A judge says the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba admitted he killed her. Joran van der Sloot pleaded guilty Wednesday to extorting the Alabama teen’s mother in 2010. The 36-year-old had demanded $250,000 from her in exchange for the location of her daughter’s remains. Part of the plea deal required Van der Sloot to reveal information about what happened to Holloway. Source

Rep. Jim Jordan failed to secure enough votes to become House speaker on the second ballot, leaving the lower chamber without a leader as Republicans’ path forward remained unclear. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion spoke with Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who has voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in both rounds, about what he thinks needs to happen next. Source

A judge told Trump to be quiet after a lawyer for New York Attorney General said he was intimidating a witness. Source

CBS has released its holiday TV schedule for Christmas classics like Rudolph and Frosty. Source

HELOCs are a good way to borrow money against your home, but it’s important to know how much you’ll pay monthly. Source

The best minimalist-approved Christmas gifts for the friend or family member who swears they don’t want anything. Source

President Biden is returning to the United States after a brief visit to Israel on Wednesday. Ahead of a widely expected Israeli ground invasion to go after Hamas in Gaza, Mr. Biden urged the Israeli nation not to be consumed by its well-founded anger. CBS News’ Roxana Saberi and Ed O’Keefe have the latest. Source

In an interview on “CBS Mornings,” John Legend talks about getting the updated COVID vaccine: “I believe in making sure everyone in my family is protected.” Source

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who needs 217 votes to become House speaker seems to be losing support as some House GOP members continued to vote against him. CBS News congressional correspondents Nikole Killion and Scott MacFarlane report on the latest in the race for the vacant speaker seat. Source

Rep. Jim Jordan lost 20 Republicans in his first attempt to win the speakership on the House floor. After working to change the minds of the holdouts, he’s expected to try again late Wednesday morning. Source