bless America. We pray in your sovereign name, amen."

Watch:

4:50 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Congress affirms Biden's Electoral College victory

Congress has just affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump.

The counting of Vermont's three electoral votes put Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency.

Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the count conducted by a joint session of Congress, announced that Biden had won the Electoral College vote after the House and Senate easily defeated Republican objections lodged against the votes sent by two states, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

"The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January 2021 and shall be entered together with the list of the votes on the journals of the Senate and the House of Representatives," Pence said following the count of all of the state's Electoral College votes.

The certification comes after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol earlier Wednesday.

The joint session of Congress, which is normally a ceremonial step, was halted for several hours when rioters breached the Capitol.

Proceedings resumed at about 8 p.m. ET with Pence, bringing the Senate session back into order.

"Let's get back to work," Pence said.
Watch the moment Pence announced the results: Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that an objection to Arizona's electoral votes did not reach debate. It did reach debate.

3:27 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Joint session to count electoral votes resumes

Congress has reconvened in a joint session to continue to count electoral votes after the Senate and House rejected objections to throw out Pennsylvania's votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

Four lawmakers designated as "tellers" - two from the House and two from the Senate - will continue to read the certificates of vote from each state. There are 12 states to go.

The votes are read in alphabetical order.

We expect Wisconsin to be challenged in the House, but there will not be a senatorial signatory to it.

3:17 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
The House just rejected an objection to Pennsylvania's electoral vote

From CNN's Kristin Wilson

The House voted to reject an objection to throw out Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. The challenge failed by a vote of 282-138.

The measure was also dismissed in the Senate, with a 92-7 vote tally.

The House and the Senate will now reconvene in a joint session to continue to count the remaining Electoral College votes. Track the electoral vote count here.

Pennsylvania will be the last state that will be debated. We expect Wisconsin to be challenged in the House, but there will not be a senatorial signatory to it.

There are 12 states to go.

Remember: Any further objections must be made in writing and backed both by a member of the House of Representatives and a senator, from any state.

Objections that are entertained by the chair - that's Vice President Mike Pence, whose duties include serving as president of the Senate - will force both the House and Senate to withdraw for debate in each chamber, which will be capped at a maximum of two hours.

3:10 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Congressman announces he's positive for Covid-19 four hours after voting on House floor

From CNN's Kristin Wilson and Daniella Diaz

GOP Rep. Jake LaTurner of Kansas has announced via Twitter that he has Covid-19. He is not experiencing any symptoms, according to the tweet.

He voted in person four hours ago on the House floor per this vote tally.
See his tweets:

2:36 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
House is voting now on objection to Pennsylvania's electoral votes

The House just wrapped up its debate over an objection on Pennsylvania's electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

The objection is expected to fail. It already failed in the Senate, the vote was 92-7.

3:07 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
2 House members confronted each other during the Pennsylvania objection debate. Here's what happened.

From CNN's Kristin Wilson and Daniella Diaz

Two members of the House confronted each other on the House floor over a push to strike another members' remarks from the record.

It began when Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia, objected to what Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb said during the Pennsylvania Electoral College challenge debate.

This is what Lamb said that led to GOP members objecting:

"Enough has been done today here today already to try to strip this Congress of its dignity and these objectors don't need to do anymore. We know that that attack today, it didn't materialize out of nowhere, it was inspired by lies, the same lies that you're hearing in this room tonight. And the members who are repeating those lies should be ashamed of themselves, their constituents should be ashamed of them," he said.

Rep. Andy Harris and Rep. Colin Allred yelled at each other to "sit down" "no, you sit down!" from across the floor.

They both then confronted each other in the aisle. At least a dozen other members bench cleared from their sides. Rep. Al Lawson of Florida, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and a senior Democratic staffer helped break up the confrontation.

According to CNN's Kristin Wilson, who was in the room, the situation diffused fairly quickly but tensions were high.

The deputy Sergeant-at-Arms showed up in the scrum.
Watch the moment:

2:25 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Trump "committed a mortal crime against the republic," former GOP congressman says

From CNN's Leinz Vales

Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent expressed his disgust Wednesday over rioters who stormed the US Capitol building and President Trump's rhetoric that helped sparked the unrest.

"He's committed a mortal crime against the republic," Dent said. "He should have resigned over this, but he won't, of course."

In an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon, the former Pennsylvania lawmaker conveyed his anger with a pro-Trump rioter carrying a Confederate flag inside the Capitol building, calling it a "desecration."

"I always proudly took my constituents to a plaque right by the east-front Capitol, right by the front door. It's a plaque dedicated to the honorary first defenders from Allentown, Pennsylvania, in Redding, Pennsylvania ... who went to the Capitol, at the call of Abraham Lincoln, to defend the Capitol during the Civil War. ... The confederates never got there. They were there to protect against the rebellion. And here we are, watching Confederate flags running through the Capitol. To see this desecration to me, it's so upsetting as an American, as a Republican. How could this happen?"

What you need to know

Congress affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol.

The House and Senate rejected objections to throw out electoral votes for Biden.

Certification proceedings were halted when the riot began. A woman was shot and killed on the Capitol grounds during the riot, DC police said.

Our live coverage of today's events has moved here.

4:18 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Trump pledges an "orderly" transfer of power to Biden

Following a formal affirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, President Trump said the decision "represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history."

"Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement.

"I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again," Trump said while repeating false claims about the election that incited a mob to storm the Capitol.
CNN's Kaitlin Collins has more:

4:09 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Following violent day, Senate chaplain delivers powerful prayer concluding joint session proceedings

From CNN's Josiah Ryan

Senate Chaplain Barry Black delivered a powerful prayer just moments after Congress had affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory, condemning the "desecration" of the Capitol building and reminding lawmakers of the weight of their words and actions.

"We deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol Building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy," he said.

"These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue," he continued. "We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom's price."
Read his prayer:

"Lord of our lives and sovereign of our beloved nation, we deplore the desecration of the United States Capitol building, the shedding of innocent blood, the loss of life, and the quagmire of dysfunction that threaten our democracy.
These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We have been warned that eternal vigilance continues to be freedom's price.
Lord, you have helped us remember that we need to see in each other a common humanity that reflects your image.
You have strengthened our resolve to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies domestic as well as foreign.
Use us to bring healing and unity to our hurting and divided nation and world. Thank you for what you have blessed our lawmakers to accomplish in spite of threats to liberty.
Bless and keep us. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to do your will and guide our feet on the path of peace. And God bless America. We pray in your sovereign name, amen."

Watch:

4:50 p.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Congress affirms Biden's Electoral College victory

Congress has just affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump.

The counting of Vermont's three electoral votes put Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency.

Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the count conducted by a joint session of Congress, announced that Biden had won the Electoral College vote after the House and Senate easily defeated Republican objections lodged against the votes sent by two states, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

"The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January 2021 and shall be entered together with the list of the votes on the journals of the Senate and the House of Representatives," Pence said following the count of all of the state's Electoral College votes.

The certification comes after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol earlier Wednesday.

The joint session of Congress, which is normally a ceremonial step, was halted for several hours when rioters breached the Capitol.

Proceedings resumed at about 8 p.m. ET with Pence, bringing the Senate session back into order.

"Let's get back to work," Pence said.
Watch the moment Pence announced the results: Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that an objection to Arizona's electoral votes did not reach debate. It did reach debate.

3:27 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Joint session to count electoral votes resumes

Congress has reconvened in a joint session to continue to count electoral votes after the Senate and House rejected objections to throw out Pennsylvania's votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

Four lawmakers designated as "tellers" - two from the House and two from the Senate - will continue to read the certificates of vote from each state. There are 12 states to go.

The votes are read in alphabetical order.

We expect Wisconsin to be challenged in the House, but there will not be a senatorial signatory to it.

3:17 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
The House just rejected an objection to Pennsylvania's electoral vote

From CNN's Kristin Wilson

The House voted to reject an objection to throw out Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. The challenge failed by a vote of 282-138.

The measure was also dismissed in the Senate, with a 92-7 vote tally.

The House and the Senate will now reconvene in a joint session to continue to count the remaining Electoral College votes. Track the electoral vote count here.

Pennsylvania will be the last state that will be debated. We expect Wisconsin to be challenged in the House, but there will not be a senatorial signatory to it.

There are 12 states to go.

Remember: Any further objections must be made in writing and backed both by a member of the House of Representatives and a senator, from any state.

Objections that are entertained by the chair - that's Vice President Mike Pence, whose duties include serving as president of the Senate - will force both the House and Senate to withdraw for debate in each chamber, which will be capped at a maximum of two hours.

3:10 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Congressman announces he's positive for Covid-19 four hours after voting on House floor

From CNN's Kristin Wilson and Daniella Diaz

GOP Rep. Jake LaTurner of Kansas has announced via Twitter that he has Covid-19. He is not experiencing any symptoms, according to the tweet.

He voted in person four hours ago on the House floor per this vote tally.
See his tweets:

2:36 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
House is voting now on objection to Pennsylvania's electoral votes

The House just wrapped up its debate over an objection on Pennsylvania's electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden.

The objection is expected to fail. It already failed in the Senate, the vote was 92-7.

3:07 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
2 House members confronted each other during the Pennsylvania objection debate. Here's what happened.

From CNN's Kristin Wilson and Daniella Diaz

Two members of the House confronted each other on the House floor over a push to strike another members' remarks from the record.

It began when Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican from Virginia, objected to what Pennsylvania Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb said during the Pennsylvania Electoral College challenge debate.

This is what Lamb said that led to GOP members objecting:

"Enough has been done today here today already to try to strip this Congress of its dignity and these objectors don't need to do anymore. We know that that attack today, it didn't materialize out of nowhere, it was inspired by lies, the same lies that you're hearing in this room tonight. And the members who are repeating those lies should be ashamed of themselves, their constituents should be ashamed of them," he said.

Rep. Andy Harris and Rep. Colin Allred yelled at each other to "sit down" "no, you sit down!" from across the floor.

They both then confronted each other in the aisle. At least a dozen other members bench cleared from their sides. Rep. Al Lawson of Florida, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and a senior Democratic staffer helped break up the confrontation.

According to CNN's Kristin Wilson, who was in the room, the situation diffused fairly quickly but tensions were high.

The deputy Sergeant-at-Arms showed up in the scrum.
Watch the moment:

2:25 a.m. ET, January 7, 2021
Trump "committed a mortal crime against the republic," former GOP congressman says

From CNN's Leinz Vales

Former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent expressed his disgust Wednesday over rioters who stormed the US Capitol building and President Trump's rhetoric that helped sparked the unrest.

"He's committed a mortal crime against the republic," Dent said. "He should have resigned over this, but he won't, of course."

In an interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon, the former Pennsylvania lawmaker conveyed his anger with a pro-Trump rioter carrying a Confederate flag inside the Capitol building, calling it a "desecration."

"I always proudly took my constituents to a plaque right by the east-front Capitol, right by the front door. It's a plaque dedicated to the honorary first defenders from Allentown, Pennsylvania, in Redding, Pennsylvania ... who went to the Capitol, at the call of Abraham Lincoln, to defend the Capitol during the Civil War. ... The confederates never got there. They were there to protect against the rebellion. And here we are, watching Confederate flags running through the Capitol. To see this desecration to me, it's so upsetting as an American, as a Republican. How could this happen?"

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january 6 electoral vote count and protest news

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By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

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January 6 electoral vote count and protest news

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What you need to know Congress affirmed President-elect Joe Biden's victory after pro-Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol. The House and Senate rejected objections to throw out electoral votes for Biden. Certification proceedings were halted when the riot began. A woman was shot and killed on the Capitol grounds during the riot, DC police said.

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Two lawmakers argued with the House staff on Tuesday about the rules of masks when on the floor, the House over rules and Nancy Pelosi orders them that they need to stick to the chambers rules.

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pelosi tells two conservative lawmakers to wear face masks on floor after tense exchange with house staff - cnnpolitics

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Pelosi tells two conservative lawmakers to wear face masks on floor after tense exchange with House staff

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Two conservative lawmakers got into a contentious exchange with House staff Tuesday over rules requiring members to wear a mask on the floor, which prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to get involved and order them to follow the chamber's rules.

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The decision is still up in the air for two seats in the Senate. The state of Georgia has remaining  two Senate's seats. This will decide the future control of the congress and the President.

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Control of the Senate and the fate of President-elect Joe Biden's agenda hangs in the balance on Tuesday in Georgia, with GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler facing Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock in twin runoff elections.

Despite expectations that they would retake the Senate, Democrats came up short in several key Senate races in November. Now, both Ossoff and Warnock need to win outright for Democrats to flip the Senate and hold a 50-50 majority, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving as a tie breaking vote.

The outcome of the contests, two weeks before Biden's inauguration, will either hand the new administration power to maneuver on policy and nominations or leave Republicans with influence over Biden's legislative proposals and nominees for his administration and the federal bench.

"You will make a decision about who is holding these most powerful positions that will chart the course of Georgian families and families all around our country. So I'm here to thank you, on behalf of Joe and myself, for what you did in November. And I'm here to ask you to do it again," Harris said on Sunday in Savannah, Georgia. "Everything is at stake."

In the highly competitive contests, the Democrats -- Ossoff, a once-unsuccessful congressional candidate and investigative journalist, and Warnock, a prominent Black preacher who leads the storied Ebenezer Baptist Church -- are seeking to secure the slimmest of majorities in the Senate.

By relying on shifting demographics in a rapidly evolving state and the influence of minority voters, particularly Black voters, both are aiming to repeat Biden's November victory -- when he became the first Democrat to win Georgia since 1992. Biden capitalized on Atlanta's population boom and the diversity of the surrounding suburbs to offset Republicans' advantage in rural parts of the state.

Both Democrats and Republicans have been campaigning in tandem. But the stakes are higher for Ossoff and Warnock: If just one fails to knock off either Perdue or Loeffler, who are campaigning in lockstep with President Donald Trump, the GOP will retain control of the Senate for at least the next two years.

While Democrats have performed well in early voting, both sides are watching election day turnout in the state's conservative congressional districts.

And as Trump faces criticism for his attempts to pressure Georgia's Republican secretary of state to "find" votes to overturn Biden's victory, officials in both parties in Georgia and Washington are bracing for another lengthy and acrimonious vote-counting process.

In a sign of the importance of the dual Senate races, Biden, Harris, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have traveled to Georgia in the days leading up to the election to rally supporters and activate their respective bases.

"It's a biggie. Our country is depending on you. The whole world is watching the people of Georgia," Trump said of the contests as he stumped for Loeffler and Perdue on the eve of the runoffs in Dalton, which sits in the northwest portion of the state near the border of Tennessee.

"Georgia, the whole nation is looking to you to lead us forward," Biden said at a drive-in rally on Monday, during his second trip to Atlanta to campaign alongside Warnock and Ossoff. "The power is literally in your hands unlike any time in my career -- one state. One state can chart the course, not just for the next four years, but for the next generation."

History remains on the GOP's side since runoffs in the state have historically favored Republicans. Even more than a quarter century ago, when former President Bill Clinton captured Georgia's electoral votes, Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler led in the general election but ultimately lost to Republican Paul Coverdell in the overtime rematch.

"Republicans are going to make sure that they show up," said Jay Williams, a Republican consultant in Georgia. "They're not going to cut off their noses to spite their face."

But some Democrats in the state believe Trump's extraordinary attempts to subvert the democratic process are deterring the GOP's base from showing up for a second time.

"There's a schism in the Republican Party that has to be dispiriting to Republicans, for those who have not voted yet, I'm sure these current events, like the president's newly released taped phone call, will have some bearing on their vote (Tuesday)," said Rep. Hank Johnson, who represents the suburbs east of Atlanta.

Johnson added that for Democrats to succeed on Tuesday, robust turnout is central to their effort to match Biden's victory.

"Democrats are looking at the fact that we have the nation's future in our hands. All we have to do is turn out," he continued. "Georgia Democrats are looking at this election not just for the salvation of the state of Georgia, but what it means for the country."

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Georgia runoffs, the last races of 2020, to decide control of the Senate

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Control of the Senate and the fate of President-elect Joe Biden's agenda hangs in the balance on Tuesday in Georgia, with GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler facing Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock in twin runoff elections.

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Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soar

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Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soar

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Japan may enter a state of emergency this week as the country grapples with soaring corona-virus  cases, a number of which have been linked to a new, potentially more infectious variant.

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Japan poised for state of emergency as Covid-19 cases soar | CNN

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Japan may enter a state of emergency this week as the country grapples with soaring coronavirus cases, a number of which have been linked to a new, potentially more infectious variant.