United States Politics and Government

• Judge Blocks Detention of British Researcher Who Scrutinizes Online Hate - Imran Ahmed, who runs an organization that chronicles disinformation, was among five Europeans the State Department had barred, claiming they promote censorship.
• Pope Leo Makes Christmas Call for Dialogue to Address World’s Conflicts - Leo XIV’s Christmas address was his first since being elected pontiff and was scrutinized for comparisons with those of his predecessor, Francis.
• With Trump in Power, Democrats Try to Redefine Themselves as Disrupters - Since President Trump’s rise, Democrats have served as defenders of a political system many Americans believe is broken. Now the party is trying a new approach.
• DOJ Releases Another Batch of Epstein Files: Key Takeaways - The new documents — nearly 30,000 in all — contain hundreds of references to President Trump and include different versions of Jeffrey Epstein’s will.
• Trump Tosses Lifelines to the Struggling Coal Industry - The Energy Department ordered two coal-burning power plants to remain open, and the Environmental Protection Agency gave utilities more time to tackle toxic coal ash.
• In Private Letters, Harvard and Trump Administration Escalate Duel - It is the latest twist in the marquee battle of the administration’s campaign to rein in colleges and universities it views as too liberal.
• How a Scholar Nudged the Supreme Court Toward Its Troop Deployment Ruling - Accepting an argument from a law professor that no party to the case had made, the Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a stinging loss that could lead to more aggressive tactics.
• ICE Sweeps Into Ohio, Stirring Fear Among Somalis and Other Immigrants - After Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus said that its policy prohibited local cooperation on immigration enforcement, Elon Musk called him a “traitor.”
• Chasing an Economic Boom, White House Dismisses Risks of A.I. - The administration has downplayed concerns — from mass job losses, to a potential financial bubble — as President Trump cheers soaring stock prices and faster growth.
• The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly. - As warfare is reinvented in Ukraine, and Silicon Valley races to maintain its A.I. lead, China’s battery dominance is raising alarms far beyond the auto industry.