Colom wins Mississippi Senate race. And, White House warns Dems over future probes

Good morning.You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.Democrat Scott Colom has won the U.S.

Senate seat from Mississippi, defeating Republican Sen.Cindy Hyde-Smith by just a few thousand votes.

Colom will be the first Black Senator from the state in nearly 150 years.His win expands the Democratic majority in the new Congress to 55 seats.

The Alaska race is still undecided.The White House is warning Democrats that their planned investigations into administration officials could cross the line into "blatant criminality." White House Counsel Will Scharf said in a letter to Rep.Robert Garcia, who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee next year, that the administration is monitoring "abusive and capricious threats" from Democrats.

The letter concludes by saying that "the administration will not be extorted and will not be cowed by unlawful process, motivated by animus, pettiness, hatred or any other unlawful motive to intimidate, penalize or interfere with the lawful functioning of government." Garcia said Democrats will not be deterred by threats from the Department of Justice or Trump's lawyers.Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a significant prisoner swap after two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi.Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are now in Moscow today to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attempt to make more headway to end the war in Ukraine.Go face-to-face with the person of the moment.

NPR's Newsmakers video podcast brings the biggest names in politics, business, sports, arts, and culture out of the headlines and into the interview chair to discuss the mark they're making on the world.Follow the Newsmakers podcast or subscribe to NPR's YouTube channel to get new episodes as soon as they're available.Abdul El-Sayed has made history as the first Muslim elected to the U.S.

Senate.The 4...