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December 17, 2025.

FILE - Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA speaks during the Turning Point Action conference, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Fla.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Turning Point youth conference begins in Phoenix without founder Charlie Kirk

Turning Point begins its annual Christian youth conference on Thursday, marking the first event since the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk. The four-day meeting in Phoenix gathers thousands of young supporters of the MAGA movement, which faces internal debates over its future. A year ago, the conference celebrated President Donald Trump’s victory, but now, the movement faces challenges, including debates over antisemitism. Turning Point, led by Kirk’s widow, Erika, confronts its own future. The event features MAGA influencers like Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson. Erika Kirk has stepped into the spotlight, addressing conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s death.

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Katherine Carreño stands for a portrait Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner)

Key findings of an AP analysis examining federal prosecutions of protesters

The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers while protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed such offenders will face “severe consequences.” But a review by The Associated Press finds that prosecutors have struggled to deliver on that commitment. An analysis of 166 federal criminal cases brought since May against people in four Democratic-led cities at the epicenter of demonstrations found that aggressive charging decisions and rhetoric painting defendants as domestic terrorists have frequently failed to hold up in court.

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This courtroom sketch depicts Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan in court, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis. (Adela Tesnow via AP)

Wisconsin judge accused of helping immigrant set to present her case as trial winds down

A Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal authorities is set to present her case as her trial on obstruction and concealment charges winds down. Prosecutors rested their case against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Wednesday after three days of testimony. A number of federal agents and officers told jurors they traveled to the Milwaukee courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz after a hearing but Dugan cleared the way for his escape by telling them to go to the chief judge’s chambers and then leading Flores-Ruiz out through a private hallway. Defense attorneys say they plan to call four witnesses Thursday morning, with closing arguments set to follow.

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Sidney Reid, 44, of Washington, poses for a portrait near where she was arrested while protesting immigration detentions, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

DOJ vowed to punish those who disrupt Trump’s immigration crackdown. Dozens of cases have crumbled

The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed such offenders will face “severe consequences.” But DOJ has struggled to deliver on that commitment, according to a review by The Associated Press of 166 federal criminal cases brought since May against protesters in four Democratic-led cities at the epicenter of demonstrations. The review found that of 100 people initially charged with felony assaults on federal agents, 54 saw their charges reduced to misdemeanors, or dismissed outright. More than 40% of cases involved relatively minor misdemeanors. All five people who have gone to trial were acquitted.

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This undated photo provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Frank Athen Walls. (Florida Department of Correction via AP)

Florida man set to be executed for killing 2 during a home invasion

A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later confessing to three other killings is set to be the 19th person executed in Florida this year. Frank Athen Walls is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison. Walls was convicted of murder, kidnapping, burglary and theft. Court records show that Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of an Eglin Air Force Base airman and his girlfriend in July 1987, killing both of them. DNA evidence later linked Walls to a 1987 rape and murder, and Walls also admitted responsibility for two other killings.

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President Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

FACT FOCUS: Trump’s glowing account of progress is at odds with his government’s own stats

President Donald Trump has offered a glowing account of progress under his watch in a speech from the White House. But some of his claims Wednesday night were out of tune with the experience of price-squeezed Americans and the story told by some of his government’s own statistics. For one, he claimed consumer prices are falling rapidly. Yet the inflation numbers are about where they were when he took office. Inflation had been falling during the first few months of Trump’s presidency, but it picked back up after the president announced his tariffs in April.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to brief members of Congress on military strikes near Venezuela, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US military says strike on alleged drug boat kills 4 in eastern Pacific

The U.S. military says it attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people. Wednesday’s strike occurred on the same day that House Republicans rejected efforts to put a check on President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against drug cartels. The military said the vessel was operated by narco-terrorists along a known trafficking route. The military didn’t provide evidence behind the allegations but posted a video of a boat moving through water before there was an explosion. The attack brought the total number of known boat strikes to 26 while at least 99 people have been killed.

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FILE - Associated Press correspondent Peter Arnett, left, marches with Vietnamese troops in Vietnam, Nov. 11, 1965. (AP Photo, File)

Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Peter Arnett, who reported from Vietnam and Gulf War, has died

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett, who traveled the world covering wars from Vietnam to Iraq, has died. His son says Arnett died Wednesday in Newport Beach and was surrounded by friends and family. He had entered hospice on Saturday while suffering from prostate cancer. He was 91. Arnett’s reporting on the Vietnam War for The Associated Press won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1966. He is likely best remembered, however, for his gripping live reports of the 1991 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that launched the first Gulf War. As bombs fell, Arnett calmly reported from his hotel window.

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Kevin Warren, president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears, talks on the field before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Bears mull move to Indiana with effort to secure public funding for stadium in Illinois stalled

The Chicago Bears say they’re mulling a move to Northwest Indiana with their efforts to secure public funding they say they need to build an enclosed stadium in Illinois stalled. Team president Kevin Warren insisted in an open letter to fans that the team still prefers to build a new home on a tract of land it owns in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois. He also said the Bears are not using the threat to cross state lines as leverage. Warren did not say where in Northwest Indiana the Bears would look to move. The Bears’ focus for a new home has fluctuated between a tract of land they own in Arlington Heights to the Chicago lakefront, and then back to the suburb.

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Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on his nomination for Commandant of the Coast Guard, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Senator pauses Coast Guard nomination over policy on swastikas, nooses and other hate symbols

A U.S. senator says she’s pausing the nomination for the top Coast Guard job because leaders appeared to have “backtracked” on a commitment to ensure that swastikas and nooses are considered hate symbols and prohibited from being displayed. Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada said Wednesday that she is putting a hold on Adm. Kevin Lunday’s nomination for Coast Guard commandant until she has clear answers. Rosen said she believed the matter was resolved last month after talking about the matter with Lunday. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, said there “was never a ‘downgrade’” in policy language. It says the change “strengthens our ability to report, investigate, and prosecute those who violate longstanding policy.”

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FILE - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, June 12, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

New York is set to legalize medically assisted suicide with ‘guardrails,’ governor says

New York is set to become the latest state to legalize medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill. In an op-ed in the Albany Times Union on Wednesday, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said she supports the proposal but has made a deal with lawmakers to include “guardrails” in the measure before she signs it into law. Hochul, a Catholic, said she came to the decision after hearing from New Yorkers in the “throes of pain and suffering” as well as their children while also considering the faith-based opposition. Advocates say a dozen other states and the District of Columbia have legalized medically assisted suicide.

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FILE - A Washington Nationals helmet sits in the dugout railing before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, June 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Ani Kilambi, 31, is joining the Washington Nationals as their general manager, AP source says

A person with knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press that Ani Kilambi is joining the Washington Nationals as their new general manager. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because Kilambi’s hiring had not been announced yet. The 31-year-old had been an assistant GM with the Philadelphia Phillies. Kilambi is the latest young face to join president of baseball operations Paul Toboni in Washington. Kilambi takes over a job that was held for more than a decade and a half by Mike Rizzo, who was the GM in Washington since 2009 and added the title of president of baseball operations in 2013. Rizzo was fired in July during Washington’s sixth consecutive losing season.

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President Donald Trump looks over after stepping off Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump demands Venezuela pay for seized US oil assets after calling for ‘blockade’

President Donald Trump is demanding Venezuela pay for assets that Trump says were stolen from U.S. companies when the South American country nationalized its oil industry years ago. His comments Wednesday come after Trump called for a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela, the latest effort to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast amid a steady buildup of military personnel in the region. Trump has accused Maduro of facilitating the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. and has said he’s considering the use of ground strikes as tensions between the two countries increase.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Dolphins are benching Tua Tagovailoa for rookie Quinn Ewers against the Bengals

The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says his decision to start Ewers on Sunday against the Bengals came down to who he felt gave the Dolphins the best chance to win. The decision came after Tagovailoa struggled in a 28-15 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night that eliminated Miami from playoff contention. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with 15 interceptions and hasn’t played up to his contract after signing a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024. He said he was disappointed by the benching and unsure what his future with the team will look like.

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Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at her office in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

China sues after Missouri seeks to collect on $25 billion court judgement, prosecutor says

Missouri’s top prosecutor says China is suing after the state pressed federal officials for help collecting on a roughly $25 billion court judgment related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said Tuesday in a news release that China is demanding a public apology from the state in a complaint filed in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan. The Chinese government also is seeking compensation equivalent to $50.5 billion plus legal fees and the right to claim further compensation. At issue is a lawsuit Missouri filed alleging that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic.

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U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton announces fraud charges against Daniel Chu, the founder of subprime auto loan company Tricolor Holdings, at the U.S. attorney's office in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister)

Founder of bankrupt subprime auto lender Tricolor Holdings is charged with fraud

The founder of Tricolor Holdings and other company executives have been charged with what federal authorities say was a massive fraud that led to the subprime auto lender’s bankruptcy. Daniel Chu, the company’s founder and chief executive, was charged in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday. The indictment accuses Chu of directing multiple executives since 2018 to defraud investors and lending institutions through various fraudulent schemes. A defense lawyer has not responded to a message seeking comment.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen jogs off the field after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Add expectant father to Allen’s list of achievements in Buffalo, after Steinfeld announces pregnancy

Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t know what to envision when he first arrived in Buffalo as a raw but promising prospect in 2018. Eight seasons later, he’s the NFL’s reigning MVP, a newlywed and expectant father after he and wife Hailee Steinfeld announced their pregnancy last week. The 29-year-old Allen said he’s overjoyed about becoming a father and noted he’s come a long way since his rookie season. What’s been key is Allen balancing his private life and professional career amid the distractions that come with stardom. Allen has the Bills closing in on clinching their seventh straight playoff berth while working his way back into the MVP discussion.

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Dan Bongino, FBI deputy director, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau’s No 2 official

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he’ll resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made in his prior role as a popular podcast host. The departure, which had been expected, would be among the highest-profile resignations of the Trump administration. It comes as FBI leadership has been buffeted by criticism over Director Kash Patel’s use of a government plane for personal purposes and social media posts about active investigations.

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Protesters gather as Law enforcement officers guard outside an ICE processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, Ill., Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration policies limiting lawmakers’ access to ICE facilities

A federal judge in the nation’s capital has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies limiting members of Congress’ access to immigration detention facilities. The judge ruled on Wednesday that it is likely illegal for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to demand a week’s notice from members of Congress seeking to visit and observe conditions in ICE facilities. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb concluded that the seven-day notice requirement also likely exceeds the Department of Homeland Security’s statutory authority. Twelve members of Congress sued in Washington, D.C., in July to challenge ICE’s amended visitor policies after they were denied entry to detention facilities.

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Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, left, appeals to official Kari Lane, right, as a possible flagrant foul call against Jabari Smith Jr. is reviewed in the last 14 seconds of the second half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Rockets coach Ime Udoka fined for slamming refs after overtime loss to Denver

Rockets coach Ime Udoka has been fined $25,000 for criticizing officiating after Houston’s overtime loss to the Nuggets on Monday. The NBA announced the fine Wednesday. Udoka expressed frustration in a postgame press conference, calling it “the most poorly officiated” game he’s seen in a long time. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report revealed three incorrect calls in overtime, all favoring Denver. Those calls resulted in free throws that helped Denver secure a 128-125 win.

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Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump's pick to be NASA Administrator, speaks during a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Senate confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator in do-over after Musk feud

The Senate has confirmed billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to serve as NASA administrator. Isaacman’s nomination was revoked and then reintroduced by President Donald Trump as part of a feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk. The vote Wednesday was 67-30. Isaacman has promised to bring a business-minded approach to transforming NASA’s operations. Republicans have welcomed some of his proposals and some new senators strongly advocated for his confirmation. But Democrats balked at Isaacman and Trump’s plans, including the proposed costs of some projects and overall priorities for the agency.

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President Nicolas Maduro addresses supporters during a rally marking the anniversary of the Battle of Santa Ines, which took place during Venezuela's 19th-century Federal War, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Some sanctioned oil vessels divert from Venezuela as Trump threatens blockade

Some oil vessels are diverting away from Venezuela after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country. It’s a dramatic escalation in the White House’s pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The blockade threatens to choke off revenue from the world’s largest oil reserves that are key to Maduro’s grip on power. Maritime intelligence firm Windward says at least 30 vessels under sanctions are navigating near Venezuela and a few have started to change course. Among those is the Hyperion, which had been sailing toward the Jose port in Venezuela before doing a 90-degree turn early Wednesday and starting to head north away from the South American mainland.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth walks to the auditorium to brief members of Congress on military strikes near Venezuela at the Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

House to vote on resolutions to put limits on Trump’s campaign against Venezuela and drug cartels

The House is voting on a pair of resolutions that would put a check on President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against drug cartels and the nation of Venezuela. Democrats forced the votes using war powers resolutions as Trump has stepped up his threats against the South American nation. Congress has questioned how the U.S. military is conducting a campaign that has destroyed 25 vessels allegedly carrying drugs and killed at least 95 people. The legislation, if it becomes law, would force the Trump administration to seek authorization from Congress before continuing attacks against cartels that it deems to be terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere or launching an attack on Venezuela itself.

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TCU's Olivia Miles (5) and Marta Suarez (7) defend during an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas Pine Bluff in Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Olivia Miles part of another transfer-replenished roster for undefeated No. 9 TCU

Graduate transfers Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez have helped No. 9 TCU get off to a 12-0 start. Miles and Suarez also just became only the second NCAA Division I teammates with triple-doubles in the same game. They are part of another transfer-replenished roster for the defending Big 12 champion Frogs, who play their conference opener Saturday against Kansas State. Miles has had three consecutive triple-doubles to go with the six she had while at Notre Dame. Suarez, who also played at California and Tennessee, had her first career triple-double Tuesday.

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National Guard patrol in the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington. The Washington Monument is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Trump’s National Guard deployment in Washington can continue for now, an appeals court says

A federal appeals court says the National Guard deployment in the nation’s capital can continue for now. The decision Wednesday stays a lower-court ruling that had ordered an end to the troops’ presence. The appeals court panel ruled that President Donald Trump may prevail in his argument that the president “possesses a unique power” to mobilize the Guard in Washington. The ruling reaffirms that residents and visitors to the District of Columbia will routinely see Guard members well into 2026.

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FILE - Tesla vehicles line a parking lot at the company's Fremont, Calif., factory on Aug. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

California threatens Tesla with 30-day suspension of sales license for deceptive self-driving claims

California regulators are threatening to suspend Tesla’s license to sell its electric cars in the state early next year unless the automaker tones down its marketing tactics for its self-driving features after a judge concluded the Elon Musk-led company has been misleading consumers about the technology’s capabilities. The potential 30-day blackout of Tesla’s California sales is the primary punishment being recommended to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles in a decision that found the automaker had engaged in deceptive marketing practices by using the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” to promote its autonomous technology. Tesla has 90 days to make amends and avoid the sales suspension.

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FILE - Pump jacks operate in the Permian Basin east of Carlsbad, N.M., on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

Trump’s push to make oil drilling cheap again squeezes some states more than others

A Republican push to make drilling cheaper on federal land is creating new fiscal pressure for states that depend on oil and gas revenue, most notably in New Mexico. President Donald Trump’s signature spending and tax-cut legislation restored royalty rates to 12.5% on new oil and gas leases from a bump to 16.7% under the Biden administration. The stakes are highest for New Mexico as it expands early childhood education and saves for the future. It’s the largest recipient of federal mineral lease payments and recently raised its own royalty rates on prime land. Meanwhile in Alaska, natural resource managers say they’re encouraged by the potential for increased development.

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Executive Assistant Chief, Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery Carroll attends a press conference following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Jeffery Carroll named interim DC police chief as federal law enforcement surge continues

Veteran police officer Jeffery Carroll is taking over as interim chief of Washington’s police force. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the change Wednesday after the department’s leader stepped down earlier this month. Carroll joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2002 and currently manages day-to-day operations as executive assistant chief of specialized operations. Carroll’s profile has risen recently after joining Bowser at press conferences about a shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. Carroll takes over during a tumultuous time, with questions about crime statistics and the department’s role in federal immigration enforcement. The Democratic mayor has announced she won’t seek reelection.

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FILE - New York Yankees' Luke Weaver pitches during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Luke Weaver agrees to $22 million, 2-year deal with the New York Mets, AP source says

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Luke Weaver has agreed to a $22 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets, joining Clay Holmes and Devin Williams as former Yankees on a rebuilt pitching staff. A 32-year-old right-hander, Weaver supplanted a struggling Holmes at the Yankees closer in September 2024, was replaced by Williams at the start of 2025, then took over from a faltering Williams late last April only to strain his left hamstring on June 1.

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New plaques of explanatory text have been placed underneath presidential portraits on the Colonnade at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s White House adds partisan plaques to newly installed Presidential Walk of Fame

President Donald Trump has added partisan and subjective plaques to a refashioned West Wing walkway he calls the Presidential Walk of Fame. The move deepens Trump’s fingerprints on the White House’s aesthetic and continues the Republican president’s effort to bend the telling of U.S. history to his liking. The additions include references to “Sleepy Joe” Biden and paint Republican icon Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump. They call Barack Obama one of the most divisive presidents in history. An introductory plaque tells passersby the Presidential Walk of Fame was conceived, built and dedicated by Trump as “a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle.”

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FILE - Rick Burkholder, Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance, talks to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, on ground, after Mahomes was injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes begins rehab after knee surgery with eye on Week 1 return in 2026

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has started rehab after surgery to repair two torn knee ligaments. The team is optimistic he could return early next season. The surgery was performed Monday night in Dallas, a day after Mahomes was injured in a game against the Chargers. Recovery typically takes about nine months, but it varies. The Chiefs are out of playoff contention after losing to the Chargers. Backup Gardner Minshew will lead the team for the final three games. Several other key players are also dealing with injuries, including Rashee Rice, who is in the concussion protocol. Mahomes plans to continue his rehab in Kansas City.

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New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) celebrates with teammates after his team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup championship basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Knicks won’t hang an NBA Cup championship banner at Madison Square Garden, AP source says

A person with knowledge of the decision says the New York Knicks won’t raise a banner at Madison Square Garden to commemorate their NBA Cup championship. The Knicks do plan to celebrate the title in front of their fans Friday, when they play their first home game since winning the championship Tuesday night in Las Vegas. But they won’t join the previous winners of the Cup in marking the achievement with a banner, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because there was no public announcement. The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks both hung banners after winning the NBA Cup.

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FILE - Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol holds a hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Young Democrat launches primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in Mississippi

A 33-year-old antitrust lawyer with ties to major Democratic politicians is challenging U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to represent Mississippi’s 2nd congressional district. Evan Turnage is the latest in a trend of young Democrats looking to oust the party’s old guard. The Yale-educated attorney has served as chief counsel to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and senior counsel to Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Thompson, a civil-rights leader, has represented the district for more than 30 years. In a statement to The Associated Press, he said he is confident in his record and trusts the voters of his district.

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FILE - Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) smiles on sideline during an NCAA college football game against Chattanooga in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Nov. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

Former Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron ends campaign for Alabama lieutenant governor

Former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron is ending his short-lived campaign for lieutenant governor of Alabama. McCarron says in a statement Wednesday that he is dropping out of the race to pursue a sports-related opportunity. He did not disclose the details of that position. McCarron entered the race in October. McCarron did not rule out a future bid for office. McCarron was the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback and led the team to national championship wins in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals and other NFL teams.

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This image made from a video provided by the Pacific Police Department shows homes underwater, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Pacific, Wash. (Pacific Police Department via AP)

High winds batter water-logged Northwest, injuring 2 children and cutting power to half a million

High winds have toppled trees and power lines in Washington state and Idaho, critically injuring two children and cutting power to half a million customers in the Pacific Northwest. On Wednesday, wind gusts reached up to 85 miles per hour, affecting areas like Pullman, Washington, and the Idaho cities of Moscow and Lewiston. In southern Idaho, the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s office reported that two children were critically injured when several old trees fell. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said the damage is profound but unclear. Residents are warned of more high water, mudslides, and wind in the forecast.

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FILE - Students walk the halls at a high school in Philadelphia on Aug. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

Teen drug use remains low, but survey finds small rise in heroin and cocaine use

A national survey shows teen use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana remains at record lows. The findings released Wednesday reveal two-thirds of 12th graders reported no use of these substances in the past 30 days. That’s a significant drop from 30 years ago. Among 10th graders, 82% reported no recent use, and 91% of eighth graders said the same. However, there are slight increases in heroin and cocaine use. The survey, conducted by the University of Michigan, involved about 24,000 students from February to June. Teen drug use has been gradually declining for decades.

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FILE - This image made by the Cassini spacecraft and provided by NASA on March 12, 2006, shows two of Saturn's moons, the small Epimetheus and smog-enshrouded Titan, with Saturn's A and F rings stretching across the frame. (NASA via AP)

Saturn’s moon Titan may not have a buried ocean as long suspected, new study suggests

Saturn’s giant moon Titan may not have a vast underground ocean after all. New research suggests Titan instead may hold deep layers of ice and slush more akin to Earth’s polar seas instead of a buried ocean as long suspected. In a study published Wednesday, scientists said there may also be pockets of melted water beneath the moon’s surface where life could possibly survive and even thrive. They’re basing their findings on observations made by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft years ago, but with a fresh look. Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system.

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FILE - Pages from the U.S. Affordable Care Act health insurance website healthcare.gov are seen on a computer screen in New York, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

Four centrists Republicans have broken with their party’s leadership over health care. The four Republicans signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vole on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans. Democrats needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill. The four Republicans signed it Wednesday morning, pushing it to that magic number.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to brief members of Congress on military strikes near Venezuela, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Senate voting on $901 billion defense bill that pushes Hegseth for boat strike video

The Senate is taking final votes to pass an annual military policy bill that will authorize $901 billion in defense programs. The legislation is attempting an overhaul of how the Pentagon purchases weapons and pressures Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide lawmakers with video of strikes on alleged drug boats in international water near Venezuela. The annual National Defense Authorization Act also raises troop pay by 3.8%. It gained bipartisan backing as it moved through the Senate, and the White House has indicated that it is in line with President Donald Trump’s national security priorities. However, the legislation includes some pushback on recent moves by the Pentagon.

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Alex Warren’s year has been anything but ‘Ordinary.’ Now, the Grammys are calling

Alex Warren’s song “Ordinary” is, by many measures, a defining song of 2025. The song was certified three-times platinum and fast-tracked the former social media celebrity into mainstream musical fame. It blew up on TikTok and opened a lot of opportunities for the 25-year-old singer-songwriter. On Feb. 1, he competes for his first Grammy. The first-time nominee is up for best new artist. Warren tells The Associated Press that he is grateful for his breakout year and hopes that his music connects with people. Warren’s debut album, “You’ll Be Alright, Kid,” was released last summer.

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A crowd of people holding candles gather outside the home of Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Mass., Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)

Search goes on for suspect in fatal shooting of MIT professor who was fatally shot at his home

Police intensified their search for a suspect in the fatally shooting of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in his home in a Boston suburb. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office says Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old professor of nuclear science and engineering, was shot Monday night in Brookline and died Tuesday at a local hospital. Officials say no suspects are in custody. Loureiro, who is from Portugal, joined MIT in 2016 and had been named last year to lead its Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

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Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge

Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest. Angel Studios’ animated biblical film “David” has already exceeded $14 million in pre-sale tickets. “The Chosen,” a popular drama about Jesus, has grossed over $116 million domestically since Fathom Entertainment began releasing it theatrically in 2023. Studios are recognizing the box-office potential of faith-based content, with Lionsgate set to release the sequel to “I Can Only Imagine’ in February. This trend reflects a growing demand for spiritual storytelling, something many say Hollywood has long ignored. But defining what counts as faith-based entertainment can be challenging.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is previewing his 2026 agenda in an address to the nation as his popularity wanes

President Donald Trump plans to give a preview of his 2026 agenda in a speech at the White House. Wednesday night’s remarks come as Trump’s popularity erodes. Polls show most U.S. adults are frustrated with Trump’s handling of the economy. The Republican president’s mass deportations of immigrants are also unpopular. The president and his party are less than a year away from midterm elections that will decide control of the House and the Senate. Trump has said he thinks more Americans would back him if they heard more about what he sees as his accomplishments. Trump delivers his address to the nation at 9 p.m. Eastern.

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FILE - Jeff Bezos, left, and Lauren Sanchez leave a hotel for their pre wedding reception, in Venice, Italy, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are awarding $5 million to a leader in neurodiversity education

Mega billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos have donated $5 million to David Flink, founder of the Neurodiversity Alliance. The gift is part of this year’s Bezos Courage & Civility Awards, which support barrier-breaking individuals who unify people behind bold solutions to often neglected challenges. The Neurodiversity Alliance reaches more than 600 high schools and colleges, encouraging youth to build more inclusive educational environments that serve classmates of different learning types. Forbes reports that Bezos is worth around $240 billion, making him the fourth richest person in the world. He has previously shown an interest in early childhood education through his nonprofit network of tuition-free preschools.

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FILE - A person carries a shopping bag in Philadelphia, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most U.S. adults are on board with giving cash or gift cards as holiday presents. Only 30% find secondhand gifts acceptable. The poll also shows that nearly half of Americans plan to be asleep before midnight on New Year’s Eve. About 44% of adults won’t stay up to greet 2026, and that’s especially true of those over age 45. Additionally, 35% of adults plan to leave holiday decorations up after New Year’s Day. About one-quarter of U.S. adults say they’re planning to watch sports on Christmas Day. Only 5% say they’ll go see a movie in a theater.

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FILE - Flags of the U.S. and China are displayed at the Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

China exploits US-funded research on nuclear technology, a congressional report says

A congressional report says China is exploiting partnerships with U.S. researchers to provide the Chinese military with access to sensitive nuclear technology and other innovations with economic and national security applications. Wednesday’s report by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party looked at research collaborations that received Energy Department funding. Investigators found 4,300 academic papers published in the past two years that involved partnerships between Energy Department-funded scientists and Chinese researchers. The report’s authors say the U.S. must do more to ensure the results of taxpayer-funded work don’t benefit Beijing. The Energy Department hasn’t commented. A message seeking comment has been left with the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

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FILE - Playwright Tennessee Williams sits at his typewriter in New York on Nov. 11, 1940. (AP Photo/Dan Grossi, File)

Haunted house and invisible demons: Tennessee Williams’ early radio play ‘The Strangers’ publishes

Tennessee Williams’ early radio play, “The Strangers,” is featured in The Strand this week. Written in the late 1930s while Williams was a student at the University of Iowa, the play showcases classic radio horror elements like storms and spectral beings. Strand managing editor Andrew Gulli says the play also hints at themes Williams would explore in later works, such as isolation and the blurred lines between imagination and reality. Williams scholar John Bak notes that Williams wrote radio dramas for both commercial reasons and personal exploration, influenced by his sister’s mental health struggles.

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Jack Smith set for private interview with lawmakers about Trump investigations

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is set for a closed-door interview with House Republicans after lawmakers rebuffed his offer to testify publicly about his investigations into President Donald Trump. The private deposition set for Wednesday is part of an ongoing investigation by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee into the Justice Department’s criminal inquiries of Trump during the Biden administration. Smith was subpoenaed earlier this month to provide both testimony and documents, and his lawyers indicated that he would cooperate with the congressional demand despite having volunteered more than a month earlier to answer questions publicly before the committee.

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San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini scores an empty net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Celebrini’s spin-o-rama goal helps him become fastest Sharks player to 50 points

Macklin Celebrini has become the fastest San Jose player to reach 50 points in a season. He achieved the milestone with a spectacular spin-o-rama goal during a four-point night as the Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 6-3 on Tuesday. Celebrini, just 19 and in his second NHL season, has 18 goals and 33 assists in 34 games. Only Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby reached 50 points faster as teenagers. Celebrini’s performance is a key factor in San Jose’s current playoff position after the team struggled mightily in previous seasons. His exceptional play is gaining him respect across the league.

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