A bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis has advanced in the House of Representatives. The bill is a response to a similar Senate bill but differs on key points related to homelessness and VA loans. The new House bill seeks to increase housing inventory and streamline construction processes.
Key Facts
A new bill on housing affordability has moved forward in the House of Representatives.
This House bill, called HR 6644 or the Housing for the 21st Century Act, received a 50-1 vote in committee.
The bill's goal is to increase the housing supply by streamlining zoning laws and creating standardized home designs.
This House bill differs from the Senate's version by excluding provisions related to homelessness and VA loans.
Homeownership rates have dropped to their lowest since 2019, partly because of a housing shortage.
President Trump promised during his campaign to lower housing costs and increase inventory.
The bill is seen as a response to high housing prices and limited housing availability in the U.S.
Industry experts see passing bipartisan housing legislation as necessary to address the crisis.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has announced a new initiative to win over young voters for the 2026 elections. They have set up a National Youth Coordinated Table (NYCT) that brings together several youth-focused Democratic groups. The goal is to better communicate with young voters and address their needs to compete with President Trump's popularity in this age group.
Key Facts
The DNC has created the National Youth Coordinated Table (NYCT) targeting young voters.
James Skoufis, a New York State Senator, will lead the NYCT.
The initiative includes groups like the Young, College, and High School Democrats of America.
The DNC aims to improve communication and align its priorities with young voters.
President Donald Trump saw an 11% increase in support from young voters in 2024.
The DNC's effort marks the first time these youth groups will work under a single committee.
The initiative seeks to create a formal strategy and better allocate resources for youth outreach.
President Donald Trump gave a speech about the economy and other issues. His speech led to many memes on social media. Trump mentioned achievements in areas like immigration and the economy.
Key Facts
President Trump made a speech covering topics like the economy, crime, and immigration.
After the speech, people created and shared humorous memes on social media.
Trump talked about introducing a new Federal Reserve chair next year to replace Jerome Powell.
He mentioned that no illegal aliens have entered the U.S. in the past seven months.
Trump promised tax cuts in 2026 that could save families $11,000 to $20,000 annually.
During the speech, he criticized former President Joe Biden and claimed he is fixing previous issues.
Trump said that his administration has brought positive change to Washington.
President Donald Trump gave a speech from the White House discussing his achievements and criticizing immigrants, while also commenting on U.S. economic conditions. He claimed improvements in areas like border security and cost of living, though some of his figures were questioned as inaccurate. Trump used this address to emphasize his administration's impact and attribute any existing problems to his predecessor.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke from the White House, focusing on his administration's achievements.
He criticized immigrants, blaming them for issues like job loss and increased law enforcement costs.
Trump highlighted a decrease in illegal immigration, claiming a stronger U.S. border.
He asserted that living costs were falling, but some of his data on prices were disputed.
Trump attributed current U.S. issues to former President Joe Biden's policies.
He mentioned the price of gasoline, though his numbers differed from national averages.
Trump briefly addressed foreign policy, referencing a Gaza truce.
A blizzard warning has been issued for parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota. The National Weather Service advises that travel should be limited to emergencies only due to expected heavy snow and high winds, which could create dangerous travel conditions.
Key Facts
Blizzard warnings are in place for South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota.
South Dakota could see up to 2 inches of snow with 60 mph winds, impacting visibility and travel.
North Dakota may experience up to 4 inches of snow and winds up to 70 mph, making travel very dangerous.
Montana forecasts call for 2 inches of snow and 60 mph winds, reducing visibility significantly.
In Minnesota, areas could receive 1 to 4 inches of snow with 70 mph winds through Thursday evening.
The National Weather Service warns of whiteout conditions and advises against travel unless it's an emergency.
People are advised to carry a winter storm kit if travel is necessary, including essentials like tire chains, a flashlight, blankets, and water.
A winter storm warning is in effect for several U.S. states, with the National Weather Service cautioning about strong winds and heavy snow expected from Thursday to Saturday. The storm could bring up to two feet of snow in some areas, and residents are advised to take care due to potential avalanche risks and dangerous driving conditions.
Key Facts
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for several states including Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Michigan, Washington State, and Oregon.
Strong winds up to 75 mph and heavy snowfall, potentially reaching two feet, are expected in certain areas from Thursday to Saturday.
Hazardous conditions, such as reduced visibility and slippery roads, are anticipated, making travel risky.
In Idaho, areas above 7,000 feet could see up to two feet of snow, with winds of 45 mph.
Montana's Absaroka and Beartooth mountains could receive up to two feet of snow and 75 mph winds, increasing avalanche risks.
Alaska's Prince of Wales Island may see up to six inches of snow, coupled with 30 mph winds.
Parts of northern lower Michigan could get up to five inches of snow and winds of 45 mph, leading to drifting snow.
Washington State's Cascades could receive up to 18 inches of snow, with winds making travel difficult.
A man named Miguel Garcia was killed in a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas. Weeks later, his widow received a letter approving his immigration application. This letter allowed him to pursue legal status in the U.S.
Key Facts
Miguel Garcia died in a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas.
The shooting was described as a sniper attack targeting ICE agents.
Garcia had been detained because of a driving while intoxicated charge.
After his death, Garcia's widow received a letter approving his immigration application.
The approval would have let Garcia seek legal status in the U.S.
Garcia was originally from Mexico and had a criminal record.
Garcia’s widow expressed renewed grief when she received the approval letter.
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives decided to start their Christmas break early, one day before the Justice Department was set to release documents about Jeffrey Epstein. These documents are to be made public due to a law signed by President Trump.
Key Facts
The U.S. House of Representatives began their Christmas recess a day earlier than planned.
The decision to start the break early was announced by Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark.
The early recess was scheduled just before the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents are being released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
President Donald Trump signed this act into law on November 19.
Attorney General Pam Bondi was given 30 days to release all unclassified materials about Epstein.
The release of the documents was part of efforts to increase transparency.
President Donald Trump has talked privately about the possibility of running for a third term. These discussions challenge the U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. Alan Dershowitz, Trump's former lawyer, is writing a book that questions whether this limit is clearly defined.
Key Facts
President Trump has discussed the idea of a third term with former lawyer Alan Dershowitz.
The U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment restricts presidents to two terms.
Dershowitz is writing a book on the constitutional aspects of a potential third term for Trump.
Trump has made public comments about the idea but has not committed to pursuing it.
Legal experts and political figures are divided on the feasibility of a third term.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated a constitutional change is needed for a third term.
Historically, U.S. presidential terms have not exceeded two due to the 22nd Amendment.
The issue has sparked debate over executive power limits and American democratic norms.
President Donald Trump announced a $1,776 payment to 1.45 million U.S. service members, which he called a "warrior dividend." The funds come partly from tariffs and legislation he signed. Trump discussed his economic record and criticized Democrats during his speech.
Key Facts
President Trump announced a "warrior dividend" of $1,776 for U.S. service members.
The payment is funded by tariffs and a bill signed on July 4.
1.45 million service members will receive this payment.
Trump gave the speech in a televised address, highlighting his economic achievements.
He stated the payment celebrates America's founding year, 1776.
Trump criticized the Democratic Party, linking them to rising costs.
Economic data shows mixed signals with some prices falling but overall inflation at 3%.
Recent polls indicate concerns about the economy and Trump's handling of it.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on two Democrat-led resolutions aiming to limit President Trump's military actions in Venezuela. Both resolutions narrowly failed, but a few Republicans joined Democrats in supporting them. This vote followed claims of U.S. military actions against vessels in the Americas.
Key Facts
Two resolutions aimed to limit U.S. military action in Venezuela were voted on in the House.
The first resolution wanted U.S. forces withdrawn from Venezuela unless Congress approved their presence.
It failed with a vote of 211 for and 213 against, with three Republicans supporting it.
The second resolution tried to block military strikes on certain groups in the Western Hemisphere.
It also failed with a vote of 210 for and 216 against, with two Republican supporters.
The U.S. military said it struck 26 vessels in recent months, leading to at least 99 deaths.
Military actions are part of a broader campaign said to target drug operations.
PETA has criticized gymnast Simone Biles for getting a puppy with cropped ears from a breeder. The animal rights group says Biles contributed to the problem of homeless animals by not adopting a dog from a shelter.
Key Facts
PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an animal rights group.
Simone Biles is a gymnast, and her husband Jonathan Owens is an NFL player.
PETA criticized Biles for buying a dog from a breeder rather than adopting from a shelter.
The dog Biles purchased has cropped ears, a practice PETA opposes.
PETA made their statement on the social media platform X.
Newsweek is still waiting for a comment from TEAM USA regarding the issue.
The CEO of Enloe Health addressed a viral video incident involving an employee who questioned a Target worker about wearing a Charlie Kirk T-shirt. The police in Chico, California investigated but decided not to press charges, saying the woman’s actions were not criminal.
Key Facts
The incident involved a medical assistant from Enloe Health questioning a Target worker on video.
Enloe Health's CEO, Mike Wiltermood, said the behavior was concerning and praised the Target worker for staying calm.
The video's popularity led to a police investigation in Chico, California.
The police found no criminal behavior in the woman's actions after reviewing the evidence.
Enloe Health did not disclose if the employee involved is still working for the company, citing privacy reasons.
President Donald Trump announced that military service members will receive a $1,776 "Warrior Dividend" payment. This payment is intended to thank military members and is linked to funds earned from tariffs imposed by the administration.
Key Facts
Military members will get a $1,776 payment called "Warrior Dividend."
This announcement was made by President Trump.
The payment is a nod to the year 1776, the year the U.S. was founded.
A total of 1,450,000 service members will receive this payment before Christmas.
The money comes from a $200 billion tariff revenue collected this year.
The total payout to service members will be about $2.5 billion.
It's unclear how these funds will be used without approval from Congress.
A recent poll showed New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) slightly ahead of Vice President JD Vance in a potential 2028 presidential race. Neither has officially announced a campaign, but both are considered possible candidates. The poll shows a close race with AOC slightly leading, though within the margin of error, making them statistically tied.
Key Facts
The poll had AOC ahead of JD Vance 51% to 49%.
The result is within the poll's margin of error, meaning they are statistically tied.
Polling showed AOC stronger among Black and Hispanic voters; Vance is more popular among white voters.
More men favored Vance, whereas more women backed AOC.
AOC expressed skepticism about the poll's accuracy for an election still five years away.
The poll surveyed 1,521 voters from December 5-11 with a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points.
Other polls show AOC behind possible Democratic candidates like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg.
After the 2026 midterm elections, potential candidates might announce their intentions for the 2028 race.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking for her role with Jeffrey Epstein, has requested a U.S. federal judge to overturn her conviction and 20-year prison sentence. Maxwell claims new evidence shows her trial was unfair due to constitutional issues. This request comes as President Donald Trump signs a law to make Epstein-related records public.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in December 2021.
She has filed a request to have her conviction and sentence overturned, citing new evidence.
Maxwell argues the new evidence shows constitutional violations during her trial.
The request was filed in a Manhattan court and is considered a last-ditch legal effort.
This legal move occurs shortly before Epstein-related records are set to be released.
President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring public access to certain documents.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and died in jail a month later, with his death ruled a suicide.
Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas without explanation.
The article discusses how House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led Democrats in successfully pushing for a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. Jeffries ensured a three-year extension of these credits by rallying Democratic support and getting a few Republicans on board, despite pressure to support shorter compromise measures.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries focused on a strategy to extend ACA tax credits without compromise.
The extension vote in the House covers a three-year period without income limits.
Jeffries resisted calls to support bipartisan compromises with Republican backing.
All 214 House Democrats and four Republicans signed a petition to force a House vote.
The four Republicans were concerned about potential health care premium increases.
There was internal pressure from some centrist Democrats to support shorter extensions.
The vote results satisfied Democrats who wanted stronger leadership from their party.
The three-year extension faces challenges in the Senate.
The White House stated that the U.S. would benefit if President Trump remained in office for a longer time. This comment followed Alan Dershowitz sharing ideas from his upcoming book about the possibility of a third presidential term, despite the U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. Trump and his team have hinted at a 2028 run, even though the law currently does not allow a third term.
Key Facts
The White House said the U.S. would be fortunate if President Trump served longer.
Alan Dershowitz is writing a book about the possibility of a third presidential term.
The 22nd Amendment restricts U.S. presidents to two terms.
Trump and his team have suggested a future run in 2028.
Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, dismissed the idea of defying the 22nd Amendment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson doubted Trump's chances of a 2028 run.
Trump has publicly expressed interest in a third term through statements and merchandise.
Alan Dershowitz speculated about Congressional involvement if Trump were declared a winner in a future election.
The House of Representatives passed a Republican-led health care bill that does not continue the current financial aid from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This bill might cause health insurance premiums to rise for about 20 million people when the current aid ends on January 1. The Senate is not likely to act on this bill soon.
Key Facts
The House passed the GOP health bill with a 216-211 vote.
The bill does not renew the ACA subsidies, which may lead to higher premiums for approximately 20 million people.
The plan includes measures intended to lower health care costs, like expanding association health plans for small businesses.
The bill requires more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers and funds ACA cost-sharing reductions.
The Senate is not expected to take up this exact bill.
A group of moderates wanted to extend the subsidies for at least a year, but their proposal was not accepted by House leaders.
The Congressional Budget Office says the GOP bill could increase the number of uninsured people by 100,000 and save $35.6 billion over ten years.
Some GOP leaders believe extending ACA subsidies is wasteful, while moderates worry about political consequences from rising premiums.
President Trump delivered a speech highlighting various achievements and making several claims about the U.S. economy and immigration. Some of these claims were inaccurate or overstated, such as the number of migrants entering the U.S., inflation rates, and gas prices.
Key Facts
President Trump stated he "inherited a mess" since returning to office.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded fewer than 11 million migrant encounters under President Biden, contrary to Trump's claim of 25 million.
Trump mentioned 11,888 "murderers" entering the country, but this number includes historical cases over 40 years.
Government data showed inflation rose 3% over the past 12 months, despite Trump's claim of stopping inflation.
Trump said gas prices fell to $1.99 per gallon in several states, but the national average was $2.94.
Trump claimed $18 trillion in new investments, but official figures show $9.6 trillion in investment announcements.
Gasoline prices below $2 per gallon were found only at certain individual gas stations, not statewide averages.
