WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Clashes between police and pro-Palestinian demonstrators are intensifying. The protests on college campuses are now getting the attention of some top lawmakers on Capitol Hill. House Speaker Mike Johnson received a mixed reaction Wednesday at Columbia University where he condemned the ongoing student protests against the war in Gaza. He was drowned out by boos. "Enjoy your free speech,” Johnson said. During Johnson’s speech Wednesday, he called on the school's president to resign if she could not get a handle on the protests. "As Columbia has allowed these lawless agitat ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) jumped into the Israeli-Palestinian debate on college campuses.  He spoke about antisemitism with students at Columbia University Wednesday. Speaker Johnson was booed by students as pro-Palestinian protests are spreading to more campuses across the country. Columbia University is the epicenter. Hundreds of students have occupied the campus in tents for days demanding the school divest from companies with ties to Israel. "My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense,” said Johnson ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Getting travel refunds and avoiding extra fees could be easier for fliers soon, thanks to two new federal rules. On Wednesday, the Transportation Department announced regulations to require quick and automatic refunds and to crack down on hidden costs.  When travel plans go wrong, it can be a hassle to get your money back.  "In theory passengers are already supposed to be refunded for a cancellation or a major delay. In practice, it often doesn't work that way," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.  That's why Sec. Buttigieg says the Biden adminis ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – About 30 million Americans can't leave their jobs and go to work for a competing company because of something called a 'noncompete' agreement. "We're talking about security guards, hairdressers, we're talking about truckers, and a host of other people," U.S. Federal Trade Commission Director of Public Affairs Douglas Farrar said.  Farrar says that's not right. "This is a real restriction on Americans' economic freedom," Farrar said.  The FTC voted 3-2 on Tuesday to ban noncompete clauses for most workers. Farrar says the new rule will spur competition, higher w ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden's signature on the $95 billion national security package Wednesday is already sending more weapons to Ukraine.  "We need to move fast, and we are," President Biden said after signing the measure the Senate passed Tuesday night. "I find this amazing," the president added. "There are reports of cheers breaking out in the trenches." Congress approved more than $60 billion in the package for Ukraine. The first shipment includes air defense capabilities, artillery rounds and armored vehicles. President Biden said the funding supports jobs at home. "Pa ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The issue of abortion is back before the Supreme Court.  The justices heard oral arguments on whether Idaho, one of several states that has enacted an abortion ban, can deny women emergency abortions if their lives are not immediately in danger. Protestors from both sides of this debate gathered outside the court. This is just the second abortion case the court has heard since overturning Roe vs. Wade. The case directly pits the Biden administration's interpretation of federal law against Idaho’s abortion ban. "It's unthinkable we've even gotten to this point,” said ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - The clock is ticking on TikTok after the Senate passed a bill banning the social media app in the U.S. unless it is sold off by its Chinese owner. The U.S. says it’s time for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company or say goodbye to the U.S. market. “Congress is not acting to punish ByteDance, TikTok, or any other individual company. Congress is acting to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting espionage,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Some lawmakers say TikTok is like a giant intelligence vacuum sucking up American users’ pri ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) - Billions of dollars in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan passed in the U.S. Senate on overnight. The bill also includes a provision that could lead to a ban on TikTok. "It's not every day you can say you made the world truly a better place,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). For Ukraine and Israel, it will provide military aid, and replenish U.S. weapons systems while also sending humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. "Rest assured, America will never shrink from its responsibilities as a leader on the world stage,” said ..read more

 WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The Senate is considering a ban on TikTok in the U.S. if the app's China-based owner, ByteDance, doesn't sell the app.  Lawmakers Tuesday debated foreign aid legislation that includes a measure to force the sale of the app or have it banned. Senators on both sides of the aisle say they support the measure. "This bill takes a first step to protect U.S. data," Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said.  Supporters of the measure say ByteDance's ties to the Chinese Communist Party put millions of Americans' personal data at risk and threaten national security.  ..read more

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden campaigned in the Sunshine State Tuesday to spotlight new attacks on reproductive rights. His trip to Florida came one week before a law banning most abortions after six weeks takes effect there.  "It's criminalizing reproductive healthcare before women even know whether they're pregnant," President Biden told a crowd of supporters.  The president warned reproductive rights for millions of Americans are at stake in this year's elections. "There's one person responsible for this nightmare, and he's acknowledged and he's bragged about it: Dona ..read more