U.S. and world news for Dec. 18

Liz Cheney: Republicans on Capitol Hill have called for former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney to be prosecuted for her role in the Congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attempted coup to keep Donald Trump in office after his first term as president expired. Republican Congressman Barry Loudermilk, a Trump supporter, released the report calling for Cheney to be prosecuted. Cheney said the Republican report is defamatory and intentionally disregards the truth.

Tom Cruise: Actor Tom Cruise has been given the Distinguished Public Service Award by the U.S. Navy for his movies that increased awareness and appreciation of personnel serving in the Navy and Marines. The award was given to Cruise by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro in a ceremony in London. Cruise was praised for his portrayal of military personnel in the movies “A Few Good Men,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Top Gun” and “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Suspect: Russia says it has arrested someone for the assassination of a Russian general in Moscow. Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov was killed when a bomb that had been planted in an electric scooter was detonated by remote control. Russia says the suspect is from Uzbekistan and is a Ukrainian sympathizer. Ukraine took credit for the killing of the general.

Mangione: The suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson may waive extradition back to New York at a hearing scheduled for tomorrow in Pennsylvania. An attorney for Luigi Mangione had said he would fight extradition, but that may have changed and Mangione could be back in New York as soon as late tomorrow. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced yesterday that Mangione has been indicted by a New York Grand Jury on one count of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder.

Government funding: Some Republicans in the House are criticizing a deal put together by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democrats that would keep the government funded and open through March 14. Conservative Republicans particularly object to the bill including $100 billion for disaster relief, a top priority of the Biden Administration. In addition to trying to kill the government funding bill, some far-right Republicans are expected to try to replace Johnson as speaker when the new Congress convenes in January

Drones: Members of the House Intelligence Committee met with President Biden this morning and joined with Biden in trying to reassure the public that there’s no danger from the unidentified drones that have been sighted flying over various locations in several states. The committee members had received a classified briefing on the drones yesterday. Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut said there is no evidence that any  drone flights have broken laws. Biden said the government is following the reports of drone sightings closely but so far there is no sense of danger.