Israel-Hamas cease-fire: The pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas has been extended for two days and today enters its fifth day. Hamas has agreed to release additional hostages today and tomorrow. Talks are continuing on possible additional extensions, although Israel has said it intends to resume the war and hasn’t changed its objective of destroying Hamas. The U.S. has told Israel that if it does end the temporary truce it must use greater precision in its military actions and avoid significant further displacement of Palestinian civilians and additional civilian mass casualties.
Rosalynn Carter tribute: Former Presidents Donald Trump, George W. Bush and Barack Obama were invited to attend today’s tribute to former first lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta but declined the invitation. Former President Carter, President Biden and Mrs. Biden, and former President and Mrs. Clinton were leading the list of dignitaries that included all living former first ladies. Donald Trump in the past had criticized Jimmy Carter as the worst president in history but a few days ago said President Biden has now replaced him.
Trump motion: Attorneys for Donald Trump have filed a motion in federal court in Washington claiming that Trump had no obligation to accept the judgment of various government officials including those in the intelligence service who told him that the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election was not affected by voting fraud. Trump’s attorneys said the court should order Special Prosecutor Jack Smith to turn over to them any evidence his office has of voter fraud. They also argued that Trump had a right to dismiss the result of the 2020 election because Russia had interfered with the 2016 election and could have done it again in 2020. Trump’s attorneys left out the fact that what Russia did in 2016 was designed to help Trump win.
Reporter held again: A Russian court ruled this morning that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich can continue to be held in prison until at least Jan. 30. His current confinement was supposed to end Nov. 30. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said in a statement, “Evan has already been in pretrial detention without legal grounds for almost eight months. We reiterate our call for Evan’s immediate release.”
Hunter Biden testimony: CNN reports that lawyers for Hunter Biden say that the president’s son is willing to testify before the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee if he can do so in public. The committee is due to hold an inquiry into his business dealings on Dec. 13. CNN said it obtained a copy of a letter Hunter Biden’s lawyers sent to the committee that says the committee has used its closed-door sessions to manipulate and distort the facts and that Biden wants his testimony to be in public.
Settlement offer: In a filing in federal bankruptcy court in Houston, the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting said they are willing to settle with right-wing commentator Alex Jones for $85 million to be paid over 10 years. Jones was convicted of defaming the families and victims of the mass shooting by claiming that it was fake and the victims were actors. Jones was ordered to pay the families $1.5 billion in damages. The lawyers said another option would be for the court to liquidate all of Jones’ holdings and turn the proceeds over to the families.
