promoearn: How Brittney Griner got home

Friday, December 9

In this image made from video provided by Russian Federal Security Service, WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner sits in the plane as she flies to Abu Dhabi to be exchanged for Russian citizen Viktor Bout, in Russia, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

'Painstaking, extraordinary' negotiations.

A plane believed to be carrying WNBA star Brittney Griner has landed in the United States after a one-for-one swap between the U.S. and Russia. Also in the news: The House codified same-sex marriage and what to expect in the World Cup this weekend.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's what to know about those AI portraits you've been seeing on social media.

Here we go with Friday's news.

Nearly 10 months after basketball star detained in Russia, Brittney Griner is free

Brittney Griner was seen getting off a plane that landed Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. Her release from behind bars in Russia followed months of what the White House called "painstaking, extraordinary" negotiations between the Biden administration and Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime for the safe return of the two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time WNBA All-Star. The Biden administration accepted the deal although Russia would not budge on another jailed American, Paul Whelan.

The deal: In the last 48 hours, Griner was transported from a Russian penal colony where she was help captive to the United Arab Emirates for a one-for-one swap with Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was held in a U.S. prison since 2012.

•	What happened: Griner walked directly past Bout on the tarmac as the two prisoners were escorted to opposite directions at the Abu Dhabi airport, according to video released by Russian-state media. Earlier, aboard a plane out of Russia, a smiling Griner described herself as "happy."
•	''BG is FREE!!!'': The sports world expressed emotions surrounding Griner's return on social media and on television.
•	''Today my family is whole'': Griner's wife, Cherelle, tirelessly and heroically worked to free Brittney.
•	Who is Viktor Bout? The notorious Russian gun dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death," is a former Soviet military officer and translator who was serving a 25-year prison sentence.
•	There's also Paul Whelan: President Joe Biden said the U.S. will continue efforts to bring home Whelan, an American who has been jailed in Russia for nearly four years.

📷 Photo of the day: US-Russia prisoner swap 📷

Griner, a center for the Phoenix Mercury, had been in custody in Russia since February when she was arrested at an airport near Moscow while returning to play for her Russian professional basketball team, UMMC Ekaterinburg. She was charged with possessing cannabis oil. Click here to see more photos of the swap.

WNBA star Brittney Griner deplanes at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, following her release in a prisoner swap with Russia, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.

Eric Gay, AP

As Respect for Marriage Act passes, same-sex couples share tentative enthusiasm

The House passed the Respect for Marriage Act Thursday by a vote of 258-169 –enshrining federal rights for same-sex marriage. The legislation guarantees federal recognition of any marriage between two individuals if the union was valid in the state where it was performed. It also requires states to accept the legitimacy of a valid marriage performed elsewhere and protects interracial marriages. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign the legislation into law. Read more

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) participates in a bill enrollment ceremony alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives for the Respect For Marriage Act at the U.S. Capitol Building on December 08, 2022 in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images

More news to know now

•	📰 The accused Club Q shooter was involved in a recently unsealed bomb threat case.
•	💉 The FDA authorized a bivalent COVID shot for young kids.
•	🌋 Mauna Loa lava no longer an immediate threat to major Hawaii highway.
•	🟣 Independent abortion clinics are ''disappearing from communities'' after the end of Roe v. Wade.
•	💨 The first offshore wind power sites were auctioned off California's coast. One day it could power 1.5M homes.
•	📺 Trevor Noah ended his 7-year run as ''The Daily Show'' host with ''special shoutout to Black women.''
•	🎁 The Best Secret Santa gifts: 20 ideas for Christmas presents in 2022.
•	🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, USA TODAY Sports Reporter Chris Bumbaca looks at how the U.S. got Brittney Griner out of Russian custody. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
•	📝 What happened this week? Test how well you paid attention to the news.

🌤 What's the weather this weekend? Check your local forecast here.

How did Republicans lose Georgia?

Voters rejected Trump-backed, election-denying candidates in presidential battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and Wisconsin – and now Georgia. Political experts can draw lessons both old and new from Raphael Warnock's win over Herschel Walker in the George Senate runoff. Nationally, Walker is the latest Donald Trump-sponsored Republican candidate to lose a big statewide race, despite a favorable political environment for the GOP – a warning sign for the party, especially with Trump himself planning to run again for the presidency in 2024. The new lesson: Trump-backed candidates tend to have trouble in battleground states. Read more

•	New York Democrat Chuck Schumer unanimously reelected as Senate majority leader.
•	What we know about the next Senate and the balance of power now that Georgia's runoff is over.
•	Pension cuts are ''not going to happen'': Biden announces federal bailout for troubled union pension fund.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined by Sen. Gary Peters., D-Mich., chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, signals "51" as he speaks with reporters after Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican challenger Herschel Walker in a runoff election in Georgia last night, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022.

J. Scott Applewhite, AP

US sending $275 million in military aid to Ukraine

Officials say the U.S. is sending an additional $275 million in military aid to Ukraine, including large amounts of ammunition and high-tech systems that can be used to detect and counter drones in its ongoing war with Russia. The total amount is smaller than most of the recent packages of aid, and comes as many military officials and experts predict a reduction in attacks during the winter. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia appears to be slowing its military activities to regroup and launch a new offensive when the weather warms. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid package prior to its public release, which is expected Friday. Read more

•	A visual breakdown of Russian military bases set ablaze by drone strikes.

Locals receive humanitarian aid in Bakhmut, Donetsk region on December 8, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

IHOR TKACHOV, AFP via Getty Images

Just for subscribers:

•	⛰ At least 9 climbers died on 14,000-foot peaks in the U.S. this year. These people do it anyway.
•	🏠 An HBCU faced with surging enrollment in booming Nashville gets creative to house students.
•	🕯 They survived a tornado that leveled a Kentucky candle factory. That was just the beginning.
•	💡 America needs the nuclear option to keep our homes warm – and to fight climate change.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Already a subscriber and want premium content texted to you every day? We can do that! Sign up for our subscriber-only texting campaign.

Ronaldo, Portugal look to end Morocco's World Cup run

This World Cup marks Morocco's first ever spot in the quarterfinals — the first to take place in the Arab world, no less — and now a meeting with Portugal and its superstar striker, Cristiano Ronaldo. Will he start Saturday's match, or won't he? That's the big question being asked about Ronaldo after he was dropped by Portugal coach Fernando Santos for the 6-1 win over Switzerland in the round of 16 on Tuesday. As for Morocco, the nation is in uncharted territory after becoming only the fourth African country to reach the quarterfinals at soccer's biggest tournament. Read more

•	Follow every match: Latest World Cup scores and schedules.
•	Host city for 2030 Winter Olympics hasn't yet been named. Why? It may not be cold enough.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo looks on against Uruguay during the second half of the group stage match in the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium.

Yukihito Taguchi, USA TODAY Sports

One more thing

•	🚭 Can I fly with a weed vape? What to know in light of Brittney Griner's arrest in Russia.
•	🗨 Celine Dion has stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. What is that?
•	🎮 The FTC sued to block Microsoft's $69B deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, maker of Call of Duty.
•	👙 Topless beach ''gender equity'' bylaw approved by Massachusetts town, state attorney general.
•	👃 Guillermo del Toro on boldly reinventing ''Pinocchio'' with grief, fascism and a drunk Geppetto.
•	🏈 Meet college football's first $1 million strength coach: ''He is the team.''
•	🎬 ''Emancipation'' review: A powerhouse Will Smith lifts the wobbly Apple TV+ action thriller.

Anthony Fuqua and Will Smith in "Emancipation"

Quantrell Colbert

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note, shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.