President Trump on Monday signed proclamations reducing the size of two national monuments in Utah. In the largest reduction of federally protected lands in U.S. history, Trump announced that the Bears Ears National Monument will shrink to 220,000 acres from about 1.5 million acres. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will be reduced to about 1 million acres, half of its current size. During a speech in Utah, Trump said that previous administrations abused the federal Antiquities Act, which requires presidents to restrict the designation of monuments to "the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected." "These abuses of the Antiquities Act give enormous power to faraway bureaucrats at the expense of people who work here, live here, and make this place their home," Trump said. - USAT
Inside Daily Brief (Dec 4th, 2017)
The United States has withdrawn from talks to develop a global compact to manage international migration. On Sunday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the Global Compact on Migration - which is under development in a worldwide effort led by the United Nations - could challenge the country's enforcement of immigration laws. The U.S. recognized the U.N.'s New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants last year. The 2016 declaration - set to be adopted as the global compact in 2018 - aims to protect the rights of migrants and help them resettle in new areas. Tillerson claimed that the proposed accord "contains a number of policy goals that are inconsistent with U.S. law and policy," particularly with regard to border security and immigration laws. - NBC
In an op-ed for the New York Times, former "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush confirmed that the voice on a 2005 recording belongs to President Trump. The Times has recently published reports claiming Trump has privately expressed doubt about the tape's authenticity. Trump reportedly told a Republican senator and others close to him that the voice on the tape is not his. In an opinion piece published Sunday, Bush said it was indeed Trump who bragged about sexually assaulting women during the discussion. "Of course he said it," Bush wrote. "And we laughed along, without a single doubt that this was hypothetical hot air from America’s highest-rated bloviator.” Bush said there were seven other people on the bus who heard Trump speak at the time. In the recording, Trump talked about grabbing women by the genitals and says he can "just start kissing" women. "When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything," Trump says. He has described the remarks as "locker room talk." - NPR
The New York Giants have fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese. McAdoo was let go on Monday after only two seasons, which is the shortest run for a Giants head coach in 89 years. Reese, who was with the franchise since 1994, became its general manager in 2007. The firings came after McAdoo chose to bench starting quarterback Eli Manning for Geno Smith, which upset Giants' CEO John Mara. The Giants' record this season is 2-10. - ESPN
A Spanish judge has ordered two Catalan politicians and two independence activists to remain in jail. Judge Pablo Llarena of the Supreme Court declined to set bail for Joaquim Forn, the former regional interior minister, and Oriol Junqueras, ex-deputy leader of Catalonia, along with two leaders of separatist organizations. All four will remain in Spanish custody after they were arrested for their participation in the Catalan independence movement. Llarena on Monday ordered the release on bail of six other former members of the Catalan regional government. The bail was set at 100,000 euros, or about $118,000 each. Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is currently in exile in Belgium. - WAPO
An American tourist was killed by a tiger shark off the coast of Costa Rica. Rohina Bhandari, a director at a New York City private equity firm, was diving at the Manuelita site in Costa Rica's Isla del Coco National Park when she was mauled by a female shark. The attack left severe bites on her legs. Bhandari was part of a tourist group on a trip led by Undersea Hunter Group. Bhandari, 49, who worked for Manhattan-based WL Ross & Co., was known to participate in charity events in New York City. - USAT
An Australian politician proposed to his long-time partner during a public debate over the legalization of same-sex marriage. Tim Wilson, an Australian member of Parliament, proposed during a speech on the House of Representative's floor on Monday. He had urged his colleagues to pass the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill of 2017. During the speech, Wilson told his partner - who said yes - that the government's debate over same-sex marriage was a "soundtrack to our relationship." In the speech, Wilson said the journey is "paralyzing because you can't seek help from others. The people you should be able to turn to are the ones you fear speaking to the most because the cost of rejection is so high." - AP
Facebook has launched its Messenger Kids app, geared toward children under 13. The messaging app allows parents to set up the account and approve their children's contacts. The company says that the free app has no ads or in-app purchases. It was released as a preview on iOS devices and will be available to a larger audience at a future date. “We’re going to see how kids are using it, and that will allow us to add updates in future versions as necessary," a Facebook spokeswoman said. Under current law, people under 13 cannot legally sign up for Facebook. - REUTERS
Production of the sixth and final season of "House of Cards" will resume early next year. Production on the eight-episode season was stalled in late October after multiple people accused lead actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct. Robin Wright, who play's the wife of Spacey's character, will assume a lead role in the new season. Spacey has since been suspended from the program. At least eight current and former employees of the show have accused Spacey of contributing to a toxic work environment. - LAT
