Florida GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan Announces Retirement, Adding to House Exodus

Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida, announced his retirement from the House of Representatives on Tuesday, marking the end of a 20-year career on Capitol Hill, according to Fox News. At 74 years old, Buchanan, who sits on Congress' powerful tax-writing committee, becomes the 28th Republican to join a growing wave of House exits. Twenty-one House Democrats have also announced they will not seek re-election. Buchanan stated that serving in Congress was "the honor of a lifetime."

In other news, the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela in October have filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, Fox News reported. The families allege the victims were fishermen returning from Venezuela to Trinidad when their boat was attacked. The lawsuit seeks civil damages under federal maritime law. The Pentagon and Justice Department have not yet responded. Six men from Trinidad were killed in the strike.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills reportedly named offensive coordinator Joe Brady as their next head coach, replacing Sean McDermott, according to Fox News. Brady joined the Bills organization before the 2022 season as the team's quarterbacks coach. He was later named the official offensive coordinator.

Martha Stewart recently spoke out about the current climate in the United States, particularly regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement, Fox News reported. Stewart credited her 14-year-old granddaughter, Jude Stewart, for inspiring her to address the ICE protests that have erupted in Minneapolis and across the U.S. Her statement comes after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old anti-ICE agitator, and Renee Good, who was also shot and killed during an encounter with an ICE officer.

In sports news, Derek Jeter recalled the only time he played against his New York Yankees teammates, Fox News reported. It was as Team USA's shortstop. Jeter spent from 1992 until 2014 with the New York Yankees, totaling 3,210 games at all levels of the organization, not including spring training. He played against the Yankees during an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and the USA Baseball team at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on March 3, 2009.