The Bulletin
WORLD IN BRIEF
- Trump rages at Newsom over wildfires: President-elect Donald Trump has called on California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he dubbed "Newscum," to resign in response to the ongoing wildfires that are devastating Los Angeles. Read his full remarks.
- Jimmy Carter's funeral: Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, will be laid to rest today following a series of ceremonies honoring his life and service. Here's the full schedule.
- US sends weapons package to Ukraine: The Biden administration is expected to deliver a $500 million weapons package to Ukraine to bolster Kyiv's defense capabilities, according to a report from The Associated Press. Here's what we know.
- Musk eyes transatlantic tunnel: Elon Musk could be the one to make talks of a transatlantic tunnel become a reality, according to a megaproject expert.
- Lebanon's potential next president: As Lebanon will move to fill the presidential vacancy left unoccupied since 2022 on Thursday, the Hezbollah-endorsed candidate has dropped out with the odds favoring Joseph Aoun, leader of the Lebanese Army. Detailed insights on the political dynamics.
Hollywood Boulevard Evacuated, LA Wildfire Death Toll Rises
The rundown: A fast-moving wildfire has ignited in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard, threatening some of Los Angeles' most iconic tourist destinations. Latest updates on the wildfires and evacuation efforts.
Why it matters: Two new wildfires erupted overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, adding to the challenges faced by firefighters already battling two major wildfires that have killed five people so far, forced 130,000 residents to evacuate, and devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. Fire crews are racing to contain the fires as they spread across the region, leaving widespread destruction in their wake. The fires have consumed a total of about 42 square miles—nearly the size of the entire city of San Francisco. The Sunset Fire is just uphill from a popular area of Hollywood often frequented by tourists. The flames are also not far from the iconic Hollywood Sign.
Read more in-depth coverage:
'Explosive' Sunset Fire Prompts Evacuation Order in Hollywood Hills
TL/DR: The fires were exacerbated by a severe windstorm that fanned the flames, spurring hardships for firefighters working to contain them.
What happens now? Firefighters and other emergency workers continue battling the major fires burning in and around Los Angeles and assisting in evacuation efforts.
Deeper reading Hollywood Boulevard Evacuated, LA Wildfire Death Toll Rises: Live Updates
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Confronted Over Wildfire Response on Live TV
The rundown: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was confronted Wednesday on live TV over her response to the wildfires tearing through the Greater Los Angeles area. Read the pressing questions being asked to her.
Why it matters: The Democratic mayor has faced mounting criticism, including from members of her own party, for traveling abroad while L.A. residents were forced to flee by the tens of thousands as the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires ripped through Southern California. Bass stayed mum on Wednesday as Sky News reporter David Blevins pelted her with questions after she arrived back in California. The mayor's office posted on X late Monday about the impending "destructive and potentially life-threatening windstorm starting Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon." But Bass didn't return to Los Angeles until later Wednesday, drawing sharp criticism from politicians across the aisle and fellow Democrats, as Politico first reported.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Fact Check: Did Los Angeles Cut Fire Department Funding by $17.6M?
TL/DR: "Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?" Blevins asked Bass during the confrontation.
What happens now? Two smaller blazes—the Woodley Fire and Lidia Fire—are collectively engulfing around 80 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area as of Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Trump criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom, “this is not Government. I can't wait till January 20th!"
Deeper reading Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Confronted Over Wildfire Response on Live TV
Speaker Mike Johnson Gives Update on Plans for Medicaid
The rundown: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson gave an update to Axios on Tuesday regarding plans for Medicaid. Learn more about the proposed changes.
Why it matters: Medicaid provides healthcare coverage to roughly 80 million low-income individuals across the United States. Following the November 2024 election, Republicans in Congress once more raised the idea of overhauling Medicaid as a component of a reconciliation bill. In other words, members are looking to potentially restructure aspects of the Medicaid program to reduce government spending and redirect it toward other initiatives. Reconciliation, in particular, helps to circumvent a potential filibuster in the Senate. One potential Medicaid restructuring is the implementation of work requirements.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Republicans Move to Block Medicaid Funds for Gun Violence Prevention
TL/DR: Currently, Georgia is the only state actively imposing work requirements for Medicaid eligibility.
What happens now? Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek, "I think support will be fairly strong for any package that reduces taxes, but there could definitely be some hesitation from some legislators on expansive cuts to Medicaid.”
Deeper reading Speaker Mike Johnson Gives Update on Plans for Medicaid
Canadian Leaders Want Trump to Stop 51st State Talk: 'The Joke Is Over'
The rundown: Canadian leaders have indicated they would prefer President-elect Donald Trump ease up with his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the Unites States' 51st state. More about their response and what it means for US-Canada relations.
Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada and Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, could join the U.S. and said explicitly he wants Canada to become the 51st state. The leaders of both Canada and Greenland have been dismissive of joining the U.S. Canada's finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc, who is also the country's point person for U.S-Canada relations, said on Wednesday that Trump's remarks, initially brushed off as a joke, are now seen as an effort to undermine America's closest ally. The remarks follow an apparent pattern from Trump, who first floated the idea during a November dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump's Canada Threat Is Working
TL/DR: Trump's comments come amid intricate economic ties binding the two nations.
What happens now? Despite Trump's remarks, the chances of Canada actually becoming part of the U.S. in the foreseeable future are remote at best. But the president-elect's escalating rhetoric could signal a coming decline in U.S.-Canada relations, while his plan to impose across-the-board tariffs on all foreign goods is likely to have a major effect on trade.
Deeper reading Canadian Leaders Want Trump to Stop 51st State Talk: 'The Joke Is Over'
What Will China Do With Its Newfound Military Power?
The rundown: Experts have told Newsweek that China aims to become a "world-class military" and enjoy conventional superiority in the Indo-Pacific region as it expands and modernizes its naval force massively. Read about China's military ambitions.
Why it matters: Last month, the United States Defense Department released its annual report on Chinese military power, which stated China, the "pacing challenge" for the U.S. military. Kitsch Liao, associate director of the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told Newsweek that China is undergoing significant military modernization, but the scale of the buildup is of less relevance than the intent, and whether it can achieve such intent. Liao noted that China's industrial capacity allows for rapid replacement of naval losses or outdated equipment. He also warned that China may abandon its nuclear no-first-use policy under certain conditions, potentially resorting to nuclear blackmail.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Photos Show China's Newest Aircraft Carrier After Flight Tests
TL/DR: China is one of the nine nations armed with nuclear weapons.
What happens now? "By all accounts, China is fully capable of achieving its goal of 'basically completing' its military modernization by 2035, and have a 'world-class military' before 2049," Liao said. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether China will accelerate military modernization and expand the scale of military buildup as the Pentagon views the Indo-Pacific as its priority theater.
Deeper reading What Will China Do With Its Newfound Military Power?
Does Donald Trump Think Greenland Is Much Bigger Than It Is?
President-elect Donald Trump's recently revived determination to acquire Greenland have many speculating why he wants the self-governing territory. One reason could be how "massive" he believes the island to be.
But Greenland is not nearly as large as it appears on most maps.
The Mercator projection—which has been the standard map projection since the 18th century— is the name for the phenomenon in which land masses on maps appear much larger and distorted the further they get from the equator.
