Alliance for Securing Democracy's David Salvo discusses challenges facing democracy in the U.S. and abroad and American Enterprise Institute's Kevin Kosar discusses his podcast, "Understanding Congress."
Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy Charter Schools and author of "A+ Parenting," discussed active parenting in K-12 education at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. Topics included building community within schools, balancing core knowledge with critical thinking, and the impact of attendance on education.
Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Examines GSA's Site Selection for the FBI Headquarters.
House lawmakers, including many form the California delegation, pay tribute to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy who is leaving Congress at the end of the year. Speaker McCarthy delivers brief farewell remarks at the end, in which he talks about some of his accomplishments and his outlook on being in party leadership. He also offers his colleagues some parting advice, saying, "Do not be fearful if you believe your philosophy brings more freedom."
President Biden highlighted efforts to lower prescription drug costs for Americans during a speech at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. One of those efforts, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, cracks down on prescription drug price gouging. Under the law, the federal government can require companies to pay rebates for drugs that have increased in price over inflation.
"Eleven years ago today, the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, shocked the conscience of our nation," said House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) during an event with House Democrats marking the somber occasion. The minority leader pointed to the 635 mass shootingsand the more than 40,000 Americans killed by gun violence in 2023 alone, calling it "unacceptable," "unconscionable" and "un-American." Leader Jeffries and members of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force also criticized House Republicans for their inaction on addressing gun violence before leaving for the holiday break. The December 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut resulted in the death of 26 people, 20 were first grade students and six were educators.
The Senate Health Committee held a public hearing to examine the obesity and diabetes epidemics. Topics included how these diseases have turned into epidemics in the U.S., prevention and treatment, and research and innovation to help those battling the diseases.
Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch showcased the network of museums' collection during an oversight hearing held before the House Administration Committee. Artifacts included an original 1990 Wisconsin cheesehead, a military helmet from the Korean War, a watch belonging to former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln and pins from the women's suffrage movement. Topics raised during the hearing included the institute's spending request, efforts to bring pandas back to the National Zoo, and the process of choosing exhibits to display.
Hunter Biden delivered a statement from Capitol Hill and maintained that his father, President Biden, was not connected to his business dealings. He said, "in the depths of my addiction, I was extremely irresponsible with my finances. But to suggest that is grounds for an impeachment inquiry is beyond the absurd; it's shameless. There's no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen." The president's son then criticized the leaders of the impeachment inquiry against his father, saying they had lied "about every aspect of my personal and professional life," and had distorted facts in their investigation. This event occurred as Hunter Biden was scheduled to testify behind closed-doors before the House Oversight Committee. He did not comply with the committee's subpoena, saying he would rather testify publicly.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), who are leading the investigations into President Biden's family, spoke to reporters amid President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, not complying with a subpoena to testify behind closed-doors on Capitol Hill. The two Republican leaders said they plan to initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against Hunter for not participating in the deposition. Mr. Biden has previously stated that he would rather testify publicly. Earlier in the day, Hunter Biden held a news conference in which he said that his father was not financially involved in his businesses. Rep. Jordan said that Mr. Biden's use of the word "financial" was an important distinction. Moreover, the two representatives denied Mr. Biden's claims that they have mocked his problems with drug addiction.
U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns joined the Brookings Institution for a discussion on relations between the two countries. This event followed a November meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit in California. He gave details on topics discussed including trade, tourism and building relationships between U.S. and Chinese citizens. The ambassador also elaborated on U.S. security partnerships and foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region and China's global partnerships.
Author and free speech advocate Greg Lukianoff, President & CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), discussed the rise on antisemitism on college campuses and this week's congressional hearing with university presidents.
University of Kentucky english professor Peter Kalliney discussed how Cold War politics shaped literature from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum hosted a conversation about covering presidents and the presidency. Speakers included Doug Mills, New York Times White House photographer, and Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents' Association.
UC Santa Barbara professor Nelson Lichtenstein argued that the Clinton administration's agenda did more to advance corporate America than working class Americans. Columbia University in New York City hosted this event.
The Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia marked the occasion of the 160th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, on November 19, 1863, with a discussion of the president's use of oratory and hidden meaning.
University of Kentucky english professor Peter Kalliney discussed how Cold War politics shaped literature from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum hosted a conversation about covering presidents and the presidency. Speakers included Doug Mills, New York Times White House photographer, and Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents' Association.
UC Santa Barbara professor Nelson Lichtenstein argued that the Clinton administration's agenda did more to advance corporate America than working class Americans. Columbia University in New York City hosted this event.
