JIMMY CARTER, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT DIES AT 100 - AJC

Elon Musk expands focus on anti-woke education with plans for a new preschool in Texas, documents reveal — Bloomberg

Money for 9/11 health care was dropped from Republicans' year-end spending bill — NYT

Musk claims Germany’s far-right AfD policies mirror those of U.S. Democrats under Obama.

NEW GOP SPENDING BILL EXTENDS FUNDING FOR THREE MONTHS -PUNCHBOWL

Luigi Mangione faces new federal charges, including one that could carry the death penalty, according to an unsealed criminal complaint.

White House took steps to conceal Biden’s decline, limiting interactions and using go-betweens to obscure his frailty from the public, Cabinet, and key Democrats on Capitol Hill — WSJ

GOP REP. MASSIE SAYS HE WILL NOT VOTE FOR JOHNSON FOR SPEAKER

HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE SECRETLY VOTES TO RELEASE GAETZ REPORT: CNN

NEW YORK — Dow drops for a 9th straight day, marking longest losing streak since 1978.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmaker proposes bill to award the state’s electoral votes to the national popular vote winner.

U.S. average gasoline price drops below $3 a gallon for first time since 2021 — Reuters

RUSSIA GRANTS SYRIA'S ASSAD AND FAMILY ASYLUM — STATE MEDIA

TRUMP SAYS HE PLANS TO TRY END U.S. BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ON FIRST DAY IN OFFICE

TRUMP SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT FAMILY SEPARATIONS, "SEND THEM ALL BACK"

TRUMP SAYS HE CAN'T GUARANTEE AMERICANS WON'T PAY MORE AS A RESULT OF TARIFFS

Following the election, 93% of Republicans believe elections are administered fairly, a sharp rise from 21% in 2020 — Pew poll

⚠ Damascus expected to fall, U.S. officials say, as insurgents surround Syrian capital — CBS

Syria's Assad proposed cutting ties with Iran and Hezbollah in exchange for U.S. and Western support to stay in power — Bloomberg Assad proposed enacting a new constitution and agreed to hold talks with political opposition — Bloomberg

ASSAD IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN DAMASCUS, SOURCE SAYS: CNN

Republicans signal openness to cutting mandatory spending programs, such as Social Security, as Elon Musk meets with party leaders on Capitol Hill — MSNBC

⚠️ TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED AFTER 7.5 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES CALIFORNIA

UK's far-right Reform Party overtakes governing Labour party in national poll for first time

DOW, S&P 500, NASDAQ CLOSE AT RECORD HIGHS

Trump asks Georgia court to dismiss election interference case against him, saying a sitting president can’t be prosecuted

FRENCH GOVERNMENT FALLS AFTER NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE IN PARLIAMENT

SUPREME COURT APPEARS POISED TO UPHOLD BAN ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE: AXIOS

French Prime Minister faces no-confidence vote as far-right and far-left unite in bid to topple government.

S. KOREAN ARMED FORCES ATTEMPTING TO ARREST OPPOSITION LEADER

South Korea's ruling party urges President Yoon to swiftly lift martial law following parliamentary vote — Yonhap

S. KOREA MILITARY SAYS MARTIAL LAW REMAINS IN PLACE UNTIL PRESIDENT LIFTS IT — WAPO

S. KOREA ARMED FORCES WITHDRAWING FROM PARLIAMENT

S. KOREA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS MARTIAL LAW DECLARATION IS INVALID

SOUTH KOREAN PARLIAMENT VOTES TO BLOCK PRESIDENT'S MARTIAL LAW DECLARATION

U.S. STOCKS FALL, S&P 500, NASDAQ PULL BACK FROM RECORDS

S. KOREAN FORCES ARE SEEN TRYING TO ENTER PARLIAMENT HALLS

UK's Labour government considers capping political donations to limit foreign influence amid Musk threat — Guardian

Elon Musk tipped to give $100m to Nigel Farage in move to shake up British politics — Standard Musk considering backing Britain's far-right Reform party ahead of next election — Standard

China Is Studying Russia’s Sanctions Evasion to Prepare for Taiwan Conflict — WSJ

Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, signals openness to Republican plans to abolish the Dept. of Education, saying teachers “don’t really care” as long as federal funding continues.

Trump names conspiracy theorist and arch-loyalist Kash Patel as FBI Director.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduces legislation to eliminate the Department of Education.

HEAVY GUNFIRE AND EXPLOSIONS IN DAMASCUS, SYRIA'S CAPITAL

Bomb threats target homes of Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. John Larson, and Rep. Jim Himes, all Connecticut Democrats — Statements

MARK ZUCKERBERG SEEN AT MAR-A-LAGO: POLITICO

Democrat Derek Tran defeats Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in California’s 45th District after late votes flip the race — AP

Democrats, stunned by election losses in Pennsylvania, vow a rebound but face doubts as the state appears to tilt Republican, potentially echoing Ohio's shift. t.co/WzVyyXQEvD

BOMB SQUAD SENT TO FLORIDA HOME OF FORMER REP. MATT GAETZ: PUNCHBOWL

Harris campaign aides: Internal polling never had her ahead of Trump — HuffPost

Andrew Cuomo expected to launch bid for New York City mayor — JInsider