Congress returns with a big to-do list after a Democratic sweep of the midterms. Nvidia opens an investigation after its CEO’s affair with an alleged Chinese spy. And condemnation in Philadelphia over a boycott targeting Jewish-owned restaurants.
Here’s what to know today.
Big tasks await as Congress returns after Democratic wins
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What’s ahead for lame-duck Congress session
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Congress returns today after a blue tsunami in the midterms swept Democrats into control of both chambers. But first, they have a lame-duck session to get through with Republicans still in charge — and a tall list of tasks to complete.
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Here are some of the top items:
→ Fund the government: Lawmakers have to warn a shutdown on Dec. 11. Many were hoping to approve a full-year appropriations bill, but that’s far from certain as Iran war funding emerges as a flash point.
→ House leadership races: House Republicans will choose their leadership team tomorrow in a secret ballot election. Speaker Mike Johnson’s departure sets up a race for minority leader among Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan.
→ Hegseth impeachment: Rep. Thomas Massie said he will reintroduce articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the eight-month war with Iran.
Read the full list here.
More political news:
- Trump said that his immigration policies were “too tough,” saying in an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that mass deportations hurt him during the midterm elections.
- The president said he was “only kidding” when he offered the job of White House press secretary to UFC head Dana White.
The future of AI warfare is playing out on Ukraine’s battlefields
Ukraine has adopted AI in the war to gain an advantage against Russia, turning its military into battlefield beta testers. In interviews with NBC News, officials and entrepreneurs offered a rare glimpse at how the technology is being integrated.
One AI tool interacts with a digital twin of the battlefield, turning front-line data into recommendations for commanders to formulate scenarios. Another model analyzes images from reconnaissance drones, finding key details that can help hunt down the enemy. In a David-versus-Goliath fight, Ukrainians believe developments like these can even out the asymmetry.
“We are convinced that the future of war — no matter how scary it sounds — is a war of operating systems,” said the leader of a Defense Ministry center.
More exclusive reporting.
Tensions rise in Philadelphia over boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants
A bike ride organized to promote a boycott of Jewish-owned restaurants drew opposing demonstrators to Philadelphia yesterday, with people waving Palestinian and Israeli flags exchanging heated words.
Philly Bike On Your Left, which describes itself as an “anti-fascist, anti-Zionist social cycling collective,” organized the boycott. The group said it was protesting businesses for their support of Israel.
State and local officials condemned the event: “Hate and anti-Semitism have no place in our Commonwealth,” Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on
The Anti-Defamation League called it “anti-Semitic, plain and simple.”
The demonstration fell on the eve of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, when Nazi-organized attacks targeted Jewish communities in Europe. Organizers said any implications “about the timing of our ride are simply false.”
Three people were arrested, according to a police spokesperson.
Read the full story here.
Spy plot claims ensnare rock star CEO, a Trump ally who tried to bridge AI divide with China
China dismissed as a smear campaign reports that Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang was the target of a Beijing espionage operation, as the allegations raise concern about the American AI leader’s relationships with both President Donald Trump and Chinese officials.
“The Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is smears against China,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in response to a question from NBC News at a regular briefing in Beijing.
The Chinese comment came hours after Nvidia’s board of directors said it was opening an independent investigation in response to reports by The New York Times and the Financial Times that Huang had a relationship with a Chinese businesswoman named Alice Huang.
On Sunday, a person with knowledge of the matter told NBC News that US intelligence agencies had determined that Alice Huang was a Chinese spy. The two Huangs are unrelated.
The scandal threatens to engulf a global leader of the AI revolution, and a key ally of Trump, at a crucial moment for both the technology’s future and the clash between Washington and Beijing. The Democrats’ sweep of the US midterm elections already promised greater scrutiny of the industry after months of mounting concern over its potential threat to humanity.
Here’s what else we know.
Staff Pick: Why Hollywood is uncanceling Johnny Depp
This Friday, for the first time since 2018, Johnny Depp will open a major studio movie, Paramount’s “Ebenezer.” Depp has been in exile from Hollywood since his legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard over her allegations of domestic violence burst into public view at the height of the #MeToo movement. Depp has denied the claims. His return to studio films is the latest example of how the entertainment industry is reevaluating the risks of hiring stars who were accused of abuse or misconduct.
To better understand why Hollywood feels ready to bring Depp back, I interviewed studio executives, agents and filmmakers about the actor, who has made some $10 billion for the entertainment industry over his more than 40-year career. I learned about the data studios consulted that indicates moviegoers don’t really care about Depp’s offscreen problems. And I found out about Depp’s new contracts, which treat him like the Hollywood version of a distressed asset, a movie star who is priced below market value. As a source at one studio told me of working with Depp right now, “the math is incredibly appealing.”
— Rebecca Keegansenior Hollywood reporter
Read All About It
- The man who opened fire in a public square, killing six people in a suspected terror attack in Kraków, Poland, has diedpolice said.
- Missed NFL Sunday? The Rams got a much-needed defensive boost, the Bears held on, and more highlights here.
- For subscribers: An Oregon man charged with taking a Utah teen had been accused of sexually abusing a 6-year-old girl months earlier.
NBC Selected: Online Shopping, Simplified
There are a lot of things to look forward to when the cold temperatures arrive: Refreshing your winter wardrobesitting around a fire pit or taking a winter vacation. What isn’t as exciting is all of the home maintenance that comes with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. Learn how to properly insulate your home to stay warm all season long.
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