President Donald Trump unveiled a deal Thursday with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand coverage and reduce prices for their popular obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy.
The drugs are part of a new generation of obesity medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that have soared in popularity in recent years.
Access to the drugs has been limited because of their costs — around $500 a month for higher doses — and spotty insurance coverage.
Coverage of the drugs for obesity will expand to Medicare patients starting next year, according to the administration, which said some lower prices also will be phased in for patients without coverage.
Thursday’s announcement is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to rein in soaring drug prices in its efforts to address cost-of-living concerns among voters.
Still, it’s unclear how much the price drop will be felt by consumers. Drug prices can vary based on the competition for treatments and insurance coverage.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume†markets — including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago — to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown. See .
Here's the latest:
Man who threw sandwich at federal agent in Washington is found not guilty of assault charge
A former Justice Department employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in Washington was found not guilty of assault on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
A viral video of the sandwich tossing made Sean Charles Dunn to Trump’s deployment of federal agents to combat crime in the nation’s capital. His misdemeanor acquittal is another setback for prosecutors, who have faced a backlash for how they have handled criminal cases resulting from the law enforcement surge.
There was no dispute over whether Dunn threw the sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent on the night of Aug. 10. But his lawyers argued it was a “harmless gesture†during an act of protest protected by the First Amendment.
Prosecutors said Dunn knew he didn’t have a right to throw the sandwich at the agent.
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Trump says if the Supreme Court rules against his tariffs, he’ll have to come up with a new plan
Asked about the high court hearing arguments on his tariff policy, Trump said “we did very well yesterday.†He added, however, that a decision against tariffs would be “devastating for our country.â€
“But I also think that we’ll have to develop a game two plan†Trump continued “and we’ll see what happens.â€
Those comments came a day after his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, was asked if the administration had a Plan B should it lose at the Supreme Court and demurred, saying only, “We’re not going to discuss that now.â€
Trump says it’s safe to fly, even as FAA plans to reduce air traffic
Asked during his Oval Office event whether he believes it’s safe to fly, Trump said, “No I’m not concerned about it. It’s a fair question.â€
in more than two dozen states are among those facing 10% reductions in air traffic Friday due to the .
The Federal Aviation Administration is imposing the reductions to take pressure off air traffic controllers, who are federal employees and have gone without pay during the shutdown.
“They want to make sure it’s 100%,†Trump said of the move. “That’s why they’re doin
Obesity affects more than just low-income Americans
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday that “obesity is a disease of poverty,†but while rates of the chronic disease tend to be higher in people with the lowest incomes, that’s not always true.
About 44% of U.S. adults with the lowest incomes have obesity, compared with about 47% of those with middle incomes and about 39% of those with the highest incomes, according to 2017-2020 data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Among women, about 48% of those in the lowest income category, below 130% of the federal poverty level, had obesity, compared with about 49% of those with middle incomes and 35% of those with the highest incomes.
Among men, those with the lowest incomes, below 130% of the federal poverty level, had the lowest obesity rates of 37%, compared with about 44% of men with middle incomes and 42% of men in the highest income category.
Trump resumes weight-loss drug event after participant fainted
The unidentified man who fainted did not return to the Oval Office.
Trump said the gentleman was feeling lightheaded but is OK now.
The White House has not identified him.
Kazakhstan to join Abraham Accords with Israel in symbolic move to boost Trump initiative
Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab and Muslim majority countries in a symbolic move aimed at boosting the initiative that was a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s first administration, according to three U.S. officials.
The move is largely symbolic as Kazakhstan has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992 and is much further geographically from Israel than the other Abraham Accord nations – Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. Those countries agreed to normalize relations with Israel as a result, something Kazakhstan has done since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement, said Trump would announce the step at a summit he is hosting later Thursday with the leaders of the five Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan.
— Matthew V. Lee and Aamer Madhani
White House says man who fainted during Trump announcement is ‘okay’
A few minutes after the event was abruptly ended, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement saying that “a representative with one of the companies fainted†but that “The White House Medical Unit quickly jumped into action, and the gentleman is okay.â€
She didn’t identify the man, but said the drug price event would resume shortly.
It had featured executives from drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Judge will order federal agents in Chicago to restrict using force against protesters and media
A judge said Thursday she will order federal agents in Chicago to restrict using force against peaceful protesters and media, saying current practices violate their constitutional rights.
The preliminary injunction came in response to a lawsuit alleging federal agents have used excessive force in their immigration crackdown in the Chicago area.
U.S District Judge ’s ruling, which is expected to be appealed by President Donald Trump’s administration, refines an earlier temporary order that required agents to wear badges and banned them from using certain , such as tear gas, against peaceful protesters and journalists. After repeatedly chastising federal officials for not following her previous orders, she added a requirement for body cameras.
Ellis began Thursday’s hearing by describing Chicago as a “vibrant place†and reading from poet Carl Sandburg’s famous poem about the city.
Ellis said it is “simply untrue†that the Chicago area is a violent place of rioters.
“I don’t find defendants’ version of events credible,†Ellis said.
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Trump drug announcement ends suddenly as man collapses in Oval Office
The president’s drug price announcement ended abruptly when a man standing near Trump in the Oval Office collapsed.
Officials rushed to help the man after his collapse, and the press was quickly removed. It was unclear what caused the collapse or who the man was.
Kennedy says GLP-1 agreement shows Trump is champion of forgotten Americans
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. had previously expressed skepticism to GLP-1s in fighting obesity and drugs diseases related to the condition.
But Kennedy was full of for praise of Trump for pushing to help a broader segment of Americans have access to the drug.
“It’s not a panacea, it’s not a silver bullet,†Kennedy noted.
He added, “Trump is the friend of the forgotten American. Obesity is a disease of poverty. And overwhelmingly these drugs have only been available for people who have wealth.â€
Trump polls for who has or hasn’t used a weight loss drug
Introducing the officials who joined him for the announcement in the Oval Office, Trump asked or commented on who has or hasn’t used any of the weight-loss medications he calls the “fat drug.â€
“Do you take any of this stuff, Howard?†Trump asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “Not yet,†Lutnick replied.
“He doesn’t take it,†Trump said when he got to Dr. Mehmet Oz, director of Medicare and Medicaid services.
Trump introduced a few others before he asked for “Steve,†referring to him as “head of public relations for the White House.â€
“He’s taking it,†the president said of Steven Cheung, who is the White House director of communications.
Trump unveils deal to reduce prices for some obesity drugs
Trump has unveiled a deal with drug makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to expand coverage and reduce prices for their popular obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy.
The drugs are part of a new generation of obesity medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that have soared in popularity in recent years.
But access to the drugs has been a consistent problem for patients because of their cost, and insurance coverage has been spotty.
Obama says Pelosi worked to ‘make our country better’
Former president Barack Obama said “No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed — and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act.â€
In a post he said, “She made us proud to be Democrats, and will go down in history as one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.â€
Jeffries demands airline safety briefing
Jeffries wants information about the Trump administration’s layoffs and Federal Aviation Administration changes and that have been underway even before the shutdown.
“We need a full and complete briefing so we can understand from the administration what the current status is, what the impact of administration layoffs have been, prior to the Trump Republican shutdown,†Jeffries of New York said during a press conference at the Capitol.
He said the administration “has been going after the FAA since the beginning of their time in office, since January 20th, and we need to understand how we got to this moment, separate and apart from the Trump Republican shutdown.â€
US lifts arms embargo on Cambodia, citing its ‘diligent pursuit of peace’ in Southeast Asia
The Trump administration is lifting a four-year-old arms embargo on Cambodia that had been imposed over the country’s increasing military ties and partnership with China after Cambodia and Thailand agreed to a truce in their border conflict last month.
The move will take effect Friday after the formal publication of an official notice in the Federal Register, according to an announcement made Thursday. It had been previewed by various U.S. officials in late October following the signing of an agreement between the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers at a summit in Malaysia that President Trump witnessed.
The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed off on the step “based on Cambodia’s diligent pursuit of peace and security, including through renewed engagement with the United States on defense cooperation and combating transnational crime.†It means that arms sales requests from Cambodia will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and not automatically be subject to denial. It will also lift restrictions on third countries providing Cambodia with U.S. weapons.
Johnson won’t promise ACA vote in the House as part of a shutdown deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday he would not guarantee Democrats a vote on extending enhanced tax credits for those with coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has offered Democrats such a vote as part of the way out of the government shutdown.
Asked whether he would do the same, Johnson said the House had already done its job in passing a short-term funding patch.
“I’m not promising anybody anything,†Johnson said.
Johnson also rejected the idea that congressional leaders get together and negotiate a compromise on extending the enhanced tax credits that make coverage more affordable.
“We’re not taking four corners, four leaders in a back room and making a deal and hoisting it upon the American people,†Johnson said. “I’m not going to be a part of that.â€
Affected airports cover more than 2 dozen states and include busiest across the US
They include airports in Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco.
In some of the biggest cities — such as New York, Houston and Chicago — multiple airports will be affected.
US sanctions 3 men accused of funneling money from Iran to Hezbollah
The U.S. on Thursday sanctioned three men from Lebanon and Syria for allegedly helping to funnel tens of millions of dollars from Iran to the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah.
The Treasury Department says the men use exchange houses to take advantage of Lebanon’s cash-based financial sector and funnel the money from Iran to support Hezbollah.
Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley said “we will work with our Lebanese partners to create a resilient economy that puts the interests of all Lebanese citizens front and center.â€
Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled
The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Trump calls Pelosi ‘overrated’ and says he was ‘honored’ to be twice impeached by the House
The president gave the remarks on Pelosi’s retirement exclusively to a reporter broadcasting on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.â€
Pelosi led the House in impeaching Trump twice during his first term — first over withholding military support for Ukraine as it confronted Russian aggression and later after inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. He was acquitted both times by the Senate.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the political old guard is being “repudiated,†though he commended Pelosi for her service.
Passengers should start to be notified about cancellations Thursday
Airlines said they would try to minimize the , some of whom will see weekend travel plans disrupted with little notice.
United Airlines said it would focus the cuts on smaller regional routes that use smaller planes like 737s. United, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said they would offer refunds to passengers who opt not to fly — even if they purchased tickets that aren’t normally refundable.
The head of Frontier Airlines recommended travelers buy backup tickets with another airline to avoid being stranded.
The FAA is imposing the flight reductions to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers
Air traffic controllers are working without pay during the government shutdown and have been increasingly calling off work.
Controllers already have missed one paycheck and are scheduled to again receive nothing next week as as the shutdown drags on and the financial pressure on them mounts.
The FAA has already been delaying flights at times when airports or its other facilities are short on controllers.
Leader Thune on the Senate working through the weekend: ‘We’ll see’
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune opened what’s seen as a pivotal day in efforts to end the government shutdown by keeping all options open.
“I think it’s all going to be subject to whether or not it looks like there’s a path to wind this down, this weekend,†Thune said.
He added that the next step is getting a response from Democrats on the offer before them, “and then we’ll see where they go with that.â€
Asked whether the Senate would cancel its recess next week, Thune said he’s “not ruling anything out at this point.â€
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Pelosi is the ‘greatest Speaker of all time’
Jeffries of New York is in line to become the speaker himself if the party regains control of the chamber in next year’s election.
“The United States is a much better nation today because Nancy Pelosi dedicated her life to serving the children, the climate, the country and the American people,†Jeffries said in a statement.
“Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi is an iconic, heroic, trailblazing, legendary and transformational leader. She is the greatest Speaker of all time,†he said.
“House Democrats will always be down with NDP.â€
Most major US airports are among 40 targeted by shutdown-related flight cuts
Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago along with hubs across the U.S. are among the 40 that will see flights cut starting Friday due to the , according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press.
The said Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume†markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing .
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Pelosi was a check on Trump during his first term
As House Speaker, she became the Democratic Party’s antidote to President Trump.
Trump was impeached by the House — twice — first in 2019 for as it faced a hostile Russia at its border and then in 2021 days after on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate acquitted him in both cases.
Pelosi stood up the Jan. 6 special committee to probe Trump’s role in sending to the Capitol, when most Republicans refused to investigate, producing that became the first full accounting of what happened as the defeated president tried to stay in office.
Nancy Pelosi won’t seek reelection, ending her storied career in the US House
Speaker Emerita will not seek reelection to the U.S. House, bringing to a close her storied career as not only in the speaker’s office but arguably the most powerful in American politics.
Pelosi, who’s represented San Francisco for nearly 40 years, announced her decision Thursday.
“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,†Pelosi said in a video address to voters.
Pelosi, appearing upbeat and forward-looking as images of her decades of accomplishments filled the frames, said she would finish out her final year in office. And she left those who sent her to Congress with a call to action to carry on the legacy of agenda-setting both in the U.S. and around the world.
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Trump has other tariff options if the Supreme Court strikes down his worldwide import taxes
President Trump has warned the United States will be rendered “defenseless’’ and possibly “reduced to almost Third World status†if the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs he imposed this year on nearly every country on earth.
The justices sounded skeptical during of his sweeping claims of authority to impose tariffs as he sees fit.
The truth, though, is Trump will still have plenty of options to keep taxing imports aggressively even if the court rules against him. He can re-use tariff powers he deployed in his first term and can reach for others, including one that dates back to the Great Depression.
“It’s hard to see any pathway here where tariffs end,†said Georgetown trade law professor Kathleen Claussen. “I am pretty convinced he could rebuild the tariff landscape he has now using other authorities.â€
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FAA says it will list airports where it’s reducing flights during the government shutdown
Travelers through some of the busiest U.S. airports can expect to learn Thursday whether as the government shutdown drags into a second month.
The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the 40 “high-volume markets†where it’s reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, said agency administrator Bryan Bedford. The move is intended to keep the air space safe during the shutdown, the agency said.
Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights . The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium.
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Senators search for a potential deal
Central to any resolution will be a series of agreements that would need to be upheld not only by the Senate but also by the House and the White House, which is not at all certain in Washington.
Senators from both major parties, particularly the members of the powerful Appropriations Committee, are pushing to ensure the normal government funding process in Congress can be put back on track. Among the goals is guaranteeing upcoming votes on a smaller package of bills to fund various aspects of government such as agricultural programs and military construction projects at bases.
More difficult, a substantial number of senators also want some resolution to the standoff over the funding for the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at year’s end.
Trump’s approach to the shutdown stands in marked contrast to his first term
During the shutdown in Trump’s first term, the government was partially closed for 35 days over his demands for money to build . At that time, he met publicly and negotiated with congressional leaders. Unable to secure the money, he relented in 2019.
This time, it’s not just Trump declining to engage in talks. The congressional leaders are at a standoff, and Republican sent lawmakers home in September after they approved their own funding bill, refusing further negotiations.
Trump sets another shutdown record
Now at 37 days, it’s the longest in U.S. history.
While some Democrats saw Trump’s comments on the shutdown Wednesday as evidence that he’d soon get more involved, he’s largely stayed out of the fray. Instead, the talks have intensified among a loose coalition of centrist senators trying to negotiate an end to the shutdown.
Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring until they agree to reopen the government. But skeptical Democrats question whether the Republican president will keep his word, particularly after his administration despite to ensure funds are available to prevent hunger.
Progressives see election wins as reason to fight
Grassroots Democratic groups nationwide touted Tuesday’s election results as voter approval of the shutdown strategy — and warned lawmakers against cutting a deal too soon.
“Moderate Senate Democrats who are looking for an off-ramp right now are completely missing the moment,†said Katie Bethell, political director of MoveOn, a progressive group. “Voters have sent a resounding message: We want leaders who fight for us, and we want solutions that make life more affordable.â€
Some Senate Democrats echoed that sentiment. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats and a leading voice in the progressive movement, said Democrats “have got to remain strong†and should secure assurances on extending health care subsidies — including “a commitment from the speaker of the House that he will support the legislation, and that the president will sign.â€
