A new poll shows that most Americans are not planning to make any more charitable donations by the end of the year, despite many nonprofit appeals. The survey indicates that financial challenges, such as lower income gains and inflation, are causing people to cut back on donations even with new tax incentives. Many people are more likely to spend on Black Friday than donate on GivingTuesday.
Key Facts
A National poll found that about half of U.S. adults have already given their charitable contributions for 2025.
Only 18% of people plan to make another donation by the end of the year.
President Trump's policies, such as the SNAP benefits freeze and social services grant cuts, have increased the demand for charitable support.
President Trump’s tax legislation offers a new charitable deduction up to $1,000 for singles and $2,000 for couples.
Many families face financial pressures, like student loan debts and inflation, reducing their ability to donate.
December is an important month for donations, with nearly one-third of annual giving happening then.
On GivingTuesday, only about 1 in 10 people donated to charity, whereas nearly half made Black Friday purchases.
Checkout charity, where people donate small amounts at store checkouts, remains a popular way for people to give.
A bomb cyclone storm is expected to hit the U.S. West Coast on Christmas Eve, which could disrupt holiday travel and cause power outages. The storm is forecasted to bring strong winds and potential severe weather, particularly affecting Northern and Central California.
Key Facts
A bomb cyclone is a storm that gets much stronger quickly when cold air meets warm ocean water.
The National Weather Service has issued wind alerts for Northern California, with gusts possibly reaching up to 70 mph.
The high wind watch will affect areas like Mendocino County, Lake County, and the San Francisco Bay Area starting Tuesday night.
The storm could bring strong winds that may knock down trees and power lines, leading to possible widespread power outages.
Travel could be tough due to the strong winds, especially for taller vehicles.
Meteorologists have been warning about this storm and the changes in weather patterns for about a week.
Cities like San Francisco, Redding, and Medford might experience wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph.
President Trump’s administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from their ambassadorial and senior embassy posts. This action is part of a plan to align U.S. diplomatic efforts with the "America First" priorities. The affected diplomats will be returning to Washington for other assignments.
Key Facts
Nearly 30 career diplomats are being recalled from their ambassadorial and embassy roles.
These diplomats were initially appointed during the Biden administration.
The moves are intended to ensure the diplomats support President Trump’s "America First" policies.
Ambassadors usually serve for three to four years but can be replaced at the president’s discretion.
The majority of the diplomatic changes impact Africa, with 13 countries affected.
This reshuffling also affects countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.
The State Department called this a standard process for any administration.
Politico first reported on these personnel changes.
The article discusses how many Americans feel disappointed with President Donald Trump at the end of his first year back in office. It highlights issues like the high cost of living, a federal government shutdown, and missed economic promises, all contributing to low approval ratings for Trump.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump's approval rating is at 39% according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Americans are facing high costs for necessities like food, rent, and electricity.
A federal government shutdown increased unemployment to 4.6%, the highest in five years.
Some economists say job losses are partly due to tariffs on imports.
President Trump has given his economic performance a high grade despite criticisms.
Racial and police violence concerns persist, as seen in the case of Breonna Taylor.
Controversy surrounds the disappearance of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents from the Justice Department's website.
Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, says some Republicans are open to the idea of impeaching Attorney General Pam Bondi. This action is related to the Department of Justice's failure to release files on Jeffrey Epstein by a set deadline. Khanna noted that before impeachment, the focus would be on holding Bondi in contempt of Congress.
Key Facts
Ro Khanna, a Democratic representative, mentioned Republican support for impeaching Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The impeachment consideration is due to the DOJ not releasing files on Jeffrey Epstein as required by law.
Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, is expected to lead the impeachment effort if it proceeds.
The first step in addressing this issue is to hold Bondi in contempt of Congress.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the DOJ to release files with minimal redactions, but they missed the deadline.
The act received strong bipartisan support when it was passed in November.
Khanna and Massie have criticized the DOJ for not complying with the document release requirements.
Holding Bondi in contempt could result in fines until all documents are released.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that President Donald Trump could face impeachment if Republicans lose their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats, should they gain the majority, might initiate impeachment proceedings. Previous impeachment attempts against Trump did not lead to removal from office due to Senate votes.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, issued a warning about potential impeachment at a conference.
The warning is linked to Republicans possibly losing the House majority in 2026.
Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House but removal needs a two-thirds Senate vote.
Trump was impeached twice during his first term but was acquitted by the Senate each time.
140 House Democrats recently voted against tabling an impeachment motion against Trump.
A new impeachment resolution listed Trump's posts and comments about certain Democrats and judges.
The 2026 midterm election will occur on November 3.
House Democratic leaders emphasize that impeachment requires thorough investigation and consensus.
A recent poll indicates many Americans do not agree with President Trump's positive view of the economy. While the administration highlights potential improvements, the poll shows concerns over rising prices and inflation. Many respondents attribute current economic issues to Trump’s policies rather than his predecessor's.
Key Facts
President Trump predicts a strong economy by 2026, but many Americans disagree.
A CBS News/YouGov poll shows 61% think Trump makes prices and inflation sound better than they are.
Trump's approval rating on the economy is 37%.
The Consumer Price Index showed slight food price increases from September to November.
The administration recently reversed some tariffs on grocery items to lower costs.
A majority of poll respondents believe Trump's policies might make them financially worse off by 2026.
Democrats aim to focus on making living costs more affordable as part of their political strategy.
George Conway has filed paperwork to run for a U.S. House seat as a Democrat in New York's 12th Congressional District. This seat is currently held by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who is retiring. Conway will enter a Democratic primary with several other candidates.
Key Facts
George Conway is running as a Democrat for New York’s 12th Congressional District.
This district is based in Manhattan.
The seat is currently held by retiring Rep. Jerrold Nadler.
Conway was a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, which opposes President Donald Trump.
He previously considered a top legal position in the Trump administration.
Conway was married to Kellyanne Conway, a former adviser to President Trump.
He is a graduate of Harvard and Yale Law School.
The Democratic primary includes other candidates like Jack Schlossberg and others.
The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its weather predictions for January 2026 across various U.S. regions. The publication forecasts that January will generally be colder and drier than usual in areas like the Northeast, Atlantic Corridor, Appalachians, Southeast, Florida, Lower Lakes, and Ohio Valley. Predictions include details on expected temperature changes and precipitation, such as snow and rain, throughout the month.
Key Facts
The Old Farmer's Almanac predicted January 2026 weather for different U.S. regions.
In the Northeast, January is expected to start very cold with snow, then become milder and end sunny but cold.
The Atlantic Corridor may begin with bitterly cold weather and snow, transitioning to milder and sunny conditions before rain ends the month.
The Appalachians are forecast to have a cold start, followed by milder weather and eventual return of snow.
The Southeast is expected to start cold, become milder with showers, and then turn sunny before ending with very cold temperatures and rain.
Florida's January should be cooler than normal with scattered showers and some sunshine.
The Lower Lakes region is predicted to have a wintry month with alternating snow and sun, ending with more snow.
The Ohio Valley is forecast to start very cold with snow, becoming milder mid-month, and then returning to colder conditions.
CBS News decided not to air a planned "60 Minutes" report on Trump administration deportations to El Salvador because CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss felt the story needed more perspectives, especially from the Trump administration. The report was about deportees sent to a high-security prison in El Salvador. The decision to pull the report has led to scrutiny of Weiss, who is new in her role as CBS News’ top editor.
Key Facts
CBS News stopped a "60 Minutes" report from airing just hours before it was scheduled.
The report focused on deportations to El Salvador, particularly involving a high-security prison.
Bari Weiss, CBS News Editor-in-Chief, wanted more perspectives, including those from the Trump administration.
Sharyn Alfonsi, the reporter, felt the decision was political rather than editorial.
The report had passed CBS attorneys and standards officials for factual accuracy.
President Trump has previously criticized "60 Minutes" and had legal disputes with the program.
An online tracker indicates that the U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, has implemented 50% of the policy proposals from Project 2025, a conservative plan by the Heritage Foundation. This document includes proposals for limited government and tougher immigration laws. The tracker monitors 319 objectives across various government agencies, with 126 completed and 67 in progress.
Key Facts
Project 2025 is a conservative policy document with 900 pages of proposals.
It aims for limited government, border security, and stricter immigration laws.
The online tracker notes 50% of the proposals have been implemented.
The tracker mentions 319 objectives, with 126 completed and 67 currently in progress.
President Trump has nominated several contributors to roles in his administration.
The tracker recorded changes in the Department of Energy as recent updates.
Newsweek contacted the White House and the Heritage Foundation for comments regarding the report.
President Trump has both criticized and implemented parts of the Project 2025 proposals.
US lawmakers are considering legal action against Attorney General Pam Bondi for not fully releasing government files related to Jeffrey Epstein by the set deadline. A law requiring the full release of these documents was signed by President Donald Trump. Further material is expected to be released, but some lawmakers are frustrated at the pace and extent of the current release.
Key Facts
Lawmakers threatened legal action against Attorney General Pam Bondi for not fully releasing Epstein-related files.
The release of these files was mandated by a law signed by President Donald Trump.
The Department of Justice only partially released the documents by the deadline.
Congressman Thomas Massie mentioned bringing contempt proceedings against Bondi.
The DOJ plans to release more materials in the coming weeks.
Contempt proceedings would penalize Bondi daily until she releases the documents.
Bondi's deputy emphasized the large volume of documents and ongoing compliance efforts.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine suggested alternative compliance methods instead of pursuing contempt charges.
In 2025, U.S. agencies located over 129,143 unaccompanied migrant children. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are leading efforts to account for all these children, who were previously untracked. Ongoing initiatives aim to ensure children's safety and reunification with families.
Key Facts
DHS and HHS found over 129,143 unaccompanied migrant children in 2025.
These efforts are part of the Trump administration's actions to locate children lost during the previous administration.
Many of the children were exploited or trafficked before being found.
Information for locating these children came from updated court data.
The DHS audit found issues in tracking children transferred to HHS from 2019 to 2023.
A new program partners with state and local law enforcement for welfare checks on unaccompanied children.
A leaked memo indicated collaboration between ICE and ORR without typical legal protections for children.
Three U.S. senators raised concerns about the Department of Veterans Affairs' plan to expand its new electronic health record system, known as EHRM, due to ongoing issues. They expressed worry that the system could negatively impact veterans' care because past deployments have faced significant problems. The VA aims to fully implement this system by 2031 to improve veteran health care access and efficiency.
Key Facts
Three Democratic senators sent a letter to the VA on December 19 expressing concerns about the EHRM expansion.
The senators are worried about expanding EHRM to 13 new sites by 2026 due to past rollout issues.
Past issues with EHRM included losing access to health records, incorrect prescriptions, and patients wrongly marked as deceased.
A 2025 report showed low user satisfaction, with only 13% feeling the system made the VA efficient and 58% saying it increased safety risks.
The VA has a backlog of 1,800 unresolved configuration changes and some patient safety risks.
The system was linked to a veteran's death in Ohio in 2022 due to an error in appointment scheduling.
The VA plans to complete the EHRM project by 2031, aiming to improve health care efficiency for veterans.
CBS News’ "60 Minutes" decided not to show a story about President Trump's deportation policy hours before it was supposed to air. The decision was made by the new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, who wanted to add more views from the Trump administration.
Key Facts
CBS News' "60 Minutes" pulled a story on President Trump's deportation policy hours before it aired.
The story involved deportees sent to El Salvador's CECOT prison.
Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief, made the decision to hold the piece.
Weiss wanted to include more perspective from the Trump administration.
Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reported the story as factually correct and cleared by legal standards.
An email from Alfonsi about the decision surfaced in several media outlets.
Alfonsi expressed that she saw the decision as political, not editorial.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said that President Donald Trump is using his executive power very forcefully. He pointed out that many of Trump's actions are being quickly challenged in court. The Supreme Court, which has a conservative majority, often deals with these legal challenges.
Key Facts
Justice Alito commented on President Trump's aggressive use of executive power in an interview.
He mentioned that recent presidents, including Trump, have increasingly used executive actions.
Alito observed that many of President Trump's decisions face immediate legal challenges.
He noted that the Supreme Court has a conservative 6-3 majority.
Alito explained that Congress has given more power to the executive branch over time.
The Supreme Court often rules on cases that question the extent of presidential power.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett stated that the Court's decisions affect future presidencies.
A specific case involving Trump's use of the National Guard in Illinois is currently pending a decision.
The Trump administration has stopped five offshore wind projects on the East Coast due to national security concerns. This pause will allow the Interior Department to work with the Defense Department to evaluate and address these security issues.
Key Facts
The Trump administration paused five offshore wind projects.
These projects are located along the East Coast of the United States.
The reason for the pause is national security risks highlighted by the Pentagon.
The pause is effective immediately.
The Interior Department is responsible for managing offshore wind projects.
The Interior Department will collaborate with the Defense Department during this pause to find ways to handle the security risks.
The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet made a decision on whether it is legal for President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard in Illinois. Justice Samuel Alito discussed the issue in an interview, mentioning the court's involvement in emergency cases related to this and other matters involving the Trump administration. The move to deploy troops has faced opposition from local leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court has not decided if President Trump's plan to send the National Guard to Illinois is legal.
President Trump wants to deploy the National Guard to states like Illinois following protests, citing high crime rates.
Local leaders, such as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, argue the deployment is unnecessary and unconstitutional.
The Solicitor General for President Trump’s administration filed a request to allow federal troop deployment.
Justice Alito spoke about the Supreme Court's handling of emergency cases, often involving Trump administration issues.
Critics in Illinois, including Governor Pritzker, say local police can handle the protests without federal troops.
There is ongoing debate about the powers of state versus federal authority in such deployments.
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announced a plan to fine Attorney General Pam Bondi every day the Department of Justice does not fully release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. This follows a law requiring these files to be made public, which the DOJ has not fully complied with, citing ongoing redactions needed for victim protection. The plan aims to hold Bondi accountable for not releasing all documents as required by the law.
Key Facts
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie created a plan to fine Attorney General Pam Bondi daily if Epstein files are not fully released.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the DOJ to release all files on Epstein, with President Trump signing it into law.
The DOJ released some files but stated more were withheld for redaction to protect victims and minors.
Photos of President Trump and Bill Clinton were included in the released documents, but neither is accused of wrongdoing.
The proposed fines are part of a broader effort to gather bipartisan support to ensure full transparency.
Khanna and Massie are also considering filing articles of impeachment against Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The controversy stems from the partial release of files seen as non-compliant with the new law's requirements.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is considering a new childhood vaccine schedule that may resemble Denmark's. This change could expose vaccine manufacturers to lawsuits from which they have been previously protected. The planned changes are linked to President Trump's directive to align U.S. vaccine practices with other developed countries.
Key Facts
The U.S. is considering a new childhood vaccine schedule similar to Denmark's.
Vaccine manufacturers have been shielded from lawsuits by federal law since 1986.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially considered Denmark's schedule but paused the decision.
President Trump directed health officials to use practices from other developed countries.
Any change might lead to fewer vaccinations and more disease cases.
The new schedule could remove liability protections for vaccine makers.
The final decision will undergo legal review and is expected next year.
Legal experts are skeptical about removing liability without Congress' decision.
