Michigan state legislature closes offices due to 'credible threats of violence'

Law enforcement recommended the Michigan legislature close its offices.

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 39 days.


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Senate sends $740.5 billion defense bill to Trump's desk with veto proof majority

The Senate voted to send the National Defense Authorization bill, the military's annual budget, to Trump's desk Friday afternoon by a veto-proof majority of 84-13.

While the bill received broad support from members on both sides of the aisle, it faced objections from each party's most off-center members. Progressive Democrats like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Jeff Merkley opposed the bill, as did conservative Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Tom Cotton.

Trump has threatened as recently as Tuesday to veto the bill.

-ABC News' Trish Turner and Allison Pecorin


Trump team loses in Wisconsin as SCOTUS response looms

As the Trump campaign waits for smoke signals from the U.S. Supreme Court, it faced yet another courtroom defeat on Friday.

The Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin has denied the Trump campaign's attempt to toss out 220,000 ballots it said should have been rejected following recounts in Dane and Milwaukee Counties. Judge Stephen Simanek noted the campaign made "no allegations of widespread fraud," nor did it submit any evidence that would support such claims.

The Trump campaign will now likely appeal the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Since his Nov. 3 defeat, the president and his allies have mounted over 50 lawsuits in state and federal courts that have met with resounding and, at times, scathing defeats.

-ABC News' Alex Hosenball and Matthew Mosk


Biden campaign, DNC devote money and staffers to Georgia Senate runoffs

As the runoff elections for Georgia's two U.S. Senate seats that will decide which party controls the chamber enter their final weeks, Biden's presidential campaign is ramping up its investments to bolster the candidacies of Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock.

In coordination with the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Biden campaign has spent roughly $5 million thus far in the Georgia runoffs and are paying for "approximately 50 staffers" to help with organizing, voter outreach and other efforts, according to a Biden campaign official. Around a dozen of the campaign's data analytics staffers are also helping.

The Biden campaign and the DNC also have raised nearly $10 million for both Ossoff and Warnock combined, and earlier this week launched a "Flip Georgia Fund" to aid their campaigns.

Biden himself will travel to Georgia on Tuesday to campaign for Ossoff and Warnock and will emphasize his commitment to helping candidates win up and down the ballot and build a broad coalition that will support his agenda to "build back better," according to a Biden campaign official.

-ABC News' John Verhovek


Harris arrives on Capitol Hill to vote

Vice President-elect and California Sen. Kamala Harris arrived on Capitol Hill Friday morning ahead of the Senate’s midnight deadline to pass a one-week continuing resolution on a government funding bill to prevent a shutdown.

“I’m here to vote,” Harris told reporters as she entered the building.

Harris is expected to vote to break the filibuster on the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual military budget bill, which Trump has twice threatened to veto.

Harris was last on the Hill on Nov. 17 to vote against a Trump nominee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. 
 
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin


Biden says he’ll announce his pick to lead Pentagon on Friday

Biden confirmed more Cabinet picks are expected to come this week, saying he would announce his Defense Secretary on Friday.


While Biden rolled out a portion of his national security team as part of his first Cabinet announcement, there has been continued speculation over his choice to lead the Justice and Defense Departments. Biden in recent days has been urged to appoint a person of color, particularly a Black person at the Department of Defense and as the Attorney General.

The speculation comes ahead of Biden meeting with the NAACP on Tuesday.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle