JOSH EARNEST

President-elect Joe Biden is nominating former President Barack Obama's White House chief of staff Denis McDonough as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Increasingly deep into the process of selecting Cabinet members and other senior staff, the incoming Biden administration has a distinctly Obama feel. There's Denis McDonough, former President Barack Obama's chief of staff who Biden announced on Thursday would be nominated as the secretary of veterans affairs. Susan Rice, Obama's former U.N. ambassador and national security adviser, was named the director of Biden's White House Domestic Policy Council. Jeff Zients, who did stints as acting Office of Management and Budget director and a top economic adviser in the Obama White House, will return as Biden’s coronavirus response coordinator.

United Airlines said Wednesday it plans to furlough 16,370 employees in October, a smaller number than the airline predicted in July because thousands of workers agreed to leave with the travel industry facing a slow recovery from the pandemic. Since then, thousands of workers took early retirement, buyouts, or long-term leaves of absence. They said the furloughs would be postponed if Washington approves another $25 billion to help passenger airlines cover payroll costs. About 2,850 pilots, 2,260 airport-based employees, 2,010 maintenance workers and 1,400 management and support staff would also lose their jobs. United took $5 billion in payroll cash and loans.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said during a briefing that terrorism cannot be ruled out in the Russian plane crash in Egypt that killed more than 200 people. CBS News senior national security analyst Juan Zarate joins CBSN by phone to discuss.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest gives a briefing following the announcement that a small number of U.S. troops will be deployed to Syria to help the fight on ISIS. CBSN has the latest.

White House redefines Taliban as "armed insurgency" The White House is now drawing a sharp distinction between the Taliban and the Islamic State, describing the Taliban as an "armed insurgency." During Thursday's White House briefing, CBS News' senior White House correspondent Bill Plante pushed press secretary Josh Earnest on their policy to refuse to negotiate with terrorists.

White House spokesman pans Tom Brady's response to "deflate-gate" White House press secretary Josh Earnest doesn't think much of the New England Patriots quarterback's response to his team's ball-deflation scandal.

White House won't call terrorists "radical Islamists" The White House is going to great lengths to explain why it won't call the Paris terrorists "radical Islamists." As CBSN's Elaine Quijano and Michelle Miller report, Press Secretary Josh Earnest explains why.

White House pushes back on Leon Panetta's criticism of Obama White House press secretary Josh Earnest defends President Obama's leadership after being asked about criticism from former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Ground force issue continues to split White House and Pentagon On Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest reiterated that the U.S. would not be sending combat troops to battle ISIS. But military skeptics fear that defeating the Sunni militant group may eventually require American ground troops. Bill Plante reports.

Combating ISIS: What are U.S. allies willing to commit? White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest outlines the involvement of countries across the globe as the United States works to build a coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

White House: U.S. "can't dictate" makeup of Iraqi government White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the newly formed Iraqi government "reflects the diversity of that country."

White House: Court’s ruling on Obamacare subsidies has “no practical impact” on consumers White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says the ruling by a federal three-judge panel that the government cannot dole out subsidies to consumers on federally-run Obamacare marketplaces ignores the obvious intent of Congress to make subsidies available nationwide.

Obama scraps Jimmy Kimmel appearance amid "more serious matters" abroad White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the president will no longer stop by “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” during his fundraising trip to California due to ongoing crises on the international scene.

White House: Most unaccompanied kids at border won't stay in the U.S. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said during his daily briefing that most are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief that would prevent them from being sent back to their home countries.

Reporters blast new White House press secretary Josh Earnest had a rocky first day as the newly minted White House press secretary after reporters accused him of refusing to answer a question about Iraq.

hails a "ton of progress" on job creation White House spokesman Josh Earnest welcomes robust job growth, says the administration is not resting on its laurels.