Looks like Boris is about to 'get Brexit done'

Ashley Shaffer | USA TODAY

While President Donald Trump and the rest of America await the next impeachment move, Conservatives in Britain just want to "get Berxit done."

It's Ashley. Here's the news you need to know today.

But first, ho ho no: A family claims someone hacked a Ring camera in their daughter's room and started talking to her, saying, "I'm Santa Claus." Not OK.

The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here!

Path to Brexit looks clear, but won't be easy

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured a comfortable majority in Parliament, according to a BBC exit poll Thursday after an election that pitted Johnson's plan to "get Brexit done" on Jan. 31 against opposition parties who wanted to delay Britain's departure from the European Union or even cancel it altogether. If the result is confirmed (probably early Friday), it will pave the way for Johnson to push through Brexit after three years of divisive and acrimonious debate by lawmakers over whether Britain should leave a bloc it joined more than four decades ago. But even if Johnson succeeds in dragging Britain out of the alliance, it will be just the start of a deeper EU separation process that will likely last several years.

Meanwhile in America: Impeachment hearings

We're gathered here today with the latest on the impeachment hearings for President Donald Trump. The House Judiciary Committee reconvened Thursday to decide whether articles of impeachment against Trump should be forwarded to the full chamber for a vote as early as next week on whether to impeach him. Democrats have a heavy advantage on the panel, which is likely to approve both articles – abuse of power and obstruction of congress – relating to Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating political rival Joe Biden. If the panel adopts one or both articles, Trump would join Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton as the only presidents who faced specific charges over alleged misconduct.

This story is developing: Follow along here for live updates.

What everyone’s talking about

College athletes punished for sex offenses play on

The NCAA punishes athletes for bad grades, smoking marijuana or accepting money and free meals. But nowhere in its 440-page Division I rulebook does it cite penalties for sexual, violent or criminal misconduct. No matter if schools suspend, dismiss or expel athletes for sexual misconduct, NCAA rules provide avenues for them to return to the field on a new team within a year – sometimes immediately. The result? An investigation by the USA TODAY Network identified at least 33 current and former athletes since 2014 who transferred to NCAA schools despite being administratively or criminally disciplined for a sexual offense at another college.

Trump’s got beef with a 16-year-old

President Donald Trump attacked 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg on Thursday for being named Time magazine's "Person of The Year." "So ridiculous," Trump said on Twitter. "Greta must work on her Anger Management problem.” He went on to add, "Chill Greta, Chill!" Thunberg responded swiftly, changing her Twitter profile to read, "A teenager working on her anger management problem.” Trump, who was named Person of the Year after winning the 2016 presidential election, has criticized the magazine for passing him up in the years since. On social media, critics described Trump's tweet as equivalent to bullying a child.

Real quick

One plane model, 15 fatal crashes

That’s how many accidents the Federal Aviation Administration predicted the troubled Boeing 737 Max would have over its service life if changes weren't made. A House committee revealed the documents Wednesday, noting that the report came after the first crash of the 737 Max last year. Despite the finding, the plane was allowed to keep flying. It was grounded only after a second tragic crash in March.

Southwest Airlines reached an agreement with Boeing over damages from the costly prolonged grounding of the 737 Max.

A break from the news

We needed more pictures of dogs of Britain out supporting voters

And thought you might, too. Look at all of these good doggos.

This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network.