Three Americans were safely released in a rare prisoner swap between the U.S. and China, with the U.S. turning over two Chinese nationals in exchange. This occurred amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that was holding. Concerns were raised about the growing number of respiratory illnesses, while rough weather caused flight delays and cancellations in the middle of the country. Additionally, there were reports of a wave of bomb threats and swatting attacks aimed at Trump appointees. The Biden administration called for Medicare and Medicaid to cover drugs used for weight loss, as thieves were targeting cars parked at airports. Trump’s tariff plan had some businesses scrambling, and confirmation fights were looming after he picked his cabinet. A judge delayed a resentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers, while there were new warnings about A.I.-generated video deep fakes. First Lady Jill Biden welcomed a Christmas tree from hurricane-ravaged North Carolina, and Trump’s special counsel dropped federal charges against him. Overall, the news highlighted a mix of international relations, domestic issues, and weather-related disruptions.
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