Keeping Up With America

Rep. Mike Johnson tells House Republicans Trump wants them to pass a single reconciliation bill: At a closed-door House Republican retreat Saturday morning, newly re-elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said President-elect Donald Trump was in favor of passing a single reconciliation bill that would address his priorities, including border security, energy and an extension of his signature 2017 tax law, two sources with direct knowledge told NBC News.

New Orleans attacker said in videos to his family that he considered killing them before joining ISIS: Experts said the details that have emerged about Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, align with the typical pattern of how a veteran can be radicalized to violence. A U.S. Army veteran from Texas who drove to Louisiana and deliberately plowed into New Year’s revelers in New Orleans recorded videos during the drive addressed to his family, in which he talked about plans to kill them and told them he had joined ISIS.

Jimmy Carter’s funeral begins by tracing 100 years from rural Georgia to the world stage: Carter’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren accompanied his casket as his hearse rode first through his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Jimmy Carter’s extended public farewell began Saturday in Georgia, with the 39th U.S. president’s flag-draped casket tracing his long arc from the Depression-era South and family farming business to the pinnacle of American political power and decades as a global humanitarian.

Los Angeles County DA says he has not made a decision about resentencing Menendez brothers: The announcement came after what prosecutor Nathan Hochman said was a “productive” meeting with the brothers’ relatives who support their release. Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor said Friday that he had not made a decision about whether the prison sentences for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are serving life without parole for the heavily publicized 1989 murders of their parents, should be reduced.

Justice Department urges Supreme Court to reject Trump’s push to pause TikTok ban: The Justice Department on Friday urged the Supreme Court to reject President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay the implementation of a law that would effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. or force its sale by its Chinese parent company by Jan. 19.

Around the World

Israel faces mounting pressure over detention of Gaza hospital chief: Aid groups raised concerns over the safety of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who was detained after a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza.

Royal family pays tribute to New Orleans attack victim, stepson of nanny to Princes William and Harry: The royal family paid tribute Saturday to the British man killed in the New Orleans truck-ramming attack, a 31-year-old who was the stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry’s former nanny.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Stock market today: S&P 500 rallies to its first gain since Christmas

GM, Ford report best annual U.S. sales since 2019 as auto recovery continues

Microsoft expects to spend $80 billion on AI-enabled data centers in fiscal 2025

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Why a home equity loan could be better than a HELOC this January: With the average homeowner in possession of approximately $320,000 worth of home equity right now, your home may be your best option for borrowing large sums of money. And with products like home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), reverse mortgages and cash-out refinance loans, there’s no shortage of ways to do so. But not all of these options are created equally and some, like home equity loans, can be more advantageous than others, especially in the uncertain economic climate of January 2025.

Want a $1 Million Portfolio by Retirement? Here’s How Much You Should Invest Every Month. | David Jagielski, Fool. Aiming for a portfolio balance of at least $1 million by the time you retire is a great goal. Whether you want to slowly withdraw the money over the years or perhaps reinvest it into dividend stocks to generate a nice stream of recurring income, you’ll give yourself plenty of flexibility in your retirement years. Money may not be able to buy happiness, but one thing it does give you is options. And those options can make for a much more relaxing retirement.

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers exits win with knee injury | Commanders activate RB Austin Ekeler off injured reserve

Lily-Rose Depp Defends Sam Levinson and Their Collaboration On ‘The Idol’: He ‘Always Knew It Was Going to Be Controversial’ | Nikki Glaser Refuses to Joke About Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ‘It Ends With Us’ Legal Battle at Golden Globes: Too ‘Hot-Button’ Right Now

Ralph Lauren becomes first fashion designer to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom | Nicole Kidman tearfully dedicates Palm Springs ‘Babygirl’ award to late mom

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