Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
UAE Plans Temporary Housing Complex for Displaced Palestinians in Southern Gaza 
Ukraine-Russia Talks Yield Major POW Swap as U.S. Pushes for Path to Peace 
U.S. Sanctions on Russia Could Expand as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
Trump Rejects Putin’s New START Extension Offer, Raising Fears of a New Nuclear Arms Race 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Outgoing vice president Mike Pence would be presiding over the joint session of Congress and the Senate to formally go over the electoral votes for both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. In another desperate attempt to stay in power, Trump continues to pressure Pence.
After weeks of unsuccessful lawsuits in the swing states to contest election results, Trump and his allies have now turned to the joint session in an attempt to overturn the election. As Pence is presiding over the proceedings that will inevitably not have any bearing on Biden’s victory, Trump continues to insist that Pence has the authority to reject electors and decertify election results. Pence does not have the authority to do so, and neither does the Senate or the Congress.
The outgoing vice president finds himself in a tough spot, especially as Trump’s behavior has become increasingly erratic following his election loss. Many of Trump’s allies are also counting on him to overturn the results, but Pence has reportedly made clear that he has no power to change the outcome. However, this also puts Pence’s aspirations of a 2024 White House run at risk.
“He can decertify the results or send them back to the states for change and certification,” said Trump in a statement Tuesday, hours after having lunch with the vice president. “He can also decertify the illegal and corrupt results and send them to the House of Representatives for the one vote for one state tabulation.” People familiar with the matter have revealed that leading up to the joint session, Pence was already studying the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which is what governs the proceedings.
Following the acts of insurrection incited by Trump onto his supporters, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have locked Trump out of his accounts. Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol, forcing the joint session into a temporary halt with some lawmakers evacuating or hiding in offices. Twitter hid three of Trump’s tweets, including his video message where he repeats his widely-refuted claims of winning the election rather than Biden. Twitter flagged down the posts, citing the repeated violation of the platform’s civic integrity policy and warned that it may permanently suspend him from the platform should he commit more violations in the future.
