Progressive search for action

11+ min ago (157+ words) A California Republican was caught on a hot mic discussing election strategy after the state voted in favor of a new redistricting plan. Last month, Californians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 50, which will redraw the state's congressional map and give Democrats more seats in the House of Representatives. The redistricting plan was a direct response to similar plans that would favor Republicans in Texas. Other states have also considered the idea. The redistricting will pit two House Republicans against one another in California. As reported by Politico last month, 41st District Rep. Ken Calvert plans to challenge 40th District Rep. Young Kim. The new District 40, the report added, will include over half of the current District 41. NEW: Caught on a pool camera before President Trump's trilateral peace deal signing, @repdarrellissa is overheard discussing CA-40 redistricting, seeming to suggest @RepYoungKim should not…...

16+ min ago (1763+ words) French President Emmanuel Macron warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other European leaders on a phone call that Donald Trump could betray Ukraine. "There is a possibility that the U.S. will betray Ukraine on the issue of territory without clarity on security guarantees," Macron said, noting that there was "a big danger" for Zelenskiy. German leader Merz also expressed his misgivings, telling Zelenskiy that Trump's handpicked negotiators, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, "are playing games with both you and us." While European leaders have expressed their concerns about America's Ukraine policies, this transcript is the clearest indication of how they feel about the Trump administration and its efforts. The Finnish president has gotten along well with Trump in public but still said, "We must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys," referring to Witkoff and Kushner. "I agree with…...

17+ min ago (364+ words) A Democratic lawmaker said Thursday that Republican lawmakers have begun to separate themselves from President Donald Trump. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) told CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown that Republicans have voiced their concerns over the president's recent moves and have questions about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's most recent comments on the Sept. 2 strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. Merkley, who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee, argued that the administration's response to the killings is not a satisfactory response for him. He described what the lawmakers have learned about the second strike, where "two helpless men clinging to debris" were killed. "If this was a legal action of war, which is still under dispute, then it would be a war crime," Merkley said. "If it was not, it was a…...

18+ min ago (195+ words) Federal courts will probably "kill" President Donald Trump's latest attack on one of his political foes "in the cradle" before the case gets off the ground, a legal analyst said Thursday. Klasfeld noted that Sarcone has not presented his case to a grand jury yet, and that the paperwork he sent to James amounts to a "signature at the bottom of an investigation." "This is something that hasn't gotten off the ground, and the judge is going to find essentially whether to kill it in the cradle because there is no lawful prosecutor who is bringing these subpoenas, and she could find [Sarcone] cannot be involved in this case," Klasfeld said. Sarcone is not the first one of Trump's interim U.S. attorneys to have their appointment challenged. Recently, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia found that interim U.S. Attorney…...

22+ min ago (499+ words) Our laws are clear: You can refuse illegal orders," a group of Democrats said in a video message in November. Last month, six Democratic congressional lawmakers reminded members of the military that they have the legal right to disobey orders issued by President Donald Trump if they feel those orders are illegal. That message prompted Trump to accuse the lawmakers of sedition," a charge he claimed could be punishable by death." Trump's comments were met with widespread criticism " and now, a new Economist/YouGov poll suggests that a plurality of Americans agree with the Democrats' message about refusing orders, and disapprove of Trump's response. According to that poll, 46 percent of Americans approve of the Democrats' message, while 39 percent disapprove. Conversely, Trump's words received disapproval from nearly 6 in 10 Americans, 59 percent, with only 26 percent approving of his labeling the lawmakers as seditious…...

23+ min ago (243+ words) A top intel committee lawmaker warned Thursday that the video showing a second strike on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela appeared to confirm the U.S. committed a war crime. The video from a Sept. 2 attack in the Caribbean Sea was shown to lawmakers during a briefing with Admiral Frank M. 'Mitch' Bradley and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. CNN anchor Jake Tapper spoke with Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, who said the video was one of the worst things he has seen. Tapper asked him if the video gave evidence that it was a war crime. The video has been in question since reports surfaced that survivors were targeted after the first strike. The Trump administration has faced calls for answers after…...

25+ min ago (319+ words) All of this is a disaster." When Emily in Paris debuted in 2020, it was the vibrant, escapist comedy series fans needed in a year of shutdowns and travel restrictions. Five years later, Season 5 is soon to hit Netflix, and the show has become an annual European getaway for viewers. But as much time as we've spent in her world, does anyone really know how long Emily has been in Paris? It doesn't get less chaotic from there. In Season 3, Episode 1, Emily's boss Madeline (Kate Walsh) gives birth. She discovered her pregnancy in Season 1, Episode 1, so Geiger notes that it's been eight or nine months since the start of the series. Strangely, Emily has seen no winter or holidays at this point, despite arriving in Paris as early as summer. Seeing Christmas in Season 4, Episode 6 was incredibly jarring for Geiger and…...

27+ min ago (307+ words) As seen on Addison Rae, Tyla, and more. Hollywood's glitterati seem to be taking the term literally. Lately, models and pop stars have been finishing their stage and red-carpet looks with full-on body glitter. Honestly? Same. Because as it turns out, Yai isn't alone. A constellation of it-girls " Rita Ora, Tyla, Zara Larsson, Addison Rae " have been showing up to events dipped, dusted, and drenched in sparkle. Collectively, they've turned body glitter into winter's glitziest beauty trend. Millennials will remember the early-aughts ritual: heading to the mall with your mom to stock up on Bath & Body Works' shimmery gel or Claire's glitter brushes. Bonus points if you owned something from Club Libby Lu's Ashley Tisdale'fronted Pink Twinkle line. It's humbling to admit that millennials might have been right about more in the beauty department than Gen Z initially let on....

33+ min ago (349+ words) Erika Kirk will co-host Fox News's ratings juggernaut The Five on Dec. 9 as part of a series of appearances on the network to promote STOP, in the Name of God, the last book written by'her late husband, Charlie Kirk. According to a Fox News release, Charlie's latest book was finished just one month before his assassination in Utah in September. The book is described as "highlighting the importance of connection, peace, and presence." Other Charlie Kirk bestsellers include Right Wing Revolution and The College Scam. Erika was named CEO of Turning Point USA, the pro-Trump student group founded and led by Charlie until his death at the age of 31. Erika will kick off her Fox News takeover with an exclusive primetime sit-down with Sean Hannity on Monday night. She'll then join Fox & Friends on Tuesday, December 9th, before co-hosting The Five…...

39+ min ago (243+ words) Hundreds of works by local, national and international women artists will have a home at the Dayton Art Institute. In recognition of this gift, the museum will establish the Sara M. & Michelle Vance Waddell Gallery for Feminist Art, a space dedicated to showcasing the voices and visions of women artists. The Vance Waddells will also fund a curatorial position for four years. After that period, the DAI and the Vance Waddells will revisit the possibility of endowing the position in perpetuity. The DAI currently features one work from the Vance Waddell Collection on view: a cast-glass sculpture by artist Niki Johnson titled "A Vision in White" (2009). The sculpture depicts former First Lady Michelle Obama's arms draped in white fabric and speaks to the media's fascination with her body. Guests can view the work in the DAI's contemporary gallery. About Sara and…...