National News

Government shutdown live updates: House, Senate approve stop-gap funding bill  ABC NewsGovernment Shutdown Live Updates: Latest News on Spending Bill and House Vote  The New York TimesWhy Trump suddenly cares about the U.S. debt ceiling  CBC.caCongress averts shutdown after House GOP drops Trump’s debt limit demand  CNNSenate passes bill to avoid a shutdown, ending funding fight at the 11th hour  NBC News

Senate passes Social Security benefits boost for many public service retirees  The Associated PressCongress Approves Full Social Security Benefits for Public Sector Retirees  The New York TimesSenate passes bill to boost Social Security benefits for some  The HillU.S. Senate  C-SPAN More! on the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset  Government Executive

Biden withdraws education rules on student loan relief, trans athletes  The Washington PostBiden forgives $4.28 billion in student debt for 54,900 borrowers  CNBCBiden Withdraws Proposed Regulations on Student Loans and Trans Athletes  The New York TimesBiden announces $4.28 billion in student loan relief for 55,000 borrowers  ABC NewsBiden Cancels Nearly $4.3 Billion in Public Worker Student Debt  Bloomberg

CPS school board votes to fire CEO Pedro Martinez  Chicago Sun-TimesMayor Brandon Johnson’s interim Chicago Board of Education votes to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez  ABC7 ChicagoCPS CEO goes to court in last minute attempt to save job before Friday board meeting  Chicago TribuneChicago Board of Education votes unanimously to fire CPS CEO Pedro Martinez  FOX 32 ChicagoMoney, missteps behind the monthslong CPS saga  Chicago Sun-Times

How lies that the Madison school shooter was transgender spread online  NBC NewsAfter shooting, Wisconsin school and church lean into Christmas message for comfort  The Associated PressObituary information for Rubi Patricia Vergara  Gunderson Funeral HomeCalifornia man allegedly messaged Madison school shooter about plans ahead of attack  NPRNew details emerge as the search for a motive drives Wisconsin school shooting investigation  CNN

Johnson hits unsteady point of his speakership at the worst time  POLITICOChaotic scramble to avert shutdown highlights challenges ahead for Johnson  CNNSpending Deal Debacle Threatens Mike Johnson’s Hold on House Speaker Job  The New York TimesOpinion | The Woody Johnson Republicans  The Wall Street JournalTrump says Mike Johnson will ‘easily remain speaker’ if he acts ‘decisively and tough’ on spending bill  Fox News

In Late Push, Senate Democrats Narrowly Top Trump on Judicial Confirmations  The New York TimesSenate confirms Biden’s 235th judge, beating Trump’s record  NBC NewsBiden Gets Record 235th Federal Judge Confirmed in Waning Days  BloombergDems fight to Trump-proof the federal judiciary  POLITICOSenate confirms 2 Biden judicial nominees, boosting total over Trump  The Washington Post

Judge sentences Oath Keeper who cooperated in January 6 prosecution to probation and warns democracy is ‘fragile’  CNNSentencing closes chapter for Oath Keeper seeking redemption after Jan. 6  POLITICOOath Keepers leader who pleaded to seditious conspiracy gets probation  The Washington PostArmy veteran sentenced to probation for milestone conviction in Oath Keepers sedition plot  The Associated PressMarshall County man set for sentencing Friday for role on Jan. 6  WHNT News 19

Virginia Student Accused of Plot to Attack Israeli Consulate in New York  The New York TimesGeorge Mason University student charged with plotting mass casualty attack on Israeli consulate in New York  CNNFalls Church man, George Mason student arrested by FBI for allegedly plotting attack on Israel consulate  WUSA9.comCollege student allegedly plotted ‘mass casualty attack’ targeting Jews  ABC NewsGMU student arrested by FBI, accused of promoting violence against Jews  FOX 5 DC

Exclusive | Biden Weighs Commuting Sentences of Death Row Inmates  The Wall Street JournalBiden considers commuting the sentences of federal death row inmates: report  Fox NewsBiden considering clemency for death-row inmates — including men who slaughtered children, fellow inmates: report  New York Post Power of the Pardon  The InterceptMartin Sheen: Why President Biden Should Commute Death Row  TIME

U.S. diplomats meet Syrian opposition leader in Damascus  AxiosUS drops $10m reward for arrest of Syria’s new leader after Damascus talks  Al Jazeera EnglishUS removes long-standing bounty on Syrian rebel leader  CNNUS held ‘very productive’ first meeting with Syria’s al-Sharaa  ReutersU.S. lifts bounty on Syria’s interim leader amid diplomatic outreach  The Washington Post

Outrage as Elon Musk claims ‘only AfD can save Germany’  The GuardianElon Musk endorses far-right German political party, wading deeper into global politics  CNNScholz dismisses Musk’s assertion that only a far-right party can ‘save’ Germany  The Associated PressElon Musk backs Germany’s far-right AfD before elections  Al Jazeera EnglishElon Musk says German chancellor should resign after attack at Christmas market  Reuters

Missouri governor frees Eric DeValkenaere, first KC cop convicted of killing a Black man  Kansas City StarMissouri Gov. Parson commutes sentence of former KCPD Ofc. Eric DeValkenaere  KSHB 41 Kansas City NewsMissouri governor commutes sentence of white police officer convicted of fatally shooting Black man  The Associated PressEric DeValkenaere’s sentence commuted in Cameron Lamb killing  WDAF FOX4 Kansas CityMissouri governor commutes ex-cop Eric DeValkenaere’s sentence for killing Black man  KCUR

US government shutdown could cost travel sector $1 billion per week, disrupt holiday travel  ReutersGovernment Shutdown and Travel: What to Know About Flights, Passports and More  The New York TimesAmerica’s maxing out its bah-humbug energy  CNNLabor Leader Blasts ‘Scrooges’ As Slowdowns Loom For Air Travel And Amazon  ForbesHow a shutdown could affect a new Congress and Trump’s inauguration  NBC News

Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation  The Associated PressThe Government Is Shutting Down Because Elon Musk Has Factories in China  The American ProspectThe Shutdown Crisis Leads to Questions About Who Is in Charge  The New York TimesTeam Trump pushes back on ‘President Musk’ talk amid spending bill negotiations  MSNBCElon Musk’s X Endgame  The Atlantic

McConnell calls out holdouts on government funding, warns of “harmful” shutdown  POLITICOWATCH: Mitch McConnell delivers final floor speech as Senate Republican leader  PBS NewsHourSenator Mitch McConnell Delivers Final Speech as Republican Leader  C-SPAN Outgoing GOP leader Mitch McConnell ‘fine’ after fall in DC  USA TODAYLeader McConnell Delivers Remarks On Lessons Of Leadership & Work Ahead  Remark | Remarks | THE NEWSROOM | Republican Leader

Indiana Man Sentenced to 130 Years for Delphi Murders  The New York TimesDelphi murders: Richard Allen sentenced to 130 years for Indiana deaths  BBC.com’Without her, we would not be here’: Delphi murders tip-finder hailed as key to case  IndyStarDelphi murders: Convicted killer Richard Allen sentenced to 130 years  ABC NewsDelphi murders: Richard Allen sentenced for killing 2 teen girls on hiking trail  Fox News

Luigi Mangione — now in solitary confinement — could join the same jail unit as Diddy and SBF as soon as Monday  Business InsiderAt Luigi Mangione’s Perp Walk, Mayor Eric Adams Appeared Stage Right  The New York TimesWhat Mayor Adams told Luigi Mangione when they met in NYC  PIX11 New York NewsSuspected UnitedHealthcare assassin Luigi Mangione’s plan to ‘wack’ CEO revealed in journal entries: affidavit  Fox NewsUnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione returns to NYC to face federal, state charges  NBC New York

Death row inmate Robert Roberson no longer expected to speak before state House committee  ABC NewsLawmakers seethe after Texas AG blocks testimony in shaken-baby case  The Washington PostAttorney General Ken Paxton files motion to block death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifying  The Texas TribuneWill Robert Roberson testify at Texas lawmakers’ hearing?  NBC NewsKen Paxton files motion for protective order to prevent Robert Roberson from testifying  FOX 7 Austin