CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga joins CBSN’s “Red & Blue” to discuss what lawmakers wanted to learn from President-elect Joe Biden’s Homeland Security Secretary nominee Alejandro Mayorkas at his confirmation hearing. Source

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that more than a third of recent COVID-19 patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles were infected with the new strain. Source

The U.S. coronavirus death toll has surpassed 400,000, just one day before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. New variants are emerging across the country, adding new urgency to vaccination efforts. CBS News correspondent David Begnaud has the latest, then Dr. Uzma Syed joins CBSN’s Elaine Quijano to discuss what to expect in the coming weeks. Source

Engineers are debating whether to carry out another test firing before pressing ahead toward launch Source

Since Austin retired from military service only four years ago, he will need a waiver from both the Senate and the House to serve in Biden’s Cabinet. Source

“Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter!” she wrote on Instagram. Source

CBS News has learned that President Trump plans to issue 50 to 100 pardons and commutations in his final hours in office. Loyola law professor Jessica Levinson spoke to CBSN’s “Red & Blue” host Elaine Quijano about the limits of a president’s clemency power. Source

In his final day before being inaugurated, President-elect Joe Biden spoke at ceremony on the National Mall to honor those who’ve lost thier lives to COVID-19. CBSN political reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns, CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion and Boston Globe national political reporter Jess Bidgood spoke to CBSN’s “Red & Blue” host Elaine Quijano about what Mr. Biden has in store for his first days in office, and how he hopes to navigate a narrow Senate majority. Source

After an assault on the Capitol and a second impeachment, President Trump tried to remind Americans of his agenda. Source

Inspired by the food shortage resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, 8-year-old Morgan Marsh McGlone of Madison, Wisconsin, started a virtual lemonade stand to raise money for a local food charity that lets people pay what they can. Meg Oliver shares her story. Source