Author: Nicholas Wu, USA TODAY

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Pete Buttigieg “put on a clinic on how a nominee should work and act,” lauding his straightforward answers.

House and Senate lawmakers are sworn in Sunday, the start of a new Congress tasked with working with the Biden administration and fighting COVID-19.

This short-term extension of government funding would be the second time Congress has punted a shutdown deadline this month.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the second-ranking Senate Republican, said he believed personal checks of $600 or $700 were part of discussions.

In a 10-minute speech, McConnell congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris.

The Big Cat Public Safety Act would allow existing facilities to keep their big cats but prohibit most contact between the public and the animals.

In Michigan, Guiliani waved binders, floated baseless conspiracy theories and complained of what he called election “theft.” He was rebuffed.

The coronavirus relief proposal is the latest effort to break the logjam in negotiations. Congress has not passed a comprehensive package since March.

“Right now, Georgia remains too close to call,” said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican. “There will be a recount.”