Current and former USAID officials blasted the Trump administration's gutting of the agency, saying it has left critical partners in the lurch and staff in limbo.
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Today's Political News Compilation - Monday, Dec. 30, 2024
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Border arrests are little changed in December, ending Biden’s term at lowest level
By ELLIOT SPAGATUpdated 12:54 PM CST, December 30, 2024
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico in December are little changed from a month earlier, a U.S. official said Monday, hovering near the lowest levels since July 2020 and indicating that an anticipated surge ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president hasn’t happened.
There were about 44,000 arrests during December as of Monday morning, suggesting the month will end close to the 46,612 arrests made in November, according to a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the count is preliminary and has not made public.
December will mark the sixth straight month that arrests for illegal crossings were less than the monthly average in 2019, the official said. It also signals that final full month of President Joe Biden’s presidency will be at or near the lowest during his four years in office.
Asked to comment on the latest numbers, the Homeland Security Department released a statement by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, that said “swift and effective implementation” of asylum restrictions in June resulted in another month below the 2019 average. ...
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Jimmy Carter, former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dies at age 100
Former President Jimmy Carter built a legacy as a tireless champion for peace.
www.cbsnews.com
What Jimmy Carter can teach us about life and our legacy
Not only is America saying goodbye to a president, but behind the protocol and pageantry, the Carters are saying goodbye to a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend.
Trump appears to side with Musk, tech allies in debate over foreign workers roiling his supporters
Trump appears to be siding with Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters.
apnews.com
State funeral for Jimmy Carter to be held Jan. 9
The former president will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the funeral, from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9.
www.nbcnews.com
Analysis: Carter’s presidency holds foreign policy lessons for Trump | CNN Politics
Donald Trump once called Jimmy Carter a “nice man” but a “terrible president.”
www.cnn.comJimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’
The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia.
apnews.com
Trump endorses House Speaker Mike Johnson amid Republican infighting
President-elect Donald Trump threw his support behind Republican Mike Johnson amid a fight over House speakership that will culminate in a vote at the end of the week.
Elon Musk backs Germany's far-right party ahead of upcoming elections
Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party governing coalition collapsed last month.
www.cbsnews.comAn appeals court upholds a $5 million award in a sexual abuse verdict against President-elect Trump
A federal appeals court issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award granted to E. Jean Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse.
apnews.com
FBI to sports leagues: Star athletes' social media bling may attract cross-border burglary crews
The bureau sent a best-practices memo to sports leagues so athletes can avoid becoming victims, a source said. South American visitors may be involved in some break-ins.
www.nbcnews.com
After cat dies from bird flu infection, experts caution against raw pet food
Raw milk and meat can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses, experts say.
www.nbcnews.com
Russian foreign minister blasts Ukraine peace deal reportedly floated by Trump's team: 'Not happy'
A rumored peace deal that may be under consideration by President-elect Trump was rejected by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday.
Georgia attorney general against Fani Willis bid to retake Trump case
Chris Carr urged the state Supreme Court to reject Fani Willis’s appeal to prosecute Trump, citing conflicts and prioritizing nonpartisan prosecution options.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
From 'worst president' to 'highest respect': Trump softens opinion of Jimmy Carter in death
Donald Trump mocked Jimmy Carter as worst president in history. But after Carter's death, Trump suggested ex-leader had his 'highest respect.'
www.usatoday.com
Trump defends foreign worker visas, siding with Musk amid MAGA backlash | CNN Politics
President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday defended the visa program that allows highly skilled foreign workers to immigrate to the US, marking his first comments on an issue that has divided his supporters this week.
www.cnn.com
Chinese hackers access U.S. Treasury Department workstations, obtain unclassified documents
The Treasury Department says Chinese hackers accessed several department workstations and unclassified documents. China denies any involvement.
www.cbsnews.comA guide to funeral services for former President Jimmy Carter
Funeral services honoring former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at age 100, will be held in Georgia and Washington, D.C., beginning Saturday, Jan. 4, and concluding Thursday, Jan. 9.
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Confusion, tears and 'Hunger Games' at USAID as agency prepares to go dark
"We feel like it's closing time at the store and we're the ones left to turn off the lights," one career official told ABC News.
Continue reading...Senate GOP releases budget plan, moving forward despite delay in House
Washington — Senate Republicans are moving forward with their own budget plan to fund President Trump's agenda despite a request from House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold off and let the lower chamber take the lead.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, released a 61-page budget resolution on Friday, setting the groundwork for the Senate to later pass a budget reconciliation bill focused on border security, defense and energy priorities.
"This budget resolution jumpstarts a process that will give President Trump's team the money they...
Continue reading...Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, released a 61-page budget resolution on Friday, setting the groundwork for the Senate to later pass a budget reconciliation bill focused on border security, defense and energy priorities.
"This budget resolution jumpstarts a process that will give President Trump's team the money they...
Sotomayor criticizes presidential immunity case as putting the high court’s legitimacy on the line
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the Court's 2024 presidential immunity case in her first public appearance since the start of the second Trump term, saying it places the Court's legitimacy on the line.
Sotomayor made the comments during an appearance in Louisville, Kentucky, during which she was asked a range of questions, including the public's perception of the high court, according to the Associated Press. Sotomayor's comments are her first in public since President Donald Trump took office last month.
"If we as a court go so...
Continue reading...Sotomayor made the comments during an appearance in Louisville, Kentucky, during which she was asked a range of questions, including the public's perception of the high court, according to the Associated Press. Sotomayor's comments are her first in public since President Donald Trump took office last month.
"If we as a court go so...
House Republican introduces transgender lawmaker as 'the gentleman ... Mr. McBride' for floor speech
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., referred to Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del. — who identifies as a transgender woman — as "Mr. McBride."
"The chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride, for five minutes," Miller said in the House chamber on Thursday.
"Thank you, Madam Speaker," McBride replied, before proceeding to deliver a speech.
While McBride did not respond to Miller's comment, when Miller next recognized Rep. Nanette Barragán, D- Calif., to deliver a speech, Barragán began by saying, "Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
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Continue reading..."The chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. McBride, for five minutes," Miller said in the House chamber on Thursday.
"Thank you, Madam Speaker," McBride replied, before proceeding to deliver a speech.
While McBride did not respond to Miller's comment, when Miller next recognized Rep. Nanette Barragán, D- Calif., to deliver a speech, Barragán began by saying, "Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
TRANSGENDER CONGRESS MEMBER...
Zelensky says North Korean troops back on front line
Kyiv had indicated last week the North Koreans may have been withdrawn due to heavy losses in battle.
Continue reading...New allegations Diddy sexually assaulted minor in nightclub
Combs has consistently denied the allegations against him in civil lawsuits, labelling them "sickening".
Continue reading...Parents sue TikTok over teen deaths in 'challenge' trends
The US-based Social Media Victims Law Center filed the wrongful death lawsuit on Thursday.
Continue reading...Elon Musk says DOGE staffer who resigned for racist X posts will be brought back
Elon Musk said Friday that he will bring back a DOGE staff member who resigned after it was found that the staffer had previously made racist remarks online.
"To err is human, to forgive divine," Musk said in a repost to X of a post from Vice President JD Vance that also supported the staffer's reinstatement.
The staff member, 25-year-old Marko Elez, resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported that he had made comments online that included supporting racism and eugenics. The White...
Continue reading..."To err is human, to forgive divine," Musk said in a repost to X of a post from Vice President JD Vance that also supported the staffer's reinstatement.
The staff member, 25-year-old Marko Elez, resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Thursday after The Wall Street Journal reported that he had made comments online that included supporting racism and eugenics. The White...
GOP state AGs campaign group brings back leader who resigned in Jan. 6 aftermath
A group that dedicated to electing Republicans to state attorney general positions has brought back a former executive director who resigned in the aftermath of Jan. 6
Continue reading...Baltimore sues Trump for ditching DEI: ‘Attacks anyone who dares to celebrate diversity’
Baltimore and its Democratic mayor have teamed up with progressive groups to file a lawsuit aimed at stopping President Donald Trump’s executive orders that dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion "programs and preferencing" as the president described in one of his directives.
Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott – along with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – filed suit in Maryland federal court this week against Trump and several...
Continue reading...Baltimore's Mayor Brandon Scott – along with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, American Association of University Professors, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United – filed suit in Maryland federal court this week against Trump and several...
Trump to sign executive order establishing White House faith office
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order establishing a White House Faith Office on Friday.
The new office will "empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities," according to a fact sheet obtained by Fox News.
The office will be housed under the Domestic Policy Council and will consult experts in the faith community on policy changes to "better align with American values."
TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TASK FORCE TO 'ERADICATE ANTI-CHRISTIAN...
Continue reading...The new office will "empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities," according to a fact sheet obtained by Fox News.
The office will be housed under the Domestic Policy Council and will consult experts in the faith community on policy changes to "better align with American values."
TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TASK FORCE TO 'ERADICATE ANTI-CHRISTIAN...
Swedish school shooting victims were seven women and three men
Families have been identifying victims of the attack - all between 28 and 68 years old.
Continue reading...15 things Trump and his team did this week
In his third week back in office, Trump took action on issues from transgender competitors in women's sports to Gaza.
Continue reading...Ecuador chooses president against backdrop of gang violence
Whoever wins the presidential election will be tasked with restoring security to the country.
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