10 things you need to know today: January 4, 2019

1. Democrats elect Nancy Pelosi as House speaker

Democrats took control of the House of Representatives when the new Congress convened on Thursday, and elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to be speaker. Pelosi, who already made history as the first woman to win the job in January 2007, became the first person in more than six decades to return to the speaker's chair after losing it. Pelosi overcame a challenge by a group of rebel Democrats to assume the leadership of the most diverse Congress in U.S. history, which includes a record 102 women in the House and 25 in the Senate, as well as the first Muslim and Native American women to serve in Congress. "Our nation is at a historic moment," Pelosi said. "Two months ago, the American people spoke and demanded a new dawn."

The New York Times Politico

2. House votes to reopen government without funding Trump's wall

Hours after taking control of the House on Thursday, Democrats passed a package of bills seeking to end the partial government shutdown without providing money for President Trump's border wall. The House first voted 239-192 to fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8, with five Republicans joining Democrats. Next, lawmakers voted 241-190 to provide funding for the full year to other departments. The White House and GOP leaders said that without the $5 billion Trump is demanding for the wall the spending package is dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate. The White House has invited congressional leaders to a meeting on ending the shutdown on Friday, but there were no signs of a breakthrough.

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The Washington Post USA Today

3. Russia formally charges American with spying

Russia formally charged former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan with espionage, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday, citing an informed source. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Relatives have said Whelan, who is also a British citizen, was in Russia for a friend's wedding when Russia's FSB state security service detained him in Moscow a week ago. Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, declined to comment on the charges but said Whelan was expected to remain in custody until at least Feb. 28. "I consider his detention and arrest baseless," Zherebenkov said. "It's based on investigators' supposition that he will hinder the investigation process. We are asking for bail instead."

Reuters

4. State Department renews warning on China travel

The State Department on Thursday renewed its warning for travelers to "exercise increased caution in China" due to the "arbitrary enforcement of local laws as well as special restrictions on dual U.S.-Chinese nationals." The department added a warning about increased security checks. In the wake of China's anger over the detention of a Chinese telecom executive in Canada at Washington's request, officials also warned that China has been hitting U.S. citizens with "exit bans" that block them from leaving the country, sometimes for years. "China uses exit bans coercively to compel U.S. citizens to participate in Chinese government investigations, to lure individuals back to China from abroad, and to aid Chinese authorities in resolving civil disputes in favor of Chinese parties," the State Department said.

USA Today Reuters

5. Stock futures rise after China announces start of trade talks

U.S. stock index futures jumped early Friday after China's commerce ministry said high-level U.S.-China trade negotiations would start in Beijing next week, lifting hopes of easing tensions. The December jobs report also was in focus following a Thursday market dive led by technology stocks dragged down by Apple's report that iPhone sales were falling more than expected in China. Apple's warning deepened fears about slumping growth in China, the world's No. 2 economy, and the likelihood that President Trump's trade war with Beijing was making matters worse. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank by 660 points, or 2.8 percent. The broader S&P 500 index fell by 2.5 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped by 3 percent. Apple fell by nearly 10 percent, its worst day since 2013.

CNBC The Associated Press

6. Florida commission recommends arming more teachers

A Florida commission formed to investigate the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting that killed 17 people last year has recommended arming teachers as part of an effort to make the state's schools safer. Florida law already allows school districts to arm some staff, but teachers must have a police or military background to carry a gun. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission's 439-page preliminary report, which the 15-member panel unanimously approved Wednesday, argues more teachers should be armed. The recommendation revives debate on a controversial proposal favored by President Trump, who days after the Parkland shooting suggested that 20 percent of teachers should be able to "immediately fire back if a savage sicko" threatens students. The state teachers union and some law-enforcement leaders oppose arming teachers.

USA Today

7. Democrat reintroduces impeachment talk but Pelosi rejects it

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said Thursday he was reintroducing articles of impeachment against Trump as Democrats take control of the House. Sherman, one of three Democrats who introduced resolutions to impeach Trump in 2017, said his goal was to force the debate on impeachment when Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report comes out on Russia's election meddling and possible collusion and obstruction of justice by Trump and his campaign associates. Another Democrat, newly sworn-in Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), said in a video of a speech posted online Thursday that "we're going to go in and impeach the motherf-----." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) threw cold water on impeachment talk, saying Democrats would "have to wait and see" what the Mueller report says. "We shouldn't be impeaching for a political reason," she said.

CNN ABC News

8. Pope Francis addresses 'sins and crimes' of church leaders

The Vatican on Thursday released a letter written by Pope Francis to U.S. bishops, in which he acknowledged that sexual abuse scandals have damaged the Catholic Church. The alleged "sins and crimes" of church leaders require a "change in our mind-set," wrote Francis, urging institutional change. Church officials must address "our hurt before the present situation and [let] ourselves together be summoned anew by God's word," he wrote, pointing out divisions among U.S. bishops that have led to a "vicious circle of recrimination, undercutting, and discrediting." Francis did not outline any specific suggested changes, but said the church must do more than issue mere "stern decrees" if it wants to rebuild trust. Bishops are gathered this week for a retreat in response to several reports of rampant sexual abuse within the church.

The Washington Post

9. Video meant to embarrass Ocasio-Cortez goes viral, backfiring

A video showing newly sworn-in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) dancing on a rooftop when she was in college went viral this week. Conservatives apparently shared it on Twitter hoping to embarrass her. A user account that affiliates itself with the far-right conspiracy theorist QAnon posted the video saying, "Here is America's favorite commie know-it-all acting like the clueless nitwit she is..." Other viewers interpreted the video differently. It shows Ocasio-Cortez spinning and smiling as she and friends show off 1980s Breakfast Club-style dance moves to Phoenix's "Lisztomania." Comedian Patton Oswalt tweeted: "She'll never recover from the world seeing her... (watches video) ...dancing adorably and having fun with her friends in high school?"

The Washington Post

10. Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk pulled after misconduct allegations

National Geographic is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and pulling his show from the air until it's settled. Tyson was accused of sexual misconduct by three women in November, just after the fifth season of his show StarTalk aired. Tyson has denied the allegations. On Thursday, a National Geographic representative confirmed the StarTalk hiatus would continue as its parent company Fox Networks Group investigates the claims. The investigation will likely wrap up in a "few weeks" and the channel will decide whether to continue StarTalk then, the spokesperson said. In November, a woman accused Tyson of rape, while another said he groped her and a third said he made unwanted advances.

Variety