Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that any aid for California’s wildfire relief should have conditions, signaling a potential political conflict. Johnson criticized state leadership, particularly Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, for issues like water and forest management, which he claimed contributed to the devastation. He hinted at a possible tie between debt limit increases and aid to California, though he emphasized that discussions are ongoing. … Continue reading Speaker Mike Johnson suggests ‘conditions’ needed on disaster aid for LA wildfires

Donald Trump’s presidential transition team released the schedule for his inauguration next week, which includes a fireworks show, VIP events at his Virginia golf course, and three inaugural balls. Despite raising over $170 million for the event, the number of balls and events is fewer than in previous inaugurations. The inaugural committee, with more than $200 million in funds, is hosting smaller events compared to … Continue reading Trump plans limited inauguration festivities despite massive fundraising

The Justice Department released Volume One of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump, focusing on the election case against him. The report, made public just before Trump’s inauguration, confirms Smith’s stance on bringing criminal charges against Trump for attempting to retain power after the 2020 election. Smith defends his decision, asserting that Trump’s actions were criminal and harmful … Continue reading DOJ releases former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on investigation into Trump

President-elect Trump criticized former special counsel Jack Smith for attempting to issue a report on what he called a “witch hunt” against him. In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed Smith was “illegitimately involved” in political persecution and accused the government of wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the investigation. The Department of Justice is pushing to release Smith’s final report on the Mar-a-Lago … Continue reading Trump: Jack Smith shouldn’t be allowed to release report 

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will miss the first day of his impeachment trial due to concerns for his safety, according to his lawyer. The trial begins on Tuesday, with five hearings scheduled until February 4. If Yoon doesn’t attend, the Constitutional Court will reconvene for a second session on Thursday. This trial is separate from ongoing efforts to detain Yoon for questioning about … Continue reading Suspended South Korean President Yoon to skip first day of impeachment trial over safety concerns

Croatia’s President Zoran Milanović, a critic of the EU and NATO, won reelection with nearly 74% of the vote, defeating Dragan Primorac, who received around 26%. Milanović’s victory strengthens his position as Croatia’s most popular politician and sets up continued political tension with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. A critic of Western military support for Ukraine, Milanović has opposed sending Croatian soldiers to Ukraine, and has … Continue reading Croatia’s President Milanović wins reelection

Vice President-elect JD Vance suggested that the U.S. could make a deal to acquire Greenland, emphasizing its strategic importance and natural resources. While President-elect Trump has previously hinted at using military force to secure the island, Vance disagreed, stating that military action is unnecessary as the U.S. already has troops stationed there. Danish officials have privately expressed willingness to enhance security or increase the U.S. … Continue reading JD Vance says there’s “a deal to be made in Greenland”

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed efforts to finalize a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal by January 20, when Biden’s term ends. U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are at a critical stage, with both Biden’s and President-elect Trump’s teams working together to push for a resolution. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed optimism, … Continue reading Biden and Netanyahu speak as Gaza negotiations reach critical point

The Biden administration announced Friday that it would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nearly 1 million people from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela, offering work permits and deportation protections until 2026. This move comes just before Donald Trump’s presidency, as he plans to scale back the program. TPS provides legal reprieve for individuals from countries affected by disasters or conflicts. While the Biden … Continue reading Biden extends temporary status of nearly 1M migrants ahead of Trump deportations

The U.S. Department of State has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to $25 million. Maduro, indicted since 2020 for his alleged role in drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, faces charges including cocaine trafficking and weapons crimes. He is accused of leading the Cartel of the Suns, a drug-trafficking group composed of Venezuelan officials, and coordinating … Continue reading U.S. reward for Venezuela’s Maduro increased to $25 million in effort to capture him

Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, has shifted her stance on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which she previously sought to repeal. Now supporting the program, Gabbard called it crucial for national security while maintaining civil liberties. This change has raised concerns among GOP senators, especially due to her past opposition to the program. During Senate meetings, … Continue reading Gabbard reverses course on key intel-gathering tool as nomination teeters

In a wide-ranging interview with Joe Rogan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg criticized the Biden administration for pressuring social media companies to censor vaccine-related content, claiming Biden officials used aggressive tactics to force Meta to remove posts about vaccine side effects. He also praised President-elect Donald Trump, stating that he believes Trump wants America to succeed. Zuckerberg took swipes at Apple, calling its 30% App Store … Continue reading Biden officials ‘screamed’ at Facebook to take down posts, Zuckerberg says

A New York judge sentenced President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge” on Friday for his conviction in the hush money case, meaning he is considered a convicted felon but will face no further penalties. Trump, who will be inaugurated as president in 10 days, maintains his innocence and claims the case was politically motivated. The judge cited Trump’s impending immunity as the reason for … Continue reading Trump sentenced to penalty-free ‘unconditional discharge’ in hush money case

A federal judge temporarily blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on Donald Trump’s classified documents case to prevent “irreparable harm” while the Eleventh Circuit Court reviews the matter. Trump’s co-defendants, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, requested the block, arguing against releasing the report’s section on the classified documents case. Judge Aileen Cannon’s order pauses the report’s release until three days … Continue reading Judge in Trump’s classified docs case temporarily blocks release of special counsel’s final report

The Laken Riley Act passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday with bipartisan support, including all Republicans and 48 Democrats. Named after a nursing student killed by an illegal immigrant, the bill mandates federal immigration authorities detain illegal immigrants convicted of theft-related crimes and allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security over harm caused by illegal immigration. The bill now moves to the … Continue reading Laken Riley Act passes House with 48 Dems, all Republicans

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserted that Greenland is not for sale after President-elect Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might use military force to acquire it, along with the Panama Canal. Trump also indicated interest in military action to secure both territories for economic and national security reasons, though he ruled out force against Canada. Frederiksen emphasized respect for Greenland’s self-determination, and Greenland’s leaders rejected … Continue reading Denmark prime minister says Greenland not for sale after Trump remark

In a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, President-elect Donald Trump announced a $20 billion investment from DAMAC Properties to build data centers across the U.S. He quickly criticized President Biden’s final actions before leaving office and reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal, suggesting military force might be used for U.S. economic and national security. Trump also floated the idea of renaming the … Continue reading Trump says he’ll rename Gulf of Mexico to ‘Gulf of America

President-elect Donald Trump suggested he would not rule out military force to secure control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, calling both vital to U.S. national security. This marks a shift from decades of U.S. policy prioritizing self-determination. Trump’s remarks raised concerns with Denmark, which governs Greenland, and Panama, which controls the canal. Trump also proposed economic pressure on Canada to address the trade deficit … Continue reading Trump refuses to rule out use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal

Senators sparked backlash after referring to Kamala Harris as “Madam President” during the Electoral College count, despite her role as vice president. Harris, acting as president of the Senate, certified her own defeat to President-elect Donald Trump, becoming only the third vice president in U.S. history to do so. The ceremony saw applause from both Republicans and Democrats, but the repeated address of Harris as … Continue reading Kamala Harris called ‘Madam President’ by Democratic senators during certification of Trump’s election win

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, is recovering from hip replacement surgery after a fall in Europe last month. She was seen using a walker on the House floor Monday, greeting fellow lawmakers as she attended a joint session to certify the 2024 presidential election results. Pelosi had received a warm welcome from Democrats during her first return to the floor last week, aided by … Continue reading Nancy Pelosi, 84, hobbles onto House floor with a walker after hip replacement

Democrats have refuted GOP claims that former Rep. Liz Cheney acted improperly in her interactions with Cassidy Hutchinson, a key witness in the Jan. 6 investigation. A report highlights prior testimony from Hutchinson and a letter from her attorney, showing Hutchinson independently fired her former attorney, Stefan Passantino, due to a conflict of interest before reaching out to Cheney. The GOP had suggested ethical concerns … Continue reading House Democrats argue GOP Jan. 6 report defamed Cheney

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, and German officials, have criticized Elon Musk for allegedly intervening in their countries’ democratic processes, particularly through his support for far-right parties and attacks on left-wing politicians. Musk has backed the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany, sparking concern about his influence on the upcoming elections. However, these leaders, who condemn Musk’s … Continue reading Emmanuel Macron joins growing criticism of Elon Musk in Europe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he plans to step down once the Liberal Party selects a successor. After leading the party since 2013 and serving as prime minister since 2015, Trudeau’s decision follows growing speculation and waning support from his caucus. He shared the news outside his residence, stating he needed to focus on unifying the party for the next election. Trudeau has called for … Continue reading Trudeau says he’s not the right choice to lead, promises to resign as PM

Elon Musk has voiced strong support for calls in the UK for a new national inquiry into the child abuse scandal involving grooming gangs. He labeled the scandal “the worst mass crime against the people of Britain ever” and urged King Charles III to intervene. The abuse, primarily involving men of South Asian or Pakistani heritage, has spanned decades, with thousands of children exploited across … Continue reading Elon Musk demands UK act on grooming gang scandal amid growing calls for probe

President Joe Biden plans to deliver two major speeches before leaving office to highlight key aspects of his 50-plus years of public service. The first will focus on foreign policy and is scheduled after his return from Italy on January 12. The second, a farewell address, will reflect on his time in office, offering a message for the future. Biden’s foreign policy speech will emphasize … Continue reading Biden to deliver two major speeches in final days