South Korea President Yoon declares martial law  —  South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in an unannounced late night address broadcast live on YTN television.

McConnell cries foul after 2 Democratic judges cancel retirement after Trump victory  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vented his displeasure Monday after two Democratic-appointed federal judges reversed their decisions to retire in what appear to be efforts to stop President-elect Trump …

Pete Hegseth's drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, sources tell NBC News  —  Ten current and former Fox employees say Trump's pick for defense secretary drank in ways that concerned his co-workers.  A Trump transition team spokesperson called the claims “completely unfounded and false.”

How Jeff Bezos Smothered Pete Hegseth News because Hunter Biden Was Pardoned of Already Declined Charges  —  When I went to bed last night, the WaPo was feeding me the following stories at the top of its digital front page.  —  WaPo has since added a story about Biden's attempt to surge weapons to Ukraine before Trump cuts them off.

The Storybook Start—and Bitter End—of Pete Hegseth's First Marriage  —  Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense is a conservative culture warrior, a central-casting alpha male who believes in guns, God, and the primacy of the family unit.  The story of his first marriage …

Here Are the Republicans Kash Patel Wants to Target  —  Trump's pick to be FBI director has expressed an intent to mount a revenge-a-thon that will include not just Democrats.  —  For years, Kash Patel, the MAGA provocateur, conspiracy theory monger, and seller of pills he claims reverse …

Pete Hegseth's mother begged him to “get some help” — he joined a misogynist church instead  —  Fringe denomination's leader argues that men “dream of being rapists” because women aren't submissive enough  —  Even by the reality-TV chaos standards of our political moment, this one was a doozy …

Thune plans sweeping bill on the border, defense and energy in Trump's first 30 days  —  Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing for two major partisan bills next term, including one within the first 30 days of the Trump administration, he told Republican senators …

View's Whoopi Goldberg Tears Into Dems ‘Clutching Their Pearls’ Over Hunter Biden Pardon: 'He Doesn't Have To Explain To Anybody'  —  The View's Whoopi Goldberg tore into Democrats attacking their own over Hunter Biden's pardon, blasting them for “clutching their pearls” over President Joe Biden's decision.

House Democrat renews push to release Gaetz report, forcing action this week  —  House floor consideration of a resolution forcing the House Ethics Committee to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is expected this week, after Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) on Tuesday renewed …

Congress readies another funding punt ahead of pre-Christmas shutdown deadline  —  Staring down a government shutdown deadline in less than three weeks, congressional leaders have begun serious negotiations toward a funding patch that punts the deadline into President-elect Donald Trump's second term.

The First Corruption Scandal of Trump's Second Term Is Already Here  —  Justin Sun, a Chinese national accused of fraud, sent Donald Trump $18 million last week.  —  The newsletter Popular Information reports that Sun, most recently famous for spending $6.2 million on a banana and then eating it …

Trump urges judge to toss hush money case, citing Hunter Biden pardon  —  Trump's attorneys said President Biden's statement that his son had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted” also applies to the president-elect.  —  Lawyers for Donald Trump urged the judge who presided …

Judge Orders Fani Willis to Release All Communications with Jack Smith and J6 Committee  —  A judge ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to release all communications with Jack Smith and the House January 6 Committee.  —  Earlier this year conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch asked …

Meta says it's mistakenly moderating too much … Meta is mistakenly removing too much content across its apps, according to a top executive.  —  Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, told reporters on Monday that the company's moderation “error rates are still too high” …

Trump offers Pentagon's No. 2 job to billionaire Stephen Feinberg  —  The search for a capable deputy defense secretary has taken on heightened significance as lawmakers scrutinize Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice to lead the agency.  —  President-elect Donald Trump offered billionaire investor Stephen Feinberg …

FTC Bans Location Data Company That Powers the Surveillance Ecosystem  —  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced sweeping action against some of the most important companies in the location data industry on Tuesday, including those that power surveillance tools used by a wide spread …

House Republican: ‘Hard decisions’ needed on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare  —  Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that lawmakers will ultimately face tough choices on spending in next year's unified GOP government, suggesting cuts may be coming to social welfare programs.

Britt on DOGE efforts  —  Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) wants to be a bridge between appropriators and President-elect Donald Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency effort.  “I think it's important to have appropriators at the table as we look at opportunities for making things better,” said Britt.

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Live Updates: South Korean President Backs Down From Martial Law Order  —  President Yoon Suk Yeol pulled the order hours after South Korea's National Assembly voted to halt it.  Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seoul, demanding that the president resign.  —  Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Supreme Court to confront dispute over gender-affirming care for transgender minors  —  Washington — The Supreme Court is set to convene Wednesday to hear arguments in a landmark case involving access to gender-affirming care like puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.

Mayor says he refuses to be bullied or pay fine for not flying Pride flag  —  A Northern Ontario mayor who was fined for voting against flying a Pride flag at his town hall says he will not be bullied into paying the $5,000 penalty.  —  Nor will Mayor Harold McQuaker be taking LGBTQ training …