10 things you need to know today: December 28, 2018

1. Congress returns but makes no progress to end shutdown

Congress returned to session on Thursday, but lawmakers made little progress toward ending the partial government shutdown, which enters its seventh day on Friday. Aides to Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike said nobody appeared to be willing to budge in the standoff over President Trump's demand for $5 billion in any spending deal. Leaders of both parties are now looking ahead to how the new Congress, with Democrats taking control of the House on Jan. 3, will approach the shutdown that has affected a quarter of the government. Some said the impasse could last weeks. "I don't see a scenario where the government opens back up until a new Congress is sworn in," said retiring Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Pa.) on MSNBC Thursday. "The Democratic House is not going to put more money into border security, I don't think."

Politico

2. Critics accuse Trump of politicizing the military in Iraq visit

Democrats on Thursday accused President Trump of politicizing the military during his surprise visit to troops in Iraq and Germany. Trump signed red "Make America Great Again" hats for soldiers during the visit, and called Democratic House leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democrats weak on border security. Mark Hertling, a retired three-star Army lieutenant general, called Trump's actions a "violation of protocol." A Pelosi aide said Trump used service members "as political pawns to push his radical right-wing, anti-immigrant agenda." Trump defended his actions, tweeting: "If these brave young people ask me to sign their hat, I will sign. Can you imagine my saying NO?"

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The New York Times The Washington Post

3. Alabama AG vows to look into disinformation that targeted Roy Moore campaign

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall vowed Thursday to look into an alleged disinformation campaign in last year's state Senate race. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) narrowly beat Republican Roy Moore in the deep-red state after Moore faced multiple credible allegations of sexual predation. The New York Times recently detailed how "Democratic tech experts" posed as conservative Republicans on Facebook and tried to divide Republicans. They also used a "false-flag" operation to create the appearance that Moore was receiving support from a Russian botnet. The Times concluded its effect on the race was insignificant, but it's still "significant for us to explore," Marshall said Thursday, without committing to a full investigation. Jones called for a federal investigation.

The Washington Post The New York Times

4. Suspect in killing of California police officer was in country illegally

California authorities said Thursday that the suspect being sought in the fatal shooting of a police officer was in the country illegally. President Trump linked the news to the need to build his promised wall on the Mexican border. "There is right now a full scale manhunt going on in California for an illegal immigrant accused of shooting and killing a police officer during a traffic stop," Trump tweeted. "Time to get tough on Border Security. Build the Wall!" Police say the man who shot and killed Newman Police Cpl. Ronil "Ron" Singh during a traffic stop is believed to still be in Stanislaus County, where the shooting occurred.

The Modesto Bee

5. Iraqi critics respond to Trump visit with call for U.S. withdrawal

Several lawmakers and political parties in Iraq on Thursday responded to President Trump's surprise visit by demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. Trump made his first trip to a war zone as president after Christmas with a visit to U.S. service members in Iraq. He said the U.S. would maintain a presence in Iraq despite his order for a withdrawal from Syria, and a troop reduction in Afghanistan. Iraqi lawmaker Faleh al-Khazali, one of Trump's critics in the country, said in a statement that "Trump should know that Iraq is not an American state and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi should bear responsibility." Trump and the prime minister spoke by phone but could not meet due to security issues during Trump's secretive trip.

CNN

6. Indonesia raises volcano alert level, forcing evacuations

Indonesian authorities raised the alert level for the Anak Krakatau volcano to its second highest level on Thursday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate the islands in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The alert also forced airlines to reroute numerous flights. The volcano erupted Saturday and caused a tsunami that killed more than 430 people. With further volcanic activity possible, authorities warned people to leave islands that could be affected by further tsunamis. Saturday's tsunami was triggered when the eruption caused a 158-acre section of Anak Krakatau to slide into the ocean.

CNN

7. Saudi king shakes up Cabinet in wake of Khashoggi crisis

Saudi King Salman announced Thursday that he was shaking up his Cabinet. The move marked the latest sign of turmoil in three months of intense scrutiny of the country's day-to-day leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, over his links to the Saudi agents accused of killing dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The CIA has concluded that the crown prince was complicit in the killing. Saudi Arabia said that Adel al-Jubeir, the government's public face during the Khashoggi crisis, would become minister of state for foreign affairs, and that former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf would succeed him as foreign minister.

CNBC

8. Michelle Obama ousts Hillary Clinton as most admired woman

Former first lady Michelle Obama knocked Hillary Clinton out of the top spot as America's most admired woman in Gallup's annual poll. It was the first time in 17 years that Clinton — a former presidential candidate, secretary of state, and first lady — did not lead the list. About 15 percent of Americans surveyed named Obama as their most admired woman. Media titan Oprah Winfrey came in second with 5 percent, followed by Clinton and current first lady Melania Trump with 4 percent each. Former President Barack Obama was the most admired man for the 11th time. He was picked by 19 percent of those surveyed. Thirteen percent chose President Trump, marking just the 13th time in 72 years that the sitting president didn't top the list.

The Hill

9. Judge denies Mueller request for delay in Corsi hearing

A federal judge on Thursday denied a request by Special Counsel Robert Mueller to delay a hearing in a lawsuit filed by conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi, who is linked to Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone and accuses Mueller of unfairly targeting him. Government attorneys had argued that they were hampered by the partial government shutdown and needed to wait until it was over. Government lawyers said in a filing in Washington, D.C., District Court that they were "generally prohibited from working, even on a voluntary basis," during the shutdown. A Corsi lawyer said the request for a delay was a tactical maneuver, and "it is highly doubtful" Justice Department lawyers "are actually prohibited from working." The judge reaffirmed that the hearing will be held next Thursday.

CNBC

10. Cohen denies report that his cellphone was traced to Prague in 2016

Michael Cohen, President Trump's former personal attorney, on Thursday repeated his denial that he went to Prague in 2016, responding to a McClatchy investigative report saying his cellphone had been traced there in the summer of 2016. McClatchy cited four "people with knowledge of the matter" who said Cohen's phone briefly connected with cell towers near the Czech city during Trump's campaign. The report, if confirmed, would support part of the Steele dossier's claims that he went to the Eastern European city in 2016 for a secret meeting with Russian officials. Cohen, who has a deal to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling, tweeted: "I hear #Prague #CzechRepublic is beautiful in the summertime. I wouldn't know as I have never been. #Mueller knows everything!"

Politico