US Expects Iran-Oman Hormuz Shipping Deal Soon 
Russian Strikes Kill Six in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, Dozens Injured 
Taiwan Tests Penghu Defense, Mobile Internet Limits in War Drills 
Russia Intensifies Drone and Bomb Attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Deepening Civilian Fear 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
Bezalel Smotrich Faces Election Battle as Israel’s Far-Right Vote Fractures 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
US Expands Social Media Vetting to Foreign Journalists Seeking Visas 
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary, Sets Up Key Midterm Showdown 
Trump Unveils $3 Billion U.S. Critical Minerals Push 
US-Backed Venezuela Government, Opposition Talks Begin 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats 
Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Has Spread Further, Hunter Biden Says 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill Six, Wound Dozens in Balakliia and Sumy 
U.S. Unseals Charges Against Five Alleged CJNG Leaders, Raises Reward for New Cartel Chief 
Taiwan President Lai Oversees Coastal Strike Drills in Han Kuang War Games 
Outgoing president Donald Trump has long been known to flout CDC guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 even after contracting the virus himself. With the White House hosting Christmas parties, Trump dismissed the backlash that was received towards their gatherings.
The White House has 20 events occurring this month, including holiday parties, which are being held indoors despite CDC guidelines stating to avoid large gatherings and events, especially indoors. The events ranged from tours to cocktail receptions in time for the Congressional Ball. Speaking to the press, Trump dismissed the criticism towards the White House events, with the presidential residence having already been the cause of several staff members contracting coronavirus. Trump cited that the celebrations at the White House proceed as planned as attendees were supposedly wearing face masks.
“They are Christmas parties. We reduced the number and I see a lot of people wearing masks. That’s a good thing,” said Trump.
However, photos shared on social media by the guests, including Trump’s own children, showed that only a handful was wearing face masks even as they are spending their last Christmas at the White House. Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle were seen at a White House reception sans masks. Both of them tested positive for COVID-19 at different points this year. Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner were also seen without masks at the event. Both of Trump’s attorneys handling the contesting of election results; Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, also recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Trump continues to push his widely-refuted claims of election fraud in a desperate attempt to overturn the results in his favor. His lawsuits contesting the results in battleground states were unsuccessful, but regardless of the dismissals, Trump has persisted with the contention. Even as Trump continues to blast the election results, the battleground states he has filed lawsuits in have already certified their results for Biden. The safe-harbor deadline for states to finalize the certification of votes has also come to a close this week, further dwindling Trump’s chances to overturn the election while securing Biden’s win.
The votes will then be sent to the Capitol by January 6, which is a formality following the safe-harbor period that prevents Congress from manipulating the electoral votes.
