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GOP smells blood with wounded Trump
Senate Republicans who want to move on from Donald Trump are smelling blood after a series of self-destructive errors by the former president that they think is opening the door for GOP rivals to challenge and defeat him in a 2024 presidential primary. 
Warnock delivers 51-seat Senate for Democrats, and much more
Raphael Warnock’s victory in swing-state Georgia gives Senate Democrats a 51-49 majority. It's a “lift,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday at the Capitol.
apnews.com
Herschel Walker loss reignites GOP anger at Trump-picked candidates
Many Republicans are once again calling for the party to ditch former President Donald Trump after his handpicked candidate, Herschel Walker, lost his Senate race in Georgia.
Jan. 6 committee report will be released Dec. 21, Thompson says
Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House Jan. 6 committee, said Wednesday that the panel's long-awaited report will be released on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
FBI got earlier tip about Colorado Springs gay bar shooter
Authorities say the person who would later kill five at a Colorado gay nightclub was on the FBI’s radar a day before being arrested for threatening to kill family members.
apnews.com
Bruised Republicans point fingers after failure to capture Senate
Senate Republicans, fresh off their loss in the Georgia runoff, began their post-mortem Wednesday after a dreadful midterm cycle that saw every Democratic incumbent win and resigned them to at leas…
thehill.com
Supreme Court seems poised to reject robust reading of ‘independent state legislature’ theory
John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Barrett are the key justices to watch in a case that could allow state legislatures to bypass courts on election rules.
www.politico.comLiz Cheney resurfaced Paul Gosar's deleted tweet supporting Donald Trump's call to terminate the US Constitution: 'Time to condemn Trump yet?'
Donald Trump suggested the "termination" of rules and regulations in the Constitution that led to disputed voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Neither Trump nor Biden? Polls show where voters stand in support of top 2024 presidential contenders
Recent polls have found that most voters would like to see Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the 2024 GOP nominee over Donald Trump, while President Biden's approval remains higher than his rumored opponents.
Interracial marriages to get added protection under new law
The Respect for Marriage Act has been largely focused on the protection the law gives to same-sex couples.
apnews.com
Trump hosts event featuring QAnon, 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theorist at Mar-a-Lago
A prominent QAnon and "Pizzagate" conspiracy theorist spoke at an event at Mar-a-Lago and posed for photos with former President Trump, according to social media posts.
Democrats ramp up investigation into Jared Kushner's business dealings
Democrats in the House and the Senate are accelerating their investigation into Jared Kushner's business dealings with consideration to his role in the Trump administration.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Florida Republican who sponsored ‘Don’t Say Gay’ indicted on Covid relief fraud charges
He was released on bond on Wednesday after a preliminary hearing.
www.politico.com
McCarthy's struggle to lock down House speaker roils GOP caucus, delays key committee assignments
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's struggle to win 218 votes to be House speaker threatens to delay Republicans' plans to hit the ground running in the new majority.
Biden signs #MeToo law curbing confidentiality agreements
President Joe Biden has signed legislation curbing the use of confidentiality agreements that block victims of sexual harassment from speaking publicly about misconduct in the workplace.
apnews.com
Trump's team recovered more classified documents in search of storage unit
A team hired by former President Trump discovered at least two more documents marked classified during a deeper search for government documents, ABC News has confirmed.
Biden says 'we can' ban assault weapons as clock ticks for Democratic Congress
President Joe Biden on Wednesday renewed vows to secure a new ban on assault weapons in the United States as he turns up heat on lawmakers to pass legislation before his party loses control of Congress next month.
www.reuters.com
Putin: Nuclear risk is rising, but we are not mad
The Russian leader insists his country would only use its nuclear arsenal in response to a strike.
www.bbc.com
Report: Classified items found at Trump storage unit in Fla.
A published report says at least two items marked as classified were found in a storage unit in West Palm Beach, Florida, after lawyers for former President Donald Trump arranged for a firm to search for additional classified materials.
apnews.com
Alex Jones says he can pay less than 1% of Sandy Hook verdicts
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Wednesday said he has less than $12 million of the $1.5 billion he owes the families of Sandy Hook school shooting victims, but they immediately questioned the accuracy of his statements.
www.reuters.com
Rep. Paul Gosar echoes Trump's call for ‘termination’ of rules in Constitution
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) echoed former President Donald Trump's controversial call for the "termination" of parts of the Constitution.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Economists: A US housing recession has already arrived
This has been a year of watershed moments in real estate, and not the good kind. The Housing Market Index, a closely watched industry metric that gauges the outlook for home sales, …
thehill.com
McCarthy's mission: Six changes that could be coming once Republicans take over the House
Though Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is facing opposition from within his party as he vies for the speaker's gavel, he has laid out his priorities for a Republican majority next year as he looks to appeal to all corners of the Republican conference.
www.washingtonexaminer.comPOLITICO Playbook PM: SCOTUS skeptical of elections theory
And Trump's legal team finds more classified documents in West Palm Beach.
www.politico.com
Ukraine wants a special tribunal to prosecute Putin. Can it work?
Ukraine President Zelenskyy calls on US to support the establishment of a special tribunal for the crime of aggression.
Georgia loss piles more pressure on Trump amid bad month
“They need to stop and regroup over the holidays,” a former Trump campaign adviser said, amid investigations and midterm losses.
www.politico.com
Trump's attorneys argue he can't be sued for rhetoric leading up to Jan. 6 attack
A lawyer for former President Trump argued that Trump's fiery speech prior to the Jan. 6 attack was within his official responsibilities, making him immune from lawsuits.
Rep. Paul Gosar Endorses Trump's Call To Terminate The Constitution
Amid swift backlash, the extremist Republican then deleted his tweet.
Peru's President Pedro Castillo replaced by Dina Boluarte after impeachment
Dina Boluarte becomes the country's first female leader after ex-president Pedro Castillo is detained and accused of rebellion.
www.bbc.com
Putin says Ukraine fight is taking longer than expected
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges that what he calls his “special military operation” in Ukraine is taking longer than expected.
apnews.com
Republicans know they have a problem with relying on Election Day voting
But former President Donald Trump has disparaged early voting and voting by mail.
www.cbsnews.com
Ukraine war live updates: EU eyes new sanctions on Russia; Putin says war could be ‘lengthy’
The war shows no signs of slowing down with heavy missile attacks continuing overnight in the south and east of the country.
Trump pushes for immunity from lawsuits relating to January 6
Lawyers for former US president argue that he was acting in his official capacity ahead of the deadly Capitol attack.
Top conservative group warns of Chinese security risk in key immigration bill, urges ‘no’ vote
Heritage Action is urging lawmakers to vote against a bill that would abolish per-country caps on employment based visas -- warning of a Chinese security threat.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans TikTok on state devices
"TikTok harvests vast amounts of data from its users' devices," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said.
Trump had additional classified documents in Florida storage unit: Report
Attorneys for Donald Trump reportedly turned over at least two new items with classified markings to the FBI after they were discovered in a storage unit used by the former president in Florida.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
After final Trump-backed midterm loss, Senate Republicans bemoan weak nominees
Republicans on Wednesday blamed their loss in Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election on several factors directly tied to former President Donald Trump, beginning with the scandal-plagued celebrity he chose as their candidate.
www.reuters.com
The difference a 51-49 Senate majority makes to Democrats
Sen. Raphael Warnock's victory means that Democrats will have a clear majority, instead of the 50-50 split of the last two years.
www.cbsnews.com
Cryptocurrency firms need to 'come into compliance' with existing rules, SEC Chair Gary Gensler says
SEC Chair Gary Gensler says rules are in place to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges, but companies must comply with existing rules.
Ukraine used home-modified drones to strike Russian bases
The attacks come after Kyiv repeatedly asked Western nations to send long-range drones.
www.politico.comAn 88-Year First: Democrats Defend All Their Senate Seats While Holding White House
With Raphael Warnock's win, Joe Biden did something we have not seen since FDR.
Democrats pressure banks to atone for slavery-era activities to 'redress past wrongs’
House Democrats held a hearing Wednesday to talk about how banks can atone for the role they played in American slavery, which one witness said helped build wealth for banks.
Manhattan prosecutor: Even with Trump Org conviction, investigation is ‘ongoing’
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) said the investigation involving former President Trump is “ongoing” in the aftermath of his family organization being convicted of tax fraud. Bragg sai…
thehill.com
Georgia ends 2022 midterm cycle that challenged and confounded Washington: ANALYSIS
Behind the tidy figures of the 2022 midterms were complicated and downright confounding forces
Supreme Court searches for middle ground in North Carolina elections case
The Supreme Court hears a major case that could upend election law as it considers whether to reinstate GOP-drawn congressional districts in North Carolina.
Fraud trial conviction could be "death knell" for Trump Organization
Legal experts say Trump's hotel and real estate businesses could now struggle to secure loans and government contracts.
www.cbsnews.com
VA staffing up to deal with backlog of vets seeking toxin exposure treatment
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will be adding staff to keep up with claims made by veterans through a recently passed bill to expand benefits…
thehill.com
Idaho murder update: Police ask for community's help in tracking down vehicle of interest
Moscow, Idaho, police are reaching out to the community to help track down a vehicle of interest in last month's quadruple homicide in which four college students were stabbed to death.
www.washingtonexaminer.comWarnock's Victory Forges Democrats' Path Through the New Battlegrounds
For decades, Florida and Ohio reigned supreme over presidential politics. The two states relished their role crowning presidents and spawning political clichés. Industrial Cleveland faced off against white-collar Cincinnati, the Midwestern snowbirds of the Villages against the Puerto Rican...
Inside Heinrich XIII's plot to restore Germany's imperial throne
An aging scion of a medieval German principality aspired to reestablish the throne of Kaiser Wilhelm II — only to have the ambition thwarted in a massive raid by Germany's security services.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Blinken threatens travel ban for Sudanese who endanger deal
CAIRO (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Sudanese leaders Wednesday that the United States will impose a travel ban on any individuals who threaten to derail Sudan’s fragile democratic transition.
apnews.com
Biden family 'fully' supports 2024 re-election campaign: Senior adviser
EXCLUSIVE: President Biden intends to run for re-election in 2024, with a senior adviser telling Fox News that is a move the Biden family “fully” supports.
One person dead in officer-involved shooting in DC Metro Center: Report
One person was shot in the chest at the Washington, D.C., Metro Center during an officer-involved shooting, according to reports.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Indiana sues TikTok alleging Chinese access to user data, mature content exposure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Indiana sued Chinese-owned short-video sharing app TikTok on Wednesday over allegations that it is deceiving users about China's access to their data and exposing children to mature content. The office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, said the popular...
Suspected German coup plot spawns dozens of arrests
German police have rounded up dozens of people including a self-styled prince, a retired paratrooper and a former judge, accusing the suspects of discussing the overthrow of the government, but leaving unclear how concrete the plans were.
apnews.com
Fox’s Laura Ingraham after Herschel Walker’s Georgia loss: ‘I’m pissed’ at GOP
Fox News host Laura Ingraham expressed outrage at the Republican Party after Herschel Walker’s loss in Tuesday’s Georgia Senate runoff election, which cemented firm control of the Senat…
thehill.com
Idaho police seek car seen near site where 4 students killed
Police are asking for help finding the occupant of a car that was seen near where four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death last month, saying that person could have “critical information” about the case.
apnews.com
To 2024? Bidens playfully toast reelection bid at state dinner, source says
French President Emmanuel Macron led the table in a toast to Mr. Biden's 2024 campaign by raising a glass of wine.
www.cbsnews.com
Storm systems bring snow and flood threats to Northern Rockies and Plains
Storm systems will bring heavy rain and snow across the U.S. over the next couple of days. Several weather advisories are in place.
Theranos’s Balwani gets nearly 13 years over blood-testing hoax
Former chief operating officer of US blood-testing startup was found guilty of conspiracy and fraud in July.
Peru's president ousted by Congress in political crisis
The president of Peru was ousted by Congress and arrested on a charge of rebellion Wednesday after he sought to dissolve the legislative body and take unilateral control of the government, triggering a grave constitutional crisis.
apnews.com
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez under investigation by House Ethics Committee
New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is under a House ethics investigation, according to a statement issued by the panel Wednesday.
Trump Bedeviled by Company's Conviction and Senate Candidate's Defeat
Tuesday’s conviction of the Trump Organization on charges of financial impropriety, coupled with the loss by former President Donald Trump’s candidate in the Georgia Senate runoff, marked one of the worst days for Trump since he announced his presidential candidacy roughly three weeks ago. First...
Georgia runoff: Democratic U.S. Senator Warnock beats Trump-backed rival
Democrat Raphael Warnock won re-election to the U.S. Senate in a hard-fought Georgia runoff on Tuesday, strengthening his party's razor-thin majority as he fought off a challenge by Republican former football star Herschel Walker.
www.reuters.com
Big cats: US Senate unanimously passes bill to curb private ownership
The Big Cat Public Safety Act seeks to stop people exploiting animals such as lions and tigers for profit.
www.bbc.comRepublican lawmakers criticize U.S. grant to battery company with China ties
Two senior Republican lawmakers on Wednesday were highly critical of the decision by the U.S. Energy Department to award $200 million to Microvast Holdings over the lithium battery company's ties to the Chinese government. In October, Texas-based Microvast won a $20 million U.S. grant from the...
Republicans divided over Trump hosting Ye, ‘associates’ at Mar-a-Lago: survey
About one-third of Republicans indicated approval of former President Trump’s recent dinner with rapper Ye and “his associates,” but disapproval shot up when asked specifically about white supremac…
thehill.com
Jan. 6 committee to release final report in two weeks: Report
The Jan. 6 committee is set to release its final report on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Hawaii remembrance draws handful of Pearl Harbor survivors
A handful of centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor gathered at the scene in Hawaii to commemorate those who perished 81 years ago in the Japanese bombing.
apnews.com
Crimea bridge: How Russia is rebuilding its vital link
The key route connecting Russia with Crimea was damaged by an explosion in October.
www.bbc.com
Study: Federal magistrates, prosecutors misunderstand bail law, jailing people who should go free
A Reagan-era bail law has been wildly misapplied in the federal courts by judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers, a two-year national study finds.
www.usatoday.com
Mike Braun holds ‘commanding lead’ for Indiana governor
Mike Braun, who’s planning to give up his Senate seat to run for governor of Indiana, starts with a huge lead over two rivals for the 2024 GOP primary.
www.washingtonexaminer.comDems plot their own government funding plan as talks stall
The party's decision to release a proposal with no GOP buy-in comes as the two sides have made almost no progress on negotiations since last week.
www.politico.com
Guatemalan court convicts ex-president of fraud, conspiracy
A court in Guatemala has convicted former President Otto Pérez Molina and his vice president, Roxana Baldetti, on fraud and conspiracy counts.
apnews.com
California Democrat says he'd vote for a 'unity' GOP speaker, but McCarthy allies warn of concessions
As anti-Kevin McCarthy dissenters grow, Democrats are moving toward agreeing to a unity candidate to become the next Speaker of the House.
Biden’s latest student loan payment extension is unlawful
Nobody should believe the Education Department anymore when it says a repayment extension is the last one.
thehill.comRepublicans Begin To Point Finger At Trump After Disappointing Georgia Election
The GOP needs to do some "soul-searching" after their lackluster performance in the 2022 election, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) argued.
Germany arrests 25 people over alleged far-right coup plot
The followers of the Reich Citizens were allegedly preparing ‘to violently force their way into the German parliament’.
Holmes' former partner gets nearly 13 years in Theranos case
A judge has sentenced former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani to nearly 13 years in prison for his role in the company’s blood-testing hoax.
apnews.com
Meet the 18-year-old who just became the youngest Black mayor in the country
Jaylen Smith, of Earle, Arkansas, said it “feels awesome” to have a place in the history books.
www.nbcnews.com
Zelensky named Time magazine Person of the Year
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year on Wednesday after being one of 10 individuals or groups placed on a shortlist earlier this week. Zelensky has l…
thehill.com
OnPolitics: How did the GOP lose Georgia? Walker, Trump influence cost Senate seat
Democrat Raphael Warnock's victory over Republican Herschel Walker expanded Democrats' hold over the Senate. Who's to blame for the GOP's loss?
www.usatoday.com
The winners and losers of Congress's NDAA fight
After weeks of wrangling, lawmakers finally released a draft of the yearly defense spending bill on Tuesday night as they race to wrap up legislative business by the time Congress breaks for the holidays.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. seeks more information on Reuters report over Nigerian military secret abortion program
A Reuters report that the Nigerian military ran a secret mass abortion program in its war on Boko Haram is "harrowing" and the United States is seeking more information, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
New Mexico State basketball team skipped town with evidence following player-involved shooting: Report
New Mexico State University basketball coaches and players avoided police questioning, left town by bus, and kept a gun that was used by a player in a fatal shooting at a rival school, according to a new report.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Supreme Court leans toward limiting judicial scrutiny of U.S. elections
The court appeared ready to limit judicial power to overrule voting policies crafted by state politicians in a case liberal justices painted as a threat to democratic norms.
www.reuters.comInterior secretary: `Unacceptable' to mine near famed swamp
A member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet is urging Georgia officials to deny permits for a proposed mine near the edge of the famed Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge, saying the plan poses “unacceptable risk” to the swamp's fragile ecology. “I write to express serious concerns...
Supreme Court grapples with theory that would upend federal election rules
The case Moore v. Harper stems from North Carolina Republicans' redrawing of the state's congressional map after the 2020 Census.
www.cbsnews.com
Warnock win makes it official: Georgia is a '24 battleground
Fresh off Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock’s runoff victory, Georgia Democrats are embracing -- and Republicans are reluctantly accepting -- the state’s transition from GOP stronghold to premier battleground as the political calendar turns to the 2024 presidential cycle.
apnews.com
AOC won’t say if she’s still using TikTok amid national security concerns about China-owned platform
New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would not say whether she still has and uses her TikTok account that she said she had in an Instagram Live video last year.
Is Ukraine’s new drone a game-changer in the war?
A mysterious weapon has hit one of Russia’s largest and most important military airfields.
Zeldin won't run for RNC chair, but says McDaniel should step aside
“I won’t be running for RNC Chair at this time with McDaniel’s reelection pre-baked by design, but that doesn’t mean she should even be running again," he said of the current RNC chair.
www.politico.com
North Carolina offering $75K reward in power grid attack investigation
The state of North Carolina is now offering a reward of $75,000 to anyone who submits a tip leading to an arrest relating to a recent attack on a pair of power stations.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Asian shares slip after tech stock slump on Wall St
Shares are mostly lower in Asia after Wall Street sagged under weakness in tech stocks. Japan revised upward its GDP data to show the economy contracted less than earlier reported in July-September.
apnews.com
Arkansas' Jaylen Smith makes history as youngest black mayor in US: 'Time to Build a Better Chapter'
Jaylen Smith made history this week as he was elected the mayor of Earle, Arkansas, which will make him the youngest black mayor in the United States.
www.washingtonexaminer.comSoros caps off midterm spending with $50M super PAC contribution
The billionaire Democratic donor gave tens of millions of dollars to his party's candidates, super PACs and other groups in 2022.
www.politico.com
Off-duty FBI agent fatally shoots person at DC's Metro Center station, police say
An off-duty FBI agent fatally shot a person at Washington, D.C.'s Metro Center station Wednesday evening, police said.
Map: Warnock's Georgia win fueled by high turnout while Walker struggled in Republican areas
Sen. Raphael Warnock improved his numbers across Georgia during Tuesday's Senate runoff, while Herschel Walker struggled even in traditionally Republican areas.
Lawmakers face closing window to pass landmark bipartisan marijuana bill
Lawmakers are facing a rapidly closing window to get key marijuana legislation across the finish line in the lame-duck session. Despite fetching broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, op…
thehill.com
Exclusive: Canada's biggest pension plan, CPPI, ends crypto investment pursuit
Canada's biggest pension fund, CPP Investments, has ended its effort to study investment opportunities in the volatile crypto market, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
US appeals ruling that would lift asylum restrictions
The U.S. government says it will appeal a court ruling that would lift asylum restrictions that have become the cornerstone of border enforcement.
apnews.com
'We cannot normalize this': Doug Emhoff leads White House roundtable to combat antisemitism
Conference speakers also drew a link between antisemitism and another scourge the Biden administration wants to confront: threats to democracy.
www.nbcnews.com
Friction over LGBTQ issues worsens in global Anglican church
Friction has been simmering within the global Anglican Communion for many years over its 42 provinces’ sharp differences on whether to recognize same-sex marriage and ordain LGBTQ clergy.
apnews.com
Trial ordered for five men accused in plot to kidnap Whitmer
Five men facing terrorism and other felony charges for their alleged role in a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) are headed to trial on all charges, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Jan. 6 committee plans to issue criminal referrals with its final report this month
The panel investigating the attack on the Capitol aims to issue the report on Dec. 21, Chairman Bennie Thompson said.
www.nbcnews.com
Pentagon splits $9 billion cloud contract among 4 companies
Google, Oracle, Microsoft and Amazon will share in the Pentagon’s $9 billion contract to build its cloud computing network.
apnews.com
Elon Musk rejects concerns over beds at Twitter HQ
The billionaire has previously told workers to commit to long hours or leave.
www.bbc.com
Anti-corruption groups, White House back money laundering bill in Congress
U.S. anti-corruption groups are pushing Congress to attach sweeping new money-laundering rules to a year-end bill funding the government that lawmakers aim to pass in the coming weeks, according to aides and lobbyists.
www.reuters.com
Reaction in Americas region to ousting of Peru's Castillo
The following are reactions from political leaders across the Americas to the ousting of Pedro Castillo as Peru's president on Wednesday and the swearing in of Vice President Dina Boluarte as the country's first woman president:
www.reuters.comBiden waiting too long to announce his reelection bid could be 'disastrous' for other Democratic contenders
"Most candidates who would run in '24 if Biden doesn't would like to get out of the box in the spring of next year," one Democratic strategist said.
Conservatives ramp up pressure on McConnell to block spending bill
Senate conservatives are trying to tighten the screws on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other GOP colleagues in hopes of blocking a year-end omnibus spending bill, threatening to …
thehill.com
As supply chains unclog, consumers enjoy (tentative) relief
The supply backlogs of the past two years — and the delays, shortages and outrageous prices that came with them — have improved dramatically since summer.
apnews.com
Democrats push firearms purchasing ban for people who voluntarily give up their 2A rights
House Democrats advanced a bill that would set up a federal register of people who agree not to buy guns, an idea aimed at curbing gun suicides by the mentally ill.
Gay California legislator gets 2nd bomb threat this year
Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener blamed anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from right-wing figures, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for inciting violence.
www.nbcnews.com
Watchdog finds prison failures before Whitey Bulger killing
The Justice Department’s inspector general has released its report on the 2018 beating death of notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger at the hands of fellow inmates at a federal prison in West Virginia.
apnews.com
Infectious Covid virus can stay on some groceries for days
Scientists did the study for the government to better understand possible exposure to shoppers.
www.bbc.com
How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday 12/7/2022
More weakness in tech stocks sent Wall Street mostly lower after another day of wobbly trading. The S&P 500 ended 0.2% lower Wednesday, its fifth straight loss.
apnews.comWhite House seeks to cut federal building emissions 30% by 2030
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Wednesday launched the first standard on cutting carbon emissions from federal buildings as part of the Biden administration's policy on curbing climate change. U.S. President Joe Biden wants federal buildings to be emissions free by 2045 as part of his...
'Big consequences': Supreme Court grapples with case some warn could upend federal elections
Voting rights groups say the case could upend federal elections but others say state courts have overstepped their authority over voting laws.
www.usatoday.com
Kim Kardashian, other celebrities beat EMax crypto investors' lawsuit
A federal judge in California on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against reality TV star Kim Kardashian, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and others over their role in promoting a cryptocurrency, saying it was not clear that the investors who sued actually saw the promotions.
www.reuters.com
Ronna McDaniel faces two challengers to lead RNC after Lee Zeldin announces he won't run
Although Rep. Lee Zeldin of N.Y. isn't running against the RNC chair, he said she shouldn't remain in her post.
www.cbsnews.com
Supreme Court hears arguments that could dramatically change election laws
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the Moore v. Harper case that could dramatically change local election laws.
www.usatoday.com
China's Xi on 'epoch-making' visit to Saudi as Riyadh chafes at U.S. censure
Chinese President Xi Jinping began a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that Beijing said marked its biggest diplomatic initiative in the Arab world, as Riyadh expands global alliances beyond a long-standing partnership with the West.
www.reuters.com
Dem governor: Caring is key to connecting with rural voters
Kentucky's governor says Democrats have a better chance of connecting with rural voters when they talk about the things people need and the ways they can help them. Gov.
apnews.com
No evidence Cawthorn, staffer had improper relationship, ethics committee finds
A House Ethics Committee investigation found "no evidence" that North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
The Great Salt Lake is drying up and turning into toxic dust
Declining water levels exposed much of the Great Salt Lake's bed and created conditions for storms of dust laden with toxic metals that now threaten 2 million people.
www.nbcnews.com
Emhoff: 'I'm in pain right now' over rising antisemitism
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, says he's pained by a rise in antisemitism in the United States.
apnews.com
John Fetterman’s top aide repeatedly attacked Democrats Manchin, Sinema, Feinstein on Twitter
Adam Jentleson, Sen.-elect John Fetterman's incoming chief of staff, has often publicly criticized moderate Democrats for their opposition to abolishing the filibuster.
Senate MAGA mutineers work on new ways to punish Mitch McConnell
MAGA lawmakers like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who blame Mitch McConnell for the Senate GOP's midterms flop aim to gum up the legislative works more often.
1st US floating offshore wind auction nets $757M in bids
The first-ever U.S. auction of leases to develop commercial-scale floating wind farms in the deep waters off the West Coast raised $757 million in bids, from mostly European companies.
apnews.com
House delays action on defense bill as Black Caucus presses for voting rights
House Democrats have delayed action on a sweeping defense policy bill following an eleventh-hour push from Black lawmakers for an accompanying vote to protect voting rights. The House entered Wedne…
thehill.com
Ukraine gets more U.S. aid as Russia-Iran ties worry West
Tehran and Moscow have denied accusations that Russia is using Iranian drones to attack targets in Ukraine.
www.reuters.com
NYC's rat-fighting mayor fined over infestation at own house
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is such an enemy of rats that he once called a press conference to demonstrate a contraption for drowning them in poison.
apnews.com
Trump hosts Mar-a-Lago event with prominent QAnon, Pizzagate conspiracy theorist
Former President Trump hosted a prominent QAnon and Pizzagate conspiracy theorist at his Mar-A-Lago club in Florida on Tuesday night, just two weeks after his much-criticized dinner with Ye and whi…
thehill.com
Majority of Dems rumored to be considering presidential run won't commit to backing Biden in 2024
The majority of top Democratic contenders for the 2024 presidential race are silent when asked by Fox News Digital if they would support President Biden in a second term.
Ukraine may get a lifeline from a NATO fund that had been earmarked for Afghanistan
The conversations about the new funds come at a time when Kyiv is asking for more support from western countries to fend off Russian advances in the coming months.
www.politico.com
What we know about group that plotted coup in Germany
The group is closely associated with the Reichsbürger movement — literally meaning “citizens of the Reich,” or kingdom — which rejects the legitimacy of the state.
www.nbcnews.comGOP Assembly winner could be ousted over Brooklyn residency
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — In an election in which Republicans underperformed nationally, Lester Chang was a success story.
apnews.com
New bot ChatGPT will force colleges to get creative to prevent cheating, experts say
Those who work with AI in their classrooms said they're not panicking about ChatGPT, which went viral after its launch last week.
www.nbcnews.com
Manchin pitches permitting reform as NDAA amendment
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is not giving up his fight to reform the nation’s energy approval policies after they were not included in the annual defense spending bill. Manchin’s office releas…
thehill.comU.S. blacklists companies for aiding Russian military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Wednesday added 24 companies and other entities to an export control list for supporting Russia’s military or defense industrial base, Pakistan's nuclear activities or for supplying an Iranian electronics company. The entities, based in Latvia...
Off-duty FBI agent fatally shoots person at DC's Metro Center station, police say
An off-duty FBI agent fatally shot a person at Washington, D.C.'s Metro Center station Wednesday evening, police said.
Biden at gun violence vigil: Shared grief and another call to action
Biden became the first president to attend the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, which began after the Sandy Hook school shooting in December 2012.
www.politico.com
Release of Bali bomb maker 'difficult day' for Australians, says deputy PM
Indonesia's release of convicted Bali bomb maker Umar Patek will be a "difficult day" for Australians who lost loved ones and relatives in the attacks, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
Amazon accused of stealing tips from delivery drivers
Lawsuit filed by Washington, D.C., prosecutor alleges Amazon deceived customers about how their gratuities were used.
www.cbsnews.comUkraine ex-lawmaker, alleged Russian agent, faces US charges
Federal authorities in New York have criminally charged a former Ukrainian lawmaker alleged to have acted as a Russian agent for over a decade and to have tried to influence the 2020 presidential election.
apnews.com
Key GOP senator says Schumer's assault weapons ban 'no longer on the table'
Chuck Schumer is facing pressure from anti-gun groups and the White House but is running out of time to garner any Republican support to pass an assault weapons ban.
The New School part-time faculty will stop receiving pay from university as strike continues
The New School part-time faculty are on strike asking for higher wages and reliable health insurance. The strike is in its third week.
Biden appeals ruling invalidating COVID curbs for migrants at U.S.-Mexico border
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday said it will appeal a federal court's decision that invalidated a pandemic-era order that blocks migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as other related legal challenges move forward.
www.reuters.com
Anti-McCarthy group says defunding ‘woke and weaponized government’ is key to balanced budget
An anti-Kevin McCarthy group is pushing the would-be House speaker to adopt a federal budget proposal that cuts woke spending to balance the budget.
Oregon high court won't let voter gun control measure begin
Oregon's tough, voter-approved gun control law remains temporarily blocked. Oregon's Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court judge’s decision preventing the measure from taking effect on Thursday.
apnews.com
RNC's McDaniel isn't letting setback in Georgia Senate runoff sidetrack her run for re-election as chair
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel isn’t letting Herschel Walker’s defeat in Georgia’s Senate runoff discourage her from running for re-election as RNC chair.
Advocates hopeful about getting expanded child tax credit over lame-duck finish line
Advocates say they’re making inroads with Republican senators on a beefed-up version of the child tax credit (CTC), which has become a top priority for Democrats during the lame-duck session. Tax n…
thehill.com
Ethics committee fines Madison Cawthorn for promoting crypto he had financial interest in
Rep. Madison Cawthorn broke congressional ethics rules by improperly promoting a crypto currency, says a report made public Dec. 6.
www.usatoday.com
US Jews fear collision with expected Israeli government
Israel’s ties to the Jewish American community are about to be put to the test, with Israel’s emerging far-right government on a collision course with Jews in the United States.
apnews.com
White House says Warnock's win gives Biden admin 'more breathing room' to pursue agenda
The White House says Sen. Raphael Warnock's win in the Georgia runoff election will give the Biden administration "more breathing room" to pursue is policy agenda.
Christian Walker Gives Dad Herschel Walker Brutal Beatdown On Twitter After Loss
The GOP Georgia Senate candidate's son had a pointed message for his father and other Republicans after Sen. Raphael Warnock's runoff victory.
Harry and Meghan: the rebel royals
A Netflix documentary series about Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will begin airing on Thursday, amid speculation that they will voice renewed criticism of the British royal family.
www.reuters.com
Democrats move to take power with narrow Pa. House majority
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrats who barely won back a majority of seats in the Pennsylvania House in November moved to take control of the chamber Wednesday and replace one of their incumbents who died and two others who won higher office.
apnews.com
EMax crypto investors’ lawsuit against Kim Kardashian, Floyd Mayweather Jr., other celebrities is dismissed
Other celebrity promoters face lawsuits from users of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, whose collapse has deepened an ongoing “crypto winter.”
www.nbcnews.com
New York AG says sexual harassment claims against chief of staff were substantiated
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) on Wednesday said an investigation substantiated sexual harassment allegations made against her chief of staff, Ibrahim Khan. “First and foremost, I tha…
thehill.com
Taliban carry out 1st public execution since Afghan takeover
A spokesman says the Taliban authorities have executed an Afghan convicted of killing another man in the first public execution since the former insurgents took over the country last year
Herschel Walker's son, Christian, says Republicans played identity politics with father's nomination
Christian Walker, a conservative podcast host, issued a scathing condemnation of his father, Herschel Walker, after his loss to Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock in the runoff election.
Democrats elected a big class of young governors. They might be the future of the party.
These new state executives say they're "the next generation of national leaders," and they're willing to wait their turn — for now.
www.politico.com
Hillicon Valley — News competition bill dropped after tech pushback
A journalism competition bill targeting dominant tech platforms was left out of must-pass defense legislation after pushback from the tech industry. In other news, Democrats pressed Twitter over re…
thehill.com
EU eyes Russian officials, banks, industry for sanctions
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday proposed travel bans and asset freezes on almost 200 more Russian officials and military officers as part of a new round of sanctions aimed at ramping up pressure on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
apnews.com
11 more women accuse dead Florida doctor of criminal and suspicious activity; two sue his business
Police reports NBC News obtained through a public records request provide previously unreported insight into the latest accusations against Eric Andrews Salata, including a third allegation of rape and more allegations of inappropriate touching and comments.
www.nbcnews.com
Climate change has many Americans reconsidering having children: POLL
GMA3 speaks with a young couple whose decision to have children is being impacted by the threats of climate change.
Peru's president ousted, arrested after he tried to dissolve Congress, start new government
Peru President Pedro Castillo was voted out by Congress, shortly after he tried to dissolve the legislature and start a new emergency government.
www.usatoday.com
Harry and Meghan decry "pain and suffering" of women brought into UK royal family
Prince Harry said the British royal family had dismissed race-related hounding of his wife Meghan by the press as a rite of passage as the couple delivered a fierce attack on the media in their Netflix documentary series released on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
What is the Afghan Adjustment Act and how could it help America's forgotten allies?
Many of the thousands of Afghan evacuees who resettled in the U.S. are still seeking permanent residency in America more than a year after fleeing Afghanistan.
Sharpton says film debuts at 'critical point' in US politics
The Rev. Al Sharpton has been called a lot of names in his public life. He embraces at least one of the intended insults, a name often hurled by his critics on the right and the left: “Loudmouth.”
apnews.com
Exclusive: 765K World Cup visitors fall short of Qatar's expected 1.2M influx
Qatar received just over 765,000 visitors during the first two weeks of the World Cup, according to an organisers' report obtained by Reuters, falling short of the country's expectations for an influx of 1.2 million during the month-long event.
www.reuters.com
Juul reaches settlements covering more than 5,000 cases
Buffeted by lawsuits, Juul announced hundreds of layoffs last month and bankruptcy appeared likely as it secured financing to continue operations.
www.nbcnews.com
Karl Rove fumes that Trump lost Georgia Senate race for the GOP: 'We got our clock cleaned'
Veteran GOP strategist Karl Rove suggests his party take former President Donald Trump's future endorsements as a "warning to beware" after a string of losses in the midterm elections.
Ex-Theranos executive Sunny Balwani sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for fraud
Balwani's sentence is longer than the more than 11 years company founder Elizabeth Holmes got last month.
www.nbcnews.com
Fired state TV chief's World Bank job shocks many in Poland
The former head of Poland’s state broadcaster says he now has a job the World Bank. It's spurred disbelief in the European Union country where he's known for turning the news channel into a propaganda tool for the right-wing government.
apnews.com
Man kills his fiancée’s father and shoots her mother and sister after demanding they move out
Christopher Jean Baptiste, 25, opened fire after he complained to his fiancée that he no longer wanted her family to live with them and then turned the gun on himself.
www.nbcnews.com
Recent Arkansas high school graduate elected youngest Black mayor in U.S.
Jaylen Smith, 18, was elected mayor of Earle, Arkansas, a small town of fewer than 2,000 people, in a runoff election Tuesday.
www.cbsnews.com
Ron DeSantis to hold 'intimate dinner' with top donors amid 2024 speculation
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold an "intimate dinner" with top donors this weekend. The invites make no mention of a 2024 presidential run, but many Republicans are pushing for it.
Russian court upholds ex-reporter's 22-year treason sentence
MOSCOW (AP) — A court in the Russian capital on Wednesday rejected an appeal from a former journalist who was convicted of treason and given a 22-year prison sentence following what was widely seen as a politically motivated trial.
apnews.com
Democrats’ expanded Senate majority boosts Harris
NotedDC is a newsletter looking at the politics, policy and people behind the stories in Washington. Sign up here or in the box below. DEMOCRATS PULLED OFF a big win with the reelection o…
thehill.com
2 men are indicted in antisemitic threats case in New York City
Christopher Brown and Matthew Mahrer were indicted on conspiracy and gun charges, the Manhattan DA’s office said. Brown also faces hate crimes and terrorism charges.
www.nbcnews.com
Big cat bill unanimously approved by Senate, heads to Biden's desk
The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which seeks to expand protections for big cats and other species, is headed to President Biden's desk after receiving unanimous approval by the Senate.
New search of Trump storage unit yields classified material, sources say
Sources declined to elaborate on the materials, which were retrieved from a West Palm Beach, Florida location, and turned over to federal authorities
www.usatoday.com
‘He never should have run for this seat’
In the wake of Herschel Walker’s Senate loss, aides say his campaign was as flawed as the candidate.
www.politico.com
US to boost natural gas exports to UK in energy partnership
The United States will increase exports of liquefied natural gas to Britain under a new agreement calling for the two countries to work together to boost energy security and drive down prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
apnews.com
Growing number of states banning TikTok on government devices
U.S. officials are concerned the Chinese government could force TikTok to share the vast amount of data it collects on its millions of users.
www.cbsnews.com
$75K reward offered in NC power grid attacks that caused major blackout
A $75,000 reward is being offered in the search for the gun-wielding suspects who attacked vital infrastructure equipment in a North Carolina county.
Oldest DNA reveals life in Greenland 2 million years ago
Today, it’s a barren Arctic desert, but back then it was a lush landscape of trees and vegetation with an array of animals, even the extinct mastodon.
www.nbcnews.comBiden appeals ruling invalidating COVID curbs for migrants at U.S.-Mexico border
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday said it will appeal a federal court's decision that invalidated a pandemic-era order that blocks migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as other related legal challenges move forward.
www.reuters.com
What to know about Pfizer's RSV vaccine for older adults as FDA prepares to review
The FDA recently granted priority review to Pfizer's RSV vaccine for older adults. Here is everything you need to know.
Fauci criticizes 'extreme' ideological divide that has led to disproportionate Covid deaths among Republicans
The president's outgoing chief medical adviser told NBC News it was “unconscionable” that some people did not get vaccinated “based on political ideology.”
www.nbcnews.com
Speedier drug approvals hit slowdown as FDA faces scrutiny
The Food and Drug Administration is slowing its use of a pathway that expedites the approval of promising drugs.
apnews.comNo evidence Cawthorn, staffer had improper relationship, ethics committee finds
A House Ethics Committee investigation found "no evidence" that North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn had an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
Biden administration forgave COVID-19 loans to Soros-backed charity that may have 'violated' federal law
The Biden administration forgave thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief loans handed to a George Soros-backed charity that may have illegally failed to disclose its lobbying activities, records show.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
China trade shrinks amid virus pressure, interest rate hikes
China’s imports and exports shrank in November under pressure from weakening global demand and anti-virus controls at home.
apnews.com
Service members kicked out for refusing Covid vaccine may be let back in
A bill that must be passed soon lifts the military's vaccine mandate, and many of the thousands kicked out for refusing vaccination may be allowed back in uniform.
www.nbcnews.com
China medical expert says COVID has mutated, should be renamed - state media
China should change its official name for COVID-19 to reflect the virus' mutation, and patients with light symptoms should be allowed to quarantine at home, a leading authority on traditional Chinese medicine was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
Under China's 'zero COVID,' uncertainty reigns and unsettles
As coronavirus cases rose in Shanghai earlier this year and the city’s lockdown stretched from weeks to months, Leah Zhang’s feeling of suffocation grew.
apnews.com
FDA gives priority review to Pfizer RSV vaccine for older adults
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted Pfizer’s application for an RSV vaccine for older adults, and is expected to make an approval decision by the spring. Pfizer in a stateme…
thehill.com
EXPLAINER: What end of vaccine mandate means for US troops
Congress’ move to eliminate the Pentagon mandate that all U.S. service members get the COVID-19 vaccine delivers a victory for lawmakers and troops who oppose getting the shot.
apnews.com
Health Care — White House says repealing military vaccine mandate a ‘mistake’
Police in Germany are asking for help after — ahem — about 60 containers of bull sperm were stolen from a farm this week. Today in health, the White House insists it’s a mistake to …
thehill.com
New immune therapy for advanced melanoma offers hope for hard-to-treat disease
TIL therapy, which uses a patient's own immune cells to fight cancer, was found in a clinical trial to work better than the existing treatment for metastatic melanoma.
www.nbcnews.com
