President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper in an announcement on his Twitter feed on Monday, replacing him with the head of the National Counterterrorism Center Christopher Miller. The President, who has continued to dig in his heels about what he calls a “rigged election,” has so far refused to concede. On Saturday Associated Press and other media outlets called Pennsylvania’s vote for Democratic Nominee Joe Biden, and later that night Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris gave their victory speeches in Delaware.

Although vote counting still continues in several states and the final official turnout is yet-to-be determined, voters broke records in showing up the polls. The youth turnout was particularly high and may have helped Biden win. White Evangelicals also voted in high numbers, mostly turning to Trump who has courted them for years. Trump remains determined to challenge the results of the election although he has lost multiple times in court over the last week. On Saturday he announced a “big press conference” at an unlikely location: the Four Seasons Total Landscaping – a small business in Philadelphia near an adult bookstore and crematorium. Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani spoke at the press briefing as media outlets speculated about the bizarre choice of location that was ultimately a fitting symbol of the Trump presidency. Trump plans to continue holding rallies and promoting his efforts to reclaim the election. 

Meanwhile President elect Biden is moving swiftly ahead with a transition to the White House even as some Republicans refuse to accept his win –including top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Emily Harris, the little-known Trump appointee who heads the General Services Administration in charge of signing over transition authority to Biden, is reportedly refusing to do her job. Still, Biden moved forward to name a 13-member coronavirus task force that will include Dr. Rick Bright, the whistleblower scientist that Trump fired.