politics

Summary

Texas has seen a spike in abandoned newborns since its abortion ban, with some infants found dead in dumpsters or ditches.

Critics link the rise to reduced access to abortion, cuts to prenatal care, underfunded safe haven programs, and fear of deportation among undocumented women.

Texas Republicans have resisted funding awareness campaigns for safe haven laws, instead allocating $165 million to crisis pregnancy centers that prioritize deterring abortion over aiding women.

The lack of support has drawn condemnation, highlighting the broader consequences of restrictive reproductive policies.

Summary

Donald Trump falsely linked the New Orleans truck attack, carried out by U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, to immigration, despite authorities confirming no connection to the border.

Trump’s claims followed a retracted Fox News report and contradicted FBI findings that Jabbar, a U.S. citizen, acted alone in what is being investigated as terrorism.

Trump doubled down on Truth Social, blaming Biden’s border policies and proclaiming, “Trump was right about everything.”

An ISIS flag was found on the vehicle, with the FBI probing potential ties to terrorist organizations.

Summary

House Republicans unveiled new rules for the 119th Congress, including a change requiring nine GOP co-sponsors to initiate a motion to oust the Speaker, up from the previous one-member threshold.

The rule, aimed at preventing leadership instability, follows the chaotic removal of Kevin McCarthy in 2023.

Speaker Mike Johnson, whose re-election isn’t guaranteed, faces tensions within his party after recent spending disputes.

Freedom Caucus and Main Street Caucus leaders said the rule change strengthens GOP unity and enables execution of Trump’s agenda, while maintaining some risk of speaker removal.

Summary

The incoming Trump administration is expected to transform the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) into a pro-business agency, reversing pro-worker decisions made during Biden’s presidency.

Anticipated changes include firing pro-labor officials like General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and overturning rulings that bolstered unionization efforts, such as limits on “captive audience meetings,” quicker union elections, and protections for workers' heated speech.

Legal challenges from companies like Amazon and SpaceX aim to strip the NLRB of its authority entirely, while Trump’s alignment with figures like Elon Musk signals intensified opposition to unions and labor rights.

Summary

Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army veteran from Colorado Springs, has been identified as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.

Livelsberger died in the blast, which injured seven people with minor injuries.

Authorities are investigating the explosion as a potential act of terror, noting Livelsberger's military connection to Shamsud Din Jabbar, the suspect in the deadly New Orleans attack hours earlier.

Firework mortars and fuel canisters were found in the truck, with no confirmed motive yet.

Summary

Yale historian Tim Snyder warned of billionaire Elon Musk's growing influence over Donald Trump, highlighting Musk's far greater wealth and financial backing of Trump’s re-election campaign.

According to Snyder, “Trump is a little guy, and Musk is a big guy when it actually comes to having money.”

Snyder argued that Trump, lacking substantial personal wealth, risks becoming financially dependent on Musk, who could wield disproportionate influence.

He cautioned that Musk’s monetary power allows him to shape Trump’s actions and decisions, raising concerns for Trump’s allies.

Snyder emphasized that Musk’s wealth and control over Trump could undermine the president-elect’s autonomy and create lasting dependencies.

Summary

Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist, sharply criticized Elon Musk over his support for H-1B visas, accusing him of undermining American workers.

On his "War Room" podcast, Bannon warned Musk to adopt MAGA’s “America First” stance or face backlash, calling for a complete immigration moratorium.

Musk, a proponent of skilled foreign labor, has defended H-1B visas for filling tech jobs, citing a lack of qualified Americans, sparking controversy.

Trump's unexpected support for H-1B workers has further divided MAGA supporters, escalating tensions between Trump allies and Musk.

Summary

Chief Justice John Roberts warned that violence, intimidation, disinformation, and threats to disobey court rulings are endangering judicial independence in the U.S.

In his annual report, he highlighted a rise in threats against judges, citing examples of attacks, murders, and doxxing incidents.

Roberts also criticized political interference, referencing past comments by Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer.

Public confidence in the Supreme Court is at historic lows amid ethics controversies. Critics, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, accused Roberts of ignoring these internal issues in his report.

Summary

Laura Loomer criticized Elon Musk as a "welfare queen," accusing him of profiting from billions in government subsidies while advocating for H-1B visas, which she claims take jobs from Americans.

Loomer’s remarks highlight a rift within MAGA supporters over Musk's influence and Trump’s alignment with him despite prior anti-immigration promises.

Steve Bannon escalated the attack, demanding “reparations” for jobs lost to foreign workers hired by tech giants like Musk.

Musk, whose companies received over $25 billion in subsidies and contracts, defended his stance on immigration and insulted American workers.

Summary

A truck attack in New Orleans’ Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day killed 15 people and injured over 30, with the FBI investigating it as an act of terrorism.

The attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former U.S. Army reservist, drove into a crowd, fired at police, and was killed.

Jabbar had an Islamic State flag and bomb-making materials, with two undetonated explosive devices found nearby.

President Biden confirmed Jabbar posted pro-ISIS content before the attack.

Authorities are investigating possible co-conspirators and connections to other incidents, including a Tesla explosion in Las Vegas.

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The magazine is recruiting from a crosstown rival, The Washington Post, to bolster its political staff.

Summary

Republican support for House Speaker Mike Johnson’s re-election is faltering ahead of a vote this week, with key figures like Rep. Chip Roy undecided despite Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Roy and others cite concerns over Johnson’s handling of past legislative battles, including a contentious budget fight.

With a slim GOP majority, Johnson cannot afford defections, but dissent persists among Republicans like Andy Harris and Andy Biggs.

Roy has suggested alternatives, including Byron Donalds and Jim Jordan, as doubts grow about Johnson’s ability to deliver on the party’s agenda in the new Congress.

Summary

The FBI discovered the largest cache of "finished explosive devices" in its history during the Dec. 17 arrest of Virginia man Brad Spafford.

Over 150 pipe bombs, some labeled "lethal" and preloaded into a vest, were found on his Isle of Wight farm, along with unstable explosive material stored in a freezer near food.

Spafford, who lost three fingers to explosives, allegedly used President Biden's photos for target practice and expressed support for political assassinations.

Prosecutors argue he poses a severe danger, while his lawyers claim he's a law-abiding family man.

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Social scientists thought that patrimonialism had been relegated to the dustbin of history. And for good reason: Such regimes couldn’t compete militarily or economically with states led by the expert civil services that helped make modern societies rich, powerful and relatively secure.

But a slew of self-aggrandizing leaders has taken advantage of rising inequality, cultural conflicts and changing demography to grab power. The result has been a steep decline in the government’s ability to provide essential services such as health care, education and safety.

Summary

A PRRI poll revealed 46% of Republican voters support using the U.S. military to detain undocumented immigrants in camps, a prospect pollster Robert P. Jones found alarming to survey.

While three-quarters of Americans oppose such measures, Jones expressed concern about the normalization of these discussions during the Trump era.

Axios highlighted Trump’s past remarks endorsing military action against undocumented immigrants and political opponents, raising fears about his potential policies in the 2024 election.

The data underscores growing divides over immigration enforcement and the use of military power domestically.

Summary

Elon Musk is reportedly staying at a $2,000-per-night cottage at Mar-a-Lago, just steps from Donald Trump’s main residence.

Musk moved in around Election Day, watched results with Trump, and left briefly around Christmas.

Concerns in Washington are growing over Musk’s influence on Trump, as he has participated in personnel meetings, foreign leader talks, and legislative interventions.

The close relationship between the two has drawn scrutiny, with Trump publicly praising Musk. Musk’s stay, accompanied by some of his children, highlights the billionaire’s deepening ties to Trump’s inner circle.