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Politics roundup: Top stories you may have missed this week

This week in politics, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address, the Senate conducted confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, the Supreme Court upheld the looming TikTok ban, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, Trump’s inauguration was moved indoors and more.National headlinesPresident Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday, capping over 50 years of public service. In the speech, he warned of an “oligarchy” of the ultra-wealthy taking root in the country. Here’s a recap of the address.The Senate hosted confirmation hearings for several nominees of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration this week. The nominees included Pete Hegseth (Defense), Kristi Noem (Homeland Security), Marco Rubio (State), Doug Burgum (Interior), Scott Bessent (Treasury), Russell Vought (budget director), Chris Wright (Energy) and Pam Bondi (Attorney General).The Supreme Court dealt a blow Friday to the dwindling hopes of saving TikTok. The top court upheld a law that would ban the app in the U.S. if TikTok’s China-based parent company does not sell before Jan. 19.An official said this week that Biden will not enforce the ban before leaving office, leaving the decision up to Trump.Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage return deal this week with the help of officials from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. It’s a temporary ceasefire, but the hope is that it can extend into a permanent end to the war.With reports of frigid temperatures headed to Washington, D.C., early next week, it was announced that Trump’s inauguration will occur indoors. Here is a list of the coldest inauguration days on record.The full schedule of events for Trump’s second inauguration was released.Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine picked his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was chosen to fill Marco Rubio’s seat.The Biden administration announced that it will remove Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terror.The House passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, sending it to the Senate for final congressional approval.Here’s a breakdown of how many executive orders each president has signed since 1937.The U.S. government clawed back more than $31 million in Social Security payments that improperly went to dead people, a recovery that one official said Wednesday was “just the tip of the iceberg.”Who’s in Trump’s new administration? Here’s a snapshot of age, race and gender.Video of the week: A look back at Biden’s political career Hearst reporting spotlightIowa state lawmaker proposes to buy 9 Minnesota countiesAn Iowa lawmaker wants to expand the state of Iowa by buying Minnesota’s southern row of nine counties.Though the proposal is far from a done deal, it’s already stirring up conversation at the Statehouse.Republican State Sen. Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny, is spearheading the effort.”It’s a mergers and acquisitions strategy for growing our state,” Bousselot told KCCI.The senator’s proposal focuses on the nine counties in southern Minnesota that border Iowa, which he says were originally part of the Iowa Territory.”Right now, there is a bill drafting in the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate that would announce our intent to enter negotiations to purchase this county property,” Bousselot said.The House, the Senate and the governor would all need to sign off on the proposal to begin negotiating with Minnesota. Then, it would go to the United States Congress to approve the new border.Read the full story here.Look aheadTrump will be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 20.The Senate is set to vote on the Laken Riley Act, an immigration crackdown bill, on Monday, Jan. 20.Trump is expected to begin signing executive orders on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 21.Trump’s inaugural ball will take place Monday night.Trump will address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 23. He will speak remotely from Washington, D.C.

National headlines

President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address Wednesday, capping over 50 years of public service. In the speech, he warned of an “oligarchy” of the ultra-wealthy taking root in the country. Here’s a recap of the address.
The Senate hosted confirmation hearings for several nominees of President-elect Donald Trump‘s upcoming administration this week. The nominees included Pete Hegseth (Defense), Kristi Noem (Homeland Security), Marco Rubio (State), Doug Burgum (Interior), Scott Bessent (Treasury), Russell Vought (budget director), Chris Wright (Energy) and Pam Bondi (Attorney General).
The Supreme Court dealt a blow Friday to the dwindling hopes of saving TikTok. The top court upheld a law that would ban the app in the U.S. if TikTok’s China-based parent company does not sell before Jan. 19.
An official said this week that Biden will not enforce the ban before leaving office, leaving the decision up to Trump.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage return deal this week with the help of officials from the U.S., Qatar and Egypt. It’s a temporary ceasefire, but the hope is that it can extend into a permanent end to the war.
With reports of frigid temperatures headed to Washington, D.C., early next week, it was announced that Trump’s inauguration will occur indoors. Here is a list of the coldest inauguration days on record.
The full schedule of events for Trump’s second inauguration was released.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine picked his lieutenant governor, Jon Husted, to replace JD Vance in the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was chosen to fill Marco Rubio’s seat.
The Biden administration announced that it will remove Cuba‘s designation as a state sponsor of terror.
The House passed a bill to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, sending it to the Senate for final congressional approval.
Here’s a breakdown of how many executive orders each president has signed since 1937.
The U.S. government clawed back more than $31 million in Social Security payments that improperly went to dead people, a recovery that one official said Wednesday was “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Who’s in Trump’s new administration? Here’s a snapshot of age, race and gender.

Video of the week: A look back at Biden’s political career

Hearst reporting spotlight

Iowa state lawmaker proposes to buy 9 Minnesota counties

An Iowa lawmaker wants to expand the state of Iowa by buying Minnesota’s southern row of nine counties.

Though the proposal is far from a done deal, it’s already stirring up conversation at the Statehouse.

Republican State Sen. Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny, is spearheading the effort.

“It’s a mergers and acquisitions strategy for growing our state,” Bousselot told KCCI.

The senator’s proposal focuses on the nine counties in southern Minnesota that border Iowa, which he says were originally part of the Iowa Territory.

“Right now, there is a bill drafting in the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate that would announce our intent to enter negotiations to purchase this county property,” Bousselot said.

The House, the Senate and the governor would all need to sign off on the proposal to begin negotiating with Minnesota. Then, it would go to the United States Congress to approve the new border.

Read the full story here.

Look ahead

Trump will be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 20.
The Senate is set to vote on the Laken Riley Act, an immigration crackdown bill, on Monday, Jan. 20.
Trump is expected to begin signing executive orders on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Trump’s inaugural ball will take place Monday night.
Trump will address the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 23. He will speak remotely from Washington, D.C.