Here are the headlines you Need2Know for Monday, November 9, 2020:
BIDEN WINS
President-elect Joe Biden plans to name a 12-person pandemic task force today, his first official act since being elected as the 46th President of the United States. After nearly four tense days of vote counting, the AP and other media outlets called Pennsylvania -- and thus, the presidency -- for Biden on Saturday in the 11 am ET hour, bringing a long and contentious campaign season to a close. Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, gave a victory speech from Delaware in which they promised to govern “for all Americans.” Harris will become the first female vice president in American history. AP
TRANSITION
President Trump has not conceded the election and has no immediate plans to do so, according to multiple reports. GOP leaders and White House advisers in the inner circle, including the president’s family, are split over whether to acknowledge that he lost, as the Trump campaign prepares more legal challenges that are considered to be long shots at best. President George W. Bush is among the Republican elder statesmen to call and congratulate Joe Biden while others, like Sen. Lindsey Graham, are urging Trump to keep fighting. WASH POST
BIDEN'S PRIORITIES
President-elect Biden reportedly plans to sign a flurry of executive orders as soon as he is inaugurated that would reverse many Trump policies and signal to the country that he plans a radically different approach to governing. On the Biden transition website, BuildBackBetter.com, four main priorities are listed: COVID, economic recovery, racial equity and climate change. On Day 1, the Biden administration has said it would rejoin the WHO and Paris Climate Accords and roll back nearly all of Trump’s immigration orders. Beyond that, given the makeup of the Senate, Biden will have to seek consensus on much of his broader policy agenda. AXIOS
IN THE STREETS
Immediately after the networks called it for Joe Biden on Saturday morning, an atmosphere of joy and celebration broke out in cities across the country. On a mild and sunny day, from D.C., to Atlanta, to Philly to NYC, people spontaneously took to the streets in huge numbers to celebrate President Trump’s defeat. Masks were widely observed (social distancing, less so) and there were few signs of the unrest that many worried about. Some Trump supporters continue to protest outside ballot-counting facilities in cities like Phoenix and gathered in state capitals like Lansing to claim ballot fraud. Overseas, posts on social media showed fireworks going off in London, church bells ringing in Munich and Paris, and cars honking in Toronto. SEE PICS
FLORIDA 1-2 PUNCH
Tropical Storm Eta is moving over the Florida Keys and is expected to regain hurricane strength as it hooks left into the Gulf of Mexico, before it’s forecast to make a second landfall along the western coast of Florida late in the week. Southern Florida is under a hurricane watch and schools are closed today in Miami. TRACK
IN MEMORIAM: ALEX TREBEK
Alex Trebek, the longtime host of Jeopardy! and arguably the greatest game show host of all time, has died at 80. The cause was pancreatic cancer. Jeopardy!’s producers said in a statement that Trebek’s last day recording in the studio was just 10 days ago. New episodes will air through Christmas. OBIT
STEELERS UNDEFEATED
For the first time in the franchise’s history, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 8-0. The Steelers pulled off an ugly win over the Dallas Cowboys to remain undefeated at the halfway point of the NFL season. Earlier in the week, the team bought dinner for poll workers in Allegheny County to thank them for their service. ESPN
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA, N’Sync’s Bye, Bye, Bye and YG & Nipsey Hustle’s FDT are all charting again on the streaming services, breaking into the Top 40, Top 100 and Top 10, respectively, on Saturday following the news of President Trump’s loss. AV CLUB
SPOTTED...
...President Trump’s personal helicopter, on the auction block with no reserve price: SEE IT
LEFTOVERS: FIRST PETS
There will be dogs in the White House again. President-elect Biden has two German shepherds, Champ and Major, who will move into the White House with him in January. Major will also hold the distinction of being the first rescue dog to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. KIRO
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