President-elect Joe Biden is moving forward with the transition to form a new administration despite President Trump’s refusal to concede the election. Biden’s team meanwhile announced hundreds of hires even as one government agency continues to block some resources from the president-elect. Ed O’Keefe reports. Source

More than 60,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19, a grim new record amid the pandemic. Also, the Supreme Court signaled that they are not likely to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds. Source

On “Intelligence Matters,” Mike Morell speaks with national security analyst Graham Allison about the state of the U.S.-China rivalry. Source

The Palestinian people’s long-time chief negotiator in peace talks with Israel, Saeb Erekat, has died at 65 after contracting the coronavirus. Imtiaz Tyab reports that Erekat’s dedication to a peaceful, two-state solution to the Mideast crisis won him praise and scorn over a career spanning four decades. Source

But scientists think other nests exist and say other queens may have escaped before the first nest was destroyed. Source

Government Land Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba broke a long-standing, unwritten rule of Japanese politics: He voiced a personal opinion. Source

Government Land Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba broke a long-standing, unwritten rule of Japanese politics: He voiced a personal opinion. Source

His counterpart in Pennsylvania was quick mock Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s call for “whistleblowers and tipsters” nationwide to report suspected fraud. Source

The decreasingly autonomous city’s leaders quickly seized upon new powers granted by Beijing to sack lawmakers deemed a security threat. Source

The decreasingly autonomous city’s leaders quickly seized upon new powers granted by Beijing to sack lawmakers deemed a security threat. Source