New coronavirus variants have been detected in the U.K., South Africa and Nigeria in just the last week. All are apparently more transmissible than the common coronavirus, but there is no evidence that they are more deadly. Susan Weiss, professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania, joins Jeff Pegues on CBSN to break down what we know about the evolving disease. Source

President Trump issued a string of new pardons Wednesday night, including for two former advisers and a member of his extended family. While he took action on that front, the president is holding up the $900 billion COVID-19 relief package. CBS News White House correspondent Paula Reid joined CBSN with the latest. Source

Retailers like Amazon are still offering overnight deliveries on thousands of items for Christmas Day. Source

U.S. tech companies face similar scrutiny with regulators looking at whether Facebook and others hamper competition. Source

“Every day, I look into the eyes of someone who is struggling to breathe,” said nurse Jenny Carrillo, her voice breaking. Source

“This is how Black people get killed,” Dr. Susan Moore said in a Facebook video, weeks before she died of coronavirus. Source

The sweet illustration features a red-haired baby Archie and the family dogs, Pula and Guy. Source

With just over a week until the U.K.’s final split from the European Union, the British government said the “deal is done.” Source

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss President Trump’s final weeks in office, the slew of pardons and commutations he announced and the COVID-19 stimulus bill. Source

Republicans blocked a request by Democrats to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Source