Syria rebels celebrate in captured Homs, set sights on Damascus  —  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.

US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine  —  The United States will provide nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday as the Biden administration rushes to spend all the congressionally approved money …

What the Murder of the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O. Means to America  —  What the death of a health-insurance C.E.O. means to America.  —  As you know, the C.E.O. of UnitedHealthcare, fifty-year-old Brian Thompson, was murdered on the street in midtown Manhattan, on Wednesday morning, twenty minutes before sunrise.

Congrats to CNN for Lowest-Rated Week in Decades  —  It's well deserved  —  The exodus from corporate media continues, as CNN just had their worst week in ratings since 2001.  For ages 25-54, it was the lowest number of viewers they've had in almost 30 years.

Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders  —  He's making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders.  Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he's sworn in for a second term.

FDA may outlaw food dyes ‘within weeks’: Bombshell move would affect candy, soda and cakes, revolutionize American diets  —  The Food and Drug Administration will decide on a ban of certain food dyes in the coming weeks after receiving a petition to review the safety of Red 3, NBC News reports.

Democrats inch toward the anger phase of their election loss  —  The winter meeting of state Democratic chairs in Arizona marked one of the first major gatherings of top party officials since last month's disastrous election.  —  SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Exactly one month after losing …

Trump hesitates to personally lobby for endangered Cabinet picks  —  The president-elect is not yet personally pushing hard for his selections, limiting his exposure if they withdraw or fail to win confirmation.  —  President-elect Donald Trump, a lifelong teetotaler whose brother struggled …

How Trump's transition could end up hamstringing his agenda  —  The president-elect's advisers haven't yet begun meeting with federal agencies, despite signing an agreement late last month allowing them to do so.  —  President-elect Donald Trump's transition team still has not sent policy advisers …

Want a Job in the Trump Administration?  Be Prepared for the Loyalty Test.  —  Applicants for government posts, including inside the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies, say they have been asked about their thoughts on Jan. 6 and who they believe won the 2020 election.

UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting latest: Suspect's backpack had Monopoly money: Sources  —  The manhunt for CEO Brian Thompson's killer is now on its fourth day.  —  Members of the NYPD search the pond near Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for possible evidence tied to the shooting death …

Now Is the Time for Courage  —  One month after the election of Donald Trump I feel more certain about who he is and what he aims to achieve but less certain about who stands in opposition to him.  Trump is an aspiring dictator who aims to aggregate his power to reward his friends and punish his enemies.

What Republicans and Democrats Get Wrong About Crime  —  Americans are understandably concerned about crime.  Before the 2024 election, voters consistently ranked it among their top priorities.  At least two states rolled back reforms this year, and prison populations in many states …