In Transition: Rex Tillerson, the chief of Exxon Mobil who’s had extensive dealings with Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, is expected to be named Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State. Trump aides have signaled that Tillerson is the pick, but you never know until it’s official.

Tillerson, who’s been critical of US economic sanctions against Russia because it’s been bad for Exxon’s business, would be in charge of enforcing the sanctions, or engineering their removal. He has no experience in foreign policy or international relations other than pursuing business.

Through the oil business, though, he’s gotten so close to Russia and Putin that he was awarded the country’s Order of Friendship in 2013.

The Intel: Aaron Blake at the Washington Post writes that Republican leaders are in a bind over the CIA finding that Russian hackers worked to influence the US election. “If Republicans play down the issue,” he writes, “they risk giving a pass to an antagonistic foreign power that significant majorities of Americans and members of Congress do not trust and which, if the evidence is accurate, wields significant power to wage successful cyberwarfare with the United States.”

President-elect Trump refuses to believe the very intelligence agency that will report to him by Jan. 20th. Blake writes, “And Trump has every reason to continue to dig in. He doesn’t want to breathe any life into the story line that he owes his election to Russian interference. Trump, after all, is a winner, and the idea that someone else might have won it for him just won’t fly.”

The NY Times quotes former National Security Agency and CIA director Michael Hayden saying, “To have the president-elect of the United States simply reject the fact-based narrative that the intelligence community puts together because it conflicts with his a priori assumptions — wow.”

It’s Political: Republican John Kennedy has won the Louisiana runoff election for US Senate, defeating Democrat Foster Campbell.

The Sports Page: The University of Louisville’s sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson was awarded the Heisman Trophy for college football. He threw 30 touchdown passes this season.

Jackson is the sixth player since 2007 to win the award as either a redshirt freshman or sophomore. And just short of 20, he’s the youngest winner ever.

“I almost cried,” Jackson said. “I never get emotional, but to have my name called and see all those great players …” He has another year of college ball before he can consider going pro.

Permawar: Islamic State forces are on the verge of re-taking the ancient city of Palmyra from Iraqi forces. They’ve taken the outlying oil fields and have fought their way to the center of the city.

When they previously occupied Palmyra, they blew up and destroyed some of the world’s greatest antiquities.

Death in Dozens: A church collapsed in Nigeria, killing at least 160 people — In Istanbul, 38 people were killed by a bomb targeting the police.

Dept. of Corrections: We misread a report about worker complaints and the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. restaurants. We said 60 percent of labor complaints from fast food workers came from those restaurants, run by Donald Trump’s designee for Secretary of Labor. The actual figure is that 60 percent of the investigations against those restaurants found in favor of the workers.

Word Man: Instead of appearing in Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize for literature yesterday, singer/songwriter Bob Dylan sent a message that was read by the US ambassador to Sweden. Dylan said, “I too am often occupied with the pursuit of my creative endeavors and dealing with all aspects of life’s mundane matters. ‘Who are the best musicians for these songs?’ ‘Am I recording in the right studio?’ ‘Is this song in the right key?’ Some things never change, even in 400 years.”

He said, “Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, ‘Are my songs literature?’  So, I do thank the Swedish Academy, both for taking the time to consider that very question, and, ultimately, for providing such a wonderful answer.”

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