President Trump addressed horrific attacks at Brown University and in Australia during a Hanukkah reception at the White House, condemning what he called a “purely antisemitic attack” in Australia and paying respect to victims. At the reception, he said he offered his “deepest regards and respects from the United States of America” to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the nine injured at Brown. Thousands had gathered near the White House for the lighting of the national menorah amid rising antisemitic violence worldwide.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers face a looming health‑care deadline: unless Congress acts, millions will lose Affordable Care Act subsidies on January 1 and could see steep premium increases. The House planned a GOP vote this week on a bill to let small businesses join together to buy employee insurance, but that proposal does not extend ACA subsidies and was criticized by Democrats as inadequate. Dueling Senate proposals failed to advance the prior week. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said a bipartisan compromise is possible and urged colleagues to push for a deal. ACA recipients must choose plans by the enrollment deadline, and with no clear path to extend subsidies millions are expected to face higher premiums in January.