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

Officials find few possible cases of voter fraud in key states

Despite President Trump's intense hunt for fraud, only a handful of criminal cases have been filed — some against Republican voters who sought to boost the president, officials said.

By Rosalind S. Helderman, Jon Swaine and Michelle Ye Hee Lee

Republicans plunge into open battle over attempts to overturn Trump’s loss

By Seung Min Kim, Josh Dawsey and Toluse Olorunnipa

FBI links Iran to online hit list targeting top officials who’ve refuted Trump’s election fraud claims

LIVE UPDATES

Trump grants pardons or commutations to 20 people, with more expected before he leaves office

By Rosalind S. Helderman, Matt Zapotosky and Josh Dawsey

Blackwater contractors pardoned in deaths of 14 Iraqi civilians

Coronavirus

The FixAnalysis

Trump has thrown coronavirus relief into doubt. Here’s what could happen next.

The president could sign the legislation or veto it and prompt a government shutdown — or something in between.

By Amber Phillips1 hour ago

Democrats pressure McConnell to give in to Trump’s demand for $2,000 stimulus checks: ‘Let’s do it!’

Democrats seized on President Trump’s comments wanting $2,000 stimulus checks to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to make the deal happen.

By Jaclyn Peiser

Trump calls for $2,000 stimulus checks, hinting he might not sign relief bill without changes

Stalling recovery raises stakes for Trump’s new demands on economic relief bill

By Rachel Siegel and Heather Long17 minutes ago

LIVE UPDATESAccess to these updates is free

As U.K. travel gridlock eases, officials grapple with yet another virus mutation — this one from S. Africa

By Paul Schemm and Siobhán O'Grady22 minutes ago

(Whitney Leaming, Lee Powell/The Washington Post)

In a Georgia city devastated by covid-19, vaccine brings hope but not healing

One of the first coronavirus hot spots was Albany, Ga., a majority-Black city that has struggled for decades against social and economic inequities.

By Whitney Leaming and Lee Powell

Fauci’s Christmas Eve: An 80th birthday amid the fight against the pandemic

By Joel Achenbach

Vaccine opponents outline online campaigns designed to sow distrust in coronavirus shots

A report from an anti-misinformation group quoted leaked audio from an October conference of the movement’s leaders, many of whom have huge social media followings.

By Elizabeth Dwoskin

Opinions

Trump’s new pardons send a message: Corruption is fine if you’re a Republican

Opinion by Paul Waldman

Eliot Engel: ‘We are the leaders, and we should act like it’

Opinion by Josh Rogin

Trump detonates a truth bomb in the Georgia Senate races

Opinion by Greg Sargent

Trump may be fading faster than you think

Opinion by Jennifer Rubin

How Netanyahu’s malicious fear-mongering could backfire on him

Opinion by Gershom Gorenberg

Zoom is complicit in Chinese repression

Opinion by the Editorial Board

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

Her dream is to earn a college wrestling scholarship. The pandemic has put it on hold.

A new pastor who couldn’t meet members of her church found a way to celebrate Christmas with them

Your Life at Home

My son is sick of being online all day for school. How do I get him to do counseling — online?

Here are the movies that wowed Washington Post critics in 2020

Gift stuck in the mail? Etiquette experts offer advice for smoothing over a holiday mishap.

How to help during the coronavirus pandemic

In Iraq, Trump’s Blackwater pardons meet with cynicism, fatigue

The 2007 unprovoked killing of Iraqi civilians by Blackwater security contractors is remembered in Iraq as one of the most emblematic chapters of America's ruinous invasion.

By Mustafa Salim and Louisa Loveluck

Google hired Timnit Gebru to be an outspoken critic of unethical AI. Then she was fired for it.

By Nitasha Tiku44 minutes ago

Capital Weather Gang

Blizzard brews over Upper Midwest as Minneapolis braces for blinding snow

By Matthew Cappucci

A cave explorer climbs a rope to exit a massive cavern at the base of a moulin in the Greenland Ice Sheet. (Jason Gulley)

Scientists descended into Greenland’s perilous ice caverns — and came back with a worrying message

By Chris Mooney

Critical weather stations on Greenland ice sheet find new funding

Perspective

During Snyder’s ruinous reign, there’s always another shoe ready to drop

The Washington Football Team’s workplace needs a transparent examination. Now, so does the owner’s history.

By Barry Svrluga

Several Black pastors break with the Southern Baptist Convention over a statement on race

Tensions have been building since seminary presidents condemned Critical Race Theory.

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Michelle Boorstein

Holidays 2020

7 Christmas dinner mains for a festive, scaled-down holiday

By Aaron Hutcherson

Enjoy these tales of awkwardness and mortification from Zoom holiday office party season

By Maura Judkis

How to visit Santa using the magic of Zoom, streaming video or even AI

By Connie Chang

Warm-from-the-oven sticky pecan rolls will make Christmas, or any special morning, memorable

By Becky Krystal

Don’t Miss

By The WayA Post Travel Destination

Christmas pudding and DIY glogg: 8 beloved hotel holiday recipes to make at home

By Natalie B. Compton29 minutes ago

Movie Review

‘Promising Young Woman’ floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee

By Ann Hornaday

The Lily

10 pieces of good news you might have missed this year

By Nneka McGuire

It’s been a bleak year, so our gift to you is George Clooney’s thoughts on movies, murder hornets and mince pie

By Ann Hornaday

Trending

Allie Caren/The Washington Post

Holiday movies you should watch in 2020, the year everything went wrong

Movies like "Happiest Season," "The Family Stone" and more revolve around holiday gatherings going terribly wrong. Here's what we can learn from them.

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Washington Post Apps

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Politics

Lev Parnas argues timing of his arrest was orchestrated to protect Trump

An attorney for the former associate of Rudolph W. Giuliani has asked a federal judge to order the Justice Department to turn over government communications about his client.

By Shayna Jacobs

Maria Bartiromo hosting “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business in 2015. (Fox News)

What happened to Maria Bartiromo?

How the Fox News host went from respected finance reporter to Trump apologist.

By Sarah Ellison

The FixAnalysis

The Black church is again at the center of American politics — and its leaders feel like a target

Republicans have picked apart Raphael Warnock's sermons for evidence to support claims that he is a radical and socialist.

By Eugene Scott

Transfer of Power

Election results are under attack. Here are the facts.

By Ann Gerhart

Biden’s picks for his Cabinet and administration

By Washington Post staff

The Biden Agenda

World

Assassins silence another ‘voice of Afghan democracy’ in Kabul killing

The head of the election monitoring group Free and Fair Elections Forum of Afghanistan, Yusof Rashid was the latest figure murdered.

By Pamela Constable and Sharif Hassan

Israeli sailors stand in formation on the Saar-6 corvette as it passes a submarine during a Dec. 1 welcoming ceremony for the warship, off the coast of Haifa, Israel. (Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)

Israel deploys submarine to Persian Gulf in message of deterrence to Iran

The Israeli warship headed to the waters bordering Iran amid escalating tensions after the killing of Iran’s top nuclear scientist.

By Shira Rubin

Taiwan snaps world’s longest covid-free streak after pilot infects local resident

By Gerry Shih

Turkish court sentences exiled journalist to 27 years in prison for a news report

By Kareem Fahim

National

Show of force on U.S. streets and crisis at Fort Hood tested Army secretary this year

Analysts say Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has led soldiers through the trying times of the coronavirus pandemic and a strategic refocus on Russia and China, and that his tenure has been marked by relative stability.

By Alex Horton

U.S., Pfizer reach deal expanding American vaccine supply

Pfizer will now sell the country 200 million doses of the vaccine — enough to immunize 100 million people with a two-dose regimen. The government will pay $1.95 billion for the additional doses and has agreed to help Pfizer obtain the ingredients needed to make the vaccine.

By Isaac Stanley-Becker and Amy Goldstein

Armand Dávila has an intense fear of needles. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

‘A needle makes my blood run cold’: Will the phobic get the coronavirus vaccine?

For the millions who intensely fear needles, the new inoculation presents a dilemma.

By Michael S. Rosenwald

One person with covid-19 went to work in Oregon. Then, 7 people died and 300 had to quarantine.

Unlike headline-grabbing outbreaks that have led to deaths elsewhere, these clusters did not spring from a “superspreader event.”

By Katie Shepherd

Ohio officer who fatally shot unarmed Black man relieved of duty for not turning on body camera until after incident

The shooting was captured thanks to the 60-second “look back” function that records video but not audio.

By Timothy Bella

D.C., Md. & Va.

Md. political titan Mike Miller resigns from state Senate as cancer worsens

The Calvert Democrat was the longest-serving state Senate president in the country.

By Paul Schwartzman1 hour ago

Museum of the Bible considers suing D.C. mayor over virus shutdown, citing religious freedom claims

Museum officials said the restrictions prevent their employees from exercising their religious freedom and visitors from possibly having a religious experience.

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Peggy McGlone

(AP)

D.C. region leaders pitch plan to build stronger post-pandemic economy

The ambitious proposal by Connected DMV aims to address the region's social and economic challenges.

By Michael Brice-Saddler

Explosion related to construction work at building in Baltimore leaves nearly two dozen hurt

The fire chief said that 21 people were taken to hospitals and that two declined treatment.

By Dana Hedgpeth

Va. Supreme Court sidesteps marijuana dispute in Arlington

Judges are requiring Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti to provide a written motion to dismiss marijuana cases.

By Rachel Weiner

Capital Weather Gang

D.C.-area forecast: Calm today before a wild weather ride Christmas Eve into Christmas Day

By Dan Stillman

Known coronavirus deaths and cases

FAQ: What to know about restrictions and safety

Going Out Guide

Here are the movies that wowed Washington Post critics in 2020

These 42 narrative features — all available to stream — earned our highest praise.

By Michael O'Sullivan

5 classic D.C. Christmas traditions that you can watch from home

You can enjoy performances of "A Christmas Carol" and "The Nutcracker" streaming on your tablet.

By Fritz Hahn

Taqueria Xochi serves mouthwatering Mexican food from a tiny U Street storefront

Chef Teresa Padilla lures enthusiasts with singular tacos, tlayudas and cemitas.

By Tom Sietsema

Real Estate

How to update a living trust to encompass a newly purchased home

Report: Cities making a comeback for buyers

How to stop the hammering sounds in your water line

Business & Technology

Analysis

‘Trickle-down’ tax cuts make the rich richer, are of no value to overall economy, study finds

Data spanning 50 years and 18 countries shows lowering tax rates for the wealthy increases inequality.

By Christopher Ingraham

(The Washington Post; Microsoft)

LauncherVideo Games News and Analysis

How Xbox learned to sell its consoles like smartphones

The launch of the new series of Xbox consoles is unlike any other console launch in the industry’s history, mostly because the new Microsoft machines are so like the old ones.

By Gene Park

Market Watch

Last Updated: Today at 2:40 p.m. ET

Dow 30,267.33

Today 0.84%

S&P 3,707.36

Today 0.55%

NASDAQ 12,829.77

Today 0.17%

Perspective

The craziest, creepiest year for financial markets I’ve seen in half a century

By Allan Sloan

Health & Science

AI-powered bionic hand promises lifelike dexterity

By Dalvin Brown

With hospitals nearly overwhelmed, officials say California ‘cannot afford’ another holiday surge

By Brittany Shammas, Reis Thebault, Laurie McGinley and Isaac Stanley-Becker

Critical weather stations on Greenland ice sheet find new funding

By Andrew Freedman

Federal lead-pipe rule overhauled for first time in decades

By Sarah Kaplan and Brady Dennis

Sports

Analysis

The 2021 NFL draft is loaded with talented quarterbacks. Evaluating them won’t be easy.

As the NFL season winds down, many teams are already looking to the future, but the pandemic has altered the scouting season.

By Adam Kilgore

Why the New England Patriots are talking about Armenia

Berj Najarian, an Armenian American and longtime Patriots employee who has been referred to as the team's "consigliere," has had his personal cause taken up by Bill Belichick and Cam Newton during Armenia's conflict with Azerbaijan.

By Cindy Boren

The NBA season opened with the Clippers playing the Lakers at an empty Staples Center. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Analysis

It just didn’t feel like Showtime for the Lakers and the NBA on opening night

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers got their championship rings but opened their title defense with a flat loss in an empty arena, offering an early taste of what promises to be a challenging NBA season.

By Ben Golliver