LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 12: The doors open on Westminster Hall polling station on December 12, 2019 in London, England.  UK voters will be heading to their polling station to cast their ballot in the pre-Christmas general election, triggered in an attempt break the country's Brexit deadlock. This is the Uk's third general election in less than five years.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
UK election 2019 underway as voters head to the polls
02:17 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

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    The Nasdaq topped 10,000 for the first time ever, proving that during this period of economic uncertainty, America still has faith in tech stocks like Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix.

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    1. Police reform

    The highly anticipated and deeply important UK general election is underway today. Brits must choose between drastically different paths to the Brexit finish line. The “B” word isn’t the only issue on the table: Party leaders also laid out plans to tackle health care, climate change and tax reform. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for early elections in hopes his party could win a Parliamentary majority and push his Brexit deal through. Even after elections are over, there’s no guaranteed clear path forward. The day could end in a hung Parliament with no majority, which would send parties scrambling to put together coalitions to form a government. And, if Johnson gets his way and a Conservative-led Parliament votes for his Brexit deal, he’d still face thorny trade negotiations with the EU and the US. Follow the latest news here.

    Town crier in Dudley, UK
    Long-held voting loyalties shift in UK election
    03:41 - Source: CNN

    MONDAY

    Here’s something new: Word among some GOP senators is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may seek a vote to acquit President Trump if the House impeaches him, rather than vote to dismiss the articles of impeachment altogether. This would end the trial as soon as possible – something McConnell wants so the party can move on from the whole impeachment thing and avoid possible partisan warfare. However, a fiery trial is reportedly what President Trump prefers. There’s even a chance the whistleblower whose account kicked off the impeachment inquiry could be called to testify at a Senate trial, likely revealing his or her carefully guarded identity. Before any of that has a chance of happening, the House needs to complete its marathon two-day debate over the articles. That should wrap up today with the House Judiciary committee approving the articles in preparation for a full House vote next week.

    impeachment clinton trump dana bash lead vpx_00001110
    What lawmakers said about impeachment in 1998 ... and 2019
    03:03 - Source: CNN

    3. Election 2020

    Speaking of elections, majorities and missed deadlines, Israel is officially heading for its third national election in a year. Members of the Knesset, the country’s legislative body, failed to agree on a majority leader by yesterday’s deadline. This means Benjamin Netanyahu is still Prime Minister, even though he’s hanging on to power by a thread. New elections in March could spell more trouble for Netanyahu, who’s currently facing indictment in three separate corruption cases. In fact, there’s a chance he doesn’t even make it that far. His Likud party is about to hold a leadership contest, tentatively set for December 26, during which a new party leader could be chosen. If he makes it through that vote, he’ll face longtime political foe Benny Gantz, whose Blue and White party came out on top in the last election but still failed to form a government. 

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks during a meeting of the right-wing bloc at the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on November 20, 2019. (Photo by GALI TIBBON / AFP) (Photo by GALI TIBBON/AFP via Getty Images)
    Netanyahu charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust
    03:07 - Source: CNN

    THURSDAY

    A bipartisan bill that just passed the House would grant legal status to thousands of undocumented farm workers in the US. Similar measures have failed in the past, and this one still faces challenges in the Senate, but this bill has significant Republican support. If it becomes law, it would also require companies to verify workers are in the US legally using a federal system. The whole package would bring sweeping changes to an industry that has long relied on the work of undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced ICE arrests dropped about 10% in the 2019 fiscal year. The agency said the drop was due to limited resources. Since so many ICE agents were busy attending to the influx of migrants at the southern US border, they said, there were fewer agents free to apprehend undocumented immigrants already in the country. 

    csr hidden workforce undocumented in america 2_00005005.jpg
    This is how hard it is to find workers for a dairy farm
    01:15 - Source: CNN

    5. Nigeria

    You won’t be flying on a Boeing 737 Max anytime soon. Federal Aviation Administration chief Stephen Dickson said yesterday a House Transportation Committee hearing he couldn’t give a time frame for when the controversial model would be back in the air. The planes were grounded worldwide back in March after two crashes killed a combined 346 people. The hearing also revealed that Boeing and the FAA ignored clear signs that the 737 Max planes were dangerous. A government report filed after the first crash, made public during the yesterday’s hearing, concluded the jets were at a significant risk for future crashes. Dickson said if he were head of the FAA at the time of the report, he would have grounded the planes immediately. However, it took months – and another deadly crash – before any action was taken. 

    WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 04:  House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) questions witnesses during a hearing about Cuba policy in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill February 4, 2015 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the impact of U.S. policy changes toward Cuba and Assistant Secretary of State For Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson's recent trip to Havana to begin the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the former Cold War enemies.  (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
    Congressman reads email warning Boeing about 737 MAX
    02:46 - Source: CNN

    BREAKFAST BROWSE

    The first ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ trailer is here 

    You know awards season is here when you can’t keep up with which nominations are which.

    Popeyes has debuted a chicken-themed ugly Christmas sweater

    That would make quite a while elephant gift

    IHOP is opening a fast casual restaurant called ‘Flip’d’

    For when you absolutely need pancakes but can’t stick around to eat them in a booth.

    Here’s how to say all the words you mispronounced in 2019

    It’s “Buttigieg,” not “Buttigieg,” OK? 

    TODAY’S QUOTE

    “C’est moi.”

    Earlene Peterson, whose daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law were tortured and killed by Daniel Lewis Lee and an accomplice in 1996. Lee, a onetime white supremacist, is scheduled to become the first person to die by federal execution in nearly 17 years. Peterson and other relatives of the victims are asking the government to spare his life

    family of murder victim
    Family of murder victims ask Trump to spare killer's life
    03:09 - Source: CNN

    TODAY’S NUMBER

    The number of square feet of skin New Zealand medical professionals have ordered to treat patients severely injured by gas and ash in Monday’s volcanic eruption on White Island

    TODAY’S WEATHER

    daily weather forecast lake effect snow rain cold_00000000.jpg
    Heavy snow and rain to impact the northern and southern US
    01:40 - Source: CNN

    AND FINALLY

    So fresh and minty!

    Admit it, you’re dying to see how candy canes are made. Maybe you had never considered it before this moment, but now you just NEED to know. (Click here to view.)