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US vetoes UN resolution backed by many nations demanding immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza - The Associated Press

8 hours ago

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, which was supported by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations. Supporters called it a terrible day and warned of more civilian deaths and destruction as the war goes into its third month. The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. The United States' isolated stand reflected a growing fracture between Washington and some of its closest allies over Israel's monthslong bombardment of Gaza. France and Japan were among those supporting the call for a cease-fire. In a vain effort to press the Biden administration to drop its opposition to calling for a halt to the fighting, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey were all in Washington on Friday. Their meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken took place only after the U.N. vote.
The Arab diplomats' mission served to shift responsibility more squarely onto the United States for protecting Israel from growing demands to stop the airstrikes that are killing thousands of Palestinian civilians. The resolution had garnered nearly 100 co-sponsors in less than 24 hours, reflecting global support for efforts to end the war and save Palestinian lives. After the vote, he expressed deep disappointment at the U.S. veto and warned that the Security Council is growing isolated and "appears untethered" from its mandate to ensure international peace and security.

Michigan teen sentenced to life for school shooting that killed four - The Guardian US

7 hours ago

A Michigan teenager, Ethan Crumbley, has been sentenced to life in prison for killing four students and terrorizing others at Oxford high school in 2021. Judge Kwame Rowe rejected pleas from defense lawyers for a shorter sentence and ensured that Crumbley will not get an opportunity for parole. The shooter, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, apologized and appeared to agree with his victims that the stiffest punishment was appropriate. Life sentences for teenagers are rare in Michigan, as the US supreme court and the state’s highest court said the acts of minors must be viewed differently than the crimes of adults. Oakland county prosecutor Karen McDonald said a no-parole order fit the Oxford case.
Crumbley, who was 15 when he committed the shooting, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and terrorism. He brought a gun to school but his backpack was never checked, even after his parents were summoned about their son’s drawings. The judge noted that the shooting was planned well in advance and that the shooter had plenty of time to stop as he walked through school.
The deep trauma caused to the state of Michigan and the Oxford community was highlighted by the court, with victims expressing disappointment that there can be no rehabilitation. The shooter made a video on the eve of the shooting, declaring what he would do the next day. Parents Jennifer and James Crumbley are locked up in the county jail, awaiting trial on involuntary manslaughter charges.

Israeli strike leaves Gaza's oldest mosque in ruins - NPR

4 hours ago

The Omari Mosque, Gaza's most iconic landmark and oldest mosque, has been largely destroyed in an Israeli strike, according to Gaza City officials and eyewitnesses. The mosque grounds contained a tunnel shaft used by militants, and Hamas fighters from the elite Nukhba battalion had regularly used the mosque for cover. The mosque had a storied history incorporating many religious traditions. The central mosque, with its blue-carpeted floors and stained glass windows, is now unrecognizable. The Israeli military's resulting bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 17,000 people, Gaza health officials say, and rendered much of Gaza's historic core a wasteland. The mosque was originally a 5th century Byzantine church that was built over a more ancient temple. It was converted into a mosque in the 7th century, then a Crusader church in the 11th century, and back to a mosque in the 13th century. The architectural elements of the Crusader church were still apparent in the modern-day mosque, and an etching of a Jewish menorah on a mosque column, believed to have been originally part of an ancient synagogue, was once documented and was destroyed in recent decades. Most residents of Gaza City fled weeks ago as Israeli troops invaded, but tens of thousands are estimated to have remained there and in the rest of north Gaza, including Shahawani, an unemployed university graduate who studied accounting.

Texas A.G. Ken Paxton Tries to Block Court-Approved Abortion - The New York Times

8 hours ago

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted a lower court order allowing an abortion for a Dallas woman with a fatal fetus, following an appeal from Attorney General Ken Paxton. The state court issued an administrative stay in the case to give itself more time to issue a final ruling. The stay meant that the order from a judge in Travis County district court permitting the abortion was on hold. The order allowed the woman, Kate Cox, to obtain an abortion and protected her doctor from civil or criminal liability under Texas’s overlapping abortion bans.
The Texas Supreme Court action was the latest twist in an unusual saga unfolding over the state’s strict abortion bans, which are some of the strictest in the nation. In his appeal, Mr. Paxton urged the court to act and wrote that if an abortion was allowed, “Nothing can restore the unborn child’s life that will be lost as a result.” While the Texas bans allow for exceptions to protect the health and life of a pregnant woman, doctors have said that vague legal language created fear of prosecution and an unwillingness to perform abortions.
Lawyers for Dr. Karsan, who is also representing Dr. Cox, filed a response to Mr. Paxton with the state’s highest court, stating that the state’s mandamus petition is stunning in its disregard for Ms. Cox’s life, fertility, and the rule of law. A ruling would apply only to Ms. Cox and her current pregnancy.

Biden launches a Hollywood fundraising blitz to tap into star power with strikes over - NBC News

6 hours ago

President Joe Biden is aiming to bring a Hollywood ending to his reelection campaign by attending six fundraising events and meetings in Los Angeles. The event, hosted by celebrity designer Michael Smith and his partner James Costos, has already pulled in over $8 million. Biden used the event to criticize Donald Trump, calling him the first losing president and candidate in history who refused to except the 2020 race's outcome. Hundreds of protesters demonstrating against the Biden administration's support for Israel during its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip could be heard chanting and blowing whistles from the event. The events are aimed at helping Biden reach a fundraising target of roughly $67 million for the fourth quarter of the year. The pent-up excitement and enthusiasm are unprecedented, and the events are expected to kick off more frequent fundraising travel out West by Biden. He has also been collecting cash on the East Coast, including gatherings in Boston, Philadelphia, and Maryland.
Biden's campaign has pushed to raise money ahead of a likely hard-fought 2024 race, with some donors questioning the president's ability to stock his campaign coffers. Some voters, who helped defeat Trump in 2020, are wary of Biden's low approval ratings and question whether his age could be an issue in 2024. Others, however, have watched Trump build a commanding early lead in the Republican presidential primary and are now more anxious to back Biden, given that a rematch with Trump seems likely. The campaign has also coordinated with the Democratic National Committee to help defray advertising costs and build out staffing in key states. Biden and the DNC reported raising more than $71 million in the quarter ending Sept. 30, with a joint fundraising agreement allowing him to receive checks from a single donor in the range of $1 million.

Israel-Gaza war: Half of Gaza's population is starving, warns UN - BBC.com

5 hours ago

Half of Gaza's population is starving as fighting continues in the region. Carl Skau, deputy director of the UN World Food Programme, reported that only a fraction of supplies needed have been able to enter the Strip, and nine out of 10 people cannot eat everyday. Israel has said it must continue air strikes on Gaza to eliminate Hamas and bring Israeli hostages home. The Hamas-run health ministry claims that Israel has killed more than 17,700 Gazans in its retaliatory campaign, including more than 7,000 children. The Rafah crossing bordering Egypt has been open, allowing limited quantities of aid to reach Gaza. This week, Israel agreed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel into Gaza in the next few days, but only for the inspection of aid lorries. Nine out of 10 families in some areas are spending "a full day and night without any food at all", according to Skau. People in Khan Younis, a city now surrounded on two fronts by Israeli tanks, say the situation there is dire. Israel claims Hamas leaders are hiding in Khan Younis, possibly in an underground network of tunnels, and is fighting house to house and "shaft to shaft" to destroy the group's military capabilities.

Penn president Liz Magill faces calls to resign; Harvard president apologizes after House hearing - The Washington Post

7 hours ago

The University of Pennsylvania's president, Liz Magill, has faced increasing calls from donors and alumni to resign as three college leaders testified about antisemitism on their campuses. Magill, Gay, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth sought to defend values of free expression while assuring that they would punish harassment or bullying. However, many found the academics' attempts at nuance weak-kneed and legalistic equivocations. Magill's hold on the Penn presidency appears tenuous, and her testimony alienated key constituents, including the state's governor, the board of the Wharton School of Business, and an alumnus who is threatening to withhold a $100 million donation.
Claire Finkelstein, a professor of law and philosophy at Penn, believes the university's guidelines on open expression would prohibit a call for genocide against Jews. She is troubled that anyone would suggest otherwise. Some lines need to be drawn, she said. Magill has seen notable erosions of support in powerful places, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) describing Magill's comments as "absolutely shameful." The Wharton board, whose members include some members of Penn's board of trustees, said in a letter to Magill this week that Penn needed a change in leadership.
A letter signed by more than 70 members of Congress called on the governing boards for Harvard, Penn, and MIT to remove the presidents. Jewish students at Penn expressed disappointment in Magill and called for her resignation or forced outing. Two students are suing the university for failing to respond to antisemitic incidents on campus, alleging Penn has become an incubation lab for virulent anti-Jewish hatred.
The presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT have testified on Capitol Hill about antisemitism on their campuses since the outbreak of war in Israel and Gaza. The presidents' remarks have sparked outrage among free speech advocates who worry about colleges cracking down on protected speech due to political pressure. Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said that deciding whether speech violates a university's code of conduct depends on context. He said that a call for genocide is a form of advocacy, and there are only narrow exceptions to those protections. He said that much of the criticism the presidents are getting now is "misguided" and coming from people who have been frustrated by other past incidences of censorship on college campuses. Private universities, like Penn and MIT, are not bound by the First Amendment, but leaders of private institutions say they are guided by principles of free expression that are critical to academic freedom. Critics argue that discussions about where free speech ends and harassment begins are nuanced, and a congressional hearing is not a great place for nuance. Rick Fox, a rabbi who leads a Jewish empowerment and education group on Penn's campus, expressed his concern that if Magill were forced out, she would be replaced by someone fond of legal platitudes.

Hunter Biden’s latest indictment brings an uncomfortable ordeal to the forefront for his father - CNN

10 hours ago

President Joe Biden is facing the prospect of his son Hunter Biden facing an embarrassing legal ordeal next year amid a host of other political obstacles in a possible rematch with Donald Trump. The additional criminal charges brought by the Justice Department against Hunter Biden on Thursday amounted to a reminder of the personal strain the president will face as he gears up for the coming campaign. The unveiling of the special counsel’s second case against Hunter Biden comes at an inopportune moment as the election year looms and Biden’s vulnerabilities are laid bare. His approval ratings have slumped as the American public continues to feel pessimistic about the health of the economy and increasingly question Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The latest jobs report on Friday served as one more reminder of a seemingly intractable problem for the Biden White House: a robust economy, by any measure, that still isn’t translating to optimism for most Americans.
There is nothing to indicate the president himself plans to distance himself from his son, who resides in California but has on occasion spent time at the White House. Hunter Biden’s representatives are arguing that their client’s legal troubles have little to do with substance – and everything to do with who his father is.
Polls show ethics concerns casting a shadow over the president, with 61% of Americans believing that Biden had at least some involvement in Hunter Biden's business dealings. 42% think he acted illegally, while 18% believe his actions were unethical but not illegal. A 55% majority of the public says the president has acted inappropriately regarding the investigation into Hunter Biden over potential crimes, while 44% say he has acted appropriately.
Meanwhile, witness testimony has revealed the president has had various interactions with his son's business partners. The majority of these claims stem from a business associate of the president's son, Devon Archer, who testified to the House Oversight Committee earlier this year that there were "maybe 20 times" when Joe Biden was placed on speakerphone during meetings with his and Hunter Biden's business partners. However, Archer said "nothing" of importance was ever discussed during those calls.
The White House's public stance on the president's son has remained tight-lipped, with officials declining to weigh in on individual developments and insisting only that Joe Biden loves his son. Hunter Biden and his team have gone on their own offense, accusing Republicans and others of trying to use his addiction issues for political profit. Hunter Biden's interview with musician Moby on "Moby Pod" offered some of his most in-depth public remarks about how he internalizes the Republican-led attacks against him.

DeSantis' wife prompts Republican reminder of Iowa nominating process rules - Reuters

5 hours ago

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called on women from across the US to "descend" to Iowa for its 2024 presidential nominating process. The state Republican party has reminded residents that only registered voters can participate in the Iowa Caucus, which will hold local gatherings on January 15. The party is scheduled to hold local gatherings, known as the Iowa Caucus, on January 15, where participants will vote for their choice for the Republican candidate to run in November's presidential election. The Trump campaign has strongly condemned the DeSantises' "dirty and illegal tactics" and urged Trump supporters in Iowa to be aware of their openly stated plot to rig the Caucus.

University of Wisconsin board rejects deal on diversity, buildings - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

4 hours ago

The University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents has rejected a deal brokered with Republicans over campus diversity efforts. The deal, which would have restructured diversity staff into positions serving all students and frozen the total number of diversity positions for the next three years, was seen as selling out students of color in exchange for $800 million in employee pay raises and building projects. The deal was criticized as divisive, polarizing, and potentially leading to negative effects on the university system for decades to come. The deal was brokered months in the making by UW System President Jay Rothman and UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. The deal was criticized for being divisive and polarizing, and the Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu could not be immediately reached. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers urged the Legislature to release the already approved UW employee pay raises and find common ground with UW as negotiations continue.
In a meeting of the University of Wisconsin Regents, board members grappled with the implications of a deal they accepted, questioning the message it would send to campuses and the precedent it may set when seeking funding from the Legislature. Some regents were emotional, while others shared their own experiences of discrimination. Some board members of color shared their own stories of losing hope and learning little.
The Legislative Black Caucus criticized the deal, arguing that it sacrificed Diversity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts for buildings. UW-Oshkosh professor Vincent Filak said the deal would have "sold out" students and faculty of color for a couple of buildings and modest raises. The campaign urging Regents to vote down the deal began swiftly, with Assembly Democrats organizing a letter and the UW-Madison student government offering a template email for students to send to board members.
The deal for Republicans included reining in UW system hiring and rolling back diversity programs. Under the deal, the UW System would have maintained its total number of positions, restructured one-third of its 130 DEI positions, and ended a hiring program that has helped diversify its faculty ranks. The deal also included a mandatory online orientation on free speech for incoming students and removal of diversity statements from the student application process.
The deal would have infused universities with cash for capital projects and pay raises for employees, but the $32 million Republicans cut from the UW budget earlier this year would have been released back to campuses to spend on nursing, engineering, and other workforce needs.

Feds grant $6 billion for high-speed rail projects - NBC News

9 hours ago

The Department of Transportation has announced over $6 billion in grant funding for high-speed rail projects, despite concerns about its costs. Brightline West, an affiliate of Florida's Brightline intercity rail service, was awarded $3 billion in federal funds for its proposed line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, which would zoom passengers between the cities in two hours. The California High-Speed-Rail Authority was awarded $3.1 billion to continue work on its system, which will ultimately connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in less than three hours. High-speed rail refers to passenger trains that travel at least 125 mph and can reach more than 220 mph. The technology has been around since the 1960s, with China having built a network of almost 25,000 miles. The U.S. has been slower to adopt the technology, with 56% of registered voters supporting continuing the state's project versus 35% against. The grant money announced this week will primarily fund construction of the system in the Central Valley, connecting Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield sometime between 2030-33.

Planet to cross key climate change threshold, analysis says - The Washington Post

22 hours ago

Global temperatures are set to surpass a key climate threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels, prompting some climate activists and scientists to question the possibility of preventing catastrophic levels of warming. The UK's Met office warns that next year's average global temperature could breach this threshold, causing catastrophic sea level rise and posing a threat to life for 2 billion people. Despite this, the 1.5C warming target, adopted in 2015, remains central to global leaders' talks at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Dubai. Some argue that the goal is wishful thinking, while others view it as an issue of politics and survival. The 1.5C goal is being used as a cudgel for climate talks, as it is seen as an issue of politics and survival for some nations.
Extreme weather risks are growing with every fractional degree of warming, and the world still needs action to reduce planet-warming emissions. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicted that 2023 is certain to break an annual global warmth record set in 2016 and tied in 2020. A study by the Global Carbon Project found that efforts to transform worldwide energy usage aren't making a dent in greenhouse gas emissions. The team of scientists projected that the temperature of the planet could consistently exceed the 1.5C threshold within seven years if emission levels hold.
The U.K. Met Office predicted that in 2024, global temperatures stand a chance of averaging more than 1.5 degrees higher than from 1850 to 1900, a benchmark period from before humans' fossil fuel consumption began adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and warming the planet. Current trends and an expected acceleration from an ongoing El Niño climate pattern are likely to mean that in 2024, global temperatures average somewhere between 1.34 and 1.58 degrees Celsius above preindustrial norms.
Even if the planet warms beyond the 1.5-degree mark next year, it wouldn't mean the world has missed the ambitious target set in Paris in 2015 to limit warming to that level. The goal would not be considered out of reach until global temperature averages rise above that threshold for multiple years in a row, something scientists project will occur around 2030 unless greenhouse gas emissions drastically diminish in the next few years.

Observers see OPEC 'panicking' as COP28 climate talks focus on possible fossil fuel phase-out - The Associated Press

6 hours ago

The United Nations climate talks have been criticized for their focus on phasing out fossil fuels, with the oil industry being a significant opponent. OPEC, the powerful oil cartel, has written to member countries urging them to block any language that would phase out or phase down fossil fuels. This has sparked controversy, with environmental activists smirking at signs that the mighty cartel is circling the wagons. Environmental activists, who have been keeping such discussions from seeing the light of day for decades, are now smirking at signs that the mighty cartel is circling the wagons. China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua called this year's climate conference the "most difficult" of his long career, while Germany's climate envoy, Jennifer Morgan, suggested that any call for blocking a deal would be felt most by small countries vulnerable to sea level rise caused by global warming. COP28 Director General Majid al-Suwaidi downplayed the OPEC letter, saying the UAE team running the climate conference has been meeting with negotiators to get an ambitious deal. However, a key group of scientists who analyze pledges, actions, and potential temperature increases said that all the action hadn't amounted to much. The OPEC letter has added fuel to their fury, as the planet is on track to a 2.9 degree Celsius future.

Rare High Wind Watch issued for New York City area as Northeast braces for powerful weekend storm - Fox Weather

6 hours ago

The Northeast is facing a storm system triggered by the recent flooding in the Pacific Northwest. The main low-pressure center will develop over the weekend, producing storms across the South and quickly deepening. Snow, rain, and gusty winds are possible, but impacts will vary by location in the Northeast and New England. Local National Weather Service offices have issued various weather alerts, including a Winter Storm Watch, a Flood Watch, and a High Wind Watch.
The storm system will affect western regions of the Northeast, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston, with travel delays expected from Sunday through the beginning of the workweek. More than 50 million people will be under flood alerts, with widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches expected. The storm is expected to cause significant delays at major airports, power outages, and damage to outdoor holiday decorations. The New York City Emergency Management Department issued a travel advisory for both Sunday and Monday, urging New Yorkers to plan extra travel time and use public transportation.
The greatest impact will be on travelers, power lines, and holiday decorations. The storm could be the most significant weather system to impact the power grid since Hurricane Lee in September.

State Department bypasses Congress to send thousands of munitions to Israel - CNN

24 hours ago

The US State Department has issued an emergency declaration to lawmakers for the sale of thousands of munitions to Israel, bypassing the standard 20-day period that congressional committees are typically afforded to review such a sale. The declaration follows a request by the State Department earlier in the week for Congress to approve the sale of 45,000 shells to Israel for its Merkava tanks. The House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which have oversight over military sales, had been under "pressure" from the State Department to approve the request quickly amid Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The committees typically have 20 days to review foreign military sales, allowing lawmakers to raise questions about a transaction and delay it if needed. The administration's move to transfer some of the munitions comes as the US is under growing domestic and international pressure to support a ceasefire in Gaza and place conditions on some of the weapons it is providing to Israel. The sale will be for "13,981 120mm M830A1 High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose with Tracer (MPAT) tank cartridges."

Donald Trump Legal Move 'Almost Certain' After New Evidence - Newsweek

9 hours ago

Donald Trump is likely to appeal his New York fraud case after a law professor strongly supported his version of events, according to Eric C. Chaffee, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Bartov, a professor specializing in financial accounting, told the fraud trial that he saw "no evidence whatsoever for any accounting fraud" and that he "absolutely believed that New York Attorney General Letitia James' case had no merit." Trump, his two eldest sons, and the Trump Organization have denied any wrongdoing, accusing James of being part of a political witch hunt against him. In September, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Donald Trump and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, committed fraud in their property evaluations. The Trump team will not be able to use Bartov's evidence to overturn Engoron's summary judgment in September, as it did not form part of the evidence on which the judge made his decision. Trump's attorneys established that the professor is a seasoned expert witness, having taken the stand previously in 16 to 18 cases.

Philippines accuses China of shooting water cannon at its boats - BBC.com

10 hours ago

The Philippines has accused China of using water cannons to obstruct three Philippine government vessels in the South China Sea territorial dispute. Video footage shows Chinese ships firing powerful blasts of water at Philippine vessels, calling China's actions "illegal and aggressive". The South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines, and other countries. The incident happened near Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint between the two countries. Beijing seized the shoal in 2012 and Chinese boats have harassed Philippine fishermen in the area. The Philippines plans to send a Christmas convoy of around 40 boats to distribute gifts to Thitu island.

DeSantis, Haley and Ramaswamy will appear in northwest Iowa - The Associated Press

6 hours ago

Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy are aiming to make the campaign case in northwest Iowa, a more rural, conservative corner of the state, just days after a fractious debate. The three candidates made stops across Iowa on Friday as pressure mounts for an attention-grabbing performance in the Jan. 15 contest that kicks off the GOP nominating calendar. Former President Donald Trump, who is not at Saturday's event, sits comfortably atop the field in polls of Republicans in Iowa and nationwide. DeSantis, Haley, and Ramaswamy last appeared together in Iowa before Thanksgiving, at the Family Leader's roundtable discussion. They next look to take the stage at Drake University in Des Moines for a Republican debate five days before the caucuses.

Pleasant Hill suspect who shot at police during standoff in custody - CBS San Francisco

4 hours ago

A Pleasant Hill police officer, identified as 40-year-old Chunliam Saechao, has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting his wife. The incident occurred on the third day of a standoff, with police closing Monument Boulevard and Marcia Drive in both directions due to police activity. The suspect, who has been posting on social media, has been a retired detective from the Pittsburg police department. The police have been attempting to establish a cooling-off period and do not believe the suspect is a danger to the community. The case is still active, and officers are monitoring the area.
A woman was shot through a locked garage door while trying to get into her house, and her husband stayed in the house while SWAT team members secured the area. The woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released. The SWAT team disengaged from the scene and left the husband alone inside the house. The case is still active, and the police are monitoring the area. The surrounding streets were reopened, and neighbors were allowed back into their homes.

Science has found new evidence of the causes of fainting - NPR

8 hours ago

New research suggests that fainting can be caused by a newly discovered pathway between the heart and brain. About 40% of people pass out at some point in their lives, and this type of fainting is called vasovagal syncope. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found that fainting can be triggered by the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to internal organs like the heart, lung, and gut. The vagus nerve is a major highway between the body and the brain, and studies show it is a two-way street. The heart also sends signals back to the brain, which can influence its function and behavior. Researchers used genetic tools to study the vagus nerve in mice, finding a group of nerve cells that connect the heart's ventricles with a small region of the brainstem, which regulates breathing and heart rate. The study appears in the journal Nature and provides a clearer picture of how the brain and body usually work together to keep us from passing out. The discovery of a fainting reflex could help patients with disorders that affect blood flow to the brain, potentially leading to treatments and understanding.

With McCarthy's retirement, California House Republicans are bracing themselves - Los Angeles Times

11 hours ago

Kevin McCarthy's retirement from Congress could leave Republican colleagues at a disadvantage in the upcoming elections. The fight for control of the House will likely be decided in California, where McCarthy's home state is located. Five of the state's 12 Republicans hold districts President Biden won in 2020, and a sixth Golden State Republican, Rep. Ken Calvert, faces a competitive race. McCarthy's departure means the GOP will be without the man who convinced many of them to run for office in the first place, as well as one of the most prolific fundraisers in party history. His replacement, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), is a neophyte at political leadership with a long history of hard-line social conservative stances that might not play well in the districts that will determine House control. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), a close McCarthy ally, is worried about the steep learning curve his home-state colleague faces as he settles into the speakership, as well as the loss of connections and institutional knowledge that are leaving with McCarthy. McCarthy comes from California and knows the Golden State well, so there are no GOP House leaders from either of the two states that strategists of both parties think will determine House control next fall.
House Republicans' online fundraising has increased significantly during the speakership fight, with Speaker Mike Johnson's first major D.C. fundraiser bringing in $4 million. The CLF and AAN raised a combined total of $16 million in the first 10 days of Johnson's speakership, outpacing their 2022 fundraising through September by $20 million. Major GOP donors have stepped up in recent weeks to "make a show of force" and signal that this is not going to be a disaster for Republicans. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has stuck around since stepping down from House leadership to help the new generation of Democratic leaders through the transition and avoid a dropoff in fundraising. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a conservative firebrand, said she was frustrated with how Johnson is running the House so far. However, she didn't think that losing McCarthy would have much impact on which party will win the House next year. Johnson's hard-right views, especially on social issues, have not kept swing-district Republicans from wanting to campaign with him. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who has won a series of close races in his Omaha-based swing district, said he would be happy to have Johnson come in and campaign for him.

It's taking longer to get an abortion in the US. Doctors fear riskier, more complex procedures - The Associated Press

8 hours ago

Since the Roe v. Wade decision in June 2022, delays in abortions have become more common, leading to more complex, costly, and riskier procedures. About half of U.S. states now have laws that ban or restrict access to abortion, causing many clinics to close, increasing demand for appointments at remaining providers. Wait times in several states have stretched for two or three weeks, and some clinics have no available appointments. Even as wait times have lessened, people still encounter other challenges, such as planning and paying for travel, taking time off work, and finding child care.
Medication abortions are not generally offered past 10 to 11 weeks gestation, and the cost of the procedure changes from up to $800 in the first trimester to $2,000 or more in the second trimester. The need for people to travel out of state is at the root of abortion delays. The Myers Abortion Appointment Availability Survey found that 11 states had median appointment wait times of more than five business days, and four states had waits of at least eight business days. The latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that about 7% of abortions took place at 14 weeks or later.
Delays in abortions have led to a 35% increase in patients seeking abortions at 14 weeks or later at Southern Illinois health centers in the year after the Supreme Court decision. Clinics have taken steps to reduce wait times, such as adding more telehealth appointments for medication abortions, staying open longer, and adding more staff. However, individual issues like childcare problems, canceled flights, and financial concerns can be tough to overcome, even when clinics try to help by connecting patients to abortion funds. Travel distances have also grown longer, with the average driving distance to the nearest clinic rising substantially in some states after Roe v. Wade. The Center for Reproductive Rights is filing a lawsuit to ask state courts in Idaho and Tennessee to place holds on abortion laws. This is not how most people would be able to make it work, as it is not how they should have to seek health care.

Frantic 911 callers from UNLV reported seeing unfamiliar man in campus building - NBC News

18 hours ago

A shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, left three people dead and another person wounded. Over two hours of audio recordings of real-time 911 calls from UNLV students, employees, and their loved ones captured the panic of the moment as the shooting unfolded. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released the recordings Friday in response to a public records request from NBC News. Officers responding to emergency calls from the campus confronted and shot the gunman, later identified as Anthony Polito, 67. The three deceased victims all taught at the university. Several of the recordings captured emergency calls placed from people taking cover on the fourth floor of Beam Hall in the Lee School of Business, where authorities said the shooting began before the gunman made his way to multiple other floors throughout the building. Throughout the 911 calls, dispatchers attempted to keep panicking callers calm and offered suggestions to blockade doors, if possible, and assured them multiple officers were on their way to help. Several of the recordings included calls from people off campus who said they had received urgent calls from loved ones hunkered down at the university.

Voters to choose between Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire for Houston mayor - POLITICO

8 hours ago

Houston mayoral candidates, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire, are facing off in a runoff election to lead the nation's fourth largest city. Jackson Lee, 73, would be Houston's first Black female mayor, representing the city since 1995. Whitmire, 74, is a powerful Democratic legislator in Texas, known for his tough-on-crime policies and reform efforts. Lee has experience in bringing federal funding to Houston for flooding relief, job training programs, and education. The new mayor will have to deal with new laws from the GOP-led state government over control of local elections and the ability to impose local regulations. The winner will be the oldest big city mayor in the U.S., and the new mayor will replace Sylvester Turner, who has served eight years and cannot run again due to term limits.

Biden campaign says jobs report shows he is ‘cleaning up the economic disaster’ Trump left - The Hill

31 hours ago

President Biden's reelection campaign claims he is addressing the economic disaster left by former President Trump, with a strong jobs report showing the US economy added 199,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 3.7%. Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Seth Schuster argues that Trump's record shows Americans can't trust him to do more, as he would double down on failed policies that gave tax cuts to the rich and big corporations, while creating incentives to ship American jobs overseas. The campaign also claims Trump put the economy "in ruin" as president.

Ukraine aid in growing jeopardy as Republicans double down on their demands for border security - The Associated Press

16 hours ago

The US is increasingly unable to agree on a deal to provide additional aid to Ukraine by year-end, despite warnings from the White House about the consequences of inaction. Republicans insist on pairing the aid with changes to America's immigration and border policies, which could force the White House to consider ideas that many Democrats will seriously oppose. The latest proposal, from the lead GOP negotiator, Sen. James Lankford, came during a meeting with a core group of senators before they left Washington. The White House warns that a failure to approve more aid by year's end could have catastrophic consequences for Ukraine and its ability to fight. The Biden administration has quietly engaged in Senate talks on border policy to preserve U.S. backing. The new Republican proposal calls for ending the humanitarian parole program for existing classes of migrants, which had been all but dashed before.
Republican senators have proposed monitoring systems for detained migrants at the US-Ukraine border, including ankle bracelets for children. They also want to ban asylum applicants who have transited through a different country where they could have sought asylum instead. The GOP proposal would set new guidelines requiring the border to be shut down if illegal crossings reach a certain limit. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy did not quickly respond to the GOP proposal. The administration has communicated that it is amenable to that change and could agree to expand expedited removal to deport immigrants before they have a hearing with an immigration judge. Immigration advocates and progressives in Congress have been alarmed by the direction of the talks, especially because they have not featured changes aimed at expanding legal immigration. The White House has so far declined to take a leading role in negotiations. Even if senators reach a deal, the obstacles to passage in the House are considerable. Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled he will fight for sweeping changes to immigration policy that go beyond what is being discussed in the Senate.

N.J. man sentenced to 8 years in prison after video showed him harassing Black neighbors with racial slurs - NBC News

6 hours ago

Edward C. Mathews, a white New Jersey man, was sentenced to eight years in prison after a viral video of him harassing his Black neighbors and hurling racial slurs in 2021. Mathews pleaded guilty to four counts of bias intimidation and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. The charges stem from a 2021 incident where footage showed him repeatedly calling his neighbors the N-word and another offensive slur outside a home in Mount Laurel. Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw emphasized the importance of combating bias crimes and sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated in the community. Mathews accepted responsibility and expressed his desire to rebuild the community.

Yemen's Houthis warn they will target all ships headed to Israel - Reuters

4 hours ago

Yemen's Houthi movement has announced plans to target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports. The Iran-aligned group is escalating the risks of a regional conflict amid a brutal war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Houthis have attacked and seized several Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and its Bab al-Mandab strait, a sea lane through which much of the world's oil is shipped. Israel has deemed these attacks an "Iranian act of terrorism" with consequences for international maritime security. The Houthi movement is one of several groups in the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" targeting Israeli and U.S. targets since October 7.

Nashville shooter manifesto leak investigation ends inconclusive - Fox News

9 hours ago

Police in Nashville are unable to determine how pages of mass murderer Audrey Hale's manifesto leaked last month, following an inconclusive investigation. The Metro Nashville Police Department announced that investigators have exhausted all available avenues in the hunt for the individuals responsible in leaking portions of Hale's journals to conservative commentator Steven Crowder. Two officers in the Specialized Investigations Division discovered Hale's manifesto in her automobile near the crime scene and took pictures of the handwritten document. Seven Nashville officers were transferred to administrative positions following the leak of the manifesto. The killer's writings have been the subject of intense controversy, with lawsuits filed to force the release of the texts.

With Putin's reelection all but assured, Russia's opposition still vows to undermine his image - The Associated Press

16 hours ago

Russian opposition figures, including imprisoned leader Alexei Navalny, are vowing to continue fighting against President Vladimir Putin in the upcoming election. They believe Putin will be declared the winner, but they aim to undermine his widespread public support, turn popular opinion against the war he has unleashed on Ukraine, and show those who oppose it that they are not alone. Navalny's top strategist, Leonid Volkov, has launched a project called "Navalny's Campaigning Machine" to raise issues about Putin and his government during the election campaign. The project aims to convince as many Russians as possible to turn against the candidates they hate, such as Putin and "War." Volkov said that the authorities can't answer these questions, and by raising them with the Russians, the team hopes to cause "political problems" for the Kremlin. The Anti-War Committee, another opposition force, plans a campaign called "No to Putin!" to explain to Russians what the future could be like without Putin, with the government focusing on the economy, science, and education. Gudkov suggested that urging Putin critics to go to the polls at a specified time to show how many people oppose him could be enough.
A project called Our Headquarters, launched by activists helping Russian refugees settle abroad, aims to support democratic candidates with an antiwar position. The project can assist candidates with campaign and procedural aspects, such as assembling a group of 500 people required by law to put forward an independent candidate or gathering and verifying 300,000 signatures needed to register on the ballot. To receive support, candidates must oppose the war, be willing to release political prisoners, and implement democratic reforms in Russia. The project has already endorsed one candidate, Yekaterina Duntsova, and is in talks with others. Navalny urged supporters to vote for any other candidate on election day, a strategy similar to the one proposed in 2012 when Putin ran for president after a four-year hiatus. Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation urged the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom to make Putin's reelection more painful by promising sanctions against celebrities endorsing him.

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