1A

A $768 billion defense bill passed the House last week. This was over $20 billion bigger than what President Joe Biden had asked for. Now, it's going to the Senate.

The United States already spends more on national defense than China, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia combined.

Where is all this money going? And how could shifting national security concerns impact the future of military spending?

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Some 60 percent of Americans are now fully vaccinated. Pfizer says tests show that its booster shot is promising in protecting against omicron.

Mark Meadows, President Donald Trump's former chief of staff, had agreed to cooperate with the House committee investigating the events preceding the Jan. 6 insurrection. Now, Meadows has reversed course, saying he won't help.

Meanwhile, following the amassment of Russian troops on the country's border with Ukraine, President Joe Biden spent three hours on a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin is concerned about NATO expanding its sphere of influence. Biden wants troops away from the border.

The World Health Organization reported COVID-19 cases in South Africa more than doubled last week as Omicron spreads.

We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.

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It's extremely rare for gun owners to be held responsible when a child gets a hold of their weapon.

A Washington Post investigation found that there were 84 school shootings from 1999 to 2018 where a minor took the gun from parents or relatives. The gun owners faced punishment in only four of those cases.

And that's just school shootings. So far in 2021, there have been at least 322 unintentional shootings by children resulting in 132 deaths. That's according to data compiled from media reports by advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.

But more states – including Michigan – are considering passing laws to hold gun owners responsible.

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In September, Albuquerque became the latest city to establish a new category of first responder: social worker.

It's part of a growing movement to shift 911 calls for mental health, substance abuse, or homelessness away from armed officers.

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It's been thirty years since Anita Hill testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee over allegations of sexual harassment against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

Since then, Hill has continued to fight against gender violence and sexual harassment. And in her new book, "Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence," she explores the systems that perpetuate that violence and the lessons that our country has yet to learn.

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Countries worldwide are scrambling to address the spread of the omicron variant. Part of that response has included travel restrictions.

The U.S. has restricted travel from a number of countries in Southern Africa. Similar restrictions have been made by countries in Europe and Asia despite, the fact that the variant was in the Netherlands a week before it hit South Africa. The World Health Organization is also urging those age 60 or over and other vulnerable people to avoid air travel.

What do these new rules mean? And how effective are these travel advisories?

Nick Offerman is an actor, a woodworker, and he's also written a few books. But you may know him best as the super libertarian Ron Swanson from NBC's hit comedy, Parks and Recreation.

We talk to him about his new book called Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside.

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Following South Africa's initial reports, the omicron variant was detected in the United States. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control are working to impose strict testing requirements for international travelers. But questions have been raise over such measures' efficacy when Americans traveling abroad are allowed into the country without hesitation.

Despite earlier refusals to cooperate with the House committee investigating the insurrection on Jan. 6, President Donald Trump's former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, agreed to cooperate. Meadows has revealed that Trump tested positive for COVID-19 days earlier than previously thought.

The Women's Tennis Association has suspended all tennis tournaments in China following the disappearance (and videotaped reappearance) of star player Peng Shuai, who accused a Chinese official of sexual assault. The International Olympic Committee announced it held a video call with the tennis player.

Following the mustering of forces by Russia on its border with Ukraine, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will harshly sanction Russia should it decide to invade.

We cover the most important stories on the News Roundup.

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The future of Roe v. Wade is uncertain.

The case legalized a woman's right to an abortion in 1973, and this week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that considers the legality of a Mississippi state law banning abortion 15 weeks after conception.

How likely is an overruling of Roe v. Wade? And what did this week's hearings tell us about the Justices' stances on abortion?

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital fundraises on the promise that "families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live."

But a new investigation from ProPublica investigates that claim, a statement which helps the charity out-raise any other hospital of its type.

We dive deep into the investigation and that statement.

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