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Trump's 'Bah! Humbug!' address suggests he is feeling the chill of opinion polls

(The Guardian) It will go down in history as the “Bah! Humbug!” address. Surrounded by Christmas trees and garlands before a fireplace, Donald Trump on Wednesday gave a convincing rendition of Ebenezer Scrooge, the elderly miser who despises Christmas and blames everyone but himself. The US president sounded like a desperate man, pointing an accusing finger at Joe Biden and spreading the opposite of charity and cheer on issues such as immigration. So much for ’tis the season to be jolly.

usonian

Very brief summary of the address

BumRushDaShow

House Republicans Call Early Christmas Break Before Epstein Files Release

(Newsweek) Republicans in the House have brought their Christmas recess a day forward—before the Department of Justice (DOJ) is scheduled to release a tranche of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to a floor update released by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the House will hold its final votes on Thursday afternoon, a change from the GOP’s previously announced schedule which would have seen these taking place on Friday.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

Donald Trump's White House Ballroom Price Tag Suddenly Massively Jumps Again

(Huff Post) Donald Trump delivered an update on the cost of building his much-hyped White House ballroom on Tuesday. The venue, which the president controversially razed the East Wing to make way for, will now cost $400 million, he revealed during his speech at a White House Hanukkah reception. Previously, Trump had talked about the construction project price being $250 million, and then $300 million. “We’re donating a $400 million ballroom,” Trump said, adding another $100 million to the cost.

KS Toronado

Thursday's Condensed News Cartoons

evemac

Trump admin targets Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research for dismantling

(Denver 7 News) The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), according to Russ Vought, the director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. In an X post Tuesday, Vought said that the NCAR facility in Boulder is “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country."

BlueWaveNeverEnd

"I can't believe this is America": U.S. Veteran who voted for Trump says ICE arrested his wife

(WTF Detective) “Why did you vote for him?” a member of Congress asked. “Because I was an idiot,” the veteran replied. “Evangelical Christian people were lied to, if you really want to know the truth. And that’s exactly what happened.” He said he believed deportations would only target criminals, but instead his wife — someone devoted to serving others — was detained. “My wife and I, when we don’t work, we’re ministers. We help the needy. That’s what we do. And that’s who they’re arresting.”

BumRushDaShow

GOP bid to block blue state redistricting torn apart as judges dismantle party's arguments

(Raw Story) Republicans' lawsuit trying to overturn California's mid-decade redistricting map ran into a brick wall this week, as a three-judge panel grilled them intensively, with a clear indication they weren't moved by the arguments. Voters approved Proposition 50 in November, a redraw of the congressional lines that seeks to give Democrats five currently Republican-held seats.

BumRushDaShow

Lawyer tells Trump the Constitution is unclear on third term, WSJ reports

(Reuters) President Donald Trump discussed a draft copy of a book by lawyer Alan Dershowitz that examines whether Trump could constitutionally serve a third term as president, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Trump's flirtation with the idea of a third term has alarmed opponents and constitutional experts, who say it would test the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which Congress approved after Franklin Roosevelt was elected four times. The 22nd Amendment states in part that "No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

highplainsdem

Trump administration asking US oil industry to return to Venezuela -- but getting no takers

(Politico) The Trump administration is asking U.S. oil companies if they’re interested in returning to Venezuela once leader Nicolás Maduro is gone, four people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO. And so far, the answer is a hard “no.” The administration’s outreach to the industry, previously unreported, is the latest sign the White House is dreaming of a post-Maduro future for Venezuela — and how the world’s oil markets are both helping and hindering that goal.

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U.S. to meet with Russian, Ukrainian teams in coming days for new peace talks

26 min ago - Dec. 18, 2025, 9:51 AM EST Ukrainian peace negotiators are en route to the United States and plan to meet with the U.S. negotiating team on Friday and Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday. Zelenskyy told reporters in a WhatsApp me ... (NBC News/Reuters)

Kennedy Center to be renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, White House Says

44 min ago - The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, will be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. The prestigious Washington, D.C., cul ... (CNBC)

Pope Leo replaces Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of NY Catholic Church

1 hr ago - Updated Dec. 18, 2025, 9:09 a.m. ET VATICAN CITY, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Pope Leo replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the leader of the Catholic Church in New York, the Vatican announced on Thursday, sidelining a prominent U.S. Church figure in a major sh ... (USA Today)

Deaths reported after business jet crashed at an airport in North Carolina

2 hrs ago - A sheriff said there were deaths Thursday in the crash of a business jet that was trying to land at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina. [....] The Federal Aviation Administration said a Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville ... (AP News)

More photos from Epstein's estate released by House Democrats as deadline to release DOJ files looms

2 hrs ago - PUBLISHED Dec 18, 2025, 12:00 PM ET Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Thursday — the latest in a series of intermittent disclosures that have fueled significant political intrigue in re ... (CNN Politics)

Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children

3 hrs ago - Updated 11:11 AM EST, December 18, 2025 WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trum ... (AP)

CDC officials urge US flu vaccination after record child deaths last year

5 hrs ago - Thu 18 Dec 2025 07.00 EST Last modified on Thu 18 Dec 2025 07.02 EST Officials are urging doctors to vaccinate their patients and provide flu antivirals after deaths among children reached record highs and as a concerning mutation of the virus circul ... (The Guardian)

US announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion

5 hrs ago - By MATTHEW LEE and SIMINA MISTREANU Updated 4:35 AM CST, December 18, 2025 Leer en español WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes m ... (AP)

Republicans redrew a North Carolina district held by a GOP incumbent.A war veteran Democrat is looking to take advantage

6 hrs ago - Updated on: December 18, 2025 / 7:02 AM EST North Carolina Republicans redrew the state's congressional maps this fall, in the hopes of improving their chances at ousting a Democrat in one of the country's most competitive districts. In doing so, th ... (CBS News)

November consumer prices rose at a 2.7% annual rate, lower than expected, delayed data shows

6 hrs ago - Published Thu, Dec 18 2025 8:31 AM EST Updated 3 Min Ago Consumer prices rose less than expected in November, giving investors hope that inflationary pressures may be cooling enough for the U.S. monetary policy to be eased more than Wall Street antic ... (CNBC)

Prosecutors tried and failed to add 3rd felony charge against Letitia James, court docs show

7 hrs ago - 12/17/2025 11:44 PM EST Federal prosecutors attempted to get a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, to add a third felony charge to a failed indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James last week, while omitting earlier claims that she fraudu ... (Politico)

House Republicans Call Early Christmas Break Before Epstein Files Release

7 hrs ago - Published Dec 18, 2025 at 04:07 AM EST updated Dec 18, 2025 at 06:10 AM EST Republicans in the House have brought their Christmas recess a day forward—before the Department of Justice (DOJ) is scheduled to release a tranche of documents related ... (Newsweek)

Trump's social media business is merging with a nuclear fusion company

7 hrs ago - PUBLISHED Dec 18, 2025, 7:08 AM ET Truth Social parent company Trump Media & Technology Group announced a deal on Thursday to merge with nuclear fusion company TAE Technologies. The surprise merger drove shares of Trump Media 17% higher in premar ... (CNN Business)

Trump admin targets Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research for dismantling

7 hrs ago - BOULDER, Colo. — The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), according to Russ Vought, the director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. In an X post Tuesda ... (Denver 7 news)

Lawyer tells Trump the Constitution is unclear on third term, WSJ reports

8 hrs ago - December 17, 2025 7:08 PM EST Updated 11 hours ago WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump discussed a draft copy of a book by lawyer Alan Dershowitz that examines whether Trump could constitutionally serve a third term as president, th ... (Reuters)

International Migrants Day march planned in Los Angeles on Thursday

8 hrs ago - Dec. 17, 2025, 7:05 p.m. ET Southern Californians traveling through Los Angeles may see a march and rally along Wilshire Boulevard on Thursday, Dec. 18. It’s part of International Migrants Day, and it’s likely the most important one in the ... (USA Today)

GOP bid to block blue state redistricting torn apart as judges dismantle party's arguments

9 hrs ago - December 17, 2025 5:54PM ET Republicans' lawsuit trying to overturn California's mid-decade redistricting map ran into a brick wall this week, as a three-judge panel grilled them intensively, with a clear indication they weren't moved by the argument ... (Raw Story)

Whooping cough cases soar as vaccination rates drop

9 hrs ago - Dec. 17, 2025, 5:47 PM EST At just 2 weeks old, Feleena Owens was struggling to breathe. The newborn was coughing so badly, her skin turned a sickly gray-blue color. Her face contorted as she tried to gulp air. “I think the longest she would s ... (NBC News)

Despite new aid, farmers say labor shortages significantly driving up prices

10 hrs ago - Posted 5:31 PM, Dec 17, 2025 Amid the ongoing trade war brought about by President Donald Trump’s unprecedented use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs on most nations throughout the world, few industries or businesses have been more ... (Scripps News)

Federal report says Arctic just had its warmest year ever, heating twice as fast as global average

10 hrs ago - 12/17/25 5:23 PM ET A federal report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the Arctic region experienced its warmest year ever, heating twice as fast as the national average. Surface air temperatures from October 2024 to Septe ... (The Hill)