In a decisive move, the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $884 billion package that significantly boosts military personnel pay while taking a stand against funding gender transition procedures for certain transgender children of military personnel.
In a recent interview with Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, former President Bill Clinton pointed to the mainstream media's fixation on Hillary Clinton’s email controversy as a major reason for her 2016 presidential election loss. Clinton, promoting his new book Citizen, described his frustration and detailed his perspective on the media's role in shaping public perception.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) stated that President-elect Donald Trump has the right to pardon those involved in the January 6 protests but suggested it should be handled on a “case-by-case” basis rather than through a blanket pardon.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., expressed skepticism about U.S. military strikes in Syria during an interview on CNN’s The Source. Responding to the Biden administration's 75 strikes against ISIS targets, Omar argued that U.S. military involvement is counterproductive to Syria’s progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic institutions.
The family of Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League graduate charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, expressed shock and devastation following his arrest. In a statement shared by Nino Mangione, a Republican delegate in Baltimore County, the family offered prayers for Thompson's family and urged public prayers for all involved. They emphasized that they were learning details through media reports and could not provide additional comments.
The search for the suspect who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan has expanded, as authorities now believe the gunman boarded a bus heading out of New York City shortly after the murder.
Conservative radio host Ben Ferguson sharply criticized liberal activist Francesca Fiorentini after she accused President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, of rape during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Fiorentini’s comments referenced a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth, which was settled out of court in 2020. Hegseth has consistently denied the allegations, with his attorney stating the settlement was made to protect his career at Fox News.
Chase Strangio, the transgender ACLU attorney arguing before the Supreme Court to challenge Tennessee’s SB1, stirred controversy during a CNN appearance on Wednesday by claiming that children as young as two years old can know they are transgender. Tennessee’s SB1 law bans puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change surgeries for minors, a move the ACLU claims violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
Political analyst Mark Halperin expressed skepticism on Tuesday regarding the likelihood of California Governor Gavin Newsom running for president in 2028, despite the governor’s rising popularity among Democratic voters. A recent Emerson College poll showed Newsom trailing only Vice President Kamala Harris, who leads the 2028 Democratic field with 37% support, while Newsom holds 7%.
