Wed, December 11, 2024

by: THE WEEK

Inside Trump's billionaire Cabinet

A billionaire himself, Trump's decision to staff his pending White House with fellow ten-figure figures (eight so far) has made his administration worth "more than the GDP of 169 different countries," at least $350 billion,

by: Oregonian

New Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read hires top staff from treasury, Senate

Tobias Read, a Democrat elected in November, spent the past eight years as state treasurer before being elected secretary of state.

by: coloradopolitics

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis criticized for blaming wolf reintroduction program costs on ranchers

Governor Jared Polis faces backlash for blaming ranchers for the cost of Colorado's wolf reintroduction program.

by: Pew Research Center

Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption

Voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in what turned out to be a difficult year for incumbents and traditional political parties.

by: Time

The History of North Carolina Exposes the Truth About Swing States

Tight electoral margins might be thought to foster centrism. In reality, partisan power grabs are incentivized.

by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Federal politics live: Tech giants to be fined if they don't pay for Australian news under fresh government plan

Facebook and Google will be forced to pay for Australian news content or risk fines under a new scheme expected to be announced by the government later today. Follow live.

by: RTE Online

FF and FG engage in 'positive and constructive' government formation talks

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said they had "positive and constructive" initial discussions as both parties continue to hold government formation talks.

by: Irish Daily Mirror

Social Democrats to decide future by end of week as Independents set out Government formation stall

The Social Democrat's leadership, including Cian O'Callaghan, Gary Gannon and Jennifer Whitmore, met Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris in separate meetings in Government Buildings on Wednesday.

by: justthenews

Trump cheers Wray resignation as end to 'weaponization' of FBI

Wray announced his resignation on Wednesday after Trump named Kash Patel as his nominee to replace Wray, whom Trump was expected to fire had he not resigned.

by: The Local

Full employment and no bureaucracy - what Hollande's government predicted for France in 2025

Back in 2013, then-president François Hollande set his ministers some homework before they went on their summer holidays - predict what France will look like in 2025. Here's what they said.

by: National Post

Former Blue Jays win multi-million-dollar tax battle against Canadian government

OTTAWA — Former Toronto Blue Jays all-stars Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin scored a major win against the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a Tax Court judge cried foul over the agency's attempt to tax millions of dollars in additional income.

by: ABC

Convicted Jan. 6 rioter says retired congressman invited him to Trump inauguration

A man who pleaded guilty to a felony for participation in the Capitol riot filed a letter showing he was invited by a retired congressman to attend the inauguration.

by: CBS News

Blinken defends Afghanistan withdrawal at contentious House hearing

The secretary of state's testimony comes months after Republicans issued a scathing report on the Biden administration's handling of the exit from Afghanistan.

by: The New York Times

North Carolina G.O.P. Brushes Aside Democratic Governor to Expand Power

After cloaking a bill that strips key powers from Democrats as hurricane aid, the state's Republican-controlled legislature overrode a veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, to pass it into law.

by: Raleigh News & Observer

Tillis kicks off 2026 campaign season, potentially his most expensive Senate race yet

Sen. Thom Tillis planned to make his 2026 reelection campaign for the Senate official Wednesday with an event in Washington hosted by around 20 of his colleagues.

by: Yahoo

NC Republicans pass law shifting government power, overriding Cooper's veto

North Carolina lawmakers approved a wide-ranging bill to shift executive power in state government on Wednesday, cementing a Republican override of Gov. Roy Cooper's veto a month before new elected officials are sworn in.

by: Charlotte Observer

Key executive leaving city of Charlotte for new job with CLT Business Alliance

Assistant City Manager Tracy Dodson is leaving city government to help lead the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance as the group's new chief operating officer and head of economic development. Dodson will start the new position in early February, according to a statement from the alliance announcing her hiring.

by: Charlotte Observer

NC Republicans overturn Cooper's veto, taking power from Stein and other Democrats

With North Carolina Republicans set to lose their veto-proof supermajority come 2025, state lawmakers took their final vote Wednesday on a bill that takes away power from incoming Democrats in the executive branch, overturning a veto with a party-line 72-46 vote.

by: MSN

NC lawmakers pass constitutional amendment requiring voter photo ID in-person and by mail

Before ending the short session, Republican legislators pushed through a constitutional amendment that NC voters will see on the 2026 ballot.

by: MSN

Canada Post and postal workers union still far apart in negotiations

The two sides in the Canada Post strike appear further apart than ever with the company saying the most recent offer by the union takes 'major steps backwards.' And as Alexandre Silberman shows us, that's cause for concern for those whose essential documents are now caught in the middle.

by: MSN

Hochul travels to rival's turf and attacks critics of MTA's congestion pricing plan

Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Garrison to tout renovations at a Metro-North station and answer critics of her support for a $9 Manhattan toll on drivers.

by: MSN

'Draconian and brutal': Trump to rescind ban on ICE arrests in schools, hospitals, churches

Despite public opinion polls that find the majority of Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the incoming Trump administration is forging ahead with President-elect Donald Trump's vow to begin his mass deportations of millions of people "on day one.

by: MSN

Trump reportedly plans to toss policy blocking ICE arrests at schools and churches

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to scrap a policy that stops ICE officers from making arrests at places like schools and churches.

by: MSN

Joe and Jill Biden share major family announcement!

First Lady Jill Biden has revealed that she and President Joe Biden are to become great-grandparents, as their granddaughter, Naomi Biden, is expecting!

by: MSN

Minneapolis City Council passes budget that comes with increased property taxes and with criticism from the mayor

More than 70 amendments later, the Minneapolis City Council passed a 2025 budget late Tuesday night. It comes with a property tax hike that that is lower than Mayor Jacob Frey says is needed, and the mayor is critical of the proposal.

by: MSN

Assad's fall in Syria will further weaken Hezbollah and curtails Tehran's 'Iranization' of region

The fall of President Bashar Assad will not only affect the 24 million Syrians who lived - and largely suffered - under his brutal rule. Over the border in Lebanon, the impact will be felt, too. The collapse of Assad's government provides another blow to its Lebanese ally,

by: MSN

Lawmakers talk 2025 General Assembly outlook at biannual 'Pancakes & Politics' breakfast

Local business leaders and lawmakers gathered at Liberty University Wednesday morning for the biannual "Pancakes and Politics" breakfast, hosted by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. They're looking at next year's legislative session in Richmond to best serve you and your family.

by: MSN

White House warns Trump could 'gut-punch' economy and spark 'tidal wave of opposition'

With Donald Trump's inauguration fast approaching, President Joe Biden's White House has rushed to ensure his flagship policies aren't immediately undone in the new administration. A memo circulated by a senior White House official urged Trump against repealing laws that Republicans have vowed to target when the incoming president takes office.

by: MSN

How the DACA ruling could impact health coverage in Texas, and beyond

A ruling that blocked thousands of undocumented immigrants from enrolling in federally available health care plans could reverberate on vulnerable groups, by reestablishing a common barrier to medical care.

by: MSN

Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador ready to sign Churchill Falls energy deal

The premiers of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are ready to sign an energy agreement, ending a long-running dispute over the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant in Labrador.

by: MSN

New inflation numbers threaten Trump and GOP's plans for tax cuts and tariffs: report

New Labor Department data released Wednesday showed stubborn inflation continued, which could make it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump and his GOP allies to pass certain legislation they've planned.

by: MSN

Federal and state governments to fund long-awaited upgrades to Yass Valley water treatment infrastructure

The last upgrade of the Yass Valley's water treatment plant was in 1990, with residents dealing with ongoing issues with the quality of their water.

by: MSN

Government says DOJ subpoenaed Apple without authorization

DOJ demands for message and call data from Apple during the Trump administration, failed to obtain authorization, says the Office of the Inspector General in the current Biden administration.

by: MSN

Talks to avoid government shutdown are underway

The year for lawmakers is winding down and there is still a lot to do including keeping the government open. That deadline is next Friday.

by: MSN

Raju reports on details of McConnell's fall and injuries

GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell tripped, spraining his wrist and sustaining "a minor cut to the face," his office said in a statement. CNN's Manu Raju reports.

by: MSN

Donald Trump back to taunting and trolling, mocks Justin Trudeau as the governor of the great state of Canada

Latest reports have revealed that US President- elect Donald Trump has recently mocked the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on social media while terming him as the Governor of the Great State of Canada.

by: MSN

Southern Syria groups overthrew Assad and control areas near the Golan

An exclusive look at the Southern Syria former rebels who were key to defeating Assad and who met with Syrian leader Jolani on December 11.

by: MSN

Indiana Supreme Court won't hear appeal in abortion case, choosing 'wait-and-see' approach

A temporary block of Indiana's near-total abortion ban will remain in place for just a few women who filed a religious freedom lawsuit challenging the law after a split Indiana Supreme Court chose not to hear an appeal in the case.

by: MSN

'Political instability and chaos': GOP warned it's set itself up for decades-long mess

The Republican Party has set itself up for decades of wandering in the wilderness with its willingness to embrace Donald Trump — at the cost of the party's identity, a New York Times columnist wrote Wednesday.

by: MSN

Michael Moore Reacts to Being Named in Mangione's Manifesto and Gives Theory

The famed documentarian Michael Moore said the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a "senseless" killing—making his feelings on the attack known well before it was revealed that the suspected killer had referenced him in his manifesto.

by: MSN

Israel and Iran agree on major Israeli role in Assad downfall

In his first address since the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran's supreme leader blasted the United States and Israel.

by: MSN

What Trump and Biden Have in Common, According to Advisers

It was not like Biden asked them if he should be running in the first place, and it's not likely he would have heeded any staffer's qualms about his fitness or electability. Even Biden's closest advisers—the men who have been with him a half-century at this point—aren't known to offer tough talk when they walk into the Oval.

by: MSN

Trump to end ban on migrant arrests at churches and hospitals: report

Donald Trump's incoming administration plans to scrap a long-standing policy keeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from arresting immigrants at churches, hospitals and family events without approval from supervisors.

by: MSN

Schumer torpedoed by Manchin and Sinema on crucial NLRB vote

Senate Republicans defeated a last-minute effort by outgoing Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) to ensure a Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board for the first two years of Trump's presidency.

by: MSN

The global players in Syria before and after Assad

The overthrow followed a 13-year civil war, which started after Assad crushed pro-democracy protests, killing more than half a million people and displacing millions more, and embroiled international powers and their proxies.

by: MSN

Joe Biden approves national security memo on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia ahead of Donald Trump's return

President Biden has approved a national security memorandum to guide the incoming Trump administration on countering growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The classified memo recommends improved interagency cooperation,

by: MSN

EU weighing first sanctions against Russia for misinformation, election interference and cyber attacks

The European Union is considering sanctions against Russian hybrid threats — a first-time move intended to curb alleged cyber attacks, election interference, and other acts of sabotage that have reportedly increased since the invasion of Ukraine.

by: MSN

802 News: How to fix and fund Vermont K-12 education

Outrage over double-digit property tax increases and a record number of school budget defeats this spring prompted the Legislature to agree to examine the state's education system and how it's financed.

Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption

Voters in more than 60 countries went to the polls in what turned out to be a difficult year for incumbents and traditional political parties.

The article from Pew Research Center, titled "Global Elections in 2024: What We Learned in a Year of Political Disruption," discusses the significant trends and insights from the numerous elections held around the world in 2024. It highlights the increasing unpredictability and volatility in electoral outcomes, with a notable rise in populist and anti-establishment movements gaining traction across various countries. The piece examines how economic instability, social media influence, and a growing distrust in traditional political institutions have contributed to these shifts. It also notes the impact of technology on voter behavior, including the spread of misinformation and the use of digital campaigning. Additionally, the article touches on the varied voter turnout rates, the role of youth in elections, and how global issues like climate change and migration have influenced electoral agendas. The analysis underscores the evolving nature of democracy, with a particular focus on how these trends might shape future political landscapes.

Read the Full Pew Research Center Article at:
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/12/11/global-elections-in-2024-what-we-learned-in-a-year-of-political-disruption/