Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are refusing to testify to Congress about Jeffrey Epstein. The Clintons in a letter Tuesday said they will not comply with a House subpoena to testify. The Democrats slam a Republican-controlled committee’s efforts as “legally invalid.” Republican lawmakers in response say they will launch contempt of Congress proceedings against the Clintons next week. In a letter released on social media, the Clintons denounce the contempt push as being “literally designed to result in” their imprisonment. The Republican push to hold the Clintons in contempt could result in prosecution from the Justice Department.

Trump admin. labels 3 Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has made good on its pledge to label three Middle Eastern branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, imposing sanctions on them. The Treasury and State departments announced the actions Tuesday against the Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they say pose a risk to the United States. The State Department has designated the Lebanese branch a foreign terrorist organization, the most severe of the labels. This makes it a criminal offense to provide material support to the group. The Jordanian and Egyptian branches are listed by Treasury as specially designated global terrorists for providing support to Hamas. Muslim Brotherhood leaders have said they renounce violence.

Fewer Americans sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance as costs spike

NEW YORK (AP) — Fewer Americans are signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year. New federal data shows a 3.5% drop in enrollment, with around 800,000 fewer people selecting plans compared to last year. This decline is linked to expiring subsidies and rising health expenses. The data, released Monday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, includes sign-ups through early January. Experts warn enrollment may drop further as people receive their first bills. Congress is debating extending the subsidies, with Democrats pushing for an extension and Republicans seeking broader reforms. Many Americans are considering alternatives or going without insurance.

Inflation cooled slightly in December though it remains above Fed’s target

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation cooled a bit last month as prices for gas and used cars fell, a sign that stubbornly elevated cost pressures are slowly easing. Consumer prices rose 0.3% in December from the prior month, the Labor Department said Tuesday, the same as in November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.2%, also matching November’s figure. Increases at that pace, over time, would bring inflation closer to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. Many economists had expected inflation to jump last month as the government resumed normal data collection after the six-week shutdown last fall, so the modest increases that matched the November figures came as a relief.