(Need to get this text in your inbox? Right here’s the sign-up.) Good night. Right here’s the most recent.1. The Senate majority chief, Mitch McConnell, backed President Trump in his refusal to concede.In his first feedback since Joe Biden was declared the winner, the highest Republican in Congress declined to acknowledge the victory, arguing on the Senate flooring that Mr. Trump was “100 percent within his rights” to problem the election final result.Because the president continued to say the election was stolen from him and vowed to pursue lawsuits in key swing states, Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, broke ranks and have become solely the fourth senator in her occasion to acknowledge Mr. Biden’s “apparent victory.”3. President Trump fired Mark Esper as protection secretary.Mr. Esper disagreed together with his boss in June about sending active-duty navy troops to manage demonstrations in opposition to police brutality. Christopher Miller, director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Heart, will probably be performing secretary, the fourth official to guide the Pentagon below Mr. Trump.Mr. Esper had taken pains to hew to the Trump line throughout his practically 16-month tenure. However concern over invoking the Riot Act to ship troops to battle protesters throughout the nation is deep within the Pentagon, and Mr. Esper finally opposed the transfer.4. International markets soared in a relief-fueled rally.The S&P 500 jumped 1.2 % — however closed wanting a report excessive — as readability emerged on the U.S. presidential election and the rampaging coronavirus. The Dow added 834 factors, or Three %, and stocks in Europe and Asia gained. The Nasdaq fell.Although markets had been already forward earlier than Pfizer’s vaccine announcement, shares surged for firms like airways and cruise operators that will profit from a post-pandemic normalcy.Since President Trump took workplace, Huge Enterprise has been thrust into political points as by no means earlier than. However with Joe Biden now president-elect, company America may be in line for a breather.5. Burying “America First.”In a press release to The Occasions, Joe Biden mentioned he wished to carry an finish to a overseas coverage slogan that represents constructing partitions and making cooperation with allies an afterthought.He says he’ll re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, join one other 5 years of the one surviving nuclear arms treaty with Russia and double down on American commitments to NATO.However allies concede they may by no means totally belief that the U.S. is not going to lurch again to constructing partitions.In different overseas coverage spheres:6. Tropical Storm Eta soaked South Florida, dumping 13 inches of rain in some areas.A uncommon storm to make landfall on the finish of the six-month hurricane season, Eta introduced a storm surge to the coast and left a whole bunch of hundreds of individuals with out electrical energy. Above, a flooded neighborhood in Plantation, Fla., in the present day.Eta got here ashore at 11 p.m. Sunday within the center Florida Keys, however the strongest winds and thunderstorms had been northeast of its middle, lashing the higher keys and Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in a single day.7. “Lawn and Order!”We nonetheless don’t know for positive how a Rudy Giuliani information convention on Saturday ended up within the parking zone of 4 Seasons Whole Landscaping, a Philadelphia enterprise subsequent door to an grownup bookshop and a crematory, and never on the 4 Seasons Lodge.However after discovering itself the topic of cruel mocking, the landscaping firm is now capitalizing on it, promoting patriotic-themed merchandise on its web site.The family-owned firm reported on Twitter that the merchandise enterprise — together with a $5 sticker with the phrases “Make America Rake Again” and “Lawn and Order!” — was booming.8. Did the founding father celebrated as an abolitionist within the musical “Hamilton” really personal slaves?New analysis out of the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Web site in Albany, N.Y., argues that our first Treasury secretary did certainly. Above, an entry in Alexander Hamilton’s cash e-book from March 23, 1793, itemizing a fee to Philip Schuyler, his father-in-law, for “2 Negro servants purchased by him for me.”“Not only did Alexander Hamilton enslave people, but his involvement in the institution of slavery was essential to his identity, both personally and professionally,” Jessie Serfilippi, a historic interpreter, concluded.Whereas the proof isn’t new, the argument is forceful, consultants say. “It just shows that the founders were nearly all implicated in slavery in some way,” in response to a Harvard historical past professor.9. Outdated canines and new analysis.Scientists more and more consider that our canine companions are good models for human growing old and that finding out the method in canines may assist us be taught extra about methods to age higher.Their analysis reveals that canines are much like us in necessary methods, like how they act as seniors and what occurs of their growing old DNA. Additionally they share most of the identical old-age illnesses, like weight problems, arthritis, hypothyroidism and diabetes. Above, the Border collies Miley and Tiara, who had been a part of a research of older canines at Vienna’s College of Veterinary Medication.“One of the things that we’re really interested in is figuring out, first of all, whether there are things in the DNA of dogs that you can find that actually explain why some of them live a remarkably long time,” one of many researchers mentioned.10. And eventually, these two drummers make a joyful sound.Should you’re a rock ’n’ curler in Los Angeles, and a 10-year-old prodigy in Ipswich, England, challenges you to a drum-off on social media, whatcha gonna do?Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer, accepted that decision to battle this summer time from Nandi Bushell, who took up percussion at age 5.Grohl conceded defeat after their epic on-line encounter, and since then the 2 have continued enjoying music for one another. “There’s something about seeing the joy and energy of a kid in love with an instrument. She just seemed like a force of nature,” Grohl mentioned.Have a loud and energetic night.Your Night Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Japanese.Need to compensate for previous briefings? You’ll be able to browse them right here.What did you want? What do you wish to see right here? Tell us at briefing@nytimes.com.
