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Politics

Matt Gaetz Ethics Report Hits Washington Gridlock

What's going on: The House Ethics Committee met for two hours yesterday but couldn’t agree on whether to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been under investigation for sexual misconduct and illicit drug use allegations. The 10-person panel, which is equally split between Democrats and Republicans, remained deadlocked after multiple rounds of voting. Since President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz as attorney general, there’s been mounting pressure for the committee to release its report. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other Republicans don’t want that, arguing Gaetz’s resignation from Congress means the panel no longer has jurisdiction over him. The panel’s meeting happened on the same day that Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance met with key Republican senators to secure support for his confirmation.

What it means: The committee will meet again on December 5 to continue deliberations, so there may be a chance the report will be released. Senators from both parties have been pushing to see it before Gaetz’s confirmation process, and they could issue a subpoena to make that happen. Meanwhile, a House Democrat plans to force a House vote if the findings aren’t released. As the debate continues, multiple media outlets report that a hacker has obtained damaging testimonies against Gaetz. This includes a sworn statement from a woman who alleges she had sex with him in 2017 when she was 17 years old. The House has also heard testimony from another woman who said she witnessed the 2017 assault, according to her lawyer. Gaetz has denied the allegations against him.

Related: Federal Investigation Links Gaetz Venmo Transactions to Women (NYT Gift Link)

US News

Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Laken Riley

Disclaimer: The following story mentions violence and abuse, which could be triggering to some readers.

What's going on: Yesterday, a judge issued a ruling in the case of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was murdered while out for a run in broad daylight earlier this year. The judge found Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old undocumented migrant from Venezuela, guilty and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, following a bench trial. (Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial.) During the court proceedings, lawyers described Riley’s final moments as she fought for her life and activated her phone’s emergency function. Family and friends gave emotional testimony, including Riley’s mother, who said: “Jose Ibarra took no pity on my scared, panicked, and struggling child. There is no end to the pain, suffering, and loss that we have experienced.” 

What it means: The Riley case gained national attention not only as a tragic example of the dangers women face, but also as a talking point on immigration policy. Although it wasn’t a major factor in the trial, Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, cited Riley’s murder and pointed to record border crossings under the Biden administration. (Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) even heckled President Joe Biden about the case.) The debate quickly overshadowed Riley’s story, and the concerns about women’s safety. Earlier this year, Riley’s father spoke about her death, saying “I feel like she’s being used, somewhat, politically,” he told The Today Show. “It makes me angry. She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is.”

Related: Ohio Dad Says Son’s Death Was Used as a “Political Tool” (NBC News)

Art 

$6.2 Million for a Banana...in This Economy?

What's going on: When Gwen Stefani famously coined the phrase “This sh*t is bananas,” she couldn’t have known that more than two decades later, the perfect application for the exclamation would come up for auction at Sotheby’s. Enter: A banana duct-taped to the wall, which sold for $6.2 million last night (selling to Justin Sun, a crypto entrepreneur). The banana is a conceptual work of art called “Comedian” created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. First displayed in Miami, the banana had to be taken down “for public safety reasons” because so many people wanted to take a selfie with it. At one point, another artist unpeeled and took a bite of it. That was all well and good, because the banana and tape are actually replaced constantly. Yes, that means the person who just forked over millions isn’t actually buying the original banana (ew) or the physical art itself, but a certificate of authenticity proving they can reproduce their own taped banana art with whatever fruit they pick up at the store. It’s like an IRL NFT.  

What it means: You may be thinking: Wow, what kind of an unserious person would pay that much for the “concept” of a banana taped to a wall? Well, those in the art world have pondered this too. Is the banana a piece of “eat the rich” commentary on the spending habits of wealthy art collectors? Is it redefining “art” itself? Or is it saying something larger about society and the small pleasures we take for granted? After all, as The Associated Press notes: The banana has a “dark side,” and when you unpeel it, you find a history of labor exploitation, imperialism, and corporate greed. Not just silly banana art now, huh? Still, critics keep coming back to just how much this art sold for at a time when buying fresh fruit at the store doesn’t come easy for many Americans. That concept? Not so appeel-ing. As for Sun, he plans to eat his very expensive banana, describing it as a “unique artistic experience.”

Related: Kim Kardashian With a Humanoid Robot…Performance Art or Weird Flex? (E! News)