Immigration Legislation and Judicial Appointments
Democrats in the U.S. Congress have introduced legislation aimed at restricting who can be appointed as temporary immigration judges. The proposed bill, introduced by Senator Adam Schiff (D-California) and Representative Juan Vargas (D-California), would permit the Attorney General to appoint temporary immigration judges only if they have served on appellate panels, are administrative judges in other agencies, or possess a minimum of 10 years of experience in immigration law.
This legislative effort follows the White House's authorization for up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges, a directive that eliminated prior immigration law experience as a prerequisite. According to the union representing immigration judges, the administration has dismissed at least 14 immigration judges within the last two weeks.
Congressional Inquiry into Caribbean Strikes
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that he authorized and observed the initial round of strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean in September. He clarified that the subsequent strike, which resulted in the deaths of two survivors, was a decision made by Admiral Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, and not personally by Hegseth.
Congress is currently investigating the incident. Lawmakers' questions focus on whether the second strike complied with U.S. law or could be considered a war crime, particularly in the context of the administration's declaration of being at war with narco-traffickers, as reported by NPR's Deirdre Walsh. Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported the current U.S. policy, asserting the administration's authority to conduct such attacks. When questioned about his confidence in Secretary Hegseth, Thune did not directly respond but affirmed that Hegseth is part of the Trump administration's "peace through strength" approach.
Republican Wins Tennessee Special Election
Republican Matt Van Epps secured victory in a special election for the U.S. House seat in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District. Van Epps won by a margin of 9 percentage points. This outcome is noted in contrast to the 2024 presidential election, where former President Trump won the district with approximately 60% of the vote.
NPR's Stephen Fowler observed that the election indicated Republicans' ability to engage their base voters without the presence of former President Trump on the ballot. Fowler also suggested that Democrats are showing renewed voter engagement and potentially persuading independent voters on certain issues.
Department of Education and Disability Law Enforcement
The Trump administration has reportedly terminated or attempted to terminate multiple federal staff members within the U.S. Department of Education who are responsible for managing and enforcing federal disability law. Despite assurances from Secretary Linda McMahon that special education funding remains secure, an NPR investigation identified concerns among 40 individuals, including parents, educators, disability rights advocates, subject matter experts, and Education Department staff. These individuals expressed apprehension that a reduction in federal staff and oversight could lead to conditions similar to those before 1975, when children with disabilities faced denial of access and services in schools.
Utah Governor Discusses AI and Nuclear Power
Utah Governor Spencer Cox is advocating for the expansion of nuclear power plants to support data centers required by artificial intelligence (AI) development. Cox views the United States as being in a competitive race with China regarding AI dominance, prompting Utah's efforts to reduce regulatory barriers for nuclear energy and lobby the federal government for similar actions.
Governor Cox also expressed concerns about the potential for AI to intensify issues such as social media's impact, device addiction, and a detachment from reality. He emphasized the importance of states retaining the authority to regulate AI, noting that some congressional attempts to prohibit state-level AI regulation have been unsuccessful.
Additional News Briefs
- YouTube Trends: YouTube released its annual list of trending videos, songs, creators, and cultural moments for 2025.
- Gaming Highlights: NPR staff and contributors have compiled their favorite games of 2025, including indie titles like "Blue Prince" and console exclusives such as "Donkey Kong Bananza."
- Raccoon Domestication Study: A new study suggests that raccoons may be exhibiting early signs of domestication, raising the possibility of them becoming pets.