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Live news: US politics to gear up as Biden and Congress return from break
US politics gets back to work this week, as President Joe Biden returns on Tuesday from his holiday in the US Virgin Islands, while Congress convenes on Wednesday for a largely ceremonial opening session.
Former president and likely 2024 contender Donald Trump stumps in Iowa this week. On Wednesday the Federal Open Market Committee issues minutes from its December 12 2023 meeting.
Wild weather is also set to make headlines as Japan cleans up after an earthquake and tsunami that killed at least four people. New York City expects severe wind and rain in the first week of January, while Australia is bracing for more storms along much of its eastern coast.
In the UK, Eurostar services have been restored after a tunnel flooded in Kent last weekend, but passengers face industrial action from Friday by the RMT union’s engineering and maintenance workers. The NHS junior doctors’ strike resumes on Wednesday.
Among companies, electric-vehicle maker Tesla on Tuesday is set to report record production in 2023. Rival Rivian is also due to announce quarterly deliveries.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday to grant regulatory approval for the launch of exchange traded funds tied to the spot price of bitcoin. BlackRock Asset Management, Fidelity, Invesco and WisdomTree Investments are among those seeking to introduce the ETFs.
Other events expected this week:
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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visits Ankara.
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Bank of Israel to cut short-term rates for the first time in nearly four years.
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Argentina’s new government plans to eliminate 160 regulations that it says hinder economic activity.
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Bangladesh holds a parliamentary election on Sunday.
Read Jonathan Moules’s preview of The Year Ahead here.
A makeshift memorial stands outside the Farragut West Metro station on December 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. Two West Virginia National Guard troops were shot blocks from the White House on November 26.
Heather Diehl/Getty Images
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Heather Diehl/Getty Images
They survived some of the Afghanistan War’s most grueling and treacherous missions.
But once they evacuated to the U.S., many Afghan fighters who served in “Zero Units” found themselves spiraling.
Among their ranks was Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man charged with killing one National Guard member and seriously injuring a second after opening fire on them in Washington, D.C. on Thanksgiving Eve.
NPR’s Brian Mann spoke to people involved in Zero Units and learned some have struggled with mental health since coming to the U.S. At least four soldiers have died by suicide.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Erika Ryan and Karen Zamora. It was edited by Alina Hartounian and Courtney Dorning.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
new video loaded: Behind the Supreme Court’s Push to Expand Presidential Power
By Ann E. Marimow, Claire Hogan, Stephanie Swart and Pierre Kattar
December 12, 2025
Gideon talks to Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s former secretary-general, about Ukraine and Europe’s strategic priorities after recent scathing criticism from US president Donald Trump over its failure to end the war: ‘They talk but they don’t produce.’ Clip: Politico
Free links to read more on this topic:
The White House’s rupture with the western alliance
Trump pushes for ‘free economic zone’ in Donbas, says Zelenskyy
Friedrich Merz offers to host Ukraine talks so deal not done ‘above Europe’s head’
Ukraine’s ‘fortress belt’ that Donald Trump wants to trade for peace
Subscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts – please listen, rate and subscribe.
Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner and the executive producer is Flo Phillips.
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