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Senate Republicans weigh in on new government funding challenges as clock ticks

(WASHINGTON) -- As President-elect Donald Trump's comments tanking House Speaker Mike Johnson's short-term government funding bill sent House Republicans into a tailspin Wednesday night, Senate Republicans were left to try to make sense of the remaining pieces.

Congress must act to fund the government by midnight on Friday or risk a shutdown. With the House back at the drawing board, the clock is ticking.

The nature of government funding bills means that the Senate is usually in a wait-and-see posture until the House acts. That's particularly true this time around, where Johnson has to wrangle his slim House majority into passing legislation that Trump will find palatable before the Senate decides whether they can accept it.

The looming funding deadline means that the Senate will in all likelihood be forced to stomach whatever Johnson manages to pass through the House unless it is so unacceptable that Senators are willing to shut the government down over it. Democrats still run the Senate for a few more days, and the 60-vote threshold in the Senate makes compromise essential.

During late votes Wednesday night, Senate Republicans weighed in on the current government funding situation with a little more than 48 hours until a shutdown.

Many say they weren't happy with Johnson's original proposal

Despite the challenges now facing Congress to finish up work on government funding, there are a number of Senate Republicans who concede they weren't happy with the House proposal that Johnson put forward on Tuesday. Some are pleased that Trump got involved to encourage changes.

"This is supposed to be a CR that extends the status quo. And it's supposed to be lean and mean," Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA said. "Well, I mean, it may have been mean, but it wasn't lean. And what I think we're going to have to do to get it passed is go back to a real CR, which is just an extension of the status quo."

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD, said all of the "crap" that was attached to the House CR was "very very disappointing to me."

He signaled a willingness to support a clean CR with disaster relief.

There appears to be some eagerness to re-open discussion about a path forward, but the time is running out, and there are now a number of very thorny issues that will require a lot of negotiation with very little time.

Southern State Republicans draw the line at disaster relief

As House Republicans go back to the drawing board to try to satiate Trump's demands, it's clear they'll have to balance them against all-out insistence from many Senate Republicans that billions in disaster relief remain tacked to this bill.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose home state of South Carolina was deeply impacted by Hurricane Helene, said he will vote against a funding bill that doesn't include relief for his and other affected states.

He called it a "moral imperative to get money into the system."

"We've got to have the disaster relief. I can't go home and play like it didn't happen," Graham said. "To anybody who thinks that disaster relief is pork, come to where I live and see what happened in my state in North Carolina and Georgia."

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, whose home state was affected by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, said he'd do everything in his power to slow down the passage of any government funding bill that doesn't include funding for relief.

"I feel very strongly. [If] we don't get disaster in the bill I'll do everything to keep us there until we do," Tillis said.

Tillis said he spoke with VP-Elect Vance Wednesday and said Vance "gets" the importance of disaster aid.

"JD gets it. I spoke with him this afternoon. He understands the need to get disaster follow-up in there," Tillis said. "Most people, at least JD and others, believe that we have to do the disaster supplement."

Republicans open to debt limit hike, but skeptical about accomplishing it on this timeline

Trump complicated government funding matters significantly with an eleventh-hour push to include a hike to the federal debt limit in this package. It has left some Republicans unclear on a path forward.

"I don't think he's wrong," Sen. John Kennedy, R-LA, said when asked if Trump's debt limit proposal was helpful. "But it complicates the matter."

That's an understatement.

Debt limit negotiations have in prior years taken months upon months to carefully weave together. A number of Senate Republicans conceded tonight that while they'd support raising the debt limit in this bill, getting to yes on it in the tiny window of time left will be a real challenge.

"I don't know how we do that," Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD, said. "I mean, I'm open to ideas on it but I don't know how we do that."

Graham said he'd leave decisions about the debt limit to Trump but conceded that Democratic buy-in would be necessary to do it.

"I don't know how this plays into things. I do know this, we don't want to default. There are a lot of Republicans who will never vote to raise the debt ceiling for ideological reasons," Graham said.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, acknowledged that getting all Republicans on board a debt limit hike would be a challenge.

"I don't know if Republicans are going to vote for that, particularly the Freedom Caucus, so I guess we'll take it one step at a time," Cornyn said.

Tillis also acknowledged that Democrats would have to buy into a plan to hike the debt limit. And with the deadline to do so still months off, he said he was unsure what would inspire Democrats to participate in eleventh-hour negotiations on the issue.

"I just think there's got to be something more to it than a demand that it get in, because again there's no burning platform," Tillis said.

Calls with Trump

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, said he spoke to Trump just before he issued his original statement today that discouraged Republicans from supporting the short-term government bill put forward by Johnson.

Hawley said that Trump thought Speaker Johnson's CR was a "total disaster."

Hawley criticized Johnson for what he said was "clearly" not reading Trump into the negotiation process of the bill.

"I made this point to him, to the president that is, about the House Leadership. I mean, is this going to be the norm? Is this how we're going to operate? They're going — is this going to be the standard that we are setting?"

ABC News asked Hawley if Trump expressed frustration with Johnson specifically, and Hawley said "yes."

But that was refuted by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-OK.

"I have spoken to the president several times today. I would not classify, I would not classify it as being frustrated with the Speaker," Mullin said.

Mullin said that it was articulated to Johnson for "awhile" that Trump wanted a debt limit hike.

"He does want the debt limit included in whatever package they put forth, but he's as far as being upset, I absolutely do not agree with that.

The Musk factor

Senators seemed to downplay the significance of Elon Musk's influence on the current situation. Musk took to his social media platform X to repeatedly slam the Johnson-backed bill on Wednesday.

"I think there are people putting too much weight on Musk or anybody else opining. I think there were structural challenges to begin with," Tillis said. "These outside influences have an impact, but I think that that came from within not from without. I've seen some of the reports about how Elon basically vetoed it. I'm sure his voice weighed in, but it had, it clearly had a structural problem before anybody opined on it."

Hawley, when asked about Musk's weighing in, seemed to push concerns aside.

"As somebody who doesn't like the CR, I welcome the criticism," Hawley said.

Teamsters president to rally with workers as Amazon strike set to go into 2nd day

Amazon workers in New York striking Thursday morning. Image via WABC.

(NEW YORK) -- Workers affiliated with the Teamsters began striking at Amazon facilities across the country Thursday morning -- in what the union calls the largest strike in history against the online shopping giant less than a week before Christmas.

In a news release Thursday evening, the union said "thousands of Teamsters" were taking part in the strikes at facilities in New York City, Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco and Illinois, but did not provide specific numbers. Later, the union said Teamsters President Sean O'Brien would join striking members at a facility in the City of Industry, California, on Friday as the strike was set to enter its second day.

In addition, the Teamsters said local unions were also picketing "hundreds" of Amazon Fulfillment Centers nationwide.

Amazon said the strike was not expected to impact operations and claimed the strikes were being attended by outside organizers.

“What you see here are almost entirely outsiders—not Amazon employees or partners—and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters," an Amazon spokesperson said in a emailed statement a few hours after the strikes began Thursday morning. "The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous. We appreciate all our team’s great work to serve their customers and communities, and are continuing to focus on getting customers their holiday orders.”

Overall, nearly 9,000 Amazon workers, across 20 bargaining units, have affiliated with the powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union said. The striking workers represent less than 1% of the company's 1.5 million employees worldwide, including 800,000 in the United States.

The Teamsters, announcing the move earlier this week, billed it as the "largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history" and said it came after Amazon refused to bargain with workers organized with the Teamsters.

The union said workers are picketing for higher wages, improved benefits and safer work conditions.

"If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can blame Amazon's insatiable greed," O'Brien said in a statement Thursday announcing the strike. "We gave Amazon a clear deadline to come to the table and do right by our members. They ignored it."

In a statement to ABC News, an Amazon spokesperson said the Teamsters illegally coerced workers to join the union.

"For more than a year now, the Teamsters have continued to intentionally mislead the public – claiming that they represent 'thousands of Amazon employees and drivers'. They don't, and this is another attempt to push a false narrative," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement Thursday. "The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union."

The spokesperson said the company has increased the starting minimum wage for workers in fulfillment centers and transportation employees by 20% and in September increased average base wage to $22 per hour.

The announced strike by the Teamsters comes after workers at several Amazon facilities authorized the walkout.

The facility in New York City's Staten Island was Amazon's first-ever unionized warehouse. Workers there have said the company has refused to recognize the union and negotiate a contract after workers there voted to unionize in 2022.

The National Labor Relations Board officially certified the union representing workers at the facility, but Amazon has appealed that ruling.

Putin says West’s air defenses have ‘no chance’ against Russian ballistic missile

(LONDON) -- Russia's war on Ukraine dominated the opening stages of President Vladimir Putin's annual marathon press conference on Thursday, with the Russian leader also addressing issues including future relations with President-elect Donald Trump and the situation in Syria.

Among the questions was how Moscow would deal with the incoming Trump administration given Russia was in a "weaker position."

In response, Putin said he had not spoken to Trump for four years but was ready for a meeting. "You would very much like Russia to be in a weakened position, but I hold a different point of view," he said.

"If I ever meet with the newly-elected president, Mr. Trump, I am sure we'll have something to talk about," Putin said.

Discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, Putin claimed that the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile recently used to strike the Ukrainian city of Dnipro cannot be intercepted by Western air defense systems.

Western technology, he said, "stands no chance" against the missile.

Putin even suggested arranging "an experiment or a duel" in which Russia would select a target for an Oreshnik strike in Kyiv and Ukraine would set up its Western-supplied air defenses to intercept the missile.

"It will be interesting for us," Putin said.

The president repeated his threat to target "decision-making centers" in Ukraine. Moscow's "list of priority targets includes military facilities and military-industrial complex facilities," Putin said.

The president also said that Russian forces are making progress on the battlefield and that Ukrainian troops would be ejected from positions in Russia's western Kursk region, though did not offer an estimate of how long that would take.

The Tuesday assassination of Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov in Moscow, Putin said, was a "terrorist" attack. "This murder was perpetrated by a method that is dangerous to the life of many people," he said.

"The Kyiv regime has repeatedly committed such terrorist crimes against a large number of citizens of the Russian Federation," Putin said. "And it is now doing so in the Kursk region, where they are shooting at civilians and are killing journalists in other Russian territories."

Nonetheless, Putin said Russia is ready to negotiate an end to the war "without preconditions."

"Politics is the art of compromise, Russia has always been ready for negotiations," Putin added, repeating past allegations that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson undermined a possible peace deal early in the war.

Asked if Russia would grant political asylum to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin suggested "the West will take him in." But, he added, "if he suddenly appeared out of nowhere… no one is refused in Russia."

Putin was also asked about missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice -- who disappeared in Syria 12 years ago. Putin said he would raise the issue with former Syrian President Bashar Assad, now living in exile in Russia having been toppled by a rebel offensive earlier this month.

Tice's mother has reportedly written to Putin asking for help in finding Tice, who is now the subject of a major search effort by the U.S. with assistance from regional allies and the new rebel-led authorities in Syria.

Putin said he has not seen Assad in Moscow since he was granted asylum there, but he will raise the issue of Tice's whereabouts.

"I promise that I will definitely ask this question," he said. "I can also ask questions to people who control the situation."

The president also said that Assad's fall was not a defeat for Moscow, which through 14 years of civil war was a key backer of the toppled president's regime. Putin suggested that the "overwhelming majority" of regional nations support Russia's retention of military bases in the country.

Israel, he said, is the prime benefactor of recent developments. "We hope that Israel will leave Syria someday, but now it is bringing additional troops there, there is a feeling that it is going to strengthen there," Putin said.

"There will be many problems, Russia is on the side of international law and on the side of Syria," he added.

ABC News' Anastasia Bagaeva, Tanya Stukalova and Fidel Pavlenko contributed to this report.

Trump backs House GOP accusation Liz Cheney tampered with Jan. 6 committee witness

(WASHINGTON) -- Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk, chairman of the House Administration's subcommittee on Oversight, in a new report suggests former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney should be investigated for alleged criminal witness tampering, claiming she played an "integral role" shaping key witness testimony before the Jan. 6 committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob.

President-elect Donald Trump posted early Wednesday morning on his social media platform that "Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that 'numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI."

Earlier this month, Trump, speaking about Jan. 6 committee members, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that, "for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail."

The House GOP report released Tuesday marks not only the latest effort by House Republicans to discredit the Jan. 6 committee, but also a possible preview of its oversight efforts in the next session of Congress beginning in January.

Cheney's name appears in the report more than 120 times, excluding the table of contents, going line-by-line to blast her participation as vice chair of the Jan. 6 committee.

"Without authority and against House Rules -- the role of ranking member, Congress itself must right its former wrongs and declare this appointment of Representative Cheney invalid now," the report states.

The report alleges that as Cheney participated in the investigation, she colluded with Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump White House aide, about her testimony describing then-President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

The report contends that Cheney not only "backchannelled" with Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House aide and a host of ABC's "The View," to get Hutchinson to change her narrative but also communicated with her "directly for days." After that, the report alleges that Cheney also convinced Hutchinson to fire her attorney, Stefan Passantino.

"According to text messages, that appear to be from the encrypted messaging app "Signal," between Hutchinson and Farah Griffin obtained by the Subcommittee, Cheney agreed to communicate with Hutchinson through Farah Griffin," the subcommittee said.

"It is unusual -- and potentially unethical -- for a Member of Congress conducting an investigation to contact a witness if the Member knows that the individual is represented by legal counsel," the report states. "This appears to be precisely what Representative Cheney did at this time, and within a matter of days of these secret conversations, Hutchinson would go on to recant her previous testimony and introduce her most outlandish claims."

"What other information was communicated during these phone calls may never be known, but what is known is that Representative Cheney consciously attempted to minimize her contact with Hutchinson in her book, and the most likely reason to try to bury that information would be if Representative Cheney knew that it was improper and unethical to communicate with Hutchinson without her counsel present," the report states.

"It must be emphasized that Representative Cheney would likely have known her communications without the knowledge of Hutchinson's attorney were illicit and unethical at that time," the report said. Farah Griffin indicated as much ... in her ... message to Hutchinson ... when she wrote that Representative Cheney's "one concern" was that as long as Hutchinson was represented by counsel, "she [Cheney] can't really ethically talk to you [Hutchinson] without him [Passantino]."

Despite Representative Cheney's initial hesitation, the Subcommittee uncovered evidence of frequent, direct conversations between Hutchinson and Representative Cheney without Passantino's knowledge, and also through their intermediary Farah Griffin."Cheney responded in a statement stressing the testimony "was painstakingly" presented in thousands of pages of transcripts, made public along with a "highly detailed and meticulously sourced 800-page report."

"Chairman Loudermilk's 'Interim Report' intentionally disregards the truth and the Select Committee's tremendous weigh of evidence, and instead fabricates lies and defamatory allegations in an attempt to cover up what Donald Trump did," Cheney wrote. "Their allegations do not reflect a review of the actual evidence, and are a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth."

Cheney also did not back off her role and the committee's findings.

"January 6th showed Donald Trump for who [he] really is – a cruel and vindictive man who allowed violent attacks to continue against our Capitol and law enforcement officers while he watched television and refused for hours to instruct his supporters to stand down and leave," she noted. "The January 6th Committee's hearings and report featured scores of Republican witnesses, including many of the most senior officials from Trump's own White House, campaign and Administration."

Farah Griffin also disputed the GOP report's conclusions.

"This report is full of inaccuracies and innuendo," she said in a statement. "The report wrongly states - and without any evidence - that I acted as an intermediary between Cassidy Hutchinson and Liz Cheney for "a month." That is not true, and these messages demonstrate the full extent of my involvement. Further, these messages weren't 'obtained' by the Committee - they were requested by the Committee and voluntarily handed over to the Committee. I believe in Congressional oversight, whether it be the January 6th investigation or this inquiry."

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Jan. 6.

FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New Jersey, notice threatens ‘deadly force’ for ‘imminent security threat’

(NEW YORK) -- The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ban on drone operations in dozens of areas of New Jersey and New York until mid-January, unless operators are granted special permission from the government due to "special security reasons."

Uncrewed aerial drones have been lighting up the sky at night in New Jersey and nearby states for weeks, since about mid-November, leading to concern from residents and speculation online. Some had demanded answers from local and state officials for answers.

"At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure," the FAA said in a statement Thursday.

The temporary flight restrictions in New Jersey, which are set to last until Jan. 17, have been implemented beginning Wednesday in the following locations: Hamilton, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, North Brunswick, Metuchen, Evesham, Camden, Gloucester City, Westampton, South Brunswick, Edison, Branchburg, Sewaren, Jersey City, Harrison, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Winslow, Burlington, Clifton, Hancocks Bridge and Kearny.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the flight restrictions were issued "out of an abundance of caution."

"We continue to assess there is no public safety threat relating to the reported drone sightings," the spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. "In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey."

Following New Jersey's lead, on Thursday night New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced federal partners and the FAA will also grant temporary flight restrictions over some of the state's critical infrastructure sites.

Similarly, Hochul said the action is "purely precautionary" and that "there are no threats to these sites."

The temporary flight restrictions in New York, which are set to last until Jan. 18, have been implemented in dozens of locations, including near LaGuardia Airport, Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Garden City, Far Rockaway and Ridge.

The restrictions say no uncrewed aircraft systems can operate within a nautical mile of the airspace specified in each Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, including from the ground up to 400 feet. Recreational drones are allowed to operate up to 400 feet, under FAA rules.

The previously issued temporary flight restrictions for Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, remain in place.

The government may use "deadly force" against the drones if they pose an "imminent security threat," the NOTAM said.

Pilots who fail to abide by those restrictions could be "intercepted, detained, and interviewed by the law enforcement/security personnel." The FAA said it could also take administrative action, including imposing civil penalties and suspending or revoking the operators' certificates, as well as pursuing criminal charges.

This ban comes after Sunday's press briefing where an FAA official said there have "without a doubt" been drones flying over New Jersey, pointing to the fact that nearly a million drones are registered in the U.S.

The FBI has received more than 5,000 tips in the last few weeks about drone sightings in New Jersey and other states, said a multiagency statement, which was released Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the FAA and the Department of Defense.

"Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones," the joint statement said.

Dominique Pelicot given maximum 20 year sentence in France rape trial that has shocked the world

(LONDON) -- Dominique Pelicot, 72, has been found guilty of all charges in the rape and drugging of his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and on Thursday was given the maximum sentence of 20 years in the massive trial that has shaken France and shocked the world.

Dominique Pelicot and 50 co-defendants have all been found guilty, with all except one having been charged with rape. The co-defendants were each sentenced Thursday to between three and 15 years.

Gisèle Pelicot made a powerful statement to reporters at the courthouse in Avignon and spoke about her grandchildren, saying they are the "future" and that she led "this fight" for them. She also said her three children were high in her mind at the end of the trial.

She spoke of the profound emotion of the trial and expressed her support for all other victims of sexual abuse, saying they "share the same fight." Gisèle also expressed her "profound gratitude" to those who have supported her throughout the trial.

She left the courthouse to cheers and applause from her supporters.

The trial began on Sept. 2. Hearings took place for nearly three months and included testimony from Gisèle Pelicot herself, who has become a feminist icon in France and across the world.

Prosecutors had demanded the maximum sentence of 20 years for Dominique Pelicot and 10 years or more for most of the other co-defendants. Dominique Pelicot had asked his family to "accept his apologies."

Forty-nine of the 50 other co-defendants faced aggravated rape or attempted rape charges. One co-defendant was accused of sexual assault and could face up to four years in prison.

Dominique Pelicot testified during the trial in Avignon that he mixed sedatives into Gisèle Pelicot's food and drink so he could rape her, and that he recruited at least 50 other men via an online chat forum and invited them over to the family home where they are alleged to have raped and sexually abused Gisèle Pelicot. Dominique acknowledged in court that he's guilty of the allegations and that his co-defendants understood what they were doing, The Associated Press reported.

The alleged abuse took place for almost a decade in their home in Provence, from 2011 to 2020. Gisèle, 72, has since divorced her husband.

Most of the co-defendants denied intentionally raping Gisèle Pelicot and claimed they were tricked by Dominique Pelicot. None of the co-defendants disputed that they carried out sexual acts on Gisèle Pelicot, but many claimed throughout the trial that, at the time of the alleged rapes, they thought it was a type of fetish game and said they believed, at the time, that Gisèle Pelicot had consented.

Dominique Pélicot collected 20,000 photos and videos and stored the evidence, which later helped lead prosecutors to the 50 other defendants -- "although about 20 others haven't yet been identified," The AP has reported.

She refused to stay anonymous, saying in court at one point during the hearings that she wants women who have been raped to know that "it's not for us to have shame -- it's for them," per The AP.

ABC News' Tom Soufi Burridge and Hugo Leenhardt contributed to this report.

US effort to curb China’s and Russia’s access to advanced computer chips ‘inadequate,’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department’s efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a report published Wednesday by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

The Biden administration imposed export controls to limit the ability of China and Russia to access U.S.-made chips after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

The agency’s Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules.

But the push for bolstering Commerce’s export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically reduce the size and scope of federal government. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle parts of the federal government.

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.

BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation.

“While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report.

Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be “better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.”

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to news reports of the Russian military continuing to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool.

Blumenthal in a statement called on “Commerce to take immediate action and crack down on the companies allowing U.S.-made semiconductors to power Russian weapons and Chinese ambition.”

Texas Instruments said it opposes the use of its chips in Russian military equipment and the illicit diversion of its products to Russia.

“It is our policy to comply with export control laws, and any shipments of TI chips into Russia are illicit and unauthorized,” the company said in a statement. “If we find evidence indicating product diversion, we investigate and take action.”

It’s not just Texas Instruments that’s the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia.

Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls.

China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts.

Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S.

But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce’s export control enforcement.

The agency’s current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks, the report said.

The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities.

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Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida.

Former Uvalde schools police chief who asked for charges to be dropped returns to court

UVALDE, Texas (AP) — The former schools police chief in Uvalde, Texas, who has asked a judge to throw out charges accusing him of failing to take action during the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting, is expected back in court Thursday.

Pete Arredondo, 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and abandonment. U.S. law enforcement officers rarely face a criminal trial over their actions during a school shooting.

The May 24, 2022, attack on Robb Elementary that killed 19 students and two teachers was one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The law enforcement response, which included nearly 400 federal, state and local officers, has been widely condemned as a massive failure.

Arredondo’s attorneys argue he is being prosecuted for trying to save lives, including ordering the evacuation of other areas of the school. They argue the indictment would open many future law enforcement actions to similar charges.

“It cannot possibly be an offense that Mr. Arredondo evacuated some children before others could be saved,” his attorneys wrote in a court filing. “If the state is allowed to proceed in this manner, all Texas peace officers should be terrified.”

Uvalde County prosecutors have urged the judge to reject Arredondo’s claim.

Another Uvalde schools officer who was on the scene that day, Adrian Gonzales, 51, was indicted on similar charges and has also pleaded not guilty. They are the only two officers facing charges over the police response. Gonzales is also expected to attend the hearing in Uvalde.

It is unclear if Judge Sid Harle will rule on Arredondo’s request on Thursday or later. The hearing is also expected to cover defense requests for access to evidence and witnesses, and other pretrial matters.

While terrified students and teachers called 911 from inside classrooms, dozens of officers stood in the hallway trying to figure out what to do. More than an hour later, a team breached the classroom and killed the gunman.

The indictment against Arredondo accuses the former chief of ignoring his active shooter training, and delaying the police response while the shooter was “hunting victims,” despite being told that injured children were in the classrooms and that a teacher had been shot.

Instead of immediately confronting the 18-year-old gunman, Arredondo called for a SWAT team, ordered the initial responding officers to leave the building, and briefly attempted to negotiate with the shooter, the indictment said.

Once Arredondo knew of the shooter and the imminent danger to students in the classroom, “Texas law demands urgent intervention to remove the child from the danger,” prosecutors argued.

Gonzales faces similar charges in a 29-count, separate indictment that accuses him of failing to protect victims who were killed, as well as those who survived. Gonzales’ legal team has not yet asked the court to throw out his charges, but could at a later date.

Each charge against the officers carries up to two years in jail. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

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Associated Press reporter Jim Vertuno contributed from Austin, Texas.

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Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Van Zandt residents file lawsuit over lithium storage facility

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Van Zandt County residents have filed a lawsuit against stakeholders in the Amador Energy Storage Project that would bring a 100 MW lithium battery energy storage facility to the area. According to our news partner KETK, the Finnish-based wind, solar and battery energy storage developer, Taaleri Energia and the Amador Project has drawn criticism from local citizens who argue it threatens their safety, livestock and rural lifestyle. Some of the concerns include fire risks, fire risks, environmental contamination, lack of firefighting resources and proximity to homes.

The storage facility would be located near FM 47 and FM 1651 on approximately 48 acres with construction already in motion and set to be fully functional by the end of next year. The 100 MW lithium battery storage facility could provide electricity at a rate of 100 million watts, which is used for grids to stabilize electricity supply. Continue reading Van Zandt residents file lawsuit over lithium storage facility

Government funding plan collapses as Trump makes new demands days before shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.

Trump’s sudden entrance into the debate and new demands sent Congress spiraling as lawmakers are trying to wrap up work and head home for the holidays. It left Johnson scrambling late into the night at the Capitol trying to engineer a new plan before Friday’s deadline to keep government open.

“Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance said in a statement.

The president-elect made an almost unrealistic proposal that combined some continuation of government funds along with a much more controversial provision to raise the nation’s debt limit — something his own party routinely rejects. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” they wrote.

Democrats decried the GOP revolt over the stopgap measure, which would have also provided some $100.4 billion in disaster aid to states hammered by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.

“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Jeffries said “an agreement is an agreement,” and by backing out of it “the House Republicans “will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people.”

Already, the massive 1,500-page bill was on the verge of collapse, as hard-right conservatives rejected the increased spending. They were egged on by Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk, who rejected the plan almost as soon as it was released.

Rank-and-file lawmakers complained about the extras, which included their first pay raises in more than a decade — a shock after one of the most unproductive, chaotic sessions in modern times.

Even the addition of much-needed disaster aid, some $100.4 billion in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural calamities that ravaged states this year, plus $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers failed to win over the budget-slashing GOP. A number of Republicans had been waiting for Trump to signal whether they should vote yes or no.

“This should not pass,” Musk posted on his social media site X in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

One lawmaker said office phone lines were flooded with calls from constituents

“My phone was ringing off the hook,” said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

The outcome comes as no surprise for Johnson, who, like other Republican House speakers before him, has been unable to persuade his majority to go along with the routine needs of federal government operations, which they would prefer to slash.

He met behind closed doors late into the night at the Capitol with GOP lawmakers trying to figure out a way out of the bind. Vance joined them until nearly 10 p.m., his young son — in pajamas — in tow.

“We had a productive conversation,” Vance said as he and his son exited the speaker’s office, declining repeated questions about the details.

“We’re in the middle of these negotiations, but I think we’ll be able to solve some problems here.”

It all shows just how hard it will be for Republicans next year, as they seize control of the House, Senate and White House, to unify and lead the nation. And it underscores how much Johnson and the GOP leaders must depend on Trump’s blessing to see any legislative package over the finish line.

Musk, who is heading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, warned, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!”

It’s not an idle threat coming from Musk, the world’s richest man, who helped bankroll Trump’s victory and can easily use his America PAC to make or break political careers.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said this is the problem with “an oligarchy — a handful of wealthy people run everything and everyone is supposed to live in fear of them.”

Senators from both parties were watching from across the Capitol with dismay.

“Is this going to be the norm? Is this going to be how we operate?” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., putting the blame on Johnson.

Democrats, who negotiated the final product with Johnson and Senate GOP leadership, will be expected to provide enough support to help ensure passage, as is often the case on big, bipartisan bills.

“Republicans need to stop playing politics,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

However, Trump’s new demands on the debt limit pose a daunting test for Johnson, who has worked hard to stay close to the president-elect — even texting with Musk and DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy — only to have him turn against his hard-fought plan.

Trump posted later that he was insisting on raising the debt ceiling: “I will fight ’till the end.”

The nation’s debt limit expires 2025 and Trump appears to want the issue off the table before he returns to the White House, a reasonable idea but one that typically is tough to negotiate.

The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though they struck a bipartisan deal that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up costing McCarthy his job.

Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension some 48 hours before a partial government shutdown.

Meanwhile, the bipartisan package that Trump rejected extended existing government programs and services at their current operating levels for a few more months, through March 14, 2025.

The stopgap measure is needed because Congress has failed to pass its annual appropriations bills to fund all the various agencies in the federal government, from the Pentagon to health, welfare, transportation and other routine domestic services.

But the inches-thick bill goes beyond routine funding and tacks on several other measures, including federal funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed when struck by a cargo ship. Another provision would transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia, which could potentially lead to a new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called it essentially a junk sandwich, using a swear word.

And then there’s the pay raise.

The bill would have turned off a pay-freeze provision and that could allow a maximum adjustment of 3.8% or $6,600 in 2025, bringing lawmakers’ annual pay to $180,600, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Members of Congress last got a raise in 2009.

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Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

Texas school districts asked to return $16 million in federal funding

WASHINGTON (AP) – After a yearslong legal battle, federal officials are asking Texas schools that used a Medicaid reimbursement program for special education services to return $16 million that they say were billed incorrectly.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General sent an email this month to 572 school districts statewide informing officials they would need to pay anywhere from $100 to $800,000 back to the department for services billed in 2011. The charges stem from a 2017 federal health agency audit that found Texas had improperly billed the agency 238 times for services under the School Health and Related Services program.

The SHARS program reimburses schools for providing services to Medicaid-eligible students, including mental and physical therapy, nursing and screenings. Almost 950 of the state’s more than 1,200 school districts are currently enrolled in SHARS programming, according to the Texas Association of School Boards.

The 238 errors the federal government identified were for services that were deemed ineligible for reimbursement. The Inspector General’s Office also found over 94% of the services billed — including some that were eligible — did not have the required documentation.

The audit warned the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that districts would be asked to return the money paid out for ineligible services, but a series of attempted appeals postponed the repayments. School districts would have had to return more funds, but Texas’ appeals and a review by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services lowered the number of billings considered ineligible.

The state has six weeks to decide how they want to pay back the $16 million, according to the federal agency. The federal agency is not requiring the state to recoup the money directly from school districts, leaving the option of using state funding to pay the bill.

“It is up to the state to recoup from individual school districts, if it chooses to do so,” according to a spokesperson with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.

A statement from Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission said the department has already paid the $16 million to the federal government, and that it is required by law to recoup its costs. The statement added HHSC “submitted every possible denial and request” to contest the charges.

With school budgets set for the year, Texas districts say they have little room to move around funds to pay the money back.

“Because this comes in the middle of a budget year, it makes planning for schools virtually impossible,” said Brian Woods, director of advocacy at the Texas Association of School Administrators. “Had this clawback been known prior to schools approving their budgets in the summer of 2024, then at least it could have been planned for, right?”

Pete Pape, chief financial officer for the Leander school district, called the charge “the tip of the iceberg” and expressed frustration with the Texas health agency’s lack of support for districts and their programs. Federal appeals officers said in 2023 that Texas produced “nothing at all” to dispute investigators’ findings, noting the only evidence Texas submitted in its appeal was a spreadsheet created by CMS listing the improperly billed services.

“If we acted like this as a school district, we would get blasted,” Pape said. “It’s like they just want to check off a box, they could tell the community and the legislature, ‘Yeah, we appealed it.’ So it’s frustrating.”

The Leander district owes about $99,000. Pape said he plans to appeal the charge, although the repayment notice the district received did not say if it could be appealed.

The $16 million repayment request comes after Texas slashed more than $607 million for SHARS funding as the state imposed strict limitations on the kinds of services school districts could get reimbursed for. The move, which some school staff consider overcorrection on the state’s part in reaction to the errors made in 2011, have forced some smaller schools to exit the program entirely.

Woods, the former superintendent of the Northside school district in San Antonio, said the repayments are “substantial” even for the largest districts because they are already so strapped for funding.

Northside ISD is set to return more than $420,000, one of the highest repayments the federal government is asking for.

Over 40 schools owe more than $100,000; however, more than half the schools listed owe less than $10,000. The Houston and Austin school districts are set to pay the most, with over $780,000 each.

For many districts, the notice comes as officials grapple with budget shortfalls worsened by inflation, expiring pandemic relief funds and five years without a significant raise in public school spending from the state.

“I don’t think that I’ve heard a consistent, programmatic-type plan. Most of what I hear is, ‘You got to be kidding me, right?’” Woods said of districts’ reactions. “This is on top of the multimillion-dollar cuts that we spent most of the fall talking about, and here we are with another.”

District officials hope lawmakers will provide relief after the SHARS cuts. Several special education funding bills have already been filed ahead of the state legislative session that starts next month. Woods said there is no lawmaker who serves the role of a “designated advocate” for special education funding but added that there is still time to highlight the issue before the Legislature starts.

“Concerned parents and concerned citizens just need to contact their representatives and indicate that they believe there’s a need to rectify that situation,” Woods said.

Tyler Police increasing traffic enforcement during the holidays

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is increasing traffic enforcement during the New Year’s holiday which will continue through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Motorists will see an increased presence of law enforcement in high traffic crash areas throughout the City. Officers will be focusing their targeted enforcement efforts to deter speeding, seatbelt violations, running red lights, texting, and driving while intoxicated throughout the City. “We will have additional officers on the road during the holidays specifically to enforce traffic laws,” said Chief Jimmy Toler. “The safety of everyone remains a priority as they enjoy holiday events and festivities. We will work to deter drinking and driving, speeding, and distracted driving.” Continue reading Tyler Police increasing traffic enforcement during the holidays

Paris Hilton-backed child abuse bill headed to Biden’s desk for signature

(WASHINGTON) -- The House passed the Paris Hilton-championed Stop Institutionalized Child Abuse bill on Wednesday, a sweet victory for the celebrity hotel heiress after the nearly three years she's spent lobbying politicians in Washington on the issue of reform in the "troubled teen" industry.

The measure that would require more federal oversight into these facilities for troubled minors passed by a vote of 373-33.

All those who voted against the legislation were Republican, most from the far-right faction of the party, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona, Byron Donalds of Florida, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, among others.

The Senate passed the bill a week ago with unanimous support. It now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

"I am so emotional right now. I have never felt prouder in my life," Hilton told reporters after the vote. "Just to be here today and see our bill pass in Congress has been one of the most incredible moments of my life and I just know that the teenage me would be so proud of the woman that I am today -- turning my pain into purpose and being a voice for so many people who don't have a voice."

Hilton said she traveled to Washington every six to 10 months starting in October 2021 to push for a child abuse bill. She traveled back to the Hill on Monday and has spent the past two days meeting with representatives in order to get the measure across the finish line. She held a press conference outside the Capitol on Monday evening, urging the House's passage of the bill.

Hilton was personally in contact with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise regarding movement on the bill this week.

Hilton for years has been an advocate for reform in congregate care facilities and residential treatment programs for "troubled" minors. She's brazenly described her own traumatizing experience at Provo Canyon School in Utah when she was a teenager.

The legislation -- which would ordinarily pass through the House Energy and Commerce committee before it could get called by leaders to the floor -- was fast-tracked by bypassing that step, according to a source familiar with committee business.

"When the U.S. Senate came together in a rare show of unity to pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act unanimously on Wednesday December 11th, it was one of the best moments of my life. It was proof that when we listen to survivors and put politics aside, we can create real, meaningful change. But this journey isn't over. I can't celebrate until this bill becomes law, and now it's up to the U.S House of Representatives to finish what the Senate started," Hilton wrote in an open letter shared to her Instagram page on Monday.

"To Leader Scalise, Speaker Johnson, and every member of the House: I urge you to think about the children who can't speak for themselves. They're relying on us—on you—to stand up for their safety and dignity. Passing this bill would be a testament to what we can achieve when we lead with empathy and courage."

Hilton has traveled to Washington every six to 10 months starting in October 2021, according to her spokesperson, each time asking Congress to reform youth residential treatment facilities.

She's met individually with members like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who thanked Hilton after the bill's passage last week for her work on the issue, and Republicans like Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Tim Scott of South Carolina.

Some of her biggest advocates have been the cosponsors of the bill: Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, along with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Hilton said.

"A lack of oversight and transparency in residential youth programs has allowed for the abuse of children in facilities across the country for far too long," Cornyn said in a statement after the bill passed.

"I'm proud that the Senate unanimously passed this legislation to ensure the vulnerable children in these facilities are protected, and I want to thank the countless advocates who have bravely shared their stories to help end institutional child abuse."

Hilton also testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in June, emotionally recounting her experience being at Provo Canyon School as a teen.

"These programs promised healing, growth, and support, but instead did not allow me to speak, move freely, or even look out a window for two years," she testified in 2023. "I was force-fed medications and sexually abused by the staff. I was violently restrained and dragged down hallways, stripped naked, and thrown into solitary confinement."

The Provo school in Utah, which is still operating today, released an updated statement in June 2024 saying they couldn't comment on the operations or student experiences at the school prior to August 2000, when it had changed ownership shortly after Hilton's stint there. Provo said it did not "condone or promote any form of abuse," in their statement.

Hilton has gone to the White House to advocate for child welfare, meeting with policy staff in May 2022.

"We have had some prior conversations with the White House about the bill, and we don't have a reason to believe that they wouldn't sign it into law," Hilton's spokesperson said.

The socialite's push for congregate-care reform started in 2021, when she came to Washington in support of a similar measure, the Federal Accountability for Congregate Care Act, which was a different bill that was introduced in October 2021 and led by Khanna, Merkley, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and then-Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Before her visit in 2021, Hilton had opened up about her 11-month experience at Provo Canyon school in her 2020 documentary "This is Paris," and in a Washington Post op-ed.

Smith County officials warn of jury duty scams

SMITH COUNTY – Smith County officials are warning residents of potential jury duty scams after multiple reports. According to reports from our news partner, KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they have been receiving reports from citizens who are potential victims of a jury duty scam. The scammers are allegedly requesting money for the purpose of taking care of a warrant related to them missing jury duty.

The scams typically involve someone calling and identifying themselves as a law enforcement official or someone employed by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.Officials said a law enforcement agency will never call on the phone demanding payment for any reason. Those who receive a phone call regarding this scam or suspicious calls asking for payment or money, simply hang up and ignore them. The sheriff’s office said people can call 903-566-6600 if they receive any suspicious calls. Continue reading Smith County officials warn of jury duty scams

Fed cuts interest rates, delivering relief for borrowers at last meeting before Trump takes office

(WASHINGTON) -- The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, delivering relief for borrowers at the central bank's last meeting before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month.

The central bank predicted fewer rate cuts next year than it had previously indicated, however, suggesting concern that inflation may prove more difficult to bring under control than policymakers thought just a few months ago.

The major stock indexes inched downward in trading after the announcement in response to the forecast of fewer rate cuts.

Speaking at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank may proceed at a slower pace with future rate cuts, in part because it has now lowered interest rates a substantial amount.

Powell also said a recent resurgence of inflation influenced the Fed's expectations, noting that some policymakers considered uncertainty tied to potential policy changes under Trump.

"It's common-sense thinking that when the path is uncertain, you get a little slower," Powell said. "It's not unlike driving on a foggy night or walking around in a dark room full of furniture."

The move marked the third consecutive interest rate cut since the Fed opted to start dialing back its fight against inflation in the fall. The Fed has lowered interest rates by a percentage point in recent months.

However, the Fed's forecast on Wednesday said it anticipates only a half a percentage point of rate cuts next year and another half-percent cut in 2026.

The benchmark interest rate helps determine loan payments for everything from credit cards to mortgages. Even after recent cuts, the Fed's interest rate remains at a historically high level of between 4.25% and 4.5%.

The size of the interest rate cut on Wednesday matched investors' expectations.

The latest rate cut may prove the Fed's last for many months, experts previously told ABC News.

A recent bout of stubborn inflation could prompt central bankers to freeze interest rates in place as they bring price increases under control. A humming economy, meanwhile, shows little need for the jolt of activity that lower borrowing costs may provide, the experts said.

Consumer prices climbed 2.7% in November compared to a year ago, marking two consecutive months of accelerating inflation, government data last week showed.

Inflation has slowed dramatically from a peak of more than 9% in June 2022. But the recent uptick has reversed some progress made at the start of this year that had landed price increases right near the Fed's target of 2%.

In August, Trump said the president should have a role in setting interest rates. The proposal would mark a major shift from the longstanding norm of political independence at the Fed.

Powell struck a defiant tone last month when posed with the question of whether he would resign from his position if asked by Trump.

"No," Powell told reporters assembled at a press conference in Washington, D.C., blocks away from the White House.

When asked whether Trump could fire or demote him, Powell retorted: "Not permitted under the law."