Hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the position of attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, for the role.
Bondi previously served on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment and was involved in filing voting-related lawsuits in key battleground states during his recent campaign. She currently leads the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank closely associated with Trump’s transition team.
Trump has expressed a desire to appoint a loyal ally to lead the Justice Department, indicating he wants it to function as a legal extension of his administration. He has stated intentions to nominate three members of his criminal defense team to prominent positions within the Justice Department.
In related news, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, describing it as a response to a recent Ukrainian strike inside Russia using American and British weapons.
Putin characterized the missile strike as a successful test of the Oreshnik missile, which reportedly targeted a military-industrial complex. Ukraine confirmed that missiles, including the intermediate-range missile, were aimed at Dnipro, a city in eastern Ukraine.
Analysis suggests that while the target was within the range of conventional weapons, the use of a longer-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads was intended to instill fear in Kyiv and its allies.
Looking ahead, Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine, raising questions about whether his administration will provide security guarantees to prevent further Russian territorial expansion.
The International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
The warrants allege the use of starvation as a weapon of war and intentional attacks against civilians. A warrant was also issued for Muhammad Deif, Hamas’s military chief, although Israel claims to have killed him in an airstrike.
Both Netanyahu’s office and opposition politicians have rejected the accusations, marking a rare moment of unity. Palestinians have welcomed the news.
While Netanyahu and Gallant are unlikely to face trial in the near future, the warrants limit their international travel, as 124 countries are obligated to enforce them if the leaders enter their territories.
In other developments, Israeli prosecutors have indicted one of Netanyahu’s aides for leaking classified information regarding Hamas, potentially compromising national security.
In cultural news, the National Book Award for fiction was awarded to Percival Everett for his novel “James,” a retelling of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of Huck’s companion, an enslaved man named James.
The nonfiction award went to anthropologist Jason De León for “Soldiers and Kings,” detailing his nearly seven years spent with human smugglers on the U.S.-Mexico border.
In lifestyle recommendations, a lemon-garlic kale salad is suggested as a versatile dish, while “Gladiator II” receives positive reviews. Additionally, tips for enhancing vegetable preparation and mobility exercises are provided.
Readers are encouraged to engage with various puzzles, including the Spelling Bee, Mini Crossword, and Wordle.
That concludes today’s briefing.