NBC News
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he was not considering unilaterally sending U.S. troops to Ukraine, a day after he met virtually with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies," Biden said, adding that the obligation did not extend to Ukraine.
Biden: "Severe consequences" for Putin if he attacks Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden says that he has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow will face a severe economic pain if it tries to attack Ukraine, but promised prospective talks to address Russia’s concerns about NATO’s expansion.
apnews.com
Russia is amassing troops near the Ukrainian border: What you need to know
U.S. intelligence is warning that Russia could invade Ukraine as early as January, a U.S. official confirmed to CBS News last week.
www.cbsnews.com
Representative Ayanna Pressley calls for removal of Representative Lauren Boebert after her anti-Muslim comments
The Colorado Republican was seen in a video describing anti-Muslim comments she made about Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat.
www.cbsnews.com
Meadows sues as Jan. 6 panel proceeds with contempt case
Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has sued the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
apnews.com
Afghans wait and worry at US bases after frantic evacuation
More than three months after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, about 35,000 Afghans are still housed at six U.S. military installations.
apnews.com
Biden says sending US troops to Ukraine 'not on the table'
President Biden ruled out the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Ukraine amid the Russian military buildup on the country's border but did warn that he would impose severe sanctions if Russia invaded its neighbor
Manchin quietly discusses Senate rules changes with Republicans
Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), a key Democratic holdout on reforming the filibuster, is discussing small changes to Senate rules with Republicans.Manchin’s discussions with GOP colleagues — which haven’…
thehill.com
Biden signs executive order to make U.S. government carbon neutral by 2050
The president aims to leverage the federal government’s massive buying power to jump-start the market for clean energy, electric vehicles and more efficient buildings.
www.nbcnews.com
Pelosi says she’ll ‘never forgive’ Trump, ‘lackeys’ over Jan. 6
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Wednesday she would “never forgive” former President Trump and his “lackeys” for the “trauma” that Capitol Hill staff experienced during the Jan.…
thehill.com
Ghislaine Maxwell accuser's ex-boyfriend testifies he drove girls to Epstein home
A man testified at Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal sex abuse trial on Wednesday that he drove teen girls to the Florida mansion of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and saw them leave with hundred dollar bills.
www.reuters.com
WH has new slogan on infrastructure, but message the same
President Joe Biden is rebranding his bipartisan infrastructure package with the new slogan “Building a Better America.”
apnews.com
Mark Meadows sues Jan. 6 committee after panel vows contempt proceedings
Former President Donald Trump's onetime chief of staff is refusing to cooperate with the committee, reversing an earlier decision to engage.
www.nbcnews.com
Why Wall Street has eyes for Cures 2.0
Wall Street has high hopes for the big biomedical research package dubbed “Cures 2.0,” which Congress is poised to take up in the new year.
www.politico.com
Georgia governor candidate Perdue says he wouldn’t have certified 2020 election results
Georgia gubernatorial candidate and former Sen. David Perdue (R) said on Wednesday that he would not have certified Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. “Not with the info…
thehill.com
'No one with power is listening:' Activists warn redistricting moves in the South threaten Black political power | CNN Politics
Voting rights activists are sounding alarms about what they say is a broad effort to dilute the voting strength of people of color and sideline the Black elected officials across the South who have made inroads into local government in recent decades.
www.cnn.com
Federal court orders special master to review materials seized by FBI in Project Veritas raids
A federal court in Manhattan ordered the appointment of a special master to review materials seized from Project Veritas during an FBI raid last month tied to alleged theft of Ashley Biden's diary, the youngest daughter of the president.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Theranos' Holmes says investors were future-focused as testimony wraps
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes finished testifying in her own defense against fraud charges on Wednesday morning, telling jurors that investors "weren't interested in today" but focused on the blood-testing startup's impact in the long-run.
www.reuters.com
Senate poised to pass resolution to nullify Biden vaccine mandate
The Senate is expected to vote as soon as Wednesday to nullify President Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers, giving Republicans a big symbolic victory.Republicans say they expect the resol…
thehill.com
Hispanic voters shift toward Republicans, now split evenly between both parties: poll
Hispanic voters have for a long time been a Democratic Party stronghold, but a new poll finds the demographic is steadily moving to the right amid President Biden's widespread unpopularity.
Boebert draws backlash for family Christmas photo of kids posing with guns
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is facing backlash for posting a gun-themed holiday photo of her children posing with rifles in support of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
Arkansas Becomes 3rd State To Introduce Texas-Style Abortion Ban
During a special session meant to discuss tax cuts, a GOP legislator who thinks the Texas bill is “absolutely awesome” introduced an even more extreme version.
POLITICO Playbook PM: Trump tees off on McConnell
And Biden says the U.S. won't send troops to the Ukraine.
www.politico.comThe Achilles' Heel of Biden's Climate Plan? Coal Miners.
For years, environmentalists have sought compromises with labor unions in industries reliant on fossil fuels, aware that one of the biggest obstacles to cutting carbon emissions is opposition from the unions’ members. States like Washington, New York and Illinois have enacted renewable-energy...
House Republican says party backlash for infrastructure vote 'small price to pay' as tensions simmer
"At the end of the day, it was all about my district. Is this bill good for my district? And the answer is yes," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said.
www.nbcnews.com
'Not in the cards right now': Biden says US troops won't ward off Russian invasion of Ukraine
President Joe Biden said Washington would not put troops in Ukraine for now, focusing instead on other measures as Russia masses troops along Ukraine's eastern border.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Giant Christmas tree outside Fox News headquarters set afire
Police say a man is facing charges including arson for setting fire to a 50-foot Christmas tree in front of Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan.
apnews.com
Rep. Ayanna Pressley spearheads resolution that would punish Rep. Boebert for her Islamophobic remarks
It would punish Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., for her comments toward Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., by removing Boebert from her committee assignments.
www.nbcnews.com
Pelosi aiming to pass $2T social spending bill before Christmas
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) predicted Wednesday that both chambers of Congress will pass the $2 trillion expansion of social benefits and climate programs — a massive package at the heart of Pr…
thehill.com
John Durham says evidence shows Michael Sussmann lied when pushing Trump-Russia claims
John Durham pushed back on Michael Sussmann’s claims that former FBI General Counsel James Baker undermined the special counsel’s false statements indictment against the Democratic lawyer, contending evidence from five government employees, including Baker, supports the charge.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Crypto CEOs to Congress: We want regulation, our way
Crypto leaders appeared at a House Financial Services Committee hearing that revealed an emerging ideological divide between the left and the right over how the government should oversee the industry.
www.politico.comSchumer tees up key Thursday vote on debt deal
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday night teed up a key vote on a deal struck with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to raise the debt ceiling with only Democratic votes.
Scott Peterson sentenced to life in prison after being spared a death sentence | CNN
Scott Peterson has been resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deaths of his wife and unborn child, a California judge ruled Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Cawthorn ‘likely’ violated rules by bringing candidate on House floor
First-year Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) brought a GOP congressional candidate onto the House floor Tuesday night, likely in violation of House rules, Republican and Democratic sources said.Cawtho…
thehill.com
Texas dads arrested after getting vocal at school board meetings say superintendent aims to 'silence' them
Texas fathers who got arrested for allegedly disturbing meetings of the Round Rock Independent School District school board said they blame the school board and Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez.
Fox News Christmas tree in New York City set ablaze, man arrested
New York police arrested a man on Wednesday on suspicion that he had set on fire a 50-foot-tall Christmas tree outside the Fox News headquarters in midtown Manhattan.
www.reuters.com
National school board group bleeding membership and money after comparing parents to terrorists
The National School Boards Association is looking at a shortfall of at least $1.1 million. It turns out that calling parents terrorists for speaking out about their children’s education was a bad choice.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden nominates megadonor and former Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman to be ambassador to Kenya
Former Hewlett Packard and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman was nominated by President Joe Biden to be his ambassador to Kenya.
Won't-run-if-Trump-runs question leads to waiting game for likely 2024 candidates | CNN Politics
Donald Trump’s wait-and-see approach to the 2024 election has frozen the next Republican presidential primary before it’s even begun.
www.cnn.comDespite promises, Biden has yet to issue a single pardon, leaving reformers depressed and thousands incarcerated
President Biden has the unchecked power to grant clemency to any federal prisoner. But he hasn't used it.
Congress moves forward with plan to raise debt ceiling with only Democratic votes
As part of negotiations between party leaders, Congress is forming a plan to lift the debt limit with only Democratic votes in the Senate. NBC News' Ali Vitali reports.
www.nbcnews.com
Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows sues January 6 committee
Meadows did not appear for a scheduled deposition Wednesday before the House select committee investigating the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
www.cbsnews.com
‘It’s beginning to look a lot like arson’: Suspect charged in Fox News Christmas tree fire
“We’re going to rebuild it, and we’re going to build it back better,” vowed “Fox & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt.
www.politico.com
Biden takes infrastructure tour to Missouri as White House retools message
U.S. President Joe Biden visited a bus depot on Wednesday to spotlight the $1 trillion infrastructure bill's investments in public transit as the administration sought to boost the popularity of his agenda with a new communication strategy.
www.reuters.com
Opinion | How the Return to Office Work Is Impoverishing the Middle Class
The middle class is facing serious economic hardship with little of the workplace flexibility now afforded to the well-off. Here’s how employers — and government — can help.
www.politico.com
House Jan. 6 panel has 'no choice' but contempt charge against former Trump aide Meadows
Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows could become the third person to face a criminal contempt charge for refusing to cooperate with the U.S. House of Representatives panel probing the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the committee said on Wednesday.
www.reuters.comCasino Tied to Dem Congresswoman Wants to Keep Its COVID Loan Money
Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast/GettyIn the year since COVID-19 dealt the gambling industry an awful hand, many companies have seen their luck improve.That’s proven to be good news for Rep. Susie Lee, a Nevada Democrat—politically as well as personally.Last year, Lee notched...
GOP senate candidates allege Facebook's Zuckerberg spent millions to 'buy the presidency' for Biden — but there's not much backing up the claim
Two Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, both of them close to tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel, are supporting an effort to merge former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election with accusations of meddling against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Biden says he will make sure Americans aren’t ‘gouged for gas’
President Biden on Wednesday said his administration would make sure that Americans are not being “gouged for gas,” noting the recent decline in prices.Biden credited his administration’s decision …
thehill.com
Five key takeaways from Jussie Smollett's trial
News that actor Jussie Smollett had been the victim of a vicious racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago on Jan. 29, 2019, quickly made national headlines.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Accused spy hoped to flee U.S. because she hated Trump, say lawyers
Former Navy nuclear engineer Jonathan Toebbe and his wife Diana are charged with trying to sell U.S. secrets to an unnamed foreign country.
www.nbcnews.com
China and Russia attack Biden's 'so-called' Summit of Democracy | CNN Politics
Chinese and Russian state media are working in overdrive to denigrate the Biden administration’s Summit for Democracy taking place this week, calling the project hypocritical.
www.cnn.comLawyers deny spy suspect discussed fleeing to evade arrest
Lawyers for a Maryland woman charged along with her husband in a scheme to sell Navy submarine secrets to a foreign government denied Wednesday that she had contemplated fleeing the United States to avoid arrest. Instead, they said, contempt for then-President Donald Trump was behind the...
WATCH: Coast Guard attempts daring rescue as car is submerged in Niagara Falls rapids
The U.S. Coast Guard pulled a body from a vehicle submerged in the rapids near Niagara Falls on Wednesday after authorities discovered the car about 50 yards from the edge of the falls.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Senate Dems launch last-ditch effort to change the rules of the chamber
The hope is to pave the way for nominees and, potentially, election reform. It’s not clear how it will work and stakeholders are being hush hush.
www.politico.com
Supreme Court appears likely to relax limits on public money for religious education
Two sets of parents are suing Maine over its policy of making tuition money available in areas that don’t have public high schools, but not for schools that promote sectarian beliefs.
www.nbcnews.comRussian State TV Drops Deranged Love Letter to Its Darling ‘Trumpushka’
Guido Bergmann/Bundesregierung via Getty ImagesRussian state media is, at least on the surface, jubilant about the outcome of the video summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was focused on addressing Russia’s potential further incursion into Ukraine...
DeSantis proposes adapting to climate change without 'doing any left-wing stuff'
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, unveiled a plan Tuesday for the state to begin addressing the effects of rising global temperatures.
Job openings near record high, with 11 million vacancies
Americans are still quitting at high rates, although fewer people handed in their resignations in October.
www.cbsnews.comHow Donald Trump Could Help Stacey Abrams Win Georgia
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/GettyThe last time Donald Trump screwed things up for the Republican Party in Georgia—less than a year ago—it cost his party control of the U.S. Senate and the country trillions of dollars (so far). Guess who’s back to offer more “help” to...
'It's just crazy': 12 major cities hit all-time homicide records
At least 12 major U.S. cities have broken annual homicide records in 2021 -- and there's still three weeks to go in the year.
House GOP Whip Steve Scalise repeatedly declines to condemn Lauren Boebert's Islamophobic comments about Ilhan Omar
The GOP leadership's failure to unequivocally condemn Boebert's comments come as momentum builds for a resolution to remove her from committees.
Germany's Olaf Scholz takes over from Merkel as chancellor
Olaf Scholz is sworn in as chancellor, leading a three-party coalition after 16 years of Merkel rule.
www.bbc.com
Democrats ramp up pressure on leaders to punish Lauren Boebert
A group of House Democrats says congressional leaders in both parties must move to punish Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert for comments suggesting Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar is a terrorist.
www.washingtonexaminer.comIn swipe at Saudi Arabia, Washington City Council renames street in front of embassy after Khashoggi
In a pointed rebuke to one of the U.S.’s oldest allies in the Middle East, the Washington, D.C., City Council has passed a bill renaming the street in front of the Saudi Embassy after slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Joni Ernst pushes for 'global war on terrorism' memorial on National Mall in defense bill
The latest version of the Senate's annual defense bill released Tuesday includes legislation from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, to build a "global war on terrorism" memorial on the National Mall.
How much PhRMA gave to a dark money group supporting Democratic drug pricing critics
The group has in turn supported lawmakers involved in watering down the administration’s prescription drug pricing proposal.
www.politico.com
Biden pays tribute to 'American giant' Bob Dole as 'a man of extraordinary courage' | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Sen. Bob Dole, hailing the Kansas Republican as an “American giant” in remarks from Kansas City, Missouri.
www.cnn.com
US delegation to head to Vienna for indirect Iran nuclear talks
The Biden administration still believes revival of nuclear deal is ‘viable option’, State Department spokesman says.
Some Jan. 6 Rioters May Use Police Brutality as a Defense
With the first trials connected to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol set to begin early next year, defense lawyers have started in earnest to road test strategies for defeating the government’s charges. Some, in the most complicated cases, will most likely challenge the allegation that an...
Gillibrand slams committee leadership, Pentagon for military justice reform cuts
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday blasted House and Senate Armed Services committee leadership and the Pentagon for kneecapping her decade-long effort to overhaul how the…
thehill.com
California school district reportedly encourages using witchcraft on people who say 'all lives matter'
A California school district is facing backlash after it promoted placing hexes on people who said things like "all lives matter."
Crypto executives urge light touch as Congress mulls new regulation
Top executives from six major cryptocurrency companies including Coinbase and Circle on Wednesday urged Congress to provide clearer rules for the booming $3 trillion industry, but warned that overly tough restrictions would push it overseas.
www.reuters.com
Heavy rain triggered Indonesia's volcano eruption. This could happen more | CNN
The role of rain in this case has raised questions around whether climate change could bring more frequent "lava-dome" eruptions, which tend to be stronger and more destructive than other types.
www.cnn.com
More than 200 organizations ask Biden to continue student loan pause
Since student loans were paused in March 2020, the U.S. Department of Education has said that borrowers are saving approximately $5 billion per month from the temporary 0 percent interest rate.
thehill.comJoe Manchin sounds fed up with Biden's spending plans: 'We've done everything that we can to help people'
Manchin may halt passage of Biden's $2 trillion social and climate spending plan this month. He told Insider the government's already spent a lot.
GOP working to lock down votes on McConnell debt deal
Senate Republicans on Wednesday are working to lock down votes within their conference to pave the way for bypassing the filibuster on a debt ceiling vote. As part of the agreement, the Senate…
thehill.com
Judge declines to unseal records about raid on Project Veritas founder
Magistrate cites privacy interests of Biden’s daughter Ashley in probe about alleged theft of her diary.
www.politico.comLauren Boebert Boasts About 'No Spare Ammo' In Gun-Toting Christmas Photo With Kids
The conspiracy theory-endorsing Colorado Republican followed Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie's lead with a not-so-festive family picture.
Toxic legacy: The fight to end environmental racism in Canada
From pipelines on Indigenous lands to landfills near Black communities, Canada’s long history of environmental racism.
Matt Gaetz Chills Critics With ‘Terrifying’ Prediction About GOP In 2022
It’s “a nightmare scenario that should send us all screaming to the polls,” one person hit back at the extremist Florida Republican on Twitter.
Pressley, 'Squad' Dems pressure Pelosi to strip Boebert committee assignments over Omar comments
Top Democrats won't say whether they'll punish Rep. Lauren Boebert for offensive comments she made about Rep. Ilhan Omar, but a group of Democrats led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley is calling for it.
Roger Stone becomes the latest to say he'd plead the Fifth to January 6 committee | CNN Politics
Roger Stone, an ally of former President Donald Trump, has become the latest individual subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating January 6 to indicate he would plead the Fifth Amendment as a way to try and get out of cooperating with the panel.
www.cnn.com
Smash-and-grab robberies plague cities with liberal district attorneys
A wave of smash-and-grab robberies are hitting Democratic cities in California and elsewhere, raising concerns about efforts to address crime.
39 troops whose injuries in Iraq were downplayed by Trump will now get Purple Hearts
The attack had largely receded from public view until last month. USA TODAY first reported that a U.S. commander at Al Asad was pushing for the awards
www.usatoday.com
Five things to watch for at Biden’s ‘Summit for Democracy’
More than 100 countries on Thursday will attend President Biden’s “Summit for Democracy” virtual conference, part of a push by the White House against Russia and China.The effort is also intended t…
thehill.comRobinhood's chief legal officer says 'it's a stretch' to believe crypto legislation is coming anytime soon
The congressional hearing on Wednesday is important for crypto in theory, but that's if Congress plans to legislate, Daniel Gallagher said.
January 6 committee says it is moving forward with criminal contempt for Mark Meadows | CNN Politics
The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot informed Mark Meadows that they have “no choice” but to advance criminal contempt proceedings against him given that former President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff has decided to no longer cooperate with the panel, according to a...
www.cnn.comInstagram's chronological feed is finally back
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri first hinted at the popular feature's return last year after it disappeared in 2016. There's also a new "favorites" option.
‘Feeling of fear’: Muslim staff in US Congress decry Islamophobia
Republican Lauren Boebert’s Islamophobic comments against Ilhan Omar create ‘feeling of fear’, congressional aides say.
US appeals court halts antitrust orders against Apple App Store
The ruling is a big win for the iPhone maker as it fights a challenge to its domination of the $142bn mobile-app market.
Ron DeSantis proposes plan to combat rising sea levels
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a three-year initiative to combat rising sea levels in the state.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. office occupancy in big cities tops 40% - Kastle Systems
Office occupancy in major U.S. urban areas topped 40% after Thanksgiving, a post-pandemic high, according to building security provider Kastle Systems.
www.reuters.com
'Let's go Brandon' boat wins Virginia parade contest, then stripped of award
Bill Berger and his boat emblazoned with the anti-Biden message, "Let’s go, Brandon," in Christmas lights were disqualified from a holiday parade in York County, Virginia, on Saturday after initially winning first place.
Canada joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics
Trudeau: "We have been very clear over the past many years of our deep concerns around human rights violations."
www.politico.com
Hillary Clinton shares what she prepared for her 2016 presidential victory speech | CNN Politics
Hillary Clinton has shared for the first time what would have been her 2016 presidential victory speech.
www.cnn.comManchin says he wouldn't defy parliamentarian on immigration
Pivotal Sen. Joe Manchin said Wednesday he'd vote to uphold the Senate parliamentarian's decision if she rules that immigration or other provisions should fall from Democrats’ huge social and environment bill, underscoring the party's uphill fight to keep some top priorities in the legislation...
Court suggests religious schools OK to get Maine tuition aid
The Supreme Court appears ready to rule that religious schools can’t be excluded from a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education.
apnews.com
Major utilities agree to stop sharing data with ICE
A national group of utility companies has stopped allowing data it collects on millions of Americans to be shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The National Consumer Telecom …
thehill.com
Jury begins deliberations in trial of actor Jussie Smollett
Two brothers testified that Smollett orchestrated the hoax, telling them to put a noose around his neck and rough him up in view of a surveillance camera.
www.nbcnews.comTrump rips McConnell for not using the debt ceiling to block Biden's agenda, saying Democrats' social spending bill will 'destroy our country, the fabric of the country as we know it'
"The debt ceiling is psychological," Trump told Hugh Hewitt. Biden's Build Back Better plan is not, he added. "This is fact."
Biden nominates Meg Whitman as ambassador to Kenya
President Biden will nominate Meg Whitman to serve as ambassador to Kenya, he announced on Wednesday.Whitman, the former CEO of Quibi and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, was the Republican nominee…
thehill.com
India defence boss, wife and 11 others killed in helicopter crash
Army helicopter crashes in Tamil Nadu state, killing at least 13 people including defence chief General Bipin Rawat.
$56K Alzheimer’s drug avoiding Biden’s cost curbs, for now
A new $56,000-a-year Alzheimer’s medication that’s leading to one of the biggest increases ever in Medicare premiums is highlighting the limitations of President Joe Biden’s strategy for curbing prescription drug costs.
apnews.com
Rubio says financial deterrence only way to block US war with China over Taiwan
The threat of a U.S.-China war over Taiwan has become a topic of increasing concern in Washington. According to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., war with China is only a matter of strategic financial deterrence.
U.S. government to end gas-powered vehicle purchases by 2035 under Biden order
The U.S. government plans to end purchases of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 in a move to lower emissions and promote electric cars under an executive order signed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
Prosecutor: Potter 'failed' Wright; defense calls it mistake
Jurors at the trial of the former suburban Minneapolis police officer who killed Black motorist Daunte Wright are hearing starkly different versions of events.
apnews.com
Multiple students charged in string of copycat threats after Oxford High shooting
Several students in Michigan have been hit with criminal charges alleging they posted online threats to stage copycat attacks like the one Oxford High School.
Lawmakers kill measure that would have required women to register for the Selective Service
Congressional negotiators nixed a provision that would have required women to sign up for the Selective Service and any future military drafts.
www.usatoday.com
House passes bill to fight valvular heart disease, honor GOP lawmaker’s late wife
The House has passed a bill to fight valvular heart disease, in a move honoring the late wife of Republican Rep. Andy Barr (Ky.).The Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legac…
thehill.com
Mark Meadows sues Jan. 6 committee after it says it will pursue contempt citation
Leaders of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot said they would pursue a contempt citation for Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.
www.usatoday.com
Report: Missile strike risks to Middle East nuclear reactors
Study explores potential radiological fallout and evacuations from a missile strike on commercial nuclear power plants.
James Brown said the CIA spied on him. The CIA won't say | CNN
The Godfather of Soul said the federal government surveilled him, but CIA officials won't comment. A CNN investigation sheds light on Brown's intriguing relationship with the US government—including his interactions with the White House through eight presidencies.
www.cnn.comU.S. sends first migrants to Mexico in reboot of Trump-era policy
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (Reuters) -The United States has returned the first two migrants to Mexico since restarting a Trump-era program to remove asylum seekers from U.S. soil, officials said Wednesday, as the Biden administration grapples with pressure to curb immigration. The United States and...
White House says Biden 'preparing for all contingencies' if Russia invades Ukraine
President Biden's administration is planning for a possible invasion of Ukraine but is confident that Vladimir Putin "got the message" during diplomatic talks, a White House spokesperson said.
Pressley introducing resolution to strip Boebert of committee assignments | CNN Politics
Progressive Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts is introducing a resolution, cosigned by other progressives, that would strip Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of her committee assignments for her anti-Muslim and racist comments toward Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
www.cnn.com
Biden seizes the chance to make his next moves in the geopolitical chess match with China and Russia | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden this week has confronted escalating tensions with China and Russia, testing his ability to manage antagonistic leaders and forcing other countries to pick sides.
www.cnn.com
Women seek diverse paths to leadership in Islamic spaces
From religious courts to spiritual care to Islamic scholarship, Muslim women have been carving out spaces for themselves and paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
apnews.com
Groups push to make California a haven for abortion rights
California must prepare for an influx of women seeking abortions in the liberal state if the U.S. Supreme Court ends the constitutional right to the procedure, dozens of women's health and rights groups said in a report released on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
Equilibrium/Sustainability — Wildlife officials move to feed Florida manatees
Today is Wednesday. Welcome to Equilibrium, a newsletter that tracks the growing global battle over the future of sustainability. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.Florida’s manate…
thehill.com
Four-day workweek gains support among progressives in Congress
A bill to cap Americans' work week at 32 hours, and pay overtime above that, is an idea gaining popularity globally.
www.cbsnews.comWhite House to fund tech to evade censorship and increase privacy
The White House will launch an initiative on Wednesday to award grants to innovators working on technology to bolster democracy by developing tools that enhance privacy or circumvent censorship, a White House official told Reuters. The project, part of U.S. President Joe Biden's Dec. 9-10...
Supreme Court scrutinizes Maine tuition program in religious liberty case
A decision from the Supreme Court is expected by summer of 2022.
www.cbsnews.com
Outcome reached in Kim Potter trial over Daunte Wright's death
Kim Potter is charged with first-degree and second-degree manslaughter.
Jury deliberating in Josh Duggar child pornography trial
The trial is being held in Fayetteville, Ark.
thehill.com
Rep. Gonzales warns border is ‘on fire,’ lays out plan to end migrant crisis
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, whose district includes part of the U.S. border with Mexico, is warning that the U.S. immigration system is currently "on fire" as he lays out a plan to end the crisis at the southern border — and urges Republicans and Democrats to act urgently to implement it.
Massive planet 10 times bigger than Jupiter discovered orbiting pair of giant stars
"Until now, no planets had been spotted around a star more than three times as massive as the Sun," wrote the European Southern Observatory.
www.nbcnews.com
A swarm of more than 40 earthquakes in 24 hours is causing a buzz in the northwest US | CNN
One of North America's most active fault lines sprung to life on Tuesday after a swarm of more than 40 earthquakes -- ranging from a magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 -- rattled off the coast of Oregon, catching the attention and concern of millions in the region.
www.cnn.com
U.S. Senate narrowly confirms Biden's progressive pick for Massachusetts prosecutor
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday narrowly confirmed a progressive district attorney branded by Republicans as soft on crime to become Massachusetts' top federal prosecutor, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote.
www.reuters.com
Boss says sorry for 'blundered' Zoom firing of 900 staff
Vishal Garg says he "is deeply sorry" for sacking 900 staff in an online meeting.
www.bbc.com
U.S. targets El Salvador officials in latest group of international sanctions
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on dozens of people and entities in Europe and the Western Hemisphere including an organized crime group based in northern Kosovo and El Salvador officials who Washington accuses of negotiating with the MS-13 gang. The U.S. Treasury Department...
Army to award Purple Hearts to 50 soldiers injured in Iran missile attack following CBS News investigation
The soldiers told CBS News they originally did not receive the award due to politics and felt pressure to downplay their injuries.
www.cbsnews.comMitch McConnell ignored angry threats by Donald Trump by deciding to pursue a debt-ceiling deal with Democrats
McConnell faces frequent attacks by Trump as he performs delicate negotiations and maneuvers to secure the GOP an advantage in the Senate.
Navy: Member of SEAL Team 8 dies after training incident
The U.S. Navy says that a SEAL commander has died from injuries he got during a training accident in Virginia
Tennessee medical board removes virus misinformation policy from website amid GOP pressure
A Tennessee medical board voted to delete — but not rescind — a COVID-19 vaccine misinformation policy from its website after a state Health Department attorney said a Republican lawmaker could mak…
thehill.com
What caused Amazon's outage? Will there be more?
Amazon has still said nothing about what, exactly, went wrong. But, oh, what a mess its cloud computing blackout was.
www.cbsnews.comBody cam video documents shooting of 88-year-old Florida man
A body camera video shows that a Florida deputy who fatally shot an 88-year-old man while checking on his welfare repeatedly identified herself, telling him to put his gun down and firing only after he advanced on her and threatened to shoot her
Biden's Export-Import Bank nominee's strong pro-China ties cast doubt on her confirmation
Lawmakers are divided on how to best handle ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, leaving senators torn over President Biden’s pick to lead the government's official export credit agency.
Navy shuts off 2nd well in Hawaii following water contamination
The Navy has shut down a second well following a water contamination that suspended operations at a facility in Hawaii.
Native corporations face deadline for federal relief funds
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Native corporations face a year-end deadline to use federal coronavirus relief funds that the U.S.
apnews.com
Better.com CEO who laid off 900 workers over Zoom apologizes for it to current staff
"I own the decision to do the layoffs, but in communicating it I blundered the execution," Vishal Garg wrote. "In doing so, I embarrassed you."
www.nbcnews.com
India's top military leader among 13 dead in helicopter crash
India's top military was killed in helicopter crash.
More Americans living alone as milestones slip later in life
More than a quarter of American households are made up of people living alone as the ranks of senior citizens swell and younger Americans continue to delay life milestones that previous generations…
thehill.com
Pressure grows on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign over alleged lockdown Christmas party
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come under a barrage of criticism after a leaked video showed his staff joking about a Christmas party last year.
An Auburn student vanished in 1976. Now his car has been found
Forty-five years after an Auburn University student vanished on his way to school, his car -- and possibly his remains -- have been recovered.
Women in health care suffer burnout disproportionately to men
A recent study found that nearly half of female U.S. health care workers experienced burnout.
Woman found dead after car floats near edge of Niagara Falls
Authorities said the female driver is believed to be in her late 60s.
www.nbcnews.com
Omicron variant has "robust ability" to evade COVID vaccines, but Pfizer says booster shots "neutralized" it
While it appears that Omicron has a "very large" advantage over previous strains, it doesn't appear to be making people sicker, and Pfizer says a booster shot "neutralized" it in the lab.
www.cbsnews.com
Why scientists think our immune systems will be primed to fight the omicron variant
Even as antibody levels against the variant wane, the immune system may still be primed by vaccines or previous infections to “remember” the virus.
www.nbcnews.com
Senate votes to nullify Biden's vaccine requirement, with two Democrats joining all Republicans
The resolution now goes to the Democratic controlled House where the path to passage is murky.
www.cbsnews.com
COVID cases spike even as US hits 200M vaccine milestone
The U.S. has reached a COVID-19 milestone of 200 million fully vaccinated people, but cases and hospitalizations are still spiking, even in highly immunized pockets of the country like New England.
apnews.com
Biden surgeon general to media: Stop trying to scare the public
At least someone in the Biden administration is willing to face the fact that America's children, actually, are not remotely all right. But it's really too little, too late.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
University of Florida researchers pressured to destroy COVID-19 data, told not to criticize DeSantis: report
Researchers at the University of Florida allegedly felt pressured to delete COVID-19 data while working on a study for an undisclosed state entity, according to a report release…
thehill.com
Judge to review New York City vaccine mandate for public sector
A New York judge has scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday to consider whether to block New York City from enforcing its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for public-sector workers.
www.reuters.com
Fauci: It’s ‘when, not if’ definition of fully vaccinated will change
Anthony Fauci said Wednesday he thinks the definition of being fully vaccinated will eventually change to include a booster, especially as new evidence is emerging that a booster dose offers the be…
thehill.com
U.S. FDA authorizes use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 antibody cocktail
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized the use of AstraZeneca's antibody cocktail to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals with weak immune systems or a history of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines.
www.reuters.com
British PM Johnson moves to COVID ‘Plan B’ to contain Omicron
Johnson announces tighter restrictions in England, amid allegations that his staff partied during lockdown last year.
Tennessee medical board removes virus misinformation policy from website amid GOP pressure
A Tennessee medical board voted to delete — but not rescind — a COVID-19 vaccine misinformation policy from its website after a state Health Department attorney said a Republican lawmaker could mak…
thehill.com
Pfizer says COVID booster offers protection against omicron
Pfizer says a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appears to offer important protection against the new omicron variant.
apnews.com
Omicron updates: COVID-19 cases could double in New York City
As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 797,000 Americans.
Connecticut seeing 'extremely concerning' spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations
Connecticut has seen an "extremely concerning" rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks as the number of cases also continues to trend up.
'Where is the national outrage?' Nursing home residents more likely to die of Covid if staff is unvaccinated
Researchers found a link between low vaccination rates among caregivers and Covid deaths among residents. "Where is the national outrage?" one expert asked.
www.nbcnews.com
UK's Johnson apologizes, orders probe of staff lockdown fest
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized and ordered an inquiry after a leaked video showed senior members of his staff joking about holding a lockdown-breaching Christmas party.
apnews.comIowa COVID surge sends hospitalizations to highest in a year
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hospitalizations reported by the Iowa Department of Public Health increased Wednesday as the state continues to experience a surge in coronavirus cases leading to more people being treated in hospitals, higher numbers in intensive care and more deaths.
apnews.com
Covid: Pfizer says booster shot promising against Omicron
The company says a third dose of its vaccine could improve protection against the new variant.
www.bbc.com
The Data Point: Pfizer boosters dominate the U.S.
Pfizer accounts for more than half of boosters, as study shows its 3rd shot gives better omicron protection than 2 doses.
www.nbcnews.com
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