What's Happening

Politics

President Biden Pardons His Son

What's going on: Yesterday, President Joe Biden issued a “full and unconditional pardon” for his son Hunter Biden. The controversial decision marks a sharp reversal from Biden’s long-standing promise not to use his executive power to pardon his son or commute his sentence. Hunter was the first child of a sitting president to face criminal charges — he was found guilty of gun-related charges in Delaware in June and pleaded guilty to tax evasion in California in September. The pardon applies to all actions between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024. In a statement released Sunday night, the president said: “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” The president also touched on Hunter’s long battle with addiction, noting that he believed the conviction was an attempt to “break” his son after five and a half years of sobriety. Republicans criticized the president’s pardon, calling it an attempt to “avoid accountability” and labeling him a “hypocrite.” 

What it means: It’s not unusual for presidents to issue pardons as their terms wind down. What’s rare? Stepping in while a close family member is still in the middle of legal proceedings. (Hunter was scheduled for sentencing hearings on Dec. 12 and Dec. 16.) The pardon came just hours after Hunter’s legal team released a paper arguing that his prosecutions were politically motivated (though the special counsel who handled the cases denied that he was treated unfairly because he was a Biden). Hunter has long been a political powder keg for his father, with House Republicans using his business dealings as a major basis for their impeachment inquiry into the president. In response to the pardon, Hunter said in a statement Sunday: "I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

Related: Hunter Biden’s Life (& Legal Troubles): A Timeline (NYT Gift Link)

International

In Syria, Aleppo Falls to Rebels & the Civil War Takes a Turn

What's going on: Over the weekend, rebel forces in Syria launched the largest offensive against the government in years, seizing most of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city. In response, the Syrian army initially retreated but later deployed reinforcements to the northwest on Sunday in a bid to push back insurgents. This swift, unexpected rebel offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Turkey-backed group classified by the US as a terrorist organization. HTS's success was attributed to several factors: First, the rebels were more organized than ever, and took advantage of the Syrian regime’s allies — including Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia — being preoccupied with other conflicts. As one policy expert put it: “Regional and international powers intervened in Syria over a decade ago, and now the conflicts of Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon all come together and overlap in Aleppo.”

What it means: Losing Aleppo marks a significant blow to President Bashar al-Assad’s government and exposes cracks in his military forces, particularly their heavy reliance on allies who are now consumed by their own conflicts. In other words, global turmoil is reverberating through Syria’s civil war, which has been ongoing since the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. And the fallout could be devastating: Experts warn that this development will likely drive more refugees into neighboring countries, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. There’s also concern that the military collapse in Syria could provide a hospitable environment for extremist groups to thrive. As for what’s next? Assad’s military is regrouping, while HTS is advancing southward to target government-held cities like Hama and Damascus. 

Related: Here’s What To Know About the Syrian Civil War (CNN)

Health

Health Anxiety Isn’t Just in Your Head — It’s a Legitimate Mental Illness

What's going on: You’ve got a headache. A sore throat. Maybe your chest feels tight. Every worst-case scenario is flashing through your mind. For some, this is more than a passing panic — it’s a daily reality. And now, new research confirms that hypochondria isn’t just “all in your head,” but a serious mental health condition on par with depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Research shows that it can disrupt lives in profound ways, leaving people unable to work, care for loved ones, cook meals, or even leave the house. In extreme cases, it can lead to devastating outcomes, including higher death rates and a significant risk of suicide. The research also found that hypochondria is actually two distinct syndromes: Illness anxiety disorder, which involves a general fear and preoccupation with sickness, and somatic symptom disorder, when a person focuses on specific physical symptoms, like a rapid heartbeat or high blood pressure. This distinction is now reflected in the leading psychiatric manual.

What it means: For centuries, health anxiety was seen as a “fashionable” trait of intellectuals overthinking themselves into illness. More recently, it was brushed off as chronic worrying or attention-seeking behavior, further trivializing the struggles of those living with it. Recognizing health anxiety as a serious, life-threatening condition rather than a character flaw marks a significant step toward breaking stigmas and ensuring better care. Doctors say it can be effectively managed with treatments like short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps address the roots of fear, whether tied to specific physical symptoms or a broader dread of illness. Practical strategies, like tracking symptoms to identify real patterns, reframing catastrophic thoughts into actionable steps, and reducing reassurance-seeking behaviors, can also help ease anxiety, and antidepressants are proving beneficial too.

Related: Anxiety Rates Are Higher in Women — But Could It Be Masking a Deeper Issue? (WaPo Gift Link)