House Republicans’ majority just got smaller with Waltz’s resignation
House Republicans lost another member after Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., resigned to take his post as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. The GOP majority in the chamber is now 218-215.
A special election to replace Waltz will occur in April. At the same time, residents of the Florida panhandle will also elect former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s replacement.
Republicans are on track to lose more members to the Trump administration. Trump nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to serve as United Nations ambassador. Assuming the Senate votes to confirm her, the GOP can only lose one vote to pass legislation without Democratic support.
Each departing member comes from safe Republican districts. Their seats will likely remain in Republican hands after the special elections.
The shrinking Republican majority could significantly impact the passage of key pieces of legislation. That includes the government spending bill, which needs approval by March, and also a budget reconciliation package that Republicans want signed into law by Memorial Day, which falls on May 26.
Even with Waltz and Stefanik, passage was not guaranteed. Their departures will make it necessary to bring forward a bill that can draw some Democratic support to make up for conservative fiscal hawks who say they’ll vote against it.
Senate Republicans are also losing members to the Trump administration. However, the constitution allows state governors to appoint replacements before the election, meaning those positions have already been filled.
New House rules will prevent Democrats from ousting Speaker Johnson
House Republicans are making it nearly impossible for Democrats to oust the speaker of the House during the 119th Congress. The 36-page rules package that will govern the chamber’s operations for the next two years makes clear that any motion to remove the speaker needs to come from a Republican.
The new rules specifically state that a privileged motion to vacate must be offered by a member of the majority party who is joined by eight co-sponsors, also in the majority party.
Previously, any single member could trigger this action. That’s what former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., did to then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in 2023, which caused the House to shut down for three weeks as Republicans worked to elect their new leader.
Democrats aren’t happy about the new rule and say it will shield Johnson from accountability to the entire chamber.
“This makes it clear that they have no intention of working together to find common ground. Instead of electing a Speaker of the House, they have decided to elect a Speaker of the Republican Conference—held hostage by their most extreme members,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said in a statement.
McGovern is the top Democrat on the rules committee and added, “This election was close, and Republicans lost seats. The American people want us to work together.”
This will disincentivize Democrats from saving Johnson if a group of nine or more Republicans file to remove him. In May, Democrats helped him stay in power after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., tried to remove him.
Just before Christmas, Democrats said they would not help him again after he backtracked on a previously agreed spending bill and brought forward a proposal from President-elect Donald Trump, which ultimately failed. The rules package cannot be approved until the speaker is elected.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who at one point was President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general, is reacting to the House Ethics Committee’s report. And former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized after developing a fever. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024.
Gaetz responds after House Ethics Committee releases report
The House Ethics Committee released its report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz on Monday, Dec. 23. Now, the controversial former lawmaker has responded to the committee’s findings.
The investigation found “substantial evidence” President-elect Donald Trump’s first pick for attorney general broke state and federal laws while in office, including statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after Trump elected him to lead the Department of Justice. He withdrew his name for consideration once stories about his alleged misconduct were revealed. The allegations caused him to lose support with Republican senators needed for confirmation.
Investigators with the House Ethics Committee conducted numerous interviews, reviewed thousands of documents and submitted dozens of subpoenas.
The committee typically doesn’t release its findings but a vote from the majority of the members said the report should be made public.
The House Ethics Committee said Gaetz attempted to derail its three-year investigation by refusing to be interviewed and failing to provide exonerating evidence.
Gaetz denies all allegations, calling them nothing more than “smears” from his political enemies.
He posted on X that he was “fully exonerated” by the DOJ following a federal investigation into sex trafficking claims in 2021. He said his actions were embarrassing but not criminal and he leads a different life now.
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” Gaetz wrote.
“My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life.”
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
Gaetz is suing the committee in federal court for releasing the report after he resigned from Congress. His lawyers argue the report will lead to irreversible damage to his reputation.
Gaetz has never been charged with a crime related to the report or any other allegations.
Straight Arrow News’ Political Correspondent Ray Bogan has a full report on the committee’s findings here.
Clinton remains hospitalized in D.C., recovering from fever
Former President Bill Clinton remains hospitalized in Washington, D.C. as he recovers from a fever. According to Angel Ureña, his deputy chief of staff, Clinton was admitted to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Monday afternoon for testing and observation.
The 42nd president is said to be in good spirits. Ureña told CNN Clinton hopes to be home for Christmas.
A New York Post source suspected that the hospital trip came after the former president suffered from dehydration.
Bill Clinton is 78 years old. He has faced a number of health scares in the past, including being hospitalized in California in 2021 for a urinary tract infection. He also underwent two heart procedures at New York-Presbyterian Hospital — in 2004 and 2010.
California pier partially collapses, sending 3 into the Pacific Ocean
About 150 feet of the pier had already been closed to the public because of damage from previous storms. That’s the portion that collapsed into the Pacific Ocean. It included a restroom building and construction equipment used for repairing the wharf.
Authorities said one of those who fell into the water was a manager on the construction project and the other two were contractors.
Investigators immediately evacuated the wharf. It will remain closed indefinitely.
The National Weather Service said the dangerous storm that led to the collapse will continue to impact beaches along the Pacific coast throughout Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Prosecutor drops appeal to reinstate charges in deadly ‘Rust’ shooting
Baldwin had been facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was holding a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round when it discharged on the set near Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has maintained he never pulled the trigger on the gun and did not know it was loaded with a live round. Prosecutors withdrew the appeal after the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said it “did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.”
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupting again
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is erupting again. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory said the eruption, which started about 2:30 a.m. Monday local time, is confined to a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island.
Experts said the biggest concern right now is the threat of volcanic smog, or “vog,” which could reach homes downwind.
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
Where are you likely to see a ‘white Christmas’ this year?
Those dreaming of a white Christmas are more likely to see one this year than last, which saw the least snow coverage on Christmas morning since record-keeping began in 2003. According to The Weather Channel, higher elevations of the West and areas near the Canadian border have the best chance of snow this year.
Meteorologists said there’s a good chance of a white Christmas from North Dakota and northern Minnesota into the Upper peninsula of Michigan and parts of northern New England, as well sections of the Northeast — mainly west of I-95 — and in the upper-Mississippi Valley.
So, what exactly is a white Christmas? It’s defined as one inch of snow accumulation on the ground on the morning of Dec. 25.
New ethics report says Matt Gaetz used drugs, paid for sex with minor
The House Ethics Committee report into former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz is now in the eye of the public. The investigation found “substantial evidence” President-elect Donald Trump’s first pick for attorney general broke state and federal laws while in office, including statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl.
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after Trump elected him to lead the Department of Justice. He withdrew his name for consideration once stories about his alleged misconduct were revealed. The allegations caused him to lose support with Republican senators needed for confirmation.
On Monday, Dec. 23, the committee released details into the allegations surrounding Gaetz. Investigators conducted numerous interviews, reviewed thousands of documents and submitted dozens of subpoenas.
“Rep. Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
House Ethics Committee report
The committee typically doesn’t release its findings but a vote from the majority of the members said the report should be made public.
The report found evidence to support:
From at least 2017 to 2020, Rep. Gaetz regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him.
In 2017, Rep. Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.
From 2017 to 2019, Rep. Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions.
Rep. Gaetz accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.
In 2018, Rep. Gaetz arranged for his chief of staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent.
Investigators interviewed women Gaetz allegedly paid for sex and obtained payment information that revealed he gave more than $90,000 to at least a dozen women while serving in Congress.
Those monetary payments also include $400 to someone who was a junior in high school at the time. She said she didn’t disclose her age and Gaetz didn’t ask.
The women who testified said the sexual activity was consensual. However, drug use could’ve impaired their thinking and overall judgment.
The House Ethics Committee said Gaetz attempted to derail its three-year investigation by refusing to be interviewed and failing to provide exonerating evidence.
Gaetz denies all allegations, calling them nothing more than “smears” from his political enemies.
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
He posted on X that he was “fully exonerated” by the DOJ following a federal investigation into sex trafficking claims in 2021. He said his actions were embarrassing but not criminal and he leads a different life now.
The committee did not find any sufficient evidence of federal sex trafficking.
The report stated, “Although Representative Gaetz did cause the transportation of women across state lines for purposes of commercial sex, the Committee did not find evidence that any of those women were under 18 at the time of travel, nor did the Committee find sufficient evidence to conclude that the commercial sex acts were induced by force, fraud, or coercion.”
Several members of the ethics committee did not agree with the decision to release the report because Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress. They don’t disagree with the findings but believe it’s out of the committee’s purview.
“The decision to publish a report after his resignation breaks from the Committee’s long-standing practice, opens the Committee to undue criticism, and will be viewed by some as an attempt to weaponize the Committee’s process.”
Dissenting opinion by Ethics Committee members
Gaetz is suing the committee in federal court for releasing the report after he resigned from Congress. His lawyers argue the report will lead to irreversible damage to his reputation.
Gaetz has never been charged with a crime related to the report or any other allegations.
In a reversal, House panel votes to release report on Matt Gaetz
The public may soon find out what’s in the House Ethics Committee report about former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. In a rare reversal, the committee secretly voted earlier this month to publicly release it.
This comes after the committee voted in November to keep it under wraps. The report outlines the findings of an investigation looking into allegations including drug use, sexual misconduct involving a minor and campaign finance violations.
Gaetz has long denied any misconduct, calling the investigation a political “witch hunt.” He responded on X, saying the Department of Justice investigated the allegations and never charged him with a crime.
He said his 30s were an era of working hard and playing hard, adding his previous behavior was “embarrassing though not criminal.” Gaetz also denied ever having sexual contact with a minor.
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
Gaetz resigned from Congress last month after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be attorney general. He ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.
He has since said he will not return to Congress for the next term and instead will launch a new show on the pro-Trump One America News Network in January.
The ethics committee has not commented on its decision.
The report will likely be released after Friday, Dec. 20, when the chamber is scheduled to finish its business for the year and head home for the holidays.
House Republicans block release of Matt Gaetz ethics report
Republicans block efforts by their Democratic colleagues to release the House Ethics Committee’s report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz. And the manhunt continues for the gunman in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
House Republicans block release of Matt Gaetz ethics report
The House Ethics Committee’s report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz will not be made public — at least for now. Thursday, Dec. 5, House Republicans blocked two separate Democratic resolutions to release the report, voting to refer the matter back to the committee.
Lawmakers voted along almost entirely party lines to table an effort from Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) to force the report’s immediate release, saying the former Florida congressman is no longer under the House’s jurisdiction because he resigned.
Gaetz left Congress last month after President-elect Donald Trump announced he was nominating the Republican lawmaker to become the nation’s next attorney general. That all happened just days before the ethics report was supposed to be released.
Gaetz later withdrew from consideration for the job after it became clear he would not get the Senate support needed to win confirmation, amid allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and illicit drug use. He’s also denied those allegations.
Another effort by Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee was also blocked.
Casten blasted the House’s decision in a statement after the vote, saying, “Today, the majority of the House of Representatives took the easy way out. They could have ensured a vote on whether or not former members should be held accountable when they face serious and credible allegations of sexual misconduct — including having sex with minors. Instead, the House voted to sweep these allegations under the rug and set an unfortunate precedent that, if you are ever facing scrutiny, resigning from Congress can make your problems go away.”
Casten added he will continue to try to get the report released.
Tonight the House of Representatives voted to sweep credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.
I retain options to pursue the release of the Gaetz Report.
Congressman Michael Guest (R-MS), the committee chairman, said there no longer is the same urgency to release the report because Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump’s choice to head the Justice Department.
Elon Musk spent more than $250 million getting Trump re-elected
Billionaire Elon Musk spent almost a quarter of a billion dollars in supporting Donald Trump’s reelection, according to Federal Election Commission filings released late Thursday, Dec. 5. While that accounts for just a fraction of Musk’s wealth as the richest man in the world, it’s a massive amount to come from just one single donor.
Musk donated most of that money to his America PAC, making three donations of $25 million each in the final weeks of the race. Over the course of the campaign, he gave America PAC a total of $239 million in cash and in-kind contributions.
Musk also spent more than $40 million on checks to voters in swing states who signed a petition in support of the Constitution.
According to the filings, Musk also put $20 million into a PAC named after the late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. That PAC was behind political ads claiming Trump does not support a federal abortion ban and he and Ginsburg had that in common.
New images released as manhunt continues in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing
Police have released new information about the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as the manhunt continues for the gunman. Investigators released new images Thursday of a hooded man who they say is “a person of interest” wanted for questioning in the slaying of the health insurance executive.
Police sources confirmed to multiple news outlets the images were taken from a surveillance camera inside a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Officials said the man used a fake New Jersey ID to check into the hostel.
The sources said the suspect is believed to have traveled from Atlanta to New York City on a Greyhound bus the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, then later checked in to the hostel. Greyhound is reportedly cooperating with the investigation.
The gunman shot Thompson multiple times at point-blank range as he was walking into a New York City Hilton hotel. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said the shooting was “premeditated” and a “brazen, targeted attack.”
According to multiple reports, the bullet casings located at the scene had the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” written on them. The gun used in the shooting has not been recovered.
Police are still searching for a motive in the deadly shooting.
Aftershocks rock California after magnitude 7 earthquake
Dozens of aftershocks have been reported in California after a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled a large part of the west coast Thursday. The epicenter of the earthquake was around 50 miles southwest of the northern port city Eureka in the Pacific Ocean.
A tsunami warning briefly went into effect from Oregon down to central California, but that has since been canceled. Evacuation orders have also been lifted.
California’s governor signed a state of emergency and said damage assessments are underway. So far, only minor damage and no injuries have been reported.
NASA delays next two manned moon missions
We’ve waited decades to see an astronaut walk on the moon again, and now, we’ll have to wait a little longer.
NASA announced Thursday it is delaying its next two Artemis moon missions to address an issue with the Orion crew capsule that will be housing the astronauts and its heat shield. The agency said the Artemis II mission that will fly a crew around the moon has been pushed from September of this year to no earlier than April of 2026.
The Artemis III mission, which will see the first moon landing in more than 50 years, set for 2026 will now happen no earlier than mid-2027.
Taylor Swift’s recording-breaking Eras tour ends this weekend
The tour kicked off in March of last year with Swift putting on the 3.5-hour concert more than 150 times in front of sold-out crowds across five continents.
Support of Edward Snowden pardon grows as 2nd Trump term nears
Will President-elect Donald Trump pardon Edward Snowden in his second term? Several people on Trump’s team are reportedly supporting efforts to make it happen.
Trump passed over the option of granting Snowden a pardon in 2021 during his first presidency and said he would let the courts work it out.
Snowden, a former spy for the National Security Agency, is responsible for the largest leak of top-secret information about United States surveillance programs in the nation’s history. He’s been living in Moscow and avoiding an indictment from the Justice Department for more than a decade.
Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as Trump’s nominee for attorney general said the topic of pardoning Snowden is still on the table.
“I have discussed the matter with others in and around the transition and there seemed to be pretty broad support for a pardon,” Gaetz told The Washington Post.
Gaetz also noted that even though he never talked to Trump directly about Snowden, his advocacy for a pardon didn’t stop Trump from nominating him.
Trump’s director of national intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard sponsored a 2020 house bill with Gaetz calling for the government to drop charges against Snowden.
Nominee to become Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports a pardon of Snowden as well, campaigning on that promise while running for president.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has not taken any public positions on Snowden, but people close to him told The New York Post they expect him to be sympathetic to Snowden’s situation.
According to the attorney who represented Snowden, he released the classified information in order to expose “abuses” by the government. Snowden has not commented yet on the possibility of a renewed push for a pardon from Trump.
Democrats win final House race of 2024 election, Republican margin narrows
Four weeks after Election Day, the make-up of the House of Representatives is now known. The last race has finally been called.
Democrat Adam Gray has defeated incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte in California’s 13th Congressional District. Officials have counted all ballots.
Gray’s victory puts the current election tally in the House at 220 Republican wins to 215 Democratic victories. However, three seats will soon be open after President-elect Donald Trump nominated three Republican House members to his cabinet, dropping the majority to a very slim 217-215 margin in favor of the GOP.
Within days after the election, Trump nominated Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general. Gaetz resigned from the House and later removed his name from consideration. There’ll now be a special election in northwest Florida. It’s set for April 1, 2025.
Another Republican, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, is slated to become the Trump administration’s national security adviser and leave Congress on Jan. 20. A special election in the Daytona Beach area of Florida is also set for April 1.
In northern New York, Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She hasn’t announced when she is leaving Congress.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is required, by law, to set the date for a special election within 10 days of Stefanik’s resignation, and that election has to happen within 70 to 80 days.
The departure of the Republicans and uncertainty of who wins the special elections leave the GOP with almost no wiggle room to push their agenda forward in Congress in early 2025.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has supposedly urged President-elect Trump not to tap any more House Republicans for cabinet jobs.
South Korean president faces impeachment calls after martial law order
Political unrest grows in South Korea after the president’s short-lived martial law order. And U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted messaging apps after a massive cyberattack. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Push to impeach South Korea’s president after martial law declaration
It may have been short-lived, but the South Korean president’s declaration of martial law could have implications for months to come as six opposition parties have moved to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol.
Martial law grants the military temporary rule during an emergency, which the president can legally declare. Yoon sent heavily armed forces into the streets of Seoul Tuesday, Dec. 3, after suddenly and unexpectedly putting the country under martial law — vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces he claimed were planning a rebellion.
Action was swift, with protesters surrounding South Korea’s parliament building. Lawmakers climbed walls to get back into the building and used fire extinguishers to hold soldiers off so they could unanimously vote to cancel the martial law declaration just hours after it was put in place.
Impeaching Yoon requires the support of two-thirds of the National Assembly and at least six of the country’s nine constitutional court justices. The liberal opposition Democratic Party holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament and has called for Yoon’s resignation.
WATCH: Soldiers arrive at South Korea's parliament after president declares martial law pic.twitter.com/cZX4vsM34y
One Democratic Party lawmaker said an impeachment vote could come as early as Friday, Dec. 5.
Martial law is a sensitive subject in South Korea, which has only been a democracy since the 1980s. Before that, in the wake of the Korean War which ended in 1953, multiple dictatorships emerged with leaders often declaring martial law to prevent antigovernmental protests.
South Korea is considered a key ally of the United States and White House officials said they are “monitoring the situation closely.” The U.S. has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.
Trump’s nominees to lead DEA, FBI, DOD making headlines
Three of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his incoming administration made headlines Tuesday. One nominee dropped out, another was the target of a possible cyberattack, and the third could be replaced.
Trump had nominated Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency. On Tuesday, Chronister took his name out of the running, saying in a post on X to have been nominated was “an honor of a lifetime” but “as the gravity of this very responsibility set in” he concluded that he must “respectfully withdraw from consideration.”
To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4
The nomination came under fire from some Trump supporters over Chronister’s enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic. This marks the second Trump nominee to withdraw his name after former Congressman Matt Gaetz said he would not continue his bid to become attorney general.
Meanwhile, reports say Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, was the target of a possible Iran-backed cyberattack. Sources familiar with the situation told multiple outlets, including ABC News and CBS News, the alleged hackers targeted Patel’s communications, but it was not clear how much data they were able to view.
Patel held various roles during Trump’s first term including chief of staff to the secretary of defense.
Finally, there might be a change when it comes to the next defense secretary. The Wall Street Journal and other outlets reported Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, that Trump’s pick of former Fox News anchor and military veteran Pete Hegseth’s is in doubt.
Since his nomination, Hegseth has been the subject of reports on allegations about his personal life, including claims of sexual misconduct, repeated intoxication and rampant womanizing. Hegseth has denied those allegations.
The Wall Street Journal and New York Post both reported Trump is considering Florida governor and former GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis as a possible replacement for Hegseth. Desantis served in the U.S. Navy before becoming governor.
Both Trump and DeSantis attended a memorial service Tuesday for fallen law enforcement officers in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Hegseth has been meeting with Senate Republicans at the Capitol this week to try to rally support ahead of confirmation hearings. People close to the president-elect’s team said talks of a replacement are in the early stages and the next 48 hours are crucial to Hegseth’s fate.
Trump’s lawyers ask judge to toss conviction, cite Biden’s pardon
President-elect Trump’s lawyers have officially asked a judge to throw out his criminal conviction in his so-called “hush money” case.
In May, a jury found Trump guilty of 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a payment to a porn actor who claimed she and trump had sex. Trump has long denied that.
In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers said continuing the case would present “disruptions to the institution of the presidency” and undermine the transition of power as he prepares to take back the Oval Office next month.
Lawyers also pointed to President Joe Biden’s recent move to pardon his son Hunter of his convictions on tax fraud and gun charges where the president said Hunter was “unfairly prosecuted” as a reason Trump’s case should be dismissed. Trump’s lawyers called his prosecution “political theater.”
Prosecutors have until Monday, Dec. 9 to respond. In the past, they said they would fight efforts to dismiss the case but indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in January 2029.
Americans urged to use encrypted messaging apps after cyberattack
U.S. officials are recommending Americans use encrypted messaging apps amid a cyberattack on telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon. Cybersecurity experts advise you to encrypt your text messages and voice communication, if possible.
Threat actors affiliated with the Chinese government have compromised telecom provider networks to conduct a cyber espionage campaign. Network defenders should read new guidance from the #FBI and our partners to harden their systems against this activity: https://t.co/yzh7NedOAepic.twitter.com/GXsN7lbB0f
Officials said China is behind the attack in an attempt to spy on Americans. Chinese officials have not addressed the accusations.
Cyber Monday pulls in record $13.3 billion in sales
Your chances to get some of the deepest discounts of the holiday shopping season have passed with Cyber Monday now in the books. Consumers took full advantage, collectively spending a record $13.3 billion online during Cyber Monday.
Adobe Analytics said that’s up 7.3% from last year and surpassed projections of $13.2 billion in sales. The company said between the peak hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Alone, people spent a combined $15.8 million every 60 seconds.
Adobe said “buy now, pay later” plans were quite popular, accounting for more than $991 million worth of Cyber Monday spending.
Beyoncé tops Billboard’s list of the greatest pop stars of 21st century
The music charting site said the choice is based on Beyoncé’s “full 25 years of influence, impact, [and] evolution.” Billboard added when talking about greatness in the 21st century, nobody else has a longer or fuller track record.
Lauren Boebert joined Cameo. Can members of Congress have side hustles?
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., made a Cameo account for what appears to be less than 24 hours. For that short period, fans of the Colorado representative could ask her a question or get a personalized birthday greeting for a starting fee of $250.
It’s unlikely Boebert would have been able to keep the account, as House rules clearly forbid members from selling their influence. The House Ethics Manual states members cannot receive payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech or article.
The Office Code of Conduct for the House prohibits members from receiving any benefit “by virtue of influence improperly exerted from the position of such individual in Congress.”
In other words, you’re not allowed to make money off being a member of Congress.
There is an entire chapter on earned outside income in the House Ethics Manual. Long story short, it states – “the fundamental purpose of the restrictions and limit is to ensure that Members and staff do not use the influence or prestige of their position with the House for personal gain, and to preclude conflicts of interest.”
As mentioned, members can’t receive anything of value for making an appearance or speech.
They are barred from holding just about any second job except for practicing medicine.
They can write a book as long as the Ethics committee approves the publishing contract.
If a member is able to successfully navigate all those rules, their outside earned income limit is $31,815.
Of course, once members leave, those restrictions go away, and some have taken advantage of the fame they gained while serving. Perhaps one of the best examples is George Santos.
Santos joined Cameo after he was expelled from the House. He describes himself as a former congressional icon and is highly rated with 4.89 out of 5 stars. Santos charged as much as $500 per video and said he once made more money in a week on the platform than he did in an entire year in Congress, which has a $174,000 annual salary.
Matt Gaetz joined the platform after resigning from Congress and dropping out as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee. For $500, Gaetz will send a holiday greeting, birthday wish or a pep talk.
Of course Gaetz and Santos are former members, so they’re free to make all the videos they want, while Boebert is still obligated to follow the rules of the House.