The Wisconsin election recount ordered and paid for by President Donald Trump’s campaign has confirmed Joe Biden’s win. In Milwaukee County, Biden’s final count was a net gain of 132 votes over Trump, while in neighboring Dane County Trump’s total increased by 45 votes over Biden. In other words, there was a negligible change to the final vote tally. One of Trump’s campaign spokespeople, Jenna Ellis said the recount, “revealed serious issues” with the election but mysteriously refused to elaborate on her dramatic claim. This is Scott McDonald, Dane County Clerk. Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the state supreme court rejected Republican efforts to invalidate 2.5 million mail-in votes. Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro called the suit’s dismissal, “another win for democracy.” Former Homeland Security official Christopher Krebs, who Trump fired for calling the election fair, gave an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes where he reiterated his claims. On Sunday Trump himself gave his first interview since losing the election. He spoke with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo in a conversation filled with lies. 

As president elect Biden begins the transition process, he will finally begin receiving intelligence briefings. Biden has also convened a committee to plan his January 20th inauguration –an extraordinary undertaking considering that the festivities will take place in the midst of an on-going pandemic. He also revealed all 7 members of his communications team, significant for being all women, something that has never before happened. Among them is Symone Sanders, a former staffer for Bernie Sanders’s presidential bid. Biden also confirmed that Janet Yellen, former Federal Reserve chair, will lead the Treasury Department, becoming the first woman in that role. And, his White House team of economic advisers includes Cecelia Rouse, Jared Bernstein, and Heather Boushey. Bernstein and Boushey in particular have a strong background on progressive economic policy-making. To lead the Office of Management and Budget Biden picked Neera Tanden, who will become the first woman of color in that position. Tanden headed the Center for American Progress and went on to work for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, often criticizing progressive activists and efforts. But Tanden faces opposition from Republicans too, some of whom have vowed to not confirm her in the Senate. Biden’s pick of Michele Flournoy to head the Defense Department continues his history-making streak of appointing women to powerful positions but Flourney faces stiff opposition from a