U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley will provide a classified briefing to key lawmakers overseeing the military on Thursday as they investigate a U.S. military attack on a boat allegedly carrying drugs that included a .
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday said the second strike was carried out 鈥渋n self-defense鈥� and 鈥渋n accordance鈥� with laws governing armed conflict.
was expected to meet with his national security team Monday as bipartisan scrutiny has mounted over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September to strike the vessel.
Democrats have said that the allegations first reported by The Washington Post last week , and Republicans have also voiced their concerns about the legality of the Sept. 2 attack in the Caribbean. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees into the recent U.S. military on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
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Outlets that reach millions denied access to rare Pentagon news briefings this week
The briefings are instead being held for hand-picked media organizations.
It鈥檚 not as if there鈥檚 little to talk about, with both the Senate and House Armed Services committees opening investigations into against alleged drug couriers in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
Hegseth鈥檚 team says the briefings are part of special orientation events for a newly credentialed Pentagon press corps, consisting primarily of conservative outlets that agreed to his new rules for operation.
Most mainstream outlets this fall rather than agree to the new rules. The Defense Department says they are 鈥渃ommon sense鈥� regulations designed to prevent the spread of classified information. But many news outlets worried they would effectively be agreeing only to report news approved by Hegseth.
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US air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee
Air travelers in the U.S. without a will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, the Transportation Security Administration .
The updated ID has been , but passengers without it have so far been allowed to clear security with additional screening and a warning. The Department of Homeland Security says 94% of passengers are already compliant.
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the .
Obtaining the ID 鈥� indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most states 鈥� means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs.
Beginning Feb. 1, travelers 18 and older flying domestically without a REAL ID and who don鈥檛 have another accepted form of ID on them, such as a passport, will pay the non-refundable fee to verify their identity through TSA鈥檚 alternative 鈥淐onfirm.ID鈥� system.
Admiral who ordered follow-up strike on drug boat to brief lawmakers this week
U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley will provide a classified briefing to key lawmakers overseeing the military on Thursday as they investigate a U.S. military attack on a boat allegedly carrying drugs that included a second strike that killed survivors.
Bradley, who was commander of Joint Special Operations Command at the time of the Sept. 2 attack, ordered the follow-up strike, the White House said Monday as it defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth鈥檚 conduct following a report from The Washington Post.
Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was 鈥渟atisfied鈥� following a conversation with Hegseth on the attack, but that he also wanted to hear from Bradley.
鈥淲e鈥檒l all have clarity on Thursday afternoon,鈥� Rogers said.
GOP senator says if an official ordered strike on survivors, they should 鈥榞et the hell out of Washington鈥�
North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he wants more information on a report that top military officials ordered an attack on survivors of a boat strike, calling the claim potentially 鈥渞age bait.鈥� Still, he said 鈥渨e need to get to the bottom of it,鈥� and that, if true, it would amount to 鈥渁 violation of an ethical, moral or legal code.鈥�
鈥淚f it鈥檚 substantiated, whoever made that order needs to get the hell out of Washington,鈥� Tillis said.
Tillis, who announced earlier this year he won鈥檛 seek reelection, was a deciding vote in confirming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Chair of Senate Armed Services Committee pledges boat strike investigation will be 鈥榖y the numbers鈥�
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker says he wants vigorous oversight following a report that top military officials ordered an attack on survivors of a boat strike.
鈥淲e鈥檒l find out the ground truth,鈥� he said, adding that the ramifications of the report were 鈥渟erious charges.鈥�
Wicker added that he expected a briefing from U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, who was overseeing the operation, but avoided saying whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be called to testify.
Experts explain what the law says about killing survivors of a boat strike
The U.S. military would have committed a crime if it killed after it was first attacked,
It doesn鈥檛 matter whether with drug cartels as the Trump administration asserts. Such a fatal strike would have violated peacetime laws and those governing armed conflict, the experts say.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine anyone, no matter what the circumstance, believing it is appropriate to kill people who are clinging to a boat in the water,鈥� said Michael Schmitt, a professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval War College.
The White House confirmed Monday that in September against a vessel accused of trafficking drugs off Venezuela and insisted it was legal.
Bill Cassidy celebrates Trump signing law on health care
The Louisiana senator, who is emphasizing his ties to Trump ahead of a tough primary, posted a video touting the president鈥檚 signature on a Senate bill.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about making America healthy again,鈥� Cassidy says in the video, taken from a car. The SUPPORT Act is meant to boost programs that treat substance use disorders, overdoses, and mental health.
Cassidy posted earlier today that he was invited to the White House for the bill signing. Trump has not made an endorsement in the 2026 Senate race in Louisiana, where Cassidy is up for reelection. Cassidy 鈥� highlighting what he鈥檚 previously called a 鈥済reat working relationship鈥� with Trump 鈥� drew multiple challengers from his own party after voting to convict Trump on an article of impeachment.
Schumer calls Hegseth a 鈥榥ational embarrassment鈥� and demands release of boat strike video
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the Defense secretary childish and insecure, and said Hegseth鈥檚 social media post of a cartoon turtle firing on suspected drug traffickers is 鈥渟omething no serious leader would ever think of doing.鈥�
Schumer said the Armed Services committees conducting oversight should demand that Hegseth release the video of the strike and testify under oath about what happened.
Senate GOP Leader wants 鈥榓ll the particulars鈥� on Venezuelan boat strike
Sen. John Thune says he鈥檚 glad the Armed Services committees in Congress will be conducting oversight of the boat strikes on alleged drug traffickers that critics have described as war crimes.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have, at this point, an evaluation of the secretary,鈥� Thune told reporters. 鈥淥thers can make those evaluations.鈥�
He said he expects the committee to look into 鈥渨hat happened when and what orders were given.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you want to draw any conclusions or deductions until you have all the facts,鈥� Thune told reporters. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see where they lead.鈥�
Trump honors National Guard troops at White House Christmas party
In a video of the party posted online by White House aide Margo Martin, Trump noted that he spoke to the parents of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in last week’s shooting in Washington.
鈥淗er parents couldn鈥檛 believe it, what happened to their baby, what happened to their daughter,鈥� Trump said Monday. 鈥淪he鈥檚 gone.鈥� He said another National Guard member 鈥� U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, whom Trump called 鈥渁 fabulous young man鈥� 鈥� was 鈥渇ighting for his life.鈥�
鈥淢aybe he鈥檒l be OK, he鈥檚 going through a lot,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淢aybe he鈥檒l be OK.鈥�
The press was not invited into the Christmas gathering, which an aide said was the first one at the White House this year.
鈥淲e have a little more than three years left, and three years for Trump is an eternity,鈥� Trump said to applause and laughter, according to the video posted by Martin.
Sen. Kelly says Trump is trying to bully him: 鈥業 won鈥檛 let it happen鈥�
Facing a Pentagon investigation after President Donald Trump accused him of sedition 鈥減unishable by DEATH,鈥� Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona is showing little interest in backing down.
鈥淔or most of Donald Trump鈥檚 career, bullying people has worked out for him. But not now, because I won鈥檛 let it happen,鈥� Kelly told reporters Monday.
The Pentagon launched its inquiry last week after Kelly appeared in a video with other Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. troops to defy 鈥渋llegal orders.鈥� Kelly, viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, has stayed in the spotlight since by directly challenging the president.
鈥淧resident Trump has crossed the line, and this time it鈥檚 not going to work. I will not be intimidated by this president,鈥� Kelly said.
Top military officer talks with congressional leaders
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held the weekend call following reports that the military conducted a second strike in September on the survivors of an attack on an alleged drug boat.
Caine spoke with the four bipartisan lawmakers leading the Senate and House Armed Services Committees 鈥渢o share perspectives on ongoing operations鈥� and reiterate 鈥渉is trust and confidence in the experienced commanders at every echelon,鈥� .
The committees have opened reviews following the report.
The call focused on 鈥渁ddressing the intent and legality of missions to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,鈥� the statement said.
Three of Schumer鈥檚 offices targeted with bomb threats
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said three of his New York offices received emailed bomb threats from an email address alleging the 鈥�2020 election was rigged.鈥�
Schumer said in a statement that local law enforcement received bomb threats referencing his offices in Rochester, Binghamton and Long Island with the email subject line 鈥淢AGA.鈥�
鈥淟ocal and federal law enforcement responded immediately and are conducting full security sweeps,鈥� Schumer said. 鈥淓veryone is safe, and I am grateful for their quick and professional response to ensure these offices remain safe and secure for all New Yorkers.鈥�
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Trump and France鈥檚 Macron hold call to discuss Ukraine
The French president spoke with Trump by phone after he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on Monday.
Trump and Macron 鈥渄iscussed the conditions for a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine and the next steps in the mediation efforts undertaken by the United States,鈥� according to a French government statement. 鈥淭he President of the Republic notably underscored the central importance of the security guarantees required for Ukraine and our determination to work on them together with the United States.鈥�
spoke optimistically Monday about the progress of revising the Trump administration鈥檚 , saying 鈥渋t looks better鈥� and the work will continue during talks on how to end Russia鈥檚 .
U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks in Florida about the U.S. proposal.
White House physician says Trump is in 鈥榚xcellent overall health鈥�
Sean Barbabella said in a statement that Trump鈥檚 physical exam included 鈥渁dvanced imaging鈥� that is 鈥渟tandard for an executive physical鈥� in Trump鈥檚 age group.
Barbabella concluded that the cardiovascular and abdominal imaging was 鈥減erfectly normal.鈥�
Trump to meet with his national security team to discuss strikes off of Venezuela
Leavitt said the meeting will take place Monday afternoon, and that strikes against suspected drug vessels off Venezuela — as well as other topics — will be discussed.
White House says second strike on suspected drug vessel followed armed conflict laws
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a second strike was conducted against an alleged drug vessel off Venezuela on Sept. 2 鈥渋n self-defense and 鈥渋n accordance鈥� with laws governing armed conflict.
鈥淭he president has the right to take them out,鈥� Leavitt said of alleged drug vessels, if they are 鈥渢hreatening the United States of America.鈥�
Leavitt鈥檚 comments came after reports that defense officials gave a verbal order to leave no survivors after a first U.S. strike on a in the Caribbean on Sept. 2 left survivors.
White House say
s Biden 鈥榬ecklessly released鈥� nearly 100,000 Afghans into the U.S.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the pre-Thanksgiving shooting of two National Guard members in Washington shows it is 鈥渕ore important than ever to finish carrying out the president鈥檚 mass deportation operation.鈥�
She said the Trump administration is 鈥渆nsuring the monster responsible for this atrocity鈥� is held accountable, and reckoning with what made the attack possible 鈥� including scrutinizing and other migrants.
Leavitt blamed what she called Biden鈥檚 鈥渉istoric failure in Afghanistan鈥� and said it 鈥渃ontinues to haunt this country and our men and women in uniform.鈥�
South Carolina to send 300 National Guard troops to Washington this month
The troops were already set to go to the nation鈥檚 capital before last week鈥檚 shooting that killed one National Guard member and wounded another from West Virginia, Gov. Henry McMaster said.
The Republican governor said there are no plans to increase the number of soldiers after President Donald Trump requested 500 more National Guard troops following .
The governor noted South Carolina has also sent National Guard troops to the Mexican border and other places in the world.
鈥淲e鈥檒l keep sending them, and they are willing to go and capable of going,鈥� McMaster told reporters Monday.
The South Carolina troops will replace soldiers from Georgia. They were the replacements for the first round of South Carolina soldiers in Washington who returned home in September.
Melania Trump and Usha Vance write holiday cards for deployed service members
The wives of the president and vice president spoke briefly to the roughly 100 military spouses, American Red Cross volunteers and others gathered inside a hangar at Joint Base Andrews near the nation鈥檚 capital for the event.
The first lady praised the spouses for carrying 鈥渢he weight of family life鈥� while their husbands or wives are away from home serving the country.
Usha Vance, whose husband, Vice President JD Vance, is a former Marine, said the holiday season is a time to 鈥渓ift up鈥� those who serve.
After speaking, both women took up positions at tables to help stuff 鈥渃omfort kits鈥� as they were being filled with Rice Krispies treats, peanuts, granola bars and handwritten notes. They also joined others who were writing holiday cards for deployed service members.
The first lady wrote in one of her cards: 鈥淢erry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for your service. Our nation is proud of you!鈥� and signed it, 鈥淲ith warm wishes, Melania Trump.鈥�
Trump holds call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
鈥淭he two leaders stressed the importance and obligation of disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, and discussed expanding the peace agreements,鈥� according to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The call comes a day after Netanyahu asked his country鈥檚 president to from corruption charges, a move that would end a long-running trial that has bitterly divided the nation.
Trump has publicly urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu, turning to President Isaac Herzog to Israel鈥檚 parliament during an October visit. Trump also recently to Herzog calling the corruption case 鈥減olitical, unjustified prosecution.鈥�
Trump urges Israel to maintain dialogue with Syria amid growing tensions
The president in a social media posting said his administration is 鈥渧ery satisfied鈥� with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa鈥檚 efforts to stabilize Syria as the Mideast nation nears the one-year anniversary of the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.
But Trump also underscored that it鈥檚 鈥渧ery important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria鈥檚 evolution into a prosperous State.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 comments come as Israel moves to secure its northern borders. Israeli military forces raided a Syrian village on Friday and opened fire when confronted by residents, killing at least 13 people in the deadliest Israeli attack since its troops seized a swath of southern a year ago.
A Border Patrol-led immigration crackdown is coming to greater New Orleans
Around 250 federal border agents are aiming to arrest 5,000 people after Monday鈥檚 expected launch of what they鈥檙e calling 鈥淪wamp Sweep,鈥� a monthslong in southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi.
The deployment centered in liberal New Orleans is the latest to target a Democratic-run city as the Trump administration pursues .
Border Patrol commander , who has led aggressive operations in Chicago, Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina, is expected to helm the campaign. Many people in the greater New Orleans area have been on edge since the planned operations this month. Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he welcomes the federal agents.
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What to expect in Tennessee鈥檚 special congressional election
After a last month, the next test comes Tuesday in a special congressional election in Tennessee.
Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Aftyn Behn are the nominees to replace former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who . Van Epps is a West Point graduate and former Army helicopter pilot who led the Tennessee Department of General Services and has Trump鈥檚 endorsement. Behn is a progressive state representative who has drawn comparisons to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
The GOP is looking to pad its narrow six-vote House advantage. Most of the 7th District has elected only Republicans to Congress for more than a dozen years, but it has more Democratic voters since Republicans to include parts of Davidson County, which is home to Nashville.
Aiming for a 9-0 sweep, Republicans would split Indianapolis among 4 districts
Indiana House Republicans published a draft of a map on Monday morning with new boundaries designed to oust the state鈥檚 two Democratic U.S. House members.
The city of Indianapolis would be split among four congressional districts, a major change to the current map where the city makes up the entirety of the 7th District that reliably backs Democrats.
Indiana鈥檚 other current Democratic district is in the state鈥檚 northwest corner near Chicago. The new map would instead group a large portion of Republican counties in northern Indiana with the cities of East Chicago and Gary to make a new 1st Congressional District.
Indiana lawmakers have been under mounting to redistrict like Republicans in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina have. To offset the GOP gains, Democrats in California and Virginia have moved to do the same.
Indiana legislators to convene state House session with redistricting top of mind
Indiana House members are expected to convene Monday to push for redrawing the state鈥檚 in the Republicans鈥� favor, increasing pressure on their in the GOP-led state Senate to meet Trump鈥檚 demands.
Republicans who control the House have said there鈥檚 no doubt redistricting will pass that chamber. The proposal鈥檚 fate remains uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans have resisted pressure to redistrict for months. Senators have now agreed to meet Dec. 8 and resolve the issue.
Republicans hold seven of Indiana鈥檚 existing nine U.S. House seats. and other Republicans want a map that could enable a 9-0 GOP sweep and make it harder for Democrats to flip the Republican majority in Washington.
First lady Melania Trump reveals White House Christmas decorations
鈥淗ome is Where the Heart is鈥� is the theme she chose for her family鈥檚 first Christmas back at the White House.
The decorations also nod to next year鈥檚 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the founding of the United States of America.
The gingerbread White House, an annual highlight dating to the Nixon administration, showcases the South Portico and provides a glimpse into the Yellow Oval room as decorated by the Trumps.
The Yellow Oval is a sitting room in the president鈥檚 private living quarters on the second floor of the White House.
Public tours resume on Tuesday.
Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba is disqualified as New Jersey prosecutor
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that the Trump administration鈥檚 maneuvers to keep the president鈥檚 former lawyer Alina Habba in place as New Jersey鈥檚 top federal prosecutor were illegal and she is disqualified.
The panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes amid the administration鈥檚 for New Jersey. The judges questioned the government鈥檚 moves to keep Habba in place after her interim appointment expired and without her getting Senate confirmation.
Habba said after the Oct. 20 hearing that she was fighting on behalf of other candidates to be federal prosecutors who have been denied Senate hearings.
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Venezuelan leader Maduro and his allies resist US pressure
Venezuelan opposition leaders hoped U.S. military threats would weaken President Nicol谩s Maduro鈥檚 support. But the strategy of loyalty or punishment among the ruling party鈥檚 leadership continues to hold, despite the buildup off Venezuela鈥檚 Caribbean coast.
The Trump administration says the military operation aims to counter narcotics. But experts say these actions only strengthen Maduro and his allies and unites them against external threats.
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Everyone鈥檚 talking about a 鈥楰-shaped鈥� economy
So what does it mean? The upper part of the K refers to higher-income Americans seeing their incomes and wealth rise. The bottom points to lower-income households struggling with weaker income gains and steep prices.
The term helps explain an unusually muddy and convoluted period for the U.S. economy. Growth , yet hiring and unemployment . Overall consumer spending is still rising, but Americans are . AI-related data center construction is soaring while factories are laying off workers and home sales are weak. And the stock market still hovers near record highs even as wage growth slows, making affordability much more of a concern for middle and lower-income households.
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Rubio calls US-Ukraine talks on Russia war productive
U.S. and Ukrainian officials completed Sunday aimed at finding an endgame to the war just days before a U.S. envoy is due in Moscow for talks with
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the terms that ends fighting,鈥� Rubio said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity. … I think we built on that today, but there鈥檚 more work to be done.鈥�
US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members
The move by Trump鈥檚 administration intensifies efforts to .
The Republican administration is promising to pause entry to the United States from some poor nations and and other legal migrants already in the country.
Trump says he鈥檒l release MRI scans
鈥淚f you want to have it released, ,鈥� the president said during an exchange with reporters as he traveled back to Washington from Florida.
He called the results of the October tests 鈥減erfect,鈥� but said he could not recall which part of his body was scanned.
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