Politics

Politico reports: Sen. Joni Ernst isn’t ready to throw her weight behind Pete Hegseth’s bid to lead the Pentagon, she said Thursday on Fox News. Ernst (R-Iowa), who had a “frank and thorough” conversation with the Defense Department pick on Wednesday, was asked on “America’s Newsroom” if she’s not ready to vote yes on Hegseth amid allegations of sexual misconduct …

Axios reports: Vivek Ramaswamy told Axios’ Mike Allen at the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday that he’s “hopeful” that slashing the federal workforce could be “good for many of the individuals who make a transition from government service back to the private sector.” Ramaswamy believes that cutting the workforce will improve the “productivity” of the U.S. economy, “because I don’t …

EuroNews reports: Michel Barnier on Wednesday became the French Fifth Republic’s shortest-serving prime minister after the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) alliance and the far-right National Rally (RN) party joined forces to bring him down during a no-confidence vote. Barnier’s government was toppled with 331 votes backing the motion of censure. A majority of 288 votes was required. The 73-year-old …

The BBC reports: South Korean MPs have begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after thwarting his shock move to impose martial law. The president had said martial law was needed to protect the country from “North Korea’s communist forces” and to “eliminate anti-state elements.” Though he cited North Korea, President Yoon’s decision was seen as a response to …

The New York Times reports: The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday over whether a Tennessee law denying some kinds of medical care to transgender youth runs afoul of the Constitution. Twenty-three other states have similar laws. The court’s decision, expected by June, will almost certainly yield a major statement on transgender rights against the backdrop of a fierce …

The Hill reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vented his displeasure Monday after two Democratic-appointed federal judges reversed their decisions to retire in what appear to be efforts to stop President-elect Trump from nominating their successors. McConnell called the unusual decisions to forgo retirement following Trump’s sweeping victory last month a “partisan” gambit that would undermine the integrity of …

The Washington Examiner reports: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) said he would join the House DOGE Caucus next year, becoming the first Democrat to align himself with GOP-led efforts to crack down on government efficiency and slash federal agencies. Moskowitz announced the move Tuesday, arguing that efforts to streamline governmental processes and reorganize the federal government should not be partisan. The …

CBS News reports: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law” on Tuesday, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements… I hereby declare emergency martial …

Politico reports: Donald Trump says he will attend the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris on Saturday. The visit will be his first major outing since winning the election. “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special …

“As a father, I don’t know a father that wouldn’t have done the same thing. What I would have done differently. My recommendations to the counsel would have been, ‘why don’t you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump for all his charges and make it, you know, it’d have gone down a lot more balanced, if you will. I’m just …

Axios reports: A staffer for House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) is no longer employed after he was arrested Monday morning on suspicion of bringing ammunition into a U.S. House office building. A Capitol Police spokesperson identified the staffer as 38-year-old Michael Hopkins, Morelle’s communications director. Capitol Police searched Hopkins’ bag after it went through an X-ray machine …

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: The North Carolina Senate voted to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday amid protests, the latest example of Republicans using their supermajority power after election results indicated they will lose it next month. There was no debate. Just before the vote was called, someone shouted from the packed gallery above …

NBC News reports: A former Israeli defense minister has accused his country of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, in a rare criticism from Israel’s own security community about military operations in the Palestinian enclave. Moshe Yaalon said the Israeli government was putting the lives of Israel Defense Forces soldiers in danger and exposing them to …

Axios reports: A staffer for House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) was arrested Monday morning for bringing ammunition into a U.S. House office building. A Capitol Police spokesperson identified the staffer as 38-year-old Michael Hopkins, Morelle’s communications director. Capitol Police searched Hopkins’ bag after it went through an X-ray machine and found 11 rounds of ammunition and four …

The Associated Press reports: California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state’s progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative …

“While as a father I certainly understand President [Joe Biden’s] natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation. When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the …

ABC News reports: Republican Sen. Mike Rounds emphasized his support for current FBI Director Christopher Wray after President-elect Donald Trump announced he intended to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the department’s top job. “I think the president picked a very good man to be the director of the FBI when he did that in his first term,” Rounds told ABC …

“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport. “Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of …

Politico Europe reports: The Georgian government’s decision to suspend its efforts to join the EU has sparked a political crisis in the South Caucasus country, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to demand new elections even as police launched a violent crackdown on protesters. An estimated 100,000 protesters formed barricades around the parliament on Saturday night, …

The CBC reports: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Palm Beach, Fla., to meet with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Trudeau’s plane landed Friday evening at Palm Beach International Airport, which is used by Trump when he travels to his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump has been meeting with his transition team there in recent weeks. The Prime Minister’s Office has refused to …