Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is missing oral arguments for the first time in more than 25 years as she recuperates from last month’s cancer surgery. Court spokeswomen Kathy Arberg said the 85-year-old justice is recuperating and working from home after having two cancerous growths removed from her left lung Dec. 21. Doctors found no other signs of disease and said no further treatment was planned.

John Bolton, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, arrived in Turkey on Monday to negotiate the terms of the United States’ withdrawal from Syria. Bolton said U.S. troops would only pull out of northeastern Syria if Turkey promised not to attack the region’s Kurds, who helped the United States and its partners fight Islamic State (ISIS). Some Kurds have links to insurgent groups in Turkey, which considers them terrorists. Bolton said Sunday that the United States remains committed to protecting its Kurdish allies and defeating ISIS.

The House of Saud once again played the role of international bully when it recently censored a Netflix comedy show that criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The streaming network confirmed this week that it had blocked an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj for viewers in the kingdom in response to a Saudi mandate.

Netflix said it received “a valid legal demand from the government” and felt compelled to follow the law by pulling the 27-minute episode.

Democrats officially take control of the House on Thursday as the 116th Congress convenes. The new majority will have 235 seats to Republicans’ 199, with one seat still undecided in North Carolina amid allegations of voter fraud. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is all but certain to reclaim the House speaker’s gavel. In the Senate, the GOP will add to its majority, seating three new senators for a total of 53.

Conservative audiences flexed their purchasing power and proved this year they can influence TV, sports, and movies. Entertainment executives are starting to realize the importance of offering content that families can relate to, although shows and movies with a Biblical worldview still have a hard time getting Hollywood to take them seriously. Here are some of the top arts and entertainment stories of 2018.

The New York Stock Exchange had its best day in 10 years Wednesday, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped by more than 1,000 points, its largest single-day gain ever. Gains in technology, retail, healthcare, and internet stocks drove the rally. This month brought extreme volatility to markets, which overall are having their worst December since 1931. Though trading volume was light Wednesday, the rebound helped erase a Christmas Eve slump that plunged stocks close to bear market territory.

During a surprise visit to troops in Iraq, President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his decision to pull U.S. forces from Syria. He said military gains against Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria made possible the withdrawal of 2,000 troops.