- U.S. Airstrikes in Syria Target Iran-Backed Militias That Rocketed American Troops in Iraq (New York Times) – President Biden ordered retaliatory strikes against the militias whose attacks in Erbil this month killed one civilian contractor and wounded a U.S. service member.
- US carries out air strikes in Syria targeting Iranian backed militias (CNN) – Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the strikes took place “at President Biden’s direction” and were authorized not just to respond to the recent attacks against American and coalition forces but also to deal with “ongoing threats to those personnel.”
- McConnell says he’ll ‘absolutely’ support Trump in 2024 if he’s the GOP nominee (CNN) – The Kentucky Republican’s comments come just weeks after he delivered a pointed rebuke of Trump on the Senate floor for fomenting the deadly US Capitol insurrection.
- Republican legislators around the country seek to strip governors and officials of emergency election powers (CNN) – As of this month, state legislators in 43 states had introduced 253 bills to restrict voting access, according to an updated tally by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.
- Acting Capitol Police chief tells lawmakers militia groups seek to ‘blow up the Capitol,’ targeting Biden speech (USA Today) – The continued threats made it “prudent” for the Capitol Police to maintain their increased level of security at the Capitol.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene faces backlash after attacking congresswoman with transgender daughter (USA Today) – Newman talked about the importance of the Equality Act for transgender individuals such as her daughter. Greene then posted a tweet denying her daughter’s gender identity. “Your biological son does NOT belong in my daughters’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports teams,” Greene said.
- Senate Can’t Vote On $15 Minimum Wage, Parliamentarian Rules (NPR) – The Senate parliamentarian ruled that a plan to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 does not fit the complicated rules that govern budget bills in the Senate.
- Cuomo’s sexual harassment accusations prompt Time’s Up to call for ‘independent investigation’ (Fox News) – Time’s Up is an organization dedicated to combatting harassment, assault and discrimination of women in the workplace.
- At conservative gathering, there’s just one litmus test: Loyalty to Trump (Los Angeles Times) – Throughout the weekend, loyalty tests will be everywhere — panels touting Trump’s false claims of election fraud, speeches from Republican hopefuls who will compete to praise him, and a straw poll designed to show him as the favorite for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination.
- A Judge Blocked Biden’s Big Pause On Deportations, But ICE Says It Will Continue To Focus Only On Certain Immigrants (BuzzFeed News) – Despite the legal setback, ICE officers were told to remain focused on immigrants who pose national security or other public safety threats, along with people who arrived in the US after Nov. 1.
- ‘Horrible’: Witnesses recall massacre in Ethiopian holy city (AP) – Bodies with gunshot wounds lay in the streets for days in Ethiopia’s holiest city. At night, residents listened in horror as hyenas fed on the corpses of people they knew. But they were forbidden from burying their dead by the invading Eritrean soldiers.
