Working up to the holiday break, the Senate confirmed a dozen top military nominees on Tuesday, Dec. 19, putting an end to Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s 11-month-long hold on military promotions. Tuberville’s blockade started over his protest of the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing travel costs for military members seeking abortions. Senator Tuberville, and the Republicans…

Citing the 14th Amendment, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run again. And Rite Aid is accused of recklessly using AI technology on its customers. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from 2024 ballot Former President Donald…

The Senate and the House overwhelmingly passed the compromise $886 billion defense budget for 2024. The bill, which was approved by the Senate on Thursday, Dec. 14, was notably void of major social issue provisions sought by some Republicans, such as those on abortion and gender identity. The bill allows the Pentagon to pay for…

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, the Senate passed a $886 billion defense policy bill in a 87-13 vote. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed with little pushback, gives 5.2% pay increases to troops, the biggest raise in over two decades. Other features of the bill include hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance to…

House Republicans have formalized their impeachment inquiry into President Biden. And, Meta’s latest attempt at fact checking social media posts is facing criticism. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Dec. 14. House Republicans vote to authorize impeachment inquiry into President Biden House Republicans have voted to formalize their impeachment inquiry into…

Hundreds of military promotions pushed through the Senate on Tuesday, Dec. 5, after Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., dropped his months-long blockade. The Senate wasted little time, approving 425 promotions by voice vote just hours after the blockade was lifted. Sen. Tuberville had been blocking the votes in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion policy, which…

Senate Republicans seeking border changes walk out of a classified briefing on Ukraine aid. And, Panera faces another wrongful death lawsuit over its caffeinated lemonade. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. Republican senators walk out of classified briefing A classified briefing between senators on Capitol Hill to discuss…

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched South Korea’s first homegrown spy satellite from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, Dec. 1. The launch follows North Korea’s recent successful launch of its own spy satellite. The satellite is equipped with electro-optical and infrared capabilities, following launches will feature synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which can “see”…

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has put a blanket hold on senior military promotions since February to protest a Pentagon policy that provides paid time off and travel expense reimbursement for military members who get an abortion. There are more than 350 military officers waiting to be promoted. Now, 10 months later, Tuberville said he expects…

Armed assailants seized and released a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, Nov. 26. The U.S. Central Command, including the USS Mason, responded to the seizure and demanded the assailants release the tanker. The United States Navy apprehended at least five armed rebels during the struggle. “We’re continuing to assess,…