The Senate failed to pass either the Democratic or Republican plans to prevent rising healthcare costs under the Affordable Care Act. The Democratic proposal sought to extend subsidies, while the Republican alternative aimed to fund health savings accounts. Both plans failed due to the Senate’s filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to advance legislation. Despite the failure, the next major legislative deadline is January 30, when a new bill funding the government must be passed.
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Following an ambush in Syria on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter, President Trump has vowed “very serious retaliation.” The attack, attributed to a single ISIS gunman, also left three others wounded. The soldiers were identified as members of the Iowa National Guard, who had been deployed to the region to support counter-ISIS operations. Syrian officials confirmed the attacker was killed and that they had previously issued intelligence warnings to US-led forces.
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China’s Last ‘Too-Big-to-Fail’ Housing Giant Loses State Support | Bloomberg, as the title suggests, is a story about a pivotal shift in China’s approach to its struggling real estate sector. The narrative here is that the government, after years of propping up developers, is now pulling back on providing financial lifelines. This marks a significant change, especially because these developers were considered so massive and intertwined with the economy that their failure could have caused a national crisis. Now it seems like the government is letting the chips fall where they may.
This lack of bailouts, a somewhat novel approach in this context, has sparked a lot of conversation.… Continue reading
Authorities in Germany have thwarted a planned attack on a Christmas market, arresting five individuals suspected of Islamist motives. Intelligence revealed the suspects intended to use a vehicle in the attack, with one suspect allegedly presenting the plan at a mosque. The arrests were made in connection to the plot, preventing a potential tragedy. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities focusing on the suspects’ network and the extent of their planning.
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Kourtney N. Stevenson has been arrested on felony charges related to allegedly spraying a substance on DoorDash orders in Evansville, Indiana, causing two customers to become ill. Following a complaint on December 7th, detectives reviewed doorbell camera footage, identifying Stevenson as the Dasher who sprayed an aerosol substance on the food. Authorities subpoenaed DoorDash records, obtained a warrant, and arrested Stevenson in Kentucky. She is charged with Battery Resulting in Moderate Injury and Consumer Product Tampering and is being held without bond pending extradition to Indiana.
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Multiple explosions were reported on December 13th at various sites within Russia and occupied Crimea, including an oil depot near Simferopol, a chemical plant in Veliky Novgorod, and several energy sites. Reports indicate drone strikes targeted an oil depot near Uryupinsk, Volgograd Oblast, and a power station in Smolensk. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the attacks, however, Ukraine has previously targeted Russian military and energy infrastructure, which is considered a critical source of funding for the ongoing war. These recent events follow confirmed drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, highlighting Ukraine’s efforts to diminish Moscow’s fighting capabilities.
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Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier: The president’s stated intention to pardon Tina Peters, jailed for tampering with election machines in 2020, has set off a legal fight over the extent of Mr. Trump’s pardon powers.
It’s pretty clear cut, really. This whole situation involving Tina Peters and Donald Trump’s attempt to “pardon” her is straightforward. Colorado’s response to Trump’s pardon declaration is a firm rejection, and honestly, that’s where it should end. The Constitution is pretty explicit on this: he can’t. He simply doesn’t have the power to overturn a state conviction. Unless he’s planning a dramatic rescue mission, she’s staying put.… Continue reading
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly killed senior Hamas terrorist Ra’ad Sa’ad in Gaza City. This strike was a direct response to an earlier attack on IDF reservists in the southern Gaza Strip, which resulted in two injuries. Military Intelligence Directorate sources confirmed the targeted killing. The photo provided is of Hamas military wing official Raad Saad.
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As of December 13, 2023, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has suffered approximately 1,187,780 troop losses since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, including 1,300 casualties in the last day. The report also detailed significant equipment losses, citing the destruction of thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, and other military assets. These figures underscore the considerable human and material costs Russia has incurred during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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Fannie Mae reportedly plans to move San Francisco office from ‘woke California’ to the South, and right off the bat, a few things come to mind. It’s easy to wonder if this is the same Fannie Mae that played a role in the housing crisis of the 2000s, raising questions about financial responsibility. This particular move, which involves a relatively small office in San Francisco, seems to be less about a complete relocation and more about making employees remote workers. The article that accompanies the story highlights an image of their Virginia headquarters, emphasizing that the physical presence in San Francisco is quite small.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood