AURN News

(AURN News) — President-elect Donald Trump suggested Canada could become the 51st U.S. state in a Christmas Day social media post, claiming the move would slash Canadian taxes and boost business.

In a message that he posted on Truth Social, he said: “to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World.”

In the same post, Mr. Trump also mentioned Greenland, stating: "Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!” Trump posted.

The social media comments come just weeks before Trump's scheduled inauguration, following his historic reelection victory.

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On Dec. 25, 1907, legendary jazz musician and bandleader Cabell “Cab” Calloway was born in Rochester, New York. Raised in Baltimore, Calloway left law school in the 1920s to sing with the Alabamians, launching a career that led him to Chicago’s thriving jazz scene and eventually to Harlem’s famed Cotton Club.

During the 1930s big band era, Calloway’s charismatic stage presence and distinctive scat singing style electrified audiences. He recorded iconic hits such as “Minnie the Moocher,” “Kickin’ the Gong Around,” “Moon Glow,” and “The Jumpin’ Jive.”

Calloway continued to perform well into the late twentieth century, captivating new audiences and inspiring generations before his passing on November 18, 1994, at the age of 88.

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On Dec. 24, 1954, Libya declared its long-sought independence from colonial Italian rule, marking a pivotal turning point in its history. The United Libyan Kingdom was established under King Idris, who aimed to unify and modernize the country.

Before this independence, Italy had controlled Libya for over four decades following a 1911 invasion. Shortly after independence, the United States initiated diplomatic relations, bolstering Libya’s international presence.

King Idris’s reign continued until 1969, when a military coup led by Moammar Gadhafi toppled the monarchy. Gadhafi ruled for 42 years until a 2011 uprising, supported by NATO’s “Operation Unified Protector,” ended his regime and life, dramatically reshaping Libya’s political landscape.

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On this day, Dec. 23, in 1867, Madam C. J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, entered the world on a plantation in Delta, Louisiana, to formerly enslaved parents. Orphaned at age seven and working as a domestic servant, she endured poverty and hardship before reinventing herself as “Madam” C. J. Walker.

After experimenting with remedies for scalp conditions, Walker founded a thriving business empire selling Black hair care products and cosmetics. Her company employed thousands of African-American women, empowering them through economic opportunities.

Through her entrepreneurial spirit, Walker became America’s first self-made Black female millionaire. A dedicated philanthropist, she supported Black educational institutions and championed civil rights causes. Her estate, Villa Lewaro, stood as a symbol of success and achievement.

Madam C. J. Walker passed away on May 25, 1919, at the age of 51, leaving behind a legacy of empowerment and self-sufficiency that continues to inspire.

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(AURN News) — A clean spending bill failed to pass the House Thursday night following intervention from President-elect Donald Trump. The original funding bill was 1,500 pages long and, after Trump’s involvement in cutting waste, is down to 116 pages.

"This is Washington. This is how the lawmaking is done. It's a long process," Johnson said. "Sometimes it takes a while to reach consensus."

Johnson also anticipates a major shift when it comes to government spending when he says Republicans will have greater control. "Republicans will have control of the White House and the Senate and the House, and we'll be able to make the key decisions about funding for the 2025 fiscal year," Johnson said.

The bill includes $100 billion for hurricane relief and $10 billion in emergency aid for struggling farmers and ranchers. Johnson attributed agricultural difficulties to "Bidenomics and inflation, the high cost of inputs and fertilizer and seed."

A key provision in the new bill extends the debt ceiling to Jan. 30, 2027. Trump, weighing in on Truth Social, pushed for an even longer extension: "Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President."

The new proposal marks a departure from the initial spending bill, which had included a controversial congressional pay raise before Trump became involved in negotiations. The new bill also extended the debt limit to Jan. 20, 2027.

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Amazon drivers are hitting the picket lines in four states just days before Christmas, but the company insists that your holiday deliveries won't be affected. Workers represented by the Teamsters Union are striking at seven facilities, highlighting low wages and a lack of benefits.

Although the Teamsters claim to represent around 7,000 workers, that's less than 1% of Amazon's workforce in the U.S.

Drivers shared their struggles, stating many can't afford gifts for their own families this year. Amazon disputes the Teamsters' claims, arguing that the drivers aren't their employees despite delivering their packages.

The strike kicked off early Thursday in Queens, New York, and has spread to places like Illinois and California.

The union is pushing for change, hoping to pressure Amazon by striking during the busy, busy holiday season. But it's unclear how long this action will last. As of now, the situation is still developing.

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A state of appeals court has removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case against Donald Trump and several co-defendants. The indictment, however, remains intact.

The decision leaves the prosecution's future uncertain as the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia is tasked with finding a new prosecutor to take over the case.

The case, which has been stalled for months, involves Trump and others who are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. With Trump now serving as president, it's unlikely the prosecution will move forward during his term, but 14 other defendants still face charges.

While Trump and his allies sought to dismiss the case, claiming conflicts of interest and improper comments from Willis, a previous ruling found no such conflicts.

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According to The New York Times, Georgia's Court of Appeals on Thursday disqualified Atlanta prosecutor Fani T. Willis from the election interference case against President-elect Donald J. Trump and his allies, a surprising decision that could jeopardize the entire case.

The three-judge panel, in a 2-1 ruling, reversed a trial court decision allowing Willis, Fulton County's district attorney, to continue prosecuting despite revelations of a romantic relationship with Nathan J. Wade, a lawyer she hired to manage the case.

Judge Scott McAfee had previously ruled that her relationship created "a significant appearance of impropriety," forcing her to dismiss Wade.

The appeals court, all Republican appointees, said the trial court's actions failed to resolve concerns of impropriety. If upheld, the ruling could derail the last active criminal prosecution against Trump.

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(AURN News) — The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, while emphasizing continued vigilance over inflation that remains above the central bank's 2% target.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell highlighted the economy's resilience amid the rate decision. "Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace," Powell said, noting that "GDP rose at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the third quarter, about the same pace as in the second quarter."

The Federal Open Market Committee's move comes amid mixed economic signals. While consumer spending remains strong and business investment has improved, Powell pointed out that "activity in the housing sector has been weak."

In explaining their approach to future policy decisions, Powell stressed the delicate balance the Fed must maintain. "We know that reducing policy restraint too fast or too much could hinder progress on inflation. At the same time, reducing policy restraint too slowly or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment," he said.

The Federal Reserve's official statement indicates that future decisions will be based on comprehensive economic data. "The Committee's assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments," the Fed stated.

Markets initially responded negatively to the announcement on Wednesday, but stocks rebounded in Thursday morning trading.

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed Republicans and warned of the harm that may be about to hit Americans. The reason? President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan plan to prevent a looming government shutdown.

"House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country. House Republicans will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people that results from a government shutdown or worse," said Jeffries.

With federal funding set to run out just days before Christmas, Trump's last-minute demands include tying routine government funding to a contentious debt ceiling hike, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans back to the drawing board.

As the deadline nears, the stalemate underscores the challenges facing Republican leadership and the growing influence of Trump's inner circle.

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