New Hunter Biden tax charges add to president’s headaches – live

Good morning, US politics blog readers. Yesterday evening, the news broke that prosecutors had indicted the president’s son Hunter Biden on nine tax charges, adding to his legal troubles that intensified over the summer, when a plea deal to resolve a federal investigation against him collapsed. The most immediate implications of the indictment may well be felt by Joe Biden, who is embarking on a re-election campaign while saddled with already worringly low approval ratings.

Republicans have for years alleged that the now-president corruptly benefited from Hunter and other family members’ overseas business dealings, but have yet to turn up any evidence proving it. Nonetheless, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives may next week vote to formally begin an impeachment inquiry against the president, which would give them a high-profile platform to air their allegations against him. Speaking of Congress, Biden’s proposal for a security package to aid Israel and Ukraine and fund some new border security measures remains tied up in a substantial logjam, despite his insistence that the money – particularly to fund Kyiv’s defense – is a top priority. We’ll see if there’s any movement on that today.

Here’s what else is going on:

• The president is heading to Las Vegas to promote the infrastructure bill he oversaw passage of two years ago, with a speech planned for around 6pm eastern time.

• The UN security council is expected to vote today on urging an immediate ceasefire in the war in Gaza, which the United States has in the past opposed. Follow our live blog for the latest news.

• The US labor market remains strong, according to newly released data that showed employers adding 199,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate dropping to 3.7%.