The Hill Articles: December 9, 2021

Nicaragua breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan, recognizes Chinese sovereignty US Central Command head says number of al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan ‘probably slightly increased’ NYC adopts measure allowing noncitizens to vote for mayor Dozens killed after truck carrying migrants overturns in Mexico Judge rules that enforcement provisions of Texas abortion law violate state constitution DEA agent sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring with cartel Australia to make COVID-19 vaccines available for children ages 5-11 Biden reassures Ukraine’s Zelensky of US support amid Russian aggression On The Money — Senate risks Trump’s ire with debt ceiling deal Meta Oversight board overturns Instagram ban on posts featuring hallucinogen used in spiritual ceremonies Colombian soccer championship game postponed amid match-fixing allegations Bank regulator erupts in partisan split as Democrats go rogue Biden to appear on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on Friday Overnight Energy & Environment — Presented by ExxonMobil — FEMA restores climate role in strategic plan Antisemitic graffiti reportedly discovered at Mount Holyoke College Hillicon Valley — Senators unveil social media data-sharing bill  Overnight Health Care — Boosters expanded to 16- and 17-year-olds Senate passes bill to avoid filibuster on debt ceiling hike Huge planet found orbiting two of the universe’s hottest and biggest stars Former Apple employee isn’t withdrawing labor complaint Amtrak to cut service as employees refuse vaccines ‘BoJack Horseman’ creator raises thousands for trans charity by releasing scene Netflix deleted Jussie Smollett found guilty of lying to police Wonder Woman has superhero girlfriend in new comic series First woman to ever be nominated for Oscar in directing dies US to tighten restrictions on exports of malicious cyber tools Overnight Defense & National Security — US, Israeli defense chiefs discuss Iran Instagram to once again offer chronological feed next year Peacock to stream Universal movies 45 days after theatrical release Elon Musk’s neighbors complaining about explosions, noise and beach closings Families deserve to know their children are at safe schools and free from gun violence Fox News lights new Christmas Tree outside headquarters following fire Judge allows Britney Spears to sign documents, manage finances Democrats urge federal investigations into whether Facebook misled advertisers Starbucks in Buffalo becomes first to vote to unionize TIME names Simone Biles 2021’s athlete of the year Ford stops taking reservations for all-electric pickup due to high demand, CEO says Vargas pushes for broader ESG disclosure: ‘The good, the bad, and the ugly’ American Airlines to cut international flights due to Dreamliner delivery delays Equilibrium/Sustainability — Scientists breed ‘super corals’ to defy warming Minister says France won’t join diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics House goes after Trump with bill to curb presidential abuses of power Laws requiring adults with kids to lock up loaded guns should be a no-brainer Expelled cadet challenging Coast Guard Academy on parental ban policy College papers graded by Elon Musk sell for nearly $8,000 Appeals court rejects Trump effort to deny records to Jan. 6 panel Judge clears way for legal challenge to Georgia’s restrictive voting law  Ease muscle pain with nearly half off the price of this personal massager Abrams and O’Rourke give Democrats a chance and women a choice Coalition urges Senate to publish bills, amendments online while still under consideration Defense bill creates new office to study UFOs Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: U.S. has to ‘recognize some of our own iniquities’ New Mexico state lawmaker says he has tested positive for coronavirus Mark Walker staying in North Carolina Senate race for now Jacques Cousteau’s promise to our planet can’t go unfulfilled any longer A $188 million x-ray telescope was launched into space to explore black holes Congress will make your car spy on you Homicide is a leading cause of death in pregnant people: study Just 10 minutes of running can boost mood and cognitive function, study says Senate panel advances bill making federal judiciary’s e-record system free It’s time for Iran to concede, not the United States US ends combat mission against ISIS in Iraq, but troops remain House to vote next week on Islamophobia bill, holding Meadows in contempt CDC signs off on Pfizer booster shots for 16-17 year old teens Dallas to pay family of man found unresponsive in custody $1M Jill Biden rejects ‘ridiculous’ concerns on president’s mental fitness Florida man charged with threatening Ocasio-Cortez, Pelosi Wastewater provides a solution for monitoring omicron’s spread Chicago police considering closing off downtown to prevent repeat of weekend mayhem: report Woman protests pandemic restrictions with ‘All I Want for Christmas’ parody ‘Stop the Steal’ rally organizer cooperating with Jan. 6 committee: report California targeting food waste in battle against climate change Phantom justice and the death penalty K-pop group BTS #StopAsianHate tweet most retweeted of the year Federal government is looking into Tesla allowing drivers to play video games while driving World dangerously unprepared for next pandemic: research Harris uses democracy summit to call for passage of voting rights laws Two-thirds of Americans in new poll report higher household expenses Suspects in student’s fatal shooting at bus stop also teens, authorities say DOD officials defend military’s handling of toxic chemicals at tense hearing Amazon bestseller compares being trans to pretending to be a walrus Bill Gates: 2021 has been a year of ‘great personal sadness’ Former journalist announces Democratic bid for Texas governor First woman, person of color hired as president of Penn State US, Israel defense chiefs discuss Iran as nuclear talks falter Christie says Trump, Meadows should have warned him of positive COVID-19 test Brawl breaks out in Turkey’s parliament Mercedes first to win approval for hands-free driving system in Germany Josh Duggar found guilty in child pornography case US travel restrictions continue to plague European tourist hubs Gunmen hold shootout from jet skis at Cancun hotel beach To tame inflation, Biden should cut tariffs Josh Duggar found guilty on two counts of child pornography CDC study: Veterans with two mRNA doses saw dip in antibody response after four months 14 GOP senators help advance McConnell debt limit deal Sackler name being removed from Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition spaces Amazon fined $1.3B by Italy’s antitrust authority Google giving $1,600 bonuses to employees worldwide: report Price controls on drugs would save lives, but also take them Hospital and doctor groups sue Biden officials over surprise billing rules Retailers call on Congress to fight online sales of stolen and counterfeit goods Girlfriend says Daunte Wright ‘was just gasping’ after shooting by officer Master the piano with 50% off lifetime access to interactive lessons WNBA team speaks out in support of Peng Shuai The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – FDA recommends Pfizer booster for 16+ WHO recommends booster for people with health problems and inactive vaccine recipients Youngkin says he will withdraw Virginia from regional carbon initiative Man who attempted to get COVID-19 vaccine in fake arm says he is now vaccinated SUNY chancellor and former Cuomo aide Jim Malatras resigns Becerra names incoming acting NIH director Abbott leads O’Rourke by 15 points in early poll of Texas governor’s race Travis Scott insists in first post-concert interview he didn’t know fans were injured until after show The biggest threat to Medicare you’ve never even heard of Navy says petroleum contamination detected in second water source in Hawaii House Republican announces positive COVID-19 test hours after managing floor debate School shooting survivors sue Michigan district, officials in $100M lawsuits What America’s Thinking: December 9, 2021 Baldwin shares open letter from ‘Rust’ crew rejecting reports of ‘chaotic’ set Half of Angelenos avoided outdoors in 2021 due to air quality concerns: study Experts say you should watch for an unusual omicron symptom in kids Biden administration moving toward tighter enforcement of Iran sanctions NBA’s Enes Kanter Freedom explains why he became an American citizen Letitia James drops New York governor bid Add-on that transforms Tesla Cybertrucks into campers and tiny homes hits $100 million in pre-orders Democrats’ claim of creating ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’ with trillion-dollar spending plan is hot air World’s largest lab-grown steak makes sizzling debut Texas official promises ‘lights will be on’ this winter WHO: Omicron fears could lead to vaccine hoarding in rich nations Former Rep. Renee Ellmers running for Congress again in North Carolina FDA authorizes Pfizer booster for 16 and 17 year olds Historic evidence of crucifixion discovered What SEC football just taught us about COVID-19 Watch live: White House press briefing Fox News panelist praises layoffs of 900 Better.com workers: ‘Good riddance’ New York attorney general seeking Trump deposition in fraud probe: report New York National Guard deploys medics to long-term care facilities Proposed Virginia maps put rising-star House Democrats at risk Fox News host suggests Christmas tree fire could have been ‘a hate crime’ against network Some good news in the battle to rebalance the courts Biden memorializes Dole as a ‘giant of our history’ US accuses El Salvador of secret pact with MS-13 to reduce street killings Ukraine military leaders say forces don’t stand much of a chance against Russia without help from West FEMA restores climate consideration in strategic plan after Trump dropped it LA County settles lawsuit from mentally ill man beaten by deputy for almost $3M If Democrats ‘pack the court,’ will it protect a woman’s right to choose?  Dole’s casket arrives at Capitol to lie in state NASA launching powerful new telescope to explore dark corners of space Is the urban-rural divide a myth? Rising: December 9, 2021 Navy commissions destroyer named after late Sen. Daniel Inouye Ron Johnson promotes dubious claim mouthwash is effective COVID-19 treatment Senators unveil bipartisan bill requiring social media giants to open data to researchers Jan. 6 ties cost former aide spot on Dole funeral planning team: report Stephen Curry gives Senate full-court press on voting rights Four steps for deterring an invasion of Ukraine First migrants sent to Mexico under restarted Trump-era policy Supreme Court denies last-minute reprieve of Oklahoma inmate’s execution Most think Smollett staged fake hate crime: poll Pfizer CEO says fourth vaccine shot may eventually be needed Russian gas is a climate and security disaster Man arrested after gun incident at Longworth House Office Building Watch live: Dole lies in state at US Capitol FDA authorizes AstraZeneca antibody cocktail for immunocompromised people Father and son arrested on suspicion of starting massive California wildfire Biden kicks off global democracy summit, acknowledges challenges in US The Summit for Democracy’s missing link is debt transparency Jobless claims hit lowest level in 52 years Lawmakers lining up behind bill to bring four-day work week to America Prosecution builds case with body-cam video in trial over killing of Daunte Wright Biden is delivering the fastest economic recovery in history. Why hasn’t anyone noticed? China labels diplomatic boycotts ‘farce’ Germany warns Russia of ‘high political and economic price’ if it moves against Ukraine Watch live: Biden delivers opening remarks at democracy summit Why the Build Back Better Act isn’t better for patients with cancer New Zealand plans to gradually raise legal smoking age in effort to ban cigarettes Father and son accused of ‘reckless arson’ in Caldor Fire CDC director says most US omicron infections mild so far Bob Dole: boss, mentor, and friend Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes releases first progressive policy plan in Senate race No quick fix for Haiti — but corruption comes first The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Uber – Senate gets busy, except for Build Back Better Flush with cash, states planning big cuts to taxes Graham warns GOP about Trump’s wrath on debt vote Democratic worries grow over politics of SALT cap Lawmakers mull way forward on cyber after it’s cut from defense bill The Memo: Dour public mood spells trouble for Biden Best gift for teachers Best beauty minis to give as stocking stuffers this year Smart tech your grandparents are sure to enjoy Half of parents say their teen received COVID-19 shot as uptake slows: KFF poll