What Biden's Ukraine Missile Decision Means

Good Tuesday morning. Meet a Minnesota high school football player who will soon become a Buddhist lama. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

• South Carolina: Monkey update

• Lebanon: Ceasefire progress

• House: Gaetz meeting

• Spirit Air: Bankruptcy filing

• Beyonce: NFL gig

... and more

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Top Tips

1) Change of heart

President Joe Biden will allow Ukraine to use long-range U.S. missiles inside Russia. What now?

• Catch up: Biden has lifted his prohibition on Ukrainian airstrikes on Russian territory using American long-range missiles. The Ukrainians have had the weapons -- and similar ones provided by other NATO allies -- for some time, but their usage was restricted out of concern despite long-running Ukrainian pleas. Biden and other countries were concerned giving Ukraine the green light increased the odds of a direct confrontation between the alliance and the Kremlin.

• Important to note: The exact guidance Biden has given Ukraine is unclear. It is possible the Ukrainians will only be able to use the missiles in Russia's Kursk border region, where they are trying to hold territory against a Russian surge backed by North Korean reinforcements.

• Why now? Some possible motivations: Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian electrical and energy infrastructure as winter approaches. There is also speculation Biden is aiming to allow the Ukrainians to rally in the final weeks of his presidency to generate leverage for whatever ceasefire negotiations President-elect Donald Trump initiates once in office. The move could also spur France and the United Kingdom to give similar authorizations.

• The reactions: Russia threatened retaliation if Ukraine uses U.S. missiles inside its territory, continuing its claims it would view such an attack as a major escalation by NATO. New bloc members Finland and Sweden are telling its citizens to be prepared for a war to outbreak. And two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were severed, raising suspicions of Kremlin sabotage.

2) Still the plan

President-elect Trump again said he plans to use the U.S. military to deport undocumented migrants.

• What happened: Trump commented "TRUE!!!" on his Truth Social social media platform in response to a post by conservative activist Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch that said the president-elect's incoming administration is "prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse [illegal migration under President Biden] through a mass deportation program."

• Comments and context: Trump has previously pledged to direct National Guard units to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which handles deportations. The Posse Comitatus Act limits federal powers to use the military for domestic law enforcement, but that only applies to the National Guard if the federal government takes authority. Advocates of Trump's approach say the military would most likely be used in a logistical support role while ICE carries out the actual deportations. It is unclear what mechanism constituting a "national emergency" Trump could look to.

• Big picture: Tom Homan, who Trump has appointed as his "border czar," said he is finalizing details to ramp up arrests and deportations with an initial focus on criminals and national security threats. But it is unclear how the Trump Administration plans to carry through with deportations on a mass scale and what resources it would entail; Trump recently said there was "no price tag" that would deter him.

3) Furor down under

An estimated 35K people protested a controversial bill in New Zealand.

• Catch up: The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 between the British Crown and the Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of the mainland. The pact addresses cultural and land rights and Maori relations with the government, and its principles have been included in legislation. But the treaty is not a legal document.

• Current day: The ACT Party, part of New Zealand's coalition government, claims the treaty has created a system where Maori citizens enjoy legal and political privileges that non-Maori citizens do not. The party's Treaty Principles Bill would give the country's parliament more say than the courts when interpreting laws.

• Big picture: The bill is unlikely to pass, but it has sparked significant political tensions. A days-long protest march ended today in Wellington with crowds outside the parliament building. And you may have seen video of Maori legislators and gallery members doing the Haka to interrupt a parliamentary vote.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

• Only four monkeys remain on the loose after escaping from a South Carolina testing facility. Officials have safely recovered 39 primates, all in good health, after a worker accidentally left their cage open last week (More)

• An 11-year-old boy was arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies in the Seattle area. Two adult suspects were also apprehended; the trio is accused of robbing at least four gas stations, stealing cash and merchandise from convenience stores (More)

• At least two people were killed in a pair of shootings during a New Orleans second-line parade. Eleven people were injured; no arrests had been reported (More)

World News

• Lebanon indicated it and Hezbollah have largely agreed to a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire with Israel. Lebanon is on board with the major terms; a U.S. envoy is expected in Beirut today, a sign that talks are progressing (More)

• The Royal Mounted Canadian Police reportedly foiled an Iranian assassination plot against a former government official. Ex-Justice Minister Irwin Cotler has been an outspoken critic of Tehran; he has also worked on combatting antisemitism (More)

• A Chinese college student went on a stabbing spree, killing eight and injuring 17. It is the country's second recent mass casualty event; the suspect reportedly confessed to police and blamed frustration over poor grades and internship pay as a motive (More)

Political News

• The House Ethics Committee will meet tomorrow to discuss its report on former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. President-elect Trump's Attorney General nominee was under investigation for sexual misconduct when he resigned; several witnesses reportedly told the committee he paid them for sex and slept with an underage woman (More)

• Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O'Malley will seek the Democratic National Committee chairmanship. The former Maryland governor and presidential candidate will resign at the end of the month; he has pledged to refocus the party on issues that impact average families (More)

• Trump tabbed ex-Illinois Rep. Sean Duffy, now a Fox News personality, to be Secretary of Transportation. Brendan Carr is the president-elect's pick to be the Federal Communications Commission's chairman; the current Republican commission member of the FCC commission was a contributor to the controversial Project 2025 policy proposal (More | More)

Business & Markets

• Major indexes closed mixed yesterday. The Nasdaq jumped over 100 points as Tesla's share price rallied to start the week (Dow -0.13%, Nasdaq +0.60%, S&P 500 +0.39%).

• Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The budget carrier will continue operations as normal as it reorganizes; the company has struggled with debt and losses since the Biden Administration rejected a merger with JetBlue Airways (More)

• Nippon Steel said it will not import into the U.S. from its overseas mills. The Japanese steelmaker made the pledge in a letter to the United Steelworkers union as it bids to salvage its proposed $15B takeover of U.S. Steel; President-elect Trump has said he would block the deal (More)

Entertainment & Sports

• Beyonce will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas Day. Other artists are expected to perform with the pop star; the game will be carried on Netflix and over the air in local markets (More)

• Federal prosecutors alleged Sean "Diddy" Combs is trying to "corruptly influence witness testimony" from prison. The hip-hop mogul is in custody without bail on sex trafficking charges; officials said they have audio of Combs telling a family member to contact potential witnesses (More)

• The Los Angeles Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue outside their arena. Riley was a player and broadcaster for the NBA team before leading the team to four championships during the "Showtime" era to go along with titles as a player and assistant coach (More)

Quick Hitters

• Feel Good: An Arkansas police officer found a litter of abandoned puppies while responding to a call. Community members jumped into action and made sure they all found homes.

• Take Note: Are you unsure if your diet would be considered healthy? Experts say this criteria can help you make a determination.

• History Lesson: No, they did not use Zoom. But the first virtual meeting did technically happen in 1916.

• Fun Stuff: A village in Scotland holds an annual competition where local school children design the holiday lights that decorate the streets. The creativity is impressive!

• Life Hack: You are almost assuredly burning your candles the wrong way. Here are some tips to keep the area around the wick from tunneling.

Watch This

The CIA once invented this terrifying weapon.

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Looking Ahead …

Today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee means a lot to the NFL's Washington Commanders. A bill that would give the District of Columbia a 99-year lease for the old Robert F. Kennedy Stadium site (currently controlled by the National Park Service) is sitting in the upper chamber. If it passes, the city is expected to use it to try to build a new stadium for the team.

Question of the Day

Yesterday’s results:

Tomatoes: Yay or nay?

• I love them! (83%)

• Ketchup and pasta sauce is OK, but never the raw fruit (14%)

• I hate them! (3%)