Republicans defy Speaker Johnson to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies
WASHINGTON (AP) — Four centrist Republicans have broken with their party’s leadership over health care. They signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans. Democrats needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill. The four Republicans signed it Wednesday morning, pushing it to that magic number.
Rob Reiner’s son Nick set to appear in court on 2 counts of murder in killing of his parents
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Reiner, son of Rob Reiner, is expected to appear in court Wednesday as he faces charges of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges Tuesday. The 78-year-old actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead from stab wounds in their Los Angeles home Sunday. Nick Reiner was arrested hours later. Prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and a special allegation of using a knife, which could lead to a greater sentence. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the killings.
Jack Smith tells lawmakers his team developed ‘proof beyond a reasonable doubt’ against Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has told lawmakers in a closed-door interview his team “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” President Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss. That’s according to portions of Smith’s opening statement obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Smith says investigators had “powerful evidence” Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents from his first term as president at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and by obstructing government efforts to recover the records. Smith says decisions in the investigations were made without regard to consideration of Trump’s Republican candidacy in 2024. Trump says he’d rather see Smith testify publicly.
Trump will witness the dignified transfer for 2 National Guard members killed in Syria
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump is going to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to witness the dignified transfer for two Iowa National Guard members who were killed in an attack in Syria. The ritual Wednesday is in honor of U.S. service members killed in action. Trump traveled to Dover several times in his first term as president. He once described this duty as “the toughest thing I have to do” as president. The Army says that Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Iowa died in the attack Saturday. They were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.
Investigators release additional video of possible Brown gunman as search continues
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities are asking the public for any footage they might have of the gunman who fatally shot two students and wounded nine others at Brown University. They released a new video timeline and a slightly clearer image of a possible suspect Tuesday. Investigators provided no indication that they were any closer to zeroing in on his identity. In all of the videos made public, the suspect’s face was masked or turned away. Authorities have only been able to give a vague description of him as being stocky and about 5 feet, 8 inches tall.
Louvre workers vote to extend a strike as the museum partially reopens
PARIS (AP) — Employees at the Louvre Museum have voted to extend a strike that has disrupted operations at the world’s most visited museum. The Louvre partially opened Wednesday to allow visitors to enjoy the Mona Lisa and other highlights. The museum said visitors had access to a limited “masterpiece route.” Union workers are protesting chronic under-staffing, building deterioration and recent management decisions. The pressures were intensified by a brazen crown jewels heist in October that exposed serious security lapses. Culture Ministry officials held crisis talks with unions Monday and proposed measures that union leaders said fell short.
Putin warns that Russia will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail
Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Moscow will extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks. Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers Wednesday, Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means. But he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.” He also warned that Moscow would move to expand a “buffer security zone” alongside the Russian border.
Search goes on for suspect in fatal shooting of MIT professor who was fatally shot at his home
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — Police intensified their search for a suspect in the fatally shooting of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in his home in a Boston suburb. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office says Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old professor of nuclear science and engineering, was shot Monday night in Brookline and died Tuesday at a local hospital. Officials say no suspects are in custody. Loureiro, who is from Portugal, joined MIT in 2016 and had been named last year to lead its Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Wall Street holds steady as oil prices rise
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are holding relatively steady, while the price of oil claws back some of this year’s sharp slide. The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged Wednesday, coming off its third straight drop, though it remains near its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 219 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. The majority of stocks on Wall Street rose, including those in the oil business after President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers into Venezuela. The price for a barrel of benchmark U.S. oil rose 1.4%, a day after it sank to its lowest level since 2021.
Warner Bros asks investors to reject takeover bid by Paramount Skydance
NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. is telling shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying that a rival bid from Netflix will be better for customers. It said Wednesday that it “strongly believes” a merger with Netflix will allow it to reach a broader audience. Paramount went hostile with its bid last week, asking shareholders to reject the deal with Netflix favored by the board of Warner Bros. Paramount’s bid isn’t off the table altogether. While Wednesday’s letter to shareholders means Paramount is not the offer favored by the board at Warner Bros., shareholders can still decide to tender their shares in favor of Paramount’s offer for the entire company — including cable stalwarts CNN and Discovery.