Raw Story reports: During a Tuesday confirmation hearing for defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Sen. Eric Schmitt complained about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the military. “This stuff is insane,” Schmitt said after claiming that “5,800 white officers” would be fired if the Air Force had quotas. “And people wonder why recruiting is dropped off.” “They’ve lowered their …

Law & Crime reports: President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday asked a federal court of appeals to reconsider taking on his request for a new trial in the defamation case brought — and won — by writer E. Jean Carroll. In December 2024, a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit turned down a substantially similar …

The Associated Press reports: The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration officials, who previewed the announcement on the condition …

Axios reports: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor, D.C. and Tennessee sources tell Axios. Blackburn would be a formidable contender in the 2026 gubernatorial race. She would be running to be the first female governor in the state’s history. State and federal elected officials have been …

The Guardian reports: Pope Francis has said he inherited a “large white box” full of documents related to various scandals faced by the Catholic church when he took over from his predecessor. The pontiff makes the revelation in his much-anticipated autobiography, Spera (Hope), which is published on Tuesday. Francis became pope in 2013 after the shock resignation of Benedict XVI, …

“There’s a lot of senators here I wouldn’t have on my board because there’s no qualifications except your age and you’ve got to be living in the state and you’re a citizen of the United States to be a senator. How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step …

Reuters reports: Brazil’s government said on Tuesday it is “seriously concerned” about Meta Platforms’ recently announced changes to its hate speech policy, adding that it believes they do not comply with the country’s legislation. The Brazilian government ordered the social media company, which also owns Instagram and Threads, to explain its plans, which President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had …

Florida Politics reports: President-elect Donald Trump is weighing in on the debate regarding a Special Session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, slated to start on Jan. 27. “Thank you Ron, hopefully other Governors will follow,” Trump posted to Truth Social as he backed the call. DeSantis explained his reasoning for a Special Session on social media, saying “officials in Florida …

Mediaite reports: Sen Mazie Hirono said: “In June of 2020, then-President Trump directed former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to shoot protesters in the legs in downtown D.C. An order secretary Esper refused to comply with. Would you carry out such an order from President Trump? Hegseth began to respond: “Senator, I was in the Washington DC National Guard unit …

Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate reports: A former Racine pastor convicted of child enticement was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison. Prosecutors argued Bernabe Leon-Alvarez used his position of power to inappropriately touch two teenage girls while he worked at a Racine church that is now closed. A jury found him guilty of attempted sexual exploitation by a therapist and child …

CNN reports: President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, defended his support for service members accused and convicted of war crimes on Tuesday, saying there was “prosecutorial misconduct” in their cases and that he was “proud” to ensure they were looked after. “In many of the cases you’re talking about in particular, sir, there was evidence withheld, there …

Axios reports: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has been removed from the House Rules Committee after being the lone vote against Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) reelection. Massie’s departure from the influential panel could make it easier for Johnson to get legislation to the House floor. He has been replaced with Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), a low-key member of the right-wing House …

Reuters reports: US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to establish an external revenue service to collect tariffs, duties, and all revenue generated from foreign sources as soon as he returns to the Oval Office. “We will begin charging those that make money off of us with Trade, and they will start paying, FINALLY, their fair share,” Trump …

The Associated Press reports: Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join their husbands for the Jan. 20 swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, representatives said. “Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former first lady Michelle Obama will not …

The Hill reports: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Tuesday that flags will fly at full-staff at the Capitol on the day of President-elect Trump’s inauguration and then will be lowered back to half-staff to honor the late President Jimmy Carter’s death last month. “On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country …

Alabama Politics reports: Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday ordered flags at the state capitol and state offices be returned to full staff on Jan. 20 in honor of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump to office. The flags are currently flying at half-staff as the nation mourns the death of former President Jimmy Carter, and President Joe Biden ordered that …

“We undertook this responsibility with an obligation to the troops to do right by them for our warfighters. And what became very evident to us from the beginning, there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. “That was clear from moment one. And what we knew is that it wasn’t about me. Most of it was …

Posted by hate group leader Mat Staver: On January 30, just a few weeks from now, I will present oral argument before the Court of Appeals in our case defending Kim Davis. The Court must now decide if people can be civilly SUED for daring to exercise their religious freedom rights. We expect this case to go all the way …

The Associated Press reports: U.S. flags at President-elect Donald Trump‘s private Mar-a-Lago club are back to flying at full height. Flags are supposed to fly at half-staff through the end of January out of respect for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29. A large flag on Trump’s property in Palm Beach was initially lowered to half-staff according …

The Washington Post reports: Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for defense secretary, faces a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday that could determine whether his nomination moves forward. Hegseth, a National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, is expected to be grilled about his limited management experience and allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, which he denies. …