Monday, Dec. 1
Bipartisan support for review of Trump’s drug boat strikes
Both Democrats and Republicans expressed support for a congressional review of U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats, according to the Associated Press.
The military conducted multiple strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean for suspected drug smuggling, which have been subject to scrutiny from members of Congress.
Leaders of the Armed Services Committee in the House and Senate have opened investigations regarding the legality of these strikes. The Trump administration claimed the strikes are aimed at cartels and only target boats carrying drugs.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Trump administration halts immigration from 19 nations
The Trump administration is pausing immigration applications from 19 countries in response to the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington.
The administration released a memo on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website detailing the new changes to immigration applications, including a pause on green cards and naturalizations from countries the administration labeled high risk.
The full map of each country banned or restricted can be found on the AP website.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
U.S. military allegedly knew about boat strike survivors but still attacked again
The Pentagon reportedly knew there were survivors in a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, but still carried out a follow-up strike. Sources familiar with the matter said the second strike was allegedly needed to sink the boat, according to AP News.
The attack reportedly killed all 11 passengers aboard the vessel. The administration has not been clear about who is authorizing these strikes and whether the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is involved.
The attacks have been subject to close review from lawmakers concerned about the ethics of the boat strikes. Some legal experts said a follow-up strike would violate peacetime laws set in place around the globe, the AP News reported.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Supreme Court allows Texas congressional map in 2026
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Texas congressional map that would advantage Republicans. The decision allows next year’s midterm elections to be held under a new redistricting plan.
The decision was expedited due to an emergency request from Texas to ensure they can hold primary elections in March.
The Court ruling goes against a lower court decision that said the map discriminates based on race. The justices found the lower court’s reasoning about race to be unfounded and did not feel the Texas map had a partisan bias, according to AP News.
These redistricting efforts come as a result of President Donald Trump’s push to maintain the Republicans’ small majority in the House, sparking a nationwide battle.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Supreme Court to rule on expanding presidential power
The Supreme Court will hear a case Dec. 8 that can increase the power of the presidency. The decision could overturn a 90-year-old case that limits presidential authority, according to AP News.
The 90-year-old case, otherwise known as Humphrey’s Executor, “established that presidents cannot fire the appointed leaders of the alphabet soup of federal agencies without cause,” including the Federal Communications Commission, FBI, CIA, Drug Enforcement Administration and more.
Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative majority in the Supreme Court have a history of ruling in favor of the executive branch, including the decision to allow Trump to remove the head of an agency without reason.
