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News

• The Washington Post reported that Biden was expected to nominate Miguel Cardona, the commissioner of education in Connecticut, for secretary of education. Cardona accepted Biden’s offer, according to Axios on Tuesday morning. Former Howard University Dean Leslie Fenwick was also a finalist for the position.

• To manage the narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. House, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said on Friday that Biden would likely appoint Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) to his administration as a senior advisor before nominating other sitting members of Congress for Cabinet positions. This appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation, would trigger a March special election in Louisiana. Clyburn said Biden would delay the nominations of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) for interior secretary and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) for housing and urban development secretary until after this special election.

• The Food & Water Watch, which The New York Times described as a consumer and environmental watchdog group, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) oppose Tom Vilsack's nomination for secretary of agriculture. “I think he’ll fold under pressure from the ag lobby, the subsidy lobby and big agriculture,” said EWG President Ken Cook. The National Farmers Union and Feeding America have both backed Vilsack’s nomination.

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Transition in Context

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What We're Reading

• Fox News: Republicans slam Big Tech additions to Biden team, say Silicon Valley works 'hand in glove' with Democrats
• The New York Times: Pandemic Aid Bolsters Biden and Shows Potential Path for His Agenda in Congress
• Politico: 'Why bother?': Biden, Trump advisers see little value in White House meeting