A U.S. district judge in Oregon has blocked a $25 billion bid by supermarket giant Kroger to take over its rival Albertsons, ruling that the Federal Trade Commission’s concerns about the merger’s impact on market consolidation were valid. 

Controversial FBI Director Christopher Wray officially announced his resignation from the position on Wednesday. 

Texas Senator Ted Cruz slammed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for bringing charges against Daniel Penny, urging him to sue Bragg for “malicious prosecution” following Penny’s acquittal in the high profile homicide case in New York City.

On Wednesday, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, scooped a left-wing media outlet that was preparing to publish a story about Hegseth supposedly lying about getting into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran, posted photos of his acceptance letter from the academy in a now-viral post. The 44-year-old said he chose not to attend the academy after he was accepted. “We understand that ProPublica (the Left Wing hack group) is planning to publish a knowingly false report that I was not accepted to West Point in 1999,” Hegseth wrote. “Here’s my letter of acceptance signed by West Point Superintendent, Lieutenant General Daniel Christman, US Army.” We understand that ProPublica (the Left Wing hack group) is planning to publish a knowingly false report that I was not accepted to West Point in 1999. Here’s my letter of acceptance signed by West Point Superintendent, Lieutenant General Daniel Christman, US Army. pic.twitter.com/UOhOVZSfhJ — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 11, 2024 ProPublica editor Jesse Eisinger said West Point told the outlet on two occasions that Hegseth did not even apply to the academy, but said after Hegseth’s people sent ProPublica the acceptance letter, they chose not to run with the story. CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE “Hegseth has said that he got into West Point but didn’t attend,” Eisinger posted online. “We asked West Pt public affairs, which told us twice on the record that he hadn’t even applied there. We reached out. Hegseth’s spox gave us his acceptance letter. We didn’t publish a story. That’s journalism.” Hegseth has said that he got into West Point but didn’t attend. We asked West Pt public affairs, which told us twice on the record that he hadn’t even applied there. We reached out. Hegseth’s spox gave us his acceptance letter. We didn’t publish a story. That’s journalism. https://t.co/TceZdglkmL — Jesse Eisinger (@eisingerj) December 11, 2024 West Point told The Daily Wire that the discrepancy was due to an error and apologized. “A review of our records indicates Peter Hegseth was offered admission to West Point in 1999 but did not attend,” the West Point directorate of communications said in a statement. “An incorrect statement involving Hegseth’s admission to the U.S. Military Academy was released by an employee on Dec. 10, 2024,” the statement continued. “Upon further review of an archived database, employees realized this statement was in error. Hegseth was offered acceptance to West Point as a prospective member of the Class of 2003.” “The academy takes this situation seriously and apologizes for this administrative error,” the directorate of communications added. Related: ‘Pete Is A WINNER’: Trump Stands By Hegseth Amid Legacy Media Firestorm

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson a “warning,” suggesting that such action would not be isolated if things did not change. Warren spoke to HuffPost about the execution-style murder that took place in New York — for which Luigi Mangione has been arrested — and she addressed the fact that many had expressed support for the alleged killer and no sympathy for the victim. “The visceral response from people across this country who feel cheated, ripped off, and threatened by the vile practices of their insurance companies should be a warning to everyone in the health care system,” Warren told the outlet. “Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far,” she continued. “This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin called Warren out in a post on X, saying, “Maybe don’t use murder as opening for your political messaging and leave it at ‘answer,'” he said before sharing her direct quote: “Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far. This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in …” Maybe don’t use murder as opening for your political messaging and leave it at “answer” “Violence is never the answer, but people can be pushed only so far,” she said. “This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in… https://t.co/h2kP1jSgZV — Jonathan Martin (@jmart) December 11, 2024 “Massachusetts Dem. Sen. Elizabeth Warren makes an excuse for the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. I do not believe one Democrat not named Fetterman has condemned this murder,” conservative pundit Carmine Sabia added. Massachusetts Dem. Sen. Elizabeth Warren makes an excuse for the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. I do not believe one Democrat not named Fetterman has condemned this murder. https://t.co/OkZ793Rmh3 — Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) December 11, 2024 Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called out the violence, condemning it without equivocation or qualification. “He’s the a**hole that’s going to die in prison. Congratulations if you want to celebrate that. A sewer is going to sewer … Remember, he has two children that are going to grow up without their father… It’s vile. And if you’ve gunned someone down that you don’t happen to agree with their views or the business that they’re in, hey, you know, I’m next, they’re next, he’s next, she’s next.”