The House approved an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden along party lines. Months of investigations preceding the inquiry have uncovered no evidence of misconduct by Biden, but the inquiry will ensure months more of high-profile hearings during his reelection campaign. HUNTER OBJECTS: Hunter Biden defied a House Republican subpoena to answer questions about his business dealings in a closed-door hearing, telling reporters outside the Capitol that he would testify only in public to prevent the GOP from distorting his remarks. Republican House leaders said they're looking into holding the president's son in contempt. |
Hunter Biden preferred to speak outdoors yesterday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) |
ON HOLD: A U.S. district judge has paused Donald Trump's election interference case while the former president's claim that he is immune from prosecution makes its way through the courts. A protracted appeal could significantly delay the trial, now scheduled to begin March 4, on charges that Trump plotted to overturn the 2020 election. |
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The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the third straight meeting and is unlikely to raise it again, now that inflation has been cooling off steadily for more than a year. Chair Jerome Powell, who hinted that the Fed will cut rates three times next year, said inflation is still double the goal of 2%, but the central bank recognizes it risks harming the economy by leaving rates too high for too long.
If Powell was a Swiftie — and we have never heard that he is not a Swiftie — he might say the Fed is entering its rate-lowering era.
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Supreme Court justices agreed yesterday to take up two big cases: ABORTION PILL: The court will decide whether to uphold an appeals court's restrictions on mifepristone, the most common method of abortion since justices overturned Roe v. Wade last year. The case will be argued in the spring and probably won't be decided until late June. Nothing like a six-month wait to learn if you can still get vital healthcare. JAN. 6 CHARGES: This case could drop the charge of obstructing an official proceeding against hundreds of people who sought to block the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of the 2020 presidential vote — including former President Donald Trump. |
Tesla's recall of its Autopilot feature affects more than 2 million of its vehicles dating to 2012. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tesla's driver monitoring system is defective and "can lead to foreseeable misuse of the system." Tesla disagreed but said it would update software in its cars. |
Vehicles are offloaded yesterday at a Tesla store in Colma, Calif. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images) |
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5. STOPPING TAINTED DRUGS |
After multiple recalls of eyedrops linked to cases of vision loss and death, the FDA is asking Congress to give it more power to inspect foreign factories that make over-the-counter products as well as the ability to require recalls. But experts say both powers will achieve little unless the agency also gets more money to hire and retain overseas inspectors. |
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Psychiatrist Liat Jarkon tells us that Seasonal Affective Disorder is "not just winter blues" but a real biological response to receiving less sunlight that affects about 5% of people, more often women than men. Light therapy (aka SAD lamps) and vitamin D supplements can help, and so can talk therapy and potentially antidepressants. S.A.D. is a funny acronym but speaking from experience, it is serious business. If you've been feeling down, it can't hurt to get in touch with your doctor. |
The Mayo Clinic recommends using the lamp for 20 to 30 minutes within an hour of waking up. (BSIP/Getty Images) |
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7. ENDING SEXUAL HEALTH STIGMA |
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8. RESISTANCE BANDS: LOWER BODY |
On Tuesday we showed you a deceptively easy-looking upper-body workout using resistance bands. Today, we're getting the bands back together for our lower body. It may not be Friday but it sure is thigh-day, so let's get at it. |
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Nursery owner Kim Dee shows us some kid-friendly crafts for the holidays, including a lovely little planter made with spare Christmas tree branches and an embellished ornament project that young ones can give as a gift. |
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10. OFFICIALLY CLASSIC MOVIES |
This is a big one for '80s and '90s kids: Home Alone has been added to the National Film Registry along with two dozen others as part of the annual selection by the Library of Congress. Apollo 13, Lady and the Tramp, 12 Years a Slave, Fame, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Bamboozled were among the classics chosen for their cultural and historic importance. |
The moment Kevin learns he's been added to the film registry. (Giphy) |
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Need2Know readers, we need your help. Cheddar News is having its 🎄🍪 holiday cookie-baking contest 👨🍳❄️ a week from today. It's a friendly competition — very casual. Need2Know must be victorious. So, if you have a time-tested holiday cookie recipe that you can share without getting disinherited, please send it our way. We will choose one recipe to make and, next Friday, will let you know how the contest went. (Prediction: We will win.) |
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