Washington Governor Bob Ferguson supports a new tax plan that would impose a 9.9% income tax on people earning over $1 million annually. The plan aims to use part of the money collected to help low-income residents, either by expanding tax credits or reducing sales taxes. Washington is currently one of nine U.S. states that does not have a personal income tax.
Key Facts
Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington endorses a tax on millionaires.
The proposed tax rate is 9.9% on annual incomes over $1 million.
A portion of the tax revenue will aim to provide financial relief for low-income residents.
Options for relief include expanding the working families tax credit and reducing sales taxes.
Washington is one of nine states without a personal income tax.
The proposal is backed by legislative Democrats and is currently under consideration.
The incoming Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, spoke with Mustapha Kharbouch, a Brown University student wrongly accused on social media of being involved in a shooting. Mamdani expressed support for Kharbouch and invited him back to New York City, promising to combat Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani is the incoming Mayor of New York City.
Mustapha Kharbouch is a student at Brown University.
Kharbouch was wrongly identified as a suspect in a shooting based on social media speculation.
He faced threats and discrimination due to his Palestinian heritage.
Mamdani reached out to Kharbouch, offering support and an invitation to return to New York City.
Mamdani's campaign included a focus on the Palestinian cause and condemning antisemitism.
The situation highlighted issues of Islamophobia and the dangers of false accusations on social media.
The White House is facing criticism after CBS News decided not to air a "60 Minutes" segment about the Trump administration's deportation practices. Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, suggested that CBS News producers who criticized this decision should be fired. The segment was reportedly withdrawn for additional reporting, despite being cleared by the network's legal team.
Key Facts
Stephen Miller, an adviser to President Trump, called for the firing of CBS News producers who opposed the removal of a "60 Minutes" segment.
The segment concerned the deportation of Venezuelan men to a prison in El Salvador.
CBS News removed the segment hours before it was supposed to air, citing a need for further reporting.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the correspondent for the segment, argued in an internal note that the story was factually correct and cleared legally.
CBS News faced backlash after the segment was published online and criticized the decision to pull it.
The White House has not officially commented on the situation.
Bari Weiss, the editor-in-chief of CBS News, requested changes to the segment before its removal.
President Donald Trump suggested that the broadcast licenses of major TV networks should be revoked if they continue to report negatively on him and his political allies. He made this statement on his Truth Social platform.
Key Facts
President Trump expressed his views on the Truth Social platform.
He believes major TV networks report almost entirely negatively about him, the MAGA movement, and the Republican Party.
Trump questioned whether these networks' "valuable" broadcast licenses should be revoked.
He suggested that if the coverage remains negative, their licenses should be terminated.
This statement was made in the context of perceived media bias against him and his political allies.
The Trump administration is working to release all remaining documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, totaling about 700,000 pages. Delays and issues with some documents have arisen, drawing criticism and accusations of misinformation. Despite many records released, no credible evidence links President Trump to wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Key Facts
The Trump administration needs about one more week to review and release all Jeffrey Epstein files.
There are approximately 700,000 pages of documents still to be reviewed.
Recent releases included around 30,000 new investigative records.
Some documents mention President Trump, but their credibility is questioned.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) warned that some records may be politically motivated and not true.
Despite issues, DOJ releases documents to demonstrate transparency, though it missed a Congressional deadline.
An incident occurred where documents were accessed online before being officially released, leading to temporary removal.
No credible evidence has emerged linking President Trump to improper conduct with Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Supreme Court has rejected President Trump's plan to send the National Guard to Chicago. The court decided that the president's power to use the National Guard is limited to "exceptional" situations. This decision comes amid legal challenges to the deployment of troops in Democrat-led cities.
Key Facts
The US Supreme Court denied President Trump's request to send the National Guard to Chicago.
The court stated that such federal deployment is only applicable in "exceptional" circumstances.
The National Guard primarily consists of state-based troops used for major emergencies.
The court's decision is notable because it goes against the recent trend of siding with the Trump administration.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the ruling a victory for Illinois and democracy.
President Trump has deployed troops to Democrat-led cities to address protests and crime.
The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that blocked the Chicago deployment.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch disagreed with the majority decision.
The U.S. Department of Justice released over 11,000 documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, which include redacted names and possible co-conspirators. President Donald Trump's name appears more frequently, but the Justice Department notes some claims about him are untrue. Some emails discuss possible inappropriate activities linked to Epstein and his associates.
Key Facts
The Department of Justice released more than 11,000 documents about Jeffrey Epstein.
Many documents have blacked-out names to protect identities and ongoing investigations.
President Donald Trump's name is mentioned often, but some claims about him are said to be false.
An email exchange discusses requests for inappropriate friends and trips linked to Epstein's circle.
10 possible "co-conspirators" are mentioned, with some already notified legally.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Les Wexner are among the names not redacted in the documents.
Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes related to trafficking minors.
A prominent figure, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, denies any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
The Supreme Court decided not to allow President Trump to send National Guard troops to Chicago. The decision keeps a lower court's order that prevents this action in place. This decision is part of a legal battle over federal authority and immigration policies.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against President Trump's request to deploy the National Guard in Chicago.
The decision maintains a lower court's temporary order stopping the deployment.
The ruling is a challenge to President Trump's immigration policies.
The court order stated the government did not show valid authority to use the military in Illinois.
Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Thomas disagreed with the majority.
President Trump wanted the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property from rioters.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker praised the ruling, calling it a victory for Illinois and democracy.
The situation is ongoing, with updates expected in the future.
An explosion and fire occurred at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol, Pennsylvania, causing injuries. Emergency services responded, and part of the building collapsed. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Key Facts
An explosion and fire happened at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania.
It occurred at Silver Lake Nursing Home around 2:00 PM local time on Tuesday.
Emergency crews are on the scene, and some people might still be trapped inside.
Part of the building has collapsed, and the fire is still active.
Local utility company PECO responded to reports of a gas smell before the explosion.
Natural gas and electricity to the building have been turned off.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick are in contact with local officials and are offering support.
The exact number of injured people and the explosion's cause are not yet known.
The National Guard is deploying 350 troops to New Orleans to help local law enforcement, as announced by Governor Jeff Landry. This deployment begins around the New Year and will continue through February, following a year of significant events and security concerns in the city.
Key Facts
The National Guard deployment to New Orleans involves 350 troops.
Governor Jeff Landry requested the troops to support local law enforcement.
The deployment will start around the New Year and last until February.
It marks the anniversary of a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street that occurred last year.
The city experienced heightened security due to events like the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras following that attack.
Local crime rates, including the murder rate, are reportedly at a low similar to the 1970s.
The deployment request initially included other Louisiana cities, but they are not part of the current plan.
Governor Landry could have used state resources but opted for federal support to cover costs.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented on false information spreading about the recently released Epstein files. The files are part of an effort to be transparent about documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's activities. Some documents are still under review, and ongoing redaction is needed to protect victims and ongoing investigations.
Key Facts
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released documents related to Jeffrey Epstein as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated there are false claims circulating about these files.
The released files mention public figures and contain thousands of pages.
Some documents remain under review to protect victims' identities and active investigations.
Blanche emphasized that some documents in possession may be false, like a letter claimed to be from Epstein.
There is ongoing debate about whether the DOJ has fully disclosed all relevant documents.
Lawmakers and victim groups call for complete transparency in the release of these documents.
Officials are committed to bringing charges against individuals involved in Epstein's activities.
President Donald Trump's approval rating with Hispanic voters has decreased, according to a recent poll by The Economist and YouGov. The approval rating stands at 28 percent, dropping from 38 percent the previous week. This change could affect the Republican Party's strategy with Hispanic voters in future elections.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating among Hispanic voters is now at 28 percent.
Overall, Trump's approval rating is at 39 percent, with 57 percent disapproval.
The poll was conducted from December 20 to December 22 with 1,592 people surveyed.
The poll's margin of error is 3.4 percent.
Trump's approval rating with Hispanics was 38 percent last week and 39 percent earlier in December.
This is the lowest approval rating with Hispanics since October, when it was 25 percent.
Hispanic voters are an important group for future elections, especially in swing states.
Shifts in Hispanic support may challenge the Republicans' goal to expand their voter base.
President Donald Trump's administration plans to restart garnishing the wages of some borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans. This action will begin on January 7, marking the first time the federal government has implemented this measure since the COVID-19 pandemic began. About 1,000 borrowers will be initially affected, with the number expected to rise over time.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration will garnish wages from some defaulted student loan borrowers.
Notices to affected borrowers will start on January 7.
Initially, about 1,000 borrowers are expected to be impacted, with more to follow.
The government can garnish up to 15% of a borrower's income, ensuring at least 30 times the federal minimum wage per week remains.
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Approximately 1 in 6 American adults has student loan debt, totaling about $1.6 trillion.
More than 5 million borrowers have not made a payment in over a year.
The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in October and November, the highest since 2021.
President Trump's administration plans to start taking money directly from the paychecks of people who haven't paid their student loans. This action will begin the week of January 7 and is a part of resuming collections after a five-year pause. The Department of Education will begin notifying around 1,000 borrowers who are in default about this wage garnishment.
Key Facts
The Trump administration will start garnishing wages from defaulted student loan borrowers starting the week of January 7.
About 1,000 borrowers will initially receive notices, and the number will increase every month.
This action follows the end of a five-year repayment pause that affected 5.3 million borrowers.
President Trump signed a law in July that reduces the number of student loan repayment plans from five to two.
The U.S. government can also take federal tax refunds, Social Security, and disability benefits from borrowers who are in default.
Student loan collections follow laws from the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.
The Consumer Credit Protection Act limits garnishment to a maximum of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount over 30 times the federal minimum wage.
There are 42.7 million borrowers with over $1.6 trillion in federal student debt.
President Donald Trump's name appeared on flight records for Jeffrey Epstein's private jet more times than previously known. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released documents showing Trump was a passenger on at least eight flights from 1993 to 1996. The DOJ mentioned that some documents contain false claims and stress no wrongdoing by Trump.
Key Facts
President Trump was noted as a passenger on Epstein's private jet eight times between 1993 and 1996.
He reportedly traveled on these flights with people including his daughter Tiffany and son Eric.
The DOJ released these documents as part of a larger collection known as the Epstein files.
Some documents released by the DOJ contain claims against Trump that they say are unfounded and false.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and stated in 2024 that he was never on Epstein's plane.
The DOJ released over 30,000 pages of documents about Epstein, with more pending release.
Epstein faced charges of sex trafficking and died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.
The Supreme Court has stopped President Trump's plan to send National Guard troops to Chicago. This decision is temporary while a legal case continues. Meanwhile, the U.S. military targeted a boat for drug smuggling, and former Senator Ben Sasse announced he has terminal cancer.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court temporarily halted President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.
The halt is in place while legal arguments about this action are resolved.
The U.S. military carried out an operation against a boat they claim was involved in drug smuggling.
Former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse announced he has stage-four pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer at stage four is considered terminal, meaning it is very unlikely to be cured.
A new agreement has stopped the U.S. Department of Education's SAVE plan, which helped with student loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of repayment. This deal also restricts future student loan forgiveness efforts for the next 10 years and gives Missouri special rights to challenge large forgiveness actions.
Key Facts
The SAVE plan, which helped reduce monthly student loan payments, will end under the new agreement.
The U.S. Department of Education will face limits on its ability to offer student loan forgiveness for the next decade.
Missouri can review and challenge any student loan forgiveness if it exceeds $10 billion in a month for the next 10 years.
The planned changes are still waiting for court approval.
The settlement will require the Department of Education to notify Missouri of any large forgiveness actions before they happen.
The agreement could impact student loan forgiveness efforts during and beyond President Donald Trump's term.
President Trump has made changes in Washington since taking office again, including the renaming of the Kennedy Center. This performing arts center, now called the Trump-Kennedy Center, has a history dating back over 60 years to the Eisenhower administration.
Key Facts
President Trump is in his second term as the U.S. President.
The Kennedy Center has been renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was established over 60 years ago.
The center's origins trace back to the administration of President Eisenhower.
The renaming highlights President Trump's influence in Washington.
Winter weather alerts in the U.S. indicate which states might get snow on Christmas. While most of the country will have warmer temperatures, states like California, Utah, Oregon, and Alaska expect heavy snow. The weather could disrupt holiday travel plans for many Americans.
Key Facts
Winter weather alerts are in place across the U.S. for Christmas.
AAA predicts 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the holidays.
States like California, Utah, Oregon, and Alaska are expecting significant snowfalls.
Most of the U.S. will experience above-average temperatures, making snow less likely.
The National Weather Service reports possible light snow in Northern New England.
Heavy snow and gusty winds could make travel difficult in some areas.
High-elevation areas in California might receive up to 8 feet of snow.
Some states might experience record warmth for Christmas, with temperatures 15-30 degrees above average.
The deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, reportedly caused by their son, have brought attention to the struggles faced by families dealing with mental illness and addiction. Virginia state Sen. Cree Deeds, who has experienced similar loss with his son, shared his experiences in a discussion.
Key Facts
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were reportedly killed by their son.
This incident has sparked discussion about mental illness and addiction within families.
Virginia state Sen. Cree Deeds experienced a similar tragedy with his son.
Deeds' son, who had bipolar disorder, attacked him and then died by suicide.
The situation highlights the challenges of dealing with mental health issues in families.
