12 PM ET: All eyes on Iowa, Covid-19 subvariant, NASA's cat video & more

The top three GOP contenders for 2024 are in Iowa today as part of their final campaign pushes before the holidays. US officials say attacks on the Red Sea are happening on a scale not seen in two generations. Two thirds of Israelis want an election at the end of the war, and many are not hopeful about getting hostages home. A new Covid-19 subvariant is spreading fast in the US. Plus, NASA shows its appreciation for cat videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices