Joseph de Soto, a newly elected delegate from West Virginia, was officially removed from office Wednesday while under house confinement. De Soto, 61, is facing charges stemming from alleged terroristic threats against several state lawmakers.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is under fire for her absence during the city’s battle with catastrophic wildfires fueled by unprecedented windstorms. The mayor was in Ghana on a taxpayer-funded delegation to attend the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama as fires ravaged the city and forced over 80,000 residents to evacuate.
President-elect Donald Trump met privately with Republican lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, as the GOP works to finalize its strategy for advancing key legislative priorities. With Republicans holding slim majorities in Congress, swift action is necessary to capitalize on Trump’s early political momentum.
A federal judge has sentenced Brian DiPippa, 37, and his wife, Krystal DiPippa, 42, of Pittsburgh, to prison and probation, respectively, for their roles in a 2023 bombing attack targeting a conservative event at the University of Pittsburgh. The attack, linked to Antifa, injured several police officers and highlighted the growing domestic terrorism threat from extremist groups.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will soon name a successor to Sen. Marco Rubio, who is poised to become secretary of state in the incoming Trump administration. Reports suggest that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is the leading candidate for the Senate appointment.
Bogalusa, Louisiana, is reeling from the arrest of its youngest-ever mayor, Tyrin Truong, 25, who now faces charges including drug trafficking, misuse of taxpayer funds, and soliciting prostitutes. Truong, a Democrat elected in 2022 as a rising star in his party, is accused of participating in a local drug trafficking operation and abusing his position for personal gain.
In a historic move, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office. Brambilla, an Italian nun, will serve as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, responsible for overseeing the Catholic Church’s religious orders worldwide.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed any notion of forgiving Russian President Vladimir Putin during a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, citing atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy labeled Putin a child murderer and rejected the possibility of a peace deal involving forgiveness.
Former President Jimmy Carter was honored Tuesday in a brief ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda, where his body will lie in state until his funeral on Thursday. Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, is remembered as a member of the Greatest Generation, a dedicated public servant, and a humanitarian who continued his service long after leaving the presidency.
