It's the first major meeting under the Biden administration, but the two sides can't even agree about what kind of meeting it is.American officials — including, from left, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken — have characterized the meeting as a one-off event where President Joe Biden's administration will confront the Chinese on a range of security and human rights issues. | Andrew Harnik/AP PhotoThe U.S. and China are setting vastly different expectations for their first high-level meeting under the Biden administration, casting a chill on the...…It's the first major meeting under the Biden administration, but the two sides can't even agree about what kind of meeting it is.American officials — including, from left, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken — have characterized the meeting as a one-off event where President Joe Biden's administration will confront the Chinese on a range of security and human rights issues. | Andrew Harnik/AP PhotoThe U.S. and China are setting vastly different expectations for their first high-level meeting under the Biden administration, casting a chill on the...WW…

"To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win."The final result of the certification vote came around 3:40 a.m. after the a day filled with chaos and violence. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesA beleaguered Congress finalized President-elect Joe Biden’s victory early Thursday morning, capping a day of riots that turned deadly and briefly ground the nation’s most powerful institutions to a standstill.It was the last step in affirming Biden’s election ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, but one marred by violence fueled by the sitting president, Donald Trump, who urged his...…"To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win."The final result of the certification vote came around 3:40 a.m. after the a day filled with chaos and violence. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesA beleaguered Congress finalized President-elect Joe Biden’s victory early Thursday morning, capping a day of riots that turned deadly and briefly ground the nation’s most powerful institutions to a standstill.It was the last step in affirming Biden’s election ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, but one marred by violence fueled by the sitting president, Donald Trump, who urged his...WW…

The new Congress confronts a week of unrest.Members of the House depart after the first session of the 117th Congress on Jan. 3. | Tasos Katopodis/Pool via APTheir first week back in Washington, lawmakers are grappling with an unprecedented mix of dangers on the job: intense pro-Trump rallies that authorities fear could turn violent and a deadly pandemic that has already claimed one of their own.And that doesn’t include what many in both parties consider an entirely different threat to American democracy — a historic effort by a growing band of Republicans to overturn Joe Biden’s...…The new Congress confronts a week of unrest.Members of the House depart after the first session of the 117th Congress on Jan. 3. | Tasos Katopodis/Pool via APTheir first week back in Washington, lawmakers are grappling with an unprecedented mix of dangers on the job: intense pro-Trump rallies that authorities fear could turn violent and a deadly pandemic that has already claimed one of their own.And that doesn’t include what many in both parties consider an entirely different threat to American democracy — a historic effort by a growing band of Republicans to overturn Joe Biden’s...WW…

In interviews, more than two dozen swing-state electors detailed plans for Monday’s vote — and a hint of anxiety about Trump.President-elect Joe Biden's campaign has spent the days since Election Day making sure each of his electors is armed with precise logistical information, transportation and a backup plan, should anything interfere with their ability to arrive on time to cast the official votes to make Biden president. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMonday’s Electoral College vote formalizing Joe Biden’s presidential win will be the culmination of months of orchestration by the Biden...…In interviews, more than two dozen swing-state electors detailed plans for Monday’s vote — and a hint of anxiety about Trump.President-elect Joe Biden's campaign has spent the days since Election Day making sure each of his electors is armed with precise logistical information, transportation and a backup plan, should anything interfere with their ability to arrive on time to cast the official votes to make Biden president. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMonday’s Electoral College vote formalizing Joe Biden’s presidential win will be the culmination of months of orchestration by the Biden...WW…

A return to overseas dealmaking raises new ethical issues no ex-president has ever confronted. Trump’s sprawling global company is private and increasingly reliant on foreign lenders.President Donald Trump waves from the top of the steps of Air Force One on Jan. 31, 2020. | Susan Walsh/APAfter he leaves the White House, Donald Trump is expected to do something no president before him has done: cut multimillion dollar deals with foreign governments and companies for his own private business.Trump’s namesake company plans to resume foreign real estate projects, likely luxury hotels, as it...…A return to overseas dealmaking raises new ethical issues no ex-president has ever confronted. Trump’s sprawling global company is private and increasingly reliant on foreign lenders.President Donald Trump waves from the top of the steps of Air Force One on Jan. 31, 2020. | Susan Walsh/APAfter he leaves the White House, Donald Trump is expected to do something no president before him has done: cut multimillion dollar deals with foreign governments and companies for his own private business.Trump’s namesake company plans to resume foreign real estate projects, likely luxury hotels, as it...WW…

Presidents typically reserve their most controversial decisions for their last weeks in office. Imagine what that could mean for Trump.President Donald Trump addresses thousands of supporters during a campaign rally in Lansing, Michigan. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesAs we count down the days to Election Day, the pundit class is wringing its hands in worry over whether President Donald Trump will accept a possible win by Joe Biden and agree to leave the White House.But even if Trump calmly walks out the door of the White House on the morning of January 20th, a more immediate problem looms:...…Presidents typically reserve their most controversial decisions for their last weeks in office. Imagine what that could mean for Trump.President Donald Trump addresses thousands of supporters during a campaign rally in Lansing, Michigan. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesAs we count down the days to Election Day, the pundit class is wringing its hands in worry over whether President Donald Trump will accept a possible win by Joe Biden and agree to leave the White House.But even if Trump calmly walks out the door of the White House on the morning of January 20th, a more immediate problem looms:...WW…

More than 50 former intelligence officials signed a letter casting doubt on the provenance of a New York Post story on the former vice president's son.More than 50 former senior intelligence officials have signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden, pictured here, “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” | Handout/DNCC via Getty ImagesMore than 50 former senior intelligence officials have outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Joe Biden’s son “has...…More than 50 former intelligence officials signed a letter casting doubt on the provenance of a New York Post story on the former vice president's son.More than 50 former senior intelligence officials have signed on to a letter outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden, pictured here, “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” | Handout/DNCC via Getty ImagesMore than 50 former senior intelligence officials have outlining their belief that the recent disclosure of emails allegedly belonging to Joe Biden’s son “has...WW…

Democrats and intelligence experts say Russia is the most acute threat. Republicans want to focus on China instead.Trump officials like Attorney General William Barr have used media appearances to tout findings on election interference by China. | Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesFor months, Americans have been served conflicting pronouncements from the Trump administration and lawmakers about foreign efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election — complicating matters for voters seeking a reliable understanding of which countries are actively meddling, and on whose behalf.President Donald...…Democrats and intelligence experts say Russia is the most acute threat. Republicans want to focus on China instead.Trump officials like Attorney General William Barr have used media appearances to tout findings on election interference by China. | Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesFor months, Americans have been served conflicting pronouncements from the Trump administration and lawmakers about foreign efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election — complicating matters for voters seeking a reliable understanding of which countries are actively meddling, and on whose behalf.President Donald...WW…

The documents were requested by GOP Sens. Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a press conference in Austria on Aug. 14. | Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty ImagesA top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered senior State Department officials to compile additional documents for two Republican senators investigating the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe and Joe Biden’s dealings with Ukraine, according to an internal memo obtained by POLITICO.is in response to a July 28 request from Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa for...…The documents were requested by GOP Sens. Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a press conference in Austria on Aug. 14. | Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty ImagesA top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has ordered senior State Department officials to compile additional documents for two Republican senators investigating the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe and Joe Biden’s dealings with Ukraine, according to an internal memo obtained by POLITICO.is in response to a July 28 request from Republican Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa for...WW…

GOP senators were cool to him the first time Trump signaled he'd nominate the conservative lawmaker.Rep. John Ratcliffe. | Susan Walsh/AP PhotoThe Senate Intelligence Committee is preparing to hold a confirmation hearing as early as next week for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s 17 intelligence agencies, two sources familiar with the matter told POLITICO.Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), the president’s director of national intelligence nominee, will face senators as Congress deals with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept the Senate largely out of...…GOP senators were cool to him the first time Trump signaled he'd nominate the conservative lawmaker.Rep. John Ratcliffe. | Susan Walsh/AP PhotoThe Senate Intelligence Committee is preparing to hold a confirmation hearing as early as next week for President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s 17 intelligence agencies, two sources familiar with the matter told POLITICO.Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), the president’s director of national intelligence nominee, will face senators as Congress deals with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept the Senate largely out of...WW…