Good morning. We’re covering President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter, and Russian warplanes in Syria. Plus, Free North Korea Radio.
Biden pardoned his son in a sharp reversalPresident Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon of his son Hunter on Sunday night after repeatedly insisting he would not do so. He said he made the decision because the tax and gun charges against Hunter were politically motivated. “I believe in the justice system,” Biden said, “but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” In pardoning his son, Biden sounded a lot like his successor by complaining about selective prosecution and political pressure, questioning the fairness of a system that Biden had, until now, long defended, Peter Baker writes. It was a remarkable turnaround for a man whose presidency and five-decade career were built in part on the idea that he would never interfere with the administration of justice. Some Democrats expressed their displeasure with the decision, while President-elect Donald Trump condemned it. The pardon, and Biden’s rationale for granting it, will inevitably muddy the political waters as Trump prepares to take office. The incoming president has been open about his plans to use the Justice Department and F.B.I. to pursue “retribution” against his political adversaries. Trump has long argued that the justice system has been “weaponized” against him and that he is the victim of selective prosecution.
Russia and Iran pledged support for Syria’s leaderRussia and Iran pledged unconditional support to Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, sending warplanes as his forces tried to repel a startling rebel advance. Syrian and Russian fighter jets struck targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria yesterday, according to Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory, a war monitor in Britain, said the strikes had killed both civilians and fighters. The rebels appeared to continue their advance through Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city, and the surrounding areas, battling pro-Assad forces to capture more territory in the western province of Hama. Analysis: Despite their promises to prop up al-Assad, its unclear how much Russia and Iran can really do. Neither has committed to sending troops — Russia is depleted from its long invasion of Ukraine, and Iran has spent the last year supporting Hezbollah against Israel.
Calls for a no-confidence vote in FrancePrime Minister Michel Barnier of France yesterday pushed a budget bill through the lower house of Parliament without a vote. The backlash was swift. French left-wing parties and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party each said they would file a no-confidence motion — setting up a vote that could happen as early as tomorrow. The odds of a government collapse are now increasingly likely. What’s next: The fate of Barnier and of his cabinet, both appointed by President Emmanuel Macron just three months ago, now hangs in the balance. Economy: The turmoil prompted investors to sell French stocks and bonds, which has sent the country’s borrowing costs soaring.
Sports
Kim Seongmin fled North Korea in the 1990s. Now, he runs Free North Korea Radio, which broadcasts to his homeland twice a day, giving people the information that Pyongyang tries hard to suppress. “North Korea is keeping its people like frogs trapped in a deep well,” Kim said. “We broadcast to help them realize that there is something wrong with their political system.” Read more here. Lives lived: Bob Bryar, the former drummer for the rock band My Chemical Romance, has died at 44.
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31 days of holiday delightThe holidays can be both a joyous and a complicated time. So, every day this month, The Times will offer small pleasures, reflections and distractions as part of our “31 Days” series. Today, Genevieve Ko, a Food columnist, wrote about her tradition of baking a new kind of cookie every year to give her children a sense of amazement as they grow. Also, we looked back at the history of holiday “it” toys: Mr. Potato Head’s mustachioed glory in the 1950s, the Rubik’s Cube heyday in the 1980s and the more recent Squishmallows. Sign up for our email newsletter to catch a holiday playlist from Jennifer Hudson, read about the return of Chrismukkah, and find out why Scandinavian gnomes are so appealing.
Cook: Taverna salad, which draws inspiration from Greece and Lebanon, is a meal in itself. Collect: So you just bought an art piece. Here’s why, and how, to hire a conservator. Exercise: Working out can either ease insomnia or make it worse. This is what you can do about it. Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here. That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.
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