Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies at House hearing regarding Trump investigations

Former special counsel Jack Smith appeared publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday for the first time, forcefully defending his investigations into Donald Trump and warning that the rule of law in the United States must not be taken for granted. Smith oversaw two federal probes that led to more than 40 criminal charges …

First trilateral talks between US/Russia/Ukraine to be held in UAE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the United States will hold their first-ever trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates this week, marking a potentially significant step in efforts to end the nearly four-year war. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said the meetings are …

2026 Oscar nominees: ‘Sinners’ breaks record with 16 nominations

The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning, with Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”) and Lewis Pullman (“Thunderbolts*”) revealing the list of nominees from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters in Beverly Hills, Calif. Director Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ leads the nominees this year, and …

Teyana Taylor, Alexander Skarsgård to host, Cardi B as musical guest for upcoming ‘SNL’ episodes

Saturday Night Live will feature a star-studded lineup of hosts and musical guests for its last two episodes in January. One Battle After Another star Teyana Taylor will make her debut as guest host on Jan. 24, with hipster indie rock band Geese as musical guest for the first time; and Alexander Skarsgård will also …

House Oversight Committee to depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb. 9

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee plans to depose Ghislaine Maxwell on Feb. 9 as part of its ongoing investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to a source familiar with the planning, the deposition will be conducted virtually. Maxwell was convicted in 2022 of helping Epstein traffic teenage girls, but …

E.U. halts approval of U.S. trade deal after Trump escalates Greenland tariff threats

European lawmakers have indefinitely suspended work on a long-negotiated trade agreement with the United States, deepening tensions after President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs tied to his push for U.S. control of Greenland. The decision was made Wednesday by senior members of the European Parliament handling the agreement, halting the legal ratification process just days …

Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops return in new ‘Avengers: Doomsday” teaser

The X-Men are officially back, with Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier and Ian McKellan’s Magneto returning in a new teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, which also features James Marsden’s Cyclops.  It was also previously confirmed that a number of X-Men characters will return, played by their original actors; including: Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), and Rebecca …

Meghan Trainor and husband Daryl Sabara welcome third baby together via surrogate

Singer Meghan Trainor, 32, and her husband, actor Daryl Sabara, 33, announced they welcomed their third child via surrogate on Jan. 18. Trainor shared an Instagram post about her new daughter’s arrival, writing: “Our baby girl Mikey Moon Trainor has finally made it to the world thanks to our incredible, superwoman surrogate. We are forever …

Justice Department issues subpoenas to Walz, Frey, other Minnesota Leaders as immigration dispute deepens

The Justice Department has issued a series of grand jury subpoenas to top Minnesota officials, dramatically escalating a federal investigation into whether state and local leaders interfered with immigration enforcement during a sweeping federal operation in the Twin Cities. According to documents and multiple people familiar with the matter, subpoenas seeking records were delivered to …

Surge of measles cases in South Carolina raises alarm over elimination status

South Carolina’s measles outbreak continues to intensify, with state health officials confirming 88 additional infections this week, pushing the total to 646 cases since October. The South Carolina Department of Public Health said the vast majority of cases remain concentrated in the Upstate region, particularly Spartanburg County near the North Carolina border. Health authorities have …