White House: Top scientist resigns over treatment of staff
President Joe Bidenโs top science adviser Eric Lander has resigned after the White House confirmed that an internal investigation found credible evidence that he mistreated his staff.
![Biden's AI czar focuses on societal risks, preventing harm](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/eMg6F70--10kPv7zHcTuqqBdNJE=/800x706/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4KQI2JAAWJBB5AL6RC627ULDHA.jpg)
Biden's AI czar focuses on societal risks, preventing harm
Robotics scientist Lynne Parker was a pioneer in figuring out how robots could work together to perform difficult missions, like cleaning up after a nuclear disaster, waxing warehouse floors or pulling barnacles off a ship.
![Biden to hold first Cabinet meeting amid infrastructure push](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/Rfze8gVKoIkzpdIlRXk6-nTjoYU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WQJJ6Z77LRB5NDUI3DV7KLKDVY.jpg)
Biden to hold first Cabinet meeting amid infrastructure push
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON โ Joe Biden will convene his first Cabinet meeting on Thursday, a presidential rite of passage that will be used to promote his new infrastructure plan. AdโThe meetings can help align priorities, build morale, and allow Cabinet members to develop relationships with colleagues who they donโt normally see,โ Lu said. The White House has highlighted that this Cabinet is the most diverse in history. In normal times, scheduling an in-person Cabinet meeting would require weeks, if not months, of planning to block off time in the travel schedules of the various principals. The Cabinet members will soon begin to fan out across the country to pitch both the COVID-19 relief and infrastructure plans, officials said.
![Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/U2ccjbNpC_SM3LfjLZFJOs8-ehE=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/M3GYECPZVFDPDMXYYWPL66M52M.jpg)
Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Bidenโs Cabinet is nearly complete with the confirmation of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. A panel will also vote on advancing the nomination of Polly Ellen Trottenberg to be deputy secretary of transportation. And even as the Biden administration moves through picking nominees, there's no guarantee they'll all receive a smooth confirmation. And some of the deputies have become political footballs for Republicans looking to score concessions from the Biden administration. Cruz continues to hold up Bidenโs nominee for deputy secretary of state, Wendy Sherman, until sanctions are imposed.
![Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/_iIE5MNgKNHYrOr4h1o42qXRyeg=/2048x1365/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XJJ6CULQ6BFINNPTVNEBNF7ZVI.jpg)
Biden Cabinet near complete but hundreds of jobs still open
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Bidenโs Cabinet is nearly complete with the confirmation of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Monday. A panel will also vote on advancing the nomination of Polly Ellen Trottenberg to be deputy secretary of Transportation. And even as the Biden administration moves through picking nominees, there's no guarantee they'll all receive a smooth confirmation. And some of the deputies have become political footballs for Republicans looking to score concessions from the Biden administration. Cruz continues to hold up Bidenโs nominee for deputy secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, until sanctions are imposed.
![EXPLAINER: Executive orders can be swift but fleeting](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/tKbPrXifkCQsTALrVVNyHx4NqS0=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BQD5G2FJSJABZLRCQJV7WG354Q.jpg)
EXPLAINER: Executive orders can be swift but fleeting
A new president may overturn a predecessor's order by issuing another executive order effectively canceling it. BOTH SIDES DO IT; BOTH SIDES COMPLAINTo be sure, modern presidents from both parties have been heavy users of executive orders โ and have been criticized by the opposition party. Not surprisingly, some Republicans have complained about Bidenโs early reliance on executive orders. As his presidency plays out, an overreliance on executive orders could undercut that argument. HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROWThe experiences of both Trump and Obama underscore the fleeting nature of executive orders.
![Biden fills out State Department team with Obama veterans](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/YMVe9wHTJ49tNjpyE7kwaGFrdfo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2DE25TUFH5BMJCX7SSCDF3RXQA.jpg)
Biden fills out State Department team with Obama veterans
FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2021 file photo President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Biden also named two prominent female scientists to co-chair the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Biden picked Alondra Nelson of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, a social scientist who studies science, technology and social inequality, as deputy science policy chief. The president-elect noted the team's diversity and repeated his promise that his administration's science policy and investments would target historically disadvantaged and underserved communities. The job as director of science and technology policy requires Senate confirmation.
![The Latest: China reports a few new cases of COVID-19](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/8OjjIm889i4u7qq4dBuoEZMNtRY=/1600x1047/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZYYFZZXF5VFGLLV2XCZNTIRN6M.jpg)
The Latest: China reports a few new cases of COVID-19
The 311 deaths reported in the week since Jan. 10 were a pandemic one -week high for Nevada, surpassing the 299 deaths reported the previous week, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The state health department on Saturday reported 3,621 coronavirus cases and 27 deaths for confirmed totals of 351,665 cases and 2,952 deaths. It ranks third globally with 8.9 million confirmed cases in a nation of 211 million people. India has registered 10.5 million cases, second highest in the world behind the U.S. at 23.5 million. The Department of Health Services reported 8,715 cases and 208 deaths, increasing the pandemic totals to 666,901 confirmed cases and 11,248 confirmed deaths.
![Biden picks geneticist as science adviser, puts in Cabinet](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/_JAZ5HFv0ePdrTpop5iBWrBGQuw=/1600x1054/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FSERDDENFZDJNEXIKQNP3WOR3M.jpg)
Biden picks geneticist as science adviser, puts in Cabinet
President-elect Joe Biden picked a pioneering geneticist to be his science advisor and elevated the job to his Cabinet. Saying โscience will always be at the forefront of my administration,โ Biden said he is boosting the science advisor post to Cabinet level, a first in White House history. The job as director of science and technology policy requires Senate confirmation. Science organizations were also quick to praise Lander and the promotion of the science post. Biden chose Alondra Nelson of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, a social scientist who studies science, technology and social inequality, as deputy science policy chief.