The Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News and Analysis

Pelosi’s likely final term as speaker is set to begin with a push for votes

The House speaker election, set for Sunday, will be the first high-wire act of many Nancy Pelosi will face over the next two years, which she has signaled could be her last in the House.

By Mike DeBonis

Judge dismisses Gohmert’s suit seeking to alter formal count of Biden’s electoral college votes

A federal judge ruled that Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) lacked the legal standing to challenge the process for counting electoral college votes. Gohmert had claimed Vice President Pence had the power to determine which votes should be counted.

By Devlin Barrett

D.C. is becoming a protest battleground. In a polarized nation, experts say that’s unlikely to change.

Protesters are expected to converge in the city on Wednesday, the day Congress is set to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win. Violent melees ensued during similar protests in November and December.

By Marissa J. Lang

RetropolisThe Past, Rediscovered

‘Grace and humor’: The vice presidents who certified their own election losses, as Pence is set to do

By Gillian Brockell

How Raphael Warnock’s identity as a Black preacher has shaped his Senate campaign in Georgia

By Clyde McGrady

Civic groups in Georgia mount ambitious campaign to mobilize Black voters

Coronavirus

(Lauren Justice for The Post)

‘I said goodbye to my sister through a computer screen’

Heidi Hussli, 47, died a little more than two weeks after her mother’s funeral, one of several family members who contracted the virus after attending gatherings to honor the beloved matriarch.

By Holly Bailey

Sneezed on, cussed at, ignored: Airline workers battle mask resistance with scant government backup

A database of aviation safety reports provides an unguarded accounting of bad behavior by air travelers, raising questions about a hands-off federal policy.

By Michael Laris

Illegal French New Year’s Eve party that drew 2,500 ends after 36 hours and a failed attempt to shut it down

By Rick Noack

Opinions

Fourteen days that will test our democracy

Opinion by Colbert I. King

Antidote for a Groundhog Year

Opinion by Sergio Peçanha

Lockdowns needed a warning label, too

Opinion by Mitch Daniels

Gov. Northam should release some state prisoners

Opinion by Nora V. Demleitner

Unregulated facial recognition must stop before more Black men are wrongfully arrested

Opinion by the Editorial Board

Five myths about nutrition

Opinion by Jessica Wilson

The Year Ahead

2021 could be a huge year for space. Here’s what’s to come from NASA, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos.

By Christian Davenport

Let these chocolate cups filled with cannoli cream be the sweet start to a new year

By Ellie Krieger

What to expect from travel loyalty programs in 2021

By Hannah Sampson

Some trainers tout HIIT as the best way to burn belly fat. Here’s what science says.

By Pam Moore

Guide to the PandemicFull Coverage

Your questions about the coronavirus vaccines, answered

The covid-19 symptoms to watch out for

U.S. cases reported per day

Road to Recovery

You can’t go to a concert any time soon. Can a pair of wooden speakers bring the show to you?

Grocery trends: Fewer new products, but more changes in supermarkets and shopping

Your Life at Home

Aboard Amtrak’s Crescent, surprising comfort and welcome seclusion on a slow train to Mississippi

11 travel resolutions for when we can go on adventures again

John Steinbeck’s classic travelogue showcases man’s best road trip buddy

How to help during the coronavirus pandemic

Polar bears and Arctic isolation: A Russian activist describes military service as ‘political exile’

Activists say Vladimir Putin’s Russia is using military conscription to deter political organizing among a new generation, many of whom are alienated by Putin’s repression and attempts to curb Internet freedom.

By Robyn Dixon

Perspective

Justin Fields put No. 1 Alabama — and the NFL — on notice with a masterful Sugar Bowl

Ohio State's 49-28 win over Clemson would appear to make the Buckeyes a real threat in the national title game.

By Barry Svrluga

A sculpture of a recumbent Robert E. Lee in Edward Valentine’s studio at the Valentine museum in Richmond. (John McDonnell/The Post)

Edward Valentine sculpted images of Confederate leaders that defined the Lost Cause. Now his family is confronting the legacy.

The Valentine museum wants to display Richmond’s statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis — not in its former glory, but tipped over, dented and covered with paint from protesters.

By Gregory S. Schneider

The LilyPerspective

The pandemic hurt my 2021 raise. Will this affect my earning potential?

You sent us your money questions. We asked The Post’s personal finance columnist to share answers.

By Michelle Singletary

Perspective

Patients are getting infected with covid-19 in the hospital. It happened to one of mine and killed him.

Hospital-acquired covid-19 happens. Often, it occurs when staff unintentionally spread the disease to patients.

By Manoj Jain

Don’t Miss

Launcher

A journalist had a seizure while playing ‘Cyberpunk 2077.’ Then she helped change the game.

By Elise Favis

Visual Story

The best photos of the week

By Washington Post Staff

Visual Story

A pandemic at our doorsteps

By Michael Robinson Chavez

Some people can eat anything and not gain a pound. How metabolism affects the calories you burn.

By Terezie Tolar-Peterson

Trending

The Washington Post

What we know about the latest highly infectious coronavirus variant

Scientists say the coronavirus variant discovered in the United Kingdom is more transmissible but does not make people sicker.

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Politics

(Dudley M. Brooks)

How the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation ended up in Congress’s $900 billion relief bill

By Paul O'Donnell

Perspective

After Donald Trump, presidential movies will never be the same

As the first reality-TV commander in chief leaves office, reliable cinematic archetypes no longer fit.

By Ann Hornaday

Ahead of runoffs, civic groups in Georgia mount ambitious campaign to mobilize Black voters

More than a dozen groups across the state are trying to drive up turnout among the reliably Democratic bloc.

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr. and Vanessa Williams

Analysis: Why a strong early vote for Democrats in Georgia’s Senate runoffs doesn’t mean they’ll win

President-elect Joe Biden’s picks for his Cabinet and administration

By Washington Post staff

Election results are under attack. Here are the facts.

By Ann Gerhart

World

Venezuelan opposition efforts to capture government’s foreign assets draw scrutiny

By Anthony Faiola and Ana Vanessa Herrero

Refugees fleeing Ethiopia's Tigray region ride a bus to a temporary shelter near the Sudan-Ethiopia border. (Nariman El-Mofty/AP)

In SightPerspective

Images of war: Ethiopians flee conflict in Tigray region, seeking refuge in Sudan

Associated Press photographer Nariman El-Mofty shows us the ramifications of the conflict in Ethiopia.

By Kenneth Dickerman

Taliban foments terrorism in Kabul ahead of peace talks

By Pamela Constable and Sharif Hassan

The looming questions the Brexit deal didn’t answer

By Adam Taylor

National

Pharmacist who ‘intentionally’ spoiled more than 500 vaccine doses is arrested, police say

A worker at a Wisconsin hospital allegedly admitted to deliberately damaging more than 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine over the weekend, sparking an investigation by the FBI, FDA and local police.

By Isaac Stanley-Becker and Andrea Salcedo

How California’s largest nursing home chain amassed millions as scrutiny mounted

Brius Healthcare pays millions for rent and other services to related companies controlled by its owners. Watchdog groups say nursing home owners can reap excessive profits from public funds by overpaying their own companies.

By Debbie Cenziper, Joel Jacobs, Alice Crites and Will Englund

North Carolina Gov. Terry Sanford (D) presents a scroll to President John F. Kennedy at the White House on April 27, 1961. (AP)

RetropolisThe Past, Rediscovered

How a courageous Southern governor broke ranks with segregationists in 1961

By John Drescher

Perspective

Can charter schools pick the best students? No, but many believe the myth.

Law and logic prevent it. Essentially parents decide who goes.

By Jay Mathews

For hospital chaplains, being vaccinated first brings a mix of emotions

Many reflected on the work that led them to the historic moment — jobs that are sometimes harrowing, sometimes beautiful and always deeply felt.

By Jack Jenkins

D.C., Md. & Va.

Maryland state employee union fails to agree on pay raise with Hogan’s team

A union representing 20,000 state employees said Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration wasn’t recognizing their efforts during the pandemic.

By Ian Duncan

Virginia state senator dies of covid-19

State Sen. A. Benton Chafin Jr. (R-Russell) had held office since 2004.

By Laura Vozzella

D.C. area sets daily infection record

Eight major transportation projects are underway in the renamed neighborhood encompassing Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yards. (National Landing Business Improvement District)

National Landing aims to become one of America’s most accessible enclaves

The Northern Virginia region that is home to Amazon’s new headquarters plans to add a network of buses, trains, sidewalks and streets in the coming decade.

By Patricia Sullivan

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) announces the death of his 25-year-old son

By Meagan Flynn

Targeted project bolsters some low-income District families with cash payment

By Joe Heim

Excavating history at a nearly century-old Md. retirement community

By Tara Bahrampour

An icy rain sets Mid-Atlantic skiing back, but better times are ahead

By John Hopewell and Jason Samenow

Capital Weather Gang

D.C.-area forecast: Mild with sunshine today, before more rain Sunday

By Ian Livingston

Known coronavirus deaths and cases

FAQ: What to know about restrictions and safety

Going Out Guide

The best things to do — virtually and in person — while social distancing in the D.C. area

Virtual film festivals, streaming concerts and socially distanced events offer escapes during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Fritz Hahn and Hau Chu

Where we found joy in 2020, and where we’ll look for it in 2021

A cross-section of Washingtonians, including artists, authors and chefs, tell us how their experiences have shaped what they’re anticipating as life, hopefully, begins to improve in the months ahead.

By Going Out Guide staff

In January, try these classical music streams from close to home

Don’t forget the orchestras, ensembles and artists making beautiful music in our own backyard.

By Michael Andor Brodeur

Real Estate

This Potomac, Md., house is an homage to a classic American home

Distinguished homes for sale in the D.C. region

Mortgage rates move slightly higher but remain near record lows

The Washington Post Magazine

Compared to 2020, all previous years, even the Disco Era, were the golden age of human existence. (Gel Jamlang for The Post)

Perspective

Dave Barry’s Year in Review 2020

And we thought past years were awful.

By Dave Barry

Retracing Emily Dickinson’s wild — at least for her — excursion to Washington

By Eddie Dean

How a forensic artist attempted to re-create the face of a Black Civil War soldier

By Danny Freedman

The isolation of the pandemic caused her to form a new and intense relationship to nature. She was hardly alone.

By Sadie Dingfelder

Planned Parenthood president: Saying abortion is a small part of what group does is stigmatizing

By KK Ottesen

Date Lab

One dater logged off early, blaming Zoom fatigue

Neither dater wanted to hurt the other’s feelings with a low rating. So we’ll do it for them.

By Jessica M. Goldstein

Review

Remember Blend 111? Forget its debut and feast on its much-improved second act.

Blend 111 chef Andrés-Julian Zuluaga brings delicious sophistication to the cross-cultural restaurant in Vienna.

By Tom Sietsema

Sunday Business

Consumer TechPerspective

In 2020, we reached peak Internet. Here’s what worked — and what flopped.

By Geoffrey A. Fowler

Analysis

Richest saw net worth grow by billions last year

By Christopher Ingraham

Color of MoneyPerspective

Investing in 2020 was a scary, bumpy ride. Here’s what to expect in 2021.

By Michelle Singletary

Road to Recovery

Six ways your office will be different in 2021, assuming you ever go back to it

By Jena McGregor

Health & Science

Distilleries helped out by making hand sanitizer. Now they’ve been threatened with unexpected FDA fees.

By Emily Heil

Pregnant women agonize over whether to get coronavirus vaccine

By Frances Stead Sellers

Climate News quiz: Zero waste and clam gardens

By Lyndsey Layton

The tornado drought of 2020: Plains lacked trademark twisters this past year

By Matthew Cappucci

Sports

Washington QB Alex Smith is among 16 members of the team who have been ruled out or are listed as questionable for Sunday’s high-stakes game in Philadelphia. (John McDonnell/The Post)