The Bulletin

• Cybertruck explosion: Cybertruck bombing suspect Matthew Livelsberger could have inflicted serious damage on Donald Trump's Las Vegas Hotel if he had "seriously wanted to hurt others," his uncle has said. More details of the incident.

• Social Security's retirement age changed: The retirement age to qualify for Social Security benefits has changed in 2025, impacting millions of Americans. Find out about this change.

• Netanyahu discharged from hospital: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital Thursday after having prostate surgery on Sunday. Find out more.

• Thomas & Friends creator dies at 81: Britt Allcroft, the creator of the beloved children's television series Thomas & Friends, has passed away at the age of 81. Find out more.

• Car insurance to go up: Several states across the country have just introduced new rules increasing minimum coverage requirements for car insurance in an attempt to better protect owners, but is likely to hit them in the pocket. Here's how these new rules could affect your insurance rates.

• Weather warning: Thirteen states are under a winter storm warning or watch as Winter Storm Blair is expected to tear across the country this weekend and drop double-digit snow totals, the National Weather Service says. Here's what to know.

The rundown: President-elect Donald Trump's Electoral College certification could be delayed if Congress can't pick a new speaker by Monday, a House Republican warned. Learn more about the potential political gridlock and how it could affect the certification process.

Why it matters: Speaker Mike Johnson has the support of most House Republicans, but a handful of holdouts threaten to derail his bid to keep his job because the GOP holds only a slim majority in the chamber. The Louisiana Republican faces difficult math to remain speaker. Republicans are expected to hold 219 seats in the House on Friday when the new Congress convenes—with one vacancy in the seat held by former Representative Matt Gaetz. Johnson needs a majority of present members to win the speaker race. That would be 218 votes if all members are present, but GOP Representative Thomas Massie has already said he's a "no."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will Mike Johnson Remain House Speaker? What We Know

TL/DR: Trump endorsed Johnson for speaker this week, but it's unclear whether his support will be enough to sway the speaker's detractors.

What happens now? The House is set to hold its speaker election on Friday. Both the House and Senate are expected to vote on the Electoral College certification on Monday, and Trump's inauguration is scheduled for January 20. If Johnson is unable to consolidate support from the GOP, there could be a dayslong vote-a-rama in which Republicans struggle to pick another speaker.

Deeper reading Could Speaker Fight Delay Trump's Election Certification? What We Know

The rundown: The FBI on Thursday released new photos showing Shamsud-Din Jabbar one hour before authorities say he plowed a car into a crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon Street on New Year's Day. Get the latest updates.

Why it matters: Wednesday's early morning attack sent shockwaves through the nation and was one of the deadliest terror attacks in U.S. history. At least 15 people were killed in the attack and dozens were injured. The FBI identified Jabbar as the suspect on Wednesday and said he was a Texas citizen and Army veteran. They added that the white Ford pickup truck the suspect drove into the crowd was rented in Houston. Law enforcement officials said the suspect drove a pickup truck into the unsuspecting crowd, then got out and opened fire before dying in a shootout with local police officers. Authorities later said they found an Islamic State flag in the pickup truck.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Did Electric Truck Used in New Orleans Attack Make It More Deadly?

TL/DR: President Joe Biden said the FBI had shared details about Jabbar's possible motives with him, including that he had posted social media videos hours before the attack which "indicate that he's inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill."

What happens now? The FBI said it is still in the early stages of its investigation into the New Orleans attack but encouraged anyone who thinks they may have relevant information to contact the New Orleans field office. Federal agents are conducting a number of court-authorized searches in New Orleans and in other states in connection to the investigation into the attack, the FBI said.

Deeper reading FBI Releases New Photos Showing New Orleans Suspect an Hour Before Attack

The rundown: Far-right activist Laura Loomer said Elon Musk is retaliating against her by suspending her X account, taking away her verification badge and demonetizing her subscriptions over their feud about foreign work visas. Find out the details of their dispute.

Why it matters: The fallout between Loomer and Musk began on December 23, when she criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his incoming administration. She said Krishnan, who has advocated for raising country-specific caps on green cards to bring skilled worker to the U.S., has views that are "in direct opposition to Trump's America First Agenda." The tit-for-tat reflects a roiling debate within the MAGA movement over the value of H-1B visas and so-called "highly skilled" migration. Musk and President-elect Donald Trump argue that such programs are essential to attract global talent, while critics like Loomer believe they allow corporations to bypass American workers.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Laura Loomer Sharpens Attack on Elon Musk: 'Totalitarian Censorship'

TL/DR: "It's just pure retaliation at this point," Loomer told Newsweek in an interview on Thursday. "I've asked for multiple people to get back to me on this, and nobody's getting back to me."

What happens now? Loomer warned that Musk's alleged retaliation against her "send a message to the Trump base that that they can be censored if they go against Elon."

Deeper reading Laura Loomer Slams Elon Musk as Free Speech 'Hypocrite' Over X Censorship

The rundown: Experts have told Newsweek that China will continue to escalate against Taiwan in the new year as the "unpredictable" Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president later this month. Find out what this means for the future of U.S.-China-Taiwan dynamics.

Why it matters: China has long claimed that Taiwan, a self-ruled island and a U.S. security partner, as part of its territory despite never having governed it and has refused to renounce using force against it. Kitsch Liao, assistant director of the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, said it would be less about whether there will be an invasion but what sort of coercion China would ramp up to eventually take over Taiwan given developments in Taiwan, the U.S. and Ukraine. Brian Hart, deputy director and fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies China Power Project, said that some Chinese experts believe that the reelection of Trump, who takes a transactional approach, offers opportunities to strike a deal on Taiwan with the U.S.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Warns US of Taiwan Red Line: 'Playing With Fire'

TL/DR: Externally, China's ambition for military expansion, seeking to breach America's island chain strategy in the Pacific Ocean, fuels its desire to achieve military modernization by 2027.

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether the second Trump administration will adjust U.S. military posture in the Western Pacific Ocean, where Taiwan forms part of the first island chain, a north-south blockade against China. For China, it is likely that Beijing will continue its military exercises around Taiwan, demonstrating its resolve to fend off a U.S. intervention.

Deeper reading Will China Invade Taiwan in 2025?

The rundown: Texas is due to have the third highest growth rate of any American state this decade, with its population reaching an estimated 32,463,602 in 2030, according to the latest projection from the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Why it matters: According to the forecast, Texas's population will hit 32,463,602 people in 2023, an 11.4 percent growth from 2020. This will leave Texas the second most populous state behind California, with an estimated 41,321,454 people, and Florida, with 23,790,046. U.S. Census Bureau data shows the population of Texas past the 30 million mark for the first time in 2022, when it reached 30,029,572. If a state's population increases relative to the rest of the Union, its political influence should also receive a boost via an increased number of seats in the House of Representatives and Electoral College votes in presidential elections.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Americans Are Leaving Democratic States, Census Data Shows

TL/DR: According to U.S. Census Bureau data, New York, California and several other Democratic-dominated states saw their population fall in 2023, while the more Republican Texas, Florida and Georgia recorded significant population increases.

What happens now? Republicans will likely argue that the solid population growth in some of their core states, such as Texas, demonstrates their competence in governing, while Democrats are likely to highlight other factors. President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to tighten border security and deport millions of illegal migrants from the U.S. could have a dramatic impact on future state populations.

Deeper reading How Texas' Population Is Set to Change by 2030