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NBC News
Trump health pick RFK Jr. begins meeting with Republican senators on Capitol Hill
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be Health and Human Services Secretary, will hold his first meetings with Republican senators this week.
Reuters
Trump muses about drones, wars and TikTok in first news conference as president-elect
In his first news conference since his election victory six weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump covered the Ukraine war, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey, the future of TikTok and lawsuits aimed at the media he often loves to hate. Trump displayed the loquaciousness and bravado of his 2017-2021 White House years as he held court in an ornate room at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, making an economic announcement and fielding questions for more than an hour.
NBC News
Democratic senators seek to ax transgender care ban from defense bill
Fourteen Democratic senators will introduce an amendment to remove language from Congress’ defense spending bill that seeks to ban coverage of gender-affirming care for trans children of service members, Sen. Tammy Baldwin's office told NBC News.
NBC News
Key union vows to fight back after Trump says he would end remote work for federal employees
The union representing thousands of federal workers said it would fight any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to block a Biden administration agreement allowing thousands of federal workers to continue with remote work.
CBS News
Trump says he'd "look at" a pardon for NYC Mayor Eric Adams
President-elect Donald Trump says he would "look at" a pardon for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has been indicted on corruption charges.
Reuters
US Senate advances $895 billion defense policy bill, voting continues
The U.S. Senate on Monday voted to advance an $895 billion bill setting policy for the Pentagon toward passage as soon as Tuesday, which would send it to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law. As voting continued, the tally was 72 to 12 in favor of advancing the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, to a vote on final passage, comfortably over the 60 needed in the 100-member Senate, despite inclusion of a controversial policy targeting gender-affirming care for transgender children.
USA TODAY
Supposed USA TODAY report tying Ben Carson to Alzheimer's product isn't real | Fact check
USA TODAY published no such article and has no affiliation with the website in question. Carson has no connection to this Alzheimer's product.
Associated Press
Is that a drone or a plane? Experts help explain the differences
Up in the sky, is that a drone, a plane or a helicopter? Experts who study unmanned aircraft systems — better known as drones — say it can be tough to tell from miles away. A light in the sky at night can easily be misinterpreted, according to John Slaughter, director of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research and Operations Center at the University of Maryland.
NBC News
Former Ozy Media head sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison
The former head of Ozy Media has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in an alleged fraud involving the failed content startup.
USA TODAY
Hannah Kobayashi returns to US weeks after being reported missing in Los Angeles, officials say
Hannah Kobayashi, the Maui woman reported missing in Los Angeles, returned to the United States from Mexico, police said.
NBC News
As mystery surrounding drone sightings deepens, conspiracy theories take flight
The burst of drone activity lighting up the night skies above New Jersey and other states is propelling online posts and conspiracies offering up bizarre claims to explain the drone "hysteria," some involving missing nuclear material and an impending alien invasion.
CNN
Attackers cannibalized victims of an Early Bronze Age community to dehumanize them
At least 37 people from Early Bronze Age England were butchered and likely cannibalized before being thrown down a shaft during a grim chapter of British prehistory.
USA TODAY
'Shocking and unconscionable': Joe Biden mourns victims of Wisconsin school shooting
President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass 'commonsense' gun-safety laws following Wisconsin school shooting that killed two and wounded six others
CNN
Key lines from Trump’s first post-election news conference
President-elect Donald Trump, in his first news conference since his victory, downplayed concerns that his administration would revoke the polio vaccine’s authorization, suggested he could pardon New York City Mayor Eric Adams and said he will press Ukraine and Russia to end their war.
USA TODAY
Biden can't pardon Luigi Mangione if he's not charged with federal crimes | Fact check
Only federal offenses are eligible for a presidential pardon, and Mangione had only been charged with state-level crimes as of Dec. 16.
Associated Press
RFK Jr. meets with senators as questions swirl about Trump's pick to lead health agency
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swept onto Capitol Hill late Monday, as the anti-vaccine health guru from the famous political family reintroduced himself to senators, this time as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the nation's Health and Human Services Department. In the Senate he's facing a mix of support, curiosity, skepticism and downright rejection among the senators who will be asked to confirm him to Trump's Cabinet. Kennedy's first stop Monday was on potentially friendly terrain, to the offices of GOP senators allied with Trump, the start of a weeks-long process.
USA TODAY
New study finds first US obesity decline in 10 years. Is Ozempic a leading factor?
Results of the study indicate that Black women in the U.S., ages 66-75, saw the largest decrease in obesity between 2022-2023.
CNN
Woman who stowed away on Delta flight to Paris apprehended again, this time trying to get into Canada
The woman who stowed away on a Delta flight from New York to Paris last month was taken into custody again, this time trying to sneak into Canada, multiple law enforcement sources tell CNN.
Associated Press
Two charged in connection with Iran drone strike that killed 3 US troops in the Middle East
Two men, including a dual Iranian American citizen, have been arrested on charges that they exported sensitive technology to Iran that was used in a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American troops early this year and injured dozens of other service members, the Justice Department said Monday. The pair were arrested after FBI specialists who analyzed the drone traced the navigation system to an Iranian company operated by one of the defendants, who relied on technology funneled from the U.S. by his alleged co-conspirator, officials said. “We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technology getting into dangerous hands,” said U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts.
USA TODAY
'Everyone wants to be my friend': Takeaways from Trump's first post-election news conference
The President-elect seemed relaxed and even polite to reporters in his first – and marathon – press event since his Nov. 5 election victory.

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