CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, and Cigna filed a lawsuit against the FTC, arguing the agency’s administrative court proceedings regarding insulin pricing violate their Fifth Amendment due process rights. The companies contend the FTC’s claims, alleging a “perverse” rebate system inflates insulin costs, should be litigated in federal court, not the agency’s internal process. They argue the FTC’s structure lacks democratic accountability, deeming the process fundamentally unfair. The FTC responded that the companies’ constitutional challenge is a distraction from accusations of harming patients through inflated insulin prices. This action follows earlier recusal requests based on alleged commissioner bias.
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Newly elected Congresswoman Sarah McBride, the highest-ranking transgender elected official, is facing a discriminatory resolution from Representative Nancy Mace that would restrict bathroom access based on assigned sex at birth. Mace’s actions, fueled by a desire for media attention and aligning with anti-trans rhetoric, are causing significant harm and distress to the transgender community. This targeted attack highlights the broader, escalating hostility towards transgender individuals, impacting their access to healthcare, safety, and overall well-being. The contrast between McBride’s dignified response and Mace’s performative cruelty underscores the urgent need for inclusivity and understanding.
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Former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz announced he will not be returning to Congress, opting instead to support President-elect Trump’s administration from outside the House. His withdrawal from consideration as Attorney General, following allegations of sexual misconduct which he denies, preceded this decision. Gaetz cited the difficulties of simultaneously addressing Senate concerns and building the Department of Justice, ultimately endorsing Pam Bondi as his replacement. He attributed his difficulties partly to political maneuvering within the Republican party.
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Following the October 7th massacre near Mefalsim, Israeli forces, guided by intelligence from multiple agencies, eliminated five Hamas and PIJ operatives responsible for the attack. This included high-ranking commanders such as Jihad Mahmoud Yehia Kahlout and Muhammad Riyad Ali Okel. The strikes, conducted in Beit Lahiya and Deir al-Balah, targeted terrorist infrastructure and prioritized minimizing civilian casualties through precautions like aerial surveillance and evacuation warnings. The IDF emphasized the importance of verifying information from reliable sources, noting past inaccuracies in Palestinian media reports.
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Following a Russian hypersonic missile attack on a Ukrainian military facility in Dnipro, emergency NATO-Ukraine talks are scheduled. The attack, utilizing the experimental Oreshnik missile, represents a significant escalation, prompting heightened security measures in Kyiv and fueling fears of a decisive phase in the conflict. Russian President Putin justified the strike as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks using Western-supplied weapons, while Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán echoed Moscow’s claims of potential US involvement. Concurrent with the Dnipro strike, Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted a Sumy residential area, resulting in casualties.
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To expedite the confirmation process of other judicial nominees, a deal was struck between Senate Republicans and Democrats, resulting in the postponement of votes on four of President Biden’s appellate court nominees. This agreement allows for the swift confirmation of seven district court judges next week and six more in December, bringing Biden’s total confirmations closer to President Trump’s first-term total of 234. The four postponed nominees, including Adeel Abdullah Mangi, who would have been the first Muslim American appellate judge, lacked sufficient support for confirmation. Despite concerns from liberal groups, the deal prioritized a larger number of district court judge confirmations.
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A Dublin High Court jury found Conor McGregor liable for raping Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, awarding her €248,603.60 in damages. McGregor, who maintained the encounter was consensual, will appeal the verdict. Hand’s case against another man involved in the incident was dismissed. The substantial damages reflect both the physical and psychological harm Hand suffered, including PTSD and the loss of her job and home.
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Trump Won Less Than 50 Percent. Why Is Everyone Calling It a Landslide?
Trump’s victory, while significant, didn’t achieve a majority of the popular vote. This raises the question: why the “landslide” narrative? The perception of a landslide victory seems to stem from several interconnected factors.
One contributing factor is the historical context. A Republican hasn’t won the popular vote in two decades, making Trump’s win, regardless of the margin, a notable event for the party. This rarity inflates the perceived significance of the victory.
Furthermore, the initial election night reporting played a crucial role in shaping public perception. Early vote counts showed a significant lead for Trump, fueled by a comparatively slower count of Democratic votes.… Continue reading
Seventeen-year-old testimony detailing a second sexual encounter, involving another adult woman, emerged during a civil deposition related to a lawsuit against Matt Gaetz. This revelation, along with four Republican senators’ opposition, led to Gaetz withdrawing his nomination for Attorney General. His subsequent resignation from Congress, intended to preempt an ethics investigation, proved unsuccessful, leaving him without a political position. Despite President-elect Trump’s supportive words, Gaetz’s future prospects appear uncertain.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood