Ethics Panel: Gaetz Paid for Sex, Drugs While in Congress
A US House Ethics Committee report released Monday detailed findings of a years-long investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), concluding there was substantial evidence of misconduct — including prostitution, drug use, and statutory rape.
The 37-page report found that Gaetz made payments totaling more than $90K to 12 different women between 2017 and 2020, which investigators determined were likely connected to sexual activity and drug use.
According to testimony, Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl at a party in 2017, providing her $400, which she understood to be payment for sex. However, investigators found no evidence he knew her age at the time.
Republican narrative
Considering the Department of Justice didn't see fit to charge Gaetz with any crimes after its own investigation, the decision to release this report is nothing more than a politically motivated smear job. The report relies too much on the testimony of a convicted felon, setting a dangerous precedent for releasing the results of future House probes under similarly smarmy circumstances.
Democratic narrative
While it would take another criminal investigation to fully prove Gaetz is guilty of the accusations in this report, his efforts to prevent the results' release paint him as a man with something to hide. It should be noted that two Republicans joined with Democrats in authorizing the report's release. Even if he won't face criminal charges, at least Gaetz's political career is now off track.
Nerd narrative
There's a 25% chance that the Senate will vote to reject at least one of Trump's cabinet-level nominees, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Hong Kong Police Place HK$1M Bounty on Six Activists
Hong Kong police have set a HK$1M (over $128K) bounty each on six more activists and canceled the passports of seven others based abroad for allegedly breaching the National Security Law.
The six activists added to the list of people wanted for allegedly violating the law, also known as Article 23, include political commentator Chung Kim-wah and former actor Joseph Tay. The seven activists who have fled Hong Kong include former lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok.
Other actions include prohibiting funding, renting, buying, or selling property to, and forming joint ventures or partnerships, with the accused. Kwok and Kevin Yam's qualifications to practice law have also been suspended.
Anti-China narrative
The Chinese government's reach extends far beyond Hong Kong's borders, pursuing dissidents with chilling determination. From threatening even congressional candidates to surveillance to intimidation — the message is clear. Even in democratic nations, those who dare speak against Beijing's authority must look over their shoulders, while back home, Hong Kong methodically strips away their citizenship rights.
Pro-China narrative
Hong Kong's actions against anti-China activists signal a firm commitment to order and national security. Its National Security Law is essential for closing loopholes that enabled chaos. By tackling illegal activities carried out in the guise of democracy, these measures reinforce the rule of law, ensure stability, and uphold Hong Kong's role as an integral part of China, securing its future within "one country, two systems."
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Hong Kong will stop being a Special Administrative Region of China by December 2046, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder: Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty
Luigi Mangione, the suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month, pleaded not guilty to state murder and terror charges in a New York courtroom on Monday.
Mangione, 26, was arraigned on 11 criminal charges that include first-degree murder and murder as an act of terrorism. If found guilty, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The trial will proceed in parallel to federal charges that could carry the death penalty. Prosecutors told the court that federal prosecutors had assured them that the state case would advance before the federal trial.
Pro-establishment narrative
This was a cold-blood assassination that brought terror to the streets of New York. Mayor Adams was right to show support to law enforcement officials while making it clear that there is no place in our society for this kind of violence.
Establishment-critical narrative
Everyone has the right to a fair trial and should enjoy the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven. That was taken away with the heavily armed police presence that perp-walked Mangione to court, as well as with Mayor Adams' prejudicial statements to potential jurors.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that the number of homicides in New York City will exceed 1.5K in any year before 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Israel, Palestine Report Progress Towards Gaza Cease-fire
Israeli and Palestinian officials reported progress towards a Gaza cease-fire deal on Monday, adding points of difference remain on any such deal that has eluded both sides since fighting broke out in October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also told the Knesset on Monday, "I would like to tell you carefully, there is some progress." He said Israel had made "great achievements" militarily on several fronts and that this forced Hamas to soften some of its previous demands.
About the 96 of 251 hostages that remain in Gaza — including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by Israel Defense Forces — Netanyahu said, "We will continue to act in every way, without respite, until we bring everyone home from enemy territory."
Pro-establishment narrative
Following fresh mediation efforts from Egypt, Qatar, and the US, both sides have reported progress towards a cease-fire deal, and hopes that the so-far elusive deal will be agreed upon are rising.
Establishment-critical narrative
This is now a familiar strategy from Israel's Netanyahu — feigning progress in talks before sabotaging them at the last minute. He has no desire to reach a deal before US Pres.-elect Donald Trump comes into office.
Nerd narrative
There's a 5% chance that the Gaza War will lead to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict before Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Sudan Exits Global Hunger Monitoring System
The Sudanese government has suspended its participation in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system, claiming the organization issues "unreliable reports that undermine Sudan's sovereignty and dignity."
Sudan's decision follows reports that the government previously hindered the monitoring agency's work and delayed recognizing famine conditions in places where impoverished residents allegedly consumed tree leaves to survive.
The country's withdrawal from the global hunger-monitoring system comes on the eve of a report from the agency that confirmed famine conditions in five areas of Sudan, including camps for internally displaced people in North Darfur.
Narrative A
The government's withdrawal from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system is a defensive measure to protect national sovereignty and dignity, as the monitoring system lacks updated malnutrition data and proper crop productivity assessments from the successful summer growing season. Instead of acting as a critical early-warning system to address food emergencies in Sudan, the Western-funded organization has been issuing unreliable reports to fulfill the West's propaganda.
Narrative B
The suspension of Integrated Food Security Phase Classification participation is a deliberate attempt to obstruct humanitarian efforts and downplay the severity of the crisis, as evidenced by previous delays in famine determination and restrictions on aid worker visas, particularly in hard-hit regions like Darfur. Withdrawing from the agency will not change the grim reality. It removes a critical tool for the international community to assess and respond accurately to the serious hunger crises.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50.9% chance that Rapid Support Forces will come out as the victor in the Sudanese civil war, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden Vetoes Bipartisan Bill to Add Federal Judgeships
US Pres. Joe Biden on Monday vetoed legislation that would have added 66 new federal district judgeships across 25 courts in 13 states. This would have been the first major judiciary expansion since 1990.
The JUDGES Act had passed unanimously in the Democratic-led Senate in August, but wasn't passed until December by the Republican-controlled House. Biden threatened a veto based on the House waiting until after Pres.-elect Donald Trump's win in the Nov. 5 election.
Legislators structured the bill to spread new appointments across three presidential administrations and six Congresses through 2035 in an effort to calm worries that any single party would gain advantage.
Republican narrative
This is partisan politics at its worst. Biden is denying relief to the country's severely understaffed courts. Legislators and organizations from both sides of the political aisle agree that this expansion is critically needed. But Biden appears more concerned with denying judgeships from his political rival Pres.-elect Trump than helping the country.
Democratic narrative
The only ones playing politics with the legislation are the Republicans, who held off on passing it in the House until they knew their party would control the White House. This is no longer a bipartisan bill — it's a gift to Trump to further give the judiciary a conservative bias that won't dole out justice equally.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the next (post-Breyer) US Supreme Court vacancy arise by October 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
French Prime Minister Bayrou Appoints New Government
Prime Minister François Bayrou on Monday formed France's fourth government of 2024, with former ministers and senior civil servants taking key positions in the 34-member cabinet.
Eric Lombard, former head of Caisse des Dépôts, has been appointed finance minister, tasked with addressing France's mounting debt and deficit — currently exceeding 6% of gross domestic product.
Former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has been appointed education minister, while Gerald Darmanin moved from interior to justice minister. Bruno Retailleau will remain as interior minister.
Narrative A
The new government represents a strategic attempt to build a stable coalition through experienced ministers and technocrats, demonstrating Macron's commitment to fiscal responsibility and political compromise in addressing France's economic challenges. Bayrou can maintain stability until France's next parliamentary elections.
Narrative B
François Bayrou won't last the winter and will replace Barnier to become the prime minister with the shortest stint in France's Fifth Republic. The new government formation process has failed to achieve true political renewal, instead maintaining dependency on far-right support. Bayrou's government is maintained for and by the far right, raising concerns about democratic legitimacy and effective governance.
Nerd narrative
There's a 71% chance that French Pres. Emmanuel Macron will call another snap legislative election before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
American Airlines Christmas Eve Tech Glitch Disrupts US Flights
American Airlines experienced a nationwide technical issue on Christmas Eve morning that forced a temporary ground stop of all its domestic flights, affecting thousands of travelers during the holiday season.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented the ground stop at American Airlines' request around 6:30 am ET, and it was lifted around 8:00 am ET.
American Airlines in a statement attributed the ground stop to "a vendor technology issue" affecting its Flight Operations System, which is crucial for releasing planes for departure and managing passenger boarding.
Narrative A
This technical glitch was a brief and manageable disruption that the airline quickly resolved with minimal impact on holiday travel. Thankfully, the company had fewer scheduled flights before the bigger holiday rush and sufficient staffing to support a quick recovery.
Narrative B
This system failure exposed the vulnerability of airline operations to technical issues and created significant inconvenience for holiday travelers. It's particularly concerning because this issue, combined with bad weather, caused serious disruption for travelers during the holidays.
NASA Probe Makes Record-Setting Solar Fly-by
Over five years after its launch, NASA's Parker Solar Probe marked the closest-ever approach to the sun, coming within only 3.8M (6.1M km) of the solar surface. Setting off in August 2018, the spacecraft achieved this milestone at 1153 GMT on Christmas Eve.
The probe also marks the fastest velocity achieved for a human-made object at 430K mph (692K km/hr). It will return "data from uncharted territory," said Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
The Parker Solar Probe is now reportedly out of contact and its operators won't be able to confirm its well-being until Friday. It's on a seven-year mission to deepen our understanding of the sun and to help forecast solar events.
Narrative A
On Christmas Eve, NASA's Parker Solar Probe gave humanity its closest encounter with our star. The unprecedented milestone, diving within 3.8M miles of the Sun's surface — a mere whisper by cosmic standards — exemplifies resilience and the relentless quest to illuminate the secrets of our solar system. Enduring searing temperatures, it ventured into the Sun's corona — illuminating a mystery scientists have pursued for centuries.
Narrative B
NASA's relentless pursuit of cosmic milestones, like the Parker Solar Probe's perilous journey to the sun, raises questions about its purpose. Despite technical marvels and solar insights, such projects often seem detached from practical impact. Stunning achievements aside, the staggering costs and energy devoted appear disproportionate to their tangible benefits, shedding light on the true utility of these ventures. This is a dazzling yet arguably unnecessary display of human ingenuity.
Nerd narrative
There's an 80% chance that humanity will maintain a continuous off-Earth presence until 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.