Kaitlin Davis is a social worker in Oklahoma who spends a lot of time traveling to meet foster children in rural areas. The shortage of foster families in these regions means that children often have to be placed far from home, which can be challenging for the child welfare system.
Key Facts
Kaitlin Davis works as a social worker in Oklahoma.
She travels long distances, nearly nine hours round-trip, to visit foster children.
There is a shortage of foster families in rural areas of Oklahoma.
This shortage makes it necessary for children to be placed far from their original homes.
The child welfare system aims to help children deal with sudden losses and changes in their lives.
Building hope for a better future is a focus of Davis’s work with foster children.
The Montana Supreme Court dismissed a misconduct case against the state's attorney general, Austin Knudsen. The case involved Knudsen's actions regarding a law that increased the governor's power over judicial appointments.
Key Facts
The Montana Supreme Court dismissed a misconduct case against Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
Knudsen was accused of misconduct for defying court orders in a legal dispute.
This legal dispute was over a 2021 law that allowed the governor to fill judicial vacancies directly.
A panel had suggested Knudsen's law license be suspended for 90 days.
The court found Knudsen violated attorney conduct rules but said his rights were violated when his expert witness was excluded.
Knudsen called the complaint a distraction and described it as a "political stunt."
Chief Justice Cory Swanson referred to the situation as a "public admonition" against Knudsen.
Jack Smith, a former special counsel, discussed details of his investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election in a 250-page deposition with Congress. Smith indicated he had considered charging co-conspirators but had not finalized plans before President Trump won his second term in 2024. The deposition was released by the House Judiciary Committee and addressed concerns about the potential political motivations behind the investigation.
Key Facts
Jack Smith talked to Congress about his investigation into overturning the 2020 election.
Smith's team had evidence to charge some individuals, but no charges were filed before President Trump's re-election.
Smith stated that Trump's actions on January 6, 2021, contributed to threats against Mike Pence.
The investigation considered whether prosecuting Trump would infringe on free speech rights.
Smith claimed efforts to overturn election results were not protected under the First Amendment because they involved fraud.
Lawmakers asked about phone record subpoenas of Congress members, which were approved by the DOJ.
Smith decided not to pursue information from Steve Bannon, believing it wouldn't be "fruitful."
A woman in Florida, Deborah A. Collier, attempted to kill her disabled 13-year-old great-granddaughter and herself due to stress affecting the family. The police found them in a car, and the girl was taken to the hospital and is stable. Collier is charged with attempted first-degree murder and is held without bond.
Key Facts
Deborah A. Collier is accused of trying to kill her great-granddaughter and herself.
The incident happened in Florida's Volusia County.
The girl, who needs 24-hour care due to her disabilities, was found unconscious but is now stable.
Police found a typed note from Collier explaining her actions were due to family stress.
Collier was the primary guardian for the girl alongside her husband.
Police discovered prescription medication alongside the note.
Collier is charged with attempted first-degree murder and is being held without bond.
President Donald Trump vetoed two bills nearly a year into his second term as President. The vetoed bills had bipartisan support in Congress and could potentially be overridden. One bill related to a water pipeline in Colorado, while the other was about a flooding project for a Native American tribe in Florida.
Key Facts
President Trump vetoed two bills with bipartisan support in Congress.
One bill aimed to reduce costs for a new water pipeline in Colorado.
Representative Lauren Boebert, from Colorado, supported the pipeline bill.
The second bill intended to help a Florida tribe with flooding issues.
President Trump argued the Colorado bill would hurt federal repayments.
Trump claimed unauthorized development happened on the tribe's land in Florida.
Trump has had disputes with Colorado leaders about the imprisonment of Tina Peters.
The Trump administration has ended a lease for three public golf courses in Washington, D.C., previously managed by the National Links Trust. The Department of the Interior stated the nonprofit did not fulfill lease terms, including making needed improvements. This decision allows President Donald Trump the potential to influence these golf courses' future.
Key Facts
The lease termination affects golf courses at East Potomac Park, Rock Creek Park, and Langston Golf Course.
The Department of the Interior ended the 50-year lease due to unmet terms by the National Links Trust.
National Links Trust reported that they invested $8.5 million in upgrades and increased both rounds played and revenue.
The nonprofit organization is still operating the courses temporarily, but major renovations have stopped.
The Interior Department's action is part of broader efforts by Trump to modernize federal properties.
The future status of the golf courses is uncertain, raising concerns about ongoing public access.
President Trump’s company operates multiple golf courses globally, which may influence his interest in the sites.
As of January 1, five U.S. states have new rules that limit what people can buy with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. These states now restrict using SNAP funds to buy sugary drinks, candy, and other foods seen as unhealthy. The new rules aim to reduce health issues like obesity.
Key Facts
The states with new SNAP restrictions are Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia.
SNAP, previously known as food stamps, helps 42 million Americans buy groceries.
The restrictions are aimed at cutting down on health problems linked to sugary foods and drinks.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins support these changes.
Retailers may face technical issues and increased costs due to these restrictions.
The new rules impact about 1.4 million SNAP recipients in the five states.
Past federal policies allowed SNAP benefits for any food except alcohol and ready-to-eat hot foods.
The changes are part of a broader health policy under the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump has installed new bronze plaques under the portraits of former presidents in the White House. These plaques contain derogatory descriptions of past presidents, sparking mixed reactions from disbelief to acceptance.
Key Facts
President Trump is currently residing in the White House.
New bronze plaques are placed under portraits of former U.S. presidents.
The plaques use insulting language about past presidents.
President Joe Biden is called "sleepy" and "the worst in American history."
President Barack Obama is described as "one of the most divisive figures ever."
The plaques are inside the White House, a symbol of national unity in the U.S.
Reactions vary, with some people feeling disbelief and others shrugging it off.
The plaques are seen by some as part of a broader shift in politics toward entertainment and spectacle.
President Trump's administration is halting federal child care funding to states. The halt requires states to provide additional information about their child care programs. This decision is based on fraud issues in some Minnesota day care centers.
Key Facts
The administration is stopping child care funds to all U.S. states.
States need to give more verification and data about their child care programs.
The decision is due to fraud schemes in Minnesota day care centers.
These centers are run by Somali residents in Minnesota.
Minnesota is receiving most of the attention in this action.
Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, is looking into legal options to prevent cuts to child care services.
President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped during his second term in 2025. While he started with more than half of Americans approving of his performance, several polls now show a majority disapproving. His ratings on key issues like immigration and the economy have also seen a decline.
Key Facts
President Trump began 2025 with an approval rating above 50%.
By the end of the year, major polls show more Americans disapprove of his performance than approve.
The New York Times and Silver Bulletin report Trump's approval rating at 42% and disapproval at 54%.
The Decision Desk HQ finds Trump at 45% approval and 52% disapproval.
A The Economist/YouGov poll shows 39% approval and 56% disapproval.
A Trafalgar Group poll reports 50% approval and 45% disapproval.
Trump's handling of immigration also saw approval drop from over 50% to 44% by December.
On the economy, his approval ratings have declined, affected by policies like tariffs aimed at reducing trade deficits.
The Trump administration is stopping federal child care payments to all U.S. states until they provide extra verification due to fraud concerns, especially in Minnesota. Minnesota will face additional checks like audits and detailed record submissions. This decision follows fraud allegations linked to some Minnesota day care centers.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has paused federal child care funding for all 50 states.
States must provide extra verification and administrative data to resume payments.
The freeze comes after fraud reports primarily in Minnesota, with over 60 people convicted and more than 90 charged.
Minnesota faces stricter requirements, including audits and detailed records like attendance and licensing.
The allegations involve reports of fraud linked to Somali-run day care centers in Minneapolis.
Democratic leaders in Minnesota claim the move is politically motivated.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned the possibility of expanding fraud investigations to other states.
Concerns have risen about potential harassment toward Somali immigrants and impacts on Minnesota's day care system.
President Donald Trump announced he is no longer pursuing the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. This decision follows legal challenges that halted the effort.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump planned to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland.
The aim was to address issues in these cities, but it faced legal obstacles.
The deployment of troops has been stopped "for now."
Legal barriers prevented the immediate deployment.
President Donald Trump announced that the National Guard will be withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. He stated that crime in these cities had significantly decreased due to the National Guard's presence. The announcement followed a Supreme Court ruling against the deployment of National Guard in Illinois.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the withdrawal of the National Guard from three U.S. cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland.
He mentioned that crime rates fell because of the National Guard in these areas.
Trump warned that the National Guard could return in the future in a stronger form if crime rises again.
The decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling against deploying the National Guard in Illinois.
Trump's comments were made through a post on Truth Social.
He emphasized the importance of federal intervention for reducing crime in these cities.
The Department of Justice is going through 5.2 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. They are also adding more lawyers to make sure they meet a law that requires releasing these documents.
Key Facts
The Department of Justice is reviewing 5.2 million documents about Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The review also includes files about Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend.
The Department of Justice is increasing the number of lawyers working on this task.
The review has already gone past a legal deadline set by Congress.
Starting in 2026, new changes from President Donald Trump's tax and spending package, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will impact taxes and healthcare in the United States. This includes the end of COVID-era healthcare subsidies, which may significantly increase costs for those using the Affordable Care Act marketplace. These changes have faced criticism for potentially leaving many Americans without adequate health coverage and government benefits.
Key Facts
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will introduce changes to taxes and healthcare in the U.S. from the beginning of 2026.
President Trump signed the OBBBA into law on July 4, 2025.
The Act did not extend the healthcare subsidies from the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which expire on December 31, 2025.
About 2.2 million Americans could be affected by the end of these subsidies, leading to higher health insurance premiums.
Congress has not yet agreed on how to extend the ACA healthcare subsidies.
The lack of subsidy extensions could cause healthcare costs for many Americans to double.
A recent deadlock in Congress led to a government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, over budget and healthcare extension issues.
A day care center in Minnesota reported a break-in where important documents related to children's enrollment and employee information were stolen. The day care, owned by members of the Somali community, has faced hateful messages, and President Trump commented on the incident. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) is calling for an investigation into whether bias played a role in the vandalism.
Key Facts
A break-in occurred at Nokomis Daycare Center in Minnesota, with important documents and checkbooks stolen.
The day care manager highlighted concerns about possible targeting of the Somali community.
Minneapolis Police confirmed the break-in happened overnight while the center was closed.
Nokomis Daycare Center has not been accused of any fraud, despite several day cares in Minnesota being linked to fraud cases.
Over 60 individuals have been convicted in fraud cases related to day care centers in Minnesota.
President Trump commented negatively on the incident involving the day care center.
CAIR-MN is calling for an investigation into whether the vandalism was motivated by bias against the Somali community.
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the U.S. dropped to its lowest in a month. The labor market has been weak, partly because of President Trump's tariff policies. The U.S. unemployment rate was high in November, influenced by federal employees leaving their jobs.
Key Facts
Unemployment benefit claims fell by 16,000 to a total of 199,000 for the week ending December 27.
The four-week average of claims increased slightly to 218,750.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November, the highest since 2021.
A weak labor market is attributed to President Trump's tariff policies and reduced government staffing.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year to address job market concerns.
The U.S. lost 105,000 jobs in October but gained back 64,000 jobs in November.
Major companies like UPS, General Motors, Amazon, and Verizon announced job cuts recently.
A Jordanian man, Maher Tarabishi, living in the U.S. for over 30 years, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His family is asking for his release, citing his role as the primary caregiver for his bedridden son with a severe medical condition. The case highlights challenges faced by immigrant families with mixed legal statuses under current U.S. immigration policies.
Key Facts
Maher Tarabishi, 62, has been living in the U.S. since 1994.
Tarabishi was detained by ICE in October and is currently in custody.
His family says he has followed all U.S. laws and never committed a crime.
Tarabishi's son, Wael, a U.S. citizen, has a genetic condition called Pompe disease.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims Tarabishi is linked to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Tarabishi's family argues he has never been involved in terrorism and was allowed to stay in the U.S. to care for his son.
The detention is part of a stricter immigration approach under President Trump's administration.
Zohran Mamdani will become the mayor of New York City at the start of 2026. He will have two swearing-in ceremonies: a private one at midnight and a public one later in the day.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani is set to be the next mayor of New York City.
His term begins as 2026 starts.
There will be two swearing-in ceremonies for Mamdani.
The first ceremony is private, with family, at an old subway station just after midnight.
Later, a public event will take place in the afternoon outside City Hall.
House Republicans released a shortened version of a transcript from a closed-door talk with former special counsel Jack Smith. The document reveals details about the investigation into President Donald Trump's actions after his 2020 election loss. Jack Smith shared his reasons for indicting Trump, citing evidence of crimes during Trump's first term.
Key Facts
House Republicans made public a redacted transcript of Jack Smith's deposition.
The deposition focused on the investigation into President Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
The transcript is 255 pages long and covers eight hours of testimony.
Jack Smith stated he decided to bring charges against Trump based on clear evidence.
Smith claimed that Trump broke the law by hiding classified documents and blocking their recovery.
Smith expressed sadness and anger at Trump for targeting legal staff who investigated him.
