US, British militaries launch strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

Backed by several allies, the U-S carried out military strikes against Houthi rebels because of their repeated attacks against international vessels in the Red Sea. In a White House statement, after the U-S and Britain struck dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, the president said he “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks. Mr. Biden said the attacks endangered U-S personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade. The president went on to say, quote: “I will not hesitate to direct further measures” as necessary. A high-ranking Houthi official vowed there would be retaliation. GC, Wash.

Congressional Democrat calls for Sec. Austin’s resignation

A Democrat in Congress is urging President Biden’s defense secretary to resign. Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylania is the first Democrat to call for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s resignation. The Pentagon chief is under fire for keeping his cancer diagnosis, surgery, and hospitalization a secret from the White House. Deluzio, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, wrote on social media that he has “lost trust” in Austin’s leadership “due to the lack of transparency.” GC, Wash.

First Lady says Joe Biden’s age is an “asset”

First Lady Jill Biden is speaking out about her husband’s age. As President Biden faces persistent questions and concerns about running for re-election at age 81, the first lady says her husband’s age is an “asset.” In an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Jill Biden said her husband has wisdom and experience and knows every leader on the world stage. Joe Biden is already the oldest American leader in history and polls show most Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe he’s too old for a second term.

Defense Sec. Austin hospitalized with prostate cancer, infection

Doctors say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is recovering from prostate cancer surgery and a related infection. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Pentagon have released more details about Austin’s health and his secretive hospitalization. The 70-year-old defense secretary underwent prostate cancer surgery on December 22nd. Then, on January first, he was hospitalized with an infection. Doctors say the cancer was detected early and Austin’s prognosis is excellent. Questions still remain about why the defense secretary failed to notify the White House about his condition and his hospitalization for several days.

DC appeals court skeptical of Trump’s immunity claim

A Washington appeals court raised questions about Donald Trump’s claims that he is immune from criminal charges. Trump was in the courtroom as his legal team sought to convince a panel of three judges that former presidents should not be prosecuted for actions they took in office. The judges appeared skeptical. Trump’s lawyer said a former president could not be charged for conduct unless impeached and convicted by Congress — even if the conduct included selling military secrets or assassinating a political rival.

U.S. has tough talks with Israel about post-war Gaza

The United States is having tough talks with Israel about the future of post-war Gaza. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet in Tel Aviv, urging them to avoid civilian harm in the war in Gaza. At the moment, the U.S. and Israel remain deeply divided over how Gaza will be run when — and if — the leaders of Hamas are defeated. Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

New Hampshire upset with national Dems in primary flap

New Hampshire’s attorney general has a beef with the national Democratic party leaders. A few days ago, DNC officials called New Hampshire’s presidential primary “meaningless.” That didn’t sit well with the state’s attorney general, who issued a cease and desist notice. John Formella warned that such a statement violates state law. New Hampshire bucked President Biden and the DNC by continuing to hold on to its traditional first-in-the-nation primary status even after the party decided it would begin its primary season in South Carolina.

At SC church, Biden denounces white supremacy as “poison”

Campaigning in South Carolina, President Biden denounced the “poison” of white supremacy.” The president’s second campaign speech of the new year took place at the site of a deadly racist church shooting in Charleston several years ago. As he courted Black voters, Mr. Biden described white supremacy as a “poison.” Last week, the president delivered a stark warning about the threat to democracy as he marked the third anniversary of the U-S Capitol riot.

Trump to attend immunity appeals court hearing in D.C.

White House to review Sec. Austin’s undisclosed hospitalization

The White House says it will review Defense Secretary Austin’s failure to disclose his hospitalization to President Biden and other top officials. The Pentagon chief was in the hospital for several days before the White House and military officials were notified. And National Security spokesman John Kirby says there will be a review. Kirby says President Biden “respects the fact that Secretary Austin took ownership for the lack of transparency” and that the secretary continues to have the president’s confidence.

Biden’s top border official faces GOP-led impeachment effort

House Republicans are moving ahead with efforts to impeach President Biden’s top border official. Later this week, a House committee will hold a hearing related to impeachment allegations against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans claim has been derelict in his duty of managing the U-S-Mexico border. Here at the White House, the chief spokesperson said President Biden has confidence in Mayorkas. Karine Jean-Pierre also dismissed the impeachment allegations as a “political stunt.”

White House, GOP blame each other over border crisis

President Biden and House Republicans are blaming each other over the southern border immigration crisis. Even as White House and Senate negotiators try to reach a bipartisan immigration deal, House Republicans are demanding tougher immigration policies. Speaker Mike Johnson and dozens of GOP members traveled to the border in Texas last week, where they blamed President Biden for the thousands of daily illegal crossings. White House officials called it a political stunt and blamed lawmakers for not approving more funding for border security.

U.S. claims Russia is using NKorean weapons in Ukraine war

The United States says Russia is using North Korean weapons in its war with Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says Russia recently fired ballistic missiles into Ukraine that were provided by North Korea. Kirby calls North Korea’s missile support for Russia’s war effort “a significant and concerning escalation.”

Wisconsin’s Dem Gov: Trump should remain on ballot

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor says Donald Trump should remain on the ballot in his state. Governor Tony Evers opposes efforts to keep Trump off the ballot in his battleground state. He says anyone who thinks the former president should be disqualified “can vote against him.” The Wisconsin governor also offers some advice to President Biden’s re-election campaign. He tells the AP that Joe Biden must be a frequent visitor to the state and focus on issues that matter to the middle class, not just the argument about preserving democracy.

Biden says “we nearly lost America” during 2021 Capitol assault

President Biden says “we nearly lost America” during the U-S Capitol riot three years ago. The president marked the third anniversary of the January 6th violence with a speech on Friday. He said it was a dark day for the country. He said Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol building were “insurrectionists, not patriots.” And he warned that “democracy is on the ballot” in this year’s election.

Trump campaigns in Iowa on third anniversary of 1/6 riot

Former President Trump is campaigning in Iowa on the third anniversary of the U-S Capitol riot.
Three years ago, Donald Trump was in the White House fighting to overturn the 2020 election results. Today, he’s holding two campaign rallies in Iowa in his bid to win back the White House. Trump has not ignored the events of January 6th, 2021. In fact, he has described those imprisoned for overrunning the Capitol building as “great patriots” and, at some campaign rallies, he has played a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner” sung by jailed rioters.

Supreme Court to decide Trump presidential ballot case

The Supreme Court will decide whether Donald Trump can be kept off the 2024 presidential ballot. The justices agreed to take a Colorado case, inserting themselves in the presidential campaign. The move came after Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot, declaring him ineligible for his role in the January 6th riot three years ago. With arguments to be heard next month, the nation’s highest court will consider for the first time the meaning and reach of the Constitution’s “insurrection” clause.

In campaign speech, Biden warns Trump is threat to democracy

In his first campaign speech of the year, President Biden warned that Donald Trump poses a grave threat to democracy. Speaking near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the president portrayed Trump as a danger to America’s core principles. His campaign speech came one day before the third anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot — and he criticized Trump’s role in fomenting rioters and calling them patriots. The president said the future of American democracy is on the ballot in November and it’s what the campaign is “all about.”

Biden administration bypasses Congress to sell arms to Israel

Senate Democrats are unhappy with President Biden’s bypassing of Congress to sell emergency weapons to Israel. The president’s request of 14 billion dollars in aid to Israel is stalled on Capitol Hill, but the Biden administration went around Congress twice last month to help arm the Jewish state. Secretary of State Blinken made an emergency determination that allowed for the 148-million dollar sale of equipment to Israel. Such determinations are rare, but not unprecedented. Several top Senate Democrats are slamming the White House for keeping Congress out of the process.

Iowa is the focus for GOP candidates as 2024 primary season arrives

Iowa is the focus of most Republican presidential candidates as the 2024 primary season gets ready to kick off.  Ron DeSantis spent the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day campaigning in Iowa. And the Florida governor has an unrelenting schedule ahead of him this week, with the Iowa caucuses just under two weeks away. And he’s not the only one. Former President Trump plans his own blitz over the final two weeks, including in deeply conservative northwest Iowa. Nikki Haley made stops in eastern Iowa late last week, while Vivek Ramaswamy also has stormed the state.

2024 presidential primary season kicks off in two weeks

The 2024 presidential primary season kicks off in two weeks. First up on the election year calendar — the Iowa caucuses. No one has more riding on Iowa than Ron DeSantis, who has placed a premium on the kickoff state. He has devoted a lot of time campaigning there — including during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. DeSantis has the backing of Iowa’s governor and the state’s top evangelical Christian leader. But Donald Trump continues to hold a large advantage in Iowa polls.

Chief Justice urges caution urges as AI reshapes legal field

The Chief Justice of the United States is expressing caution about the use of artificial intelligence in the federal courts. In his year-end report, Chief Justice John Roberts urged “caution and humility” as the evolving technology transforms how judges and lawyers go about their work. He said AI represents a mixed blessing for the legal field. Roberts predicted that “human judges will be around for a while,” but also that “judicial work – particularly at the trial level – will be significantly affected by AI.”

North Korea issues military warning to U.S. and South Korea

North Korea’s leader is putting the United States on notice. Kim Jong Un said his North Korean military should “thoroughly annihilate” the U-S and South Korea if provoked. According to state media, he also vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation. North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric in recent months in response to an expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

U.S. officials to discuss border surge with Mexico’s president

A high-level U.S. delegation will travel to Mexico City this week to address the surge of migrants seeking entry into the United States. Secretary of State Blinken is leading the delegation in an effort to try and hammer out new agreements to control the migration surge at the U-S-Mexico border. Blinken and other senior Biden administration officials will hold talks with Mexico’s president, however Mexico’s ability to assist the U.S. may be limited. The government halted a program to repatriate and transfer migrants inside Mexico due to a lack of funds.