Elon Musk's Critics Stripped of Verification Badge After Publicly Challenging Billionaire: ‘The Beginning Stages of Censorship’  —  Several conservative critics of billionaire Trump surrogate Elon Musk were stripped of their verification badges on X after publicly challenging Musk's stance on immigration.

US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people  —  The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts …

Brian Schatz to Democrats: Please, Stop With ‘Center’ and ‘Making Space’  —  As the Hawaii senator charts his path up the Senate hierarchy, he reflects on his party's major challenges.  —  Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) can seem mellow.  Having grown up in Hawaii, he exudes not only the Aloha spirit …

‘We are screwed’: Virologists warn about disease they say could become the next pandemic  —  A new report from PBS highlights the potential danger of bird flu turning into a full-blown pandemic in the United States.  —  In particular, PBS spoke with several experts who said the United States …

The press is ignoring the real Liz Cheney scandal  —  🎊☃️🎁🥂🎄 SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MEDIA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON 🎄🥂🎁☃️🎊 … 🎉🎉 Subscribe to Public Notice 🎉🎉

Trump says Bill Gates asked to meet in apparent message to Musk  —  In a message that appeared to be intended as a private communication to Elon Musk, President-elect Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday that Microsoft founder Bill Gates had asked to meet with him.  —  “Where are you?

Germany's president dissolves parliament, sets national election for Feb. 23  —  German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday ordered parliament dissolved and set new elections for Feb. 23 in the wake of the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, saying it was the only way to give …

Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US  —  Mexico is developing a cellphone app that will allow migrants to warn relatives and local consulates if they think they are about to be detained by the U.S. immigration department, a senior official said Friday.

Systane eye drops recalled due to potential fungal contamination  —  One lot of Systane brand eye drops were voluntarily recalled due to possible fungal contamination, the United States Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this week.  —  Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF …

Lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis over Trump election case, judge rules  — A new ruling by a Fulton County Superior Court judge says that Georgia senators can subpoena District Attorney Fani Willis over possible misconduct during her prosecution of the Trump election interference case.

Maggie Shannon for The New York Times  —  Visuals by Maggie Shannon Text by Isabelle Taft  —  A Baptist minister, a Presbyterian pastor and a Jewish cantor held burning incense as they walked quietly through the empty, white-walled clinic.  They blessed the exam tables and their stirrups …

Case of ‘missing’ congresswoman sparks uncomfortable conversation  —  Republican Rep. Kay Granger moved to an assisted-living facility months ago and stopped casting votes — a detail that wasn't disclosed to the public.  —  When it comes to understanding the final months …

More Americans approve of Trump 2.0 transition than first time around: Survey  —  Fifty-one percent of Americans approve of the way President-elect Trump has handled his presidential transition, according to a new Gallup survey.  —  It's a slightly higher number than in December 2016 …

South Korean Lawmakers Vote to Impeach Acting President as Crisis Deepens  —  The vote was the second major impeachment in two weeks after President Yoon's ill-fated martial law bid set off turmoil.  The country's currency has plunged.  —  South Korea's leadership crisis deepened on Friday …

Trump's Border Czar Says Military Bases Could Aid Deportation Effort  —  Homan said he views the military as a ‘force multiplier’ to build infrastructure such as certain detention facilities  —  Donald Trump's team is looking at using military bases to detain migrants and military planes …

Wall St. Is Minting Easy Money From Risky Loans.  What Could Go Wrong? … In the fall of 2015, in the back booth of the retro Putnam Restaurant in Greenwich, Conn., Craig Packer, a partner at Goldman Sachs, sat across from Doug Ostrover and listened to an audacious pitch.