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CNN —After a chaotic week in which House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself at odds, at different times, with President-elect Donald Trump, hardline conservatives and minority Democrats, he returned to a similar joke. However, Collins noted that Johnson — who won the gavel after conservatives’ ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy kicked off weeks of chaos in 2023 — retains Trump’s support. Finally, on Friday — with six hours to spare before the government funding deadline — Johnson and the House GOP punted. The House approved a three-month spending bill that included $110 billion for disaster relief and a one-year extension of the farm bill. Some House Republicans who opposed the year-end funding bill on Friday were noncommittal on whether they’d support him.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Elon Musk, Trump, ”, ‘, ’ ” Johnson, “, David Valadao, ” Valadao, —, Mike Collins, Collins, Johnson —, ’, Kevin McCarthy, ” Collins, — Johnson, Musk, ” Johnson, ” Musk, Hakeem Jeffries, MAGA, Keith Self, ” —, Chip Roy, he’s “, “ We’ve, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Jim Jordan, McCarthy, Johnson’s, Thomas Massie, Kentucky, ” Massie, Republicans don’t, didn’t, Massie, Dan Crenshaw, Trump’s, you’ve, Tim Burchett, It’s, CNN’s Manu Raju, Ali Main Organizations: CNN, “, Louisiana Republican, Republican, ”, Trump, Senate, Trump lobbing, Caucus, Wednesday, Democratic, House GOP, —, Democrats, MAGA Republicans, New York Democrat, Republicans, Texas Rep, House Republicans, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee Locations: Louisiana, California, Texas, Minnesota, fuming

☆ 'Deliberate Indifference' Standard Halts Serious Prison Abuse Lawsuits
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-21 | by ( Nicole Einbinder | Hannah Beckler | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +41 min

The court unanimously ruled that prison officials were liable for Eighth Amendment violations only if they acted with "deliberate indifference" to a prisoner's suffering. "And when this is true of prison officials, no constitutional liability may lie, however 'soul-chilling' the conditions." As long as prison officials assert that they didn't know about the risk, he said, a federal court will rarely find an Eighth Amendment violation. Prison officials weren't aware of the altercation, according to an incident report, until Hodges' then-fiancée called the prison, concerned about his safety. She disagreed with how her colleagues assessed the question of mindset, writing that a committee finding alone should not release prison officials from liability.

Persons: Dario Bonga, James Vandevender's, Bonga, Mark Latimer, Latimer, Latimer saunters, Vandevender's, Vandevender, —, Peggy Vandevender, he'd, Joseph Gomm, Gomm's, Jim, Shelby Tauber, Aaron Swanum, Tim Gravette, Latimer couldn't, Paul Schnell, Schnell, It's, Farmer, Brennan, David Souter, Souter, Sharon Dolovich, Alyssa Schukar, Lawrence Piersol, Jason Dunkelberger, Dunkelberger, Piersol, couldn't, didn't, Donovan Frank, Frank, Mark Bradford, I'm, Judge Jane Kelly, David Fathi, Katie Hobbs, Ryan Thornell, David Shapiro, J.W, Gamble, hadn't, Thurgood Marshall, Marshall, John Boston, Ronald Reagan ramped, Dee Farmer, Farmer's, Elizabeth Alexander, Drew Days III, Michelle Alexander, Harry Blackmun, Blackmun, Alexander, James Loken, Trina Murray, David Hodges, Patience Zalanga, Hodges, Murray, Courtney Osgood, Osgood, fiancée, Gene Olson, Jeffrey Titus, Rush, Olson, Osgood didn't, Ashlee Berts, Berts, Wilhelmina Wright, Wright, Marc Bakambia, Craig Shipp, Mitchell Marbury, Robin Rosenbaum, Kelly, Fathi, James Vandevender, khakis, Mike, He's, Ashley Christen, Peggy, he's, Latimer bludgeoned, dreads Organizations: Rush, longtime Rush City, BI, Minncor Industries, Rush City, Business, Minnesota Department of Corrections, UCLA, South, Penitentiary, South Dakota Department of Corrections, District of, pitchfork, Supreme, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, ACLU, Chicago Lawyers, Committee, Civil Rights, Civil Rights Movement, ', New York, Legal Aid Society, Prisons, Minnesota Correctional, Medical, Circuit, Mississippi Department of Corrections Locations: Minnesota, Rush City, Vandevender, Rush, Chisago County, Euless , Texas, Minncor, Farmer, South Dakota, District of Minnesota, Vandevender's, New York, Arizona, Michigan, York, Alabama, Texas, knifepoint, Lino, Minneapolis, Africa, Osgood, Moose, Arkansas, Mississippi, Utah, Dallas

Among the measures being debated by Congress to avert a government shutdown is increasing the debt ceiling — or eliminating it entirely. A soft brake on government borrowingThe debt ceiling is a relatively new instrument in the U.S.'s economic toolkit. In 1939, the government officially decided to use the debt ceiling in order to manage its debt obligations on an aggregate basis. Since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised 78 times — 49 times under Republican presidents, and 29 times under Democratic administrations. "It’s all politics.”Bipartisan supportSo what if the debt ceiling were to simply go away entirely?

Persons: It's, Donald Trump, Jamie Dimon, there's, ” Trump, “, Trump, ” Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Hakeem Jeffries, Chip Roy, I’ve, Roy, ’, Republican obstructionists Organizations: U.S, Treasury, White, Social Security, Democratic, JPMorgan, Republican Party, NBC, New York's, Republican Locations: U.S, New, Texas

“The lines of communication have been reopened,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters as he left a meeting with House Democrats, without committing support. "This is a defining moment for his career as speaker," said Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., a Johnson critic. Senate Democrats have called on Johnson to return to the bipartisan deal that Trump and Musk blew up. It’s time the House votes on our bipartisan CR [continuing resolution],” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday on the floor. “Put simply, we should not let an unelected billionaire rip away research for pediatric cancer so he can get a tax cut.”

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Musk —, Mike Johnson, Thomas Massie, Johnson, Joe Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Rich McCormick, Andrew Harnik, Jeffries, Trump, Musk, “, Chuck Schumer, we’re, Patty Murray, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON — House Republican, Trump, Senate, House Democrats, White, GOP, Democrats Locations: tanked, Ky, D

☆ House votes to avert government shutdown hours before funding runs out
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House lawmakers voted on Friday to avoid a government shutdown, passing a government funding bill with just hours to spare before the midnight deadline. House Democrats provided significant cover for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who lost 34 Republicans on the measure. While federal agencies have already begun shutdown planning, there is some wiggle room if funding lapses for only a few hours. Trump then urged Republicans to pass a pared-down funding bill and an extension of the debt ceiling. On Thursday night, 38 House Republicans and nearly every House Democrat voted against that plan, raising the stakes as a shutdown approached.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Biden, Trump, Donald Trump, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk Organizations: Capitol, Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, Punchbowl News, GOP, Democrat, Department of Government, Republican Locations: Washington

☆ Government shutdown: House to vote on last-minute funding bill without debt limit hike
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-20 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In order to pass the full House before the midnight shutdown deadline, however, the bill, released late Friday afternoon, will require significant Democratic support. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he was committed to avoiding a shutdown that could jeopardize paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal employees a few days before Christmas. "We will not have a government shutdown," Johnson told reporters in the Capitol Friday afternoon. It was not clear how Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., would react to the standalone bill. "This is a bill that may find faith among enough Democrats to help the speaker of the House get the bill passed," said Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a longtime party leader, on MSNBC's "Deadline White House."

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, James Clyburn, Jeffries, Jake Sherman, Donald Trump, Elon Musk Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republicans, Democratic, Minority, Punchbowl News, Trump Locations: D, Punchbowl

☆ Opinion | Why Silent Film Still Speaks Volumes
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-19 | by ( John Mcwhorter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Even sampled more widely, silent films do have their problems when viewed from a century’s distance. And the world of silent films is a brutally racist one, in which Black people and other minority groups are all but nonexistent except as passing figures of fun. But it can be surprising how much of the silent work still holds up. Silent films vividly show us otherwise. The centrality of cooperation and attitude over speech is why the comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were just as funny in their silent films as later, when we could hear them talk.

Persons: Erich von Stroheim’s, ” Mrs, Hughes, Miss DuPont, Harold Lloyd, Looney, Bert Williams’s “, ”, Buster Keaton, Chaplin, he’s, isn’t, “, Chuck Jones, Michael Maltese, Cantor, Bow, Thom Scott, Phillips, à, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Clara Bow, Gary Cooper Locations: Sunset

☆ Trump is going after Canada now – but everyone else is next
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Donald Trump is stoking political mayhem in Canada by intensifying a crisis that threatens to oust Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In a searing resignation letter, Freeland, a longtime Trudeau loyalist, effectively accused him of promoting frivolous policies that would leave Canada badly exposed to Trump. !”With Trump, trade is a win or lose gameThis is vindictive behavior from the leader of a great nation toward its biggest trading partner. Trump also shattered political unity north of the border that has been critical to Canada’s approach to relations with Washington in the past. Trump is likely to try his divide-and-rule strategy among European nations, seeking to mirror his success in creating discord inside Canada.

Persons: Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, ” Freeland, “, Trump, ”, Matthew Lebo, ” “, ” Trump, Doug Ford, ” Ford, CNN’s Erin Burnett, wouldn’t, It’s, he’s, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Keir Starmer, can’t, Pierre Poilievre, ” Lebo Organizations: CNN, Liberal, Finance, Trudeau, Trump, McGill University, University of Western, Mar, Washington, Ontario, Progressive Conservative, European Union, British, Canadian Conservative, Canadians, Liberals Locations: Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Ottawa, United States, “, Montreal, University of Western Ontario, Freeland, State, Ontario, Mexico, Mar, North America, China, Who’s

WASHINGTON — As public concern has escalated over drones flying in the skies above New Jersey and other East Coast states, the White House wants Congress to pass legislation that would give greater authority to the federal, state and local governments to address drones that fly in U.S. airspace. “We do need better authorities to deal with that growing ecosystem of drones in U.S. airspace," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday in an interview on NBC's "TODAY" show. Gaps exist in federal, state and local government authorities to deal with drones, Kirby said. “We know that there’s no national security threat. The bill was proposed last year by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., with a bipartisan companion bill introduced in the House.

Persons: White, John Kirby, Kirby, Biden, “, ” Kirby, Joe Biden, It’s, Chuck Schumer, Alejandro Mayorkas, ”, Schumer, Sen, Gary Peters, Mike Johnson, Andrew Garbarino, Chrissy Houlahan, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Security, White, House Intelligence, FBI, CIA, National Intelligence, Homeland, Robin Radar Systems, Defense Department, Homeland Security Department, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Locations: New Jersey, Coast, U.S, Northeast, D

☆ DEI isn’t actually dead
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Business impact of DEIInstead of eliminating DEI policies, corporate America is changing its language. And that’s likely because DEI policies, fundamentally, make money. “We hear that most companies continue with DEI programs. “There is a widely held belief that DEI programs are valuable.”Responding to pressureStarbuck is riding a wave of right-wing hostility to DEI programs and corporate advocacy on issues like climate change and LGBTQ rights. But most of the companies that recently altered their DEI policies in the face of Starbuck’s pressure are making performative tweaks.

Persons: ”, Danielle Carr, Lowenstein Sandler, ” Carr, Donald Trump’s, Bill Pugliano, “, Robby Starbuck, Kai Liekefett, “ I’m, Starbuck, —, Davidson, John Deere —, ” Starbuck, ” He’s, Molson Coors, Ford, John Deere, Jason Davis, Jim Farley, “ John Deere, Deere, ” Deere, ‘, for Racial Equity –, “ We’ve, Ying McGuire, McGuire Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, Ford, CNN, Heritage Foundation, Fortune, Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, Companies, Human Rights, Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey, Tractor Supply, Tractor, Molson, Human, “ Deere, Wall Street Journal, ” CNN, for Racial Equity, Black, National, Development Locations: New York, America, Sidley

☆ Many Trump voters still have doubts about him. Can he hold them?
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-17 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

In the exit polls, about 1 in 8 voters who described Trump as “too extreme” still voted for him. Likewise, in the VoteCast survey, Trump won 1 in 6 voters who expressed concern that he would steer the country in an authoritarian direction. Trump won almost exactly the same share of voters who said in the VoteCast survey that he lacks the moral character to serve as president. Even among the voter groups most directly affected by these policies, Trump won substantial support from people who disagreed with him. In either case, the result was that Trump won far too many voters who supported legal abortion for Harris to prevail.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden’s, Kamala Harris, White, ”, Jim McLaughlin, –, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, people’s, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, VoteCast, Luis Andres Henao, Molly Murphy, Harris, “, ” Murphy, Harris didn’t, Biden, Roe, Wade . McLaughlin, ” McLaughlin, Donald Trump, Trump’s, Fernandez Ancona, ‘, ’ ” Murphy, Murphy, he’s, ” Whit Ayres, Republican pollster, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kash Patel, Ayres, Joe Biden, Saul Loeb, Biden’s, Kennedy, McLaughlin, It’s Organizations: CNN, Edison Research, AP, University of Chicago, Trump, GOP, Democratic, Republican, White, Senate, Business, Democratic gubernatorial, Republicans, ’, Biden, Democrats, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, US Senators, Capitol, Getty, Republicans Trump, “ Locations: Mar, Reading , Pennsylvania, Trump, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, ”, Washington ,

☆ Democrats elect Rep. Gerry Connolly over progressive star AOC for top Oversight Committee post
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-17 | by ( Scott Wong | Syedah Asghar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In a closed-door Democratic caucus meeting, the secret-ballot vote was 131 to 84, according to a lawmaker in the room. After the vote, Connolly told reporters the most "capable" candidate won. "Again, I think my colleagues were measuring their votes by who's got experience, who's seasoned, who can be trusted, who's capable, and who's got a record of productivity. The full Democratic caucus also ratified other steering panel recommendations on Tuesday. For the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, the steering committee recommended Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., over the more junior Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M.

Persons: Alexandria Ocasio, Gerry Connolly, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Trump, Connolly, who's, he's, Donald Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Nadler, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Jim Costa, — Costa, David Scott of Georgia, Jared Huffman, Melanie Stansbury, Stansbury, Huffman, clamored Organizations: Democratic National Convention, United Center, WASHINGTON —, Tuesday, New York Rep, House Democratic, Committee, Democratic, Agriculture, Natural Resources Committee, Democratic Party Locations: Cortez, Chicago , Illinois, WASHINGTON, D, Ocasio, Jim Costa of California

The position opened up after the top Democrat on Oversight, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., challenged Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., for a similar post on the Judiciary Committee, prompting Nadler to bow out. In an upset, the Steering panel on Monday recommended Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota to be the top Democrat of the Agriculture Committee. For the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, the Steering panel recommended senior Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., over more junior Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M. The full Democratic Caucus is expected to vote on the Steering panel's recommendations Tuesday morning. While the caucus typically adopts the committee's recommendations, there have been instances where the full caucus overruled the panel's votes and picked someone else.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Gerry Connolly, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, Connolly, Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Nadler, Angie Craig of, Jim Costa, David Scott, Jared Huffman, Melanie Stansbury Organizations: Monday, Democratic, House Democratic, Committee, Agriculture, — California, Georgia, Natural Resources Committee Locations: Rep, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York, D, Cortez, Angie Craig of Minnesota

☆ Canada finance minister quits after clash with Trudeau, deals blow to government
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak at a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, October 6, 2021. Patrick Doyle | ReutersCanada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quit on Monday after clashing with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on issues including how to handle possible U.S. tariffs, dealing a huge blow to an already unpopular government. The resignation by Freeland, 56, who also served as deputy prime minister, is one of the biggest crises Trudeau has experienced since taking power in November 2015. FILE PHOTO: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland during news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 31, 2018. Freeland, a former journalist, served as trade minister and then foreign minister before taking over the finance portfolio in August 2020.

Persons: Finance Chrystia Freeland, Justin Trudeau, Patrick Doyle, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Trudeau's, Donald Trump, Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, we're, Nik Nanos, Chris Wattie, COVID, Anita Anand, Nelson Wiseman, Jagmeet Singh, propping, Canada's, Trump, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, North America Jesus Seade, Robert Lighthizer, Henry Romero Organizations: Finance, Canada's, Reuters Canada's Finance, Conservatives, Conservative, Liberal, Officials, Reuters, Treasury, University of Toronto, New, Canada, North America, U.S . Trade Locations: Ottawa , Ontario, Canada, Mexico, United States, U.S, Mexico City

☆ Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigns as unpopular Justin Trudeau faces biggest test of his political career
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-16 | by ( Story Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

TORONTO AP —Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces the biggest test of his political career after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, long one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, announced Monday that she was resigning from the Cabinet. But she said in her resignation letter to the prime minister that the only “honest and viable path” was to leave the Cabinet. “For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” Freeland said. But the son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau is now in big trouble. Carney has long been interested in entering politics and becoming the leader of the Liberal Party.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau, Freeland, “, ” Freeland, Donald Trump’s, ”, ‘ Trudeau, ’ Trudeau, don’t, Anita Anand, Pierre Poilievre, “ Justin Trudeau, ” Poilievre, Pierre Trudeau, Doug Ford, Mark Carney, Carney, Nelson Wiseman, “ Freeland, ” Wiseman, Daniel Béland, ” Béland, Jagmeet Singh, ” Singh Organizations: TORONTO AP, Canadian, US, Liberal Party, Opposition Conservative, Trump, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Bank of England, Bank of Canada, Trudeau’s, University of Toronto, Liberal, McGill University, NDP, Liberals Locations: Canada, Mexico, Ontario, Ottawa, Montreal

☆ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote, clearing the way for February election
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-16 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday lost a confidence vote in the country's Bundestag, clearing the path for an early election in February. Scholz said Monday that he had called the vote not only for parliament but the whole of the electorate. It was made up of Scholz' Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lindner's Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green party. However, the former finance minister also argued against fundamental positions of the SPD and Green party in the paper. The parties had also struggled to finalize Germany's 2025 budget and ultimately appeared unable to come to a resolution.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Monday, Scholz, —, Christian Lindner, Lindner Organizations: Social Democratic Party, SPD, Lindner's Free Democratic Party, Green Locations: country's

☆ Meet the CEO trying to turn around Air India, the 92-year-old airline with a pile of problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-16 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Campbell Wilson has been CEO of Air India since it was privatized in 2022. Campbell Wilson has a tough job — he compares his efforts turning around Air India to "drinking from a firehose." As well as hundreds of narrow-body jets, Air India has ordered 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 777X jets. Advertisement"I have full confidence in Boeing to go through whatever's necessary to get these aircraft in the air," Wilson told BI. The Air India boss said he was pleased with the turnaround so far, but there's still more to come.

Persons: Campbell Wilson, He's, Wilson, Taylor Rains, Pete Syme, New York Wilson didn't, ROSLAN RAHMAN, Scoot, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Manish Rajput Organizations: Air India, Air, Zealander, India's Tata Group, Taj, Tata Group, Airbus, Russian, Aeroflot, Air India's, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, Passengers, Empire, Singapore Airlines, Getty, India Today, The Air Locations: Air India, London, They're, New York, Zealand, England, New Zealand, Auckland, Sydney

☆ Blinken confirms direct contact with Syria’s rebel leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“We’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken said after talks in Aqaba, Jordan, with diplomats and representatives from several Arab nations. Blinken said in Jordan that he had emphasized the importance of finding Tice during talks with Syria's new parties. President Joe Biden told reporters last week that efforts were ongoing to pinpoint his location in Syria. "They’ll do everything they can to stay.”As the transition continues, there is particular concern for Syria’s minority groups. Women pose for a photograph with opposition fighters in Damascus, Syria, last week.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Syria’s Hayat, “ We’ve, ” Blinken, Assad, Hakan Fidan, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Austin Tice, Blinken, Tice, Obaida, Joe Biden, Yasar Guler, Guler, Ahmed Al, Abu Mohammad al, ”, Omar Sanadiki, Geir Pedersen, Biden Organizations: U.S, Turkey's, AFP, Getty, Sunday, Turkish Defense, Reuters, Al, ” United Nations, United Nations Locations: Syria’s Hayat Tahrir, Aqaba, Jordan, U.S, Turkey, E.U, Syria, Syrian, Washington, Damascus

“I’m telling you, I was not afraid,” the pastor told NBC News Wednesday. Its rise is particularly vexing for Syria’s religious minorities, who were often pitted against each other during the ironfisted rule of Assad and the years of civil war. “Maybe there will be a civil war. Khatab Shawi told NBC News he might go and fight in Gaza. One of the young militiamen insisted that Syria’s minorities had nothing to fear under the new regime.

Persons: Bashar al, Rafaat Abul Nasser’s Lady, “, Paul, ”, Nasser, Rafaat Abul Nasser, Matt Bradley, Al, ” Mohammad al, Bashir, Ahmad al, Abu Mohammad al, Assad, Ammar Shahbander, ” Shahbander, Jolani, Khatab Shawi, Abdulwahed Organizations: NBC, Hayat, Islamic, della, U.S . State Department, United Nations Commission, “, NBC News Locations: DAMASCUS, Syria, Damascus Church, Damascus, Al Qaeda, Islamic State, United States, Europe, Idlib, Syria’s, Lebanon, Aleppo, Gaza, Netherlands, Nasser’s

☆ CNN’s latest poll found Americans are divided on how they feel about Trump’s next term. Here’s what they had to say
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Ariel Edwards-Levy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Views are also more positive among Americans without college degrees (58%), White Americans (57%) and Hispanic Americans (53%) than those who’ve graduated college (40%) or Black Americans (25%). Why are 32% of Americans optimistic about Trump’s next term? Why are 29% of Americans afraid for Trump’s next term? “Inflation is already killing us and it’s just going to get worse.”Why are 19% of Americans pessimistic about Trump’s next term? Among those who express enthusiasm for Trump’s second term, 23% mentioned economic issues, and 20% cited his record during his first term.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, SSRS, Trump’s, ”, they’re, Barack Obama, George W, Trump, Bush, who’ve, approvingly, “, He’ll, Joe Biden, it’s, “ Donald Trump, Donald Trump, he’s, CNN’s Jennifer Agiesta, Henry Gertmenian Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Wisconsin Republican, ”, Texas Democrat, Pennsylvania Democrat, Maryland, Biden Administration, Georgia Republican, Wyoming Republican, Missouri Republican, SSRS Locations: Jersey, Arizona, America, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, Democratic New York, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, ”, Georgia, Wyoming, Trump

☆ German chancellor faces confidence vote likely to lead to snap elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-15 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces a confidence vote on Monday he is expected to lose, paving the way for a snap election early next year . Scholz initially announced that he planned to hold a confidence vote on January 15, but he came under immediate pressure from the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to hold them sooner. If a snap election is called, polls point to the conservative CDU, the party of former long-serving chancellor Angela Merkel, being on track to win. Germany’s economy shrank last year for the first time since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Germany’s last snap election was in 2005.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Christian Lindner, Lawmaking, Angela Merkel, Friedrich Merz, Annegret Hilse, Germany’s, Gerhard Schröder, Merkel Organizations: CNN, Social Democrats, Green Party, Christian Democratic Union, CDU, Greens, Christian Social Union, CSU, European, European Commission Locations: Germany, Politpro, Bavarian, Thuringia

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi underwent a successful hip replacement in Germany after sustaining an injury during a trip to Luxembourg, a spokesperson said on Saturday. "Speaker Pelosi is grateful to U.S. military staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and medical staff at Hospital Kirchberg for their excellent care and kindness. Speaker Pelosi is enjoying the overwhelming outpouring of prayers and well wishes and is ever determined to ensure access to quality health care for all Americans," Krager added. In a statement Friday, Pelosi spokesperson Krager told reporters that Pelosi, 84, "sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation." Krager added, "Speaker Emerita Pelosi is currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals.

Persons: Nancy Pelosi, Ian Krager, Pelosi, Krager, MEDEVAC, Mitch McConnell, McConnell Organizations: Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Hospital, Defense, NBC News, Democrats, Republicans, Capitol Locations: Germany, Luxembourg, U.S, Hospital Kirchberg, Landstuhl, Ky

☆ Bull market hits an early December soft patch
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-14 | by ( Michael Santoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

We've been through the arguments about whether narrow leadership against weak underlying breadth is a good thing, a dangerous thing, or just a thing. This vocal minority might well be wondering how much fruit is left to pick after two straight years of 20%-plus S & P 500 gains. We have an S & P 500 pushing 23-times forward earnings, topped by a $3.75-trillion company called Apple that's now trading above 33-times projected profits. Apple owns December Note that a December push higher for Apple shares is pretty standard stuff when the market is in an uptrend. Apple in general tends to go on a run as a rally matures, rather than lead the market off a correction.

Persons: We've, I've, Microstrategy, helpfully, would've, Trump's, Scott Chronert, We're, Trump, Brian Belski, Ben Carlson Organizations: Nasdaq, Trump, NYSE, Citi, Fed, CPI, BMO Chief, Ritholtz Wealth, Apple

☆ When campaign politics and Cabinet confirmation fights collide: From the Politics Desk
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( The Politics Desk | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. Plus, "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker breaks down a few of the below-the-radar answers Donald Trump gave during their interview. “Donald Trump is king of the Republican Party; he conquered it, and he earned it,” Deace told NBC News. “A lot of this is driven by gaslighting and attention-seeking — what can we say today to get more clicks? Read more →President JoeBiden is on track to have appointed more federal judges of color than any of his predecessors.

Persons: Alex Tabet, Bridget Bowman, Ben Kamisar, Sen, Joni Ernst, Pete Hegseth's, Kristen Welker, Donald Trump, Joni Ernst’s, Pete Hegseth’s, Ben Kamisar Iowa Republican Sen, Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Ernst, She’s, President Trump, ”, Bob Vander Plaats, Steve Deace, “ Donald Trump, ” Deace, won’t, ” Trump, Charlie Kirk, Will Rogers, “ Charlie Kirk didn’t, ” Rogers, →, Trump, I’ll, ‘, don’t, Lara, Michael [ Whatley, I’m, “ I’m, he’d, Bernie Sanders, Lindsey Graham, Tim, Dru, e, Neely Organizations: NBC, White House, Capitol, Ben Kamisar Iowa Republican, Republicans, GOP, Trump, Republican, Republican Party, NBC News, → Trump, U.S . Capitol, Press, Republican National Committee Locations: Iowa, Ben Kamisar Iowa, U.S, Polk County, TikTok, California

☆ McConnell defends polio vaccine after revelation that RFK Jr. advisor sought to revoke approval of the inoculation
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-13 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ryan_Noble.Jpg | Ryan Nobles | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a polio survivor, responded critically to a report in The New York Times that a key lawyer and longtime advisor to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the approval of the polio vaccine. “The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives and held out the promise of eradicating a terrible disease,” said McConnell in a statement to NBC News. According to the report in The New York Times, Aaron Siri is currently an advisor to Kennedy, who is working to identify candidates to serve in federal health positions. A Kennedy spokeswoman confirmed to The New York Times that Siri is advising Kennedy, but that the two men had not discussed his application to revoke approval of the polio vaccine. In his statement, McConnell makes it clear he will fight to protect access to the polio vaccine.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Donald Trump’s, McConnell, ”, Aaron Siri, Siri, I’m, ” McConnell Organizations: The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Human Services, NBC News, Network, HHS, Capitol, Republican Locations: WASHINGTON, Ky, The, Capitol Hill

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