The Austin Statesman reports: Austin real estate investor Nate Paul on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a charge of making false statements to a financial institution as part of a deal with prosecutors, ending a six-year legal saga. All other counts against Paul will be dropped under the terms of the agreement. He faces up to six months in prison. Paul …

ABC News reports: Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday was interrupted multiple times by outbursts from attendees — who are not members of the regular State Department press corps — shouting questions about U.S. support for Israel as he tried to make farewell remarks to reporters in the State Department briefing room. At least one individual was removed from …

ABC News reports: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will not attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to her spokesperson. Pelosi notably attended Trump’s inauguration in 2017, when she was the House Democratic leader. A spokesman did not disclose a reason why the California Democrat is skipping the high-profile event. Trump labeled Pelosi at his 2024 campaign rallies as “an enemy …

“Big Tech, who has been in the pockets of the Democratic party for years, they sit out one election cycle because things are going bad with the country. And now you want to make them the enemy? They helped you out the last time. “What about apologizing to the American people? When you said that the laptop was disinformation. You …

NBC News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed state Attorney General Ashley Moody to the U.S. Senate, setting her up to fill the seat of Sen. Marco Rubio, whom President-elect Donald Trump tapped to be secretary of state. Rubio was selected to serve in Trump’s administration shortly after Trump won the 2024 presidential race, handing DeSantis a Senate appointment that …

The Associated Press reports: Thursday’s hearings include Doug Burgum for the Interior Department, Scott Turner for the Housing and Urban Development Department, Lee Zeldin for the EPA, Scott Bessent for the Treasury Department and Pam Bondi will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a second day. Bessent, the billionaire money manager from South Carolina, will take questions from members …

Housing Wire reports: As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Scott Turner will be questioned on Thursday by lawmakers of both parties in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. But ahead of that hearing, a familiar Trump foe — Sen. Elizabeth …

USA Today reports: The Donald Trump confirmation train keeps rolling Thursday as senators take up the president-elect’s picks to run the Treasury and Interior departments – and hear from witnesses in Pam Bondi’s bid to become the next U.S. Attorney General. So far, all of Trump’s appointees who’ve had hearings appear bound for confirmation after he takes office on Monday, …

The Telegraph reports: Donald Trump’s official inauguration portrait has been revealed ahead of next Monday’s ceremony – and has a striking resemblance to his infamous mugshot. The president-elect is well-lit, and is wearing a blue suit and blue tie – but it is his expression that has captured the attention of keen observers. Leaning in, Mr Trump has one eyebrow …

CBS News reports: A Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from the cockpit ahead of a Wednesday flight from Georgia to Chicago and was booked on a charge of driving under the influence, a source familiar with the incident told CBS News. David Paul Allsop allegedly smelled of alcohol and may have shown other signs of intoxication, the source said. Airport …

The Florida Phoenix reports: Former Donald Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn has filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court to hear his defamation case against Rick Wilson, the former Florida Republican strategist and prominent Trump critic. Flynn sued Wilson in Sarasota County for defamation after Wilson referred to Flynn in a 2022 tweet as “Putin employee Michael Flynn” …

Semafor reports: President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance had lunch with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Wednesday, along with Elon Musk, according to people briefed on the meeting. Microsoft President Brad Smith also attended the gathering at Mar-a-Lago, the latest example of the tech industry’s increasingly close relationship with Trump following his victory in the November election. Microsoft …

The Associated Press reports: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is set to be the first witness at a trial over whether he can keep his Florida condominium and three World Series rings or must turn them over to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment awarded to two Georgia election workers. The trial, heard without a jury, begins Thursday morning …

Politico reports: Google CEO Sundar Pichai will join the growing list of tech executives sitting on the dais as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office on Monday, according to a person familiar with the company’s plans who was not authorized to speak publicly. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close confidant of the incoming president, is expected to attend the …

NPR reports: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a cabinet meeting that was scheduled to vote Thursday on the peace deal between Israel and Hamas has been delayed, in a blow to hopes that a ceasefire after 15 months of fighting would take effect Sunday. Netanyahu said that the meeting will only happen once Hamas pulls back on demands …

Mediaite reports: An unknown voice declared, “Oh shit” as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was introduced to Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on Wednesday. “Joining me now, someone who knows a little bit about this, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder,” introduced host Laura Ingraham, as an unknown person could be heard loudly saying, “Oh shit.” The loud expletive …

CBS News reports: Locking up store merchandise can deter shoplifters and paying customers alike, according to Walgreens.  The pharmacy chain’s CEO Tim Wentworth said in Walgreens Boots Alliance’s first-quarter earnings call Tuesday that “When you lock things up … you don’t sell as many of them. We’ve kind of proven that pretty conclusively.” Keeping retail products under lock and key …

The New York Times reports: The chief executive of TikTok plans to attend President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration and has been invited to sit in a position of honor on the dais, where former presidents, family members and other important guests traditionally are seated, two people familiar with the plans said Wednesday. The invitation to the executive, Shou Chew, went …

The Guardian reports: Pakistan’s prime minister has ordered an investigation after the country’s national airline released an advert that drew accusations that it evoked imagery of the 9/11 attacks. The advert was released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last week to celebrate the resumption of flights to Paris, which had been suspended for four years over safety concerns about its …

NBC News reports: Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., has been telling potential donors and Florida political players that he is running for governor in 2026, the clearest signal yet that his much-expected bid is moving forward. Donalds, who represents southwest Florida, has long been rumored to be considering a campaign to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, but those rumors have ramped …