THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REJECTED A BILL —

THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AND AVOIDED A SHUTDOWN.

THE BILL FELL SHORT OF THE NEEDED TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO SPEED UP ITS PASSAGE AHEAD OF A POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN —

THAT WOULD START AT MIDNIGHT SATURDAY MORNING.

38 HOUSE REPUBLICANS JOINED THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS IN VOTING AGAINST THE BILL —

WITH A RIFT AMONG REPUBLICANS ABOUT HOW IT HANDLES GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

THE LATEST SPENDING BILL, KNOWN AS A “CONTINUING RESOLUTION,” IS A QUICKLY AMENDED BILL —

TAILORED TO THE LIKING OF PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS TOP ALLY ELON MUSK.

MUSK POSTED REPEATEDLY ON X WEDNESDAY CONDEMNING THE ORIGINAL BILL —

CRAFTED BY REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON —

TO WIN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

BOTH MUSK AND TRUMP OPPOSED THE BILL —

GUARANTEEING MOST HOUSE REPUBLICANS WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT AND FORCING JOHNSON TO CRAFT A NEW BILL.

NOW, THERE ARE TWO CONFLICTING INTERESTS. MUSK WANTS MAJOR GOVERNMENT SPENDING CUTS.

AND WHILE PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AGREES, HE ALSO WANTS TO PERMANENTLY SUSPEND THE DEBT CEILING,

AMERICA’S LIMIT ON ITS ABILITY TO BORROW FOR GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

THE NEW PLAN LIFTS THE DEBT LIMIT, LEADING PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TO POST ON HIS SOCIAL

NETWORK PLATFORM TRUTH SOCIAL IN FAVOR OF THE BILL.

“NOW WE CAN MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, VERY QUICKLY,

WHICH IS WHAT THE PEOPLE GAVE US A MANDATE TO ACCOMPLISH,” TRUMP POSTED.

BUT DEMOCRATS HAVE ATTACKED THE BILL OVER WHAT SPENDING REPUBLICANS CHOSE TO CUT —

AS IT REMOVES MORE THAN THE MUCH-DISCUSSED PAY RAISE FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

THE BILL ALSO REMOVED FUNDING FOR A BIPARTISAN PROGRAM FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH —

AS WELL AS RESEARCH INTO OTHER DISEASES, INCLUDING DOWN SYNDROME,

AND OPTIONS TO TREAT AND DETECT SICKLE CELL DISEASE, AS WELL AS BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER.

IT WILL BE ON SPEAKER JOHNSON TO FIGURE OUT A BILL —

THAT WOULD WIN THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE.

BUT JOHNSON MAY NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL LEEWAY TO RELY ON SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS —

AS HE’LL NEED NEARLY EVERY RETURNING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO VOTE FOR HIM NEXT MONTH —

IF HE HOPES TO REMAIN SPEAKER IN THE NEW CONGRESS GETTING SWORN INTO OFFICE IN THE NEW YEAR.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

LUIGI MANGIONE — THE SUSPECT IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF UNITED HEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON — IS BEING HELD THIS MORNING IN A NEW YORK FEDERAL PRISON.

THIS COMES AFTER HE MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN A NEW YORK COURTROOM THURSDAY — AND FOUR NEW FEDERAL CHARGES WERE LEVIED AGAINST HIM.

ONCE AGAIN HERE’S OUR LAUREN TAYLOR.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS EXTRADITED LUIGI MANGIONE —

THE SUSPECT IN THE MURDER OF UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON, TO NEW YORK THURSDAY.

THE JUDGE READ ALL FOUR FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST MANGIONE —

INCLUDING MURDER WITH A FIREARM — WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY THE DEATH PENALTY.

LAW ENFORCEMENT MOVED MANGIONE’S FROM PENNSYLVANIA —

WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED AND HAS BEEN HELD SINCE HIS ARREST LAST WEEK — TO NEW YORK.

ARMED GUARDS SURROUNDED MANGIONE AS NYPD OFFICERS WALKED HIM OFF A HELICOPTER — UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN MANHATTAN.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS — WHO LIKE MANGIONE IS ALSO FACING A FEDERAL INDICTMENT — ALBEIT ON CORRUPTION CHARGES — JOINED IN THE WALK.

MANGIONE ALREADY FACES STATE-LEVEL CHARGES IN NEW YORK.

MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALVIN BRAGG BROUGHT CHARGES TUESDAY AGAINST MANGIONE —

INCLUDING FOR MURDER AS AN ACT OF TERRORISM.

BUT MANGIONE ALSO RECEIVED A HERO’S WELCOME FROM SOME PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE.

THE KILLING OF THE 50-YEAR-OLD THOMPSON SPARKED BACKLASH AGAINST THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY —

AND THEIR LIMITATIONS ON AND DENIALS OF COVERAGE TO PATIENTS.

WHILE NO DATES HAVE BEEN SET — MANGIONE WILL FACE STATE-LEVEL CHARGES FIRST — BEFORE THEN PROCEEDING TO HIS FEDERAL TRIAL.

NEW YORK ABOLISHED THE DEATH PENALTY — SO IT’S NOT AN OPTION FOR MANGIONE IN THE STATE-LEVEL CASE.

HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ABOLISHED IT YET —

SO IF CONVICTED IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL, THE DEATH PENALTY *WOULD* BE AN OPTION.

DRONES ARE NOW BANNED IN PARTS OF NEW YORK, AS WELL AS NEW JERSEY — AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.

IT COMES AMID AN INVESTIGATION INTO MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS OVER THE LAST MONTH THAT SET OFF FEAR AND SPECULATION.

IN A STATEMENT, NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATCHY HOCHUL SAID THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION’S BANS ARE QUOTE “PURELY PRECAUTIONARY.”

AND — AS KARAH RUCKER REPORTS — THE F-A-A’S RESTRICTIONS IN NEW JERSEY ARE LARGELY AIMED AT LIMITING DRONE FLIGHTS OVER POWER STATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION IMPOSED EMERGENCY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE NEW JERSEY LOCATIONS THURSDAY, BANNING DRONE OPERATIONS THROUGH JANUARY 17TH FOR “SPECIAL SECURITY REASONS.” THE DIRECTIVE PROHIBITS UNCREWED AIRCRAFT WITHIN A ONE-NAUTICAL-MILE RADIUS AND UP TO 400 FEET IN ALTITUDE, UNLESS OPERATORS RECEIVE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT CLEARANCE.

THE FAA DESIGNATED MAJOR HUBS LIKE CAMDEN, JERSEY CITY, ELIZABETH, AND SOUTH BRUNSWICK AS “NATIONAL DEFENSE AIRSPACE.” VIOLATORS COULD FACE SEVERE PENALTIES, INCLUDING INTERCEPTION, DETENTION, CERTIFICATE REVOCATION, AND POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES. 

IN EXTREME CASES, AUTHORITIES MAY USE “DEADLY FORCE” AGAINST DRONES POSING AN “IMMINENT SECURITY THREAT.”

THE RESTRICTIONS FOLLOW A SURGE IN UNEXPLAINED DRONE SIGHTINGS ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND NEARBY STATES THAT BEGAN IN MID-NOVEMBER. FEDERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE FBI AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, HAVE RECEIVED OVER 5,000 REPORTS.

THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGES SNAPPED BACK THURSDAY — ENDING ITS WORST LOSING STREAK IN 50 YEARS.  

OUR SIMONE DEL ROSARIO TAKES A LOOK AT THE WEEK THAT WAS ON WALL STREET.

That’s right, the Dow Jones’ 10-day losing streak is the longest since 1974.  

The market has wiped out all of its post-election gains just like that. The Dow ended Wednesday down 2.5% since Donald Trump won the election.  

Also on Wednesday, Wall Street’s fear gauge, the Volatility Index, had its second biggest percentage spike in history. The VIX shot up 74% after the Federal Reserve shared its outlook for the coming year.  

Usually, when the Fed does what markets expect, investors take the news in stride.  

On Wednesday, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate for a third time in 2024, which was widely predicted.  

FINALLY THIS MORNING — WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN FULL GEAR — OUR LIFESTYLE CORRESPONDENT KENNEDY FELTON TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT’S CALLED THE “HOLIDAY BLUES” — A CONDITION THAT CAN AFFECT MANY PEOPLE.

THE HOLIDAYS ARE OFTEN DESCRIBED AS “THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR” – BUT JUST LIKE CHUCK IN “A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS” – THIS SEASON CAN BRING ABOUT FEELINGS OF SADNESS AND STRESS… WHAT MANY KNOW AS THE HOLIDAY BLUES OR SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER. 

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“really the holiday time is just like a perfect collision of a lot of factors that can affect our mental health.”

LICENSED ADULT PSYCHIATRIST, DR. PATRICE MANN TELLS ME THE “HOLIDAY BLUES” OFTEN STEM FROM SOCIAL PRESSURES… DISRUPTIVE ROUTINES… AND EVEN FINANCIAL STRAIN. 

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“Things like having a bunch of holiday events on the calendar, not to say we don’t look forward to them oftentimes, but they they take a toll on us. You leave you know, you’re up late, sometimes you’re like, interacting with a lot of people, and that’s not everyone’s nature.”

MANN ALSO SAYS GRIEF AND SEASONAL DEPRESSION CAN COMPLICATE THESE FEELINGS. IT’S A DISORDER THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH REPORTS AFFECTS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS EVERY YEAR – BUT MANY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“being that we have these shorter days, there’s much less sunlight, there’s much less like, just of that kind of energizing boost that sunlight really does have, in terms of providing us, like our brain, the alert kind of it’s daytime, it’s time to do things signal and giving us vitamin D,” 

*Persistent low mood

*Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed

*Change in normal sleep & appetite habits

SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR INCLUDE A PERSISTENT DEPRESSED MOOD… Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed… AND AN OVERALL CHANGE IN YOUR NORMAL ROUTINES LIKE EATING AND SLEEPING HABITS. 

IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS… DR. MANN SUGGESTS IT CAN BE A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE… LIKE A DEPRESSIVE EPISODE. IN SUCH CASES – SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP IS IMPORTANT. BUT THERE ARE ALSO SELF-CARE STRATEGIES THAT CAN HELP WITH BOTH HOLIDAY BLUES AND SEASONAL DEPRESSION.  

SHE ALSO RECOMMENDS GETTING TESTED FOR A VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AND TAKING SUPPLEMENTS DURING WINTER MONTHS – WHICH COULD HELP WITH BOTH MOOD AND ENERGY LEVELS. 

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“try and expose yourself to as much of the sunlight that is available during these months,”

“another suggestion is light light therapy boxes.”

“it kind of mimics the outdoor sun light, and you would use it for about 20 to 30 minutes in the morning. And it can help, kind of trick your brain”

FOR THOSE DEALING WITH GRIEF OVER THE HOLIDAYS… DR. MANN ENCOURAGES REFLECTION ON PERSONAL NEEDS AND COMMUNICATION WITH A TRUSTED FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER. SHE ALSO SUGGESTS INCORPORATING NEW SOCIAL ACTIVITIES INTO YOUR ROUTINE. AND FOR THOSE SUPPORTING OTHERS THROUGH GRIEF – REMEMBER THAT IT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND AT DIFFERENT STAGES. 

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“go to a party and then see how it goes, see how you feel afterwards. If you’re feeling like, I think I need to stay in and like, you know, watch a movie or do whatever, try that, and see how it goes, and just keep kind of checking in with yourself.” 

MANN ALSO SHARED TIPS FOR SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS – WHO MAY FIND IT CHALLENGING TO OPEN UP ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH…STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTADING THEIR BELIEFS ABOUT GRIEF AND GIVING THEM THE SPACE TO EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS IN A WAY THAT FEELS RIGHT FOR THEM. (PAUSE)

PATRICE MANN | ADULT PSYCHIATRIST

“with people who are less accustomed with talking about mental health, it can be helpful to do it, like, while you’re doing an activity. whether it’s we’re we’re making some cookies and we’re making something to eat,  it’s somewhat intimate, but like, we’re a little bit distracted” 

WHILE THE HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS UNIQUE CHALLENGES… SMALL STEPS – LIKE PRIORITIZING SELF-CARE… MAINTAINING ROUTINES… AND REACHING OUT FOR SUPPORT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. 

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING – CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. YOU ARE NOT ALONE – AND HELP IS AVAILABLE.