'Blockbuster' winter storm, coronavirus pandemic, Chris Krebs testifies: 5 things to know Wednesday

'Blockbuster' storm could drop up to 2 feet of snow on East Coast

The biggest East Coast winter storm in years is on target to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, with up to 2 feet of snow possible in some areas. The storm is expected to hit hard and fast with major travel disruptions, shipping delays, school closings and power outages. According to the National Weather Service, Washington, D.C., could get 3 to 4 inches; Philadelphia, 8 to 12 inches; New York City, 14 inches; and Boston, 8 to 12 inches. Many cities will see more snow this week than they saw all last winter, the Weather Channel said. 

• Check your travel plans: Airlines issue waivers ahead of storm

Substantial snowstorm brewing for Northeast and mid-Atlantic

Following a quick-hitting snowstorm at the start of the week, a much larger storm will take aim at the region from Tuesday to Thursday.

Accuweather

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Biden expected to appear with transportation nominee, Pete Buttigieg

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Pete Buttigieg to be his transportation secretary and he is scheduled to appear with Biden Wednesday for a formal announcement. Biden praised his former Democratic primary rival's record of "trailblazing, forward-thinking executive leadership." If the votes are there, Buttigieg would be the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate. Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would also add a youthful dynamic to an incoming administration that is so far dominated in large part by leaders with decades of Washington experience.

• 'The Electoral College has spoken': McConnell congratulates Biden, Harris for election win
• Biden seeks a diverse Cabinet: Who will join his administration and who might be top contenders
• 'Painful and dark' 2020 could be 'hinge point': Buttigieg talks healing America in book released in the fall

Amid surging COVID-19, Fed could take steps to boost economy

As the Federal Reserve concludes a two-day meeting Wednesday, it will be struggling with how to respond to opposing forces in the nation’s COVID-19-fueled economic crisis. The Fed already has cut its key short-term interest rate near zero and vowed to keep it there until the economy returns to full employment and inflation runs above its 2% goal “for some time” — a promise that likely would mean no rate hikes until 2024 or beyond, some economists say. But Fed officials still have more ammunition, largely related to their massive bond-buying stimulus aimed at holding down long-term rates that affect mortgages and other loans. 

• Coronavirus updates: Texas joins California as only states with 1.5M cases
• Dads took on more childcare when they worked from home during COVID-19. Will a vaccine end that?
• Worried about another recession? Here's what the stock market is predicting for 2021

Krebs to testify during Senate hearing on election security 

Former Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs is set to testify Wednesday morning before a Senate panel holding a hearing on “irregularities” in the 2020 election. Krebs, who was ousted by President Donald Trump in a post-election purge of national security officials, was invited by the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan. Republicans, who control the committee, invited officials linked to the Trump campaign and attorney Ken Starr to testify. The Republican chairman of the committee, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he acknowledged Biden’s victory but still wanted to answer “legitimate questions” about the election.

• Ex-election security chief Christopher Krebs sues Trump campaign, lawyer for defamation

Trump fires CISA Director Chris Krebs, who denied election fraud

President Trump has fired Chris Krebs, the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. CISA is tasked with protecting elections from cyberattacks.

Newsy, Newsy

Which college football giant will dominate early signing day?

The road to national championship contention starts Wednesday as the early signing period begins for Division I college football teams. Players, many of whom have long been committed to programs, can make those commitments official by inking a National Letter of Intent. The usual suspects — Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU and Clemson — have the best current classes based on commits via the 247 Sports Composite rankings. But wild things can happen on signing day, and that’s probably especially true in an unprecedented season that saw recruiting access curtailed due to COVID-19.

• Bowl projections: College Football Playoff picture getting clearer
• Winners and losers from fourth College Football Playoff rankings: Florida hardly falls despite bad loss to LSU