Lawmakers say White House ‘covering up things’ in release of Epstein files … “This is all about covering up things that for whatever reason Donald Trump doesn't want to go public,” the Maryland Democrat added, “either about himself or other members of his family, friends …

US Still in Pursuit of Third Oil Tanker in Venezuela Blockade  —  The US is still in pursuit of a third oil tanker near Venezuela, according to a US official, as President Donald Trump intensifies an oil blockade on Nicolás Maduro's government.  —  The Bella 1 tanker …

Senate stares down fraught health care battle with ObamaCare subsidies set to expire  —  Senate negotiators are set for a high-wire act on health care in the coming weeks after leaving Washington for the holidays without a resolution on the expiring enhanced subsidies, with lawmakers increasingly shifting …

Vance tries to weather the MAGA storm at Turning Point … “If you miss Charlie Kirk, do you promise to fight what he died for?  Do you promise to take the country back from the people who took his life?”  Vance asked the crowd.  —  His speech at the Phoenix Convention Center is the culmination …

Israel approves 19 new settlements in occupied West Bank  —  Israel's security cabinet has approved the recognition of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank as the government continues its settlement expansion push.  —  Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich …

Waymo halts service during massive S.F. blackout after causing traffic jams  — Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email  —  Love what you read?  Love that it was free?  —  Mission Local will never have a paywall.  All our articles are free for everyone, always.

White House threatens Smithsonian funds in sweeping content review  —  “American people will have no patience” for any museum that is “uncomfortable conveying a positive view of American history,” read a letter from Trump aides.  —  The Trump administration escalated pressure on the Smithsonian this week …

'It's Just Us': The Firefighter, His Son and a Treacherous Choice  —  For two decades, Luis Martinez has fought wildfires for the U.S. government.  Now he's facing down cancer, debt and the threat of separation from his 11-year-old.  —  Luis Martinez was still trying to figure out how to tell …

Acting CISA director failed a polygraph.  Career staff are now under investigation. … The incident this July and the subsequent fallout — which has not been reported before — have angered career staff, alarmed fellow Trump administration appointees and raised questions about Gottumukkala's leadership …

‘60 Minutes’ Pulls Segment on Trump Deportees Sent to El Salvador Megaprison 2 Hours Before Airtime  —  The episode Terrorism Confinement Center will reportedly air at a later date  —  “60 Minutes” abruptly dropped a segment about Trump deportees sent to a megaprison in El Salvador Sunday — two hours before it was set to air.

'They're attacking their own': DC Democrats irked by surge of left-wing challengers with House majority on the line  —  Congressional news House election US elections Donald Trump  —  When Rep. Dan Goldman first ran for Congress in 2022, he was cheered on the left as the party's top lawyer …

Trump Takes America's ‘Imperial Presidency’ to a New Level  —  In his first year back in the White House, President Trump has greatly expanded executive power while embracing the trappings of royalty in ways not seen in the modern era.  —  When President Trump hosted the crown prince …

The year Trump broke the federal government  —  How DOGE and the White House carried out a once-unthinkable transformation of the nation's sprawling bureaucracy.  —  Government reporters Hannah Natanson and Meryl Kornfield can be reached securely on Signal at (202) 580-5477 and (301) 821-2013, respectively.