American Airlines will sell at-home coronavirus tests to passengers in a move the carrier hopes will boost domestic travel and allow flyers to avoid quarantines. 

The airline is the first to offer at-home tests, which will cost customers $128. Customers who are traveling to a city, state or territory with COVID-19 travel restrictions will have access to them starting Wednesday. 

Customers would order the kit, collect their sample with a nasal swab, and return the sample to the lab that will provide results within 48 hours. 

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A negative test result before the flight would allow passengers to bypass quarantine restrictions at their destination or shorten their quarantine length, depending on the location. In Washington, D.C., for instance, out-of-state visitors can avoid a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival if they provide a negative COVID-19 test result.

“We’ve made great strides to help open international travel with our testing partners, and we recognize the need for similar domestic travel solutions,” Alison Taylor, American Airlines chief customer officer, said in a statement. “As travel requirements continue to quickly evolve, we’re simplifying the research and COVID-19 testing fulfillment process for an overall more seamless travel experience.” 

States, cities and territories with travel restrictions include Alaska; Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Hawaii; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New York; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case over the Trump administration’s push for Medicaid work requirements, though the issue could be moot when President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenAppeals court OKs White House diverting military funding to border wall construction Federal student loan payment suspension extended another month Pentagon: Tentative meeting between spy agencies, Biden transition set for early next week MORE takes office.

The Trump administration earlier this year had appealed lower court rulings that found the requirements adopted by New Hampshire and Arkansas to be unlawful.

The administration asked the high court in July to reinstate the work requirements, arguing it would allow beneficiaries to transition to other forms of coverage, and would free up state funding from people who might not need it.

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A federal appeals court had ruled in February that the approval of the requirements in Arkansas was “arbitrary and capricious.” The court said the administration did not adequately account for loss of coverage that would stem from the requirements to work or volunteer. The D.C. Circuit reached a similar conclusion in May for New Hampshire.

More than 18,000 people lost coverage in Arkansas due to work requirements before they were halted by a lower court.

The Trump administration began approving state Medicaid work requirements in 2018 though has faced some legal setbacks, with lower courts saying that Medicaid’s main purpose is providing health-care coverage.

Medicaid work requirements have been a priority for the Trump administration, though the incoming Biden administration is expected to eliminate the rules while pushing to expand access to Medicaid.

“The Biden administration can certainly change this policy, and we hope that will happen,” Jane Perkins, legal director for the health care advocacy group National Health Law Program, told Reuters.

Opponents of work requirements argue that the rules don’t improve public health and are instead designed to kick people out of Medicaid.

Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenPelosi, Schumer hit Trump but cite ‘progress’ in COVID relief talks Overnight Defense: Biden taps Austin for Pentagon chief | Army announces Ft Hood firings, suspensions | House approves defense bill despite Trump veto On The Money: Mnuchin pitches Pelosi 6B coronavirus deal with Trump’s blessing | White House offers direct payments, state and local aid MORE (D-Mass.) said Tuesday that she will oppose granting a waiver to retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump Jr. cuts ad for Loeffler, Perdue in Georgia Biden to tap Vilsack for Agriculture secretary: reports Georgia elections official: Trump should ‘act more responsibly’ MORE‘s pick to lead the Pentagon. 

“I have great respect for Gen. Austin. His career has been exemplary, and I look forward to meeting him and talking to him more, but I opposed a waiver for Gen. [James] Mattis, and I will oppose a waiver for Gen. Austin,” Warren told reporters. 

Biden officially nominated Austin as his Defense secretary on Tuesday. If confirmed, he’ll be the United States’s first Black Defense secretary. He previously served as the first Black chief of U.S. Central Command from 2013 to 2016. 

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But Austin’s nomination comes with baggage, including that he has not been retired from the military for as long as the law requires a Defense secretary to be.  

Both chambers in Congress will need to pass a waiver exempting Austin from the law mandating that a Defense secretary must be retired from active service for at least seven years before assuming the top civilian role unless Congress grants a waiver. Austin retired in 2016.

Congress previously granted former Mattis a waiver, a move many argued at the time was a one-off driven by his qualifications. 

Biden’s decision to tap a former general for the Pentagon’s top civilian position has sparked uneasiness among some Democrats about the erosion of civilian control of the military. 

Sen. Jack ReedJack ReedWarren says she will vote against waiver for Biden’s Pentagon pick Biden to pick retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to be next Defense secretary Senate Democrats urge Google to improve ad policies to combat election disinformation MORE (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Austin an “outstanding nominee” but said the “burden of proof” for granting the waiver was on the incoming Biden administration. 

“I think the preference would be for someone who is not recently retired,” Reed said. 

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Seventeen Democrats voted in 2017 against giving Mattis a waiver. 

In addition to Warren, two other Senate Democrats have already signaled they will oppose voting to grant Austin a waiver. In addition to voting on the waiver, the Senate would hold a separate vote on confirming Austin to be Defense secretary. 

“I have the deepest respect and administration for Gen. Austin and this nomination, and this nomination is exciting and historic. But I believe that a waiver of the seven-year rule would contravene the basic principle that there should be civilian control over a nonpolitical military,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters on Tuesday.   

Blumenthal declined to say if he believed Biden should nominate someone else but added, “I will not support the waiver.”  

Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterWarren says she will vote against waiver for Biden’s Pentagon pick Biden officially taps retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as Pentagon nominee Two Senate Democrats signal opposition to waiver for Biden’s Pentagon pick MORE (D-Mont.), another one of the 17 “no” votes in 2017, said on Tuesday that he was also unlikely to support granting Austin a waiver.

“I didn’t for Mattis, and I don’t think I will for him,” Tester said, referring to Austin.

“I love Mattis. I thought Mattis was a great secretary. And I think this guy is gonna be a great secretary of Defense. I just think that we ought to look at the rules,” he added.

The Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Republican Nathan Simington to the Federal Communications Commission, potentially hamstringing the Biden administration before it even takes office.

Simington, a senior adviser at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, was confirmed 49-46 despite fierce opposition from Democrats and digital rights groups.

“Nathan Simington is a deeply dangerous nominee to the FCC,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) warned during a virtual event with civil rights groups Monday. “He’s dangerous on the issues: net neutrality, Lifeline, E-Rate, and rural broadband … he is conflicted, unprepared and unqualified.”

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Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Roger WickerRoger Frederick WickerHillicon Valley: Major cybersecurity firm hacked in sophisticated nation-state attack | Senate confirms Trump FCC nominee amid Democratic pushback | Pornhub bans unverified uploads, ability to download content Senate confirms Trump FCC nominee amid Democratic pushback Despite veto threat, Congress presses ahead on defense bill MORE (R-Miss.) praised Simington for his “light-touch regulatory approach” after the vote.

“Nathan Simington’s confirmation will help ensure a balanced FCC and continued light-touch regulatory approach that has kept the internet free and open for all Americans,” Wicker said.

President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump taps Conway, Chao to government posts in waning days of administration Pelosi, Schumer hit Trump but cite ‘progress’ in COVID relief talks House GOP leader trolls Democrats over reduced majority MORE nominated Simington after pulling the renomination of Republican Commissioner Mike O’Rielly in August.

The swap came shortly after O’Rielly expressed opposition to Trump’s executive order targeting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which gives online platforms liability protection for content posted by third parties and allows them to do good faith content moderation.

Simington played a role in crafting the NTIA petition required by the order, he confirmed to senators during a committee hearing on his nomination.

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He also sought to enlist the help of Fox News host Laura IngrahamLaura Anne IngrahamSenate confirms Trump FCC nominee amid Democratic pushback Georgia’s Perdue, Kemp to appear with Fox News’s Laura Ingraham Senate committee advances FCC nominee on party-line vote  MORE to support the petition, emails obtained by the Politico last month show.

“Unfortunately, Nathan Simington’s only qualification for this job is following Donald Trump’s orders to turn the FCC into government speech police,” Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenSenate confirms Trump FCC nominee amid Democratic pushback Democratic senators push for ,200 direct payments in new coronavirus relief package Sanders presses Schumer on ,200 payments, bigger COVID-19 relief bill MORE (D-Ore.), one of the original authors of Section 230, said during the same event Monday.

Blumenthal has pressed Simington to recuse himself from any potential matters involving the NTIA petition. In his hearing and written follow-ups, the nominee said he would seek counsel on the issue.

FCC chair Ajit PaiAjit PaiFCC announces billions in subsidies to provide broadband access in rural areas This week: Congress poised to buy more time on spending, coronavirus talks Pai formally announces plans to leave FCC MORE could technically force the issue on Section 230 before he steps down on Jan. 20 while the agency maintains a Republican majority. Fellow Republican commissioner Brendan Carr is an ardent supporter of reinterpreting Section 230 to make internet platforms liable for content they host.

While Pai did not appear to be enthusiastic about the initial executive order, one industry source told The Hill that he is facing immense pressure from the administration to move on the petition before leaving the agency.

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The FCC’s authority to reinterpret Section 230 is questionable, and any attempt to do so would undoubtedly be met with legal challenges.

Simington’s confirmation will also leave the commission at a 2-2 partisan deadlock when Pai steps down.

Unless Democrats sweep the Senate races in Georgia next month, Republicans could block President-elect Biden from breaking the tie.

A tied committee would significantly limit the agency’s ability to carry out any significant changes, most notably by likely blocking any attempt to reinstate Obama-era net neutrality rules which allowed the FCC to go after service providers that discriminate against certain web traffic.

Critics have also warned that a deadlocked FCC could hurt efforts to expand connectivity, an issue which the coronavirus pandemic has made even more important.

“In the midst of a pandemic, what we need is an FCC Commissioner who will champion broadband and connectivity for the millions of Americans who don’t have internet access, including 16 million students,” Blumenthal said Monday. 

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Friday warned against large Christmas gatherings in the country and said to avoid exchanging Christmas presents to beat back the coronavirus pandemic.

“Let’s leave Christmas presents for another time,” López Obrador said, according to Reuters.

The warning came as Mexico reported 12,127 new coronavirus cases on Friday, according to the news outlet, setting a record for a single-day rise in the country. It was also the first time Mexico recorded more than 10,000 new cases for three days straight.

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López Obrador urged people to scale down or avoid traditional family gatherings over Christmas and New Year’s. He also advised people to stay at home unless they have something “truly important to do.”

However, he added that there would be no mandatory lockdown. 

Mexico surpassed 1 million coronavirus infections last month,and became the fourth country to pass 100,000 fatalities.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press briefing on Monday that “Mexico is in bad shape” with the pandemic, according to The Associated Press, and urged its leaders to take the pandemic seriously.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that visitors to the country are at high risk of contracting the virus and urged travelers to avoid going to the country altogether. Those who do go are advised to get tested before and after the trip and to stay home for seven days after travel.

The warning from the Mexican president echoes similar calls from some U.S. state and local leaders who urged Americans to keep their Thanksgiving gatherings small this year amid the pandemic. But despite those warnings, the U.S. saw a high amount of travel around the holiday. 

There have been 1,156,770 cases of COVID-19 in Mexico since the pandemic began, according to a count from Johns Hopkins University, and 108,863 deaths.

Support for the Affordable Care Act has reached 55 percent, tying a record high, according to polling from Gallup released on Wednesday.

Support for the 2010 health care law has hovered around 51 percent for most of 2017-2019, but it previously hit the record high of 55 percent in April 2017 as congressional Republicans moved to repeal President Obama’s signature legislation. A bill to repeal and replace the law passed the House around that time before failing in the Senate.

The law never reached 50 percent support during Obama’s presidency, and support for it hit a record low of 37 percent in November 2014 shortly after Republicans took control of the Senate. Support increased slightly in 2015 and 2016, with 42 percent approving of it in November 2016, the final survey of the Obama administration.

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Since President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump taps Conway, Chao to government posts in waning days of administration Pelosi, Schumer hit Trump but cite ‘progress’ in COVID relief talks House GOP leader trolls Democrats over reduced majority MORE took office, at least 50 percent have supported the Affordable Care Act in all but one survey, taken in November 2018, which saw it dip to 48 percent.

The 2020 poll comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the nation. Cases have surged nationwide as the death toll approaches 300,000.

Gallup found that among those who disapprove of ObamaCare, a significantly higher percentage, 68 percent, favor outright replacing the law, compared to 29 percent who favor keeping the legislation in place with major changes. Twenty percent of overall respondents approve of the current law and think changes to it are unnecessary, while 34 percent who said they approve said they would want alterations to the law.

Respondents had a clear partisan split, with 60 percent of Republicans disapproving of ObamaCare and favoring its repeal compared to 59 percent of Democrats who support the law and want changes made to improve it.

Ninety-four percent of Democrats support the law in general, compared to 13 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of independents.

Pollsters surveyed 1,018 American adults from Nov. 5 to 19 for the poll. It has a 4-point margin of error.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpFederal watchdog accuses VOA parent company of wrongdoing under Trump appointee Lawsuit alleges 200K Georgia voters were wrongly purged from registration list Ivanka Trump gives deposition in lawsuit alleging misuse of inauguration funds MORE doubled down Thursday on his calls for Republicans to include the repeal of a legal protection for tech companies in a must-pass defense policy bill after many in the GOP pushed back on tying the two issues together.

In a tweet, Trump recognized the Republican criticism of his proposal but said repealing Section 230, a provision that protects tech firms from liability over third-party content on their platforms, is a “MUST.”

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Trump has railed against social media platforms throughout his tenure over unsubstantiated claims that companies such as Twitter and Facebook are unfairly censoring conservative content. He views a repeal of Section 230 as prime way of hitting back at the firms, and his criticism has ramped up in recent weeks as the platforms flag his posts featuring unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in the presidential race.

The president first demanded that Republicans tie a Section 230 repeal with the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last weekend, warning to veto the annual legislation if a repeal is not included. He had previously threatened to repeal the bill over a provision mandating that the Pentagon rename Confederate-named military bases.

His calls appeared to fall on mostly deaf ears this week in Congress, however, as several Republicans said they’d already reached a deal with Democrats on language for the NDAA and that a provision regarding Section 230 did not belong in the defense bill.

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“230 has nothing to do with the military,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeDespite veto threat, Congress presses ahead on defense bill Hillicon Valley: GOP chairman says defense bill leaves out Section 230 repeal | Senate panel advances FCC nominee | Krebs says threats to election officials ‘undermining democracy’ Overnight Defense: Defense bill moving forward despite Trump veto threat over tech fight | Government funding bill hits snag | Top general talks Afghanistan, Pentagon budget MORE (R-Okla.). “I agree with his sentiments … but you can’t do it in this bill. That’s not a part of the bill.”

“I would hope that he would not actually follow through with that because the NDAA is critical,” Sen. Mike RoundsMike RoundsRepublican senators urge Trump to dodge pardon controversies Sweeping financial crimes bill to hitch a ride on defense measure Overnight Defense: Defense bill moving forward despite Trump veto threat over tech fight | Government funding bill hits snag | Top general talks Afghanistan, Pentagon budget MORE (R-S.D.) said regarding Trump’s veto threat over Section 230.

Congressional negotiators began signing a compromise bill between the House and Senate versions, known as a conference report, Wednesday evening without any language on Section 230, a House aide confirmed to The Hill.

Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyDespite veto threat, Congress presses ahead on defense bill GOP chairman: Defense bill to include renaming Confederate bases, but not Section 230 repeal Time to bring federal employees home for every holiday MORE (R-Mo.), meanwhile, has said he “cannot support” the NDAA because it doesn’t contain Section 230 reforms but does contain language regarding the Confederate-named bases, and Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamDespite veto threat, Congress presses ahead on defense bill GOP urges Trump not to tank defense bill over tech fight Republican frustration builds over Cabinet picks MORE (R-S.C.) said he was supportive of Trump “using all the leverage he can” to reform the tech protection.

Outgoing Rep. Tulsi GabbardTulsi GabbardSix people whose election wins made history Next Congress expected to have record diversity Native Americans elected to Congress in record numbers this year MORE (D-Hawaii) has also said she “fully” backs Trump on his veto threat, tweeting, “please don’t back down.” 

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However, those voices of support appear to be in the minority, with Republicans in Senate leadership noting that the NDAA must be passed.

“I don’t think the defense bill is the place to litigate that,” Sen. John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneDespite veto threat, Congress presses ahead on defense bill Overnight Defense: Defense bill moving forward despite Trump veto threat over tech fight | Government funding bill hits snag | Top general talks Afghanistan, Pentagon budget Funding bill hits snag as shutdown deadline looms MORE (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said. “There will be enormous support for getting the defense authorization bill passed and hopefully signed into law.”

A federal appeals court shot down a bid by a conservative lawyer to block President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump floats a Doug Collins run against Kemp for Georgia governor Defiant Trump insists election was ‘rigged’ at rally for Georgia Senate Republicans Biden victory, vaccine and an anniversary: good karma for the Mediterranean? MORE’s victory in Georgia, handing down the latest setback for the sprawling legal effort to subvert the results of the Nov. 3 presidential race.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit said it supports the ruling of District Judge Steven Grimberg, a Trump appointee, who found that L. Lin Wood did not have the legal standing to sue over the results in Georgia, where Biden defeated President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump floats a Doug Collins run against Kemp for Georgia governor Defiant Trump insists election was ‘rigged’ at rally for Georgia Senate Republicans Trump offers condolences to family, friends of Loeffler campaign staffer who died MORE by about 12,000 votes.

The appeals court ruled that Wood “had to prove that his suit presents a justiciable controversy” but ultimately “failed to satisfy this burden” and “fails to allege a particularized injury.”

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“We may not entertain post-election contests about garden-variety issues of vote counting and misconduct that may properly be filed in state courts,” the appeals court decided.

The court also said Wood’s challenge was moot since Georgia already certified its election.

The decision was the latest in a string of defeats in various legal efforts in battleground states across the country to overturn the election results. Trump and his allies, as well as outside supporters such as Wood, were handed an avalanche of legal losses this week in a demoralizing week for the legal team, with lawsuits dismissed in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Many of the rulings have been based on a lack of evidence or a lack of legal standing by the plaintiffs.

The Peach State has emerged as the center of conservatives’ legal efforts to overturn the election results. Despite the series of losses and Georgia’s certification, Trump and his allies have maintained that widespread voter fraud and issues over things such as ballot signatures cost the president the state.

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“I will easily & quickly win Georgia if Governor @BrianKempGA or the Secretary of State permit a simple signature verification. Has not been done and will show large scale discrepancies. Why are these two ‘Republicans’ saying no? If we win Georgia, everything else falls in place!” Trump tweeted Saturday.

Republicans have begun voicing concerns that attacks over the election system will convince GOP voters to boycott two crucial Senate runoffs and depress turnout. The runoffs are pitting Sen. Kelly LoefflerKelly LoefflerTrump floats a Doug Collins run against Kemp for Georgia governor Defiant Trump insists election was ‘rigged’ at rally for Georgia Senate Republicans Trump offers condolences to family, friends of Loeffler campaign staffer who died MORE (R) against the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Sen. David PerdueDavid PerdueTrump asked Georgia governor to persuade state legislature to overturn Biden victory in state: report Appeals court rejects effort to block Biden’s win in Georgia Liberal group running Grinch-themed ads targeting Loeffler, Perdue MORE (R) against documentary filmmaker Jon Ossoff.

The two runoffs will determine which party controls the Senate in the next Congress. The GOP currently has a 50-48 majority, but if both Warnock and Ossoff win, Democrats will have control with a 50-50 split and Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisDefiant Trump insists election was ‘rigged’ at rally for Georgia Senate Republicans Trump asked Georgia governor to persuade state legislature to overturn Biden victory in state: report Biden’s foreign policy team has a surprising lack of diversity MORE having the ability to cast tiebreaking votes.

Wood has been a particularly sharp thorn in Republicans’ side in recent weeks, using his broad Twitter following to call on Republicans to boycott the races. Trump is also traveling to Georgia on Saturday to rally with Loeffler and Collins, though Republicans have sounded the alarm that his continued railings against Georgia officials and the election could also depress turnout.

Every Major League Baseball team has joined the commissioner’s office and the league’s digital and streaming services in a lawsuit against their insurers over financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the lawsuit, dated Oct. 16 and obtained by CNN, the plaintiffs argued they bought “top-shelf All Risks Policies” to protect against losses such as those caused by the pandemic.

“Baseball paid millions of dollars in premiums year after year because it deliberately bought broad, more protective coverage” the lawsuit states, but the insurance companies “have very publicly refused to live up to their contractual obligation to pay what they promised.”

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MLB has been left with the shortest season on record due to the pandemic, which has forced the cancellation of over 1,500 games. Revenues lost due to the virus include money they would have made from ticket sales, parking and merchandise, according to the lawsuit, which also says the loss of local and national broadcast rights cost the plaintiffs more than $1 billion.

While the league’s 30 teams typically play 162 games each, not counting the postseason, MLB postponed Opening Day for four months before beginning a 60-game season this year, according to the network.

Nearly all games were played without fans present except for reduced-capacity games during the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

“Due to COVID-19, the Major League Baseball entities, including those of the 30 Major League Clubs, have incurred significant financial losses as a result of our inability to play games, host fans and otherwise conduct normal business operations during much of the 2020 season. We strongly believe these losses are covered in full by our insurance policies, and are confident that the court and jury will agree,” Major League Baseball said in a statement, according to CNN.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says he will not serve in President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump Jr. cuts ad for Loeffler, Perdue in Georgia Biden to tap Vilsack for Agriculture secretary: reports Georgia elections official: Trump should ‘act more responsibly’ MORE’s administration.

“I will not be in the Biden administration,” Johnson said in an email to Reuters. When asked why, he referred to “the news over the last 24 hours.”

Johnson was reportedly under consideration to serve as secretary of Defense in the incoming administration.

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The president-elect announced on Tuesday that he would nominate retired Gen. Lloyd Austin to the post instead. Austin, if confirmed, would be the first Black Defense secretary.

Johnson served as Homeland Security secretary from 2013 to 2017. Early in the Obama administration, he was a  Pentagon general counsel, Reuters notes.

However, his efforts to expand family detentions and accelerate deportations came under question, according to an opposition book circulated around Capitol Hill. His approval of hundreds of drone strikes that hit civilians was also called into question.

Johnson was also reportedly under consideration to be attorney general. Now, Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), who lost his reelection bid last month, is seen as the top contender for the job.

Others under consideration for attorney general in the Biden administration are former Deputy Attorney General Sally YatesSally Caroline YatesDoug Jones seen as leading contender as Biden attorney general: report Biden to name nominee for Pentagon chief this week The case against Sally Yates MORE and Judge Merrick GarlandMerrick Brian GarlandDoug Jones seen as leading contender as Biden attorney general: report The five biggest challenges facing President-elect Biden Feinstein departure from top post sets stage for Judiciary fight MORE.