Reuters: U.S.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Polls open in toss-up Georgia runoffs | Absentee ballots may slow down results | Can’t be counted until tonight | Trump holds Ga. campaign rally | Airs campaign grievances | Says he ‘hopes Mike Pence comes through’ for him in tomorrow’s count | DC boards up | Road closures ahead of protests | What to expect | Proud Boys leader arrested upon return to DC | Law student offered Moderna vaccine while grocery shopping

The Hill 12:30 Report
 
 
 
HAPPENING TODAY

Today’s the big day:

© Getty Images

 

The polls are open in Georgia for the two Senate runoff races that will determine control of the upper chamber. https://nbcnews.to/38ZSyyA

 

When the polls close: 7 p.m. EST, though anyone in line by 7 p.m. will be able to vote.

 

How many early ballots were cast?: “More than 3 million Georgia residents have already cast ballots in the two races during the early voting period that started Dec. 14.”

 

The two Republicans on the ballot: Incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler and former Sen. David Perdue.

 

The two Democrats on the ballot: Challengers Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock

 
KEEP IN MIND — ABSENTEE BALLOTS CANNOT START TO BE COUNTED UNTIL 7 P.M. EST TONIGHT:

I.e.: We may not know the winners tonight. https://on.mktw.net/3otHJLm

 

© Twitter

 

Watchhttps://bit.ly/3hRjB2X

 

Never miss an opportunity for a rally!:

President Trump made a campaign stop in Georgia last night for the Republican candidates in today’s Georgia Senate runoffs. https://bit.ly/38e2tRF

 

A dominant theme in his rally for the Republican candidates — himself: Trump’s first words as his walked out on stage were, "I want to thank you very much. Hello, Georgia. By the way, there's no way we lost Georgia. There's no way. That was a rigged election. But we’re still fighting it.”

 

And he mentioned tomorrow’s electoral vote certification in Congress: “I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you,” Trump said. “I hope that our great vice president…comes through for us. He’s a great guy. Of course, if he doesn’t come through I won’t like him as much.” Watch Trump’s line about Pencehttps://bit.ly/2XeVlOF

 

Keep in mind about Georgia’s election results: “Georgia has undergone multiple audits and hand recounts, with each one confirming [Joe] Biden had won the state by roughly 12,000 votes.”

 

It’s Tuesday. I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.

 

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

 
T-MINUS ONE DAY

Wow, I looked up the Lion King’s ‘Be Prepared’ lyrics and it hits a little close to home:

See for yourself —> here are the lyrics: *nervous laugh* https://bit.ly/3bf4z5N

 

Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, “Senate Republicans are going to war with each other over the upcoming Electoral College vote in Congress as lawmakers try to fill a post-Trump power vacuum.” https://bit.ly/2JL7cRw

 

The situation: “The public infighting is putting a spotlight on simmering divisions and setting up the scenario Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — who watched GOP squabbling cost him seats in previous election cycles — wanted to avoid when he warned members not to object to Wednesday’s counting of the electoral votes.” 

 

But alas…: “Instead, in a rare act of defiance, at least 13 Republican senators are supporting an effort to overturn the election results, offering a glimpse of what may lie ahead for a caucus with competing political ambitions heading into 2024.” 

 

This a.m. from the president:

 

© Twitter

 
WHAT TO EXPECT IN WASHINGTON, DC

Welp, it’s been a good year for plywood makers. Some businesses are boarding up … again:

Via NBC Washington’s Shomari Stone, some business owners in downtown Washington, D.C., are boarding their windows to prevent any damage from upcoming protests. Detailshttps://bit.ly/3nhDvFw

 

Photo of a business boarding uphttps://bit.ly/3bbDwbK

 

Video of Trump supporters at LAX on their way to D.C.https://bit.ly/3ohjSPh

 
HERE’S A LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES IN THE DISTRICT:

Via WTOP News: https://bit.ly/2LknjWO

 
HOW D.C. IS PLANNING TO HANDLE THE PROTESTS:

Via Fox 5 DC: https://bit.ly/2Lo60Eh

 
THE PENTAGON APPROVED DC’S REQUEST FOR NATIONAL GUARD FORCES TO BE DEPLOYED:

https://cnn.it/3bcvT4O

 

The Proud Boys leader was arrested when he arrived in the city:

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested on Monday for an outstanding warrant when he returned to Washington, D.C. https://cbsn.ws/2JKNRzR

 

The charges: “He was arrested in response to an outstanding warrant on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of property connected to the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Washington, D.C., church last month; but when he was detained, Tarrio also had in his possession two high-capacity magazines, according to a source familiar with the case.” 

 

Timing: Tarrio was arrested two days before his group is expected to protest in downtown Washington, D.C., over the presidential election results.

 
IN THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE

Like an electric toothbrush that is slowing down and running out of power:

Via The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant and Brett Samuels, “President Trump is witnessing his power wane in his final days in office as he divides the GOP over his assault on the electoral process and clashes with Republicans on policy.”  https://bit.ly/3nczgLr

 

What’s happened that shows Trump’s power is diminishing: “In the span of a week, the GOP-controlled Senate overrode Trump’s veto of a defense policy bill, rebuffing the president’s complaints about the legislation in the first and likely only veto override of his presidency. Trump separately was forced to back down from his criticism of a massive $2.3 trillion funding package.”

 
LATEST WITH THE CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus cases in the U.S.: 20,831,913

 

U.S. death toll: 353,926

 

Breakdown of the numbershttps://cnn.it/2UAgW3y

 
BECAUSE THESE NUMBERS CAN BE HARD TO PROCESS:

The Atlantic put the COVID-19 deaths into context with a few metrics: https://bit.ly/390A2Gd

 

Op-ed: https://bit.ly/358vRXG

 
NOTABLE TWEETS:

Oh, the DRAMA, Herbert:

This tweet has more than 1.3 million likes.

 

© Twitter

 
ON TAP:

The House is in. The Senate is out. President Trump and Vice President Pence are in Washington, D.C. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are in Wilmington, Del.

 

Today — wow, the president has the same schedule as me!: Per the president’s daily schedule sent to reporters: “President Trump will work from early in the morning until late in the evening. He will make many calls and have many meetings.”

 

Today: President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris meet with transition advisers.

 

2:15 p.m. EST: Vice President Pence leads a White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting in the Situation Room.

 
WHAT TO WATCH:

5 p.m. EST: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) holds a news conference on the coronavirus. Livestreamhttps://bit.ly/2KVubKt

 

Tonight: Atlanta’s WSB-TV will be covering the live election results. Livestream from C-SPANhttps://bit.ly/3ngUojt

 
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...:

Today is National Whipped Cream Day.

 

THE MOST productive grocery shopping trip:

Via Washingtonian’s Jane Recker, “Law student David MacMillan was just walking through a Giant grocery store in DC Friday night when the pharmacist flagged him and his friend down. Apparently, several first responders who were scheduled to get their Moderna Covid vaccines at that location had missed their appointments. https://bit.ly/3pKATBw

 

“She turned to us and was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got two doses of the vaccine and I’m going to have to throw them away if I don’t give them to somebody. We close in 10 minutes. Do you want the Moderna vaccine?’” 

 

The full storyhttps://bit.ly/3pKATBw

 

And because it’s a stressful week in government, here’s a little distraction: a dog ordering his own Starbucks drink: https://bit.ly/3rUIgs0

 

‘Hello, I’ll have a grande Puppuccino neat, extra foam, shaken not stirred, no lid. Thank you kindly.’

 

© Twitter

 

Watchhttps://bit.ly/3rUIgs0

 
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