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Pelosi hospitalized after unspecified injury in Luxembourg
Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, was hospitalized due to an injury sustained during her official visit to Luxembourg, according to her office.
While participating in a bipartisan Congressional delegation commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Pelosi injured herself during an official event and was subsequently admitted to the hospital for evaluation, as confirmed by spokesperson Ian Krager.
“Speaker Emerita Pelosi is currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals. She continues to work and regrets that she is unable to attend the remainder of the CODEL engagements to honor the courage of our servicemembers during one of the greatest acts of American heroism in our nation’s history,” Krager stated.
At 84 years old, Pelosi recently secured another term representing her San Francisco district and expressed her eagerness to return home to the United States soon.
Updated at 17.32 CET
Kash Patel, who was nominated by Donald Trump to take over as FBI director, has garnered support from Republicans on a key Senate committee, as reported by the Guardian’s Hugo Lowell.
Support for Patel’s nomination has gained traction within the Senate Judiciary Committee, making it likely he could be confirmed for the role following the current director’s resignation in January. The strategy behind securing committee backing is aimed at making it more challenging for any skeptical Republican senators to oppose the nomination later, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trump’s aides have identified several senators—Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins—as potential obstacles due to their established positions and political independence. Patel’s team is reportedly banking on McConnell’s institutionalist leanings, hoping that a unanimous recommendation from the committee could sway his support and mitigate dissent.
Updated at 18.44 CET
Progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing challenges in her pursuit of leadership within one of the House’s significant committees.
Ocasio-Cortez is aiming for the position of ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, following former ranking member Jamie Raskin’s transition to the judiciary committee. She is competing against Virginia congressman Gerry Connolly for this influential role.
Today, the centrist New Democrat Coalition, which is the largest ideological group in the House, publicly endorsed Connolly for the position. Outgoing chair Annie Kuster and incoming chair Brad Schneider expressed their support, praising Connolly’s communication skills and commitment to effectively lead the committee in defending Democratic priorities and combating extreme actions from the Trump administration.
They noted Connolly’s extensive experience on the committee, highlighting his efforts against extreme GOP conspiracy theories and in advocating for sensible legislation.
Updated at 18.17 CET
Anita Dunn, a former senior adviser to Joe Biden, criticized the handling of the president’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
After months of avoiding discussion about a potential pardon, Biden granted Hunter a pardon following his guilty plea for tax fraud and a conviction related to firearm background check violations.
During a New York Times event, Dunn, who recently shifted her focus to support for Kamala Harris, expressed her agreement with the president’s decision, while also expressing dissatisfaction with the timing and implications for the judicial system.
Many in the Democratic Party have voiced their discomfort with the pardon and President Biden’s claims that Hunter was subjected to a “selective prosecution.”
Updated at 17.53 CET
Pelosi hospitalized after unspecified injury in Luxembourg
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic former speaker of the House of Representatives, sustained an injury while on an official visit to Luxembourg and was hospitalized, her office announced.
“While traveling with a bipartisan Congressional delegation in Luxembourg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation,” spokesperson Ian Krager said.
“Speaker Emerita Pelosi is currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals. She continues to work and regrets that she is unable to attend the remainder of the CODEL engagements to honor the courage of our servicemembers during one of the greatest acts of American heroism in our nation’s history.”
He added that the 84-year-old, who just won another term representing her district that centers on San Francisco, “looks forward to returning home to the US soon”.
Responding to the New York Times’s reporting that anti-vaccine attorney Aaron Siri has been advising Robert F Kennedy Jr in potential hiring for the Health Department, Hillary Clinton quipped:
Clinton remarked that Trump voters might be surprised by their decision to support initiatives that could lead to the resurgence of polio.
Donald Trump and JD Vance are set to attend the Army-Navy football game this Saturday outside Washington, as reported by USA Today.
In addition to inviting Daniel Penny, who was involved in a controversial case in New York, they plan to have friends and allies join them at the game. More details reveal that President-elect Trump will meet Pete Hegseth, his nominee for Defense Secretary, at the event. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Navy veteran, is also expected to accompany Trump.
Vance invites recently acquitted Daniel Penny to football game
JD Vance has invited Daniel Penny, who was recently acquitted of charges related to a high-profile incident on a New York City subway, to the upcoming Army-Navy football game.
Vance took to social media to express his support for Penny, stating, “Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone. I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”
Penny has become a prominent figure on the right, with discussions among Republicans suggesting he should receive the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions.
Trump transition considering downsizing financial institutions created after Great Depression – report
Details are emerging around the potential overhaul of US financial stability measures under the incoming administration of Donald Trump, as the Wall Street Journal reports that Trump’s transition team is exploring the elimination or reduction of key agencies, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. This institution was established in response to the Great Depression to safeguard against bank runs.
Implementing such changes would necessitate Congressional approval, a significant challenge given the complexities involved. Recent discussions with prospective nominees for regulatory roles have raised questions about the future of deposit insurance, including the possibility of transferring such responsibilities to the Treasury Department.
Any moves to eliminate or scale back the FDIC could provoke substantial backlash, especially in light of recent banking failures that have led customers to seek safety in larger banks. The ongoing demand for robust deposit insurance reflects widespread concerns about the security of deposits in smaller institutions.
Lawyer advising RFK Jr challenged polio, hepatitis B vaccines
Aaron Siri, an attorney accompanying Robert F Kennedy Jr in his recruitment efforts for the Department of Health and Human Services, is known for disputing vaccine certifications. Siri has a history of filing legal petitions against vaccines for diseases including polio and hepatitis B, and has also challenged Covid-19 vaccine mandates. It remains unclear if Siri seeks a position within the department or prefers to remain outside of governmental roles.
Further insights from the Guardian indicate Siri’s involvement could signal a trend toward integrating discredited views on vaccines into governmental framework if Kennedy is confirmed.
Trump-linked officials reportedly considering targeting bank stabilizer and polio vaccine
As we approach Donald Trump’s inauguration, signs are emerging about his potential policy paths. According to the New York Times, new information suggests Aaron Siri’s role as an adviser may further entwine anti-vaccine sentiment with federal health initiatives under Kennedy. Furthermore, discussions about downsizing agencies that stabilize the banking sector underscore a significant shift in economic policy priorities.
Simultaneously, Joe Biden will hold a virtual meeting with G7 nations, while significant leadership positions in the House have been announced, indicating a busy political landscape in the weeks leading up to the transition.
Updated at 15.46 CET
Source
www.theguardian.com