U.S. hosts talks to save oceans under 'siege'

An astronomical number of voters cast their ballots early in the Georgia runoff election. In fact, as of Monday, 77,000 people who had not voted in the 2022 midterm election in November cast their ballots in the runoff.

According to NBC News and Cook Political Report, incumbent Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock has won the race against Trump-endorsed NFL veteran Herschel Walker.

On Tuesday, following the conviction of the Trump Organization on over a dozen criminal offenses as part of a tax fraud scheme, Andrew Prokop wrote for Vox that former President Donald Trump has far more worrisome legal concerns headed his way.

"Two subsidiaries of the Trump Organization were found guilty on 17 counts of tax fraud and other financial crimes. The charges were specifically about whether the company properly paid taxes related to 'fringe benefits' that its former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg received as part of his salary. Trump himself was not charged," wrote Prokop. "Weisselberg, who initially was charged with the company, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in August and testified at this trial, but he did not implicate Trump himself in any wrongdoing. An attorney for Trump said the company would appeal the verdict."

On Tuesday, POLITICO reported that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has confirmed he met with an indicted former Florida congressman to discuss Venezuela policy — without realizing he was working with the dictator of Venezuela.

"Sen. Marco Rubio acknowledged on Tuesday through a spokesperson that he met with indicted ex-Rep. David Rivera to discuss a potential deal to normalize relations between the United States and Venezuela — but didn’t know that his one-time friend and long-time political ally was working on behalf of strongman Nicolás Maduro," reported Gary Fineout. "Rubio’s dealings with Rivera emerged Monday night after federal authorities arrested and charged the former Miami lawmaker with eight criminal counts, including money laundering, conspiracy and failing to register as a foreign agent for work allegedly connected to the Maduro regime."