Court hears Maurene Comey was fired as retaliation against ex-FBI chief father

The U.S. Supreme Court has approved a new congressional map for Texas that favors Republican candidates in the upcoming 2026 elections, impacting the March primaries. This ruling allows Texas to implement a redistricting plan that could significantly alter the political landscape in the state.

A grand jury has declined to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James after a federal judge dismissed a previous mortgage fraud case against her, ruling it unlawful. This decision comes shortly after the Department of Justice attempted to revive the case, indicating ongoing legal challenges for James.

The White House has appointed a new architect to advance President Donald Trump’s ambitious $300 million ballroom project, signaling a renewed commitment to the construction despite previous concerns about its scale. This decision was confirmed by officials on Thursday, highlighting the administration's focus on enhancing the East Wing of the White House.

The US Supreme Court has approved a redrawn congressional map for Texas, allowing the state to add up to five Republican-friendly seats. This ruling overturns a previous lower-court decision that found the maps likely engaged in racial gerrymandering, thus enabling Texas to utilize the new maps for the upcoming midterm elections.

A defense lawyer referenced former President Donald Trump's recent pardon of Juan Orlando Hernandez, the ex-president of Honduras, in a plea for leniency for a former Honduran congressman convicted of drug conspiracy. This request was made to a judge who previously presided over a civil sex abuse case involving Trump.

Donald Trump has replaced architect James McCrery II, who was overseeing the $300 million gilded ballroom project, after disagreements regarding the ballroom's size and due to the firm's limited staff. McCrery had been involved in the project for over three months before his dismissal in late October.

President Donald Trump has indicated a potential escalation of U.S. military action in Venezuela, warning that violent retaliation against U.S. citizens is possible as tensions rise. This comes amid discussions of military strikes targeting drug cartels within Venezuelan borders, raising alarms among national security experts.

A US appeals court has allowed the continued deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., pausing a lower court's order that would have required their withdrawal by December 11. This decision comes in the wake of a targeted shooting incident on November 26 that critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard, prompting heightened security measures in the capital.