cnbc--2020-11-20--GOP governor, a Trump critic, calls for end to president's 'ridiculous challenges' of Biden win

Republican Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ripped President Donald Trump on Friday over his refusal to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden , calling a delay in the transition `` outrageous '' and `` bad for the country . ''
`` We need to have the transition begin as soon as possible .
These kind of ridiculous challenges that are not based on fact need to end , '' Hogan , a frequent Trump critic , said on `` Squawk Box . ''
`` We have to move forward with the transition .
Like it or not , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes and we live with the result .
We 've always had a peaceful transition of power , '' added Hogan , who weighed a primary challenge to Trump last year and did not vote for him in the Nov. 3 election .
Instead , Hogan reportedly cast a write-in ballot for former President Ronald Reagan , who died in 2004 .
Trump has not conceded the presidential race to Biden , despite media organizations including NBC News calling the contest nearly two weeks ago .
The president 's campaign is waging numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to filing for a partial vote recount in Wisconsin , a state Biden won .
The president has falsely claimed he prevailed in the election and asserted — without presenting evidence — that there has been rampant voter fraud designed to favor Biden .
He also fired a top U.S. cybersecurity official who repeatedly defended the integrity of the election .
Biden has moved forward with parts of the transition , such as forming advisory teams , and has taken other presidential-like actions .
On Thursday , he held a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the coronavirus pandemic .
However , the Democrat 's transition team has increasingly expressed concern that a delay in the official transition process and a failure to coordinate around the pandemic response could be problematic .
Some also have said Trump 's obstruction jeopardizes national security because Biden is not yet receiving classified intelligence briefings .
`` The mistake right now of not sharing information with the incoming administration is outrageous , '' Hogan said .
`` I think it 's bad for Donald Trump .
It 's bad for the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our standing in the world .
It 's diminishing the presidency . ''
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC 's request for comment on Hogan 's remarks .

Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan ripped President Donald Trump on Friday over his refusal to concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden, calling a delay in the transition "outrageous" and "bad for the country."
"We need to have the transition begin as soon as possible. These kind of ridiculous challenges that are not based on fact need to end," Hogan, a frequent Trump critic, said on "Squawk Box."
"We have to move forward with the transition. Like it or not, we cast the votes, we count the votes and we live with the result. We've always had a peaceful transition of power," added Hogan, who weighed a primary challenge to Trump last year and did not vote for him in the Nov. 3 election. Instead, Hogan reportedly cast a write-in ballot for former President Ronald Reagan, who died in 2004.
Trump has not conceded the presidential race to Biden, despite media organizations including NBC News calling the contest nearly two weeks ago. The president's campaign is waging numerous legal fights in key battleground states, in addition to filing for a partial vote recount in Wisconsin, a state Biden won.
The president has falsely claimed he prevailed in the election and asserted — without presenting evidence — that there has been rampant voter fraud designed to favor Biden. He also fired a top U.S. cybersecurity official who repeatedly defended the integrity of the election.
Biden has moved forward with parts of the transition, such as forming advisory teams, and has taken other presidential-like actions. On Thursday, he held a virtual meeting with governors, including Hogan, about the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the Democrat's transition team has increasingly expressed concern that a delay in the official transition process and a failure to coordinate around the pandemic response could be problematic. Some also have said Trump's obstruction jeopardizes national security because Biden is not yet receiving classified intelligence briefings.
"The mistake right now of not sharing information with the incoming administration is outrageous," Hogan said. "I think it's bad for Donald Trump. It's bad for the Republican Party, bad for the country and our standing in the world. It's diminishing the presidency."
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Hogan's remarks.


cnbc--2020-11-22--Trump loses lawsuit that sought to block Pennsylvania win for Biden

A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump 's campaign that sought to block that state 's certification of millions of voters , which is expected to confirm a win for President-elect Joe Biden there .
The judge 's scathing decision is a crippling blow to Trump 's already extremely long-shot bid to invalidate enough ballots in enough states to reverse the former Democratic vice president Biden 's victory in the national presidential election , whose outcome is determined by the Electoral College .
The Trump campaign and its allies now have lost or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of that effort .
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann , in his written decision , said that the campaign 's lawyers , led by Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , failed to present `` compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption '' in their unprecedented bid to invalidate millions of ballots .
`` Instead , this Court has been presented with strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations , unpled in the operative complaint and unsupported by the evidence , '' Brann fumed .
`` In the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter , let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state .
Our people , laws , and institutions demand more . ''
At one point , the judge compared the lawsuit 's claim that voters had been denied equal protection in how their ballots were handled to `` Frankenstein 's Monster , '' since that claim was `` haphazardly stitched together '' from two different theories in an effort to avoid having them separately dismissed because of legal precedent .
Brann 's ruling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's counties are due to ceritify their election results to Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar , made moot the question of whether he would bother to hold an evidentiary hearing in the case .
The Trump campaign had claimed that voters in Pennsylvania were denied their constitutional right to equal protection under the law by the fact that some counties in the state , but not all , permitted voters who had mailed in their ballots to `` cure '' problems with those ballots by casting a provisional ballot .
The former New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Trump campaign 's other top lawyer , said they would seek an expedited appeal of Brann 's decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit .
They also said they believed his ruling would `` help us in our strategy '' to get their claims heard by the U.S. Supreme Court .
`` Although we fully disagree with this opinion , we 're thankful to the Obama-appointed judge for making this anticipated decision quickly , rather than simply trying to run out the clock , '' Giuliani and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Ellis who on Tuesday , after Giuliani 's performance in court was criticized by a number of legal analysts , tweeted : `` You media morons are all laughing at @ RudyGiuliani , but he appears to have already established a great rapport with the judge , who is currently offering recommendations on martini bars for Team Trump in open court . ''
Brann was nominated to his seat by President Barack Obama in 2012 .
But before that he was for years a Republican Party official in the Keystone State , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate 's Republican and Democratic and independent members .
Biden campaign spokesman Michael Gwin said , `` Yet another court has rejected Trump and Giuliani 's baseless claims of voter fraud and their appalling assault on our democracy . ''
`` The judge 's ruling could n't be clearer : our people , laws , and institutions demand more — and our country will not tolerate Trump 's attempt to reverse the results of an election that he decisively lost , '' Gwin said .
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey , R-Pa. , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative Republican whom I know to be a fair an unbiased jurist . ''
Toomey said that Brann 's ruling , along with `` a series of procedural losses '' for Trump 's campaign and allies in other courts , `` confirm that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and will become the 46th President of the United States . ''
`` With today 's decision , '' Toomey said , `` President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala Harris on their victory .
They are both dedicated public servants and I will be praying for them and for our country . ''

A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit by President Donald Trump's campaign that sought to block that state's certification of millions of voters, which is expected to confirm a win for President-elect Joe Biden there.
The judge's scathing decision is a crippling blow to Trump's already extremely long-shot bid to invalidate enough ballots in enough states to reverse the former Democratic vice president Biden's victory in the national presidential election, whose outcome is determined by the Electoral College.
The Trump campaign and its allies now have lost or withdrawn more than 30 lawsuits that were part of that effort.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann, in his written decision, said that the campaign's lawyers, led by Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, failed to present "compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption" in their unprecedented bid to invalidate millions of ballots.
"Instead, this Court has been presented with strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations, unpled in the operative complaint and unsupported by the evidence," Brann fumed.
"In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state. Our people, laws, and institutions demand more."
At one point, the judge compared the lawsuit's claim that voters had been denied equal protection in how their ballots were handled to "Frankenstein's Monster," since that claim was "haphazardly stitched together" from two different theories in an effort to avoid having them separately dismissed because of legal precedent.
Brann's ruling, which was issued two days before Pennsyvalnia's counties are due to ceritify their election results to Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, made moot the question of whether he would bother to hold an evidentiary hearing in the case.
The Trump campaign had claimed that voters in Pennsylvania were denied their constitutional right to equal protection under the law by the fact that some counties in the state, but not all, permitted voters who had mailed in their ballots to "cure" problems with those ballots by casting a provisional ballot.
The former New York City mayor Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, the Trump campaign's other top lawyer, said they would seek an expedited appeal of Brann's decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
They also said they believed his ruling would "help us in our strategy" to get their claims heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Although we fully disagree with this opinion, we're thankful to the Obama-appointed judge for making this anticipated decision quickly, rather than simply trying to run out the clock," Giuliani and Ellis said in a statement.
It was Ellis who on Tuesday, after Giuliani's performance in court was criticized by a number of legal analysts, tweeted: "You media morons are all laughing at @RudyGiuliani, but he appears to have already established a great rapport with the judge, who is currently offering recommendations on martini bars for Team Trump in open court."
Brann was nominated to his seat by President Barack Obama in 2012. But before that he was for years a Republican Party official in the Keystone State, and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate's Republican and Democratic and independent members.
Biden campaign spokesman Michael Gwin said, "Yet another court has rejected Trump and Giuliani's baseless claims of voter fraud and their appalling assault on our democracy."
"The judge's ruling couldn't be clearer: our people, laws, and institutions demand more — and our country will not tolerate Trump's attempt to reverse the results of an election that he decisively lost," Gwin said.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., in a statement called Brann a "longtime conservative Republican whom I know to be a fair an unbiased jurist."
Toomey said that Brann's ruling, along with "a series of procedural losses" for Trump's campaign and allies in other courts, "confirm that Joe Biden won the 2020 election and will become the 46th President of the United States."
"With today's decision," Toomey said, "President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania."
"I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory. They are both dedicated public servants and I will be praying for them and for our country."


cnbc--2020-11-22--Trump attends his final G-20 summit but does not participate in pandemic preparedness session

President Donald Trump on Saturday did not participate in a virtual G-20 session on global response efforts to the coronavirus and improved pandemic preparedness , even as Covid-19 cases surge and break daily records in the U.S. Major leaders among the world 's 20 largest economies delivered video messages for the virtual session on pandemic preparedness , including the leaders of Saudi Arabia , France , Germany , Italy and South Korea .
Trump did not deliver a message for the event , and there did not appear to be any American presence in the session .
Trump participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosted by Saudi Arabia with the rest of the G-20 leaders .
The president later went to his golf course , Trump National Golf Club in Sterling , Virginia , where he 's spent the last several weekends since losing the presidential election .
The White House , in a statement released later Saturday , said Trump discussed with world leaders the need to restore economic growth and jobs as the world battles the coronavirus , and reaffirmed the importance of the G-20 for future prosperity .
President Donald J. Trump participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaders Summit on November 21 , 2020 .
President Trump discussed with other world leaders the need to work together to restore strong economic growth and jobs as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic .
During his remarks , President Trump highlighted how the United States marshaled every resource at its disposal to respond to the crisis , as well as the unprecedented economic recovery of the United States on a foundation of tax and regulatory cuts , energy independence , and fair trade deals .
He spoke about the aggressive actions and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vulnerable , pioneer groundbreaking treatments , and develop vaccines and therapies at record-setting speed , which will save millions of lives .
President Trump also reaffirmed the importance of the G20 working together for future economic growth and prosperity .
It was not clear for most of the week if Trump would participate in the final G-20 summit before he leaves office .
The president is n't scheduled to appear again at the G-20 until Sunday morning .
More than 57 million people have been infected and more than 1.3 million have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic as global leaders struggle to produce a coordinated response .

President Donald Trump on Saturday did not participate in a virtual G-20 session on global response efforts to the coronavirus and improved pandemic preparedness, even as Covid-19 cases surge and break daily records in the U.S.
Major leaders among the world's 20 largest economies delivered video messages for the virtual session on pandemic preparedness, including the leaders of Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and South Korea. Trump did not deliver a message for the event, and there did not appear to be any American presence in the session.
Trump participated in the opening ceremonies of the virtual summit hosted by Saudi Arabia with the rest of the G-20 leaders. The president later went to his golf course, Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, where he's spent the last several weekends since losing the presidential election.
The White House, in a statement released later Saturday, said Trump discussed with world leaders the need to restore economic growth and jobs as the world battles the coronavirus, and reaffirmed the importance of the G-20 for future prosperity.
Statement from the Press Secretary President Donald J. Trump participated in the first day of the virtual G20 Leaders Summit on November 21, 2020. President Trump discussed with other world leaders the need to work together to restore strong economic growth and jobs as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. During his remarks, President Trump highlighted how the United States marshaled every resource at its disposal to respond to the crisis, as well as the unprecedented economic recovery of the United States on a foundation of tax and regulatory cuts, energy independence, and fair trade deals. He spoke about the aggressive actions and safety measures the United States took to protect the vulnerable, pioneer groundbreaking treatments, and develop vaccines and therapies at record-setting speed, which will save millions of lives. President Trump also reaffirmed the importance of the G20 working together for future economic growth and prosperity.
It was not clear for most of the week if Trump would participate in the final G-20 summit before he leaves office. The president isn't scheduled to appear again at the G-20 until Sunday morning.
More than 57 million people have been infected and more than 1.3 million have died of the virus worldwide during the pandemic as global leaders struggle to produce a coordinated response.


cnbc--2020-11-24--Trump administration officially begins transition to Biden after weeks of delay

General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy on Monday told President-elect Joe Biden that the Trump administration is making federal resources available for his transition into office .
The letter from Murphy , who had withheld her decision on ascertaining Biden 's electoral victory for weeks after the Nov. 3 election , was revealed minutes before President Donald Trump tweeted that he approved of the move .
The letter marks one of the first clear indications of the Trump administration acknowledging defeat in the 2020 election .
But Trump has still refused to explicitly concede the race to Biden , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes to Trump 's 232 .
Trump has falsely asserted that he won the election `` by a lot , '' and has promoted a variety of conspiracies that allege widespread electoral fraud without evidence .
Lawyers for the Trump campaign , including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , have lodged lawsuits in many of the key swing states that helped put Biden over the top in the election .
Most of them , which in some cases have asked judges to block states from certifying their final vote tallies , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest series of setbacks in Trump 's efforts to overturn the projected outcome of the election , including another court loss in Pennsylvania and the certification of the vote totals in Georgia and Michigan .
Murphy said in her letter to Biden that her decision frees up more than $ 7 million in federal funding for his transition .
Biden 's team was already fundraising in the wake of Election Day and had been on track to achieve its fundraising goals .
`` Today 's decision is a needed step to begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track , '' the Biden transition team said in a statement .
`` This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies . ''
Under federal law , the head of the GSA held the power to free up millions of dollars that are allocated toward presidential transition spending .
After withholding those funds for weeks after news outlets projected Biden would beat Trump , the low-profile agency was suddenly thrust into the spotlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intense criticism and pressure from both the public and lawmakers alike , who insisted that she immediately make the ascertainment of Biden 's win and allow his team to make use of the funds .
House Democratic committee leaders last week demanded that Murphy brief them personally on the funding hold up .
In the letter to Biden , Murphy strongly defended her actions and pushed back on her critics , who in some instances accused her of acting with political motivations .
`` I have dedicated much of my adult life to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strived to do what is right .
Please know that I came to my decision independently , based on the law and available facts .
I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA — with regard to the substance or timing of my decision , '' Murphy wrote .
`` To be clear , I did not receive any direction to delay my determination .
I did , however , receive threats online , by phone , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my family , my staff , and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely .
Even in the face of thousands of threats , I always remained committed to upholding the law , '' Murphy wrote .
`` Contrary to media reports and insinuations , my decision was not made out of fear or favoritism , '' she added .
`` Instead , I strongly believe that the statute requires that the GSA Administrator ascertain , not impose , the apparent president-elect .
Unfortunately , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this process , so I looked to precedent from prior elections involving legal challenges and incomplete counts . ''
Trump , in a pair of tweets following the release of the letter , thanked Murphy by name `` for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country . ''
`` She has been harassed , threatened , and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her , her family , or employees of GSA , '' the president tweeted .
Trump maintained that his legal efforts continue `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe we will prevail ! ''
But he added : `` Nevertheless , in the best interest of our Country , I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols , and have told my team to do the same . ''
Biden 's team has been preparing for the White House throughout the post-election period , despite the lack of federal funding .
The transition has already unveiled some of the key officials who will populate Biden 's Cabinet , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair Janet Yellen had been tapped to serve as Treasury Secretary .
CNN first reported the GSA letter to the president-elect .

Lawyers for the Trump campaign, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani , have lodged lawsuits in many of the key swing states that helped put Biden over the top in the election. Most of them, which in some cases have asked judges to block states from certifying their final vote tallies, have been rejected.
Trump has falsely asserted that he won the election "by a lot," and has promoted a variety of conspiracies that allege widespread electoral fraud without evidence.
The letter from Murphy — the Trump administration's clearest acknowledgment of defeat in the Nov. 3 election — was revealed Monday minutes before President Donald Trump tweeted that he approved the move. But Trump has still refused to explicitly concede the race to Biden, who is projected to win 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232.
After near three weeks of delay, General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy told President-elect Joe Biden the Trump administration is making federal resources available for his transition into office.
Murphy's letter followed the latest series of setbacks in Trump's efforts to overturn the projected outcome of the election, including another court loss in Pennsylvania and the certification of the vote totals in Georgia and Michigan.
Murphy said in her letter to Biden that her decision frees up more than $7 million in federal funding for his transition. Biden's team was already fundraising in the wake of Election Day and had been on track to achieve its fundraising goals.
"Today's decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track," the Biden transition team said in a statement.
"This final decision is a definitive administrative action to formally begin the transition process with federal agencies."
Under federal law, the head of the GSA held the power to free up millions of dollars that are allocated toward presidential transition spending. After withholding those funds for weeks despite news outlets projecting Biden's victory, the low-profile agency was thrust into the spotlight.
Murphy had become the target of intense criticism and pressure from the public and lawmakers alike, who insisted that she immediately make the ascertainment of Biden's win and allow his team to make use of the funds. House Democratic committee leaders last week demanded that Murphy brief them personally on the funding hold up.
In the letter to Biden, Murphy strongly defended her actions and pushed back on her critics, who in some instances accused her of acting with political motivations.
"I have dedicated much of my adult life to public service, and I have always strived to do what is right. Please know that I came to my decision independently, based on the law and available facts. I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA — with regard to the substance or timing of my decision," Murphy wrote.
"To be clear, I did not receive any direction to delay my determination. I did, however, receive threats online, by phone, and by mail directed at my safety, my family, my staff, and even my pets in an effort to coerce me into making this determination prematurely. Even in the face of thousands of threats, I always remained committed to upholding the law," Murphy wrote.
"Contrary to media reports and insinuations, my decision was not made out of fear or favoritism," she added. "Instead, I strongly believe that the statute requires that the GSA Administrator ascertain, not impose, the apparent president-elect. Unfortunately, the statute provides no procedures or standards for this process, so I looked to precedent from prior elections involving legal challenges and incomplete counts."
Trump, in a pair of tweets following the release of the letter, thanked Murphy by name "for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country."
"She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA," the president tweeted.
Trump maintained that his legal efforts continue "STRONGLY," adding, "I believe we will prevail!"
But he added: "Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same."
Biden's team has been preparing for the White House throughout the post-election period, despite the lack of federal funding. The transition has already unveiled some of the key officials who will populate Biden's Cabinet, including the announcement earlier Monday that he has chosen former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to be Treasury secretary.
CNN first reported the GSA letter to the president-elect.
Read Murphy's letter to Biden:


cnbc--2020-11-23--Biden chooses former Fed Chair Janet Yellen to be Treasury secretary

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as Treasury secretary , a historic decision that could make her the first woman to lead the department , according to people familiar with the matter .
Yellen , 74 , is widely seen as a politically `` safe '' pick for the role , likely to garner support from Senate Republicans as someone capable of pursing bipartisan compromise during an otherwise fragile time for the economy .
A graduate of Brown and Yale universities , Yellen was also the first woman to serve as Fed chair after her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenure at the helm of the Fed , marked by an improving jobs market and historically low interest rates , may also boost her odds for confirmation .
Political strategists say hopes for a more progressive choice , such as noted Wall Street critic Sen. Elizabeth Warren , had been abandoned after it became clear Democrats would not win a sizable majority in the Senate .
`` Janet is a big name , with significant experience highlighted by her time at The Fed , '' wrote Alli McCartney , managing director at UBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reacting favorably as this choice is reassuring , especially with the challenges that lie ahead including avoiding a double dip recession and getting people back to work amidst rising virus cases . ''
Yellen declined to offer comment on this story .
President Donald Trump in 2017 chose to replace Yellen with current Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at the expiration of her first term at the central bank .
Gary Cohn , Trump 's former National Economic Council director , offered congratulations to Yellen shortly after the news broke .
`` Janet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary .
Having had the opportunity to work with then-Chair Yellen , I have no doubt she will be the steady hand we need to promote an economy that works for everyone , especially during these difficult times , '' he wrote on Twitter .
Biden 's team had also been eyeing Fed Governor Lael Brainard and former Fed Vice Chair Roger Ferguson for the job , according to people familiar with the transition team 's thinking .
Still , progressive Democrats may also welcome Yellen as Biden 's Treasury pick thanks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policymakers could address climate change .
She has in recent years voiced support for a carbon dioxide emissions tax .
Yellen is currently an economist at the Brookings Institute .
Before becoming Fed chair , Yellen was at the helm of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and was the 18th chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under the Clinton administration .
The Biden transition team did not respond to CNBC 's request for comment .
Brookings declined to comment .
Jen Psaki , who oversees Biden 's nominations team , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks forward to announcing some members of his economic team early next week . ''
The Wall Street Journal first reported the choice Monday , citing people familiar with the matter .
If confirmed , Yellen will without a doubt inherit one of the most demanding positions in the incoming administration and face a litany of unprecedented economic hurdles .
The Treasury secretary is the foremost navigator of the U.S. economy , managing the public debt and the execution of foreign penalties , monitoring the collection of taxes , and serving as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial markets and businesses large and small .
`` I think Janet Yellen is a solid person who I think does n't have a harsh partisan tone to her , which is what I think Biden is looking for , '' said Fundstrat Global Advisors strategist Tom Block .
`` I think Mnuchin did a pretty good job in a very difficult situation , keeping relationships open with Pelosi , '' he added .
`` I think Janet Yellen can do the same thing with the Republicans in the Senate . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , coupled with the president-elect 's lofty taxation and equitability goals , will place an even greater spotlight on the Treasury Department and its leader .
The Trump administration appears set to leave behind a fragile U.S. economy after the coronavirus and efforts to slow its spread caused a sharp , but brief recession in business activity earlier in 2020 .
Most economists , including current Fed chief Powell , say Congress ' early support and the $ 2 trillion CARES Act helped soften the springtime recession and reignite the economy throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell 31.4 % on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2020 .
The government reported that output grew 33.1 % in the third quarter .
`` From a political and market perspective , it is hard to come up with a better candidate , '' wrote Ed Mills , Washington policy strategist at Raymond James .
`` The market realized that Senator Warren was unlikely , but this is a pick that is hard for the progressive wing of the Democratic party to fight , '' he added .
`` She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmation in the Senate , as it will be untenable for Republicans to block someone of her stature . ''

Janet Yellen Scott Mlyn | CNBC
President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as Treasury secretary, a historic decision that could make her the first woman to lead the department, according to people familiar with the matter. Yellen, 74, is widely seen as a politically "safe" pick for the role, likely to garner support from Senate Republicans as someone capable of pursing bipartisan compromise during an otherwise fragile time for the economy. A graduate of Brown and Yale universities, Yellen was also the first woman to serve as Fed chair after her Senate confirmation in 2014. Her four-year tenure at the helm of the Fed, marked by an improving jobs market and historically low interest rates, may also boost her odds for confirmation. Political strategists say hopes for a more progressive choice, such as noted Wall Street critic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, had been abandoned after it became clear Democrats would not win a sizable majority in the Senate. "Janet is a big name, with significant experience highlighted by her time at The Fed," wrote Alli McCartney, managing director at UBS. "I am not surprised markets are reacting favorably as this choice is reassuring, especially with the challenges that lie ahead including avoiding a double dip recession and getting people back to work amidst rising virus cases." Yellen declined to offer comment on this story.
watch now
President Donald Trump in 2017 chose to replace Yellen with current Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at the expiration of her first term at the central bank. Gary Cohn, Trump's former National Economic Council director, offered congratulations to Yellen shortly after the news broke. "Janet Yellen is an excellent choice for Treasury Secretary. Having had the opportunity to work with then-Chair Yellen, I have no doubt she will be the steady hand we need to promote an economy that works for everyone, especially during these difficult times," he wrote on Twitter. Biden's team had also been eyeing Fed Governor Lael Brainard and former Fed Vice Chair Roger Ferguson for the job, according to people familiar with the transition team's thinking. Still, progressive Democrats may also welcome Yellen as Biden's Treasury pick thanks in part to her commitment on how economic policymakers could address climate change. She has in recent years voiced support for a carbon dioxide emissions tax. Yellen is currently an economist at the Brookings Institute. Before becoming Fed chair, Yellen was at the helm of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and was the 18th chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under the Clinton administration. The Biden transition team did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. Brookings declined to comment. Jen Psaki, who oversees Biden's nominations team, said on Twitter later Monday that Biden "looks forward to announcing some members of his economic team early next week." The Wall Street Journal first reported the choice Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. If confirmed, Yellen will without a doubt inherit one of the most demanding positions in the incoming administration and face a litany of unprecedented economic hurdles. The Treasury secretary is the foremost navigator of the U.S. economy, managing the public debt and the execution of foreign penalties, monitoring the collection of taxes, and serving as the chief liaison between the administration and the financial markets and businesses large and small. "I think Janet Yellen is a solid person who I think doesn't have a harsh partisan tone to her, which is what I think Biden is looking for," said Fundstrat Global Advisors strategist Tom Block. "I think Mnuchin did a pretty good job in a very difficult situation, keeping relationships open with Pelosi," he added. "I think Janet Yellen can do the same thing with the Republicans in the Senate."
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen testifies on the U.S. economic outlook, before the Congressional Joint Economic Committee on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., November 29, 2017. Carlos Barria | Reuters
But the current precarious state of the U.S. economy, coupled with the president-elect's lofty taxation and equitability goals, will place an even greater spotlight on the Treasury Department and its leader. The Trump administration appears set to leave behind a fragile U.S. economy after the coronavirus and efforts to slow its spread caused a sharp, but brief recession in business activity earlier in 2020. Most economists, including current Fed chief Powell, say Congress' early support and the $2 trillion CARES Act helped soften the springtime recession and reignite the economy throughout the summer. U.S. gross domestic product fell 31.4% on an annualized basis in the second quarter of 2020. The government reported that output grew 33.1% in the third quarter. "From a political and market perspective, it is hard to come up with a better candidate," wrote Ed Mills, Washington policy strategist at Raymond James. "The market realized that Senator Warren was unlikely, but this is a pick that is hard for the progressive wing of the Democratic party to fight," he added. "She should also be expected to win easy confirmation in the Senate, as it will be untenable for Republicans to block someone of her stature."
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during a virtual briefing on the economy with his economic advisers in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 16, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters
But with daily Covid infections returning to records in the U.S., more and more forecasters are warning that GDP growth could decelerate in the fourth quarter and even turn negative in the first three months of 2021. Steven Mnuchin, Trump's Treasury secretary, has for months struggled to broker another stimulus bill agreeable to House Democrats and Senate Republicans. Biden has backed Democrats' push for a bill that costs at least $2.2 trillion. The president-elect on Monday named Antony Blinken to be his secretary of State and Jake Sullivan to be national security advisor.
Monetary policy


cnbc--2020-11-23--Michigan certifies Biden election win, days after Trump leans on state's GOP lawmakers

Michigan 's top elections board certified Joe Biden 's win in that state 's presidential vote Monday , dealing President Donald Trump yet another blow in his effort to block the Democrat 's national victory .
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers signed off on the popular election results in a 3-0 vote .
Republican board member Aaron Van Langevelde voted to certify Biden 's victory , along with the board 's two Democrats , while the other GOP member , Norm Shinkle , abstained .
The vote came days after Trump held an unprecedented meeting at the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was believed to be an effort to get the state legislature to nullify the popular vote and appoint a slate of Trump electors to the Electoral College .
After the meeting , the legislators said they had seen no evidence of fraud that would invalidate the popular vote .
They also said that they would follow state law , which mandates that the state 's Electoral College voters go to the winner of popular ballots .
Ben Halle , spokesman for Biden 's campaign in Michigan , said in a statement Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's recognition of the plain facts : President-elect Joe Biden resoundingly won the state of Michigan by more than 150,000 votes — 14 times the margin of Donald Trump in 2016 . ''
`` We thank the State of Michigan for its support , and look forward to receiving its 16 electoral votes , '' he said .
Jenna Ellis , the Trump campaign 's senior legal advisor , in a statement said , `` Certification by state officials is simply a procedural step .
We are going to continue combatting election fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count all the legal votes . ''
`` Americans must be assured that the final results are fair and legitimate , '' Ellis said .
Trump 's campaign has claimed , without evidence , that he was swindled out of a victory in Michigan and elsewhere as a result of voting fraud .
But those claims have repeatedly failed to gain traction in courts where the campaign and Trump allies have filed lawsuits .
The campaign dropped a federal lawsuit challenging ballots in the Detroit area last week , after falsely claiming that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against certifying results there .
In fact , the board had certified Biden 's win in that county , but two Republican members of the board later said they wanted to rescind their approval , a step that Michigan 's secretary of state said is not legally possible .

Michigan's top elections board certified Joe Biden's win in that state's presidential vote Monday, dealing President Donald Trump yet another blow in his effort to block the Democrat's national victory.
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers signed off on the popular election results in a 3-0 vote.
Republican board member Aaron Van Langevelde voted to certify Biden's victory, along with the board's two Democrats, while the other GOP member, Norm Shinkle, abstained.
The vote came days after Trump held an unprecedented meeting at the White House with Republican state lawmakers from Michigan in what was believed to be an effort to get the state legislature to nullify the popular vote and appoint a slate of Trump electors to the Electoral College.
After the meeting, the legislators said they had seen no evidence of fraud that would invalidate the popular vote. They also said that they would follow state law, which mandates that the state's Electoral College voters go to the winner of popular ballots.
Ben Halle, spokesman for Biden's campaign in Michigan, said in a statement Monday, "We appreciate the state board's recognition of the plain facts: President-elect Joe Biden resoundingly won the state of Michigan by more than 150,000 votes — 14 times the margin of Donald Trump in 2016."
"We thank the State of Michigan for its support, and look forward to receiving its 16 electoral votes," he said.
Jenna Ellis, the Trump campaign's senior legal advisor, in a statement said, "Certification by state officials is simply a procedural step. We are going to continue combatting election fraud around the country as we fight to count all the legal votes."
"Americans must be assured that the final results are fair and legitimate," Ellis said.
Trump's campaign has claimed, without evidence, that he was swindled out of a victory in Michigan and elsewhere as a result of voting fraud. But those claims have repeatedly failed to gain traction in courts where the campaign and Trump allies have filed lawsuits.
The campaign dropped a federal lawsuit challenging ballots in the Detroit area last week, after falsely claiming that the Wayne County elections board had voted against certifying results there. In fact, the board had certified Biden's win in that county, but two Republican members of the board later said they wanted to rescind their approval, a step that Michigan's secretary of state said is not legally possible.


cnbc--2020-11-23--Trump campaign suffers new court loss in attempt to block Biden's win in Pennsylvania

Luzerne County employees open mail-in ballots to be counted at the elections board in Wilkes-Barre .
Pennsylvania mail-in ballots are being counted with about fifty thousand in total , Luzerne County hopes to finish tonight .
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday dealt President Donald Trump 's campaign yet another legal loss , ruling that mail-in ballots cast in the state 's presidential election can be counted even if a voter failed to completely fill out the envelope .
The ruling comes on the heels of a federal judge 's decision in the state that dismissed the campaign 's request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm a victory there for President-elect Joe Biden .
The Trump campaign has consistently lost or withdrawn court cases that have sought to reverse votes for Biden .
The state Supreme Court 's judgment knocked down multiple lawsuits that the Trump campaign had been pursuing as part of its efforts to overturn the outcome of Pennsylvania 's presidential election .
These cases were aimed at the Board of Elections in Philadelphia County , the most populous area in Pennsylvania and one that overwhelmingly voted for Biden over Trump .
The campaign 's lawsuits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee and mail-in ballots that the county elections board decided to count despite possible errors on the outer envelopes .
The campaign had argued that these errors , which included failing to handwrite a proper name , date or street address on the outside of the ballot-return envelope , were disqualifying .
But the Supreme Court disagreed .
The court also noted that the campaign was not arguing that there was any evidence of fraud associated with these ballots .
Outside of the courtroom , Trump 's lawyers and surrogates have been quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state and national level .
One lawyer , Sidney Powell , claimed without evidence that an international communist-linked conspiracy was afoot to rig election software against Trump .
Powell was effectively fired from the Trump campaign 's legal team after making those claims , which were immediately met with heavy criticism from both sides of the political aisle .
But when standing before a judge under oath , some of the same people , such as Trump 's attorney Rudy Giuliani , have declined to argue that election fraud had been committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failures to include a handwritten name , address or date in the voter declaration on the back of the outer envelope , while constituting technical violations of the Election Code , do not warrant the wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of Pennsylvania voters , '' Justice Christine Donohue wrote in the judgment of the court .
If the Trump campaign had won the case and invalidated the votes , it would not have been nearly enough to theoretically overcome Biden 's more than 81,000-vote lead in Pennsylvania — even if all of the ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump now likely finds himself left with the federal case , whose loss his campaign has appealed in part , as his last legal shot to overturn Biden 's electoral victory in Pennsylvania .
This is breaking news .
Please check back for updates .

Luzerne County employees open mail-in ballots to be counted at the elections board in Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania mail-in ballots are being counted with about fifty thousand in total, Luzerne County hopes to finish tonight.
These cases were aimed at the Board of Elections in Philadelphia County, the most populous area in Pennsylvania and one that overwhelmingly voted for Biden over Trump.
The state Supreme Court's judgment knocked down multiple lawsuits that the Trump campaign had been pursuing as part of its efforts to overturn the outcome of Pennsylvania's presidential election.
The Trump campaign has consistently lost or withdrawn court cases that have sought to reverse votes for Biden .
The ruling comes on the heels of a federal judge's decision in the state that dismissed the campaign's request to block certification of votes expected to confirm a victory there for President-elect Joe Biden.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday dealt President Donald Trump's campaign yet another legal loss, ruling that mail-in ballots cast in the state's presidential election can be counted even if a voter failed to completely fill out the envelope.
The campaign's lawsuits were focused on the fewer than 9,000 absentee and mail-in ballots that the county elections board decided to count despite possible errors on the outer envelopes. The campaign had argued that these errors, which included failing to handwrite a proper name, date or street address on the outside of the ballot-return envelope, were disqualifying. But the Supreme Court disagreed.
The court also noted that the campaign was not arguing that there was any evidence of fraud associated with these ballots.
Outside of the courtroom, Trump's lawyers and surrogates have been quick to assert sweeping allegations of fraud at a state and national level. One lawyer, Sidney Powell, claimed without evidence that an international communist-linked conspiracy was afoot to rig election software against Trump. Powell was effectively fired from the Trump campaign's legal team after making those claims, which were immediately met with heavy criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
But when standing before a judge under oath, some of the same people, such as Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, have declined to argue that election fraud had been committed.
"Here we conclude that while failures to include a handwritten name, address or date in the voter declaration on the back of the outer envelope, while constituting technical violations of the Election Code, do not warrant the wholesale disenfranchisement of thousands of Pennsylvania voters," Justice Christine Donohue wrote in the judgment of the court.
If the Trump campaign had won the case and invalidated the votes, it would not have been nearly enough to theoretically overcome Biden's more than 81,000-vote lead in Pennsylvania — even if all of the ballots in question had gone to Biden.
Trump now likely finds himself left with the federal case, whose loss his campaign has appealed in part, as his last legal shot to overturn Biden's electoral victory in Pennsylvania.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.


cnbc--2020-11-24--GSA offers to brief lawmakers on Biden transition next week; Emily Murphy won't host

The federal agency that is withholding funding from President-elect Joe Biden 's transition by refusing to `` ascertain '' his victory over President Donald Trump said Monday that it is willing to grant House Democrats ' requests for a briefing .
But the head of that agency , General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy , will not be leading that briefing , despite the demand from House Committee chairs that she `` personally '' explain herself .
Rather , a GSA spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that Deputy Administrator Allison Brigati will `` host a 30 minute briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week later than Democrats had asked for in a frustrated joint letter sent to Murphy last Thursday .
The spokesperson also said that GSA will host another , `` in-person-only '' briefing for staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee , Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee .
In a response released Monday afternoon , the Democrats appeared to reject the offer , demanding instead that Murphy brief them by Tuesday .
`` We can not wait yet another week to obtain basic information about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' they wrote in their latest letter .
`` Every additional day that is wasted is a day that the safety , health , and well-being of the American people is imperiled as the incoming Biden-Harris Administration is blocked from fully preparing for the coronavirus pandemic , our nation 's dire economic crisis , and our national security . ''
Under the law , Murphy has the power to free up millions of dollars that are allocated toward presidential transition spending .
The transition can avail itself of those funds only after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
News outlets have called the election for Biden , who is projected to win 306 Electoral College votes to Trump 's 232 .
But Trump has refused to concede the race , and instead has falsely asserted that he won .
His campaign 's lawyers , as well as lawyers for other supporters , have launched a flurry of lawsuits in a series of swing states , attempting — so far fruitlessly — to stop those key votes from being counted .
`` Your actions in blocking transition activities required under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats wrote to Murphy in their initial letter last Thursday .

The federal agency that is withholding funding from President-elect Joe Biden's transition by refusing to "ascertain" his victory over President Donald Trump said Monday that it is willing to grant House Democrats' requests for a briefing.
But the head of that agency, General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy, will not be leading that briefing, despite the demand from House Committee chairs that she "personally" explain herself.
Rather, a GSA spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that Deputy Administrator Allison Brigati will "host a 30 minute briefing on Monday, November 30" — a week later than Democrats had asked for in a frustrated joint letter sent to Murphy last Thursday.
The spokesperson also said that GSA will host another, "in-person-only" briefing for staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
In a response released Monday afternoon, the Democrats appeared to reject the offer, demanding instead that Murphy brief them by Tuesday.
"We cannot wait yet another week to obtain basic information about your refusal to make the ascertainment determination," they wrote in their latest letter.
"Every additional day that is wasted is a day that the safety, health, and well-being of the American people is imperiled as the incoming Biden-Harris Administration is blocked from fully preparing for the coronavirus pandemic, our nation's dire economic crisis, and our national security."
Under the law, Murphy has the power to free up millions of dollars that are allocated toward presidential transition spending. The transition can avail itself of those funds only after Murphy ascertains the winner of the election.
News outlets have called the election for Biden, who is projected to win 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232. But Trump has refused to concede the race, and instead has falsely asserted that he won. His campaign's lawyers, as well as lawyers for other supporters, have launched a flurry of lawsuits in a series of swing states, attempting — so far fruitlessly — to stop those key votes from being counted.
"Your actions in blocking transition activities required under the law are having grave effects," the Democrats wrote to Murphy in their initial letter last Thursday.


cnbc--2020-11-23--Trump fears Giuliani, other lawyers in Biden vote challenge are 'fools that are making him look bad'

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump , speaks during a news conference about lawsuits related to the presidential election results , at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington , D.C. , on Thursday Nov. 19 , 2020 .
That group , which has unironically called itself an `` elite strike force team , '' to date has failed to win any legal victories that would invalidate votes for Biden , the former Democratic vice president , even as they tout wildly broad claims of fraud for which they have offered no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign 's legal team , which is being led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , is composed of `` fools that are making him look bad , '' NBC News reported Monday .
On Sunday , one of the team 's members , conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell , was effectively fired after suggesting — again without any proof — that the Republican governor and secretary of state of Georgia were part of a plot to rig the election for Biden .
Powell 's ouster came days after she made similarly over-the-top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington .
Trump has complained to White House aides and outside allies about how Giuliani and Powell conducted themselves at that event , NBC reported .
On Sunday before Powell got the axe , former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , a close Trump ally and former top federal prosecutor , called the president 's legal team a `` national embarrassment . ''
But when asked why Trump does n't fire Giuliani and other attorneys who remain on the team , a person familiar with the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an answer .
`` Who the f -- - knows ? ''
that person said to NBC News .
For now , Giuliani has kept his job as the president 's point man on the election challenge , even after a week in which he gave a widely derided argument in Pennsylvania federal court , only to see a judge on Saturday issue a scathing dismissal of the campaign 's vote challenge lawsuit .
Giuliani , who was once a top federal prosecutor in Manhattan , also presided over the press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and watched Powell promote the campaign 's most far-fetched vote fraud allegations to date .
At that event , Giuliani perspired so heavily that sweat apparently blackened from hair dye conspicuously ran down his cheeks as he made baseless allegations of electoral skullduggery .
Trump , who is obsessed with television and the personal appearances of people on it , was not happy with Giuliani 's look at the press conference , a person familiar with the president 's reaction told NBC News .
Also still on the Trump campaign team is senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump campaign suffering its major defeat in the Pennsylvania election case Saturday night , Ellis tweeted that respected Republican pollster Frank Luntz had `` MicroPenis Syndrome . ''
Luntz 's sin was linking to a tweet from Ellis last week that suggested Giuliani , a former New York City mayor , was getting on swimmingly with the judge in the case .
`` Best parody account on Twitter , '' Luntz had japed .
`` You media morons are all laughing at @ RudyGiuliani , but he appears to have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who is currently offering recommendations on martini bars for Team Trump in open court , '' Ellis had written .
A spokesman for Trump 's campaign had no immediate comment on NBC News ' reporting .

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, lawyer for U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference about lawsuits related to the presidential election results, at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday Nov. 19, 2020.
That group, which has unironically called itself an "elite strike force team," to date has failed to win any legal victories that would invalidate votes for Biden , the former Democratic vice president, even as they tout wildly broad claims of fraud for which they have offered no convincing evidence.
Trump is worried that his campaign's legal team, which is being led by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , is composed of "fools that are making him look bad," NBC News reported Monday.
On Sunday, one of the team's members, conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell, was effectively fired after suggesting — again without any proof — that the Republican governor and secretary of state of Georgia were part of a plot to rig the election for Biden.
Powell's ouster came days after she made similarly over-the-top claims at a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington.
Trump has complained to White House aides and outside allies about how Giuliani and Powell conducted themselves at that event, NBC reported.
On Sunday before Powell got the axe, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a close Trump ally and former top federal prosecutor, called the president's legal team a "national embarrassment."
But when asked why Trump doesn't fire Giuliani and other attorneys who remain on the team, a person familiar with the president's thinking gave a profane shoulder shrug of an answer.
"Who the f--- knows?" that person said to NBC News.
For now, Giuliani has kept his job as the president's point man on the election challenge, even after a week in which he gave a widely derided argument in Pennsylvania federal court, only to see a judge on Saturday issue a scathing dismissal of the campaign's vote challenge lawsuit.
Giuliani, who was once a top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, also presided over the press conference at RNC headquarters, where he stood and watched Powell promote the campaign's most far-fetched vote fraud allegations to date.
At that event, Giuliani perspired so heavily that sweat apparently blackened from hair dye conspicuously ran down his cheeks as he made baseless allegations of electoral skullduggery.
Trump, who is obsessed with television and the personal appearances of people on it, was not happy with Giuliani's look at the press conference, a person familiar with the president's reaction told NBC News.
Also still on the Trump campaign team is senior legal advisor Jenna Ellis.
Within hours of the Trump campaign suffering its major defeat in the Pennsylvania election case Saturday night, Ellis tweeted that respected Republican pollster Frank Luntz had "MicroPenis Syndrome."
Luntz's sin was linking to a tweet from Ellis last week that suggested Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, was getting on swimmingly with the judge in the case.
"Best parody account on Twitter," Luntz had japed.
"You media morons are all laughing at @RudyGiuliani, but he appears to have already established a great rapport with the judge, who is currently offering recommendations on martini bars for Team Trump in open court," Ellis had written.
A spokesman for Trump's campaign had no immediate comment on NBC News' reporting.


cnbc--2020-11-23--GM withdraws support for Trump's lawsuit against California over emissions

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti , Michigan with General Motors CEO Mary Barra and other auto industry executives on March 15 , 2017 .
General Motors is withdrawing from litigation led by the Trump administration against California over the state 's right to set its own fuel economy and emissions regulations , distancing itself from President Donald Trump .
In a letter Monday to environmental leaders , GM CEO Mary Barra said the company 's decision to withdraw from the litigation is effective immediately .
It follows President-elect Joe Biden 's Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as his call for unity in the country , she said .
`` We believe the ambitious electrification goals of the President-elect , California , and General Motors are aligned to address climate change by drastically reducing automobile emissions , '' Barra wrote .
By withdrawing , GM is showing support for the incoming administration while distancing itself from Trump , who has publicly praised and condemned automakers during his tenure as commander in chief .
GM has plans for a robust portfolio of electric vehicles in the coming years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ afternoon were up as much as 4.9 % to a new 52-week high of $ 45.16 per share .
The White House declined to comment .
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman James Hewitt said that `` it 's always interesting to see the changing positions of U.S .
corporations . ''
Biden , in a statement , applauded GM 's decision as well as Barra 's comments in the letter to environmental leaders .
He also referred to the Trump administration 's efforts as `` shortsighted . ''
`` There is nothing beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work together , '' he said .
`` I look forward to working with GM and other U.S. manufacturers — as well as American workers — in the years ahead to take bold , progressive steps to meet the existential threat of climate change and create millions of union jobs . ''

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Michigan with General Motors CEO Mary Barra and other auto industry executives on March 15, 2017.
General Motors is withdrawing from litigation led by the Trump administration against California over the state's right to set its own fuel economy and emissions regulations, distancing itself from President Donald Trump.
In a letter Monday to environmental leaders, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company's decision to withdraw from the litigation is effective immediately. It follows President-elect Joe Biden's Nov. 3 election, his support for electric vehicles as well as his call for unity in the country, she said.
"We believe the ambitious electrification goals of the President-elect, California, and General Motors are aligned to address climate change by drastically reducing automobile emissions," Barra wrote.
By withdrawing, GM is showing support for the incoming administration while distancing itself from Trump, who has publicly praised and condemned automakers during his tenure as commander in chief. GM has plans for a robust portfolio of electric vehicles in the coming years.
Shares of the automaker during trading Monday afternoon were up as much as 4.9% to a new 52-week high of $45.16 per share.
The White House declined to comment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman James Hewitt said that "it's always interesting to see the changing positions of U.S. corporations."
Biden, in a statement, applauded GM's decision as well as Barra's comments in the letter to environmental leaders. He also referred to the Trump administration's efforts as "shortsighted."
"There is nothing beyond our capacity as a country when we work together," he said. "I look forward to working with GM and other U.S. manufacturers — as well as American workers — in the years ahead to take bold, progressive steps to meet the existential threat of climate change and create millions of union jobs."


cnbc--2020-11-23--Top Biden aide Ricchetti will be a White House liaison for Congress and business community

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an online video meeting with members of the National Governors Association ( NGA ) executive committee in Wilmington , Delaware , November 19 , 2020 .
President-elect Joe Biden 's team has signaled to congressional and corporate leaders that incoming White House advisor Steve Ricchetti will be one of their points of contact in the new administration .
Biden 's advisors have told lawmakers and business leaders that Ricchetti will be a key liaison as they seek to make inroads with the new administration , according to people briefed on the matter .
Ricchetti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently named counselor to the president and has served as the Biden campaign 's chairman .
Several people said that Ricchetti is expected to play a similar role as Valerie Jarrett did while she was President Barack Obama 's senior advisor .
Jarrett would reach out to business leaders to gauge them on Obama 's policies .
`` What I hear from the business community all the time is that they want a strong economy .
That 's a goal that the president shares , '' Jarrett told Politico in 2010 , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nations largest financial institutions .
Ricchetti 's position will involve working with Rep. Cedric Richmond , D-La.
, who , beyond his role as senior advisor , will also be the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement , according to another person familiar with the matter .
Richmond is expected to be the lead business liaison for Biden 's administration , Politico reports .
Ricchetti 's portfolio will also include working with Louisa Terrell , Biden 's White House director of legislative affairs , this person added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's former chief of staff and as chairman of the campaign , where he engaged with Wall Street executives and labor leaders , among many other groups , gives him the advantage of knowing several influential players who could help incoming administration .
Still , progressive groups have been critical of Ricchetti , who was also once a lobbyist .
NBC News reported last week that Demand Progress and other progressive organizations launched a website with a petition calling on corporate leaders to be excluded from Biden 's administration .
Ricchetti is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of `` most concerning corporate insiders trying to get into the Biden administration . ''
Ron Klain , Biden 's chief of staff , said that the president-elect will announce some Cabinet members on Tuesday .
Biden announced key additional to his national security team on Monday .
Ricchetti and a spokesman for the transition did not return a request for comment .
During the campaign , Ricchetti had a similar role to his likely upcoming position in Biden 's administration .
He met with Wall Street executives in January to rally their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ricchetti 's is reaching out to executives to discuss ideas for possible private sector funding for Biden 's extensive infrastructure proposals , according to a person familiar with the matter .
Those who declined to be named in this story did so in order to speak freely .
The person familiar with the ally working on an outside effort to get the pulse of the business community on infrastructure reform declined to be named because the effort is still ongoing .
Biden released a $ 1.3 trillion infrastructure plan late last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bridges , while trying to spur further adoption of electric vehicles and trains .
While Democrat and Republican lawmakers have both expressed interest in passing an infrastructure bill , there have often been debates on how to pay for it .
Some executives have already started encouraging Biden to move ahead with some form of an infrastructure package .
Bob Swan , the CEO of Intel , suggested that Biden 's administration should focus in part on digital infrastructure investment .
`` Widespread deployment of advanced 5G telecommunications networks will fuel efficiencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more U.S .
innovation . ''
Swan said in an open letter published Monday .
`` Upgrades to our infrastructure must not only handle the technology of today but spur domestic development of the technologies of tomorrow . ''
Many business lobbying groups , such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , have included infrastructure reform as part of what they hope to work on with a Biden administration .
The Business Roundtable has expressed interest in engaging with a Biden White House on removing tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump 's administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top priority for both groups .
Outside of policy proposals , CEOs are rallying around Biden as the president-elect while Trump continues to fight the election results .
A group of over 160 New York business leaders wrote an open letter to the Trump administration , demanding that the General Services Administration certify the election .
Those who signed include BlackRock CEO Larry Fink , Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon , Blackstone President Jon Gray , Lazard CEO Kenneth Jacobs , and Blair Effron , the co-founder of Centerview Partners .

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an online video meeting with members of the National Governors Association (NGA) executive committee in Wilmington, Delaware, November 19, 2020.
President-elect Joe Biden's team has signaled to congressional and corporate leaders that incoming White House advisor Steve Ricchetti will be one of their points of contact in the new administration.
Biden's advisors have told lawmakers and business leaders that Ricchetti will be a key liaison as they seek to make inroads with the new administration, according to people briefed on the matter. Ricchetti, a longtime Biden confidant, was recently named counselor to the president and has served as the Biden campaign's chairman.
Several people said that Ricchetti is expected to play a similar role as Valerie Jarrett did while she was President Barack Obama's senior advisor. Jarrett would reach out to business leaders to gauge them on Obama's policies.
"What I hear from the business community all the time is that they want a strong economy. That's a goal that the president shares," Jarrett told Politico in 2010, even as Obama was taking aim at some of the nations largest financial institutions.
Ricchetti's position will involve working with Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., who, beyond his role as senior advisor, will also be the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, according to another person familiar with the matter. Richmond is expected to be the lead business liaison for Biden's administration, Politico reports.
Ricchetti's portfolio will also include working with Louisa Terrell, Biden's White House director of legislative affairs, this person added.
Ricchetti's extensive experience in Washington as Biden's former chief of staff and as chairman of the campaign, where he engaged with Wall Street executives and labor leaders, among many other groups, gives him the advantage of knowing several influential players who could help incoming administration.
Still, progressive groups have been critical of Ricchetti, who was also once a lobbyist.
NBC News reported last week that Demand Progress and other progressive organizations launched a website with a petition calling on corporate leaders to be excluded from Biden's administration. Ricchetti is one of the names on their list of "most concerning corporate insiders trying to get into the Biden administration."
Ron Klain, Biden's chief of staff, said that the president-elect will announce some Cabinet members on Tuesday. Biden announced key additional to his national security team on Monday.
Ricchetti and a spokesman for the transition did not return a request for comment.
During the campaign, Ricchetti had a similar role to his likely upcoming position in Biden's administration. He met with Wall Street executives in January to rally their support for Biden. An ally of Ricchetti's is reaching out to executives to discuss ideas for possible private sector funding for Biden's extensive infrastructure proposals, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Those who declined to be named in this story did so in order to speak freely. The person familiar with the ally working on an outside effort to get the pulse of the business community on infrastructure reform declined to be named because the effort is still ongoing.
Biden released a $1.3 trillion infrastructure plan late last year. The proposal includes restoring highways, roads and bridges, while trying to spur further adoption of electric vehicles and trains. While Democrat and Republican lawmakers have both expressed interest in passing an infrastructure bill, there have often been debates on how to pay for it.
Some executives have already started encouraging Biden to move ahead with some form of an infrastructure package.
Bob Swan, the CEO of Intel, suggested that Biden's administration should focus in part on digital infrastructure investment.
"Widespread deployment of advanced 5G telecommunications networks will fuel efficiencies for businesses in all industries and enable more U.S. innovation." Swan said in an open letter published Monday. "Upgrades to our infrastructure must not only handle the technology of today but spur domestic development of the technologies of tomorrow."
Many business lobbying groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have included infrastructure reform as part of what they hope to work on with a Biden administration. The Business Roundtable has expressed interest in engaging with a Biden White House on removing tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump's administration. Another round of coronavirus stimulus is the top priority for both groups.
Outside of policy proposals, CEOs are rallying around Biden as the president-elect while Trump continues to fight the election results. A group of over 160 New York business leaders wrote an open letter to the Trump administration, demanding that the General Services Administration certify the election.
Those who signed include BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Blackstone President Jon Gray, Lazard CEO Kenneth Jacobs, and Blair Effron, the co-founder of Centerview Partners.


cnbc--2020-11-23--Biden team denies president-elect wants Democrats to accept smaller relief deal

Joe Biden 's transition team denied Monday that the president-elect 's advisors have pushed Democratic congressional leaders to agree to a smaller coronavirus stimulus package in order to win more relief now .
In public remarks , the former vice president has repeatedly supported the effort by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , to approve aid legislation that costs at least $ 2.2 trillion .
However , a New York Times report Monday said Biden 's team has urged the Democrats to strike an agreement with Republicans as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak , even if it means cutting their desired price tag .
Biden spokesman Andrew Bates called the report `` incorrect . ''
In a statement to NBC News , he said the president-elect `` fully supports the Speaker and Leader in their negotiations . ''
Leaders of the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate have not held formal stimulus talks since the Nov. 3 election .
Both sides have yielded no ground as Republicans push for about $ 500 billion in spending — far less than what Democrats want .
Congress has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the parties describe fundamentally different visions for what the economy and health-care system need to recover from the pandemic .
Republicans have touted the U.S. economic rebound in recent months , though the progress looks like it will take a hit as states and cities put restrictions in place to curb surging infection counts .
The prospect of many Americans holding their usual Thanksgiving celebrations as the virus overwhelms hospitals has raised even more fears among public health officials .
Last month , Democrats passed a $ 2.2 trillion stimulus bill that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment benefits , $ 1,200 direct payment to most Americans , more than $ 400 billion in state and local government relief and another round of Paycheck Protection Program small business loans .
While a $ 500 billion plan the Senate GOP tried to pass last month included PPP funding , it offered a smaller $ 300 per week unemployment benefit and did not include a second stimulus check .
Congress will not return from its Thanksgiving recess until next week .
Then , leaders will occupy themselves with passing a government funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawmakers would face a challenge in reaching a stimulus compromise before Biden takes office on Jan. 20 .
It may prove a difficult task then , too .
While Democrats will hold the House next year , two January runoff elections in Georgia will determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate .
After Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris huddled with Pelosi and Schumer on Friday , the Democrats said they `` agreed that Congress needed to pass a bipartisan emergency aid package in the lame duck session '' before Biden takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the meeting .
They said `` that package should include resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic , relief for working families and small businesses , support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll , expanded Unemployment Insurance , and affordable health care for millions of families . ''
Pelosi and Schumer have urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , to restart talks on a stimulus plan .
The top Senate Republican has repeatedly said the Democrats have embraced policies not necessary to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government implemented earlier this year will expire at the end of December .
They include a measure allowing many Americans to qualify for unemployment insurance for a longer period of time , along with relief for student loan borrowers and renters .

Joe Biden's transition team denied Monday that the president-elect's advisors have pushed Democratic congressional leaders to agree to a smaller coronavirus stimulus package in order to win more relief now.
In public remarks, the former vice president has repeatedly supported the effort by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to approve aid legislation that costs at least $2.2 trillion. However, a New York Times report Monday said Biden's team has urged the Democrats to strike an agreement with Republicans as soon as possible to curb mounting economic damage from the outbreak, even if it means cutting their desired price tag.
Biden spokesman Andrew Bates called the report "incorrect." In a statement to NBC News, he said the president-elect "fully supports the Speaker and Leader in their negotiations."
Leaders of the Democratic-held House and GOP-controlled Senate have not held formal stimulus talks since the Nov. 3 election. Both sides have yielded no ground as Republicans push for about $500 billion in spending — far less than what Democrats want.
Congress has failed to approve new aid for months as the parties describe fundamentally different visions for what the economy and health-care system need to recover from the pandemic. Republicans have touted the U.S. economic rebound in recent months, though the progress looks like it will take a hit as states and cities put restrictions in place to curb surging infection counts.
The prospect of many Americans holding their usual Thanksgiving celebrations as the virus overwhelms hospitals has raised even more fears among public health officials.
Last month, Democrats passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that included $600 per week in extra unemployment benefits, $1,200 direct payment to most Americans, more than $400 billion in state and local government relief and another round of Paycheck Protection Program small business loans. While a $500 billion plan the Senate GOP tried to pass last month included PPP funding, it offered a smaller $300 per week unemployment benefit and did not include a second stimulus check.
Congress will not return from its Thanksgiving recess until next week. Then, leaders will occupy themselves with passing a government funding bill by a Dec. 11 deadline.
Lawmakers would face a challenge in reaching a stimulus compromise before Biden takes office on Jan. 20.
It may prove a difficult task then, too. While Democrats will hold the House next year, two January runoff elections in Georgia will determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate.
After Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris huddled with Pelosi and Schumer on Friday, the Democrats said they "agreed that Congress needed to pass a bipartisan emergency aid package in the lame duck session" before Biden takes office, according to a joint readout of the meeting.
They said "that package should include resources to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief for working families and small businesses, support for state and local governments trying to keep frontline workers on the payroll, expanded Unemployment Insurance, and affordable health care for millions of families."
Pelosi and Schumer have urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to restart talks on a stimulus plan. The top Senate Republican has repeatedly said the Democrats have embraced policies not necessary to fight the crises.
Several economic relief provisions the federal government implemented earlier this year will expire at the end of December. They include a measure allowing many Americans to qualify for unemployment insurance for a longer period of time, along with relief for student loan borrowers and renters.
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cnbc--2020-11-23--Joe Biden names picks for secretary of State, Homeland Security chief, director of national intellig

Joe Biden names picks for secretary of State, Homeland Security chief, director of national intelligence

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden announced his intended nominees for top national security positions Monday , assembling a team of experienced institutionalists to fill his incoming Cabinet .
In addition to his previously reported plan to nominate Antony Blinken to be his secretary of State and Jake Sullivan to be national security advisor , Biden also announced he will nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security and Avril Haines to be the director of national intelligence .
Linda Thomas-Greenfield , a career officer in the U.S. Foreign Service , will be nominated to serve as the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be elevated to Cabinet level in the Biden administration .
Biden also announced he will name former Secretary of State John Kerry as special presidential envoy for climate and place the post within the National Security Council , the first time a high-level envoy for climate has been formally part of the NSC .
Having worked as an advisor to Biden for decades , Blinken is well known in national security circles , where he developed a reputation as a pragmatic realist and a strong backer of multilateral institutions .
Sullivan is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also served as a national security advisor to Biden during the Obama administration .
He has previously said that effective U.S. foreign policy is rooted in strong democratic institutions at home .
Blinken and Sullivan are expected to take the lead on several of Biden 's top priorities in his first 100 days in office : Rejoining and strengthening the Paris Climate Agreement , rejoining and reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran and rejoining the World Health Organization .
Sullivan has also said Biden intends to organize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first term , part of a broader attempt to build a united front among leading democracies to push back against creeping autocracy in places such as Russia and China .
Biden 's pick for director of national intelligence , Haines , is a former deputy director of the CIA and deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration .
Under Biden , she will become the first woman to lead the intelligence community .
Biden 's nominee to lead Homeland Security , Mayorkas , will also break historical barriers if confirmed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino to lead the department charged with implementing the lion 's share of America 's immigration policies .
In his new role , Mayorkas will be tasked with reforming and rebuilding an immigration enforcement system that has became deeply politicized and militarized under President Donald Trump .
Under Trump , DHS oversaw deep cuts to legal immigration and refugee admittance to the United States , and it implemented draconian border policies intended to discourage undocumented immigrants from attempting to cross the southern border .
Little is known yet about precisely what Kerry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given that his position is newly created and elevated .
One of the legacies of Kerry 's own tenure as secretary of State , however , was the emergence of America as a global leader and convener on major climate issues , ranging from the Paris accords to oceans to biodiversity .
`` America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is , '' Kerry tweeted following the announcement .
`` I 'm proud to partner with the President-elect , our allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate movement to take on this crisis as the President 's Climate Envoy . ''
Earlier on Monday , Biden also announced two other senior White House hires : Reema Dodin and Shuwanza Goff , who will both serve as deputy directors in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs .
Dodin is an alumnae of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin 's office , where she most recently served as his deputy chief of staff and floor director .
Like Dodin , Goff comes to the White House from Capitol Hill , where she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Steny Hoyer and was most recently floor director for the House .
Both Goff and Dodin will report to Obama administration alum Louisa Terrell , who was tapped last week to serve as the White House director of legislative affairs .
Terrell , Goff and Dodin will be tasked with transforming Biden 's campaign pledges into actual legislation that has a fighting chance in what is expected to be a closely divided House and Senate .
At the top of their agenda is a massive coronavirus relief package that both Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly after Biden takes office in late January .

(L-R) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Secretary of State John Kerry listen as President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki address reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, November 1, 2013. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden announced his intended nominees for top national security positions Monday, assembling a team of experienced institutionalists to fill his incoming Cabinet. In addition to his previously reported plan to nominate Antony Blinken to be his secretary of State and Jake Sullivan to be national security advisor, Biden also announced he will nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to lead the Department of Homeland Security and Avril Haines to be the director of national intelligence. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a career officer in the U.S. Foreign Service, will be nominated to serve as the United Nations ambassador, a post that will be elevated to Cabinet level in the Biden administration. Biden also announced he will name former Secretary of State John Kerry as special presidential envoy for climate and place the post within the National Security Council, the first time a high-level envoy for climate has been formally part of the NSC.
Veteran backers of U.S. alliances
Having worked as an advisor to Biden for decades, Blinken is well known in national security circles, where he developed a reputation as a pragmatic realist and a strong backer of multilateral institutions. Sullivan is a former top aide to Hillary Clinton who also served as a national security advisor to Biden during the Obama administration. He has previously said that effective U.S. foreign policy is rooted in strong democratic institutions at home.
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Blinken and Sullivan are expected to take the lead on several of Biden's top priorities in his first 100 days in office: Rejoining and strengthening the Paris Climate Agreement, rejoining and reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal with Iran and rejoining the World Health Organization. Sullivan has also said Biden intends to organize a summit of global democracies early in his first term, part of a broader attempt to build a united front among leading democracies to push back against creeping autocracy in places such as Russia and China. Biden's pick for director of national intelligence, Haines, is a former deputy director of the CIA and deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration. Under Biden, she will become the first woman to lead the intelligence community. Biden's nominee to lead Homeland Security, Mayorkas, will also break historical barriers if confirmed, becoming the first immigrant and the first Latino to lead the department charged with implementing the lion's share of America's immigration policies. In his new role, Mayorkas will be tasked with reforming and rebuilding an immigration enforcement system that has became deeply politicized and militarized under President Donald Trump. Under Trump, DHS oversaw deep cuts to legal immigration and refugee admittance to the United States, and it implemented draconian border policies intended to discourage undocumented immigrants from attempting to cross the southern border. Little is known yet about precisely what Kerry's role will be in a Biden administration, given that his position is newly created and elevated. One of the legacies of Kerry's own tenure as secretary of State, however, was the emergence of America as a global leader and convener on major climate issues, ranging from the Paris accords to oceans to biodiversity. "America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is," Kerry tweeted following the announcement. "I'm proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President's Climate Envoy."
White House legislative team takes shape
Earlier on Monday, Biden also announced two other senior White House hires: Reema Dodin and Shuwanza Goff, who will both serve as deputy directors in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. Dodin is an alumnae of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin's office, where she most recently served as his deputy chief of staff and floor director. Like Dodin, Goff comes to the White House from Capitol Hill, where she is a longtime aide to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and was most recently floor director for the House. Both Goff and Dodin will report to Obama administration alum Louisa Terrell, who was tapped last week to serve as the White House director of legislative affairs. Terrell, Goff and Dodin will be tasked with transforming Biden's campaign pledges into actual legislation that has a fighting chance in what is expected to be a closely divided House and Senate. At the top of their agenda is a massive coronavirus relief package that both Republicans and Democrats say will need to be passed shortly after Biden takes office in late January.