LOADING ERROR LOADINGNEW YORK (AP) — Target’s third-quarter profit tumbled as the retailer struggles to lure shoppers that are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation. The Minneapolis company said Wednesday that it expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season. Target’s troubles stand in stark contrast to rival Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, which is thriving. To pump up sales, Target is offering more than 20,000 new items, twice as many as last year, and it has lowered prices on thousands of food, beverage and essential items. With about 1,980 U.S. stores, Target has struggled to find its footing since inflation caused pinched shoppers to curtail their discretionary spending.

Comey further contends that Halligan was never lawfully appointed to the attorney role. Michael Dreeben, an attorney for Comey, said this indicated “no indictment was returned” and that the statute of limitations to charge Comey had already run out. via Associated PressThat wasn’t the only seemingly self-imposed hurdle the Justice Department faced in court Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) via Associated PressU.S. attorney Tyler Lemons, however, insisted there was “no proof” Halligan was charged by Trump to prosecute Comey. AdvertisementLemons also stumbled through key questions about whether prosecutors at the Justice Department had a memo in their possession laying out reasons why Comey shouldn’t be charged.

The four-day poll, which concluded on Monday, comes as Trump’s grip on his Republican Party shows signs of weakening. AdvertisementThe survey showed Donald Trump's overall approval has fallen two percentage points since a Reuters/Ipsos poll in early November. via Associated PressThe survey showed Trump’s overall approval has fallen two percentage points since a Reuters/Ipsos poll in early November. The new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed his approval rating among Republicans at 82%, down from 87% earlier in the month. Only 20% of Americans - including just 44% of Republicans - approve of how Trump has handled the Epstein case, the Reuters/Ipsos poll showed.

We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

Become a Member Today As the year ends, our reporting does not slow down. Support the journalists who continue asking questions and telling stories with depth and care. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

We believe our mission of independent journalism has never been more important. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

Become a Member Today As the year ends, our reporting does not slow down. Support the journalists who continue asking questions and telling stories with depth and care. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGWASHINGTON – Republicans on Capitol Hill don’t love President Donald Trump’s proposal to send out $2,000 checks to American households next year. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called it a “crazy idea,” since even with new tariff revenue, the government is spending much more than it collects in taxes. Advertisement“It has to be borrowed from China,” Paul told reporters on Tuesday, referring to the cost of checks. ), meanwhile, suggested the tariff revenues would be better used to pay down the debt. But the more common sentiment among Republicans on Capitol Hill was that it’s not a serious proposal.

AdvertisementSince he took office, Trump has called for the dismantling of the Education Department, saying it has been overrun by liberal thinking. via Associated PressAdvertisementWhile the necessity of the department is up for debate, it’s also unclear how well-equipped other state and federal departments are to take over the Education Department’s responsibilities. Here’s what the Education Department currently handles, where its responsibilities will go to other federal agencies and what will stay the same. Student aid so far will be largely unaffected, although McMahon and Trump have suggested it could be better handled by a different federal department. The Education Department also will continue to oversee another major part of higher education: accreditation, which allows colleges to accept students’ federal financial aid.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani seem reluctant to support a progressive primary challenge of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). “I certainly don’t think a primary challenge to the leader is a good thing right now,” Ocasio-Cortez told Axios on Monday after New York City Councilmember and democratic socialist Chi Ossé filed his paperwork for the seat. When asked about Ossé’s expected bid on Monday, Ocasio-Cortez told Axios she was not “aware” of it at the time. Spokespeople for Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani did not immediately respond to a request for comment or elaborate on the rationale behind their statements. Support $20/month (about $0.67/day) Platinum HuffPoster 🏆 Everything in the Gold TierAd-free access on the HuffPost website AND HuffPost appsEarly access to new featuresMembership to Platinum Club focus group Make a One Time Contribution Support HuffPost Already a member?

The inspector general ensures that all programs run efficiently and is tasked with investigating any claims of fraud or abuse. Trump fired the last HHS inspector general, along with over a dozen other government watchdogs, earlier this year — sparking pushback from Senate Democrats who argued Bell’s nomination is unlawful because Trump illegally fired the previous HHS inspector general. Bell later added that, if confirmed, he believes investigating abortion clinics is part of his job as HHS inspector general. AdvertisementIf Bell is confirmed, he joins a long list of deeply anti-abortion Trump nominations across all federal agencies, but particularly HHS. The Senate vote to confirm Bell as HHS inspector general is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

AdvertisementMusk’s attendance marks the latest indicator of a detente between the two men after they had an explosive falling out over Trump’s tax bill in June. Elon Musk sits during a dinner with President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the East Room of the White House, on Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Alex BrandonAt the time, Musk derided the legislation as an “abomination” given how much it would add to the deficit. AdvertisementSince then, Musk hasn’t quite delivered on the third party, though he’s made other forays into politics, according to a New York Times report. AdvertisementSpokespeople for the White House and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Support Fearless Journalism The Trump administration hopes its deepest secrets remain hidden, but we will not stop demanding answers. Your membership strengthens journalism that holds those in power to account. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

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Richard Baker via In Pictures via Getty ImagesA former Conservative prime minister has branded Brexit “an act of collective folly” in a bitter attack on the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. “It left our country poorer, weaker and divorced from the richest free trade market that history has ever seen,” Major said. He said: “The nation saw Project Fear become Project Reality very easily. It’s no consolation that the majority of the public now overwhelmingly recognises that it was misled in their moments of triumph. “Brexiteers predicted other countries would follow their lead and leave the European Union.