Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Trump Announces A New "Trump Class" Of Navy Battleships
President Trump announced plans to build a new class of Navy battleships yesterday that he's calling the "Trump Class" as part of a larger effort to expand the fleet. Trump said the ships will be the largest ever built and feature hypersonic weapons, electric rail guns, and high-powered lasers. The goal is to build 20 to 25 of them, with the first expected in about two and a half years. No cost estimate has been released, but one retired admiral suggested the first could top $10 billion. Critics say the massive ships don't match what the Navy actually needs.
2 DHS Now Offering Undocumented Immigrants $3,000 If They Voluntarily Leave The Country Before End Of The Year
The Department of Homeland Security has increased its payment for undocumented migrants who voluntarily leave the United States from $1,000 to $3,000. The offer applies to those who register through the government's CBP Home app and leave the country by Dec. 31st. In addition to the cash, eligible participants will receive free airfare to their home countries and have certain civil fines waived. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said yesterday that those who don't take the offer will be found, arrested, and never allowed to return. DHS says the program saves taxpayer money since the average cost to arrest, detain, and deport someone is about $17,000.
3 FDA Approves Wegovy Pill For Weight Loss
The FDA has approved a pill version of Wegovy, the popular weight loss drug from Novo Nordisk, making it the first oral GLP-1 medication cleared for weight loss. In clinical trials, people taking the highest dose lost about 16.6-percent of their body weight after 64 weeks. The pill must be taken daily on an empty stomach with limited water. Novo Nordisk reached a deal with the Trump administration to sell the lowest dose for $149 a month for people paying out of pocket. The pill is expected to be widely available in January.
