WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Jack Smith, the former Justice Department special counsel who brought two now-dropped criminal cases against U.S. President Donald Trump, said that the Republican had acknowledged to others that he lost the 2020 election against former President Joe Biden, according to a transcript of a testimony by Smith.

Another year of action and uncertainty in America’s abortion care system is coming to a close, after states that weighed in on abortion rights in the 2024 election continue to grapple with the impact of those votes.

Political dynasties are making a resurgence as a new generation of candidates with famous family names enters the political arena.

January, named for that two-faced Roman god, brings us into a midterm election year. And Janus makes a good emblem for these biennial contests, which are full of double meaning. For the broad

2026 will be a defining year for President Donald Trump’s political standing and for the ultimate substance and legacy of his second term. The new year will also unfold as a story of resistance to Trump.

In 2026, pivotal elections in Israel, the USA, Hungary, Bangladesh, and Brazil could reshape domestic politics and global alliances. Key contests include Netanyahu’s Knesset race, US midterms, Orbán’s challenge,