All eyes are on vote counts in key US House races on Friday as both political parties hope to take control of the lower house in 2025. Advocates argue that messages referring to slavery sent to black students constitute hate crimes. Arrests have been made in connection with the death of One Direction’s Liam Payne.

I am Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Do you scroll a lot? Set up focus shortcuts on your phone.

The remaining house is racing to follow

The race for seats in the House of Representatives is the last chance for power for the Democrats, after Donald Trump claimed the White House on Wednesday morning and the Republicans won the majority in the Senate.

The most recent: While neither side has reached the threshold, the numbers appear to favor the GOP. Here are the results so far. To take control of the House, 218 seats are needed.

Here are some of the races Americans still follow:

News from the Senate: GOP businessman Dave McCormick ousted Pennsylvania Senator Bob Caseyunseating the three-term Democrat.

Black students across the country targeted in racist texts

Black students in several states reported to authorities this week that they received anonymous text messages using racist references to America’s slavery era. It is not clear who sent the messages and how many were sent. At least some of the messages claim to have come from “A Trump supporter.” Experts on domestic extremism were shocked by Wednesday’s messages, telling USA TODAY that the campaign appears to represent a tactic not previously used by white supremacists or hate groups. Read more

More news to find out now

what’s the weather like today Check your local forecast here.

Fed tapering may slow due to Trump inflation hikes

The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday, the second consecutive rate cut amid easing inflation and a move intended to further reduce borrowing costs for millions of Americans. But the more modest cut likely foreshadows a slower pace of rate cuts, which economic forecasts say has been bolstered by Republican Donald Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s presidential election. Trump’s tax, trade and immigration policies are forecast to partially reignite inflation, which has fallen substantially since 2022. Read more

Who is Susie Wiles?

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles will be White House chief of staff. Wiles will make history by becoming the first woman to hold the title of White House Chief of Staff. But the 66-year-old political consultant from Florida is somewhat of a mysterious figure, rarely seen on the campaign trail or heard from in public. Here’s what you need to know about Wiles.

Today’s speakers

Investigation into Liam Payne’s death leads to 3 arrests

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding former One Direction star Liam Payne’s fall from a hotel balcony has resulted in three suspects being charged “with the offenses of abandoning a person after death, supplying and facilitating narcotics”. Argentine authorities said in a statement that one of the suspects is a person who allegedly accompanied Payne on a daily basis during his time in the city of Buenos Aires. Here’s what else I learned.

Photo of the Day: Gusts in New Mexico

Residents of New Mexico and Colorado are saddled with wintry conditions that have made roads impassable, as forecasters predicted, there could be historic amounts of snow in the region.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot him an email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House, Senate, Elections, Trump, Inflation, Fed, Israel, Russia, Liam Payne: Daily Briefing