Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
U.S. Lawmakers Urge Pentagon to Blacklist More Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Ties 
Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Trump Nominates Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan to Lead U.S. Southern Command Amid Rising Tensions in Latin America 
Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Epstein Files Released by DOJ Spotlight Bill Clinton, Raise Questions Over Trump Mentions 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Kevin Hassett Says Inflation Is Below Target, Backs Trump’s Call for Rate Cuts 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
EU Approves €90 Billion Ukraine Aid as Frozen Russian Asset Plan Stalls 
U.S. Launches Large-Scale Airstrikes on ISIS Targets in Syria After Deadly Attack 
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy came under fire from Congressional Democrats for turning over thousands of hours worth of video footage from the January 6 insurrection. McCarthy was accused of compromising the safety of Capitol Police officers and lawmakers by turning over the footage to right-wing network Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
On Wednesday, Congressional Democrats criticized McCarthy for handing Carlson, a known critic of the Jan. 6 Committee investigation into the insurrection, thousands of hours worth of footage from the incident.
Carlson said on Monday that they received the footage from McCarthy that was described by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as “a treasure trove of closely held information” on security at the Capitol complex and plans for the continuity of government in case of an attack.
“The speaker is needlessly exposing the Capitol complex to one of the worst security risks since 9/11,” said Schumer in a letter to fellow senators.
Also on Wednesday, House Democrats held a virtual caucus, according to party leader Hakeem Jeffries. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chaired the bipartisan Jan. 6 panel, was set to address caucus members at the time.
“When the Select Committee obtained access to US Capitol Police video footage, it was treated with great sensitivity given concerns about the security of lawmakers, staff, and the Capitol complex,” said Thompson in a statement. Thompson noted that access to the footage was limited to lawmakers and “a small handful of investigators” as well as senior staff.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed into the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to derail Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory after Trump repeatedly claimed the election was stolen due to voter fraud. The Justice Department’s investigation into the insurrection and the efforts by Trump to overturn the 2020 elections continues under Special Counsel Jack Smith.
A DOJ attorney has urged a federal appeals court on Thursday not to block investigators’ access to GOP Congressman Scott Perry’s phone. Perry, who has helped spread false claims of voter fraud, has sought to block the DOJ from accessing the contents of his phone since it was seized last year.
