Jason Cutshaw/US Army
Exclusive: US finalizing plans to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine
The Biden administration is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine that could be announced as soon as this week, according to two US officials and a senior administration official. The Pentagon’s plan still needs to be approved by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin before it is sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. The three officials told CNN that approval is expected.
Republicans fear Trump civil war could cost them in 2024
The rising animosity between pro-Trump and anti-Trump forces is creating the prospect of something no Republican wants: a GOP civil war that could split the party in two and leave the path clear fo…
thehill.com
Biden signs gay marriage law, calls it 'a blow against hate'
President Joe Biden has signed gay marriage legislation into law. A celebratory crowd of thousands bundled up on a chilly Tuesday afternoon on the South Lawn of the White House to watch the joyful ceremony, which was tempered by the backdrop of an ongoing conservative backlash over gender issues.
apnews.com
House, Senate negotiators say they have framework for government spending bill
Congress is also expected to pass a short-term funding extension in order to avoid a government shutdown.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump's conservative base deserting him for DeSantis - poll
The survey finds Ron DeSantis leads not just Mr Trump, but also Joe Biden by 47%-43% in a matchup.
www.bbc.com
The AP Interview: Hutchinson says Trump worst choice for GOP
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson calls the possibility of another Donald Trump presidential nomination the worst scenario for Republicans in 2024.
apnews.com
Elon Musk no longer world's richest man
His wealth has been hit as shares in his electric carmaker Tesla have more than halved.
www.bbc.com
Lawmakers unveil bipartisan bill to ban TikTok nationwide
Cybersecurity experts, the FBI director and other top officials have warned that the Chinese government could use the popular app to spy on Americans.
www.nbcnews.com
DeSantis calls for grand jury investigation of COVID vaccines
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is calling for a grand jury investigation into alleged “crimes and wrongdoing” related to COVID-19 vaccines and setting up Florida’s own Public Hea…
thehill.comExclusive: An intel analyst tried to prevent the Jan. 6 attack — but DHS failed to act
An intelligence analyst at the Department of Homeland Security flagged credible threats of plans to attack the U.S. Capitol in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, 2021. But the agency produced no warnings, no bulletins and no alerts on threats it was seeing, documents obtained by Yahoo News show.
LGBTQ families react after President Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act
LGBTQ families speak with "Good Morning America" after President Biden signs the Respect for Marriage act codifying protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.
Lawmakers announce 'framework' on bill to keep gov't open
Lawmakers leading the negotiations on a bill to fund the federal government for the current fiscal year say they’ve reached agreement on a “framework” that should allow them to complete work on the bill over the next week and avoid a government shutdown.
apnews.com
FTX hearing: 6 big revelations from House panel questioning
The first House hearing on the collapse of FTX didn’t have the company’s disgraced founder and former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, who was arrested on the eve of his highly anticipated testimony. But la…
thehill.com
Breaking down the Jan. 6 committee’s possible referrals — criminal and beyond
Panel members have stressed the “symbolic” impact of the recommendations.
www.politico.com
Putin’s war on Ukrainian power grid reveals more than he’d like
Were he fighting against Caspian seals he might have succeeded. Against Ukrainians and their power grid? Not so much.
thehill.com
2024 showdowns: Biden tops Trump but trails DeSantis in national poll's potential match ups
A new national poll suggests GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida topping President Biden in a hypothetical 2024 presidential election matchup, but that Biden leads former President Trump
US charges seven with military technology plot on Russian orders
Five Russians and two Americans allegedly tried to smuggle US military technology to Russia, dodging sanctions.
www.bbc.com
NC voter fraud probe of Meadows sent to AG
North Carolina’s probe of voter fraud allegations against former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has been completed and sent to the state’s attorney general, who will decide whether to…
thehill.comU.S. House Jan. 6 committee to meet Dec. 19 for vote on referrals, report
The U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will hold a public meeting on Dec. 19 to vote on its report and criminal referrals, before releasing the report on Dec. 21, the panel's chairman said on Tuesday. Democratic U.S...
EXPLAINER: Why fusion could be a clean-energy breakthrough
A major advance in fusion research announced in Washington on Tuesday was decades in coming. Scientists say that for the first time, they’ve been able to engineer a reaction that produced more power than was used to ignite it.
apnews.com
Sam Bankman-Fried arrest updates: Former FTX CEO denied bail due to flight risk
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was arrested on Monday.
Biden admin seeks $4 billion in additional border funding, predicts post-Title 42 border surge
The Biden administration is requesting $4 billion in DHS funding as it faces a potential surge in migrant encounters at the southern border once Title 42 ends next week.
McCarthy and McConnell on collision course as Congress barrels toward messy finish | CNN Politics
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy took to Fox News primetime last week and dinged his counterpart across the Capitol: Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell.
www.cnn.com
Explosions heard in Ukrainian capital, emergency teams deployed
Air-raid sirens heard in the capital in the pre-dawn hours with residents urged to take shelter.
Rupert Murdoch to be deposed in $1.6 billion Dominion defamation case
Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch is set to be questioned under oath on Tuesday in a defamation lawsuit over his network’s coverage of unfounded vote-rigging claims during the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
U.S. agency warns that hackers are going after Citrix networking gear
A hacking group named APT5, which is suspected to be Chinese, has exploited a vulnerability in networking gear from U.S. technology company Citrix Systems Inc to spy on targets.
This Democrat says he's not leaving the Dem party — at least not right now
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said that he does not plan on leaving the Democratic Party right now, following recent departures.
DeSantis tops Trump by 23 points among Republicans in new poll
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) leads former President Trump by 23 points among Republicans in a hypothetical GOP presidential primary, according to a poll released Tuesday. The USA Today-Suffo…
thehill.com
Title 42 ending: DHS chief says White House exploring 'host' of solutions to prevent border crisis
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited El Paso and said the Biden administration is working with Mexico as Title 42 is set to end
www.usatoday.com
US poised to approve Patriot missile battery for Ukraine
U.S. officials say the Biden administration is poised to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine, finally agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders desperate for more robust weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles.
apnews.comN. Carolina AG to weigh charges in Meadows voter fraud case
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said it has submitted to state prosecutors the findings of its voter fraud probe into Mark Meadows, a former White House chief of staff to President Donald Trump, who was simultaneously registered to vote in North Carolina and two other states...
Seven charged in Russian smuggling ring involving New Hampshire and New Jersey residents
Seven people — including five Russian nationals — were indicted in an alleged scheme to ship military-grade technologies from U.S. to Russia.
www.cbsnews.com
House GOP pushes members to vote against short-term funding bill
House GOP leadership is urging Republicans to vote against a short-term government funding bill lawmakers are hoping to quickly pass ahead of a looming shutdown deadline. House Minority Whip Steve …
thehill.comThe most prominent election-deniers lost their races. But at least 177 have won so far.
More than 370 Republican candidates on the ballot denied or questioned the 2020 election results, according to a New York Times analysis.
US finalising plan to send Patriot air defence system to Ukraine
Analysts say Patriot capability would be ‘significant’ as Ukraine tries to protect civilians and key infrastructure.
Oregon governor commutes all 17 of state's death sentences
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has announced she is commuting the sentences of all of the state's 17 inmates awaiting execution.
apnews.com
Breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy announced
US researchers have overcome a major barrier to achieving low-carbon nuclear fusion.
www.bbc.com
Heavy losses reported among Russian mercenaries; Kherson comes under 'massive fire'
The recently liberated city of Kherson has come under what one official described as "massive fire" Monday, while other regions are struggling to restore power.
Nancy Mace gets into fiery exchange with activist during hearing about extremist rhetoric
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) got into a fiery exchange with a liberal activist during a House hearing on extremist rhetoric on Tuesday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
CSX revamps attendance policy as railroad unions push back on sick time
Rail operator CSX Corp is changing its workforce attendance policy for unexpected, short-term medical absences next year after U.S. railroads' sick-time policies became a flashpoint in national labor talks.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas travels to southern border as Republicans call for his impeachment
Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, went to Texas to speak with U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the crisis at the border.
Strong midterm turnout in Georgia sparks new debate about a controversial election law | CNN Politics
The strong turnout in Georgia’s runoff election that cemented Democrats’ control of the US Senate is sparking fresh debate about the impact of the state’s controversial 2021 election law.
www.cnn.com
Five takeaways from the fusion energy breakthrough
The Biden administration has announced a breakthrough on nuclear fusion, fueling hopes of further progress toward clean energy. Nuclear fusion — the process in which atoms are fused together t…
thehill.com
Prisons chief: Official who beat inmates deserves 2nd chance
The director of the federal Bureau of Prisons is defending her decision to rally behind a high-ranking agency official who climbed the ranks after beating Black inmates, saying Tuesday that she feels he’s shown contrition and deserves a second chance.
apnews.com
Squeezed between China and Russia, Mongolia’s herders feel pinch
Mongolian tent-dwellers face growing hardship amid skyrocketing energy costs and falling livestock prices.
Democrats begin warming to the idea of government bans of TikTok
A handful of Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state capitals around the country have led the charge in pushing for government bans of the social media app TikTok because of its ties to the Chinese government, but Democrats this week have begun to jump on board as well.
Biden comes under increasing pressure to win Whelan’s release
President Biden is under increasing pressure to secure the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine being held in Russia, following the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in a trade for the Russia…
thehill.com
A look at the rise in migrants at the border as Title 42's future remains unclear
ABC News' Matt Rivers spoke with "Start Here" about the rise in migrants looking to enter the U.S. as the future of Title 42 is in the air.
Trump Org. entities were held in criminal contempt and fined $4K ahead of tax fraud trial | CNN Politics
A Manhattan criminal court judge held entities of the Trump Organization in criminal contempt for not complying with multiple grand jury subpoenas dating as far back as October 2020 and three court orders mandating they produce the requested evidence ahead of their recent tax fraud trial.
www.cnn.com
Virginia’s open congressional seat offers opportunity for a new generation of Black leaders
Virginia will have a special election in February to fill the seat of the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-Va., and already two prominent state Democrats have jumped into the race.
www.nbcnews.com
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West
Live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Former Commanders cheerleaders' lawyers blast inclusion of 'salacious photographs' by Comer in memo
Lawyers representing former Washington Commanders cheerleaders condemned likely incoming House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) for including "sexualized and salacious photographs" of the cheerleaders in a memo.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
New York's Black leaders to convene on crime following midterm losses for Democrats
Rev. Al Sharpton is organizing the summit that’s planned for January.
www.politico.com
Manchin urges White House to keep Title 42 border policy in place
Sen. Joe Manchin is demanding that President Biden extend a pandemic emergency order blocking illegal immigrants from entering the United States under Title 42.
'Embarrassment': House GOP fuming over Biden administration ever hiring nonbinary alleged thief
EXCLUSIVE — House Republicans are fuming over the Biden administration ever deciding to hire the nonbinary official who has been canned amid charges of grand larceny and felony theft.
www.washingtonexaminer.comSen. Chris Murphy regrets not working on gun control before Sandy Hook
“I had not worked on the issue of gun violence prior to Dec. 14, 2012," Sen. Chris Murphy said on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. "I'm deeply embarrassed by that. I should have been working on this issue.”
US-hosted Africa summit opens with focus on youth, security
Vice President Kamala Harris has opened the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington by spotlighting Africa’s youthful population.
apnews.com
FTX crypto boss Sam Bankman-Fried denied bail in Bahamas
Sam Bankman-Fried is accused of a huge scheme to defraud investors in failed crypto exchange FTX.
www.bbc.com
‘Afraid of the gun’: Military coup fuels Myanmar resource grab
Crisis triggered by the military takeover makes life even more dangerous for those fighting to protect the environment.
Following Griner's release, U.S. lawmakers want a "National Hostage" day
Days after the release of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner from imprisonment in Russia, Democratic and Republican U.S. lawmakers will introduce legislation on Tuesday to establish March 9 as an annual day to remember Americans detained abroad.
Attorneys demand GOP take down sexualized images of former Washington Commanders employees
Lisa Banks and Debra Katz said the release of the images in a House Republican memorandum left their clients “humiliated and incensed.”
www.politico.comRussian Trolls Made Fake Kid Rock Fan Accounts — and Fooled Donald Trump Jr.
The former president’s son reposted a conspiracy theory on Ivermectin and oil supplies from “KidRockOfficial.” The account was a Russian troll trying to meddle in the U.S. election
Two Americans and five Russians charged with running a smuggling network to obtain military technology and ammunition for Russia
Two American citizens and five Russian nationals were charged with smuggling sensitive military technology and ammunition to benefit the Kremlin.
These two pro-impeachment Republicans are not going quietly
Eight of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump following the Capitol riot are leaving Congress, either after not seeking reelection or losing primaries this year…
thehill.com
Top Energy Department official no longer employed after luggage theft accusations | CNN Politics
The Department of Energy official responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste is no longer employed by the federal agency after two alleged airport baggage theft incidents, according to local reports and court records.
www.cnn.com
McConnell says negotiators ‘very close’ to spending deal
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that negotiators are “very close” to a deal on a year-end omnibus spending package and set a deadline of Dec. 22 for getting it done. “…
thehill.com
Late civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis to be honored with postage stamp
The U.S. Postal Service said it sought to celebrate Lewis' legacy, and his commitment to preserving civil rights.
www.cbsnews.com
St. Louis man shoots KFC employee over lack of corn, police say
A disgruntled customer shot a St. Louis Kentucky Fried Chicken employee after learning the restaurant ran out of corn, police said.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
FTX founder charged in scheme to defraud crypto investors
The U.S. government charged Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, with a host of financial crimes on Tuesday.
apnews.com
DOJ official says Dobbs decision ramps up 'urgency' to enforce FACE Act, protect reproductive services
A Justice Department official said the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade has increased the Civil Rights Division's "urgency" to protect reproductive services.
Democracy for America on track to shut down
The organization started in its current form after Howard Dean’s unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign, and throughout its history it helped elect more than 1,000 progressive candidates.
www.politico.com
Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act, recognizing marriage equality in federal law
"Marriage is a simple proposition: Who do you love and will you be loyal to that person you love? It's not more complicated than that," the president said.
www.cbsnews.comThe Trump Organization lost a secret trial and was held in contempt of court for defying grand-jury subpoenas
Former President Donald Trump's company refused to comply with grand-jury subpoenas and court orders, leading to a secret one-day trial.
Peru judge denies ex-President Castillo’s bid to end detention
Pedro Castillo says he has been ‘unjustly’ detained as protesters continue to demand his freedom and early elections.
77-year-old woman stabbed to death at her home during robbery, suspect arrested
Eleanor Bowles, 77, interrupted the suspect's robbery of her 2021 Lexus before she was fatally stabbed, Atlanta police said.
McConnell says Trump fueled 'candidate quality' problems in the midterms
The Senate Republican leader said he had "limited" control over 2022 nominees because "the support of the former president proved to be very decisive in these primaries."
www.nbcnews.com
Massive US storm brings tornadoes to South, blizzard threat
A massive storm blowing across the country has spawned several tornadoes that wrecked buildings and injured a handful of people in Oklahoma and Texas.
apnews.com
Twitter Files spark debate about ‘blacklisting’
Revelations about Twitter's content moderation decisions have raised questions about political bias.
www.bbc.com
U.S. Supreme Court to review murder-for-hire conviction
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal by a North Carolina man serving life in prison after being convicted of taking part in a plot to murder a woman in the Philippines at the behest of the head of a multinational criminal organization.
Jan. 6 panel to release criminal referrals Monday
The committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will hold its final event on Monday, during which it will release publicly its list of criminal referrals and vote to publis…
thehill.com
Negotiators announce bipartisan framework agreement for government funding package | CNN Politics
Top congressional negotiators announced Tuesday evening that an agreement had been reached for a framework that should allow lawmakers to complete a sweeping full-year government funding package.
www.cnn.com
‘Don’t run, Joe’: Progressive group launches ad against Biden 2024 run
A progressive group against President Joe Biden running for reelection has launched its first television advertisement in New Hampshire, more than a year before voters in the state will cast ballots in the Democratic primary.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
GOP operative who allegedly kicked a dog hired as top aide to new congressman
Brandon Phillips was arrested last month on a charge of animal cruelty. In 2016, he resigned as Donald Trump's Georgia state director after his criminal history was revealed.
www.politico.com
Veterans Affairs sued over new abortion rule after Roe rollback that allegedly violates religious liberty
A lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs alleges the agency is violating the First Amendment with a new rule allowing abortions to be provided by the department.
US winter storm brings blizzards, tornadoes and flood threats
"This one is a little larger than your average winter storm," says a meteorologist of the wintry system.
www.bbc.com
Argentina erupts in joy after team reaches World Cup final
The streets of Argentina have turned into a party as the national team beat Croatia by a comfortable 3-0 and earned this soccer-crazed South American country a spot in the World Cup final.
apnews.com
Cyndi Lauper and Sam Smith sing at White House
The White House invited the musical artists to perform as President Biden signed a same-sex marriage bill.
www.bbc.com
At least 120 killed as floods sweep DR Congo capital
Rapid development and poor regulation have left Kinshasa increasingly vulnerable to flash floods caused by heavy rain.
Protesters block construction of Arizona border wall made of shipping containers
In the waning days of his term, Gov. Doug Ducey has continued to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that environmentalists and residents say is unnecessary and destructive.
www.nbcnews.com
Los Angeles councilman will not resign amid audio scandal and scuffle with protester | CNN Politics
Days after video of a scuffle with an activist surfaced, and months after racist remarks on tape went viral, Los Angeles councilman Kevin de León told CNN he will remain on the city council but again faced protests at the council’s scheduled meeting Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
Australian police investigate extremist views of cop killers
Australian police are investigating the extremist views of three people who shot and killed two officers and a neighbor at a rural property before they were killed hours later by police in a gunfight.
apnews.com
Biden administration working on more fixes to Trump border wall construction
The Biden administration will work to close gaps and fix environmental and other issues with the Trump-era border wall construction
Pentagon preparing plan to send Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine
The U.S. "is poised to" provide at least one Patriot missile battery to Ukraine once the plan is approved, according to a U.S. official.
www.cbsnews.com
Explainer: U.S. pandemic border entry limits on migrants due to end next week. Will they?
Pandemic-era border restrictions that have blocked hundreds of thousands of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border are set to end on Dec. 21 following a U.S. judge's ruling that found the limits unlawful, but an ongoing legal battle could delay that timeline.
Biden still feels ‘a moral obligation’ to Sandy Hook, 10 years later
The inability to curb gun violence for Sandy Hook families still weighs heavily on Biden.
www.politico.com
Expanded child tax credit in doubt as Congress negotiates must-pass spending bill
Top Senate Republicans said they don’t expect any tax provisions to be included in a must-pass spending bill that lawmakers are negotiating, all but dashing Democratic hopes of a child tax credit expansion.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
FTX founder Bankman-Fried’s campaign finance charges ‘just the tip of the iceberg’
FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was charged with violating a slew of campaign finance laws on Tuesday, marking another major blow for the former crypto leader. According to …
thehill.com
Biden denounces GOP states that limit child gender surgeries during same-sex marriage bill-signing ceremony
The president signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law Tuesday with numerous guests ranging from cabinet members, lawmakers and non-binary drag queens at the White House.
Morocco faces France in politically charged World Cup game
As Morocco faces France in the World Cup semifinal, many players and fans of both diverse teams grapple with family tales of colonial history, challenges of immigration, and questions of national loyalty.
apnews.com
Biden signs same-sex marriage bill at White House ceremony
The president signed legislation Congress passed last week ensuring federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages.
www.nbcnews.com
Big Tech backs embattled green card bill ahead of key House vote
Big Tech companies are backing an immigration bill that would abolish per-country caps on employment visas -- ahead of the bill's vote in the House later on Tuesday.
Mississippi State will play in bowl game following death of head coach Mike Leach
Mississippi State University's football team said it will still play in its bowl game in January despite the death of the team's head coach, Mike Leach, Monday evening.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Sexual abuse rampant in federal prisons, bipartisan investigation finds
Linda De La Rosa says her time at Federal Medical Center, a minimum security prison in Lexington, Ky., was a “living hell.” In 2019, De La Rosa was one of three women to be sexually abused by a fed…
thehill.com
Megan Thee Stallion testifies Tory Lanez shot her
The Grammy winner tells a jury of her "torture" after the Canadian rapper allegedly attacked her.
www.bbc.com
Scientists declare 2 Hawaii volcanoes have stopped erupting
Scientists have declared on the same day that two active Hawaii volcanoes have stopped erupting. The U.S.
apnews.com
Advocacy groups warn of harassment on Twitter after Musk kills safety board
Elon Musk continues to unravel existing content moderation policies with the disbanding of its outside council.
www.politico.com
Lloyd Austin says 'Russia continuing to peddle cheap weapons' in Africa
Russia's arms dealers and mercenaries have fueled a “destabilizing” wave of violence in developing African countries, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned an audience of African leaders and diplomats.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fiji’s prime minister vows to respect results as voting ends
Frank Bainimarama pledges to respect result as he faces off with a rival looking to end his 16-year stint in power.
Ex-national security adviser says Russians were willing to free Paul Whelan under Trump
Former President Trump’s ex-national security adviser said the Russians appeared committed to releasing Paul Whelan and another imprisoned American to improve relations between Washington and Mosco…
thehill.com
20 House Republicans push Congress to impeach DHS chief Alejandro Mayorkas
Twenty Republicans demanded on Tuesday that the U.S. House of Representatives impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas next Congress.
Congress eyes one-week extension of government funding to avoid shutdown
Congress will likely have to fund the government for one week to avoid a partial government shutdown.
www.cbsnews.com
Fusion breakthrough is a milestone for climate, clean energy
Scientists announced that they have for the first time produced more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it.
apnews.com
El Paso faced a 'major surge in illegal crossings' over the weekend, senior border official says | CNN Politics
More than 2,400 migrants crossed into the United States near El Paso, Texas, daily over the weekend, according to a senior Border Patrol official, marking what he described as a “major surge in illegal crossings” in the region.
www.cnn.com
Top appropriators clinch deal on government funding framework
Leading negotiators didn’t release government funding totals in announcing the deal, but appropriators have largely settled on an $858 billion defense budget in recent weeks.
www.politico.com
Dianne Feinstein says she won't step down early despite concerning mental health reports
Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif, says she will serve out the remainder of her term to 2024, rebuking those who have raised concerns about her mental fitness.
Fact check: Kevin McCarthy falsely claims Trump condemned White nationalist Nick Fuentes | CNN Politics
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was asked on Tuesday about how he hadn’t yet condemned former President Donald Trump for having dinner a week ago with Nick Fuentes, a White nationalist and Holocaust denier.
www.cnn.com
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commutes sentences of 17 people on death row
Brown criticized capital punishment, saying the death penalty “cannot be and never has been administered fairly and equitably.”
www.nbcnews.com
A slowdown in US inflation eases some pressure on households
Inflation in the United States slowed again last month in the latest sign that price increases are cooling despite the pressures they continue to inflict on American households.
apnews.com
Gates-backed startup delays advanced nuclear reactor after loss of Russian fuel
The advanced nuclear reactor company founded by Bill Gates said it will have to delay the demonstration of its novel reactor technology because its exclusive fuel supply arrangement with Russia has been disrupted by the war in Ukraine.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Poll shows Biden's low level of support in 2024 among Democratic primary voters
A new Five Thirty Eight/Ipsos poll revealed that President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are the two frontrunners
U.S. senator Manchin says Treasury should limit commercial EV tax credit use
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat who chairs the chamber's energy panel, asked the Treasury Department on Tuesday not to allow a commercial electric vehicle tax credit to be used for consumer leasing, rental cars or ridesharing vehicle sales, rejecting a broad interpretation of the credit.
What is Title 42, why is it ending and what's happening now at the border? | CNN Politics
Title 42, the Trump-era pandemic public health restrictions that became a key tool officials used to turn back migrants at the US-Mexico border, is set to expire on May 11. Here’s a look at some of the key questions and answers about the policy.
www.cnn.com
Biden on inflation report: 'My economic plan is working'
President Biden delivered remarks on the economy after a report showed inflation had slowed to 7.1% in November. The president assured that "my economic plan is working" and stressed the importance of lower prices ahead of the holiday season.
www.nbcnews.com
Title 42: Trump-era border policy creates headache for Biden
Attempted migrant crossings are expected to spike if and when the controversial policy does go.
www.bbc.com
Rival Libya PM calls for US to release Lockerbie accused
One of Libya’s rival prime ministers has called for the release of the former Libyan intelligence officer accused of making the bomb that downed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing all onboard, after he surfaced in U.S. custody earlier this week.
apnews.com
U.S. touts fusion breakthrough as one of ‘most impressive scientific feats’ this century
It will still take at least “a few decades" to turn the laboratory breakthrough into a viable source of energy for people and businesses, one Energy Department official said.
www.politico.com
Fox News footage shows mass release of migrants into US, as numbers hit 500,000 for FY 23
Fox News footage shows the continued release of migrants at the southern border as authorities face a looming end to the Title 42 expulsion authority just days away.
DOJ charges 7 with smuggling equipment to Russian military | CNN Politics
The US Justice Department has charged five Russian nationals, one American and an Israeli who is a US permanent resident with allegedly conspiring to violate US sanctions by smuggling US-made equipment to the Russian military, according to a recently unsealed court documents.
www.cnn.com
Hippo swallows 2-year-old whole, then spits him out alive
A hungry, hungry hippo is going viral after it swallowed a 2-year-old boy whole, then spit him up alive.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Samuel Bankman-Fried accused of making illegal campaign contributions
The FTX co-founder donated millions, mostly to Democrats, since 2020, according to FEC data. Prosecutors allege he funneled even more money into politics illegally.
www.nbcnews.com
EU reels as scandal tarnishes parliament's credibility
The European Union's parliament is reeling and its credibility is at stake as a corruption and bribery scandal has toppled a senior member.
apnews.com
Biden admin may cut number of migrants eligible for asylum at border
Part of the plan is similar to a "transit ban" proposed by Stephen Miller, Trump's hard-line immigration adviser, that makes far fewer migrants eligible to claim asylum in the U.S.
www.nbcnews.com
Zelenskyy asks New Zealand to focus on war's ecological toll
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged New Zealand to take a leading role in focusing on the environmental destruction his country is suffering as a result of Russia’s invasion.
apnews.com
Teen charged in shooting outside Rep. Lee Zeldin's home indicted in New York gang takedown
The accused gunman in a shooting outside Rep. Lee Zeldin's home, 18-year-old Noah Green, is among alleged gang members charged in a new 148-count indictment in Suffolk County, New York.
8 in France convicted of roles in Bastille Day truck attack
A French court has convicted eight people charged in connection with a truck attack more than six years ago by an Islamic State sympathizer that killed 86 people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice.
apnews.com
Impeachment effort will only complicate the immigration puzzle | CNN Politics
Immigration, always simmering in the American political conversation, could take on new importance with a “surge” at the border, the end of Title 42, a doomed impeachment effort and the slim possibility of a bipartisan win before the year is done.
www.cnn.com
U.S. lawmakers unveil bipartisan bid to ban China's TikTok
Republican Senator Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced bipartisan legislation to ban China's popular social media app TikTok, ratcheting up pressure on owner ByteDance Ltd amid U.S. fears the app could be used to spy on Americans and censor content.
Nancy Pelosi asked, 'Am I a b****?' after grilling Mike Pence during 2020 call, documentary reveals
Nancy Pelosi asked a blunt question about herself during a tense phone call with former Vice President Mike Pence in 2020, according to a new documentary.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Paul Whelan’s family defends Biden efforts amid criticism from Trump
Securing the release of Paul Whelan from Russian imprisonment is a high priority for President Biden, Whelan’s family said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement, released in an email by Wh…
thehill.com
Tornadoes touch down in the South as severe weather sweeps the nation: "All of a sudden the house was shaking"
Tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana caused injuries and damage and left at least two people missing.
www.cbsnews.com
Industry's big bet on chemical recycling is sparking policy fights across the country
How the U.S. decides to handle the technology will help determine the trajectory of the plastics crisis.
www.politico.comTrump in trouble: Republican support for his 2024 bid falls amid political, legal setbacks
Most Republican voters want Trump-ism but are no longer so enthusiastic about ex-President Donald Trump himself, a warning sign for his 2024 campaign.
White House lights up with rainbow colors after same-sex marriage bill signing
The Biden administration lit up the south portico of the White House in rainbow colors on Tuesday evening after the president signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law earlier in the day. Presid…
thehill.com
McDaniel seeks to fend off RNC leadership challenge
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is facing her clearest leadership challenge to date in the wake of her party’s disappointing midterm election results. Much of the fing…
thehill.com
Mars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planet
A NASA rover on Mars by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed overhead last year and caught the sound.
apnews.com
Blizzards bury Plains as tornadoes head for South
Blizzard conditions are expected to bury much of the Northern Plains through Wednesday, as a multiday tornado outbreak threatens the South-Central U.S. Incoming from the West Coast: The winter stor…
thehill.com
U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit kicks off under China's long shadow
China has surged past U.S. foreign direct investment in Africa, a top Commerce official acknowledged ahead of the summit, saying, “We took our eye off the ball, so to speak."
www.nbcnews.com
Can the 'Never Kevin' caucus hold the line?
Five House Republicans say they won't support Republican leader Kevin McCarthy — enough to deny him the speaker's gavel. But they're facing enormous pressure to cave.
www.nbcnews.com
Nuclear fusion breakthrough – what is it and how does it work?
Could nuclear fusion really provide the world with almost limitless supplies of energy?
www.bbc.com
'Deep State mentality': Secret Service, ICE secretly coordinated with FBI to strip gun rights, emails show
EXCLUSIVE — The Secret Service and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement secretly coordinated with the FBI to strip U.S. citizens of their rights to own, use, or even buy firearms, according to internal emails obtained by the Washington Examiner.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Starving seabirds on Alaska coast show climate change peril
Dead and dying seabirds collected on the coasts of the northern Bering and southern Chukchi seas over the past six years reveal how the Arctic’s fast-changing climate is threatening the ecosystems and people who live there.
apnews.com
GOP bill would protect parents who refuse to transition their child's gender
A bill introduced Tuesday by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., seeks to protect parents who refuse to transition their child's gender, either socially or medically.
U.S. inflation slowed sharply to 7.1 percent over past 12 months
Even with last month’s further easing of inflation, the Federal Reserve plans to keep raising interest rates.
www.politico.com
Biden signs into law same-sex marriage bill, 10 years after his famous Sunday show answer on the issue | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden signed into law Tuesday landmark new federal protections for same-sex and interracial couples, capping both a personal and national evolution on an issue that’s enjoyed growing acceptance over the past decade.
www.cnn.com
Breonna Taylor's boyfriend settles lawsuits over botched police raid
Louisville will pay $2 million to settle two lawsuits filed by the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman killed by police during a no-knock raid at her apartment in the Kentucky city two years ago, the Washington Post reported.
José Andrés on future political run: ‘Maybe if it’s the right time’
José Andrés isn’t ruling out one day whipping up a political bid. The famed restauranteur and humanitarian, who founded the emergency food relief nonprofit World Central Kitchen, responded, “O…
thehill.comIowa Sen. Joni Ernst defends gay-marriage vote as GOP county groups move to censure her
Several Republican county parties have voted to condemn Iowa's U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in the wake of her vote. "I stand by my vote," she said Monday.
US study: Over half of car crash victims had drugs in system
A large U.S. government study has found that more than half the people injured or killed in traffic crashes had one or more drugs, or alcohol, in their bloodstreams.
apnews.com
House GOP divided over whether McCarthy should give in on 'motion to vacate' | CNN Politics
The House Republican Conference is still entrenched in an internal war over whether to reinstate an arcane rule that would empower any member to bring up a vote to oust a speaker at any time.
www.cnn.comMcDaniel seeks to fend off RNC leadership challenge
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is facing her clearest leadership challenge to date in the wake of her party’s disappointing midterm election results. Much of the fing…
thehill.com
Australia vies for Pacific influence with new security deal
Australia has signed a new security deal with Oceania island country Vanuatu as part of an ongoing competition with China for influence in the Pacific.
apnews.com
Inflation remains sky high, but November slowdown may offer some relief
A November slowdown in inflation could give consumers relief both from rising prices and rapidly rising interest rates. Consumer price index (CPI) data released Tuesday by the Labor Department stil…
thehill.com
30-year-old soldier killed in Fort Stewart shooting identified
A suspect was taken into custody in the shooting. No information on a motive has been released.
www.cbsnews.com
Legal fight over termination of Trump-era border policy intensifies as GOP-led states ask appeals court to rule by Friday | CNN Politics
Nineteen GOP-led states have asked a federal appeals court to rule on their request to suspend the termination of a Trump-era border policy by Friday, according to a court filing.
www.cnn.comIncredulous New CEO Says FTX Used QuickBooks to Manage Billions
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Newly appointed FTX CEO John Ray could barely disguise his disbelief as he listed all the failures at the now-bankrupt crypto exchange before Congress on Tuesday—among them, the use of QuickBooks to manage the finances of the multibillion-dollar company.Ray took the...
Fox News Politics: Democrats who ditched their party
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content
History-making nonbinary government official is out of a job after theft accusations
An Energy Department spokesperson said Sam Brinton, the first openly gender-fluid senior government official, no longer works at the agency.
www.nbcnews.com
30 years worth of evidence, including DNA, possibly destroyed in NYPD storage facility blaze
Police said they won't know the extent of the damage until the fire is put out, a task the fire department said could take several days.
www.cbsnews.comIndiana appealing 2nd court decision blocking abortion ban
A second legal challenge that has blocked Indiana’s abortion ban from being enforced could also be headed to the state Supreme Court. The Indiana attorney general’s office asked the state’s highest court to review a county judge’s Dec. 2 ruling that the abortion ban adopted in August by the...
91% of colleges don't provide students with the accurate cost, federal agency says | CNN Politics
An independent federal agency is calling on Congress to help prevent college students from taking on an unaffordable amount of student debt.
www.cnn.com
LGBTQ activist exposed by Rep. Nancy Mace: ‘Do you believe your rhetoric is a threat to democracy?’
Rep. Nancy Mace on Tuesday exposed a transgender activist for saying violent rhetoric is dangerous, even though she has called for violence against the Supreme Court.
LA City Council member chased around town months after leaked tape’s release
Kevin de León's life on the run has prolonged a painful chapter for Los Angeles following the October release of the recording, which contained racist remarks.
www.politico.com
House GOP’s inclusion of 'salacious' Commanders cheerleaders photos in official memo draws blowback
Attorneys for former Washington Commanders employees demanded that Republicans remove the photos from a memo on the findings of a 'toxic work culture' on the NFL team.
www.nbcnews.com
These five African countries were not invited to Biden’s summit
The Biden administration is hosting a summit this week that brings together leaders of 49 African countries, as well as heads of the African Union, to collaborate on key policy across climate chang…
thehill.com
Why the 2024 Race Is Eerily Quiet
The 2024 presidential campaigns of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are riddled with uncertainties. That means other presidential hopefuls are lying low — for now.
www.politico.comChile's parties to retry replacing dictatorship constitution
Chile's political parties from the left to the right have agreed to try again to replace the constitution imposed by Gen. Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship four decades ago. The accord was announced in the former Congress building, the same place where Chile's entire political firmament...
Former music students accuse two Juilliard teachers of sexual misconduct
Three people have accused two teachers at the world-renowned music school — composers Robert Beaser and the late Christopher Rouse — of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s and 2000s.
www.npr.org
Long COVID to blame for more than 3,500 deaths so far, CDC reports
Thousands of death certificates previously counted as COVID-19 fatalities were actually related to long COVID, researchers say — and the true number is likely higher.
www.cbsnews.com
Ron DeSantis outflanks Trump on the right with his call for Covid vaccine probe
One Trump adviser said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' call for the investigation is a "shot across the bow" with 2024 implications.
www.nbcnews.com
Merck, Moderna detail potential skin cancer vaccine progress
Moderna’s stock soared Tuesday after the COVID-19 vaccine maker detailed progress in developing another potential preventive shot for a deadly form of skin cancer.
apnews.com
Huge US study starts sharing gene findings with volunteers
Thousands of Americans who shared their DNA for science are about to learn if they have some particularly worrisome genes.
apnews.com
Vaccine fatigue is leaving the US vulnerable to flu | CNN
The flu season ramped up early in the United States this year, but vaccination rates are far from keeping pace.
www.cnn.com
China Covid: Hospitals under strain in wave of infections
A wave of Covid infections hitting China as it opens up has put pressure on the healthcare system.
www.bbc.com
Ukraine: Doctors from occupied city open hospital in Kyiv
A team of doctors and nurses who fled Mariupol as Russian forces closed in on their hospital are starting up a new medical center in the Ukrainian capital to serve people displaced by the war.
apnews.com
Moderna mRNA vaccine reduced risk of skin cancer relapse: research
Researchers found the combination of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine and Merck’s Keytruda in melanoma patients reduced the risk of death or relapse of the disease by 44 percent compared to patients just tak…
thehill.com
Experimental mRNA cancer vaccine with immunotherapy reduces risk of melanoma returning, preliminary study finds | CNN
An experimental personalized mRNA vaccine in combination with the immunotherapy Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death from melanoma in patients who had already had surgery, Moderna and Merck said Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
New Zealand imposes lifetime ban on youth buying cigarettes
New Zealand has passed into law a unique plan to phase out tobacco smoking by imposing a lifetime ban on young people buying cigarettes.
apnews.comDeSantis, Who Once Praised Vaccines, Now Wants To Prosecute Those Who Pushed Them
The move adds to the Republican demonization of medical experts and helps DeSantis improve his standing with the anti-vaccine GOP base.
Empty pharmacy shelves shine a light on vulnerabilities in US drug supplies | CNN
Scarcity of several high-profile prescription drugs, such as the antibiotic amoxicillin and the ADHD treatment Adderall, have had some patients searching pharmacies and rationing pills, and now parents in some areas are having to hunt to find over-the-counter pain- and fever-reducing medications...
www.cnn.com
