The Bulletin

• Mike Pence to attend Trump's inauguration? Former Vice President Mike Pence is planning to attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Here's what we know.

• Social Security benefits: Lawmakers in two states are pushing to change rules around the taxation of Social Security benefits. Here's what you need to know.

• H-E-B food recalls: In the past three months three food products have been recalled by Texan grocery store H-E-B. Here's full list of products impacted.

• Why New Yorkers are fleeing the state: For over a decade, New York has been among the states with the highest numbers of residents leaving. Find out what's driving this shift.

• Ohio population: Ohio is the seventh most populous U.S. state, according to U.S. Census data. However, some counties in the state are increasing sharply in population, while others are declining. See the map.

• Gaza ceasefire deal: The Israeli Cabinet has formally approved the ceasefire deal that will end the conflict with Hamas that started shortly after the deadly attack on October 7. Find out more.

The rundown: A Chinese-made action camera used by NASA, the U.S. Air Force and many other Americans is collecting data and communicating with servers in China and Russia, posing a potential national security threat, according to a study obtained exclusively by Newsweek.

Why it matters: The study comes with tensions high between the U.S. and China amidst concerns over espionage, technology and a growing military rivalry. The authors said that data from GoPro-style camera called Insta360 devices was communicating with 276 foreign endpoints, many in China and Russia, including about a dozen belonging to TikTok owner Bytedance as well as to Huawei and to Chinese state-owned telecoms giant China Telecom, both of which are under U.S. sanctions. In an emailed statement to Newsweek, NASA said that it had used the camera without a prior security check, but that it and the app were not connected to a NASA network. Insta360 cameras were also being used to document U.S. military activities.

Read more in-depth coverage:
China Issues Ominous Warning to US Over Escalating Tech War

TL/DR: In the report, the authors questioned how the Insta360 was able to enter the U.S. market and directly market and sell into American defense and other national security-sensitive environments.

What happens now? "These cameras can either actively or passively collect national security-critical data continuously with a degree of fidelity and precision that is likely impossible through any other means, including human sources," authors wrote in the study dated January 14, 2025.

Deeper reading Exclusive: How U.S. Forces and NASA could Inadvertently be Spying for China

The rundown: With mortgage rates ticking up and home prices still rising nationwide, Donald Trump will be inheriting the thorny problem of the U.S. housing market when he takes office on Monday.

Why it matters: During the 2024 presidential race, Trump vowed to fix the country's chronic lack of inventory by opening more federal land for housing and by deporting millions of undocumented migrants whom he said were the main cause of the nation's housing crunch. He also promised to bring down mortgage rates to make homebuying more affordable by slashing inflation—however experts fear that his plans might make inflation worse and further erode affordability in the housing market. Experts worry that, if Trump implements mass deportations, there might not be enough workers left to build the new homes that the country needs so desperately.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Homebuyer Demand Plunge to Lowest Level in 30 Years

TL/DR: Trump said he would increase much-needed inventory in the U.S. by opening up federal lands to enable more construction and by cutting red-tape and regulations that make it difficult for builders to build.

What happens now? Realtor.com's expectations for this year is that mortgage rates will gradually ease as monetary policy normalizes and the economy continues to grow.

Deeper reading Donald Trump Has a Housing Market Problem

The rundown: Ukraine has hit 10 critical infrastructure sites in Russia this week after conducting numerous drone and missile strikes. See the map of facilities Kyiv hit with drone and missile strikes this week.

Why it matters: Ukraine's strikes on 10 Russian energy facilities this week are significant because they are part of Kyiv's concerted effort to not only injure Moscow's ability to continue funding the war but also damage one of its key industries in terms of trade. Ukraine conducted more than 80 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and depots in 2024, and since the beginning of the new year, they have continued this effort to damage these facilities that power Russia's military and economy. Moreover, despite Western sanctions hampering Russia's oil trade, Moscow's economy relies on oil to survive, and it is already suffering.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Ukraine Gains Advantage over Russia in Three Key Areas

TL/DR: Kyiv has made a concentrated effort throughout the war to hit numerous Russian oil depots, refineries, manufacturing plants, and more to injure Moscow's ability to keep fighting.

What happens now? Ukraine's continued strikes on Russian energy facilities may bring an end to the war sooner than Moscow would like, as it falls deeper into debt.

Deeper reading Russia Map Shows Critical Infrastructure Blasted by Ukraine This Week

The rundown: TikTok announced that it "will be forced to go dark" in the U.S. within days unless the Biden administration issues "a definitive statement" to guarantee that the ban upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday will not be enforced. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters: The White House and Department of Justice both issued statements on Friday indicating that the Biden administration would not immediately implement the ban, with Trump set to take office on Monday. But legally, the ban is set to go into effect on Sunday after the Supreme Court unanimously ruled against a last-minute challenge to the law, which requires TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell off the app by January 19. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to be in attendance for Trump's inauguration ceremony on Monday.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Chinese State Media Cheers 'TikTok Refugees' Flocking to RedNote

TL/DR: A bipartisan bill banning TikTok passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden last year.

What happens now? It is unclear whether the Biden administration will offer additional assurances that the ban will not be enforced before it goes into effect on Sunday. If TikTok does shut down, Trump may instead offer assurances about non-enforcement and the app could return very quickly.

Deeper reading TikTok Says App May Be 'Forced to Go Dark' In New Update

The rundown: Experts believe the already expensive Los Angeles housing market is likely to become even pricier, forcing many residents to move out of the area entirely. That is, if the growing threat of wildfires doesn't convince them to leave first. Find out how this will impact LA residents.

Why it matters: The wildfires, which started on January 7 and burned across roughly 40,000 acres in Southern California, have leveled entire neighborhoods and caused havoc in L.A. County, leaving thousands of people homeless. With over 12,000 structures estimated to have been destroyed by the fires, experts expect the impact on the Southern California housing market to be substantial. An increase in home and rent prices in L.A. County might eventually force more people to leave the area. Experts also fear that homeowners' insurance premiums will skyrocket in the aftermath of the fires and availability will continue dwindling in at-risk zones.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Atmospheric Rivers May Get Worse After California Wildfires

TL/DR: The devastation caused by the fires is likely to exacerbate the state's inventory and affordability crisis, as demand is skyrocketing in the face of drastically diminished supply.

What happens now? Weather forecasters have warned that fire weather might return as soon as next week in L.A. and Ventura counties. Despite residents' attachment to their neighborhoods, some might consider relocating in the face of the growing threat posed by natural disasters.

Deeper reading California's Fire-Prone Areas May Become Too Costly To Live In