. >> reporter: biden pointing to the nominees' experienceancing to the criticism that they could return to the status quo. >> we cannot meet these challenges. >> reporter: biden naming the first latino to head the department of homeland security and first woman for national intelligence and choosing former secretary of state john kerry to a new cabinet potion of fighting climate change it comes as the prlt clearsty way for formulation to begin allowing critical resources including classified intelligence and the presidents' daily brief to flow to the president-elect. he told lester holt discussions are under way to meet with the white house covid team. >> i think we're not going to be so behind the curve as we thought we might be in the past. >> reporter: president trump allowing them to move ahead even as he keeps fighting in the court. he's celebrating a new wall street record and talking about the vaccine. president trump making know mention of another sacred number, the more than 260,000 american lives lost to covid-19 as the virus surges unchecked. in washington, ali barce nbc news