U.S. Capitol flags will be raised to full-staff on January 20 to mark President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the decision Tuesday, temporarily suspending President Joe Biden’s proclamation for flags to remain at half-staff to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29.
Washington State Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) has introduced a bill that would allocate state funds to provide unemployment benefits to illegal immigrants, despite the state's $10-17 billion budget deficit. The proposed legislation, SB 5023, aims to create a separate program for workers ineligible for federal unemployment insurance due to their immigration status.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Monday evening that its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program will extend hotel stays for over 3,000 eligible residents in western North Carolina until January 25. The decision comes amid ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which struck in late September.
Amid the wildfires devastating Los Angeles, nine individuals have been charged with looting in evacuation zones, adding another layer of hardship for residents struggling to recover. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges on Monday, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for those exploiting the crisis.
Labour MPs Sarah Champion and Paul Waugh, who represent the towns of Rotherham and Rochdale—epicenters of the UK’s grooming gang scandals—have reversed their positions and now support calls for a national public inquiry into the failures of authorities to address child exploitation. Their shift comes as pressure builds on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to act.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) called for a special legislative session to require local governments in the state to enforce incoming President Donald Trump's deportation goals.
Conservative women are voicing strong support for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. They describe Hegseth as a principled leader, dedicated patriot, and advocate for both veterans and active service members.
The New York Times editorial board proposed a sweeping plan to resolve America’s immigration challenges, advocating for increased legal migration while sidelining concerns of many Americans. The op-ed, titled “A Big Idea to Solve America’s Immigration Mess,” frames migrants as essential for economic growth while casting native-born Americans as a declining population incapable of meeting labor demands.
A federal judge in Vermont sentenced Luis Fernando Barragan-Palacios, 29, to 18 months in prison for smuggling nearly 100 migrants across the Canadian border into the United States. Barragan-Palacios, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, earned approximately $500,000 from the human smuggling operation over a five-month period. He is expected to be deported upon completing his sentence.
