Hi, Raemi —

In the last few years, many have wanted to tune out the news and focus on what's convenient but that sort of escapism could be detrimental to us all.

Not to be confused with blithe positive thinking, problems must be addressed while we also hold the vision of a better, brighter future. It's a paradox but our collective future depends on us continuing to pay attention and staying engaged.

As we enter 2023, The Well News reaffirms its commitment to continue providing our readers and clickbait-weary Americans the factual and impartial approach to staying informed they crave.

We look forward to what the year ahead holds for us all.

Cheers, 

Christina

-- 

Christina Paulos

Managing Director

@TheWellNews

Happening This Month

1 – New Year's Day

1 – Minimum wage for federal contract workers increases

1 – Japan takes over G7 presidency

1 – Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sworn in as Brazilian president

2 – New Year's Day observed; federal government and markets are closed

2 – Rose Bowl

3 – Opening Day of the 118th Congress

6 – December jobs report out

8 – NFL regular season ends

9 – College Football Playoff National Championship

10 – Golden Globes on NBC, 8 p.m. ET

13 – American Film Institute Award honorees announced

14 – NFL playoffs start

14 – Miss Universe 

15 – Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment ends

16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

16 – Australian Open begins

16 – World Economic Forum Annual Meeting begins in Davos, Switzerland

19 – Sundance Film Festival opens

20 – Washington Auto Show opens

22 – Lunar New Year | Year of the Water Rabbit

24 – Oscar nominations announced

28 – Rolex 24 At DAYTONA

28 – National Governors Association Winter Meeting opens

29 – NFL conference championships

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Most Read in December

Scientists at Livermore Lab Make Major Fusion Energy Breakthrough

Scientists studying fusion energy at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California have achieved a major milestone — creating the first fusion reaction in a laboratory that actually produced more energy than it took to start the reaction.

Charleston, SC, Now Boasts East Coast’s Deepest Harbor

With the successful completion of a $580 million harbor-deepening project, Charleston Harbor is now the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. The new depth means the biggest cargo ships currently in service can now access the state’s port terminals at any time and at any tide.

Philip Morris International Taking Proactive Role to Help Consumers Know, Fight Illegal Trade

The Well News caught up with Kristin Reif, director of Illicit Trade Prevention at Philip Morris International, a founding USA-IT member. Reif has been with PMI for 11 ½ years, and has led hundreds of trainings around the globe for international organizations and Homeland Security investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces.

Democrats Raise Concerns of Potential Bribery in Pardon Trump Granted at Request of Campaign Donor

Two House Democrats alleged a suspicious conflict of interest in a pardon former President Donald Trump granted two convicted arsonists. In a letter, they say a donation to Trump’s political campaign days before he granted the pardons may be cause for “significant concerns” about a case of potential bribery.

NC Supreme Court Strikes Down State Senate Map, Voter ID Law

It was a busy Friday at the North Carolina Supreme Court, which within a matter of hours struck down a state Senate district map as an impermissible political gerrymander and tossed a controversial voter ID law.

Majority of Justices Appear Skeptical of ‘Theory’ Giving States Unchecked Power Over Elections

A clear majority of justices — cutting across the Supreme Court’s ideological spectrum — appeared to be skeptical on Wednesday of a legal theory that could give state legislatures unchecked power over federal election-related matters.

Southern Company Is Building a Cleaner, Brighter Future

As the largest source of clean energy in the United States, carbon-free nuclear is helping Southern Company create a more diverse energy portfolio. The construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 wouldn’t have been possible without the extensive public-private partnerships between Southern Company, Georgia Power, the U.S. Department of Energy, and many others.

Minister Says He Successfully Lobbied Supreme Court Justices for His Causes

An evangelical minister who on Thursday claimed to be a whistleblower on conflicts of interest at the Supreme Court told Congress that for years he recruited “stealth missionaries” to advocate conservative causes to the justices.

Pomp, Circumstance and a Shared Vision of the Future Mark Macron Visit

Pomp and military flare were on vivid display on the South Lawn of the White House early Thursday morning as President Joe Biden formally welcomed his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, to the executive mansion.

Ryan Worries Defeat of ‘Red Wave’ Has Created Phony Narrative for Dems

Fresh off a grueling, hard-fought Senate race that he ultimately lost to Republican newcomer and “Hillbilly Elegy” memoirist J.D. Vance, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, smiled broadly as members of the NewDEAL rose to give him an extended standing ovation.