Morning Briefing: GOP on Russia Hacking, UPS Driver Helps Captive Woman, Chris Christie Loses Again

Lawmakers in Congress are readying themselves for multiple investigations into Russia and its meddling during the 2016 election — and it's not just Democrats who are looking for revenge after Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain of Arizona is working with Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr to investigate Russia’s suspected interference in the U.S. elections and cyberthreats to the military and other institutions. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker of Tennessee also said he plans to hold hearings next year into alleged Russian hacking.

“I’m going after Russia in every way you can go after Russia. I think they’re one of the most destabilizing influences on the world stage. I think they did interfere with our elections, and I want Putin personally to pay the price,” Lindsey Graham said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.

All of that sets up a potential battle with President-elect Trump, who continues to reject the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Moscow is to blame, telling Time Magazine that he does not believe the intelligence community's assessment that Russia was behind the hacks.

Top Stories

Republicans Ready to Launch Wide-Ranging Probe of Russia, Despite Trump’s Stance: "Leading Senate Republicans are preparing to launch a coordinated and wide-ranging probe into Russia’s alleged meddling in the U.S. elections and its potential cyberthreats to the military, digging deep into what they view as corrosive interference in the nation’s institutions." (The Washington Post)

UPS Driver Helps Free Captive Woman: "A UPS driver who spotted 'call 911' scrawled on a package helped police free a woman who had been held captive in her own home and sexually assaulted, authorities said." (CNN)

Chris Christie Lost Another Chance to Get Job From Donald Trump: "Gov. Chris Christie reportedly lost another chance to get a job that would allow him to play a prominent role in the Trump administration. Christie will not be named chairman of the Republican National Committee when Donald Trump becomes president on Jan. 20, two sources told NJ Advance Media on Thursday, meaning that he may not get a job in Washington, D.C., as had been expected." (Patch)

Donald Trump to Remain Executive Producer on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’: "Donald Trump will remain an exec producer on NBC’s 'Celebrity Apprentice,' which is returning Jan. 2 after a two-year hiatus with new host Arnold Schwarzenegger. MGM confirmed to Variety that Trump has retained his EP credit on the series. The president-elect’s status on the 15th season of the reality series that made him a household name has been a question since Trump launched his presidential campaign in June 2015." (Variety)

From the Twitterverse

For some, even an award has its problems:

Today's Numbers

• More than 1,000 Russian athletes are reportedly involved in doping programs.
• In 2015, nearly 38 percent of high schoolers reported having tried an e-cigarette at least once.
• This telltale tail shows dinosaur feathers in "exquisite detail" after 99 million years.
• An Alabama death row inmate coughed and heaved for about 13 minutes during his execution by lethal injection on Thursday night.

Quote of the Day

Vice President Joe Biden on the 2016 election cycle:

“I find myself embarrassed by the nature of the way in which this campaign was conducted. So much for the shining city on the hill.”

Allen McDuffee is a politics and policy reporter, investigative journalist, blogger and podcast host. He has written for The Atlantic, Wired and The Washington Post. Follow him on Twitter: @AllenMcDuffee

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons