Monday, Dec. 13

á           China warned the United States that it would Òstrike backÓ in response to recently passed sanctions targeting people and entities tied to alleged Chinese human rights abuses. ÒWe urge the U.S. to immediately withdraw the relevant wrong decision and stop interfering in ChinaÕs internal affairs and harming ChinaÕs interests,Ó ChinaÕs Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

á           Media outlets reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin decided against disciplining any members of the U.S. military involved in an Aug. 29 drone attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 10 civilians, including seven children, after an internal Pentagon review last month concluded that the bombing did not violate the laws of war and was not caused by misconduct or criminal negligence.

Tuesday, Dec. 14

á           Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. will expand its military and economic relationships with undisclosed partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region that he said were increasingly concerned over ChinaÕs Òaggressive actions.Ó ÒLet me be clear: the goal of defending the rules-based order is not to keep any country down,Ó Blinken said. ÒRather, itÕs to protect the right of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion and intimidation.Ó

á           Blinken called on the Senate to confirm President Joe BidenÔs picks for ambassadors worldwide, saying the process has been too sluggish. ÒVirtually every challenge we face, including dealing with Russia, with China, with non-state factors, weÕre hampered by the fact that we donÕt have our full national security and foreign policy team on the field,Ó Blinken said.

Wednesday, Dec. 15

á           District Judge Trevor McFadden dismissed former President Donald TrumpÕs effort to keep his tax returns from the House Ways and Means Committee, ruling that Trump was Òwrong on the lawÓ and that the HouseÕs legislative interests took precedence over TrumpÕs request for financial privacy.

á           The House voted 222-208 to recommend that Mark Meadows, TrumpÕs former White House chief of staff, to be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in the investigation into the deadly Jan 6. riot at the Capitol.

á           The House passed a $2.5 trillion increase to the federal debt limit, hours after the Senate also passed the measure, averting a debt default until at least 2023.

á           Biden toured areas of Kentucky that were hit hardest by the devastating tornadoes that have killed dozens of people, ruined infrastructure and destroyed homes. Biden pledged to do Òwhatever it takes, as long as it takesÓ to help Kentucky and other states struggling in the aftermath of the disaster.

á           The Senate passed a $777 billion defense spending bill, formally known as the National Defense Authorization Act, in an 88-11 vote. The House of Representatives passed the bill 363-70 last week. The bill authorizes $25 billion more than Biden requested.

Thursday, Dec. 16

Friday, Dec. 17

á           Biden gave a commencement speech at South Carolina State University, during which he pledged to protect voting rights in the U.S. and to reform law enforcement systems.

á           A federal appeals court reinstated the Occupational Safety and Health AdministrationÕs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large businesses, reversing a decision by a federal judge in a separate court that had paused the mandate. The mandate, which affects all U.S. businesses with at least 100 workers, requires COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing for workers and will go into effect Jan. 4.

Saturday, Dec. 18

Sunday, Dec. 19