U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump serves in the White House as an adviser along with her husband Jared Kushner. With the Trump administration’s widely-criticized approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, former CDC officials have recently spoken out and revealed the role Ivanka played in the pandemic response.
Two former officials from the Centers for Disease Control, Kyle McGowan and Amanda Campbell, recently spoke out against the involvement of Ms. Trump in the White House’s response to the pandemic. In a New York Times piece by Noah Weiland, the two former officials revealed that the CDC was often at odds with the White House in terms of establishing guidelines for Americans in the midst of the pandemic. McGowan revealed that the White House was more focused on how the pandemic would affect the economy with guidelines that could keep Americans safe while keeping businesses open. The agency’s primary contact was with Budget Director Russell T. Vought.
McGowan and Campbell were often mediating between the agency’s director Dr. Robert Redfield and other health experts whenever the White House made requests. “Edits from Mr. Vought and Kellyanne Conway, the former White House adviser, on choirs and communion in faith communities, or suggestions from Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, and aide, on schools,” wrote Weiland. Conway and Ms. Trump do not have any practical experience in tackling public health risks such as the pandemic.
“Every time that the science clashed with the messaging, messaging won,” said McGowan. McGowan also revealed that the White House tapped Apple to develop an app that could allow citizens to test themselves for COVID-19 when the CDC already had such an app. The White House also reportedly asked the CDC to erase the app from the agency’s site.
Meanwhile, Ivanka celebrated the end of Hanukkah and shared what appears to be a new family photo taken from their New York home on social media. Ms. Trump shared the photo on her Instagram where many of her followers, including prominent Republican figures like Nikki Haley, praised the family photo. Jared and their two sons, Theodore and Joseph, donned yarmulkes in keeping with the tradition.
“Wishing all who celebrate around the world happiness and peace as they light the final candle of Hanukkah this evening. Keep your ‘light’ shining and be a source of radiance in this world,” wrote Ms. Trump.
