International
Nationalists triumph in British election
The United Kingdom held a general election on Thursday, Dec. 12, two-and-a-half years after the country’s previous election in 2017. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the vote at the end of October in an attempt to secure a parliamentary majority with which to pass an agreement to withdraw from the European Union. Johnson’s Conservative Party secured a majority of 80 seats while the Labour Party lost 42 seats. The pro-independence Scottish National Party won 48 of 59 Scottish seats. It also marks the first time that more Irish nationalists were elected in Northern Ireland than British unionists.
National
Impeachment inquiry moves forward
The House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on December 13. The first article accuses him of abuse of power through pressuring a foreign nation for political assistance, as he allegedly withheld military aid from Ukraine to get the country to initiate a corruption investigation on Joe Biden and his son. The second article accuses Trump of obstructing Congress by forbidding several administration officials from testifying before Congress. This approval will put the two articles up for a vote in the House of Representatives before the winter recess.
Potential terrorist attack devastates Florida
A shooting occurred on the early morning of December 6 at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Four people were killed as a result of the shooting, including the Saudi-born shooter who was an aviation student at the station participating in a security cooperation program between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, eight other people present on the base were injured by the shooter. The FBI is investigating the event as a presumed terrorist attack and is searching for the attacker’s motive. Terrorist attack or not, the shooting has left a devastating effect on the community in Pensacola.
Kamala Harris ends 2020 White House bid
On Dec. 3, presidential candidate and California Senator Kamala Harris dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. Harris was forced to end her campaign due to a lack of funds and popular support. “I’m not a billionaire. I can’t fund my own campaign,” she said in a video posted on Twitter announcing the end of her run. “And as the campaign has gone on, it has become harder and harder to raise the money we need to compete.” Kicking off her campaign in January, Harris had support in several states. But in recent months, she was struggling to gain support, especially from her home state.
State
Huskies football coach hands over position
After coaching the University of Washington’s football team, the Huskies, for six seasons Chris Petersen has resigned. During his time as coach, he led the Huskies to two Pac-12 Championships, the 2016 College Football Playoff and three consecutive New Year’s Six bowl games. The reason for his resignation is simply to recharge and explore his other passions in life. However, he says that he is not completely closing the door on involvement in football in the future, but he has no desire to return to a coaching position. With Petersen’s resignation, previous co-defensive coordinator, Jimmy Lake, has been promoted to the position of permanent coach of the team.
