US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
Ukraine War: Russian Drone Attack Sparks Hotel Fire in Central Kyiv 
Trump Dedicates Theodore Roosevelt Museum, Unveils New Air Force One Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary 
Trump Reports $1.4 Billion in Crypto Income as Digital Assets Become Top Wealth Source 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
Trump Vows U.S. Will Prevent China From Taking Over the Panama Canal 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
Trump Administration to Launch Voluntary AI Standards for Frontier Models 
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
Amy Coney Barrett Faces Conservative Backlash After Key Supreme Court Rulings Against Trump 
UN Warns of Looming Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan’s Al-Obeid 
US Appeals Court Limits ICE Detention Without Bond Hearings After 90 Days 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
A previous report revealed that many current members of Congress have been engaging in insider trading. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now facing criticism from members of her party following her defense of sitting lawmakers trading stocks.
Several Democratic members of Congress have criticized Pelosi following her defense of sitting lawmakers trading and buying stocks last week. Pelosi said that while lawmakers should all follow the disclosure laws, she noted that lawmakers should also be able to participate in trading stocks even while in office, citing that the US is a “free market economy.”
“No. It cannot be a perk of the job for Members to trade on access to information,” tweeted Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
“I disagree with the Speaker,” said Rep. Dean Phillips, who is also one of the wealthiest members of Congress alongside Pelosi.
“I disagree strongly,” said Rep. Andy Kim. “Americans are losing trust in government and we need to show we serve the people, not our personal/political self-interest.”
“There is no reason members of Congress should hold and trade individual stock when we write major policy and have access to sensitive information. There are many ways members can invest w/o creating actual or appeared conflict of interest, like thrift savings plans or index funds,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Earlier this year, Spanberger introduced a bill that required lawmakers, including their spouses and dependent children, to put assets in a blind trust while they are in office. Lawmakers would still be allowed to own and trade stocks and common investments.
In other related news, far-right personality Alex Jones previously filed a lawsuit against Pelosi and the House Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection in the hopes of stopping the panel from requiring his testimony and his phone records as part of the probe. The lawsuit filed by Jones in a Washington DC district court, also revealed that he planned to invoke the Fifth Amendment if he is compelled to testify before the committee which is scheduled on January 10.
Jones also said that he has already informed the committee that he will raise First Amendment objections should the panel ask him about “constitutionally protected political and journalistic activity.” However, Jones noted that the committee has disputed his claims.
