Today’s Headlines: Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire after 14 months of conflict, brokered by the U.S. and France. The deal halts fighting for two months, requiring Hezbollah to withdraw from southern Lebanon and Israeli troops to leave the area, with Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers ensuring compliance. Meanwhile, Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China after his inauguration, sparking threats of retaliation from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. The Biden administration proposed a new rule requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Lastly, Macy’s revealed that one employee hid $154 million in delivery costs over three years, delaying its earnings report.

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Today’s Headlines: Israel’s cabinet is set to vote on a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, a move that’s already facing backlash from Netanyahu’s far-right allies. Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned the newspaper Haaretz for its critical war coverage, and investigations continue into the antisemitic murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE. In Russia, Putin has lowered the threshold for nuclear strikes and warned that the war in Ukraine has taken on a “global” scope. NATO is also on high alert over rising Russian cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure. Back in the U.S., the DOJ dropped federal charges against Trump related to January 6 and classified documents. At the same time, a third woman in Texas has died due to delays in care caused by the state’s abortion ban, further exposing the deadly impact of restrictive policies.

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Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump’s second-term cabinet is coming together fast. Hedge fund CEO Scott Bessent, a former George Soros employee and respected strategist, has been picked for Treasury Secretary. Other key roles include Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor, Scott Turner for HUD, and Brooke Rollins for Agriculture. Matt Gaetz, meanwhile, says he’s leaving Congress after eight years to focus on supporting Trump from the sidelines. The DOJ is pushing to break up Google, proposing that it sell Chrome and Android to restore competition in online search. Google isn’t thrilled, calling the plan “wildly overboard,” with closing arguments happening today. In Texas, the state board of education approved a Bible-based curriculum for public elementary schools, offering schools $60 per student as an incentive to adopt it. And in Georgia, the maternal death oversight panel was abruptly dismissed after whistleblowers exposed preventable deaths linked to the state’s abortion ban. State officials say the leak violated the law, but critics call it an attempt to silence accountability.

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Today’s Headlines: Matt Gaetz pulled out of the Attorney General race after just eight days, calling it a “distraction” as new allegations about a sexual encounter with a minor surfaced. Trump quickly named Pam Bondi, a former Florida AG and his impeachment lawyer, as the new nominee. Trump’s Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, is facing renewed scrutiny over past assault allegations, while Marjorie Taylor Greene will lead a cost-cutting subcommittee alongside Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s new department. Globally, Jair Bolsonaro was indicted for a 2022 coup attempt, the ICC issued war crime warrants for Netanyahu and others, and Iran announced “treatment” for women who defy hijab laws, as Iraq considers lowering the age of consent to nine. In a lighter note, Pope Francis is set to canonize Carlo Acutis, a millennial known as “God’s influencer,” as the first digital saint.

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Today’s Headlines: Donald Trump’s second-term transition is already making waves with controversial picks like Russ Vought for OMB, Linda McMahon for Education Secretary, and Matthew Whitaker for NATO Ambassador—all pushing Christian nationalism and MAGA-focused policies. Vought’s Schedule F plan could let Trump replace career government workers with politically loyal staff. Trump is also ignoring standard transfer protocols, pressuring Senate Republicans to block Biden’s judicial picks, and backing Matt Gaetz for Attorney General—even as Gaetz faces serious ethics scandals. Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson has banned transgender people from certain Capitol bathrooms, targeting Rep.-elect Sarah McBride. On a different note, Pew Research revealed that 21% of Americans now get their news from social media influencers, showing just how much the media landscape is shifting.

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Today’s Headlines: Trump’s transition team has announced key cabinet picks, including Dr. Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid, Howard Lutnick for Commerce, and former reality TV star Sean Duffy for Transportation. Dr. Oz plans to cut Medicaid budgets, Lutnick will oversee tariff policies, and Duffy would manage Elon Musk's federally contracted companies. Meanwhile, Trump is aggressively pushing Matt Gaetz for attorney general despite renewed scrutiny over allegations involving a minor and leaked depositions. In Congress, House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are targeting trans rights with a bathroom resolution aimed at newly elected Representative Sarah McBride. On a brighter note, homicides have dropped by up to 40% in major U.S. cities this year, signaling significant progress in public safety.

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Today’s Headlines: Following Biden’s approval of Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, the Kremlin responded with its largest attack on Ukraine in months, crippling parts of the country’s electric grid and warning that Biden’s move “adds fuel to the fire.” Meanwhile, Trump confirmed plans to declare a national emergency for mass deportations and named Brendan Carr, a critic of net neutrality and DEI policies, as his pick for FCC chair. In Ohio, a neo-Nazi march drew widespread condemnation from leaders, including President Biden and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Lastly, Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy but reassured customers it will continue operating, despite ongoing financial struggles.

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Today’s Headlines: The Trump transition continues with bold cabinet picks: fracking CEO Chris Wright for Energy Secretary and Doug Burgum for Interior, alongside former press aide Karoline Leavitt as press secretary. Pete Hegseth’s Defense Secretary nomination faces scrutiny over past allegations. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggests possible recess appointments to bypass Senate delays. Meanwhile, Trump’s team is eyeing military leaders involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal for potential court-martials. The FBI investigates racist and threatening texts sent to Black, Latino, and LGBTQ individuals post-election. On the international front, Biden approved Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russia, while U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed Israel's strike on a covert Iranian nuclear facility.

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Today’s Headlines: Trump’s cabinet picks are stirring up headlines, with RFK Jr., an outspoken anti-vaxxer, slated to lead Health and Human Services, and Matt Gaetz set for Attorney General despite ongoing controversies. Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Senate race heads to a recount, and after Trump floated the idea of a third term, a House resolution reaffirmed the two-term limit. Trump joked about a possible third term, prompting Rep. Dan Goldman to introduce a resolution reinforcing the two-term limit for presidents. In tech news, X (formerly Twitter) updated its terms, allowing all user posts to be used for AI training, and any disputes will go through Texas courts, a favorable setting for Elon Musk. On the foreign front, Musk also reportedly met with Iranian officials to discuss U.S.-Iran tensions, and a CIA officer was arrested for leaking sensitive intel on potential conflict in the region. Finally, Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira received a 15-year sentence for leaking classified information on Discord.

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Today’s Headlines: Republicans have clinched the House majority, but with a twist: Rep. Matt Gaetz resigned to become Trump’s choice for attorney general. Gaetz, who’s still under scrutiny for previous allegations and controversial behavior, has raised eyebrows even among his Republican colleagues. Trump’s other major pick was Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, keeping his trend of surprising choices. Meanwhile, Biden and Trump met at the White House to discuss the transition in what seemed like a cordial, if somewhat ironic, meeting given their history. On policy, Trump’s team is already laying out plans to double immigrant detention facilities and create a “warrior board” to review and potentially remove high-ranking military officers they don’t consider fit. He’s also promising to dismantle the Department of Education, pushing control back to the states, and target DEI programs in schools. On the tech front, Trump looks set to lift the ban on TikTok, meaning the app could stay available in the U.S. And finally, the FBI raided the New York apartment of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, although details on the investigation remain under wraps.

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