Happy Tuesday! Today would have been William F. Buckley’s 95th birthday. As good a day as any to read Alvin Felzenberg on the founding editor of National Review’s “crusade against the John Birch Society.”

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

• Emily Murphy, head of the Government Services Administration, sent a letter to President-elect Biden yesterday authorizing him and his team to begin a formal transition process. President Trump accepted the move, saying that—while he still believes he will “prevail”—he is “recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols.” Several hours later, however, he added that his legal fights are “moving full speed ahead” and he “will never concede.”

• A steady stream of Republicans continued to publicly accept the reality of the election results yesterday. Sen. Rob Portman wrote in an op-ed that “there is no evidence as of now of any widespread fraud or irregularities that would change the result in any state.” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham told viewers, “Unless the legal situation changes in a dramatic and frankly unlikely manner, Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20.” Trump’s top backer on Wall Street—Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman—told Axios “the outcome is very certain today, and the country should move on.” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito wrote that, “at some point, the 2020 election must end” and “if states certify the results as they currently stand, Vice President Joe Biden will be our next president.” Sen. Lamar Alexander said “it seems apparent that Joe Biden will be the president-elect” and encouraged President Trump to concede: “When you are in public life, people remember the last thing you do.”

• Michigan’s State Board of Canvassers on Monday certified President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state by a vote of 3-0, with one Republican board member abstaining.