Senator-elect James Talarico urged Democrats to seek common ground with Trump after their midterm victories, arguing voters want action on costs and other urgent problems. But cooperation is uncertain as Trump and party leaders brace for a combative Congress.

A communications failure tied to aging FAA equipment grounded more than 3,500 flights nationwide for over four hours Friday. Officials ruled out a cyberattack; the outage reignited a political fight over years of stalled modernization.

A nationwide FAA ground stop stranded USC’s women’s basketball team in Los Angeles, putting its Sunday showdown with South Carolina at risk. A telecom error—not a cyberattack—triggered thousands of delays and cancellations.

The Port Authority has proposed a $10.3 billion 2027 budget, including $4 billion for capital projects in a 10-year infrastructure plan now estimated at $45 billion. No new tolls or fares are proposed; public comments are open through Dec. 15, with a vote set for Dec. 17.

The UAE remained a major destination in 2024 for gold smuggled from conflict zones and sanctioned countries, a Swissaid report says. More than $56 billion in gold came from African producers, including Sudan, where illicit trade helps finance the war.

Four Republicans who led the push to release Epstein records are leaving Congress next year, each for different reasons—not simply as punishment for defying Trump. Before they go, lawmakers are pressing for more disclosure and accountability.

Midterm losses leave Trump politically weakened, but experts warn fewer allies in Congress could make his next moves more erratic and dangerous. With loyalists close by and wide foreign-policy powers, clashes with courts and risks abroad loom.

Measles cases have surged across the Americas, prompting PAHO to rate spread risk around Pope Leo XIV’s South America crowds “very high.” Uneven vaccination and large gatherings raise concern, especially in Peru and Argentina.

Democrats are poised to control both chambers, but their majorities won’t guarantee new laws: Senate rules, Trump’s veto and narrow prospects for Republican support make dealmaking essential. They can still shape oversight, nominees and the agenda.

A sweeping Democratic midterm victory could stall Trump’s agenda, but it won’t leave him powerless. The article urges Republicans to stay united and Democrats to avoid overreach, noting Trump can still act on foreign policy and the economy.