AP News Digest 3:25 a.m.

APTOPIX Electoral College Protests (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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TOP STORIES

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CONGRESS-ELECTORAL COLLEGE — A violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced lawmakers into hiding, in a stunning attempt to overturn America’s presidential election and keep Democrat Joe Biden from replacing Trump in the White House. Lawmakers eventually resumed the electoral vote count, and they were still at it early Thursday morning. By Lisa Mascaro, Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick and Andrew Taylor. SENT: 1,210 words, photos, video. UPCOMING: 1,250 words after final count, expected around 4 a.m. With CONGRESS-ELECTORAL COLLEGE-THE LATEST.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE-PROTESTS — It began as a day of reckoning for Trump’s futile attempt to cling to power, as Congress took up the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. It fractured into scenes of fear and agony that left a prime ritual of American democracy in tatters. By Mary Clare Jalonick, Andrew Taylor, Lisa Mascaro and Calvin Woodward. SENT: 1,290 words, photos, video.

TRUMP-ANALYSIS — The riotous mob that laid siege to the U.S. Capitol was the product of the destructive forces that Trump has been stirring for years, culminating in the disruption of a democratic ritual that would formally end his unconstitutional bid to stay in power. By Jonathan Lemire. SENT: 1,220 words, photos.

AN-UNIMAGINABLE-MOMENT — To see it unspool — to watch the jumbled images ricochet, live, across the world’s endless screens — was, as an American, a struggle to believe your eyes. But there it was, in the capital city of the United States in early January 2021: a real-time breaking and entering the likes of which the republic has never seen. By National Writer Ted Anthony. SENT: 930 words, photos.

CONGRESS-WORLD REACTION — World leaders are condemning the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Trump. By Foster Klug. SENT: 900 words, photos.

SENATE GEORGIA — Democrats won both Georgia Senate seats — and with them, the U.S. Senate majority — as final votes were counted, serving Trump a stunning defeat in his turbulent final days in office while dramatically improving the fate of Biden’s progressive agenda. By Steve Peoples, Bill Barrow and Russ Bynum. With SENATE-GEORGIA-OSSOFF — Ossoff seals Democrats’ sweep; will be youngest U.S. senator. Also see SENATE-GEORGIA-HOW IT HAPPENED below.

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WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

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INDONESIA-VOLCANO — Indonesia’s Merapi volcano spews hot clouds, 500 evacuate. SENT: 280 words, photos.

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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-ARIZONA GOVERNOR — Since early in the pandemic, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has resisted instituting restrictive measures to try to keep the coronavirus cases from rising. SENT: 1,040 words, photo.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CALIFORNIA — California hospitals struggling with a skyrocketing coronavirus surge are trying to prepare for the possibility that they may have to ration care for lack of staff and beds — and hoping they don’t have to make that choice. SENT: 630 words, photos.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-ASIA — Lockdown measures were being imposed in a northern Chinese province where coronavirus cases more than doubled in the region near Beijing that’s due to host some events in next year’s Winter Olympics. SENT: 470 words, photos. With VIRUS-OUTBREAK-THE-LATEST.

GERMANY-CUREVAC-BAYER — A German company that is in the advanced stages of producing a vaccine against COVID-19 is linking up with pharmaceutical giant Bayer to help develop and distribute the product. SENT: 180 words.

VIRUS-OUTBREAK-VIRAL-QUESTIONS-SECOND-SHOT — The first COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and U.K. require two doses a few weeks apart. SENT: 300 words, graphic.

Find more coverage on the Virus Outbreak on the featured topic page in AP Newsroom.

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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TRUMP-REPUBLICANS — The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol offers a new, and perhaps final, moment of reckoning for a Republican Party that has spent much of the past two months encouraging Trump’s false claims that the November election was stolen. By Chief Political Writer Steve Peoples. SENT: 830 words, photos.

CONGRESS-ELECTORAL COLLEGE-SOMBER SENATE — A sober and shaken Senate returned to session to slap away a frivolous challenge to Biden’s election victory, but senators also took the chance to rise above a shocking day. SENT: 520 words, photos.

CAPITOL BREACH-SECURITY — Lawmakers are vowing an investigation into how Capitol police handled the violent breach, questioning whether a lack of preparedness allowed the mob to occupy and vandalize the building. SENT: 450 words, photos.

SENATE-GEORGIA-HOW IT HAPPENED — Trump came to the north Georgia mountains to goose turnout in the conservative stronghold and stave off strong Democratic challengers who threatened the GOP’s Senate majority in two runoff elections. It didn’t work. SENT: 1,140 words, photos.

BIDEN-ATTORNEY GENERAL-MERRICK GARLAND — Biden has selected Merrick Garland, a federal appeals court judge who in 2016 was snubbed by Republicans for a seat on the Supreme Court, as his attorney general, two people familiar with the selection process say. SENT: 980 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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IRAN-PLANE SHOOTDOWN-ANNIVERSARY — More questions than answers remain about the disaster that killed 176 people on board a Ukrainian jetliner, a year after Iran’s military mistakenly downed the plane with surface-to-air missiles. SENT: 1,150 words, photos.

HONG-KONG-CRACKDOWN — An American human rights lawyer who was detained in Hong Kong with scores of democracy activists and supporters as part of a sweeping crackdown was granted bail, his associate says. SENT: 630 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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SUBDUED MARDI GRAS — A subdued Carnival season begins after the coronavirus pandemic put an end to the crowd-heavy balls and street parades that draw thousands of people to New Orleans every year. SENT: 380 words, photos.

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BUSINESS/TECH

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TRUMP-SOCIAL-MEDIA-RECKONING — All it took for social-media giants Twitter and Facebook to even temporarily bar Trump from addressing their vast audiences was a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, fueled by years of false statements, conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric from the president. SENT: 730 words, photos.

FINANCIAL MARKETS — Shares rose in Asia after Wall Street rallied on expectations of more stimulus for the economy, despite chaotic scenes in Washington when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 910 words, photos.

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TV/MEDIA

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CONGRESS-ELECTORAL COLLEGE-MEDIA — The storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters played out on television in searing fashion, with stunning pictures of guns drawn in the House of Representatives and hand-to-hand combat with police. By Media Writer David Bauder. SENT: 830 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Wally Santana (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.