Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass traveled to Ghana on Tuesday as part of a U.S. delegation attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama, sparking frustration as her city faced devastating wildfires. The taxpayer-funded trip, led by Shalanda D. Young, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, also included U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer and Frances Z. Brown, a senior director for African affairs.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a 33-page letter to Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth on Monday, defending the Biden administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the military and criticizing Hegseth’s stance against them. Warren expressed concern that Hegseth, if confirmed, would implement President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to roll back DEI initiatives and other woke policies in the Pentagon.
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President-elect Donald Trump, made a brief visit to Greenland on Tuesday, fueling speculation about the incoming administration's interest in the mineral-rich Danish territory.
The Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory and Review Commission (CLEAR) published its first reports in December after reviewing three police conduct cases involving state agencies. The commission's findings highlight ongoing tensions between accountability measures and operational demands in law enforcement.
The Golden Globes red carpet on Sunday saw bold statements and controversy as transgender actor Karla Sofía Gascón and Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness captured attention. Van Ness, who identifies as non-binary, wore a flowing green gown paired with a full beard, drawing mixed reactions online. Meanwhile, Gascón, a biological male nominated in the female acting category for Emila Pérez, reignited debates about gender in award categories.
A severe winter storm swept across the central United States on Sunday, causing hazardous conditions, widespread disruptions, and prompting warnings from authorities. The storm, impacting states from Kansas to New Jersey, brought snow, ice, and high winds, while the South faced tornado threats and freezing temperatures. Over 60 million people remained under weather alerts as the storm tracked eastward.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commended President-elect Donald Trump’s strength and unpredictability, suggesting they could be pivotal in ending the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky made the remarks during a televised interview on Thursday, where he discussed the potential impact of Trump’s second presidency on the conflict.
President Joe Biden said the FBI is leading an investigation to “determine what happened, why "it happened, and whether there is any continuing threat to public safety" after Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove into a crowd in New Orleans.
