Monday, Dec. 30

á           Federal prosecutors filed hate crime charges against Grafton E. Thomas, the man accused of stabbing five Jewish people at a Hanukkah celebration at a RabbiÕs home in the New York suburbs on Saturday.

á           Sen. Chuck Schumer said majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell must allow the Senate to get more information on what roles top White House aides Mick Mulvaney and Robert Blair played in blocking the release of United StatesÕ military aid to Ukraine.

Tuesday, Dec. 31

á           Protesters broke into the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad as part of the widespread outrage over American airstrikes on Sunday that killed 24 members of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia. Thousands of protestors gathered outside the embassy, demanding an end to the ÒAmerican occupationÓ of Iraq, chanting ÒDeath to America,Ó throwing rocks, spraying graffiti on walls and even setting fire to some of the outbuildings.

American security forces fired tear gas to drive the protestors back. The State Department said embassy personnel were safe but trapped inside. Ambassador Matt Tueller was away at the time of the protests.

Wednesday, Jan. 1

á           Protestors at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad dispersed after leaders of Kataib Hezbollah, who organized the demonstration, called on the crowd to leave. The crowd was already smaller and less aggressive by the second day.

á           Secretary of State Mike Pompeo canceled a weeklong trip to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus in light of the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He opted instead to stay in Washington and monitor tensions in Iraq.

Thursday, Jan. 2

á           Democratic presidential primary candidate Juli‡n Castro ended his bid after a yearlong campaign, bringing the democratic candidate total down to 14. ÒIÕve determined that it simply isnÕt our timeÉ [but] IÕm going to keep fighting for an America where everyone counts,Ó Castro said in a video posted to Twitter. ÒÁGanaremos un d’a!Ó

á           The White House announced a policy forbidding the sale of most flavored e-cigarette cartridges with an exemption for menthol and tobacco flavors and flavored liquid nicotine sold in open tank systems.

Friday, Jan. 3

á           A drone strike authorized by President Donald Trump targeting a convoy leaving Baghdad International Airport killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, IranÕs top security and intelligence commander, along with several other Iraqi militia officials, in TrumpÕs most significant use of military force to date.

The Pentagon said the strike was Òaimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.Ó Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama rejected killing Suleimami during their presidencies, fearing it would lead to war with Iran.

á           The White House disclosed that there were 20 emails discussing the freeze of military aid to Ukraine between Trump administration officials Blair and Mulvaney and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey. When the New York Times filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit requesting public access to those emails, a FOIA officer returned with a letter saying the emails are being Òwithheld in full.Ó

Saturday, Jan. 4

á           The Department of Homeland Security held over 60 Iranian and Iranian-American travelers at Washington StateÕs border for questioning about their politics and allegiances, some purportedly held for up to 10 hours, as part of an immigration security escalation after Iran threatened retaliation against the U.S. for the death of Suleimami.

Sunday, Jan. 5

á           Trump threatened Òvery big sanctionsÓ on Iran if American troops are forced to leave the county.

á           Trump said the U.S. government has identified 52 culturally significant sites in Iran that would be targeted if Iran decided to retaliate against the U.S. for the death of Suleimami.

á           U.S. military officials said American forces in Iraq and Syria would halt active fighting against ISIS and instead focus on defense and security as it braces for retaliation from Iran.

á           IraqÕs parliament voted to end the U.S. military presence in the country. The vote is not final until the prime minister signs it, and it remains to be seen whether IraqÕs caretaker administration has the authority to enforce this vote.

á           The Iranian government announced that it will no longer limit production in its nuclear program, effectively collapsing its 2015 nuclear de-escalation agreement with the U.S. on both sides, as Trump already pulled the U.S. out of the deal in 2018.