President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a $5 million civil ruling that found he defamed and sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll. A New York jury awarded damages to Carroll, and a federal appeals court upheld the decision, stating that no errors were made during the trial. Trump contends that improper evidence was allowed, and the Supreme Court is now his last chance to challenge the verdict.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump has requested the U.S. Supreme Court review a $5 million civil case verdict involving E. Jean Carroll.
A jury in New York found that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll and defamed her, awarding her damages.
A federal appeals court supported the jury's decision, denying Trump's request for a new trial.
Trump argues that the trial judge improperly allowed evidence, like the 2005 Access Hollywood tape, to be shown to the jury.
Trump's appeal claims Carroll's accusations are politically motivated and false.
The Supreme Court has not yet decided if it will review the case.
Carroll alleges Trump attacked her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s, which Trump denies.
Trump's appeal to a federal appeals court was rejected in June, leaving the Supreme Court as his last option.
This article discusses the positive change in mood among MAGA supporters after recent events. These include President Trump pardoning 77 people accused of 2020 election interference and Democrats compromising on the government shutdown. However, internal disagreements within the MAGA movement still persist, although they have been somewhat overshadowed by these new developments.
Key Facts
President Trump pardoned 77 people involved in the 2020 election interference.
Democrats made concessions to avoid a government shutdown.
MAGA supporters felt relieved after these developments, following tensions over issues like Israel support and cancel culture.
Last week, Republicans faced losses in key elections in states like New Jersey and Virginia.
Internal disagreements continued within MAGA, including criticism from figures like Laura Loomer and comments on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
MAGA supporters are now pushing for more legal actions against their opponents.
Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney, mentioned plans to pursue legal accountability or public exposure for past actions by opponents.
President Trump's administration removed multiple online posts by the Department of Homeland Security related to U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver at the order of a judge. McIver was charged with assaulting federal officers at a New Jersey detention center but pleaded not guilty. The judge ordered the removal of these posts as they might impact her legal proceedings.
Key Facts
Posts by the Department of Homeland Security about Representative LaMonica McIver were taken down.
A judge, Jamel Semper, ordered the removal to prevent possible prejudice in McIver's case.
McIver was charged with assaulting federal officers during a congressional visit in May.
McIver has pleaded not guilty and claimed the charges could violate her political rights.
The Department of Homeland Security made several online statements criticizing McIver and other Democrats.
McIver's lawyers argued these posts could harm her legal process and asked the court to stop them.
Despite the judge's order, one post remained online because it was controlled by a private journalist, not the government.
Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers, is restarting the group after getting a pardon from President Donald Trump. Rhodes suggests the group could act as a militia supporting Trump, interpreting federal laws to support this idea.
Key Facts
Stewart Rhodes is the founder of the Oath Keepers, a militia group.
Rhodes received a presidential pardon from President Trump after being sentenced for involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Rhodes is relaunching the Oath Keepers and suggests it can serve as a militia under Trump's command.
He claims the group can be used to handle invasions, insurrections, and enforce federal laws.
The Insurrection Act allows for military deployment under certain conditions, but Rhodes’ interpretation is legally debatable.
After being pardoned, Rhodes quickly became active again, speaking at the U.S. Capitol.
Nearly 1,600 people received pardons for crimes related to the Capitol riot.
Rhodes aims to ensure the Oath Keepers can continue should he be absent again.
Zohran Mamdani, elected as the next mayor of New York City, plans to contact President Donald Trump before he starts his term. Mamdani believes their relationship is important for the city's success, especially with ongoing federal and city tensions about immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani is the mayor-elect of New York City.
Mamdani plans to call President Trump before assuming office.
He says this relationship is important for New York City's success.
There are tensions between the city's leadership and federal authorities.
These tensions particularly involve the potential use of ICE agents and National Guard troops in the city.
Mamdani has a Democratic Socialist platform.
President Trump has criticized the incoming administration.
The U.S. Senate voted to end a government shutdown with a proposal led by Republicans, a decision that upset some progressive Democrats. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer faced criticism for allowing the vote to proceed without securing healthcare subsidies as demanded by Democrats. The bill funds parts of the government temporarily but leaves the issue of healthcare subsidies unresolved.
Key Facts
The Senate passed a bill to end the U.S. government shutdown without healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer faced backlash for enabling the vote on the Republican proposal.
The measure funds the government until January 30 but defers the decision on healthcare subsidies.
Seven Democratic Senators and one Independent Senator voted with Republicans to end the shutdown.
Schumer did not vote for the measure but is criticized for not preventing the defections.
Progressive Democrats are calling for stronger leadership and critiquing Schumer's previous political stances.
Senate Republicans agreed to a future vote on ACA subsidies in December, though approval is uncertain.
California voters have approved a plan to change the state's congressional map in a way that could help Democrats gain seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This move is part of wider efforts across the country by both parties to change congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. Several states, including Texas and Missouri, have already made changes or are considering them.
Key Facts
California has approved a measure to change its congressional district map, potentially helping Democrats win more seats.
Five states, including California, have already changed their congressional maps.
Texas passed a redistricting plan that could boost Republican seats by up to five.
Missouri's new map targets Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's seat.
North Carolina's new map aims to gain one Republican seat by changing district lines.
Ohio's new congressional map could increase Republican seats by two.
Democratic chances could improve in states like Utah, where a judge ordered changes to the congressional map.
Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia are also considering redistricting efforts to potentially gain more seats for Democrats in the House.
Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, faces challenges due to past social media posts and staffing issues. Despite this, he continues his campaign, emphasizing his personal experiences and desire to bring change. Platner aims to replace Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 elections and must first secure the Democratic nomination.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate seeking to win a U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
He is an oyster farmer and a combat veteran who has openly discussed his struggles with PTSD.
Past social media posts with inflammatory content have resurfaced, causing controversy.
Platner believes voters want new faces in politics and hopes they will overlook his past.
His campaign aims to focus on economic equality and change within the political system.
He grew up in Maine, served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and emphasizes his roots in the community.
Platner must first win the Democratic nomination, facing competition from Gov. Janet Mills.
U.S. Catholic bishops have elected Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley as their new president. This decision signals a conservative direction during President Donald Trump’s second term. Coakley succeeded after three rounds of voting, defeating more centrist candidates.
Key Facts
U.S. Catholic bishops elected Archbishop Paul Coakley as their president.
Coakley was previously elected as secretary of the bishops' conference in 2022.
Coakley is known for his conservative stance, especially on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
The election took place during President Donald Trump's second term.
Coakley beat centrist Bishop Daniel Flores, who was elected vice president.
Half of the candidates in the election were from the conservative wing.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops aims to discuss immigration policies.
Despite differences, even conservative bishops generally support migrant rights.
During a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, volunteers across the country are providing services to their communities to fill gaps left by suspended federal programs. Initiatives like Pensacola Grocery Buddies pair people in need with donors to cover groceries, while volunteers at places like the Oklahoma City National Memorial help maintain essential services.
Key Facts
Pensacola Grocery Buddies was created to help with food costs during the government shutdown.
In two weeks, the group connected over 300 people needing help with donors and raised over $10,000.
Volunteers are stepping up across the nation to maintain services usually provided by the federal government.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial relies on volunteers to give tours, normally led by furloughed park rangers.
The site remembers 168 people killed in a bombing 30 years ago.
Volunteers promote a culture of giving back, drawing on their personal experiences.
A graduate in North Carolina started her own "Grocery Buddies" chapter to meet local needs.
People face challenges due to a long-standing drop in volunteer numbers, compounded by the shutdown.
The Space Weather Prediction Center has warned of potential disruptions to the power grid in 11 U.S. states due to a strong geomagnetic storm. States affected lie north of the 45th parallel, including places like Oregon and Maine. The storm could cause voltage issues and affect satellite systems.
Key Facts
The geomagnetic storm is forecasted to be a category G4.
It may impact states poleward of the 45th parallel, including 11 states like Oregon and Maine.
The storm could cause voltage control problems and mistakenly trip key grid assets.
Satellite systems may experience outages due to the storm.
An aurora borealis might be visible as far south as Alabama.
Geomagnetic storms occur when solar particles interact with Earth's magnetic field.
These storms can disrupt communication and navigation systems.
NOAA uses a standardized scale to issue alerts and warnings on space weather events.
President Donald Trump has proposed new plans to give direct payments to Americans, like $2,000 checks from tariff money and other financial reliefs. However, no payments have been made yet, and there's no timetable for them. These ideas are still in discussion, and they need more details and approval before moving forward.
Key Facts
President Trump suggested giving $2,000 payments to Americans using money from tariffs, which are taxes on foreign goods.
Trump mentioned on a social media platform that he plans to issue a "dividend" to middle- and lower-income Americans.
Experts warn that these payments could cost $600 billion each year and might increase the national deficit by $6 trillion over ten years.
Tariff revenues are usually paid by U.S. importers and passed on to consumers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these payments might come as tax cuts or deductions instead of direct checks.
A separate proposal called "baby bonds" would give $1,000 to each child born in the U.S. from 2025-2028, but this needs more legislative steps to become real.
The government has also thought about giving savings from government efficiency to citizens, but no details or plans have been finalized.
A report from the University of California, San Diego has highlighted a significant increase in students entering without middle school math skills. The percentage of students placing below Algebra 1 in math assessments tripled over five years, raising concerns about student readiness for college. This trend is associated with learning disruptions during the pandemic and changes in admissions practices.
Key Facts
UCSD report shows a rise in students without Algebra 1 skills from 6% in 2020 to 18% in 2025.
Pandemic disruptions and the removal of standardized test requirements are linked to the increase.
Math 2, a course for very basic math skills, now enrolls over 900 students, up from fewer than 100.
A new course, Math 3B, was introduced to cover high school-level math content.
Many students placed in remedial courses had high school math grades, including some with straight A's (4.0 GPA).
The report points to a gap between students' paper qualifications and actual skills.
Schools with high numbers of low-income students have more students needing remedial courses.
There is a debate about balancing access to education with preparing students adequately for college.
The U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a spending bill to end a prolonged government shutdown. If House Republicans remain united, they can pass the budget without needing Democratic support, but several issues threaten this unity. One significant point of contention is the renewal of tax credits for affordable health insurance.
Key Facts
The U.S. Senate has passed a spending bill to end the longest government shutdown in history.
House Republicans need to stay united to pass the budget without Democratic votes.
A key issue is whether Republicans will agree to renew tax credits that help 24 million Americans afford health insurance.
Democrats want to attach these tax credits to the spending bill, while Senate Republicans only agreed to a future vote.
Some conservative Republicans warn against allowing health insurance premiums to rise.
Democrats are divided on the issue; the left-wing is critical of those who supported the Senate budget.
Moderate Democrats like Jared Golden and Henry Cuellar may support the Republican spending plan.
The House has a narrow Republican majority with 219 seats; they can only lose two votes on the plan.
Speaker Mike Johnson is calling U.S. House members back to session after keeping it closed during the government's long shutdown. Lawmakers are set to address a number of pending issues, starting with a vote to reopen the government. The situation highlights Johnson's approach to leadership and his interactions with other government branches.
Key Facts
Speaker Mike Johnson had not convened the U.S. House during a long government shutdown.
He is recalling lawmakers to address pending legislative demands.
The first agenda item is to vote on reopening the government.
The session will also focus on other matters like the Jeffrey Epstein files and swearing in a new representative.
Johnson's decision to keep the House closed differed from historical norms.
The prolonged closure allowed more influence by the executive branch, under President Donald Trump.
Johnson has criticized Democrats, saying they caused the shutdown over health care funding disagreements.
During the shutdown, Johnson said the House had done its part by passing a funding bill, placing responsibility on the Senate.
A new map shows Democrats are reducing the gap with Republicans in the redistricting efforts before the 2026 midterm elections. Donald Trump has encouraged states to redraw districts to help Republicans, prompting Democrats to act similarly. Changes in states like Utah, Texas, and California could affect the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Key Facts
Democrats recently gained an advantage in Utah with a new congressional map that increases their chances of winning a seat.
President Trump has pushed Republican-led states to redraw district maps to benefit the GOP in the 2026 elections.
Texas has responded to Trump's call, with a new map potentially adding five Republican seats.
In California, voters approved a plan that might give Democrats a chance to gain five seats.
Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio have adopted new maps that could result in additional Republican seats.
A new map in Utah may allow Democrats to flip one of the state's four House seats.
Legal challenges and referendum efforts in states like Missouri and California could impact the newly drawn districts.
Republicans claim California’s redistricting process is unconstitutional and have filed a legal challenge.
In his first months of his second term, President Trump has focused on making financial promises that don't need new laws. He often uses social media to announce ideas like 50-year mortgages and payments to people. Most of these ideas are easy to change or reverse because they are not backed by new laws.
Key Facts
President Trump signed fewer bills into law than other presidents at the same point in their terms.
Trump's political party controls both the presidency and Congress.
Trump often announces financial ideas on social media without new laws to back them.
He suggested a 50-year mortgage to make housing more affordable.
Trump proposed $2,000 payments to individuals, which he changes details about frequently.
The Supreme Court might cancel tariffs because they are not part of new laws.
Trump's ideas can be easily reversed if they are not made into laws.
He pressures companies to lower drug prices without seeking new laws.
The Trump Administration is reportedly instructing U.S. consular officers to deny visas to applicants who are overweight or have costly long-term medical conditions. This guidance aims to ensure that immigrants can financially support their own healthcare needs without relying on public assistance. The policy has stirred significant discussion due to the perspectives on health discrimination and immigration fairness.
Key Facts
The Trump Administration has issued guidance for consular officers to deny visas based on applicants' health conditions.
Conditions mentioned include obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.
The guidance emphasizes financial self-sufficiency for healthcare costs over a person's lifetime.
Consular officers are asked to consider the financial resources of applicants and their dependents.
Applicants of retirement age must show they can support themselves without employment income.
Over 40% of adults in the U.S. have obesity, making the policy relevant to many.
The policy has prompted debate about fairness and implementation feasibility.
Critics argue it may unfairly target people with health issues, suggesting it may be hard to enforce consistently.
The ongoing federal government shutdown in the U.S. has been the longest in history, affecting the economy by delaying paychecks for 1.25 million federal workers and causing thousands of flight cancellations. Although many economic activities will recover after the government reopens, around $11 billion is expected to be permanently lost.
Key Facts
The U.S. is experiencing its longest federal government shutdown, which began on October 1.
About 1.25 million federal workers have not received paychecks during the shutdown.
Thousands of flights have been canceled, with more expected even as the government approaches reopening.
There has been a slowdown in government contract awards and interruptions in food aid benefits for some recipients.
The shutdown is projected to reduce economic growth for the fourth quarter by 1.5 percentage points.
The reopening of the government could increase growth in the first quarter of the following year by 2.2 percentage points.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that $11 billion in economic activity will not be recovered.
The impact of this shutdown is more significant than a past shutdown in 2018-2019, which lasted for 35 days.
President Donald Trump proposed a plan to give $2,000 checks to lower- and middle-income Americans, funded by tariffs. Economists are debating the impact, raising concerns about rising inflation and whether tariff revenues can cover the costs.
Key Facts
President Trump proposed $2,000 checks for lower- and middle-income Americans using tariff funds.
Economists worry this could increase inflation since the U.S. already faces high inflation levels.
The proposal has not been finalized, and details about eligibility and implementation are unclear.
Experts believe these checks could push inflation higher, similar to effects seen during COVID-19 stimulus efforts.
Tariffs have generated about $195 billion for the U.S. in fiscal year 2025.
The proposal could cost more than $200 billion, potentially matching annual tariff revenue.
Some analysts believe the checks might boost markets by encouraging spending, which could help the economy.
Experts question whether tariff revenues alone can fund this proposal without worsening long-term U.S. fiscal problems.
