Monday, Dec. 26

á           Immigrant aid groups told news sources that buses with up to 130 migrants and refugees were sent from Texas to the United States capital in Washington, D.C., and dropped off near Vice President Kamala HarrisÕs residence as part of an ongoing Republican campaign led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to blame the administration of President Joe Biden for heightened levels of asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico.

á           New York House Rep. George Santos, who was elected in November, admitted that he fabricated major elements of his life story during his campaign, including his education, his employment background, his familyÕs Jewish heritage and a claim that he worked with victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. He described the lies as Òembellishing my resumeÓ in an interview with the New York Post. Authorities from Long Island said Wednesday that they would investigate Santos for any criminal wrongdoing for making up these lies.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

á           The Transportation Department said that it would look into the ÒunacceptableÓ mass flight cancellations and delays from Southwest Airlines that occurred over the holiday season. The department said it would investigate Òwhether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan.Ó

á           Adam Fox, one of the men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Fox was convicted in August of conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. Barry Croft Jr, another plotter, was sentenced to 19 years on Wednesday.

á           The Supreme Court temporarily kept in place Title 42, the immigration policy that has denied refugees the ability to seek asylum in the U.S. since it was imposed in March 2020 by former President Donald Trump, ostensibly to curb the spread of COVID-19. The policy was set to expire in mid-December.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

á           Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg put the blame for the mass cancellations and delays from Southwest Airlines solely on SouthwestÕs shoulders. ÒWe are past the point where they could say this is a weather-driven issue,Ó Buttigieg said in an ABC News interview. ÒÉ [W]hat this indicates is a system failure.Ó

á           The Biden administration marked the four-year anniversary of American businessman Paul WhelanÕs detention in Russia. Whelan is currently serving a 16-year sentence in a prison colony on espionage charges that the State Department has said are baseless.

á           David DePape, the man accused of breaking into the home of Rep. Nancy Pelosi and beating her husband with a hammer, pleaded Ònot guiltyÓ on Wednesday to six state charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

á           The Pentagon announced that the State Department approved the possible sale of Volcano anti-tank mine-laying systems to Taiwan for an estimated $180 million.

Thursday, Dec. 29

á           Biden released a statement saying that he looks forward to working with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuÕs government despite widespread outcry over the inclusion of far-right Israeli politicians accused of racism in his new cabinet. ÒFrom the start of my administration, we have worked with partners to promote this more hopeful vision of a region at peace, including between Israelis and Palestinians,Ó Biden said.

á           The Air Force revealed that a Chinese fighter jet flew within 20 feet of an Air Force surveillance plane in an ÒunsafeÓ maneuver above the contested South China Sea earlier in December. China referred to the U.S. report of the incident as Òslander.Ó

Friday, Dec. 30

á           The House Ways and Means Committee released six years of TrumpÕs tax returns: From 2015 through 2020. The records show TrumpÕs income and tax liability fluctuated wildly year by year and that he paid little or no income tax for several years.

á           Biden issued five full pardons to individuals involved in drug- and alcohol-related crimes, as well as a sixth for a murder case. The defendant in the murder, Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas, is credited with helping to build a working definition of Òbattered woman syndrome,Ó the term for a post-traumatic stress disorder-like condition for survivors of domestic violence.

á           A federal appeals court approved a Florida high schoolÕs policy of barring transgender high school students from using restrooms that align with their identity. The court said the school board-instituted policy did not violate the U.S. ConstitutionÕs Equal Protections Clause or federal civil rights law.

á           North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said Mark Meadows, a former chief of staff in the Trump White House, will not face voter fraud charges after officials determined that there was Ònot sufficient evidenceÓ to prove the claim that he fraudulently registered to vote and cast a ballot in North Carolina during the 2020 presidential election.

á           The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a clean water regulation that reverts protections for millions of streams, marshes and other bodies of water to levels that existed before 2015. The EPA is making these changes ahead of an anticipated Supreme Court decision that will limit its authority.

á           The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol released over 40 more interview transcripts. The total number of published transcripts is now over 160. The transcripts revealed divides in the Trump camp including TrumpÕs lawyer Rudy GiulianiÕs position that seizing voting machines could be an impeachable offense and that the Secret Service was concerned about a leader of the far right extremist group the Proud Boys visiting the White House.

Saturday, Dec. 31

á           New YearÕs Eve. No news to report.

Sunday, Jan. 1

á           New YearÕs Day. No news to report.