Biden pardons his son Hunter; Mormon church faces pushback

Hot Off The Wire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter. That spares the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reverses the president's past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after his convictions in Delaware and California.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Parts of the Great Lakes region are seeing new snow and face the prospect of even more this week after U.S. travelers battled harsh weather to get home after Thanksgiving.

Consumers in the U.S. are scouring the internet for online deals as they look to make the most of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon on Cyber Monday. The National Retail Federation coined the term for the Monday after Black Friday in 2005.

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Fifty-six people were killed and dozens injured as security forces tried to quell clashes during a soccer match in southern Guinea’s largest city.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen workers have launched rolling two-hour strikes at nine plants across Germany to underscore their resistance to pay cuts and factory closures.

In other news:

• Canada's ambassador says Trudeau told Trump the Canadian border can't be compared to Mexico's.
• Trump says he'll nominate Kash Patel as FBI director to remake the agency. Here's what happens next.
• DACA recipients worry their protection from deportation won't last another Trump term.
• Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts.
• After Black Friday and Cyber Monday it's time for Giving Tuesday.
• Regulators cracked down on sweet vapes after use by kids spiked. Now the Supreme Court is wading in.
• More than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars seized at Los Angeles port.
• The NFL playoff picture continues to take shape, the NBA's top two teams square off, a light schedule in the NHL and apair of college football coaches are shown the door.
• Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets engaged to Hailee Steinfeld.
• A landmark climate change case will open at the top UN court as island nations fear rising seas.
• Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty. Talks to resume next year.
• Activists say Mexican authorities have broken up 2 migrant caravans heading to the US.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, the Mormon church experiences pushback in a temple building boom.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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