Donald Trump’s return to power on January 20th necessitates continued robust reporting. HuffPost remains committed to providing fearless coverage of the new administration. This crucial information will remain freely available to all, thanks to reader support. Contributions, even in the form of creating a free account, are vital to maintaining this commitment to unbiased news access.
Russia has rejected proposed plans from President-elect Trump’s team to end the war in Ukraine, deeming them uninteresting. These plans, reportedly including delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership, have been dismissed by both the Russian UN ambassador and Foreign Minister Lavrov. Moscow maintains its previously stated conditions for ending the conflict, which include the full occupation of four Ukrainian regions and Ukraine’s rejection of NATO membership. Experts suggest that Russia’s unwillingness to negotiate over its core objectives casts doubt on the feasibility of a swift resolution, even with a new U.S. administration.
President Biden awarded former Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson the Presidential Citizens Medal for their service on the January 6th Committee. Former President Trump criticized the awards on Truth Social, calling them “fake” and labeling Cheney as “corrupt.” Cheney responded by rebuking Trump’s claims, highlighting his unfounded allegations of election fraud and the legal repercussions faced by his allies who attempted to overturn the 2020 election. She emphasized the importance of rejecting Trump’s falsehoods to protect American democracy.
President-elect Trump criticized the plan to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff during his inauguration, coinciding with the 30-day mourning period for President Carter ordered by President Biden. Trump, on Truth Social, incorrectly referred to the practice as “half mast” and claimed Democrats were gleeful about it, while the White House affirmed the order would remain in effect. Despite his past criticism of Carter, Trump has since acknowledged the former president’s legacy. The flag will be lowered in accordance with federal protocol established in 1954.
Thousands are protesting in Washington D.C. this weekend to prevent Donald Trump’s inauguration, arguing that the 14th Amendment bars him from office due to his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. Led by Trump’s former staffer Jessica Denson and supported by legal experts, the “#14thNow” movement aims to pressure lawmakers to reject Trump’s electoral votes. Success would result in Vice President Kamala Harris becoming president. Legal scholars contend that sufficient congressional objection to Trump’s electoral votes, based on the 14th Amendment and the findings of the January 6th Committee, could disqualify him.
A new AP-NORC poll reveals a significant shift in Republican confidence regarding election integrity. Following Donald Trump’s 2024 victory, approximately 60% of Republicans expressed considerable confidence in the national vote count, a substantial increase from October’s figures. This rise in confidence extends to state-level counts, and overall public confidence in the accuracy of the 2024 election is now around 60%, up from 50% in October. This contrasts sharply with the post-2020 period, marked by widespread Republican skepticism fueled by Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.
The UK’s right wing is sending a clear message to Donald Trump’s allies: Elon Musk’s recent social media activity has crossed a line. Specifically, their concern centers around Musk’s outspoken support for Tommy Robinson, a British far-right activist currently imprisoned for contempt of court. This public endorsement, coupled with Musk’s other controversial posts, has prompted a behind-the-scenes effort by prominent British politicians to discourage any further support for Robinson from Trump’s camp.
These conservative and Brexit-supporting politicians, who remain unnamed, fear that aligning with Musk’s campaign to free Robinson could significantly damage their image and political standing. They are worried that associating with such a controversial figure could alienate voters and harm their prospects in upcoming elections.… Continue reading
The election of Donald Trump portends a worsening climate crisis, exacerbating existing challenges. Already, unacknowledged climate risks are causing a massive undervaluation of American properties, reaching trillions of dollars in losses and creating an uninsurable housing market in many areas. This will trigger mass displacement and economic hardship, particularly impacting vulnerable communities. A Trump administration, however, views this not as a problem, but as an exploitable opportunity for predatory industries and political profiteering, jeopardizing any effective climate response.
Following a shooting in New Orleans, Donald Trump asserted his claims about the incident were accurate, despite inaccurately linking the crime to immigration. His statements disregard the actual details of the case. This incident highlights a pattern of the former president making unsubstantiated connections between crime and immigration. The lack of factual basis in Trump’s pronouncements underscores the importance of verifying information before dissemination.
Following a deadly New Orleans attack, Donald Trump wrongly claimed that the perpetrator was an immigrant and that the U.S. crime rate was unprecedentedly high, assertions contradicted by readily available facts. This incident revealed Trump’s failure to provide accurate information, his attempt to exploit tragedy for political gain, and his overall lack of credibility. His subsequent boast of being “right about everything” further highlighted his disregard for truth and responsibility. This behavior portends a concerning pattern for his upcoming term.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood