Bribery-For-Pardon Scheme; Congress' Relief Package Logjam; Best Albums Of 2020

Plus, how feeding cows seaweed helps fight climate change. by Korva Coleman and Jill Hudson First Up [The Justice Department is investigating possible schemes to exchange money for a presidential pardon, according to a document filed in federal court.]( Jacquelyn Martin/AP Here's what we're following today. The Justice Department is investigating a possible secret bribery scheme that’s linked to a presidential pardon. Court documents released Tuesday [don’t reveal the names of the people being investigated]( or the name of the person who allegedly would be pardoned. The United Kingdom has formally approved a Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, becoming the first Western country to OK its use for the general public. Health officials could start [dispensing it within days](. President Trump tweeted late Tuesday that he is considering vetoing this year's National Defense Authorization Act — a crucial piece of annual legislation that covers authorization for pay raises and other spending needs for the nation's military — unless Congress repeals Section 230, a legal shield for tech giants. The veto threat is [the president's latest move in his war against companies]( such as Facebook and Twitter. Gabriel Sterling, a top Georgia election official, had strong words for President Trump and other Republican leaders who have attacked the state's election system in recent weeks after reports of [explicit harassment and death threats]( against officials overseeing the state's recount. In a tweet Tuesday evening responding to Sterling's news conference, [Trump again falsely alleged]( massive voter fraud in Georgia. Attorney General William Barr says the Justice Department has found no evidence of widespread fraud in this year’s election. Barr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that [neither agency attorneys nor the FBI]( has found anything on a scale that could have changed President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Trump's legal team of Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis immediately pushed back against Barr's comments. If the independent, reliable reporting you get from this newsletter and public radio matters to you, then donate to your NPR station today. Your gift of any amount will truly make a difference. [Donate now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Best Albums Of 2020 Rae Pozdro for NPR This year has been so packed with sounds and voices that it's been difficult to discern the melody from the noise. [Here's our guide to the greatest albums]( that emerged from a year of cacophony. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Listens Walter Portz/SAB Biotherapeutics Seaweed can potentially help fight climate change. Research shows that a specific type of seaweed can cut cows' methane production by up to 98%. [Listen here](. Lawmakers have been deadlocked for months on another coronavirus relief package. Now millions of Americans who have relied on emergency spending programs during the pandemic are about to see their benefits expire at the end of the year — unless Congress and the White House can agree to a spending deal before the holidays. [Click to listen]( or [read the story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before You Go Setor Fiadzigbey/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page announced on Tuesday that he is transgender. In Page's previous roles, including Juno, the X-Men series and Inception, [he is credited as Ellen Page](. - The U.S. Soccer Federation has reached a proposed settlement with the Women's National Team in a legal battle over working conditions, but a dispute over [equal pay compared with their male counterparts]( continues. - The world famous Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed Tuesday, [crushing decades of cutting-edge research](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]