Morning Rundown – Stay Informed with the Latest News
Image: Immigrants waiting to be processed at a US Border Patrol transit center, after crossing the border from Mexico at Eagle Pass, Texas on Dec. 22, 2023. (Chandan Khanna / AFP via Getty Images)
Good morning! Let’s catch up on today’s top stories that you need to know.
Biden is asking for Mexican help to stop the record surge of migrants. Here’s what Mexico wants in return.
The Biden administration is seeking Mexico’s assistance in tackling the surging number of migrants entering the United States. However, Mexico has its own set of demands for the U.S., revealed officials from both governments familiar with the discussions.
Mexican President López Obrador has called on the U.S. to approve a plan that includes deploying $20 billion to Latin American and Caribbean countries, lifting the U.S. blockade of Cuba, removing sanctions against Venezuela, and granting legal rights to 10 million Hispanics residing in the U.S.
These demands place immense pressure on the Biden administration, especially as the U.S. border crisis could impact Biden’s chances of re-election. Currently, Customs and Border Protection has processed a record-breaking 300,000 migrants in December alone.
To learn more, click here.
‘Succession,’ ‘Oppenheimer’ win big at the Golden Globes
Image: Celebrities at the Golden Globes (Getty Images; AP)
Last night, the 2024 Golden Globes took place, and it was a night of triumph for “Oppenheimer,” which won five awards, including the esteemed Best Drama award. Christopher Nolan also received recognition for his direction of the film.
Other notable winners in the acting categories included Lily Gladstone, Paul Giamatti, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Allen White, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ayo Edebiri, Kieran Cullkin, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, and Matthew Macfadyen.
On the television front, HBO’s hit series “Succession” secured four awards, cementing its status as the best television drama for the third consecutive year.
For a more detailed recap of the Golden Globes, click here.
Missing door plug from Alaska Airlines found in a backyard
Image: NTSB Investigator-in-Charge John Lovell examines the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP)
The missing door plug, which detached midflight from an Alaska Airlines plane, has been discovered in a Portland resident’s backyard, according to officials.
After a news conference discussing the probe’s status, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy revealed that they had located the door plug. The resident, referred to only as Bob, had sent two photos of the item to the NTSB, igniting further investigation and gratitude.
For the full story, click here.
Congress reaches a deal on how much to spend for 2024 as shutdown deadline nears
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have announced a deal on the U.S. government’s spending for the new year, a crucial step toward preventing a shutdown. While the agreement establishes an overall spending level of $1.59 trillion in fiscal year 2024, it does not eliminate the threat of a shutdown, as the first deadline draws near on Jan. 19.
To read more about the deal and the ongoing negotiations, click here.
Deputy learned of defense secretary’s hospitalization 2 days after taking over his duties
After Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to the hospital last week, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks assumed his responsibilities. However, Hicks, who was on vacation at the time, was not informed about Austin’s hospitalization until two days later, according to a senior defense official.
The lack of transparency surrounding Austin’s hospitalization may face scrutiny from lawmakers when they reconvene after their winter recess.
To learn more about this situation, click here.
Al Jazeera journalist loses third child in the war
During his fourth diplomatic trip to the Middle East since the war began, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Palestinian civilians should not be pressured to leave Gaza. Blinken expressed his condolences over the death of Hamza, the son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who was killed in an Israeli strike. Dahdouh has tragically lost his wife, two other children, and numerous relatives during the ongoing conflict.
For live updates on the situation in the Middle East, click here.
Politics in Brief
- Donald Trump is preparing for a legal battle in a Washington courtroom on Tuesday. Get all the details here.
- Rep. Jim Jordan has endorsed Bernie Moreno, backed by Trump, in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary. The winner will face Democrat Sherrod Brown in the 2024 election.
- President Biden’s advisers view the State of the Union address as an opportunity to boost his re-election campaign amid low poll numbers.
- Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Donald Trump ally and House Republican leadership member, has refused to commit to certifying the 2024 election results.
- After months of infighting and slow fundraising, nearly all Michigan state Republican committee members voted to remove Kristina Karamo as state party chairperson.
Staff Pick: Deal or no deal?
Image: Warehouse filled with goods at an auction (Kelsea Petersen / NBC News)
‘Tis the season for returning post-holiday gifts. Retailers are currently processing the billions of dollars’ worth of returned goods, but many of these items won’t make it back to store shelves. Instead, they will end up in warehouse auctions, where liquidators snatch them up at significantly discounted prices. NBC News’ business and data reporter Brian Cheung explains what happens to these products in detail.
In Case You Missed It:
- Being a pet parent comes with responsibility, including providing your furry friend with a nutritious diet. Get expert tips from veterinarians and animal nutrition experts on what to consider when shopping for the best dog food.
That’s it for today’s Morning Rundown. If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with your family and friends. They can sign up for their own copy here. Have a great day!