Trump’s legal woes thrust Supreme Court into 2024 chaos
In a matter of weeks, the Supreme Court has taken center stage in former President Trump’s legal battles poised to dominate the 2024 presidential race. The justices were already grappling with two cases implicating Trump’s criminal charges when, on Tuesday, a new headache emerged: whether Trump can be barred from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. 
Texas Gov. Abbott flies migrants to Chicago in protest of city ordinance
The governor's office says more than 120 migrants were on board the flight on Tuesday and had signed consent waivers to be transported to Chicago.
5 times Trump's phone calls landed him in hot water
His words were a reminder of how the unconventional former president typically conducted business.
www.politico.comIsrael's military campaign in Gaza seen as among the most destructive in history, experts say
After 11 weeks of war in Gaza, the Israeli military campaign against Hamas now sits among the deadliest and most destructive in history, experts say.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson calls on Biden to take executive actions on the border
The Republican speaker's letter comes as Congress left for the year without an agreement to address the border crisis and CBP saw record migrant apprehensions.
www.nbcnews.comNeed last-minute gifts? Presidential hopefuls offer ornaments, gift wrap — and Trump mug shot merch
Presidential campaigns are hoping that an onslaught of themed merchandise will keep their message out under the Christmas tree.
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Special counsel in Trump case unconstitutional, former Reagan AG says
A former attorney general under former President Reagan writes the Supreme Court in a new amicus brief that Special Counsel Jack Smith has no constitutional authority to represent the DOJ.
Trump pressured Michigan canvassers not to certify 2020 election in recorded phone call, report says
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel was also involved in the call.
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FBI received 1,800-plus reports related to Israel-Hamas war: Top DOJ official
The U.S. faces a "unique moment" in confronting a domestic threat environment heightened since amid the Israel-Hamas war, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said
Donald Trump says he's not an insurrectionist. Why Joe Biden says otherwise.
Trump responds to both Biden and the Colorado Supreme Court.
www.usatoday.com
A voter pushed Nikki Haley to call Donald Trump a 'grave danger' to the US. Here's how she responded
Nikki Haley is facing tough questions from voters as she campaigns in Iowa. The former South Carolina governor asked by a voter to label Donald Trump a “grave danger to our country."
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Judge keeps Chris Christie off Maine's Republican primary ballot
Earlier this month, the Maine Secretary of State's office said that Christie's campaign fell short of the number of certified signatures needed to qualify.
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Beyond Gaza: How Yemen’s Houthis gain from attacking Red Sea ships
The group’s position on a critical maritime choke point gives them leverage in diplomatic talks over Yemen’s future.
Punishing their own but passing few laws, a Congress in chaos leaves much to do in 2024
This Congress started with showy bluster, a bitter 15-round, multi-day spectacle to elect a House speaker who vowed to “never quit,” and then did just that.
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Green scare: Biden considers following Trump's lead on China to protect electric vehicle goals
President Joe Biden is floating following former President Donald Trump's China approach as he looks to protect the administration's electric vehicle goals.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Trump seeks to delay E. Jean Carroll civil trial to consider options, including potential Supreme Court review | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump is asking a federal appeals court to delay his defamation trial set for next month in a lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll so he can consider other legal moves, including potentially taking the case to the US Supreme Court.
www.cnn.com
Colorado ruling fuels efforts in other blue states to bar Trump from the ballot
Voters and politicians around the country are already invoking the bombshell decision in their own campaigns to declare Trump disqualified.
www.politico.comJudge: DeSantis spread false information while pushing trans health care ban, restrictions
A federal judge hearing a challenge to a transgender health care ban for minors and restrictions for adults noted that Republican Florida Gov.
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Records released by House Republicans show that Joe Biden repeatedly emailed Hunter Biden’s business associate in 2014
Democrats say the emails were routine and that Hunter Biden’s business associate worked as Joe Biden’s financial adviser and helped the then-vice president file his tax returns.
www.nbcnews.com
Israel Gaza: Hamas says no more hostage releases until war ends
The group which seized hostages on 7 October calls for a "full cessation of aggression"
www.bbc.comBiden believes U.S. Steel sale to Japanese company warrants 'serious scrutiny,' White House says
The White House says President Joe Biden believes “serious scrutiny” is warranted for the planned acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel.
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DOJ blocked former Hunter Biden prosecutor from discussing case with Congress
A key prosecutor who worked for years on the Department of Justice’s case against Hunter Biden refused to answer nearly every question lawmakers asked her during recent congressional testimony after the DOJ instructed her not to speak about the case, according to a transcript reviewed by the…
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Israel-Gaza live updates: Israel 'deepening the war' in Gaza: Netanyahu
Updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
Putin’s confidence upstages Zelenskyy as Ukraine faces uncertain 2024
Russia’s Putin unveils a record war chest as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy struggles to keep his alliance together.
Buttigieg and Mayorkas called on by Gallego to 'shut down' agencies sending migrants to border
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has called upon top members of the Biden administration to take immediate action against foreign travel agencies that have facilitated migrant travel from around the world to the U.S. southern border.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
What Jack Smith won't say
The special counsel is emphasizing the public interest in a speedy Trump trial. He hasn't spelled out the true reason the timing is so crucial.
www.politico.com
UN resolution on suspending fighting between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian aid to Gaza is ready for vote, US ambassador says | CNN Politics
The United States is ready to vote on a United Nations Security Council resolution on Gaza after several delays, US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Thursday night.
www.cnn.com
Experts dissect key arguments in Colorado Supreme Court ruling
The Colorado Supreme Court uniquely addressed a number of key arguments that have prevailed as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been explored.
Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy days after being ordered to pay $148 million in defamation case
Rudy Giuliani has filed for bankruptcy days after being ordered to pay $148 million in a defamation lawsuit.
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High stakes for DeSantis in Iowa: "He can't come in second and get beat by 30 points. Nobody can," says Iowa GOP operative
In the latest CBS New Iowa poll, DeSantis trails Trump by 36 points.
www.cbsnews.com
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and husband sue DOD over conditions around COVID-19 vaccine requirement
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and her husband are suing the Department of Defense over conditions surrounding her husband's departure from the National Guard over a refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
www.washingtonexaminer.comThe UN says more than 1 in 4 people in Gaza are starving because of war
A report from the United Nations finds that more than half a million people in Gaza are starving because there's not enough food entering the territory since the outbreak of war more than 10 weeks ago.
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Russia vows to retaliate if EU gives frozen assets to Kyiv; Ukraine hit with overnight drone attack
Russia on Thursday vowed to retaliate in kind if the European Union moved ahead with plans to hand profits generated from Russia's frozen assets to Ukraine.
Joe Scarborough suggests Trump is not in jail because he is 'rich and powerful'
MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough suggested that Donald Trump's status has kept him out of jail.
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Nevada GOP leaders indicted in pro-Trump ‘fake elector’ case still in charge of caucus planning
The upheaval has caused presidential activity to all but go dark in the first-in-the-West primary.
www.nbcnews.com
Democrats in Congress call for action on flaws in terrorist watchlist
A CBS Reports documentary highlighted Americans who say they shouldn't be on the watchlist but can't get their names removed.
www.cbsnews.comHarris to kick off 2024 with stops in Nevada, South Carolina, home to some of Democrats' first votes
Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Nevada and South Carolina next month, two of the earliest states on the Democratic presidential calendar.
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California hammered with rain and flooding ahead of holiday weekend: Latest
A powerful rainstorm is hitting the California coast causing dangerous travel conditions as the holiday rush begins.
As Democrats lean on Jan 6, critics argue Biden's party is the real threat to democracy
Top Republicans and experts say that recent actions taken by Democrats have suggested they are the party proving to be a threat to democracy, and not Donald Trump.
Pentagon releases sweeping guidance on reducing civilian harm
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the overhaul in fall 2022 after a number of instances of civilian deaths in U.S. military operations.
www.politico.com
Trump says he's 'not an insurrectionist' after Colorado high court removes him from ballot
The Colorado high court on Tuesday barred Trump from appearing on the state's 2024 primary ballot under the insurrectionist clause of the 14th Amendment.
www.nbcnews.com
Elite US universities face a political crisis they can’t control | CNN Politics
The resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay after new plagiarism claims closes her chapter in a storm that has dragged elite schools into bitter pre-election politics.
www.cnn.com
The Excerpt podcast: Colorado's ballot ruling won't let the Supreme Court avoid Trump
Colorado's ballot ruling this week won't let the Supreme Court avoid Donald Trump. USA TODAY Correspondent John Fritze puts the moment in context.
www.usatoday.com
New Mexico prepares for June presidential primary amid challenge to Trump candidacy
New Mexico’s major political parties are scheduled to certify presidential contenders to appear on the state’s June 4 primary ballot.
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Israel-Hamas war updates: Hunger in Gaza ‘highest ever recorded’ – Report
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification says hunger levels in Gaza are the highest ever recorded.
Biden speaks with Mexico's Obrador as migrant crossings at southern border spike
President Biden has asked top officials to head to Mexico in the coming days to meet with the Mexican president.
www.cbsnews.com
5 things we don't know heading into 2024 election
The 2024 general election is shaping up to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Beyond that, much remains unclear.
Jury acquits 3 Washington state officers in death of a Black man who told them he couldn’t breathe
Jury has acquits three Washington state police officers in the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who was restrained face down as he pleaded for breath.
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Day of mourning declared in Czech Republic after gunman kills 14 at Prague university
The Czech president expresses sadness and "helpless anger" after the mass shooting at a university.
www.bbc.comGunman opens fire in a Prague university, killing 14 people in Czech Republic's worst mass shooting
Prague’s police chief says a lone gunman opened fire in a university, killing at least 14 people and injuring 25 more.
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Catholic women's college reverses plan to admit transgender biological men
Saint Mary's College in Indiana, an all-women's Catholic college, has reversed a controversial decision to admit biological males who identify as women.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden campaign heads into 2024 ready to make the case that Trump is a threat to democracy | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden’s campaign is building up its operations heading into the 2024 election year, laying the groundwork in key battleground states and sharpening its argument against former President Donald Trump.
www.cnn.comDreaming of a white Christmas? Try Alaska. Meanwhile, some US ski areas struggle with rain
For most Americans dreaming of a white Christmas, this year’s prospects aren’t good. Although parts of the Rockies and Midwest already have snow or could get a fresh dusting by Monday, other parts of the country that are normally coated in white by this time of year are still sporting their drab, la
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Sen. Menendez blocks two ag-related nominees at 11th hour
President Joe Biden’s pick for USDA undersecretary of Rural Development and a CFTC nominee will now likely have to wait several more months to be confirmed.
www.politico.com
Top US and Chinese military officers resume communication; Pentagon credits Biden-Xi meeting
Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke Thursday with his Chinese counterpart in the first such conversation in more than a year
Maine forced to delay vote on EV mandate amid widespread power outages
The State of Maine delayed a key vote to approve an electric vehicle mandate after a large wind and rain storm knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott escalates border fight by chartering migrant flight to Chicago
The Republican governor's move is in response to the impounding of Chicago-bound buses transporting migrants from Texas.
www.nbcnews.comPacific storm that unleashed flooding barreling down on southeastern California
A Pacific storm that pounded California’s coastal areas and stranded motorists is poised to pounce on the southeastern area of the state through Friday.
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FDA warns against unapproved 'fat-dissolving' spa treatments
People have reported severe side effects, such as scarring, infections and skin deformities, after using unauthorized fat-dissolving injections in their chins, arms and stomachs.
www.nbcnews.com
Respiratory viruses increasing as Americans prepare to gather for the holidays: CDC
As Americans prepare to travel and gather for the holidays, levels of respiratory viruses -- including COVID and flu -- are continuing to increase across the country.
From fugitive to shackled prisoner, 'Fat Leonard' lands back in US court and could face more charges
Prosecutors say a defense contractor at the center of one of the biggest bribery scandals in U.S. military history is expected to face additional charges following his return to the United States from Venezuela as part of a broader prisoner swap between the two countries.
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Republicans' headache: Cutting a border deal with a DHS chief they loathe
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is in the room assessing policies, not politics. But for the GOP, his very presence complicates the task of selling any agreement.
www.politico.com
Biden ramps up the pressure on AMLO as border surge inflames a longstanding political problem | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden is ramping up the pressure on his Mexican counterpart to help with the untenable situation at the US southern border that’s left officials scrambling to respond to an unprecedented migrant surge and exacerbated one of the president’s longstanding political problems.
www.cnn.com
Biden, Mexico president agree border crisis calls for 'urgently needed' enforcement
President Joe Biden and Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke by phone, agreed 'enforcement actions' are needed to reopen ports.
www.usatoday.com
False claims of staged deaths surge in Israel-Gaza war
People on both sides have wrongly claimed deaths were faked, as experts warn it harms hopes for peace.
www.bbc.comTop Wisconsin Republican wants to put abortion laws on a future ballot
Wisconsin’s top Republican wants to let voters decide whether to shorten the length of time that pregnant women can legally seek abortions.
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Democrat charged in voter fraud scheme over dozens of absentee ballots
Queens, New York, man Abdul Rahman was indicted on 140 charges for allegedly submitting falsified absentee ballot applications in 2022, the county DA's office said.
Scientists find new way to desalinate seawater using solar power, study says
Scientists have found a more efficient water to desalinate water using solar power, and the process can remove uranium from seawater as well, according to new research.
The war took away their limbs. Now bionic prostheses empower wounded Ukrainian soldiers
Russia’s war on Ukraine has created a massive need for prosthetic limbs. An estimated 20,000 Ukrainians had amputations since the war started in February 2022, many of them soldiers who lost arms or legs due to blast wounds.
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The number of women in drug cartels and organized crime networks is growing
Women's involvement in criminal networks across Latin America shouldn't be a surprise, according to "Narcas" author and journalist Deborah Bonello.
www.nbcnews.com
Sarah Bedford claims White House sees Bidenomics as a 'rhetorical problem'
The Washington Examiner's Sarah Bedford explained an attempted strategy of President Joe Biden during his reelection bid Thursday in an interview on Fox News.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden believes Nippon purchase of U.S. Steel deserves "serious scrutiny"
The carefully worded remark shows the high stakes for Biden if his administration were to block the deal on national security grounds.
www.politico.comTop US officials to visit Mexico for border talks as immigration negotiations with Congress continue
Negotiations over how to control migration at the U.S. border with Mexico aren't just heating up on Capitol Hill.
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Joint chiefs chairman holds first call with Chinese counterpart in over a year
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown's call with his Chinese counterpart Thursday is the highest military communication with China in over a year.
www.cbsnews.com
California law banning guns in certain public places temporarily halted by judge
The law, which was set to take effect Jan. 1, would have prohibited people from carrying concealed guns in 26 places, including public parks, churches, banks and zoos.
www.cbsnews.comChicago man exonerated in 2011 murder case where legally blind eyewitness gave testimony
A Chicago man who was exonerated of murder has been released from prison after more than 12 years. Darien Harris was convicted in part on the testimony of an eyewitness who was legally blind.
apnews.comJohn Roberts, Donald Trump and the ghosts of Bush v. Gore
The Supreme Court may become the decisive player in the 2024 election.
www.politico.com
New Hampshire man indicted for threatening three presidential candidates | CNN Politics
A New Hampshire man was indicted Wednesday for allegedly threating to kill three presidential candidates in violent, graphic text messages.
www.cnn.com
Vin Diesel: Film star accused of sexual battery by ex-assistant
The Fast & Furious star is accused of forcing himself on a woman and firing her after she resisted.
www.bbc.comChatty robot helps seniors fight loneliness through AI companionship
Some American senior citizens have a new companion to help them combat loneliness: a robot. ElliQ is a tabletop device that uses artificial intelligence to conduct humanlike conversations with its owners.
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Chairs of group that led effort to boot Trump from Colorado ballot donated to Biden
The board chairs of a group that helped bring a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump donated substantial amounts to President Biden's 2020 presidential efforts, federal filings show.
DeSantis says Trump indictments sucked out a lot of oxygen from primary race | CNN Politics
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the one thing he would change about the dynamics of the 2024 Republican presidential primary would be the indictments issued against former President Donald Trump, which he says “distorted”the race.
www.cnn.com
Florida State University explores leaving ACC after College Football Playoff snub
Florida State University will reportedly explore options on whether to remain a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference during a Board of Trustees meeting on Friday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Former prosecutor accused of limiting questions about Joe Biden denies politics played a role in Hunter probe
FIRST ON FOX: The former assistant U.S. attorney who allegedly worked to ‘limit’ questions about Joe Biden denied that politics played a role in the Hunter Biden investigation during her interview at the House Judiciary Committee, according to a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital.
Rules aimed at long-contaminated groundwater drive California farmers and residents to court
Some California farming communities have been plagued for years by problems with their drinking water due to nitrates and other contaminants in the groundwater that feeds their wells.
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Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy after jury orders him to pay $148 million in defamation case
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy Thursday after a jury ordered him to pay $148 million in a civil defamation case.
www.usatoday.com
A new coronavirus variant is taking over, but its symptoms don't seem any worse
The JN.1 variant seems more transmissible than other strains, but it isn’t likely to cause more severe Covid.
www.nbcnews.com
Analysis: Trump’s creating just the kind of legal chaos he wants for 2024 | CNN Politics
Donald Trump’s request to the Supreme Court on Wednesday was perhaps his most brazen delay tactic yet.
www.cnn.com
Rush of new defense deals with US shows Europe’s growing concern over Russia
Six European countries have inked defense pacts with the U.S. this month.
www.politico.comEU pays the final tranche of Ukraine budget support for 2023. Future support is up in the air
The European Union has paid the final tranche of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its war-ravaged economy afloat this year.
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That's the American spirit: US trade negotiators block an EU tariff on bourbon, for now
A staggering 50 percent tariff on bourbon by the EU was blocked until 2025 after U.S. and European trade negotiators negotiated a truce.
Whelan claims he is being targeted by official at prison camp | CNN Politics
Paul Whelan, an American who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for five years, is afraid for his safety after being assaulted by another inmate late last month, he said in a call with CNN on Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Senate returns dozens of nominations to Biden to restart process in 2024, including Julie Su
The acting Labor head struggled to find sufficient support in the Democratic-led Senate.
www.politico.com
Jamal Khashoggi: Wife of murdered journalist wins US political asylum
Hanan Elatr, the widow of the journalist murdered in a Saudi consulate, came to the US in August 2020.
www.bbc.com
Feds give Pornhub deferred prosecution agreement in criminal sex trafficking case
The U.S. government has agreed to drop criminal charges against Pornhub related to sex trafficking after three years of monitoring, the Department of Justice announced Thursday afternoon.
www.washingtonexaminer.comFrance's president is accused of siding with Depardieu as actor faces sexual misconduct allegations
Women’s rights activists are criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron for appearing to side with actor Gérard Depardieu by saying the film star who is facing sexual misconduct allegations “makes France proud.”
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Lawmakers praise workers for landmark Wells Fargo union branch vote in New Mexico
A New Mexico Wells Fargo branch voted to unionize, drawing praise from lawmakers.
FDA warns about copycat versions of Ozempic diabetes drug
The health agency said the needles from thousands of seized injections are counterfeit and their sterility cannot be confirmed.
www.nbcnews.com
‘We will make his life miserable’: GOP promises bruising confirmation for Pentagon policy pick
The White House plans to renominate three top civilians in the new year after the Senate failed to take action.
www.politico.com
Why Ron DeSantis has a problem with Donald Trump's latest comments attacking immigrants
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized former President Donald Trump’s recent comments attacking immigrants to the US.
www.usatoday.com
Plagiarism claims against Harvard President Claudine Gay boost GOP's anti-higher ed efforts
Conservatives in Congress and across the U.S. are escalating their attacks on colleges over concerns they're stoking liberal ideology.
www.usatoday.com
China vows to keep up military pressure on the Philippines as territorial dispute grows tenser
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the country will maintain military pressure on the Philippines amid a dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea that could involve U.S. forces defending their treaty partner.
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MSNBC's Reid claims US support for Israel’s war is like funding the Rwandan genocide
During her Wednesday night show, MSNBC host Joy Reid claimed American support for Israel's war against Hamas is like if the U.S. funded the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Special counsel stresses ‘gravity’ of Trump case, urges Supreme Court to immediately hear immunity dispute | CNN Politics
Special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday reiterated his request for the Supreme Court to immediately decide whether Donald Trump has presidential immunity from alleged crimes he committed while in office.
www.cnn.comAustralia to send military personnel to help protect Red Sea shipping but no warship
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles says his government will send 11 military personnel to support a U.S.
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Beijing shrugs at U.S. call for help protecting Red Sea shipping
China’s disinterest in Red Sea policing role underscores Beijing’s reluctance to back its rhetoric on Middle East peace with substantive action.
www.politico.com
US Air Force to reclaim Pacific airfield that launched atomic bombings as it looks to counter China | CNN
The US Air Force plans to bring the Pacific island airfield that launched the atomic bombings of Japan back into commission as it tries to broaden its basing options in the event of any hostilities with China, the service’s top officer in the Pacific says.
www.cnn.comRescuing hostages with cheap American drones
Retrieving hostages taken by Hamas has been among Israel’s main objectives, but the equally difficult part is finding out where they’re being hidden.
www.politico.comWorld Bank projects that Israel-Hamas war could push Lebanon back into recession
The World Bank says the ripple effects of the war in Gaza are likely to knock Lebanon’s fragile economy back into recession.
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Democrats should 'panic' over Biden's alarmingly poor polls, liberal political scientist says
Biden's polling is the worst for a Democratic presidential candidate in decades, a political science professor warned in an article for Slate this week.
Alabama judge to rule on allowing execution by nitrogen
The state will look at the alternative execution method amid a spate of botched executions in the US.
www.bbc.comStock market today: Asian shares are mostly higher after a rebound on Wall Street
Shares are mostly higher in Asia after several strong profit reports helped Wall Street claw back most of its sharp loss from day before.
apnews.comHarvard president Claudine Gay facing new plagiarism accusations
The embattled leader of America's oldest university is accused of using "duplicative language" in her 1997 dissertation.
www.politico.com
Cuba announces tough economic measures as Cubans brace for more hardship.
Price hikes for basic services and the elimination of subsidized staples are some of the measures that will take effect next year to rein in inflation and a deficit.
www.nbcnews.com
Prague: Dramatic video from city shows people leaping from building ledge
A gunman entered Charles University killing 14 people in one of the country's worst fatal shootings.
www.bbc.comWells Fargo workers at New Mexico branch vote to unionize, a first in modern era for a major bank
Employees at a Wells Fargo bank in New Mexico have voted to unionize, the first time that workers at a major U.S. bank have attempted to organize in the modern era.
apnews.com
Trump advisers and Colorado Republicans huddle after shock ruling
Republicans in the state are hoping the ex-president will make a swing through in a show of support.
www.politico.com
Former Swiss finance executive pleads guilty to tax evasion scheme that hid $60 million
Rolf Schnellmann helped conceal the income of U.S. taxpayer clients in offshore accounts in Switzerland, according to the New York federal prosecutors.
Two major national security trials are putting the spotlight back on civil rights in Hong Kong. Here’s what to know | CNN
The fates of many of Hong Kong’s leading pro-democracy figures are at stake in two ongoing trials that spotlight the impact of the Beijing-imposed national security law on the once outspoken city.
www.cnn.comMore US auto buyers are turning to hybrids as sales of electric vehicles slow
While EV sales are growing, their pace is falling well short of the industry’s ambitious timetable for transitioning away from combustion engines.
apnews.comPlaybook PM: Why Biden is waiting to take on Trump
Plus: The U.S. and China break the ice on senior military communications.
www.politico.com
Special counsel Jack Smith urges swift Supreme Court decision in reply to Trump
Special Counsel Jack Smith on Thursday pressed the Supreme Court to expedite their consideration of former President Trump's immunity claims.
Schiff holds clear lead in CA Senate race with Garvey, Porter and Lee in a dead heat
A new POLITICO | Morning Consult poll reveals Rep. Adam Schiff as a clear leader in the race with Republican Steve Garvey and Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee tied for second place.
www.politico.comCalifornia lawsuit says Ralphs broke the law by asking job-seekers about their criminal histories
California has sued the Ralphs supermarket chain, alleging it violated state law by asking job-seekers whether they had criminal records and illegally rejecting hundreds of applicants.
apnews.com
Pennsylvania school district reverses decision for bus drivers to remove Christmas decor
A school district near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has reversed its previous decision to forbid Christmas decorations on its buses.
www.washingtonexaminer.comSpecial counsel in Trump case unconstitutional, former Reagan AG says
A former attorney general under former President Reagan writes the Supreme Court in a new amicus brief that Special Counsel Jack Smith has no constitutional authority to represent the DOJ.
Two 10-year-old boys killed after father flees from Wisconsin deputies, officials say
Two other children, the driver and his girlfriend were injured when the vehicle crashed after the driver sped away from a traffic stop, officials said.
www.nbcnews.comPornhub owner agrees to pay $1.8M and independent monitor to resolve sex trafficking-related charge
The owner of Pornhub, one of the world’s largest adult content websites, has admitted to profiting from sex trafficking and agreed to make payments to women whose videos were posted without their consent.
apnews.com
CBS News poll looks at where Americans find happiness
What do Americans say is going well in their lives and what are they grateful for? This is part 1 in the CBS News poll series "What's Good?"
www.cbsnews.com
Man pleads guilty in stock fraud case involving $100 million New Jersey deli
Hometown International once was valued at $100 million on the stock market despite owning a tiny, money-losing deli in New Jersey.
Octopus DNA may reveal when West Antarctic ice sheet most recently collapsed | CNN
A study of octopus DNA may have solved an enduring mystery about when the rapidly melting West Antarctic ice sheet last collapsed, unlocking valuable information about how much future sea levels may rise in a warming climate.
www.cnn.com
DeSantis: ‘I wish Trump hadn’t been indicted on any of this stuff.’
Trump’s legal drama “distorted the primary,” the Florida governor said.
www.politico.com
Idaho college killings: Prosecutors ask for trial to be set for summer 2024
Idaho college killings: Prosecutors ask for Bryan Kohberger's trial to be set for summer 2024.
How major US stock indexes fared Thursday, 12/21/2023
Several strong profit reports helped Wall Street claw back most of its sharp loss from the prior day.
apnews.com
GOP report highlights 2023 energy, oversight wins over 'unrealistic climate agenda'
FIRST ON FOX: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Republicans published a policy report Thursday detailing their top oversight and legislative victories of 2023.
This 2,300-year-old mosaic made of shells and coral has just been found buried under Rome | CNN
Estimated to be around 2,300-years-old, the work is part of a larger aristocratic mansion located near the Roman Forum, which has been under excavation since 2018.
www.cnn.comClosing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Benchmark U.S. crude oil for February delivery fell 33 cents to $73.89 per barrel Thursday. Brent crude for February delivery fell 31 cents to $79.39 per barrel.
apnews.com
Fetterman says progressives are ‘hoping that I die’ after rejecting purity tests on immigration, the border
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman elaborated on his rejection of what he sees as Democratic purity tests on Israel and immigration in a new interview with the New York Times.
Norwegian cruise ship loses ability to navigate after rogue wave hits
All 266 passengers and 131 crew members are safe, and no serious injuries were reported.
www.nbcnews.com
Maybe he was talking about fentanyl? Some in GOP defend Trump’s ‘poisoning the blood' comments
Meanwhile, Democrats draw comparisons to Hitler.
www.politico.com
The Excerpt podcast: The life and legacy of activist Ady Barkan
Ady Barkan's life's work is memorialized in "Not Going Quietly." Director Nick Bruckman joins The Excerpt to talk about Ady's impact and influence.
www.usatoday.com
Houthi attacks rocking Red Sea trade routes likely won't end anytime soon. Here's what could happen next
Yemen's Houthis have made clear their intention of targeting Israeli ships and any ships headed to or from Israel, in retaliation for the country's war in Gaza.
Hot rod racing star Don Schumacher dies at 79
Drag racer-turned-team owner Don Schumacher died Wednesday at 79.
www.washingtonexaminer.comNEWS FROM THE HILL:
>Recordings reportedly show Trump pressuring Michigan canvassers to not certify 2020 vote: Detroit News
>Jordan expands probe into Smith’s handling of Trump cases
>Menendez blocks two Senate confirmations before holiday recess
>House Democrat mocks Kellyanne Conway’s anti-liberal Jan. 6 ridicule
>McConnell, Thune silence on Colorado decision sparks fire from Trump Jr.
>Trump: ‘I’m not an insurrectionist’
>House Democrat mocks Kellyanne Conway’s anti-liberal Jan. 6 ridicule
>Manchin launches new political organization, listening tour
>Johnson says family ties to slavery don’t reflect work toward ‘colorblind society’
>Jamie Raskin: Supreme Court must reject Trump’s immunity claims
>Speaker Johnson urges Biden to take executive action on the border
>Fetterman: Political right, left both ‘wishing that I die’
>Raskin predicts Supreme Court will allow Trump to be on Colorado ballot
>Cook Political Report shifts Michigan, Nevada toward GOP amid Biden’s weak polling
NEWS FROM REUTERS:
>Gaza death toll: why counting the dead has become a daily struggle
>UN Security Council delays vote on Gaza aid until Friday
>Morning Bid: Disinflation - The gift that keeps on giving
>Gunman kills 14 in unprecedented attack at Prague university
>Hong Kong court rejects bid to drop sedition charge against Jimmy Lai
>US-China climate relations brace for US election, envoy change
>Eurotunnel ends strike, cross-Channel traffic to resume gradually after major disruptions
>Second North Korean nuclear reactor appears to be operational, IAEA says
>More than 20 countries now part of US-led Red Sea coalition, Pentagon says
>El Salvador offers citizenship to foreign bitcoin investors
>Under US pressure over fentanyl, Mexico wages “imaginary war on drugs”
>Social media platform X back up after global outage
