A small group of Democratic lawmakers supports a bill to label the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, aligning with a recent executive order by President Trump. The move aims to address concerns about the group's alleged extremist activities and influence in the Middle East.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an executive order to potentially designate some Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations.
Five Democratic legislators support the “Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025.”
The act is introduced by Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart.
Democrats supporting it include Senator John Fetterman and Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Greg Landsman, Jared Moskowitz, and Tom Suozzi.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is a Sunni Islamist group with international branches.
The U.S. Secretary of State and Treasury Secretary have 45 days to report on designating Brotherhood chapters in specific countries.
Governor Greg Abbott labeled the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization earlier this month.
The U.S. seeks to disrupt the financial and recruitment networks of extremist affiliates tied to the Brotherhood.
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter discuss the Republicans in Congress facing difficulties in addressing increasing health care expenses. The conversation also touches on a former key ally of President Trump leaving Congress and the early end of Dieselgate, referred to as DOGE.
Key Facts
Republicans in Congress are trying to manage rising health care costs.
Health care expenses have become a significant issue in political discussions.
A former important ally of President Donald Trump has left Congress.
The term "early dissolution of DOGE" was mentioned in the discussion, referring to a particular event or issue.
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter are political analysts who covered these topics on NPR.
The discussions focus on recent political news involving the U.S. Congress and President Trump.
President Trump's administration has implemented new rules affecting transgender rights. These rules cover medical care, sports, and identification documents. Legal challenges are ongoing against these changes.
Key Facts
President Trump is serving his second term in office.
The administration has introduced policies to restrict transgender rights.
New rules affect young people's access to transition-related medical care.
Restrictions also impact transgender participation in sports.
Changes have been made to identity markers, like on passports.
There are ongoing legal challenges against these restrictions.
The future of these new rules may be influenced by court decisions.
Morgan Geyser, who was convicted for stabbing a classmate in 2014 to appease the fictional character Slender Man, was captured in Illinois after escaping a group home in Wisconsin. Geyser had been on conditional release from a mental hospital and was found at a truck stop, leading to her rearrest.
Key Facts
Morgan Geyser stabbed her classmate 19 times in 2014 to please an online fictional character called Slender Man.
She was sentenced to 40 years in a mental hospital and later released conditionally to a group home.
Geyser removed her monitoring device and fled the group home in Madison, Wisconsin.
Police captured her at a truck stop in Posen, Illinois.
Geyser initially refused to give her real name to police and suggested they search her name online.
She was found with a 42-year-old man, who was charged with trespassing and released later.
The original attack, known as the "Slender Man stabbing," gained national attention due to its shocking nature.
The victim, Payton Leutner, survived the attack, and the other assailant, Anissa Weier, was released from psychiatric care in 2021.
A federal judge dismissed cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge ruled the prosecutor's appointment by President Trump was invalid, so the cases are not allowed to continue.
Key Facts
A federal judge threw out cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
The judge ruled that the prosecutor's appointment by President Trump was not valid.
Comey was accused of lying to Congress and obstructing proceedings.
Letitia James faced charges of bank fraud and making false statements.
Both Comey and James pleaded not guilty to the charges.
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert was replaced by Lindsey Halligan, who lacked prosecutorial experience.
Judge William Fitzpatrick noted issues in the investigation that could undermine the cases.
The Pentagon is looking into claims of misconduct against Senator Mark Kelly. These claims are linked to Kelly's advice to military personnel about disobeying unlawful orders. The Department of War mentioned possible actions such as recalling Kelly for court-martial.
Key Facts
The Pentagon is investigating Senator Mark Kelly for misconduct.
Kelly is a retired US Navy captain and a current Democratic senator.
He recently told service members to refuse unlawful orders.
The allegations against Kelly were not detailed by the Pentagon.
The message from the Department of War emphasized the legal duty of military members to follow lawful orders.
The Pentagon noted that further actions could include court-martial or other measures.
President Donald Trump's administration removed the field of nursing from its list of professions needing a "professional" degree. This change could affect how nurses receive financial aid for education. A nurse named Wendy Brindley Hines, who supports President Trump, expressed concern over how this might impact student loans for those in health care.
Key Facts
The Trump administration changed which fields are considered to require a "professional" degree.
Nursing and physical therapy were not included in this new list.
This change could affect the ability of nursing students to get certain types of student loans.
Wendy Brindley Hines, a nurse with a master's degree, voiced her concern about these changes on social media.
The Department of Education stated that the new definition is about loan eligibility, not a judgment on the professions' importance.
Graduate nursing programs might need to lower costs due to caps on available loans.
The changes do not affect undergraduate nursing programs.
The U.S. student loan debt is nearly $1.8 trillion.
The Pentagon is investigating Senator Mark Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers after they posted a video urging military members to refuse unlawful orders. President Trump called for their arrest, and debates have arisen about the impact of their message on military discipline. Democrats, including Kelly, have faced backlash and have been offered extra protection due to security concerns.
Key Facts
The Pentagon is looking into "serious allegations of misconduct" against Senator Mark Kelly and some Democratic lawmakers.
These lawmakers posted a video encouraging military members to not follow unlawful orders.
President Trump demanded they be arrested and put on trial for their actions.
Democrats, including Kelly, defended their actions, saying their job includes oversight of the executive branch.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested special protection for Kelly and another senator due to safety concerns.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized the video, calling it harmful to military order and discipline.
A federal law prohibits urging military personnel to disobey lawful orders, with potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
The Associated Press (AP) and the Trump administration are in a legal battle about media access to the Oval Office. The AP claims it was unfairly punished for its reporting style, while the White House argues it can decide which journalists have access. A court is reviewing the case, which involves issues of press freedom and government control over media access.
Key Facts
The Associated Press (AP) sued the Trump administration over restricted access for its reporters.
The dispute began because the AP continued to use "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America."
The Trump administration argues the White House should decide who can be in the press pool.
The AP believes this limits press freedom and access to government information.
A lower court ruled against government retaliation based on speech, but this decision is on hold for appeal.
Close to 50 media organizations support the AP, arguing that restricting one outlet affects public access to information.
The White House changed press pool rules, which were previously set by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
The White House is supporting a Pentagon investigation into Senator Mark Kelly. The investigation is about a video where he reportedly encourages military troops to ignore illegal orders. This has raised concerns about discipline within the military ranks.
Key Facts
The White House backs a Pentagon investigation of Senator Mark Kelly.
Senator Kelly is from Arizona and is a Democrat.
The issue stems from a video where Kelly urges troops to defy illegal orders.
The Pentagon is looking into whether this breaches military law.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed concerns about military order and discipline.
There are 1.3 million active duty members in the U.S. armed forces.
Maintaining order is crucial for a functioning military.
The Trump administration has changed a policy that affects how nursing students can get federal loan money, by excluding nursing from the list of professional degrees. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) argues that this change will make the current healthcare crisis worse by reducing the number of people able to enter the nursing profession. The policy change involves replacing the Grad PLUS loan program with a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
Key Facts
The Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the state.
The Trump administration removed nursing from the list of programs considered as "professional degrees."
This decision impacts how nursing students get reimbursed for student loan payments.
The MNA claims this change will worsen the healthcare workforce shortage.
Over 260,000 students are enrolled in entry-level nursing programs in the U.S.
Nursing is seen as one of the most trusted professions in the country.
The new federal loan plan, Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), caps the annual loan amount for new borrowers.
The change excludes certain healthcare professions from federal loan eligibility, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called for an investigation into "Sharia courts," even though these courts do not exist in Texas. He also labeled the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a "foreign terrorist organisation," but lacks the legal authority to do so. These actions are seen as part of political messaging aimed at raising suspicion toward Muslim-Americans.
Key Facts
Texas Governor Greg Abbott asked for an investigation into "Sharia courts" in Texas on November 19.
In Texas, there are only voluntary Muslim mediation panels, not actual Sharia courts.
Abbott named the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a "foreign terrorist organisation."
Designating a group as a foreign terrorist organisation can only be done by the U.S. federal government, not state governors.
These actions are part of broader political efforts that portray Muslim practices as a security threat.
In the past, similar campaigns have pushed for laws to prevent the use of Islamic law in U.S. courts.
A Muslim-led real estate project in Texas was wrongly described as a "Sharia colony"; the project faced a DOJ investigation that found no wrongdoing.
Tennessee and Michigan have seen similar efforts against Muslim communities, with legal challenges based on religious discrimination.
President Donald Trump signed an order directing officials to consider if parts of the Muslim Brotherhood should be labeled as terrorist organizations. The order involves officials from State, Treasury, Justice, and intelligence agencies and focuses on countries like Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. This move is part of a plan to counter groups that the U.S. says cause instability and support attacks in the Middle East.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday.
The order directs an investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood's possible designation as a terrorist group.
The Secretary of State, Treasury, Attorney General, and Director of National Intelligence are involved.
The review will focus on countries like Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Officials have 45 days to report findings and take action if needed.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott already labeled the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist groups.
CAIR is challenging the Texas designation in court, saying it's unconstitutional.
President Donald Trump has ordered a detailed review of around 200,000 refugees who were admitted to the United States during President Joe Biden's time in office. This order was outlined in a memo signed by Joe Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Key Facts
President Trump directed a review of refugees admitted under President Joe Biden.
The review concerns about 200,000 people entering from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025.
The memo detailing the order was obtained by Reuters.
Joe Edlow, head of USCIS, signed the memo.
USCIS did not immediately provide a comment on this directive.
This is reported as a breaking news story, with updates expected.
The Trump administration has changed which degrees are considered "professional," affecting student loan limits. Degrees in fields like nursing and teaching, often dominated by women, are no longer classified as "professional," impacting students' ability to borrow money for education. This change could make it harder for students in these fields to finance their education and enter certain careers.
Key Facts
The Trump administration updated the classifications for "professional" degrees.
Degrees in fields such as nursing, teaching, and social work are not considered "professional" under new rules.
Student loan limits will be lower for degrees not classified as "professional."
Women are a large part of the workforce in the affected fields.
The American Nurses Association has expressed concerns about these changes.
Graduate students in "non-professional" programs can borrow up to $20,500 annually, less than those in "professional" programs.
The change aims to limit student borrowing, according to the Department of Education.
Critics argue the policy may increase financial burdens on women-dominated professions.
Nurses in the University of California system have agreed to a new four-year contract that aims to improve patient safety and keep nurses working there. The California Nurses Association and the university reached this agreement after several negotiations, which also led to the cancellation of a planned strike.
Key Facts
The new contract includes provisions to enhance patient safety and retain nurses.
The California Nurses Association (CNA) represents over 25,000 nurses across 19 UC facilities.
Nurses have faced issues like short staffing and increased workloads during negotiations since June.
The contract includes a minimum wage increase of 18.5% over four years and limits on health care cost increases.
Nurses will have added protections, including better work breaks and more involvement in technology decisions like AI.
A planned strike by CNA and another union was called off after the tentative agreement.
The agreement focused on improving care quality and working conditions for nurses.
First lady Melania Trump received the White House Christmas tree, which was brought by a horse-drawn carriage from Michigan. She greeted the people who delivered the tree and posed for photos.
Key Facts
First lady Melania Trump welcomed the Christmas tree to the White House.
The tree came from Korson’s Tree Farms in Michigan.
It arrived on a green horse-drawn carriage.
Three men wearing top hats drove the carriage.
Melania Trump wore a cream-colored overcoat and dark red gloves.
She interacted with the drivers and a woman accompanying the Clydesdale horses.
A Michigan veterinarian, Amanda Hergenreder, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for not returning a sick dog to a homeless man named Chris Hamilton. Hergenreder took the dog for treatment and refused to return it, leading to her conviction for misdemeanor larceny.
Key Facts
Amanda Hergenreder, a veterinarian, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for refusing to return a dog to its owner.
The dog, a 16-year-old pit bull mix, belonged to Chris Hamilton, a homeless man.
Hergenreder treated the dog for health issues without its owner’s consent.
She was convicted of misdemeanor larceny and must pay $1,000 in restitution.
The dog was found tied to a truck in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Hergenreder claimed ethical duties as her reason for keeping the dog, who she renamed Biggby.
A jury found her guilty, and the judge rejected a request for community service instead of jail time.
Hamilton, the dog's owner, expressed that losing the dog felt like losing a part of himself.
A federal judge has dismissed the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The dismissal happened because the interim U.S. Attorney who signed the indictments, Lindsey Halligan, was found not to have the necessary experience. The cases may be reopened if the Justice Department decides to appeal or file new charges.
Key Facts
A federal judge dismissed the cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
The reason for dismissal was Lindsey Halligan's lack of experience in her role as interim U.S. Attorney.
The cases were dismissed "without prejudice," meaning they could be reopened.
The White House says the facts in the indictments have not changed.
The Justice Department is considering an appeal to a higher court.
If appealed, the case would go to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
An appeal would pause Comey and James' other legal claims.
Defense lawyers argue that any new prosecution would be flawed due to the original process.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will resign from Congress in 2026, shortly after becoming eligible for a federal pension. Her decision has sparked criticism, with some suggesting that her timing is primarily motivated by financial benefits.
Key Facts
Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress in January 2026.
She will qualify for a federal pension shortly after serving five full years.
Critics claim her resignation timing is aimed at securing pension benefits.
Her pension will begin at $8,717 annually when she turns 62 in 2036.
Greene has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump but has had recent clashes with him.
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation explained that her estimated lifetime pension could exceed $265,000.
Under the Federal Employees Retirement System, members qualify for a pension after five years of service, based partly on their salary and service length.
There is debate about whether her personal financial interests influenced her timing to leave Congress.
