Hamas making comeback in Gaza with 23,000 fighters: Report
Hamas is making a comeback through recruiting, multiple Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday, Jan. 1. When combined with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters, Channel 12 reported Hamas’ total numbers are at about 23,000 fighters.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed the recruitment increase but reported the numbers are closer to 12,000 fighters.
However, there’s a large discrepancy between the estimated number of fighters.
The Jerusalem Post reported that in October 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Hamas was estimated to have 25,000 fighters.
Is Hamas growing, or were initial estimates off?
Two theories exist that would explain the increase in numbers.
First, Hamas recruited all new members amid the controversy, virtually replacing its old force from before the war in Gaza.
The second theory, floated by The Post, is that initial IDF estimates from October 2023 were too low. The report suggested Hamas’ initial numbers were closer to 30,000 to 40,000 fighters in 2023.
If the second theory is correct, The Post said it would mean that the majority of Hamas militants fighting today are the same as in 2023 and that the group “added thousands of new recruits.”
The first signs of a Hamas comeback came this summer following IDF withdrawals from northern Gaza and from Khan Yunis last year.
Ongoing conflict in Gaza
The suspected resurgence of Hamas came after an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed a Hamas police chief and his deputy in central Gaza on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Medics in the Hamas-controlled region said 11 people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the strike. The strike reportedly occurred in a humanitarian zone that included women and children.
Israel said the deputy was “hiding” among civilians in Khan Younis, and the IDF said that it did its best to minimize harm to civilians. The IDF accused Hamas of using “the civilian population as human shields.”
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Investigators are learning more about the man who drove a pickup truck into a New Orleans crowd, killing 15 people in what authorities are calling “an act of terrorism.” And authorities are investigating whether an explosion in front of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel was an act of terrorism. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Authorities searched a location in Houston, Texas, in connection with the deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The FBI said it is believed to be connected to the suspect, who they said killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1. The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror.”
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace and it was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Police identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, a Texas resident and U.S. Army veteran. Jabbar served in the Army on active and reserve duty, including a 2009 deployment in Afghanistan.
Authorities said Jabbar drove a white Ford pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday. He then opened fire on responding police officers.
Officers shot and killed Jabbar at the scene, police said. Two officers were injured in the shootout.
Investigators discovered an ISIS flag on the rear bumper of the suspect’s truck as well as additional weapons and two improvised explosive devices. Authorities reportedly found and detonated at least one other improvised explosive device in the area.
Jabbar drove around security barriers set to deter vehicles from entering the area, police said. Kirkpatrick said the suspect drove onto the sidewalk, striking several victims.
According to the city, the barriers were under construction as New Orleans prepares to host the Super Bowl in February.
President Joe Biden held a press conference following the attack from Camp David. He said the FBI informed him it was looking at social media videos posted by the suspect just hours before the attack, indicating it was inspired by ISIS.
“To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you,” Biden said. “The law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations or coconspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
Biden said the FBI does not believe Jabbar acted alone, and he has directed the U.S. intelligence community to work “intensively” to complete their investigation.
Jabbar’s brother told the New York Times that Jabbar converted to Islam at a young age but that this act was not religion-based but radicalization.
The president also said authorities were looking into any possible connection with an explosion outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Vehicles in both incidents were rented from the platform Turo, which allows car owners to rent out their vehicles.
The deadly attack in New Orleans led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome less than a mile from Bourbon Street. That game will now be played Thursday, Jan. 2.
The FBI will hold a briefing Thursday with the House and Senate oversight committees on the New Orleans attack.
Victims of New Orleans truck attack begin to be identified
Kareem Badawi was a recent graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. The school said Badawi was attending the University of Alabama.
Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two and worked as a warehouse manager.
Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was also killed. The 27-year-old moved to New York to work for a capital markets firm.
Ni’kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, was set to attend college, where she planned to major in nursing.
Nicole Perez, 27, was a mother who worked as a store manager.
These are only a few of the names of the more than a dozen victims killed in the attack. More information about the victims is expected in the coming days.
Fireworks, gas canisters used to fuel Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
Authorities in Nevada are working to figure out if the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was an act of terrorism. They say the driver, who died in the explosion, used fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel connected to a detonation system to set it off.
Seven people who were nearby when the blast went off were injured.
Investigators said the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Vegas about one hour before the explosion. Law enforcement officials have not identified the suspect because the person was badly burned in the explosion, but they have identified the person who rented it.
They said the suspect drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling up to the Trump Hotel. The truck exploded seconds later.
Investigators are also working to figure out if this incident was related to the terror attack in New Orleans.
Power restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after massive blackout
Power is mostly restored to homes and buildings across Puerto Rico after a massive blackout left the U.S. territory in the dark on New Year’s Eve. However, that might not be the end of it for some.
Luma Energy, the company that provides electricity to Puerto Rico, warned that more temporary outages could happen as it works to restore full power. The company said this could take up to two days.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the outage, but Luma Energy said a preliminary review indicated a failure in an underground electric line.
This is just the latest incident to highlight an ongoing problem with Puerto Rico’s power grid. In August, half of all the territory’s utility customers lost power during Hurricane Ernesto. It took more than a week to get it back.
Arctic air to bring a freezing start to 2025 in much of the US
Get ready to bundle up. Arctic weather will take over the warmer-than-usual temperatures that kicked off 2025 for a large part of the U.S.
Over the next couple of days, the coldest air of the season will move into the eastern part of the U.S., dropping temperatures to nearly 30 degrees below average in some areas.
While the bitterly cold air already started to move in, the worst of it is expected to hit next week.
🎆 As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, above normal warmth across the eastern half of the U.S. will be quickly replaced by a series of Arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold through next week. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/N046deYUpa
Forecasters said after the first wave of cold, two more rounds of arctic air will move in from Canada, setting up parts of the U.S. for a long-lasting run of freezing temperatures.
Notre Dame and Georgia to face off in postponed Sugar Bowl
The college football season provided lots of New Year’s excitement. Texas won in a double-overtime thriller, Ohio State routed Oregon and the top four contenders for the championship will be set after Notre Dame and Georgia face off in the Sugar Bowl Thursday afternoon.
The winner of the Sugar Bowl will move on to the Orange Bowl to face Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl 31-14 on New Year’s Eve.
Texas and Ohio State will face off in the Cotton Bowl after Texas edged Arizona State in double overtime at the Peach Bowl Wednesday and Ohio State shocked the nation with its thumping top-seeded, undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The semifinal games are now the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. They will be played next week and determine who will go head-to-head for the College Football National Championship.
Tesla Cybertruck fire at Trump Hotel appears to be act of terror: Musk
One person died and seven others were injured when a Tesla Cybertruck caught fire at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday, Jan. 1. According to Elon Musk, the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the truck, nothing was wrong with the vehicle itself.
Musk said the fire appeared to be an act of terrorism, although the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said it had a lot to figure out before releasing more information to the public. A law enforcement source told The Associated Press they had not ruled out terrorism.
We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.
Police said they are looking for secondary devices but added there did not appear to be any further threat to the community.
“We believe everything is safe now,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.
The deceased individual was found inside the vehicle and the sheriff said they could not determine if they were male or female. The injuries to the seven others were described as minor.
A Tesla Cybertruck is shown after it caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel, on January 1, 2025, in Las Vegas. Source: Getty Images.
A video taken from inside the hotel lobby showed flames going through the truck’s windows. Firework-like sounds could be heard as objects whizzed and popped in the air.
Tesla’s Cybertruck explosion at the entrance to Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was not a coincidence. Tesla’s are very safe and don’t just explode❗️❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/SWVlUETD5D
The Cybertruck was rented on the rental app Turo, the same app used by the attacker in New Orleans.
At least 15 people were killed and 35 were injured Wednesday morning after a man drove a rented Ford pickup truck down Canal and Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter. The FBI said it’s investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and confirmed the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen, is dead.
Eric Trump, son of the President-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, thanked the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response to the fire. He said the safety of guests and staff is their top priority.
FBI doesn’t believe New Orleans attacker acted alone, ISIS flag found on truck
At least 15 people were killed and 35 were injured Wednesday morning, Jan. 1, after a man drove a rented Ford pickup truck down Canal and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The FBI said it’s investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and confirmed the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen, is dead.
“It will take several days to perform all autopsies. Once we complete the autopsies and talk with the next of kin, we will release the identifications of the victims,” New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna said in a statement.
In an address to the nation Wednesday evening, President Biden said the attacker posted a video online saying he was inspired by ISIS and had a desire to kill.
The FBI does not believe the suspect acted alone and investigators are reviewing footage of three men and a woman placing explosives around the French Quarter.
The FBI said Jabbar is a U.S. Army veteran, and investigators believe he was honorably discharged. Jabbar is from Texas and the FBI announced it was conducting law enforcement activity in north Houston in relation to the attack.
Investigators found an ISIS flag on the vehicle and are working to determine the subject’s potential affiliations with terrorist organizations. They also discovered weapons and IEDs inside the vehicle.
Police investigators surround the white Ford F-150 pickup truck that crashed into a work lift after allegedly driving into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. Source: Getty Images.
Police said the suspect also fired a gun, striking two New Orleans officers who are in stable condition.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called it a “horrific act of violence” and asked for prayers for victims and first responders in a post on X.
FBI investigators arrive at the scene where the white Ford F-150 pickup truck that crashed into a work lift after allegedly driving into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. Source: Getty Images.
The incident is drawing attention to safety issues in the area, with one person posting to X, “I predict they will finally close the French Quarter from vehicle traffic which is long overdue.”
NOLAREADY: There has been a mass casualty incident on Canal and Bourbon Street. Get yourself away from the area. Visit https://t.co/AyuRn38guC for details.
The city was also scheduled to host the Sugar Bowl featuring the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame Wednesday evening. The game has been postponed 24 hours and kick-off is scheduled for Thursday night at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. The event draws football fans from all over the country.
The French Quarter, near Bourbon Street is blocked off late morning with a heavy police and FBI presence after a deadly attack early in the morning in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 1, 2025. Source: Getty Images.
On Monday, Dec. 30 the New Orleans Police Department said it would be staffed “at 100 percent” during the festivities in the French Quarter, adding it had 300 additional officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies.
Car drives into crowd in New Orleans killing 15, FBI calls it ‘act of terrorism’
At least 15 people were killed and 30 were injured after a man drove a vehicle into a crowd on Canal and Bourbon Streets during New Year celebrations early Wednesday, Jan. 1. The FBI said it’s investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The agency confirmed the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, is dead.
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace, and it was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said during a press conference. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Investigators found an ISIS flag on the vehicle and are working to determine the subject’s potential affiliations with terrorist organizations. They also discovered weapons and IED’s that were located both in the vehicle and the French Quarter.
Police said the suspect also fired a gun, striking two New Orleans officers who are in stable condition.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called it a “horrific act of violence” and asked for prayers for victims and first responders in a post on X.
A horrific act of violence took place on Bourbon Street earlier this morning.
Please join Sharon and I in praying for all the victims and first responders on scene.
The incident is drawing attention to safety issues in the area with one person posting to X, “I predict they will finally close the French Quarter from vehicle traffic which is long overdue.”
This is such a terrible disaster.
I predict they will finally close the French Quarter from vehicle traffic which is long overdue.
The city was also scheduled to host the Sugar Bowl featuring the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame Wednesday evening. The game has been postponed 24 hours and kick-off is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:45 pm eastern. The event draws football fans from all over the country.
On Monday, Dec. 30 the New Orleans Police Department said it would be staffed “at 100 percent” during the festivities in the French Quarter, adding it had 300 additional officers assisting from partner law enforcement agencies.
US precision strike in Syria: 2 ISIS operatives killed, weapons destroyed
The U.S. military conducted a precision airstrike in Syria’s Dayr az Zawr Province on Monday, Dec. 23, killing two ISIS operatives and wounding a third. The operation also destroyed a truckload of weapons the group was transporting. The strike occurred in an area previously under the control of Syrian and Russian forces.
This airstrike is part of an ongoing U.S. effort to disrupt ISIS operations and prevent the terror group from regaining strength. It follows a series of recent strikes in the same region, including one last week that killed ISIS leader Abu Yusif and another operative. In total, U.S. forces report eliminating 12 ISIS operatives in Syria over the past week.
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla underscored the importance of these actions, particularly as ISIS attempts to reorganize and free more than 8,000 of its members currently held in detention facilities. He emphasized that the U.S., in coordination with regional allies, remains committed to preventing ISIS from regaining strength or planning future attacks.
These operations are part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a coalition campaign against ISIS that began in 2014. According to Airwars.org, the coalition has conducted approximately 35,000 airstrikes across Iraq and Syria over the past decade, nearly 20,000 of which targeted ISIS positions and infrastructure in Syria.
While these efforts have significantly weakened ISIS and led to the loss of nearly all its territorial control, U.S. officials warn that the group remains a persistent threat.
Iran hiring kids to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe: Report
Intelligence officials said Iran is paying teens as young as 13-years-old to attack Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe, and there are concerns Tehran’s efforts may spread, according to a report from Bloomberg on Saturday, Dec. 21. Investigators said that several attacks in 2024 across Sweden, involving the Israeli Embassy and an Israeli defense firm, are linked to Iran-backed networks recruiting local criminals, including teenagers.
Authorities are concerned that the recruitment is part of a larger effort to attack Jewish and Israeli targets throughout Europe. In fall 2024, both Swedish and Norwegian authorities warned of Tehran-funded operations and, in October 2024, Norway raised its terror alert from medium to high.
Earlier this year, law enforcement agencies in Brussels found kids as young as 14 plotting an attack on the Israeli Embassy. European intelligence said Iranian proxies are reaching out to mercenaries on social media platforms like Telegram, TikTok and WhatsApp.
The proxy groups are offering nearly $1,600 for a murder and 120 euros for a “petrol attack,” according to what a person familiar with the illegal trade told Bloomberg.
Authorities believe that while some young immigrants may be lured to join Iran-backed proxies over frustration with Israel’s war in Gaza, other young migrants are driven by the need for money, not knowing what they are signing up for, and unaware they’re “acting on behalf of a foreign power,” according to Swedish authorities.
A recent study shows that 40% of migrants in Swedish society don’t feel integrated. The study also said immigrants in the country experience higher rates of poverty, making recruitment for gangs and Iranian proxies easier.
While it remains to be seen if Iran’s recruitment efforts will spread to other countries in Europe, in March 2024, government officials from Sweden, Norway and Denmark met to talk about the recruitment of young people into criminal networks, and how to minimize the threat.
The Swedish minister for justice noted that cooperation among Nordic neighbors would be key.
“We must do all we can to break the trend of children and young people being recruited into gangs,” Swedish Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer said in a statement.
President Biden considering clemency for 40 men on death row: Report
President Joe Biden may commute the sentences of most or all of the 40 men on death row, according to a Wall Street Journal report. If Biden commutes the sentences, the men would stay in jail on life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Attorney General Merrick Garland halted federal executions in 2021, during the early months of the Biden administration.
The Journal reports Garland is one of several key voices in the White House’s death penalty debate. They said the attorney general recommended Biden commute most sentences, except for a handful of cases involving terrorism and hate crimes.
Three possible exceptions include Dzokhar Tsarnaev, convicted of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings; Robert Bowers, convicted of the 2018 Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting; and Dylann Roof, convicted of the 2015 shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Biden is weighing the move amid pressure from civil rights groups and religious leaders. Pope Francis prayed for commutations for Americans on death row in his weekly address earlier this month.
Biden, a devout Catholic, spoke with Francis on Thursday, Dec. 20, and will head to the Vatican next month before leaving office.
The move would override Justice Department prosecutors under both Democratic and Republican presidents who asked for death sentences.
DOJ prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the perpetrator of the 2022 shooting at Tops supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y.
Republicans condemned the prospect of Biden commuting most or all federal death sentences. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned the move would weaken the government’s condemnation of harsh offenses.
“It would mean that society’s most forceful condemnation of white supremacy and antisemitism must give way to legal mumbo jumbo,” McConnell said. “The irony of claims of systemic racism causing the president to spare Dylann Roof is ludicrous, ludicrous to the point of tragedy.”
It’s unclear whether any of Biden’s commutations would affect the four inmates on the military’s death row.
The move would also not affect any death sentences in states that use the death penalty for state-level crimes.
18-year-old planned terror attack on Israeli consulate in New York: FBI
FBI agents arrested a Virginia college student, who they said was plotting a terrorist attack on Israel’s consulate in New York City. As reported on Thursday, Dec. 19, the agency said that 18-year-old Abdullah Hassan, a freshman at George Mason University, told an undercover informant about his plan to pull off a mass casualty attack.
Authorities said Hassan sent an Islamic State-themed video promoting the killing of Jewish people to someone claiming to be a terrorist sympathizer. However, the person Hassan sent it to was an undercover agent.
The FBI said Hassan shared several plans for the attack to the undercover agent. Some plans included using a high-powered rifle, a suicide vest or a backpack stuffed with a homemade bomb.
The informant said Hassan sent him a detailed video on how to make a bomb. He also told the informant he wanted to attack the Israeli consulate in New York. Hassan allegedly described the consulate as a “goldmine of targets.”
The FBI claimed Hassan praised 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden on his X account. They also said he shared antisemitic and terrorist propaganda online.
FBI agents previously interviewed Hassan in 2022 after they said he shared Islamic State propaganda online. However, the agency did not file charges in that incident.
Hassan now faces a charge related to showing the FBI informant how to make a bomb with intent to “murder internationally protected persons.” That charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison alone. However, prosecutors may reportedly add more charges.
George Mason University banned Hassan from campus after these charges were made public. Hassan is an Egyptian national and is currently detained while he undergoes the deportation process. The FBI investigation is expected to delay that process.
George Mason University also faced criticism over a separate incident. Recently, a pair of sisters, one current and former president of a pro-Palestinian group on campus, were banned from campus for four years after police searched their family’s home last month.
Investigators said they found relatives’ guns, ammunition and a symbol calling for death to Jewish people.
Campus police called the ban a safety precaution. However, a coalition of organizations representing students condemned the move. The groups argued the ban effectively expels the sisters from the university because they are unable to attend classes on campus.
The coalition also noted the decision was apparently made without due process.
Government shutdown looms as House votes against latest funding bill
A government shutdown looms nearer after the House rejected a bill that would have kept it funded into March. And drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey after a spate of mysterious sightings. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Dec. 20, 2024.
House votes against latest stopgap bill aimed to avoid government shutdown
The House rejected a stopgap bill Thursday, Dec. 19, that would have kept the government running. The vote came ahead of a potential shutdown starting at midnight Saturday, Dec. 21, when lawmakers head home for the holidays.
The bill fell short of the needed two-thirds majority to speed up its passage. More than three dozen Republicans joined 197 Democrats in voting against it. Republicans split with each other on how the bill handles government spending.
“Three hundred and thirty billion dollars. Congratulations. You’ve added to the debt since you were given the majority again on Nov. 5,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said.
Roy voted against the bill.
He added, “It’s embarrassing. It’s shameful. Yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday in certain respects. But to take this bill, to take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it’s shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion, is asinine.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said on the House floor, “The deal on the table will keep the government open for the American people and if you guys so choose to shut it down, it will be on you but not the Republican Party.”
She added, “We will not be going back to the table. This deal stands as it is. So let you go back home on Christmas and explain to your people why you shut down the government because we won’t be doing it.”
The latest spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, is a quickly amended bill tailored to the liking of President-elect Donald Trump and his top ally Elon Musk.
Musk postedrepeatedlyonX condemning the original bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., worked on it with bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats.
However, when both Musk and Trump opposed the bill, that guaranteed most House Republicans would vote against it and forced Johnson to craft a new bill.
Now, there are two conflicting interests. Musk wants major government spending cuts, and while Trump agrees, he also wants to permanently suspend the debt ceiling.
The new plan lifts the debt limit, leading Trump to support the bill in a Truth Social post.
“Now we can Make America Great Again, very quickly, which is what the People gave us a mandate to accomplish,” Trump posted.
But Democrats attacked the bill over what spending Republicans chose to cut.
“The Musk-Johnson proposal is not serious, it’s laughable,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “Extreme MAGA Republicans are driving us to a government shutdown.”
The bill removed funding for a bipartisan program for pediatric cancer research, studying genetic conditions like Down syndrome and treatment options for sickle cell disease as well as cancers.
It will be on Johnson to craft a bill to secure votes from the majority of the House.
However, Johnson may not have the political leeway to rely on support from Democrats. He’ll need nearly every returning member of the House Republican caucus to vote for him next month to remain speaker.
The new Congress takes office in the new year.
New details of accused UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter’s plan emerge
Newly unsealed court documents put into perspective what led up to the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A federal complaint shed light on 26-year-old Luigi Mangione’s “hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”
In a notebook found on Mangione when he was arrested, he allegedly wrote of his plans to “wack” an insurance company CEO at its investor conference. Federal prosecutors said he traveled from Georgia to New York to stalk and kill Thompson.
Magione appeared in a New York courtroom Thursday, and four new federal charges were levied against him. The charges included murder with a firearm, which is an offense punishable by the death penalty.
The hearing followed Mangione’s extradition from Pennsylvania, where police arrested him on Dec. 9, to New York.
Armed guards surrounded Mangione as NYPD officers walked him off a helicopter upon his arrival in Manhattan. New York City Mayor Eric Adams joined the walk.
“Police Commissioner [Jessica] Tisch and I all want to send a very clear and loud message that this act of terrorism and the violence that stems from it is something that will not be tolerated in this city,” Adams told the press at the site of the helicopter arrival.
Mangione already faces state-level charges in New York. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought charges against him Tuesday, Dec. 17, including for murder as an act of terrorism.
However, Mangione also received a hero’s welcome from protesters outside the courthouse. Thompson’s killing sparked backlash against the health insurance industry and its coverage policies.
While judges have not set any dates yet, Mangione will face state-level charges first. A federal trial will follow.
New York abolished the death penalty, meaning it’s not an option for Mangione in the state-level case. However, the death penalty can still be exercised in the federal case.
FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New York and New Jersey
Drones are now banned in parts of New York and New Jersey — at least for the time being. It comes amid an investigation into multiple mysterious sightings over the last month that set off fear and speculation.
In a statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the Federal Aviation Administration’s bans are “purely precautionary.” Meanwhile, the FAA’s restrictions in New Jersey are largely aimed at limiting drone flights over power stations and infrastructure.
The FAA implemented emergency flight restrictions across New Jersey, prohibiting drone operations until Jan. 17, 2025, for “special security reasons.” Unless operators obtain special government clearance, the directive bans uncrewed aircraft within a one-nautical-mile radius of designated areas and up to 400 feet in altitude.
The FAA designated areas such as Camden, Jersey City, Elizabeth and South Brunswick as “National Defense Airspace.”
Violators may face severe penalties, including interception, detention, certificate revocation and potential criminal charges. In extreme cases, authorities are authorized to use “deadly force” against drones posing an “imminent security threat.”
These restrictions follow a surge in unexplained drone sightings across New Jersey and nearby states that began in mid-November. Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Defense (DOD), received over 5,000 reports of drone activity.
Dow Jones snaps worst losing streak in 50 years
The Dow Jones Industrial Average snapped its worst losing streak in 50 years Thursday. The losing streak lasted 10 days.
During the losing streak, the market wiped out all of its post-election gains. The Dow ended Wednesday down 2.5% from when Trump won the election.
Also on Wednesday, Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index, had its second-biggest percentage spike in history. The VIX shot up 74% after the Federal Reserve shared its outlook for the coming year.
On Wednesday, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate for a third time in 2024, which was widely predicted.
Feeling the holiday blues?
The holidays are often called “the most wonderful time of the year,” but the season can bring about sadness and stress for many. This -emotional shift, commonly known as the “holiday blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can affect millions of people across the country.
Licensed adult psychiatrist Dr. Patrice Mann said the holiday blues are due to several factors. They include social pressures, disruptive routines and financial strain.
“Things like having a bunch of holiday events on the calendar, not to say we don’t look forward to them oftentimes, but they take a toll on us,” says Dr. Mann. “You’re up late, interacting with a lot of people, and that’s not everyone’s nature.”
Grief and seasonal depression can also complicate these feelings. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, seasonal depression affects millions of Americans every year, but many may not even realize they have it.
Symptoms of holiday blues and seasonal depression can include a persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities and changes in eating or sleeping habits. If these symptoms last more than two weeks, Dr. Mann said it could indicate a more serious depressive episode. In such cases, seeking professional help is important.
Dr. Mann recommended several self-care strategies to help manage both the holiday blues and seasonal depression. She suggested getting tested for vitamin D deficiency and taking supplements during winter. Vitamin D plays a vital role in mood and energy levels.
She also advised getting as much sunlight as possible during the shorter winter days. Light therapy boxes can mimic outdoor sunlight if natural sunlight isn’t available. Using them for 20 to 30 minutes in the morning can help trick the brain and improve mood.
For those experiencing grief during the holidays, Dr. Mann encouraged reflecting on personal needs and communicating with trusted friends or family members. She also recommended incorporating new social activities into your routine and checking in with yourself after attending events.
For those supporting others through grief, it’s important to recognize that everyone processes emotions differently. Dr. Mann suggested engaging in activities with those less open about mental health, such as cooking or playing games, to help create a comfortable environment for them to express themselves.
While the holiday season brings unique challenges, small steps can make a big difference. Prioritizing self-care, maintaining routines and reaching out for support are important practices to help manage holiday stress.
If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that professional help is available. The National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988.
