Short Takes – 1-1-25

Republicans Propose Rules for the 119th Congress. FirstBranchForecast.Substack.com article. Pull quote: “I've skimmed the separate orders and the only new separate order concerns artificial intelligence. In essence, the provision instructs the House Admin Committee, Clerk, CAO, and others to integrate the use of AI into the operations and functions of the House.” Changes could still be made as part of the horse trading in the Speaker race.

1 Dead After a Cybertruck Explodes Outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. NYTimes.com article (free).  Pull quote: “Sheriff McMahill said the authorities had found gas canisters, camp fuel canisters and large firework mortars in the back of the truck. It was unclear how they had been ignited, Sheriff McMahill said.”

Canadian Teen Recovers From Severe H5N1 Bird Flu Infection. MedPageToday.com article. Pull quote: “"The past weeks have seen more cases detected in more states as well as more persons with respiratory illness acquired through exposure to poultry or from an unknown source," they noted. "Without a clearer understanding of the extent of exposure, infection, viral evolution, and transmission, we will be unable to properly protect our communities from a pathogen that has proven to be a formidable challenge to human and animal health."”