Senate Democrats ramp up pressure on Biden to delay TikTok ban
“We’re asking for the ability to be able to try rationally to resolve this issue so TikTok does not go dark,” Democratic Senator Ed Markey said today. Read more
Politics
Get the latest news coverage of politics including Honolulu city and county government, Hawaii legislative issues, U.S. Congress and the White House.
Trump’s EPA pick says CO2 regulation not mandatory
Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing, said a 2007 decision by the Supreme Court gave the agency statutory authority to regulate the heat-trapping greenhouse gas but did not obligate the EPA to take action. Read more
Oligarchy forming in U.S., Biden warns in farewell speech
Biden opened his speech with a familiar message — asking Americans to join together — but quickly warned about a dangerous concentration of wealth in the United States. Read more
Trump nominees pressed on political influence in Senate hearings
Trump’s choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, and CIA director, John Ratcliffe faced Senate committees five days before Trump — who has spoken of seeking retribution against his perceived enemies — is sworn back in on Monday. Read more
Resolution opposing landfill sites above Oahu’s aquifer advances
A Honolulu City Council resolution meant to uphold a more than 20-year-old city policy over solid waste landfills and their proximity to Oahu’s drinking water supply has advanced. Read more
Trump’s nominee Pete Hegseth grilled over women, conduct
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defense and any vote to confirm him is expected to be very close. Read more
Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting temporarily shutters online system
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting today is expected to perform the second major upgrade to its electronic plans review software called ePlans. Read more
Special Counsel: Trump would have been convicted in election case
The report, obtained by The New York Times, amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of a president-elect. Read more
Judge allows release of half of special counsel’s report on Trump
The judge, Aileen M. Cannon, ruled that prosecutors and defense lawyers would have to appear before her in court Friday to argue over whether the Justice Department could release to members of Congress the part of Smith’s report dealing with the case she oversaw: the one in which Trump was accused of refusing to return classified documents after he left office. Read more
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Negotiations begin over Queen Theater’s eminent domain
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration says it’s begun negotiations with the owner of the Queen Theater regarding the Kaimuki landmark’s possible eminent domain as well as its future use. Read more
White House: Biden spoke with families of Americans detained in Afghanistan
Biden’s administration has been negotiating with the Taliban since at least July about a U.S. proposal to release the three Americans — Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi - in exchange for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay, Reuters reported last week, citing a source familiar with the discussions. Read more
Hawaii Legislature will again focus on illegal fireworks
Legislators are expected to introduce — or reintroduce — bills aimed at intercepting shipments of illegal fireworks coming into Hawaii harbors and perhaps increasing penalties. Read more
Hawaii Democrats and Republicans vow collaboration in 2025
House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, in a statement, called the alliance between the 42 House Democrats and nine Republicans “a monumental moment.” Read more
Biden awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In his citation for Francis, Biden lauded the religious leader’s life of service to “the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina” and his lifetime of service to the poor. Read more
TikTok warns of broader consequences if Supreme Court allows ban
The justices signaled through their questions during the arguments that they were inclined to uphold the law, although some expressed serious concerns about its First Amendment implications. Read more
Trump prosecutor Jack Smith resigns from Justice Department
Smith led federal cases against Donald Trump related to his 2020 election defeat and alleged mishandling of classified documents. Read more
Honolulu City Council ‘reaffirms’ opposition to landfill over aquifer
On Dec. 10, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration announced its intent to site the city’s next dump on active agricultural land owned by Dole Food Co. Hawaii near Wahiawa. Read more
Trump avoids jail or punishment at hush money sentencing
Justice Juan Merchan’s sentencing of Trump, 78, to unconditional discharge places a judgment of guilt on his record and closes a case that had loomed over Trump’s bid to retake the White House. Read more
Debate over landfill site is aired before lawmakers
The benefits and drawbacks of having Honolulu’s next solid waste landfill located in Central Oahu were highlighted at the state Capitol this week. Read more
Advocates renew push for Hawaii legislative reforms
A coalition of local community organizations pushing for reform at the Hawaii Legislature has some new backing inside the state Capitol. Read more
Biden protections for transgender students struck down by judge
U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves in Lexington agreed with six Republican-led states that while the law, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, permits sex-specific bathrooms, dorms and other facilities, the U.S. Department of Education rule improperly bans any distinctions based on sex. Read more
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More Politics
Senate Democrats ramp up pressure on Biden to delay TikTok ban
Trump’s EPA pick says CO2 regulation not mandatory
Oligarchy forming in U.S., Biden warns in farewell speech
Trump nominees pressed on political influence in Senate hearings
Resolution opposing landfill sites above Oahu’s aquifer advances
