Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) suffered a significant setback in her congressional career, losing her bid to become the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. In a vote among House Democrats, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) defeated Ocasio-Cortez 131-84 for the prominent role. The defeat highlights ongoing tensions between Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive approach and the Democrat establishment.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against social media platform TikTok, alleging it has exposed children to "inappropriate and explicit material," a press release says.
Ice cream company Ben and Jerry's is joining a protest to "send an urgent message to the incoming administration," according to a newsletter shared on social media.
Hollywood icon Barbra Streisand took to social media on Thursday to blame the fierce winds fueling Los Angeles wildfires on climate change, demanding that the government take immediate action. "These horrible winds I think are the strongest we’ve ever experienced and a lot of that is due to climate change, which this coming government better address!" Streisand wrote on Bluesky, a left-leaning social platform.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is set to host a live-streamed chat on his platform X with Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, ahead of the country's February 23 national election.
As devastating wildfires ravage California, some liberal voices have taken to social media to blame former President Donald Trump for the crisis. Sam Stein, managing editor at The Bulwark, claimed on Twitter that Trump’s past remarks about withholding federal wildfire aid were relevant to the state’s current struggles. Stein tweeted that Trump’s threats to cut wildfire relief funds “dawned on him” as fires consumed thousands of acres in Los Angeles, destroying homes and forcing evacuations.
Investor Kevin O'Leary announced that he partnered with an initiative seeking to acquire TikTok. The announcement comes as the social media platform is set to be banned across the United States later this month.
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.
Actor Chris Pratt urged his followers to pray for Los Angeles firefighters battling the fast-moving wildfires engulfing the city for a second consecutive day. Pratt, known for his roles in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to share his concerns and gratitude for first responders.
