(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Jeffries wins historic bid to lead House Dems after Pelosi
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats ushered in a new generation of leaders on Wednesday with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries elected to be the first Black American to head a major political party in Congress at a pivotal time as long-serving Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team step aside next year.
Federal appeals court rejects Biden's bid to revive student debt plan
A separate appeals court put the program on hold, prompting the Biden administration to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.
www.nbcnews.com
Treasury making Trump taxes available to House committee
The Treasury Department says it has complied with a court order to make former President Donald Trump’s tax returns available to a congressional committee.
apnews.com
As Russia struggles in Ukraine, repression mounts at home | CNN
A new expanded law on “foreign agents” in Russia comes into force Thursday, signifying an intensifying crackdown on free speech and opposition under President Vladimir Putin that has accelerated as his fortunes in Ukraine have deteriorated.
www.cnn.com
Attorney general says Justice Department will hold accountable "those responsible for crimes" related to Jan. 6
A Washington, D.C., jury on Tuesday convicted Oath Keepers leaders Stewart Rhodes and Kelly Meggs of seditious conspiracy.
www.cbsnews.com
Powell: Fed to keep rates higher for longer to cut inflation
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve will push rates higher than previously expected and keep them there longer to fight a stubborn bout of inflation.
apnews.com
Jan. 6 committee conducts likely final interview, chairman says
The Jan. 6 select committee issued a subpoena to Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in late September, though he sued to block it.
www.cbsnews.com‘I live in Texas’: Herschel Walker speech adds to Georgia Senate run problems
Republican candidate’s reference to his out-of-state home opens him to same attacks that dogged Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania
Walker tries to avoid missteps in final days before Georgia runoff
Herschel Walker is trying to strengthen his image by having at his side Gov. Brian Kemp, the state’s most popular Republican official.
www.politico.com
In Ukraine, seeing World Cup, playing soccer pose challenges
For soccer lovers in Ukraine, Russia's invasion and the devastation it has wrought have created uncertainties about both playing the sport and watching it.
apnews.com
Republicans opposing McCarthy say they are determined to sink his speakership bid if demands not met
Three of the House Republicans who are opposing Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's speaker bid spoke with Fox News Digital about their objections to him.
‘Why people don’t trust government’: Haley blasts House GOP’s ‘secret’ earmark vote - Washington Examiner
EXCLUSIVE — Nikki Haley called a recent closed-door vote on earmark provisions by the House Republican conference "totally unacceptable" in an exclusive statement to the Washington Examiner. “It is totally unacceptable that the House GOP voted in secret to keep earmarks. Every single member owes...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Why the Oath Keepers guilty verdicts are bad news for others facing charges
A series of guilty verdicts in the Oath Keepers trial was a major win for the Justice Department (DOJ) that legal experts say is a warning sign to members of extremist groups still awaiting trial f…
thehill.com
Zelensky says Musk should visit Ukraine to see war for himself
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday took another jab at Elon Musk, suggesting he come and visit Ukraine to see the war for himself after the billionaire last month proposed Ukraine …
thehill.com
McCarthy demands January 6 committee preserve all records and vows to hold hearings next year | CNN Politics
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021, on Wednesday demanding that it preserve all records and transcripts and vowing to hold hearings next year on the security failures that led to the US Capitol breach.
www.cnn.com
Colorado election officials order recount after Rep. Boebert projected to defeat Dem challenger Adam Frisch
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has ordered a recount of the 3rd Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert is projected to defeat Democrat Adam Frisch.
Zelensky says Ukraine preparing a ‘powerful countermeasure’ against Russia
President Zelensky on Wednesday said Ukraine is preparing a “powerful countermeasure” against Russian forces and planning “new solutions” to deal with continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.…
thehill.com
Biden takes Macron out to dinner in Washington - Washington Examiner
Reservations at Fiola Mare are likely to become more elusive after President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden chose to take French President Emmanuel Macron and first lady Brigitte Macron to the upscale Georgetown Italian seafood restaurant for dinner during their first state visit."President...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Dems’ rail-strike challenge: Save the economy and your ties to unions
Progressives pushed for paid sick leave in any agreement, and party leaders glided a two-step solution through the House. It may not survive the Senate buzzsaw.
www.politico.com
Sedition trial win bolsters Justice Dept. in Jan. 6 probe
The seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and another leader in the far-right extremist group show that jurors are willing to hold accountable not just the rioters who stormed the U.S.
apnews.com
These House members broke from their parties on rail strike legislation
A handful of Democrats and Republicans bucked their parties in votes Wednesday on resolutions to avert a rail strike and provide workers with seven days of paid sick leave. The first measure, which…
thehill.com
Right-wing operatives sentenced to 500 hours of voter registration for 2020 election robocall scheme
Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud in connection with robocalls made shortly before the 2020 election.
www.nbcnews.com
DoorDash cuts 1,250 jobs to control ballooning costs
DoorDash Inc said on Wednesday it was cutting about 1,250 jobs, or 6% of its total workforce, as the food-delivery company looks to keep a lid on costs to cope with a slowdown in demand. DoorDash, went on a hiring spree to cater to a flood of orders from people stuck at home during the height...
Analysis: Putin’s winter of inhumanity takes Ukraine war and US aid to a new level | CNN Politics
By bombing the power grid meant to sustain Ukrainians through dark, cold months, Vladimir Putin is inflicting some of the most barbaric wartime conditions experienced by civilians in Europe for decades.
www.cnn.com
EU warns Musk to beef up Twitter controls ahead of new rules
A top European Union official has warned Elon Musk that Twitter needs to beef up to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content to avoid violating new rules.
apnews.com
Congressional Democrats: Not a chance of reopening climate law
The president has been clear about his support for establishing a U.S. manufacturing base for electric vehicles.
www.politico.com
Zelenskyy says Ukraine prepares 'powerful countermeasure'; EU seeks special court to investigate Russia war crimes
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation at the front as difficult, with intense fighting in the east, northeast and south of Ukraine.
FTX crypto collapse: Ex-CEO Sam Bankman-Fried denies 'improper use' of customer funds
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX and Alameda Research, denied he knew of "any improper use of customer funds."
Immigration agency leaks data on more than 6,000 detainees
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says personal information of more than 6,000 people in its custody was inadvertently posted to its website for about five hours.
apnews.com
Judge scolds Justice Department for its slow investigations at hearing for Rep. Matt Gaetz’s convicted associate | CNN Politics
A federal judge scolded the Justice Department on Wednesday over what he characterized as slow-moving investigations during a hearing for one of GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz’s former associates, saying the probes have “no end in sight.”
www.cnn.com
‘Blueprint’ for 2024? DeSantis pens book on going after 'entrenched elites' as presidential speculation swirls
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida will chronicle his life in public service and his conservative victories in a new book that will publish in late February
Democrats Now Have Access To 6 Years Of Donald Trump’s Tax Returns
The Treasury Department complied with a request for the former president's tax returns after a three-year legal battle.
Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West
Live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Minnesota Dems ding Michigan as race for early-state presidential primary heats up
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is circulating a memo arguing that Michigan is unsuitable for an early primary in future presidential contests.
www.politico.com
UK royals arrive in Boston to showcase youthful monarchy
The Prince and Princess of Wales are making their first overseas trip since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
apnews.com
Larry Hogan hints about his political future and weighs in on Trump's dinner with white nationalist
"I understand there has been some speculation about my future," he joked with the crowd in Hanover, Maryland.
www.cbsnews.com
Cherokee Nation waits to see if Congress will make good on a 200-year-old promise
The non-voting delegate would be Kimberly Teehee, a former Obama administration adviser on Native American issues.
www.politico.com
US revises up last quarter's economic growth to 2.9% rate
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.9% annual rate from July through September despite high interest rates and chronic inflation, the government said Wednesday in an upgrade from its initial estimate.
apnews.com
House panel votes to designate Pelosi ‘Speaker Emerita’
The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted on Tuesday evening to designate Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “Speaker Emerita,” as the longtime Democratic leader prepares to step away f…
thehill.com
House committee now has access to several years of former President Trump's tax returns
The Supreme Court declined last week to block the release of the returns.
www.cbsnews.com
Colorado election officials announce recount in Boebert-Frisch race - Washington Examiner
Colorado election officials announced that a recount would be held in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District in the race between Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert and Democrat Adam Frisch. Boebert is currently ahead by 550 votes, a close enough margin that Colorado law mandates a recount, according...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
China wants US not to interfere in ties with India - Pentagon
China has warned the United States to not interfere in its relationship with India following deadly border skirmishes between the Asian giants in 2020, the Pentagon said in a report.
Ukraine welcomes arms offers, no word on Patriot missiles
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is condemning Russia’s weekslong assault on Ukraine’s power grid and other infrastructure as an attempt to “freeze and starve" its people.
apnews.com
Live updates: Dow in bull market after Powell suggests rate hikes will ease | CNN Business
The stock market will respond to reports on GDP and jobs, speeches by Jerome Powell and Janet Yellen, and to business leaders speaking at the DealBook conference Wednesday.
www.cnn.comDeSantis to publish book amid heavy 2024 speculation
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is set to publish a memoir next year amid increasing speculation that he will run for the White House and challenge former President Trump for the GOP nomination. The memoir, titled “The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival,” is set to be...
GOP's white supremacist problems extend beyond Trump: The Note
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was incorrect in asserting that Trump condemned Nick Fuentes after having dinner with him
New DHS Disinfo Board documents reveal deep Big Tech collusion, contradict Mayorkas testimony: Sen. Hawley
In an open letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas Wednesday, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said newly obtained documents reveal a more extensive scope of the Disinformation Governance Board.
Opinion | What Tucker Carlson and Trumpist Republicans Get Wrong About Ukraine
It might seem like common sense to put U.S. interests first. Here’s why that’s illogical.
www.politico.com
‘I don’t know about that’: Biden casts doubt on 2024 run - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden cast doubt on his potential 2024 reelection bid Wednesday while speaking at the White House Tribal Nations Summit. Biden just finished delivering his speech when an unknown person in the crowd shouted "four more years" at the president. The president waved the comment off and...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Russian, Chinese bombers fly joint patrols over Pacific
Russian and Chinese strategic bombers have flown a joint patrol over the western Pacific in a show of increasingly close defense ties between the two countries.
apnews.com
Congress inches toward year-end government funding deal
Congressional negotiators are making a dash to scrounge together a bipartisan deal on how to fund the federal government for fiscal 2023, with just weeks on the clock until a looming shutdown deadl…
thehill.comDemocrats to vote on new presidential calendar, likely ending Iowa's first-in-the-nation status
New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan and Minnesota could all move up when national Democrats vote on a new nominating calendar for U.S. president this week.
When will the final Jan. 6 report be released and what will it include?
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) told reporters that the committee's report will not be completed before Congress is scheduled to leave for the month on Dec. 16, but there is a 'good possibility' it will be out before Christmas.
House Jan. 6 committee members to meet Friday on potential criminal recommendations to DOJ
Members of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack plan to meet Friday to discuss potential criminal recommendations.
www.usatoday.com
Jan. 6 committee to release transcripts of interviews along with report, expected before Christmas, Thompson says
Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said investigators would not conduct any more depositions.
www.nbcnews.com
First on CNN: US considers dramatically expanding training of Ukrainian forces, US officials say | CNN Politics
The Biden administration is considering a dramatic expansion in the training the US military provides to Ukrainian forces, including instructing as many as 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers a month at a US base in Germany, according to multiple US officials.
www.cnn.com
SCOTUS poll: Where Democrats and Republicans stand on race-based college admissions
A new Marquette Law School poll found 41% of Americans disapprove of a student's race being factored into college admissions. The Supreme Court is hearing cases on that topic.
NATO allies vow to back Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia
Moldova’s Foreign Minister says that apart from Ukraine, his country has been hit hardest by Russia’s invasion of its neighbor, as NATO offered fresh support to three countries shaken by the effects of Russia’s 10-month-old war.
apnews.com
California DOJ inquiry reveals lack of training led to leak of 192K concealed carry applicants - Washington Examiner
A California Department of Justice investigation found that a "number of deficiencies" led to an accidental leak of the identities of 192,000 concealed carry applicants. The independent investigation into the June incident was carried out by legal and forensic cybersecurity experts, a press...
www.washingtonexaminer.comRep. Scott Peters’ Pharma Ties Complicate Bid To Lead Moderate Democrats
Peters' prescription drug policy record is drawing scrutiny in a contest with Rep. Annie Kuster for leadership of the moderate New Democrat Coalition.
Fed's Powell cites top barrier to taming inflation — workers' wages
"We have a long way to go in restoring price stability,” the central bank chief warns.
www.politico.com
Winter starts, Ukraine goes dark: Fear and resolve in blackouts
Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands, reporting in Kyiv, on how Ukrainians are trying to cope in the dark.
House passes legislation to avoid rail strike
The House approved legislation today that would force rail companies and their workers to accept an agreement brokered earlier this year. NBC News’ Peter Alexander has more details on the potential strike.
www.nbcnews.com
Marjorie Taylor Greene condemns Fuentes, remarks on Trump, Yiannopoulos
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is condemning white nationalist Nick Fuentes and defending former President Trump after a dinner he had with the rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye; Fuentes a…
thehill.com
January 6 committee to discuss potential criminal referrals at Friday meeting | CNN Politics
As the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack stares down a fast-approaching deadline to complete its work, members are scheduled to have a key meeting on Friday to discuss its final report as well as the possibility of making criminal referrals, multiple...
www.cnn.com
Interpol confirms red notice for Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos
Global police agency Interpol confirmed it had issued a red notice for the billionaire.
Americans view military as overly politicized; half the country concerned the Pentagon is too 'woke'
Sixty-two percent of respondents to a survey from the Reagan National Defense Forum expressed concern over this politicization — a feeling shared by Republicans and Democrats.
Kari Lake can be conservative superstar if she dumps Trump, strategist says - Washington Examiner
Video EmbedKari Lake, the perpetually soft-lit, camera-ready political newcomer from Arizona, may have lost her bid to become the state's next governor, but it's unlikely she'll leave the spotlight.A Phoenix-area news anchor for 22 years, Lake called it quits in 2021 and decided
www.washingtonexaminer.comTwitter's former trust and safety chief said it was a mistake to censor the Hunter Biden laptop story: 'We didn't know what to believe'
"We didn't know what was true," Yoel Roth said, adding the Hunter Biden laptop story raised disinformation red flags but shouldn't have been removed.
NASA cancels greenhouse gas monitoring satellite due to cost
NASA is canceling a planned satellite that was going to intensely monitor greenhouse gases over the Americas because it got too costly and complicated.
apnews.com
White House claims President Biden has been to the border despite no record of any visit
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted Wednesday that President Biden has been to the border, despite him having not visited since becoming president.
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos meets with House January 6 committee | CNN Politics
The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection interviewed Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Wednesday in a sign the panel is interested in learning about potential efforts Donald Trump took to overturn the 2020 presidential election even long after President...
www.cnn.comHHS secretary signals sex-change surgeries for minors should be covered by taxpayers: Report - Washington Examiner
Video EmbedHealth and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra indicated that the Biden administration supports using taxpayer dollars to cover treatments, such as gender transition surgery, for minors that medical experts have determined are "medically necessary."Becerra signaled that the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
2 Russians who fled draft to Alaska await asylum decisions in Washington state
The men embarked on a nearly 300-mile boat ride across the Bering Strait after Russian authorities knocked on their doors.
www.politico.com
White House weighs future release of emergency heating, crude oil reserves as winter nears
Industry heating oil inventories have recently risen, but with a 54% jump in price in the last year, any hiccup in supply could mean a headache for consumers.
Crypto investors who lost big in FTX crash protest Bankman-Fried appearance
NEW YORK — FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Fried’s interview at a financial conference here Wednesday drew a crowd of protesters, some of whom had lost sizable portions of their life savings in the coll…
thehill.com
Race, religion and debt: Here are the biggest cases of the Supreme Court's 2022-2023 term
Here's a guide to some of the biggest cases decided by the Supreme Court in the 2022-2023 term, from affirmative action to student loans.
www.usatoday.com
Hong Kong publisher's national security trial postponed
A Hong Kong court has postponed a pro-democracy newspaper publisher's trial. Jimmy Lai faces a possible life sentence if convicted under a National Security Law imposed by Beijing.
apnews.com
Republican Sen. Mike Braun files paperwork to run for governor in Indiana
Braun’s decision opens up a Senate seat in what has become a reliably red state since he unseated Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in 2018.
www.nbcnews.com
Former Israeli PM calls Trump’s dinner with Kanye West ‘a mistake,’ hopes it is not repeated - Washington Examiner
Former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is the latest politician to speak out against former President Donald Trump and his recent dinner with rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Netanyahu, who is expected to return to his position as prime minister soon, condemned West and the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Worker pleads guilty in Colorado election equipment tampering case
The former elections manager assisted in a security breach of voting equipment in a Colorado county, prosecutors said.
www.cbsnews.com
South Korea scrambles jets as China, Russia warplanes enter air defence zone
South Korea's military said it scrambled fighter jets as two Chinese and six Russian warplanes entered its air defence zone on Wednesday.
US agencies sued over fate of rare Rio Grande minnow
Environmentalists say the federal government isn’t doing enough to ensure the survival of the Rio Grande silvery minnow as drought tightens its grip on one of the longest rivers in the West.
apnews.com
Abortion rights backers look to build on success of ballot measures in 2024
"The path to restore, protect or even expand abortion access and equitable access has to run through the states right now," said Sarah Standiford of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
www.cbsnews.com
Rubio announces book release, stoking 2024 rumors - Washington Examiner
A planned book release is stoking rumors that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) may run for president in 2024. His book, titled Decades of Decadence, will be released through Harper Collins on June 13 of next year, according to the website. Few details have been provided aside from the title and 272-page...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Congressman Pete Aguilar makes history as highest-ranking Latino in the House
The California congressman, the highest-ranking Latino ever in the House, will help steer Democrats, soon to be in the minority, as they push their legislative priorities.
www.nbcnews.com
Senate conservatives press McConnell to punt on omnibus
Senate conservatives on Wednesday sent a letter to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) urging him to skip a year-end omnibus spending package and instead insist on a short-term stopgap f…
thehill.comU.S. believes China protests won’t spread — for now
Chinese authorities appear determined to prevent growth of large scale protests.
www.politico.comBiden to fete Macron with Maine lobster, California sparkling wine
From Maine lobster to California wines, President Joe Biden will showcase the flavors of America at a state dinner on Thursday for French President Emmanuel Macron. Biden and his wife, Jill, and Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are to gather with their guests in a pavilion set up on the South...
China is a growing threat to national security, U.S. companies and American workers, U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo says
It's now clear to U.S. officials that China, once considered a possible ally, has become an threat to national security, U.S. companies and American workers.
Mistrial after jury deadlock in Danny Masterson rape case
A judge has declared a mistrial at the rape trial of “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson. Jurors told Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo that they were hopelessly deadlocked and could not come to unanimous verdicts on any counts.
apnews.com
Labor activists grumble as rail paid leave appears likely to die in Senate
Democrats are showing cracks of division over legislation to avoid a strike in the railroad industry, with most House Democrats voting Wednesday for President Biden’s tentative labor proposal while…
thehill.com
SEE IT: Jim Carrey announces Twitter departure after Elon Musk takeover - Washington Examiner
Comedian Jim Carrey announced his exit from social media platform Twitter shortly after billionaire Elon Musk's takeover. "I’m leaving Twitter, but 1st here’s a cartoon I made with my friend Jimmy Hayward. It’s based on my painting of a crazy old Lighthouse Keeper, standing naked in a storm...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
DHS warns of terror threats to LGBTQ, Jewish, migrant communities
Americans motivated by violent ideologies pose a “persistent and lethal threat,” a senior DHS official said in a briefing about a new Terrorism Advisory System bulletin.
www.nbcnews.com
Federal appeals court keeps Biden student loan forgiveness plan on pause in latest ruling
The decision will likely be appealed to the Supreme Court, which is already considering another challenge to Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.
www.usatoday.com
Amazon deforestation in Brazil remains near 15-year high
Closely-watched numbers for annual deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon show the total area of forest loss is down somewhat from last year, but that was a 15-year high.
apnews.com
Vatican website down after apparent cyberattack - Washington Examiner
The Vatican City's website was taken down after an apparent attack by hackers following comments made by Pope Francis about the alleged savagery of Chechen and Buryat soldiers in the Russian Army. An investigation is ongoing as to the origins and nature of "abnormal" activity, the Holy See told...
www.washingtonexaminer.comIn Arizona, losing candidate points to perceived conflict
Republican Kari Lake and supporters of her failed campaign for Arizona governor are attacking Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs as having a conflict of interest for overseeing the election she won. Secretaries of state across the country routinely oversee their own races, and...
Biden admin takes heat from former US officials for criticism of Iranian dissident group: ‘Flagrant betrayal’
Former U.S. officials and lawmakers are criticizing the State Department for distancing itself from a top Iranian dissident group, saying it is not "viable."
Biden to meet with Prince William and Kate in Boston
The prince and princess are visiting Boston this week to promote their climate change initiative, The Earthshot Prize.
www.cbsnews.comNew Jersey Quaker school implemented racially segregated affinity groups - Washington Examiner
High school students at Moorestown Friends School, a private Quaker school in Moorestown, New Jersey, can take part in racially segregated affinity groups, according to the school's website.The school's Diversity and Inclusion office says its affinity groups are used to introduce high school...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
What a rail strike would mean for your finances
A rail strike would snarl various supply chains ahead of the busy holiday season.
House passes bill to avert looming rail strike, sending it to Senate ahead of crucial deadline
Railway workers are vowing to strike by Dec. 9 if a new agreement can’t be reached. The bill now heads to the Senate, where some members are threatening roadblocks to delay it.
www.nbcnews.com
Victims' families urge love, kindness as Idaho campus mourns
As hundreds of students mourned together inside the University of Idaho’s stadium Wednesday night, family members of four slain classmates urged them to raise their eyes from grief and focus on love and the future.
apnews.com
Jeffrey Epstein estate reaches nine-figure settlement with U.S. Virgin Islands
Jeffrey Epstein's estate has reached a nine-figure settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims the disgraced late financier used the territory as a base for his decades-long sex-trafficking operation.
Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani
A palace aide steps down over remarks made to Ngozi Fulani at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort.
www.bbc.com
Macron, in Washington, slams Biden climate incentives as 'super aggressive' to French firms
Macron's comments previewed trade talks that are expected to come up during a bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Macron Thursday.
UK charity backed by disgraced crypto kingpin Sam Bankman-Fried sounds alarm to British regulators after FTX collapse
The implosion of Sam Bankman-Fried's firms amid a tsunami of new legal troubles casts doubt on the future of the charities he helped underwrite.
National Christmas Tree blazes to life with Biden lighting
The National Christmas Tree is now blazing with bright color. President Joe Biden led a crowd on the Ellipse near the White House in lighting the tree Wednesday evening in a tradition that dates back a century.
apnews.com
Biden not planning to speak to Putin for now
The White House's comment underscored the chasm between Ukraine and its main backer and Russia on negotiations over the war ignited by Vladimir Putin's invasion that has killed tens of thousands, uprooted millions and destroyed cities and towns.
The quiet maneuvering that delivered Jeffries the top House Dem spot
Hakeem Jeffries became the highest-ranking Black congressional leader in U.S. history just 12 days after formally launching his run. That breezy rise took a lot of work.
www.politico.com
Homeland Security warns about domestic extremists praising Colorado Springs suspect
"The LGBTQ community remains a community that is targeted for violence," a senior Homeland Security official said Wednesday.
www.cbsnews.com
House GOP votes to keep congressional earmarks for pet projects
House Republican voted to allow lawmakers to insert earmarks into spending bills in the next Congress as part of an effort to allow the funding of pet initiatives.
Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter, dies at 79
Christine McVie, the soulful British musician who sang lead on many of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits, has died at 79.
apnews.com
Biden appears to declare himself the greatest president in US history
President Biden, while speaking at the Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of Interior on Wednesday, all but claimed to be the greatest president in U.S. history.
Factbox-Who are 12 U.S. Senate Republicans who voted to protect same-sex marriage?
Twelve Republican U.S. senators joined Democrats this week in voting to codify same-sex marriage in the United States, a bill advocates said was necessary to ensure the Supreme Court does not overturn its earlier decision protecting it. Collins is one of the most moderate Senate Republicans...
Fentanyl deaths skyrocket in Los Angeles over past five years - Washington Examiner
Fentanyl overdose deaths in Los Angeles have increased 1,280% over the past five years, with white residents accounting for the highest number, according to a new study.Deaths were highest among adults aged 26 to 39 who live in affluent areas, followed by the age range of 40 to 64, the Los...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Timeline: Wisconsin man accused of financially preying on women he met on dating apps
As multiple investigations involving Timothy Olson are underway by Wisconsin police, here's what we know so far about his alleged crimes.
Pentagon awards Raytheon $1.2 bln contract for Ukrainian NASAMS
The U.S. Army awarded a $1.2 billion contract to Raytheon Technologies Co for six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine on Wednesday, the Pentagon said.
U.S. Inflation Reduction Act 'super aggressive,' Macron tells lawmakers
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed U.S. lawmakers from both political parties and pushed back over new American subsidies that are riling European leaders, according to a participant.
Groups ramp up efforts to mobilize Latino voters in Georgia Senate runoff
Bilingual canvassers, lotería cards and World Cup watch parties are some of the ways groups are engaging a consequential voting bloc.
www.nbcnews.com
Meet the legal nerd who MAGA bigwigs are turning to for help
Stanley Woodward is not a typical Trump-world lawyer. He’s just trying to save their hides in court.
www.politico.com
Musk says Twitter feud with Apple boss 'resolved'
The Twitter boss says he met Apple's chief Tim Cook after he criticised the company.
www.bbc.com
World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026
The World Cup is underway in Qatar.
Some Rail Workers, Seeking Sick Days, Say Biden Betrayed Them
As the legislative representative for his local union, Gabe Christenson, a longtime freight railroad conductor, worked hard to help elect Joe Biden president in 2020. “I have shirts of me campaigning — blue-collar Biden shirts,” he said. “I knocked on doors for him for weeks and weeks.” But...
IRS gives Trump tax returns to House committee after 3-year legal battle
Donald Trump broke years of political precedent by refusing to publicly release his income tax returns while in the White House. Congress now has them.
Cicilline to challenge Clyburn for leadership spot
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) on Wednesday announced a bid to join the top tiers of Democratic leadership, challenging Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) for the No. 4 spot within the party brass in the nex…
thehill.com
Biden: Nevada site sacred to tribes to be national monument
President Joe Biden says he intends to designate a broad rugged mountain area considered sacred by area Native Americans in southern Nevada as a new national monument.
apnews.com
Biden administration projecting daily migrant border crossings could double when Trump-era policy ends | CNN Politics
The Department of Homeland Security is projecting between 9,000 to 14,000 migrants may attempt to cross the US southern border a day when a Trump-era border policy ends in late December, more than double the current number of people crossing, according to a source familiar with the projections.
www.cnn.com
House votes to avert rail strike, provide workers paid sick leave
The House passed a bill on Wednesday to avert a railway strike, taking the first major step in avoiding a walkout of workers that would have drastic effects on the U.S. economy as it heads into the…
thehill.com
U.S. deeply concerned about Whelan, American jailed in Russia -White House
The United States is "deeply concerned" about detained American Paul Whelan in Russia, and has not been able to get information from Moscow on his whereabouts or condition, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.
House, Senate negotiators agree to add $45B to Biden’s defense budget
The policy bill would authorize a total of $847 billion for national defense for fiscal 2023, if approved by both chambers.
www.politico.com
Biden nominee to be ambassador to Russia pledges to prioritize prisoner release
President Joe Biden's nominee to be ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, pledged on Wednesday to make the release of detained Americans a priority if she is confirmed to one of most important, and challenging, U.S. diplomatic posts.
Embattled Bankman-Fried hints at Washington testimony on crypto meltdown
Bankman-Fried’s interview Wednesday marks his most high-profile public appearance since his $32 billion dollar crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.
www.politico.com
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried says he didn't 'try to commit fraud'
Bankman-Fried, appearing at the New York Times DealBook Summit, tells CNBC anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin over a video call that he was “shocked” by his firm’s collapse.
www.nbcnews.comVerdict in Trump Trial Could Come Down to Three Little Words
NEW YORK — Despite all the talk of fancy apartments, free Mercedes-Benzes and cash flowing at Christmastime, the criminal tax fraud trial of Donald Trump’s family business could come down to three mundane words: “in behalf of.” The company stands accused of doling out those off-the-books perks...
Jury convicts man in killings of 8 from another Ohio family
Jurors have convicted a man in the killings of eight people from another Ohio family after weighing his denials and other testimony against the word of witnesses including his brother and mother, who previously pleaded guilty for their roles.
apnews.com
GOP doctor lawmakers warn amoxicillin shortage under Biden could 'devastate' healthcare system
Several Republican lawmakers on the GOP Doctors Caucus warned that the amoxicillin shortage under President Biden could "devastate" the U.S. healthcare system.
Clyburn gets a challenger for leadership job as younger Democrats push for change
Rep. David Cicilline, 61, will run against Rep. Jim Clyburn, 82, for assistant leader after young Democrats expressed frustration with the longtime leader's decision to stay on.
www.nbcnews.com
China vows crackdown on 'hostile forces' as public tests Xi
China's ruling Communist Party has vowed to “resolutely crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces."
apnews.com
Judge says Georgia GOP chair may not share a lawyer with other ‘alternate electors’
The ruling undercuts a legal arrangement that 11 of Georgia’s 16 pro-Trump “alternate” electors had made amid the Fulton County special grand jury probe.
www.politico.com
San Francisco to allow police 'killer robots'
The measure permits police to deploy robots equipped with explosives in extreme circumstances.
www.bbc.com
Sen. Sherrod Brown calls on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to help rein in cryptocurrency firms after FTX collapse
Sen. Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's help after the FTX collapse.
Gaetz friend says lighter sentence deserved for cooperation
A former Florida tax collector whose arrest led to a federal investigation of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz learns this week how much prison time he gets on charges of sex trafficking a minor and identity theft.
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House Ways and Means Committee gains access to Trump tax returns after Supreme Court order
After years of Democrat efforts to obtain them, House Ways and Means Committee Democrats have obtained former President Donald Trump's tax returns.
Taliban: 10 killed in bombing of Afghan religious school
A Taliban official says that at least 10 students were killed when a bomb blast hit a religious school in northern Afghanistan.
apnews.comBinance hires the accounting firm that disavowed Donald Trump's financials to verify its crypto reserves
Earlier this year, Mazars USA said it no longer stands by 10 years of financial statements for Donald Trump.
Pennsylvania county certifies midterm election results, ending impasse | CNN Politics
A county in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where paper shortages caused Election Day ballot problems, signed off Wednesday on its midterm results – ending a brief showdown over certifying the election results in a key battleground state.
www.cnn.com
Canada: Ambassador tells EU that deforestation rules 'burdensome'
The EU regulation aims to limit the trade of products linked to deforestation worldwide.
www.bbc.com
Yellen says appropriate for U.S. firms to assess China geopolitical risks
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that businesses reviewing their supply chains should be mindful of the geopolitical risks surrounding China's threats to Taiwan as well as other Chinese practices that have raised U.S. national security concerns.
DOJ will have to wait for Jan. 6 panel’s final report to access transcripts
Jan. 6 committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said the Justice Department (DOJ) will have to wait for the panel’s final report to review transcripts of its interviews with more than 1,000 witnes…
thehill.com
UK waters down internet rules plan after free speech outcry
The British government has abandoned a plan to force tech firms to remove internet content that is harmful but legal, a proposal that drew strong criticism from lawmakers and civil liberties groups.
apnews.com
'Freshman orientation' takes members of Congress back to school
Freshman lawmakers took a step back in time to their high school days as they met and conversed with incoming members during new member orientation following the 2022 midterms.
Catfish murders: 'Please know your child's online activity,' grieving family pleads
A grieving family is pleading with parents to monitor their children's online activity after a former Virginia police officer "catfished" a 15-year-old girl online.
House Votes To Impose Union Contract With Paid Sick Leave To Avoid Rail Strike
The paid sick leave measure seems unlikely to make it through the Senate and to President Joe Biden’s desk.
ICE accidentally leaks identities of over 6,000 asylum-seekers - Washington Examiner
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement accidentally leaked the identities of 6,252 immigrants seeking protection in the country. Immigration advocacy group Human Rights First immediately notified ICE after discovering the breach on Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The file...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Trump campaign increasing screening after Nick Fuentes dinner
Former President Trump’s campaign is increasing its vetting protocols following his widely criticized dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, sources told The Associated Press. A senior campaig…
thehill.com
Deadly landslide engulfs motorway in Brazil
A search effort is under way for dozens of people after the disaster in the southern state of Paraná.
www.bbc.com
U.S. Capitol riot sedition prosecutions won't get easier, experts say
Prosecutors secured a victory when two key figures in last year's U.S. Capitol attack were convicted of seditious conspiracy. But the acquittal of three co-defendants on this rarely used criminal charge shows that challenges remain for the Justice Department, according to legal experts.
Braun to run for Indiana governor, opening Senate seat in 2024
The first-term Republican senator filed paperwork to run to succeed Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited.
www.politico.com
Iran win another step as US soccer tries to boost interest
American soccer hopes to be ascendant, to challenge the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA in the competition for U.S. market share.
apnews.com
Indiana prosecutor seeks to punish doctor in 10-year-old's abortion case
Indiana's attorney general on Wednesday asked the state's medical board to discipline an Indiana doctor who performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio in a case that became a flashpoint in the debate over access to the procedure.
How internet sleuthing in unsolved University of Idaho slayings can be "extremely dangerous"
Facebook groups, Reddit forums and TikTok posts are adding to the intrigue surrounding the deaths of four college students. Experts say they likely won't help crack the case.
www.nbcnews.com
Stevie Nicks mourns the loss of 'best friend' Christine McVie in touching note
Stevie Nicks shared a touching note remembering her Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie. McVie died Wednesday at the age of 79.
FTX billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried funneled dark money to Republicans
The crypto entrepreneur was thought to be a big donor to Democrats but now acknowledges he gave equally to GOP
Biden’s diplomatic nominee to Moscow calls on lawmakers to maintain pressure on Russia
President Biden’s nominee for ambassador to Russia told senators on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is cracking under pressure from the U.S. and its allies, urging lawmakers to stay…
thehill.com
Jiang Zemin, who guided China's economic rise, dies
State media report former Chinese President Jiang Zemin has died at age 96. Jiang led China out of isolation after the army crushed the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in 1989.
apnews.com
Exclusive: Ex-Tiger Global partner John Curtius to raise $1 billion for new venture capital fund -source
John Curtius, a former partner at investment firm Tiger Global, is in talks with institutional investors to raise $1 billion for his new venture fund Cedar Investment Management, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Hong Kong protester shot by police jailed for six years
Judge tells Chow Pak-kwan he has only himself to blame for the physical injuries and mental trauma he suffered.
Corporate profits hit record high in third quarter amid 40-year-high inflation
Corporate profits in the nonfinancial sector hit a record high of $2.08 trillion in the third quarter even as 40-year-high inflation continues to squeeze American consumers. Profits adjusted for in…
thehill.com
Iowa's first-in-line caucus could be axed in 2024 after technical fiasco in the 2020 presidential election
Iowa's chaotic caucus in 2020, marred by technical difficulties, renewed calls within the Democratic Party to rethink Iowa's first spot in the presidential nomination calendar.
Higher food prices worsen hunger crisis this holiday season
What many Americans hoped would be the first normal holiday season in three years has instead been thrown into crisis by inflation, with Christmas on the horizon.
apnews.com‘A complete about face’: Some Republicans change tune on Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion
The latest round of Medicaid expansion negotiations comes as states prepare for the eventual end of the Covid-19 public health emergency, and as nearly a third of rural hospitals are at risk of closure.
www.politico.com
House Democrats elect Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as leader, the first Black person to lead congressional caucus
Jeffries, 52, was elected Wednesday alongside Reps. Katherine Clark, 59, and Pete Aguilar, 43, as the party’s new top three.
www.nbcnews.com
Minneapolis reaches $600,000 settlement with 12 hurt in George Floyd protests
The settlement includes an injunction that bars the city from arresting, threatening to arrest or using physical force against people who are engaging in lawful protests.
www.nbcnews.com
Cyril Ramaphosa: South African president faces threat of impeachment over 'Farmgate'
A panel finds Cyril Ramaphosa abused his position in the handling of a theft from his farm.
www.bbc.com'He's not stepping up': Union workers feel let down by 'pro-union' Joe Biden amid rail dispute
Ultimately, Biden decided he couldn't risk more damage to a delicate economy even if it disappoints his union allies.
House Democrats elect Ted Lieu as party vice chair
House Democrats on Wednesday elected Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) to serve as vice chair of the caucus next year, solidifying his place as the highest ranking Asian American in Congress. Lieu bested th…
thehill.com
Colorado Springs shooting suspect's mother accused of disorderly conduct hours after Club Q attack
Laura Voepel, the mother of Anderson Lee Aldrich, was warned to stop yelling and became combative when an officer tried to arrest her on Nov. 20, police said.
www.nbcnews.com
Detectives remove 5 vehicles from crime scene of Idaho college murders to "more secure" location as suspect remains at large
The investigation into a quadruple murder that killed four University of Idaho students on Nov. 13 is ongoing. Police have not identified a suspect.
www.cbsnews.comMarjorie Taylor Greene's new reality
Marjorie Taylor Greene wanted everyone to know she was trying to be helpful. As Republicans feuded this month over who should lead their razor-thin House majority, the Georgia congresswoman stopped before a crowd of reporters at the U.S. Capitol and urged conservatives to unify behind her choice...
Never mind, Musk says — accusation against Apple was a ‘misunderstanding’
The billionaire writes that he and Apple CEO Tim Cook “resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter potentially being removed from the App Store.”
www.politico.com
‘A huge opportunity for the labor movement’: Unions jump on newly won Democratic trifectas
In Michigan, state lawmakers have promised to repeal right-to-work laws.
www.politico.com
New York man gets 17 years in prison for "vicious" hate crime attack against Asian woman
The man pleaded guilty to punching an Asian woman over 100 times during a hate crime attack in Yonkers, New York.
www.cbsnews.com
Japan court upholds ban on same-sex marriage but voices concern over rights
The Tokyo district court said a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their human rights, a comment plaintiffs welcomed as a partial victory for LGBTQ couples.
www.nbcnews.com
U.S. senator presses FAA for details on Boeing 737 MAX alerting system
A senior U.S. lawmaker wants details from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the safety of the cockpit alerting system for the Boeing 737 MAX -- an issue at the heart of a dispute over two new variants of the best selling airplane.
‘Mind control’ by parasites influences wolf-pack dynamics in Yellowstone National Park | CNN
Gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park infected with toxoplasmosis, caused by the T. gondii parasite, are 46 times more likely to be the leader of the pack, according to a new study.
www.cnn.com
U.S. job openings fall in October; labor market still tight
U.S. job openings decreased in October, but remained significantly high, pointing to continued labor market resilience despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to cool demand by aggressively raising interest rates.
Bill Clinton tests positive for COVID-19, reports having mild symptoms - Washington Examiner
Former President Bill Clinton tested positive for COVID-19, he announced on his Twitter account Wednesday. Clinton, 76, added that he is only experiencing mild symptoms. He used his announcement to encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. NEARLY ALL LIVING FORMER...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Twitter ends enforcement of COVID misinformation policy
Twitter is no longer enforcing its policy against misinformation about COVID-19. The change was announced in an online update to Twitter's rules and comes after the platform was purchased by Elon Musk, who in the past has himself spread misleading COVID claims on Twitter.
apnews.com
Biden administration prepares to end monkeypox emergency declaration
Health officials may allow the declaration to expire, even as they keep their mpox response in place.
www.politico.com
Use of drugs for weight loss causes supply shortage
Dramatic stories about weight loss using popular drugs are trending on social media. People who need the drugs for other health issues now face shortages.
www.cbsnews.com
How the forced hospitalization of 'mentally ill' people in need will work in NYC
In Mayor Eric Adams' latest step toward tackling homelessness in New York City, he says city agencies will involuntarily hospitalize mentally ill people 'in need.'
FDA clears 1st fecal transplant treatment for gut infection
U.S. officials approved the first pharmaceutical-grade version of the fecal transplant procedures that doctors have increasingly used to treat a potentially life-threatening intestinal infection.
apnews.com
Republicans demand Naval Academy transparency after unvaxxed midshipmen allegedly denied diplomas
House Republican lawmakers are demanding information from the U.S. Naval Academy after receiving information that unvaccinated midshipmen are being denied diplomas, despite seeking religious accommodations.
VIRAL: A World Without AIDS dives into the epidemic and a 40-year path toward progress
A new segment from ABC News Live called "VIRAL: A World Without AIDS" provides an inside look into the stories, struggles and successes in the four-decades-long battle.
US children’s hospitals overwhelmed by RSV cases
Nurses have no ‘wiggle room’ in ICUs amid a surge of respiratory illnesses.
Hong Kong’s courts in firing line as Beijing rewrites rulebook
The case against Jimmy Lai has exposed tensions between the city’s common law system and Beijing’s tightening control.
Drug slows Alzheimer's but can it make a real difference?
New data shows an experimental Alzheimer's drug modestly slowed the brain disease's inevitable worsening.
apnews.com
Chinese vice premier urges improvements in COVID measures as pathogenicity weakens
Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan called for further efforts to improve COVID-19 prevention and control measures, urging "optimisation" of testing, treatment and quarantine policies, as the virus weakens in pathogenicity, according to state media.
'I never really got better' — long Covid patients share their struggle with ongoing symptoms and the health-care system
Long Covid can be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but getting approved for disability insurance is challenging.
FDA likely to end blanket ban on sexually active gay men donating blood
Under current federal rules, men cannot donate blood if they have had sex with another man in the last three months.
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