Musk calls MAGA element “contemptible fools” as virtual civil war brews … - The schism may force Trump to ultimately take sides between the largely white, working-class supporters who first made MAGA succeed, and the techno-libertarian billionaires like Musk who are at the center of his new administration.

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 …

‘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 …

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?

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 …

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 …

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.

Trump urges Supreme Court to hit pause on a law that could ban TikTok in the U.S. next month  —  The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Jan. 10.  The law is set to take effect on Jan. 19, one day before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.

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.

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

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 …

US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office  —  The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid …

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 …

Rep. Chip Roy: Won't vote for a debt ceiling increase unless we have significant spending cuts  —  House Freedom Caucus policy chair Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the fight over the government funding bill, his relationship with President-elect Trump, cutting government spending, and more.

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 …

The Murdoch family waged a secret court battle over succession.  A voting machine company is trying to pry the case open  —  Smartmatic, the voting technology company suing Fox News over its promotion of 2020 election lies, is trying to obtain evidence from the secret court battle between Rupert Murdoch …