Happy New Year — and welcome to 2025! It’s officially that season when most of us still accidentally write 2024 on everything (or is that just me?) We also just exited the era of Generation Alpha. Babies born in 2025 are now a part of Gen Beta. I hope you all got a much-needed break from the chaos in the world, so let me catch you up:
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Bourbon Street is expected to reopen today after a driver plowed through a crowd of people on the busy New Orleans street in the early morning hours on New Year’s Day, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.
What we know about the suspect: The driver has been identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar from Texas. Jabbar is an Army veteran. He is believed to be inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group — an ISIS flag was found in the truck used for the attack. He reportedly used a rental car app to secure the truck.
Read more: ‘What we know about New Orleans terror attacker’
The victims: Officials have not released a list of the victims but family members have identified several of the people who were killed, including: Former Princeton University football star Tiger Bech, aspiring nurse Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux and Reggie Hunter, a 37-year-old father of two.
Read more: ‘Prospective nurse, football star among victims of New Orleans terror attack’
CNN obtained surveillance footage of the truck turning onto Bourbon Street. Warning, it’s graphic and disturbing. Learn more from The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch. |
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Did he act alone?: The FBI’s current assessment is that the suspect acted alone. 💻 Clip from this morning’s press conference
Were there suspicions about the Jabbar?: Fox News reports that the FBI had no intel on the suspect before the attack, according to a call with lawmakers. Officials also believe the suspect was “inspired” by ISIS, but don’t have evidence that he was directly linked to the extremist group.
It is being treated as an ‘act of terrorism’: “This was an act of terrorism,” Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia with the FBI Counterterrorism Division said this morning. “It was premeditated and an evil act.”
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Another scary incident, but in Las Vegas:
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A Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of President-elect Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on Wednesday. One person was killed and seven others were injured. Officials are still investigating whether it was an act of terrorism — and whether it was connected to the New Orleans attack.
Who died?: NewsNation identified the man who died in the Cybertruck explosion as Matthew Alan Livelsberger. Livelsberger is an Army veteran and drove the truck.
Elon Musk has helped in the investigation: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his help in investigating the explosion.
From McMahill: “I have to thank Elon Musk specifically. He gave us quite a bit of additional information in regards to how the vehicle was locked after it exploded,” and tracking where the vehicle came from through Tesla charging stations. (The Hill)
Musk lashed out at the suspect: “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack,” Musk posted on X. “Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”
Everything we know: ‘Tesla Cybertruck explodes in front of Trump’s Las Vegas hotel’
Related, via The New York Times: ‘Investigators Search for Links Between New Orleans Attack and Las Vegas Blast’ |
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The Sugar Bowl has been postponed to today: The University of Georgia and University of Notre Dame were scheduled to play the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Wednesday, but it was pushed to Thursday afternoon. The New Orleans Police Department says the security for today’s game will equate to the Super Bowl.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) told NBC’s Lester Holt that she wishes it was postponed by another day.
Trump blamed the attack on ‘open borders’: President-elect Trump blamed the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border for the recent attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. But keep in mind: The New Orleans suspect was a U.S. citizen from Texas, and the Las Vegas incident was reportedly an Army veteran from Colorado.
Biden mentioned the suspect’s ISIS inspiration: Biden delivered brief remarks from Camp David on Wednesday. “Hours before the attack, [the suspect] posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by ISIS, especially a desire to kill,” Biden said.
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Hitting the ground ~power walking~: |
The 119th Congress will kick off tomorrow with total GOP control. The first order of business will be to choose a House speaker. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is likely to keep his gavel, though Republicans have very little room for error.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is planning to vote *against* Johnson, but he needs at least one other Republican lawmaker to join him in order to block Johnson. For what it’s worth, Johnson expressed confidence this morning in his Speakership election.
”I think we’ll get it done,” Johnson said in a "Fox & Friends" interview. “I really do.” The Senate will also meet Friday, as mandated in the Constitution.
The next big task for Republicans is to confirm President-elect Trump’s Cabinet. The confirmation hearings will likely consume the next few weeks of the Senate’s time.
Yes, but keep in mind about timing: Punchbowl pointed out that most committees require a week’s notice for any hearings, so that means there may not be any confirmation hearings scheduled for next week. It may not be as busy as we thought … The top five confirmation battles to watch: -
Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence
- Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services
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Kash Patel for FBI director
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor secretary
Read Al Weaver’s explainer for why each confirmation battle could be tough. |
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Biden is giving Liz Cheney an award: |
“President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 individuals at the White House on Thursday, including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has been an outspoken critic of President-elect Trump and some of his allies,” reports The Hill’s Brett Samuels.
The award: “Cheney will be honored for her service in Congress and on the special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and for speaking out about the importance of democracy.” More Biden award recipients
💻 Livestream of the 5 p.m. ceremony |
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🥐 Celebrate: Today is National Cream Puff Day!
🎄 Does someone need a hug?: Actor Will Ferell showed up at a Los Angeles Kings game dressed as Buddy the Elf, the character whom he played in the 2003 film. It looks like Buddy had a tough 2024 based on his appearance. Is that a cigarette hanging out of his mouth?
👑 Look who’s back on IG: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has returned to Instagram. She posted a video on the beach to make the announcement. 📱 Meghan’s Instagram account
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden just returned to Washington from Camp David, and Vice President Harris is leaving Los Angeles today. (all times Eastern) |
- 2 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on securing 235 judicial confirmations. 💻 Livestream
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5 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks at a Presidential Citizens Medal ceremony. 💻 Livestream
- 6:50 p.m.: Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff arrive in D.C.
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Noon Friday: The Senate meets as is “pursuant to the Constitution.” 📆 Friday’s agenda
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Noon Friday: The House officially begins the 119th Congress. 📆 Friday’s agenda
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Jan. 7 – 9: Former President Jimmy Carter will lie in the Capitol Rotunda before his funeral on Jan. 9.
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Jan. 19: President-elect Trump will hold a rally in Washington, the day before his inauguration.
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This dog is processing the fact that we’re now in the year 2025. He’s fine. He’s great, actually. |
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