Biden expected to issue executive order targeting Israeli settlers in West Bank  —  The executive order is set to be released later Thursday.  —  President Joe Biden is expected to imminently issue an executive order aimed at punishing Israeli settlers in the West Bank who have been attacking Palestinians …

US approves plan to strike Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq, officials say  —  The US has approved plans for a series of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq, officials have told the BBC's US partner CBS News.  —  The strikes would take place over a number of days, officials say …

Donald Trump's ‘sex and bribes’ data protection case rejected by UK court  —  Ex-US president took action over allegations he took part in ‘perverted acts’ and bribed Russian officials  —  Donald Trump's data protection claim for damages over allegations in the “Steele dossier” …

House passes $78 billion tax bill in bipartisan vote  —  The House passed a $78 billion tax bill on Wednesday that boosts the child tax credit and reinstates business deductions that were rescinded during the Trump administration, sending the bipartisan, bicameral legislation to the Senate for consideration.

Inside Trump's Costly Outburst: ‘Like an 8-Year-Old Having a Temper Tantrum’  —  Roberta Kaplan's strategy delivered E. Jean Carroll $83 million from Donald Trump.  Federal prosecutors may want to take note.  —  Roberta Kaplan knows how to beat Donald Trump in court.  She's already done it twice.

Ukraine support package worth €50bn agreed by EU leaders  —  All 27 EU leaders have agreed a €50bn aid package for Ukraine after Hungary had previously blocked the deal.  —  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the new funding, saying it would strengthen the country's economic and financial stability.

Trump spent more than he took in during 2023  —  His total legal bill is staggering.  And it left one of his primary committees with little cash on hand.  —  Donald Trump's political operation spent millions more than it took in over the past year due, in part, to massive legal costs incurred by the former president.

Senate sex tape: Capitol Police decline to press charges  —  Incident happened inside Hart Senate Office Building on Dec. 13  —  The U.S. Capitol Police announced Thursday they have declined to press charges following the filming of a “sex video that was recorded inside the Hart Senate Office Building …

Haley Trails in Home State  —  Few GOP primary voters worried by Trump legal problems  —  West Long Branch, NJ - Both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump have gained support among South Carolina Republican primary voters since the presidential nomination contest became a two-person race.

Texas Ignores the Constitution and the Rule of Law  —  Kudos to @BlueHogReport catching this post from “Texas Patriots for Secession” earlier in the week:  —  He's right on the nose.  MAGA “patriots” want to have their cake and eat it, too, when it comes to the involvement of the federal government in their lives.

Exclusive: Embattled Georgia prosecutor Willis will not recuse herself from Trump case amid affair allegations, sources say  —  Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has no plans to step down from the Georgia election subversion case over allegations she's having an affair with her lead prosecutor …

Tlaib Opposes Hateful GOP Anti-Immigrant Bills … “Once again, my colleagues have chosen to waste our time inciting racism that puts our immigrant neighbors at risk and makes our communities less safe.  These four bills have one common theme: dehumanizing our immigrant neighbors.

‘I did not handle this right’: Austin apologizes over hospital secrecy  —  “I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis,” the defense secretary told reporters.  —  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized for the way he handled his prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment …

Workers at Alabama Hyundai plant announce union as UAW drives deeper into Southeast  —  Thirty percent of the workers at the sole Hyundai plant in the U.S., in Alabama, have joined the United Auto Workers.  —  The announcement marks the third such public union drive at an automaker in the Southeast.

California teen who allegedly targeted FBI agents was arrested for swatting incident  —  The 17-year-old is allegedly behind other swatting incidents across the country targeting schools, historically Black colleges and the homes of FBI agents, according to court filings.

Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb brands Alina Habba a ‘loser’ after E. Jean Carroll verdict  —  Former Trump White House lawyer Ty Cobb said on Wednesday that former President Trump's attorney, Alina Habba, is a “loser” after last week's outcome of the defamation trial brought by writer E. Jean Carroll.

Advisers to families of hostages held in Gaza backed by Qatari funding  —  THE QATARI MONEY BEHIND ADVISERS TO FAMILIES OF GAZA HOSTAGES: Some of the families trying to free their loved ones held hostage by Hamas in Gaza are getting advice from individuals and entities that have received funding from Qatar …

Inside Kevin McCarthy's vengeance operation against the Republicans who fired him  —  Allies of the booted speaker have identified their three biggest targets: Reps. Nancy Mace, Bob Good and Eli Crane.  —  Kevin McCarthy is not done trying to exact revenge on the fellow Republicans who ended his Hill career.

Study finds that once people use cargo bikes, they like their cars much less  —  Even some one-car households ditched vehicles in favor of cargo bike-sharing.  —  Cargo bikes started as something you'd see in images from Europe—bakfiets loaded up with groceries or sometimes kids.

Conservatives have long been at war with colleges  —  A brief history of the right's long-running battle against higher education.  —  In the wake of the resignations of two university presidents; campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; and a Supreme Court ruling ending …