US Domestic News Roundup: US appeals court to consider Trump gag order in election subversion case; US to offer more free COVID tests nationwide and more

Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden next year, traveled to Edinburg, Texas, with Abbott to visit Texas National Guard soldiers, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other service members stationed there. Elon Musk, under fire, threatens lawsuit against media watchdog Elon Musk threatened on Saturday to sue media watchdog Media Matters and those who attacked his social media platform X, following moves by several large U.S. companies to halt advertising on the site after being promoted alongside antisemitic content.

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

US appeals court to consider Trump gag order in election subversion case

Donald Trump's lawyers will ask a federal appeals court on Monday to overturn a gag order that has prevented the former president from targeting some participants in a criminal case accusing him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, who is overseeing the case, imposed the ban after she found that Trump's public statements and social media posts could influence witnesses and lead to threats against lawyers and other public officials.

US to offer more free COVID tests nationwide

The U.S. government on Monday will start taking orders for another round of free COVID-19 tests for delivery across the country, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson said. Households that had ordered four free tests through COVIDTests.gov when they were offered again in September are eligible to order four more, while those that did not can submit two orders for a total of eight free tests.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, ex-girlfriend settle sex trafficking, rape lawsuit

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs and his ex-girlfriend R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura on Friday settled her lawsuit that accused the rapper of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape, according to lawyers for Ventura. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

California man pleads not guilty to manslaughter in death of Jewish protester

A California man pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and battery charges on Friday in the death of a Jewish man who fell to the ground and hit his head during an altercation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators this month. The suspect, Loay Alnaji, 50, was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court the day after his arrest at his home in Moorpark, California, a community close to the scene of the protests on Nov. 5 and about 45 miles (70 km) northwest of Los Angeles.

Bidens serve meals to military families at 'Friendsgiving' event in Norfolk

U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden donned aprons and served Thanksgiving dinners to military personnel and their families on Sunday at an early holiday meal dubbed "Friendsgiving." The event took place in a flag-bedecked hangar at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia.

Southwest, other US airlines face holiday travel test after 2022 blizzard

Andrew Watterson knows the cost of flight disruptions. The chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines found himself in the eye of a storm after a blizzard last December forced the company to cancel almost 17,000 flights, disrupting travel plans for about 2 million customers.

Trump wins Texas governor Abbott's endorsement at US-Mexico border

Republican Donald Trump won the endorsement of Texas Governor Greg Abbott at an event near the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday, a location meant to highlight the former U.S. president's plans to crack down on immigration if he wins the 2024 election. Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden next year, traveled to Edinburg, Texas, with Abbott to visit Texas National Guard soldiers, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other service members stationed there.

Elon Musk, under fire, threatens lawsuit against media watchdog

Elon Musk threatened on Saturday to sue media watchdog Media Matters and those who attacked his social media platform X, following moves by several large U.S. companies to halt advertising on the site after being promoted alongside antisemitic content. Musk and X have been under a microscope all week for antisemitic and racist content that has proliferated on the site since he purchased it in 2022.

Former US first lady Rosalynn Carter dies at 96

Former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who President Jimmy Carter called "an extension of myself" owing to his wife's prominent role in his administration even as she tirelessly promoted the cause of mental health, died on Sunday at age 96, the Carter Center said. Rosalynn Carter, who in recent days had entered hospice care at home in Plains, Georgia, died with her family by her side, according to a statement released by the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded by the couple.

Biden turns 81 as worries about his age weigh on re-election prospects

U.S. President Joe Biden turns 81 on Monday, a milestone likely to draw attention to his status as the oldest person to ever occupy the Oval Office, with opinion polls showing Americans worried he is too old for the post he is seeking reelection to. Biden has addressed those who worry that he is too old for the rigors of the White House with humor and an attempt to convince voters that his age and experience over a half-century in public life is an asset in tackling America's problems.