

(Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP, File)
Young voters’ enthusiasm for Democrats waned during midterms
At virtually all levels of the conservative ecosystem — from the activist and operative class, the upper echelons of the Republican Party and the prime time lineup on Fox News — leaders have seen the light on mail-in and early voting after a disappointing 2022 election cycle. But they face one major hurdle: the de facto leader of the party.

Sanders slams Sinema as ‘corporate Democrat,’ legislative saboteur after Arizona senator leaves Dem party
Sen. Bernie Sanders said he may support a Democrat in 2024 if any challenge newly registered Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema after she left the Democratic Party.

Trump, Biden fortunes shift dramatically post-midterms
It’s a tale of two men vying for the 2024 presidential election. President Biden hasn’t officially announced another White House bid, but his informal reelection rollout is in moti…


Schiff says Jan. 6 committee's probe "far out ahead" of Justice Department
Members of the select committee are meeting Sunday to discuss whether to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department.


Ukraine war: Exiled governor reports strike on 'Wagner HQ'
Kyiv's forces hit a hotel used by the Russian mercenary group, a Ukrainian official says.


Young voters' enthusiasm for Democrats waned during midterms
Young voters who have been critical to Democratic successes in recent elections showed signs in November's midterms that their enthusiasm may be waning.


Helicopter raid kills Islamic State officials in Syria, US says
A U.S. helicopter raid killed two members of ISIS in Syria early Sunday morning local time, U.S. Central Command announced

Republicans struggle in the Southwest as Latino voters stick with Democrats
“The GOP could potentially lose the Southwest for decades to come" if it doesn't take a different tack with Latinos, one independent pollster in the region said.


GOP members who rebuffed Jan. 6 panel may face referral to ethics panel
The five GOP members of the House who flouted subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee may not be included in the panel’s criminal referrals but could see the matter punted to the Ethics Committee. …


Prosecutor: Oath Keepers saw Jan. 6 as 'first battle' in war
Jurors have heard a prosecutor's opening statements for a second seditious conspiracy trial against members of the far-right Oath Keepers group charged in the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.


Impacted by inflation, workers in academia, make demands
Low pay met with high inflation and rising costs for workers in academia is causing a wave of pushback and unionization.

RNC’s Ronna McDaniel identifies ‘massive’ reason for midterm losses - Washington Examiner
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said she has identified one of the "massive" reasons Republicans significantly underperformed in last month's midterm elections. McDaniel said a "massive amount" of ticket-splitting was one of the top factors that led to GOP losses in some...


Mike Pompeo: Griner-Bout swap makes it ‘more likely’ celebrities will be taken hostage
Former Secretary of State and Fox News contributor Mike Pompeo said Sunday that the controversial prisoner swap with Russia sends the wrong message to America’s enemies.

Zelenskyy renews diplomacy, Biden signals air defences a priority
Ukrainian president holds talks with US, French and Turkish presidents amid fierce, protracted battles on eastern front.

Former US attorney predicts DOJ ‘on a path’ to charge Trump
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on Sunday predicted the Department of Justice (DOJ) is “on a path” to charge former President Trump. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the …


January 6 committee ends meeting on criminal referrals | CNN Politics
The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection concluded its meeting on Sunday where members discussed criminal referrals, multiple sources told CNN.


Libyan accused in Lockerbie bombing now in American custody
The Justice Department says a Libyan intelligence official accused of making the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 in an international act of terrorism has been taken into U.S. custody and will face federal charges in Washington.


Artemis I Orion capsule splashes down after NASA mission near moon
The Artemis I Orion capsule has splashed down after a 25-day trip that reached within 60 miles of the moon.

Sanders chalks up Sinema’s decision to become independent to ‘political aspirations’ | CNN Politics
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Sunday that “political aspirations” drove Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s exit from the Democratic Party, as he vowed to take a “hard look” at supporting a potential Democratic challenge to her in Arizona.


McCarthy says GOP will subpoena intel officials who signed Hunter Biden letter
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he plans to subpoena intelligence officials who signed a letter saying a New York Post story about Hunter Biden might be disinformatio…


Shreveport elects its first Republican mayor in 28 years
Voters in Shreveport have elected a Republican mayor for the first time in 28 years. Tom Arceneaux won a runoff election Saturday to become the next mayor of Louisiana's third-largest city.


Analysis: Republicans seek to sabotage year-end spending bill | CNN Politics
The government funding standoff gripping Washington ahead of Friday’s shutdown deadline is one of the first indicators of the coming shift in power dynamics that will return the capital to a governing cold war between congressional Republicans and a Democratic White House.


Iran execution: Man publicly hanged from crane amid protests
Iran has executed a second prisoner detained and convicted over crimes committed during the nationwide protests now challenging the country’s theocracy

US diplomat describes flight home with Brittney Griner: 'A patriotic person'
US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens described his experience greeting American basketball player Brittney Griner on the tarmac in the UAE after a prisoner swap.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on recession fears, inflation and the war in Ukraine
The treasury secretary tells Norah O'Donnell how she thinks the economy will fare in the coming year and what her department is doing to end the war in Ukraine.


The Trump campaign that isn’t
Four weeks after declaring his 2024 White House bid, former President Trump appears to be a candidate in name only. Trump announced his third presidential campaign on Nov. 15 from his Mar-a-Lago es…


Peru protests grow despite new president’s early election pledge
Dina Boluarte promises to hold a vote in 2024 amid growing protests demanding release of ex-President Pedro Castillo.

'I want to talk': Griner opened up during her long trip home
WNBA star Brittney Griner didn’t want quiet time as soon as she boarded a U.S. government plane that would bring her home.


Italy shooting: Three women shot dead in Rome cafe
A friend of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is among three women killed in Sunday's attack.


Kinzinger won’t say if Trump included in Jan. 6 criminal referrals
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Sunday would not reveal whether former President Trump will be included in the list of criminal referrals to the Department of Justice (DOJ) put forward by the House…


Hostage envoy to Whelan: ‘Paul, we're coming for you’
The special envoy for hostage affairs also shared details about Brittney Griner’s flight home from Russia.


Sources describe Paul Whelan-Viktor Bout trade Trump says he turned down - Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump opposed exchanging convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for several U.S. prisoners, including a one-for-one swap for Paul Whelan, a Marine whom the United States considers wrongfully detained, according to multiple sources.“We rejected several deals with the...


Sinema throws curveball into Arizona’s 2024 Senate race
Sen. Krysten Sinema’s decision to leave the Democratic Party and register as an Independent is already having a significant impact on Arizona’s Senate race in 2024. While it remains unclear whether…


Elon Musk targets Dr. Anthony Fauci in viral tweet, drawing backlash
"My pronouns are Prosecute/Fauci," the Twitter CEO wrote on Sunday.


‘It’s not a principle change’: Lawmakers dissect Sinema switch
“She was likely going to lose her next primary, and that’s why she’s doing this,” Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) said.


Libyan man suspected of making Lockerbie bomb in US custody
Man accused of making the bomb that killed 270 people after it blew up Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 taken into US custody.

Jamie Dimon says Democrats should find debt ceiling fix before House GOP takeover - Washington Examiner
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said on Sunday that Democrats should address the debt ceiling before Republicans take the House in January to avoid risking the "catastrophic" consequences of a default. Dimon made the comments during an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation after being asked about...


New LA Mayor Karen Bass to declare state of emergency on homelessness | CNN Politics
Karen Bass was sworn in as the first female mayor of Los Angeles on Sunday, marking another historic achievement in her career.


Elon Musk tweets that his pronouns are 'Prosecute/Fauci'
Twitter owner Elon Musk wrote Sunday that his pronouns were “Prosecute/Fauci” as outgoing NIAID director Anthony Fauci faces Republican investigations over the origins of the pandemic.

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered shipping containers be used as a border wall
Outgoing Arizona Gov. Ducey’s move comes amid a record flow of migrants arriving at the border, up 37% from the year before.
www.usatoday.com

Family of Emad Shargi, American held in Iran, urges Biden to do more to secure release
The family is calling on the White House and President Biden to step up their efforts to secure Emad Shargi's release and return him to the U.S.


Why liberal Washington can’t quit Twitter
They may hate Elon Musk, but they’re not leaving Twitter yet. “You will have to pry my fingers from my phone.”


Russia’s Wagner mercenaries targeted in hotel attack: Governor
Ukrainian governor Serhiy Haidai claimed a ‘huge number’ died in a strike on hotel where Russian mercenaries were based.

Chris Christie says Walker was a ‘bad candidate’ and Trump’s ‘creation’ - Washington Examiner
Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) called Herschel Walker a "bad candidate" and former President Donald Trump's "creation" after he lost the Georgia runoff to Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) last week. Christie lamented Walker's underperformance when compared with all other Republicans in statewide...


Yellen predicts ‘much lower inflation’ by end of 2023, sees risk of recession
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Sunday predicted a significant reduction in inflation by the end of 2023, while also noting the continued risk of a recession. “I believe by the end of…


Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, preparing to leave office, stacks containers at border
Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs said last week she was "looking at all the options" and hasn't decided what to do about the containers after her Jan. 5. inauguration.


POLITICO Playbook: Who could have predicted?
And an accused Lockerbie bomber is now in U.S. custody.


Pelosi’s daughter blasts GOP figures for joking about attack on father
The daughter of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) knocked Republicans who mocked her father, Paul Pelosi, after he was attacked in the family’s home in late October by a suspect looking for the Speak…


One of Central America's most active volcanoes erupts again
Guatemala's Fuego forces authorities to close the country's largest airport and a major highway.


US kills two ISIS officials in helicopter raid in eastern Syria, US Central Command says | CNN Politics
The raid was a unilateral US operation with “extensive planning,” CENTCOM said, and the initial assessment was that no civilians were killed or injured in the operation.


Numbers on panel examining Va. Beach mass shooting dwindle
Several members of a state commission tasked with conducting an independent investigation of a 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, have stepped down in recent months

Four suspects charged in probe into European Parliament bribery by Gulf state
A Gulf state - reportedly Qatar - is accused of attempting to bribe parliament officials.


Nobody is ‘doing backflips’: White House defends Griner swap with Russian arms dealer Bout
Brittney Griner returned to the United States after being detained in Russia since February. The White House is negotiating Paul Whelan's return.
www.usatoday.com

John Kirby declares ‘there was never a choice’ between Griner, Whelan; says Bout would be free in 2029 anyway
John Kirby said Sunday that "there was never a choice" between WNBA star Brittney Griner and U.S. former Marine Paul Whelan in the recent prisoner swap with Russia.

Shadowboxing and geopolitics on the dark web
The takedown of a Russian darknet marketplace exposed cracks within the cyber-criminal underworld — and the global effort to shut down these digital black markets.


NASA chief: SpaceX leader says Elon Musk’s Twitter drama is ‘nothing to worry about’
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that SpaceX’s president gave him assurances and that he trusts her and the private space company.


Tester won’t commit to running for reelection in 2024
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) on Sunday indicated he had not yet decided whether he will run for reelection but expressed confidence he could pull off a win. “If I decide to run in this thing, and it’l…


Musk calls to prosecute Fauci, drawing swift backlash
Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Sunday called to prosecute Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to President Biden who has led the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic since it started dur…


Alexandra Pelosi on her parents' lives in the political realm
The daughter of Nancy Pelosi talks about her new HBO documentary, "Pelosi in the House," that traces her mother's pioneering career, and about her father's recovery from a politically-motivated assault.


‘Overwhelming news’: Lockerbie arrest thrills families of victims
"I thought perhaps I was dreaming," Stephanie Bernstein said of the news of the arrest.


Biden aims to narrow trust gap with US-Africa leaders summit
President Joe Biden is set to play host to dozens of African leaders in Washington this week as the White House looks to narrow a gaping trust gap with Africa.


Dimon says Ukraine war should be "turning point" for U.S. on global stage
"Maybe all this sort of self-illusion that we had, that somehow the world's at peace, and everything would be fine — that should have been shattered," the JPMorgan Chase CEO said.


Biden and Zelensky speak by phone to discuss recent US assistance for air defense | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke on Sunday to discuss Russia’s invasion and recent US efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.


Chris Christie blames Trump, calls Herschel Walker a ‘bad candidate’
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday knocked failed Republican Senate hopeful Herschel Walker and blamed former President Trump for backing the “bad candidate.”&n…


Peru protests: Andahuaylas airport forced to close in deadly unrest
Andahuaylas airport is forced to shut as protests continue in Lima over President Castillo's impeachment.


Facebook knew Instagram was pushing girls to dangerous content: internal document
Memos show Facebook, now Meta, employees raising concern about company research that showed Instagram made girls feel worse about their bodies.


Karen Bass, promising to pursue unity, takes oath as L.A.'s mayor
The Democratic former member of Congress defeated the largely self-funded campaign of a billionaire developer to become the first woman to hold the office.


Confederate monument set to be removed from Virginia capital
An official says work to remove the final city-owned Confederate monument from Richmond, Virginia, should start this week

Griner 'in very good spirits' but US isn't doing 'backflips' over freeing Russian arms dealer: Kirby
Brittney Griner is doing well while recovering in Texas after being freed from Russia and returning to the U.S. last week, John Kirby said on "This Week"

Fiona Hill says Trump was ‘not particularly interested’ in freeing Whelan
Former White House national security official Fiona Hill said former President Trump was “not particularly interested” in freeing ex-Marine Paul Whelan from Russian prison, where he is de…


Twitter's paid blue tick re-launches after pause
Twitter will once again offer a blue tick badge and additional features for a monthly fee.


Election nonprofit that drew GOP ire in 2020 renews grants
A nonprofit group that became a point of controversy for distributing millions of dollars in election grants during the 2020 presidential campaign is releasing a fresh round of money to local election offices.


LA councilman embroiled in racist tape scandal being investigated for fighting activist at holiday event
Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de Leon is being investigated by police after a video showed him getting into a fight was a community activist at a holiday event.

South Korea: Parliament calls for minister to be dismissed over Halloween crush
Lee Sang-min is facing mounting pressure following the Halloween crush that killed 156 people.


Senate Republican rejects Trump as leader of party
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Saturday rejected former President Trump as the leader of the Republican Party and said the GOP could shift away from his influence in the future. Cassidy told CNN̵…


Snowstorm blankets Northern California, with hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions reported
The storm is expected to move east and impact much of the country this week.


'Firmageddon': Researchers find 1.1 million acres of dead trees in Oregon
Oregon’s dead firs are a visceral example of how drought is reshaping landscapes in Western states that have been experiencing extreme heat conditions.


Transcript: JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on "Face the Nation," Dec. 11, 2022
The following is a transcript of an interview with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon that aired Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, on "Face the Nation."


Transcript: Fiona Hill and Chris Krebs on "Face the Nation," Dec. 11, 2022
The following is a transcript of an interview with Fiona Hill and Chris Krebs that aired Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, on "Face the Nation."


Full transcript of "Face the Nation" on Dec. 11, 2022
On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Rep. Adam Schiff joined Margaret Brennan.


Paul Silas, 3-time NBA champion, longtime coach, dies at 79
Silas’ daughter, Paula Silas-Guy, told The New York Times that her father died Saturday night of cardiac arrest.


Republicans run from Trump’s resistance to early voting
Conservatives at all levels realize the party’s messaging on early voting has to change — but many still hesitate to name Trump as the problem.


GOP members who rebuffed Jan. 6 panel may face referral to ethics panel
The five GOP members of the House who flouted subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee may not be included in the panel’s criminal referrals but could see the matter punted to the Ethics Committee. …


Rural voters 'in the trenches' on climate, leery of Biden
The impacts of climate change hit communities across the country, yet voters in rural areas are the least likely to feel Washington is in their corner on the issue.


John Bolton: Paul Whelan-Viktor Bout prisoner swap was turned down by Trump administration - Washington Examiner
John Bolton, who was a national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, revealed his old boss turned down a proposed prisoner swap between Paul Whelan and Viktor Bout.Bolton said that the Trump administration was presented with the opportunity to trade Whelan, a former Marine, for...


Biden called gay marriage 'inevitable' and soon it'll be law
President Joe Biden plans to sign legislation this coming week that will protect gay unions even if the Supreme Court were to revisit its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry.


Why the Republican Party Just Can’t Quit Trump
Former RNC Chair Michael Steele talks about why the former president and RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel are unlikely to pay the price for the party’s recent losses.


Sinema party switch highlights 2024 obstacles for Democrats
The challenges facing the Democratic Party heading into the next campaign have come into sharp relief just a few days after the party celebrated victory in the final Senate contest of the 2022 midterms.


Trump administration was ‘not prepared’ for or ‘not interested in’ wrongful detentions: Paul Whelan’s brother
David Whelan, brother of wrongfully detained former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, said on Saturday that former President Trump was not “prepared to” or “interested in” working toward his brother’s relea…


Russia grinds on in eastern Ukraine; Bakhmut 'destroyed'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces have turned the city of Bakhmut into ruins as they try to conquer eastern Ukraine's Donetsk province.


Ukraine war: Exiled governor reports strike on 'Wagner HQ'
Kyiv's forces hit a hotel used by the Russian mercenary group, a Ukrainian official says.

Blowback Over Griner's Release Exposes Depth of America's Divisions
There was a time when the release of American citizens who had been unjustly imprisoned by a foreign adversary was a moment for bipartisan relief and celebration: the 2018 return of three men from North Korea, secured by President Donald Trump, or the 1991 freeing of Terry Anderson, an American...

Russia-Ukraine updates: Experts lead Kherson sexual assault probe
All the updates from December 11, as they happened.

Effect of Georgia's voting law unclear, despite high turnout
Georgia’s 2022 election season ended dramatically this past week. That was because of the closely watched Senate runoff that solidified Democratic control of the chamber, and not because of any large-scale problems with voting.


The DeSantis secret weapon that Democrats — and Trump — should fear
Within the five major “megaphones” of our nation — the media, academia, entertainment, science and medicine — the only women deserving credit and acclaim are those from the left who create, instill…


Strong midterm turnout in Georgia sparks new debate about a controversial election law | CNN Politics
The strong turnout in Georgia’s runoff election that cemented Democrats’ control of the US Senate is sparking fresh debate about the impact of the state’s controversial 2021 election law.


American author Michael Shellenberger releases ‘Twitter Files Part 4’
Author Michael Shellenberger on Saturday night released the fourth installment of the “Twitter Files,” an initiative backed by Twitter CEO Elon Musk to shed light on “free speech suppression.…


Newcomer wins seat on Louisiana Public Service Commission
Newcomer Davante Lewis has won Saturday's runoff for a seat on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission.


White House disputes Biden DNC move rewards South Carolina
The White House is pushing back on the notion that a change championed by President Biden to elevate South Carolina in the 2024 election calendar is rewarding a state that propelled his campaign in…


Biden allies reportedly at odds over Hunter strategy ahead of GOP investigations - Washington Examiner
An array of groups preparing to defend Hunter Biden from an onslaught of House GOP investigations are reportedly at odds over strategy and at risk of not having a coordinated approach. There are two competing strategies dividing the people and groups allied with President Joe Biden and his...

New Jersey overhauled its bail system under Christie. Now some Democrats want to roll it back.
The new push in Trenton represents a stunning reversal for the social justice movement.


After midterms, GOP reconsidering antipathy to mail ballots
After disappointing results in this year's elections, Republicans are reevaluating their antipathy to mail voting.

Russia and Iran exploring joint production of lethal drones, says US
US national security advisor John Kirby and unnamed Biden officials have said that Russia and Iran are considering setting up a drone assembly line.

Twitter Files reveal 'junior employee' stood against Trump ban, warned of 'slippery slope'
The latest installment of the 'Twitter Files' shows at least one employee at the company stood up to executives looking to ban former President Donald Trump, citing a 'slippery slope.'

Part Four of Musk’s ‘Twitter Files’ reveals decision process post-Jan. 6 protests - Washington Examiner
The latest release of the Twitter Files reveals shifting opinions among executives about how to handle the effects of Jan. 6 and the protests. The fourth edition of the Twitter Files was released by journalist Michael Shellenberger on Saturday and went into detail on Twitter's changes in...


How Kyrsten Sinema’s decision makes Democrats’ 2024 Senate map tighter | CNN Politics
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided to shake up the political world on Friday by becoming an independent. The former Democrat is still caucusing with the party in the Senate, so the Democratic caucus still has 51 members. Now, instead of 49 Democrats and two independents within their ranks, the...


Student loan borrowers thought they were getting relief. Now, courts have put their lives on hold.
“It’s disheartening," said a woman who's been paying college debt for about 30 years and was approved for the Biden federal student loan forgiveness program — which is now held up.


Ukraine utility crews adapt, overcome after Russian strikes
Ukrainian utility crews struggling to patch up power lines during a two-month Russian military blitz targeting Ukrainian infrastructure are learning to adapt.


Why Sinema left the Democratic Party
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) had plenty of reason to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent, Senate Democratic aides and strategists say. Her relationship with Democrats in her home st…


Nobel Peace Prize: Russian laureate 'told to turn down award'
Yan Rachinsky, from rights group Memorial, tells the BBC he ignored the order from the Kremlin.


Free speech advocate speaks out after 2020 emails included in Twitter Files warned of Big Tech 'bloodbath'
NetChoice Vice President Carl Szabo is speaking out after his company was swept up in Twitter CEO Elon Musk's data release on Twitter's censorship.

Nobel Peace Prize winners blast Putin's invasion of Ukraine
The winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have shared their visions of a fairer world during an award ceremony and denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.


Why the Court’s Civil Rights Hero Might Have Opposed Affirmative Action
Justice John Marshall Harlan knew that treating races unequally could lead to lead to society’s unraveling.


After 25 years of wrongful imprisonment, 2 Georgia men set free after newly uncovered evidence exonerates them of murder charges | CNN
After spending 25 years in prison on murder convictions related to the 1996 shooting death of their friend, two Georgia men were exonerated this week, after new evidence uncovered in a true-crime podcast last year proved their innocence, their lawyers said.


‘Sky is no longer a limit’: EU to scrap airplane mode for 5G, but US may not follow - Washington Examiner
The European Union will scrap airplane mode next year and replace it with updated 5G services, giving passengers full use of their mobile devices during a flight — but the United States may not follow in its footsteps. “5G will enable innovative services for people and growth opportunities for...


Thieves are stealing SNAP funds electronically. In most states, victims never get reimbursed.
“They took every penny,” said one SNAP skimming victim, who can no longer afford to buy a Christmas present for his son.


Nasa's Orion capsule on target for splashdown
After a test flight around the Moon, America's next-generation astronaut ship is about to come home.


U.S. energy envoy Hochstein calls investor hostility to shale drilling "un-American," Financial Times reports
U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein described the refusal of the country's shale investors to ramp up drilling as "un-American" in an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams says bail laws 'protect the guilty' after alleged bat attacker released days later
New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized bail laws after a man accused of attacking someone with a baseball bat was released for $7,500 days later.

Democrats face uphill battle to maintain Senate majority in 2024 - Washington Examiner
As Democrats celebrate their better-than-expected midterm performance in the Senate, the party must now look ahead to 2024 as its members face an uphill battle to maintain control of the upper chamber. The 2024 cycle could prove to be more challenging for the Democrats as they will have to...

Andy Biggs Has A Plan To Ruin Kevin McCarthy’s House Speaker Dreams
The conservative Arizona Republican says his speaker bid will open the door for a mystery third candidate.

Germany coup plot: The extremists who tried to topple the state
The BBC's Europe editor digs into the extremists who plotted to topple the German government.

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's defection from the Democrats muddies party's path forward
Political experts told USA TODAY that Sinema's move complicates Democrats' ability to hold onto the Arizona Senate seat, and Senate control, in 2024.
www.usatoday.com

The Memo: Two Americas draw vastly different lessons from Brittney Griner saga
Basketball star Brittney Griner was released from a Russian penal colony Thursday — and America’s reaction has been so polarized, it’s like watching a split-screen. Did Griner’s release show that “…


France advances to semifinals at World Cup, tops England 2-1
Kylian Mbappe and France made it back to the semifinals of the World Cup by beating England 2-1. Olivier Giroud scored in the 78th minute at Al Bayt Stadium to keep France on course to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.


Georgia cements itself as a swing state after runoff
For years, Georgia has been a deep-red state. But after securing President Biden the White House in 2020 and electing two Democratic senators, a changing demographic shows the Peach State has becom…


Senate Republican chokes up as he talks about how mental illness impacted his family | CNN Politics
A Republican senator became emotional as he spoke in deeply personal terms about the importance of mental health care in America.


Why extremism experts say it's worth discussing the Colorado shooting suspect's pronouns
New information from the alleged shooter’s online presence and former neighbor has led to skepticism among some extremism experts about the suspect being nonbinary.


Border officials seeing massive migrant numbers, large groups ahead of Title 42’s end
Border Patrol agents along the southern border are already facing massive migrant numbers ahead of the expiration of the Title 42 public health order later this month.

Pioneering Black feminist Dorothy Pitman Hughes dies at 84
Dorothy Pitman Hughes, a pioneering Black feminist, child welfare advocate and lifelong community activist who formed a powerful speaking partnership with Gloria Steinem and appeared with her in one of the most iconic photos of the second-wave feminist movement, has died.


Louisiana to decide on an amendment allowing only U.S. citizens to vote in the state’s elections
Voters in Louisiana are going to the polls on Saturday to cast ballots on whether to adopt an amendment to the state constitution to explicitly require that an individual be an American citizen to …


Wanted by McCarthy critics: 1 qualified alternative speaker
The House Republican leader's conservative opponents are making a lot of noise. Whether they can stay organized ahead of Jan. 3 is another matter.

The construction of Trump's ultra luxury 6-star golf resort in Bali has stalled leaving workers jobless, report says
Donald Trump struck a deal to license his name and to help run a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, in 2015. But, years later, it has yet to open, per AFP.

A trash heap 62 meters high shows the scale of India’s climate challenge | CNN
At the Bhalswa landfill in northwest Delhi, a steady flow of jeeps zigzag up the trash heap to dump more garbage on a pile now over 62 meters (203 feet) high.


African White House reporter slams Karine Jean-Pierre for ‘discrimination’ - Washington Examiner
An African reporter who covers the White House hit out at White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for her hostile behavior and abrupt rejection of his questions just a week before an important gathering of African leaders in Washington, D.C.Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba's...


Election denier Kari Lake sues Arizona elections officials
Defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake sued Arizona elections officials on Friday to challenge the counting and certification of the November electoral contest and ask to be declared the winner despite a lack of evidence of voter fraud.

Senior U.S. delegation to visit China in coming days
A high-level U.S. delegation will travel to China next week to follow up on President Joe Biden's recent talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and prepare for Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit there early next year, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday.

Twitter’s ex-head of trust and safety goes silent as more revelations are released - Washington Examiner
Yoel Roth, the former head of Twitter’s “Trust and Safety” department, hasn’t tweeted since Dec. 1, when new owner Elon Musk started releasing internal documents about the deliberations among employees on censoring the Hunter Biden laptop story.Normally a regular tweeter, Roth’s last words on...


Heavy rain, wind, snow blows through California into Sierra
A winter storm packing powerful winds, heavy rain and potentially several feet of snow is blowing into the Sierra Nevada.


Federal appeals court bars Biden administration from forcing Catholic groups to provide transgender care
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on Friday permanently blocked the Biden administration from forcing Christian groups to provide transgender health care or insurance coverage.

LA city council member faces fresh controversy after altercation captured on video | CNN Politics
Los Angeles city council member Kevin de León is facing renewed scrutiny after a video surfaced online Friday night of him engaged in a physical altercation with a community activist during a holiday event.

Eric Trump Reveals His Early Morning Routine But People Aren't Buying It
“This is the MOST never happened thing ever,” one Twitter user cracked about the comments from Donald Trump's son.
Kari Lake claims 'intentional misconduct' in lawsuit seeking to overturn AZ governor's race loss
Kari Lake, the defeated Republican candidate for Arizona governor, has asked a court to throw out certified election results.
www.usatoday.com

Natural disasters keep coming. So should disaster tax relief
Natural disasters are striking communities across the country, seemingly daily. Always on the front lines of response and recovery from those disasters are the nonprofits in those communities. Righ…


Twitter relaunching subscriber service after debacle
Twitter is once again attempting to launch its premium service, a month after a previous attempt failed.


Prosecutors say Alex Murdaugh killed wife and son to "escape" accountability for financial crimes
"The reality is, as we've done this extensive investigation, we've realized that this was a white-collar case that culminated with two murders," a South Carolina prosecutor said.


Chile volcano: Alert issued after Lascar rumbles to life
The Lascar volcano, in the north, sends a plume of volcanic ash and hot gases 6,000m into the sky.


Mauritanian indicted in 3 deadly 2015 terror attacks in Mali
Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid faces multiple terrorism charges in a six-count indictment, including for his alleged role in the attacks on a restaurant and two hotels that killed a total of 38 people.


Gas prices fall again in NJ, nation as demand remains low
Gas prices have again dropped sharply in New Jersey and around the country as demand remains slow and supplies continue to increase.


Liberal House Democrats take aim at bipartisan immigration framework, deride ‘assault on asylum seekers’
Three liberal Democrats say they cannot support a new immigration framework being negotiated in the Senate, describing it as "inhumane" and an "assault" on migrants.

The Other American Jailed in Russia on Marijuana Charges
The case of 61-year-old Marc Fogel has eerie parallels to that of Brittney Griner. But there’s little sign Fogel will be released any time soon.


Climate change, human activity 'decimating' marine life, according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Human activity is wreaking havoc on the state of the oceans around the world -- especially on marine life, according to the updated IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Major U.S. police departments plagued by officer-on-officer sexual abuse and retaliation
An NBC News review of more than 60 lawsuits costing taxpayers more than $40 million found disturbing accounts of sexual misconduct against female cops in big-city departments.


The amazing new Swiss mountain train that can jump rail tracks | CNN
The Golden Pass Express is the world’s first train that can change its height and wheel gauge, allowing it to roll seamlessly through beautiful Alpine scenery.


Exclusive: Odesa grain traders don't plan to suspend grain exports
The Ukrainian port of Odesa was not operating on Sunday after the latest Russian attack on the region's energy system, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, but added that grains traders were not expected to suspend exports.
Cárdenas spotlights his track record as he angles for DCCC chair appointment
As election day drew near in November, Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) was focused on supporting Democratic candidates in tough districts, but he had another priority on the back burner: a second run…


Large, powerful winter storm set to slam United States
A winter storm heads for the west coast on Saturday while the east coast braces for another storm expected to hit next week.

Democrats urge party to ‘tolerate’ different opinions after Sinema defection - Washington Examiner
Democrats are downplaying the political consequences of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's (I-AZ) defection from the party, some suggesting nothing will change and others cheering her departure.But the breakup has underscored the acrimonious relationship between Democrats' more liberal and centrist members...


What Kyrsten Sinema's departure from Democratic Party means for pivotal Arizona Senate seat
Questions are being raised about the future of independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's pivotal Senate seat, following her departure from the Democratic Party.

The workers lured into oversold jobs
Accepting a job is always a gamble. But some roles are oversold from the start, leaving disgruntled workers in a difficult position.


Florida teacher fired after allegedly disrupting Muslim students as they prayed, accusing them of doing 'magic'
“I believe in Jesus, so I’m interrupting the floor,” the Franklin Academy teacher is heard saying in a viral TikTok video before stepping over the students as they prayed.


Federal data: Kansas oil spill biggest in Keystone history
Federal data shows a spill from the Keystone pipeline this week dumped enough oil to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool into a northeastern Kansas creek

Winter storm slams western U.S., brings heavy snow, drenching rain
The powerful storm system is expected to move east over the next several days, forecasters said.


Free for a month, Kherson still toils to clear Russian traps
Sunday marks exactly one month since Russia’s troops withdrew from Kherson and its vicinity after an eight-month occupation, sparking jubilation across Ukraine.


Court: Resentence mom who put newborn in trash at sorority
A woman who was imprisoned without parole for killing her newborn daughter by throwing the infant in the trash after giving birth at her college sorority house should be resentenced

Russian arms dealer says he wished Griner good luck at prisoner exchange
Viktor Bout, the arms dealer freed in a prisoner swap for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, said he wished her good luck on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi where they were exchanged.

BDS: Pollster Zogby says only haters could find fault with Biden this week - Washington Examiner
This week’s White House Report Card finds President Joe Biden somewhat flying high on a string of victories and polls showing a resulting bump up to 50%.That was enough for one of our two graders, pollster John Zogby, to give Biden an enthusiastic A-plus and a slap at Biden Derangement Syndrome...

Karen Bass comes home to LA — and all its problems
Persistent homelessness, an uptick in crime, and a fractured City Hall await the next mayor.


Postal worker fatally shot while delivering mail in Milwaukee
The shooting occurred on Friday evening, police said.


Arizona sheriff calls on Gov. Ducey to stop sending shipping containers to border for makeshift wall
The sheriff of Santa Cruz County in Arizona says he will start making arrests if shipping crates are placed along the border on federal lands.

Police arrest man wounded in Oklahoma pot farm slayings
The survivor of a shooting at an Oklahoma marijuana farm that killed four people has been arrested after being released from a hospital

New Orleans police employee fatally stabbed while driving for Uber; video of attack posted to Facebook, officials say
Brandon Jacobs, 29, allegedly told investigators that he stabbed the victim at the end of a ride after selecting her at random “because he wanted to kill someone.”


Italian PM Meloni pays tribute to victims after gunman kills three women
Three women including a friend of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were killed on Sunday when a man pulled out a gun and opened fire at a meeting of residents of an apartment block in Rome.

RNC chief: GOP can’t ‘do an ostrich method’ on abortion and ‘pretend that it doesn’t exist’
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel addressed GOP midterm election performance on Sunday’s “Cats Roundtable” radio show, attributing some losses to candidates ignori…


Decomposing body of pregnant woman found during fatal shooting arrest: Police
Officers seeking a suspect in a fatal shooting at a Maryland gas station found the decomposing body of a possible pregnant woman at the man's apartment, police said.

Russian-installed Kherson official says withdrawing hryvnia from circulation in January
The Russian-installed administration of Ukraine's Kherson region said on Saturday that it had begun changing locally circulated Ukrainian hryvnia currency into Russian roubles, with hryvnia circulation in Moscow-controlled areas of the region to end on Jan. 1.

Kansas residents hold their noses as crews mop up massive U.S. oil spill
Residents near the site of the worst U.S. oil pipeline leak in a decade took the commotion and smell in stride as emergency crews labored to clean up in near-freezing temperatures, and investigators searched for clues to what caused the spill.

Drag queens refuse to 'hide' amid anti-LGBTQ hate, threats and Colorado Springs shooting
Drag queens, performers and producers refused to stay silent amid anti-LGBTQ hate, threats and attacks on drag events.

The perils of party switching


Meghan Markle's half siblings slam Netflix docuseries after Prince Harry claims she doesn't have a father
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," was blasted by Meghan's paternal half siblings, Thomas Markle Jr. and Samantha Markle.

California Teacher Returns to LAX After Being Imprisoned in Russia
California teacher Sarah Krivanek, barely able to see straight from what she calls “hell on Earth” conditions in a prison camp in Russia, stepped foot into freedom at LAX Friday.


Iran summons China envoy over islands dispute statement with UAE
Chinese envoy ‘had a visit’ as Tehran expressed ‘strong dissatisfaction’ over China’s joint statement with GCC nations.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 291
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 291st day, we take a look at the main developments.

Devotion to Virgin Mary draws millions to Mexico City shrine
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is one of the world’s most visited and beloved religious venues
‘SNL’ Breaks Down Why Brittney Griner Deal Was Actually a ‘Great Trade’
NBC“Well, it was shaping up to be a good week for Joe Biden. He got Brittney Griner back, he kept marriage gay, and he’s only got 14 more sleeps till Santa,” Colin Jost said at the top of Saturday Night Live’s latest edition of “Weekend Update.” But just when Biden “thought he had it all under...
Donald Trump Loses 'Swagger,' Botches Campaign Takeoff: Analyst
Guardian political analyst David Smith's attack was just the latest in the press about Donald Trump’s lackluster campaign launch.

British PM Sunak faces new demands from his fractious party
British Conservative politicians on Sunday launched two campaigns to address concerns about the direction of the party and the government, the latest challenge to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's attempts to unite a fractured party.

Deion Sanders has decided to stop coaching at a historically Black college. Here’s why people are so upset | CNN
Sanders’ exit from Jackson State University struck a chord in the Black community nationwide.


NASA's Orion capsule returns to Earth, capping Artemis I flight around moon
Orion winds up the inaugural mission of the Artemis program 50 years after Apollo's final moon landing.

A Japanese company has fired a rocket carrying a lunar rover to the moon
A Tokyo company aimed for the moon with its own private lander Sunday, blasting off atop a SpaceX rocket with the United Arab Emirates' first lunar rover and a toylike robot from Japan.


More than 500 refugees arrive in Italy as rescue ships dock
Italian government sources say decision to allow ships to dock was based on poor weather and risks to those on board.

Morocco becomes first African country to reach World Cup semifinals as it topples Portugal
The 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, one of soccer’s greatest players, didn’t start for the second straight game but came on as a substitute in the 51st minute.


Russian embassy says US denied visit to Soviet graves in Alaska
A group of Russian diplomats prevented from visiting graves of Soviet soldiers who died in WWII, state media report.

Germany's Scholz bets on immigration, more working women to counter labour shortages
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this weekend Germany should attract more foreign workers and make it easier for women and older people to work in order to avoid labour shortages and a crisis in its public pension system in the years ahead.

Sick leave and family leave top union demands post-Covid
In one of the few countries in the world without paid leave requirements, many unions are making them a priority demand post-pandemic contract negotiations.


Zelenskyy says Russia reduced Bakhmut city to a ‘burned ruin’
Ukrainian military’s General Staff reported some 20 air raids, more than 60 rocket attacks between Friday and Saturday.

Kosovo police exchange fire with local Serbs blocking roads
With a crisis mounting in the majority Serb north, Kosovo's president Vjosa Osmani said that local elections in that area would be delayed until April 23.
Kari Lake claims 'intentional misconduct' in lawsuit seeking to overturn AZ governor's race loss
Kari Lake, the defeated Republican candidate for Arizona governor, has asked a court to throw out certified election results.

Volkswagen's Skoda considers withdrawing from China, Automobilwoche reports
Czech carmaker Skoda Auto, part of Volkswagen , is considering withdrawing from China and will make a final decision next year, CEO Klaus Zellmer was quoted as saying by the weekly magazine Automobilwoche.

‘Incredible feat’: Morocco enter uncharted territory
Morocco become the first team from Africa to reach a World Cup semi-final by beating Portugal.

Serbia to ask NATO to deploy Serb military, police in Kosovo
Serbia will ask NATO peacekeepers to let it deploy Serbian military and police in Kosovo, although it believes there is no chance of the request being approved, President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday.


COVID, RSV or flu? How to tell the symptoms apart
Three respiratory illnesses continue to infect hundreds of thousands of Americans daily – which can make it hard to tell what’s wrong when you feel a cough kicking in.

‘The situation in the hospitals is grim’: States face brutal virus fallout
Nearly 30,000 people currently in the hospital have tested positive for Covid-19, up 30 percent since Thanksgiving.


Base editing: Revolutionary therapy clears girl's incurable cancer
New way of altering DNA is used to engineer an "exciting", experimental therapy for a 13-year-old girl.


Facing COVID surge, China expanding hospitals, ICUs
China is setting up more intensive care facilities and trying to strengthen hospitals as it rolls back anti-virus controls that confined millions of people to their homes, crushed economic growth and set off protests

COVID, RSV or flu? How to tell the symptoms apart
Three respiratory illnesses continue to infect hundreds of thousands of Americans daily – which can make it hard to tell what’s wrong when you feel a cough kicking in.


Top China expert says Covid 'spreading rapidly' after rules easing
One of China's top health experts has warned of a surge in Covid-19 cases, state media said Sunday, in the wake of the government's decision to abandon its hardline coronavirus strategy.


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.


Fauci on publicly disagreeing with Trump over COVID misinformation: ‘I couldn’t stand there and be complicit’
Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said in an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace that he could not be “complicit” with former Presiden…


Beijing swings from anger over zero-COVID to coping with infections
Many shops and other businesses in China's capital were closed, and an expert warned of thousands of new cases as anger over previous COVID policies gave way to worry about risk of infection.

There's a Concerning Amount of COVID in Chicago Wastewater Right Now. Here's What That Could Signal
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike across Illinois, a concerning sign in Chicago shows that the increase is likely to continue in the coming weeks.


LA County Sees Slight Drop in COVID Hospitalizations
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports a slight decrease in COVID hospitalizations throughout the county.

The White House is now tracking opioid overdoses that don't kill. Why that's important.
The data dashboard on nonfatal opioid overdoses will target specific regions to help fight the epidemic, which left 81,000 dead in the US this year.
www.usatoday.com

Facing COVID surge, China expanding hospitals, ICUs
China is setting up more intensive care facilities and trying to strengthen hospitals as it rolls back anti-virus controls that confined millions of people to their homes, crushed economic growth and set off protests

China’s Looming ‘Tsunami’ of Covid Cases Will Test Its Hospitals (Published 2022)
To conserve resources for the severely ill, the government is urging residents not to seek help unless necessary. But the pivot has left many confused and anxious.

China's strict zero-COVID policy may be gone, but it has been replaced by chaos, confusion and risk.
The rules have eased but Beijing's streets are still desolate because nobody's sure what's replaced them, and there's fear of a looming exit wave.


Authorities are urging indoor masking in major cities as the 'tripledemic' rages
The CDC is advising people to practice indoor masking in nearly a tenth of U.S. counties, as three highly contagious respiratory viruses sweep the country.

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