President Trump is planning to send money to Americans through various initiatives like rebate checks and dividends. These cash distributions aim to boost the economy and support certain groups like farmers. However, sending out money can lead to inflation and requires Congress' approval for large sums.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to give Americans money through different programs, including a $1,776 dividend.
The idea is to boost the economy and help those affected by tariffs, especially farmers.
Sending cash directly to people is a strategy used in times of economic trouble but can also raise inflation.
Congress needs to approve large cash distributions like $2,000 checks.
The U.S. Treasury is experienced at quickly distributing money during crises.
Cash payments can be politically strategic before elections, as suggested by some experts.
Smaller, more frequent payments could be a better approach to avoid inflation, similar to Canada's method.
There are varying opinions on the effectiveness and political impact of direct cash payments.
At the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix, Vice President JD Vance received an endorsement from Erika Kirk to be the Republican nominee in the next presidential election. The event showed divisions within the "Make America Great Again" movement as some Republicans think about a future beyond President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The event took place at the annual AmericaFest convention held by Turning Point USA.
Vice President JD Vance was endorsed by Erika Kirk for the 2028 presidential election.
The endorsement took place on the opening night of the four-day conference.
Turning Point USA is a well-known conservative youth organization.
The event highlighted divisions in the "Make America Great Again" movement.
Republicans are beginning to consider options for leadership beyond President Trump.
There is uncertainty about how to keep the current Republican coalition united.
The U.S. Navy has announced plans to build a new class of small warships as part of President Donald Trump's "Golden Fleet" initiative. The new ships, designed for flexibility and cost-effectiveness, aim to enhance the Navy's operational capacity by complementing larger warships.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have approved the plans for the "Golden Fleet."
The first ship of this new type is expected to be operational by 2028.
The design is based on the U.S. Coast Guard's Legend-class national security cutter.
HII, the largest shipbuilder in the U.S., will build the new ships, currently named FF(X).
The new vessels are smaller and more agile, designed to carry different payloads and control drones.
These ships will mainly operate in missions where larger warships are not needed.
The Navy currently lacks enough small surface combatants, with a third of the needed number in operation.
The U.S. shipbuilding industry faces challenges in meeting deadlines and budgets, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche discussed criticism over the Department of Justice's (DOJ) handling of the Epstein files release. Some files were not released on time, and others were removed after initial release due to concerns raised by victims or victim rights groups.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the U.S. Deputy Attorney General.
He spoke about criticism for how the DOJ released the Epstein files.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required the DOJ to release the files.
Some files were not released by the deadline.
The DOJ removed certain files after complaints from victim rights groups.
Removed files included photographs causing concern.
Blanche mentioned they might redact sensitive information before re-releasing files.
The DOJ aims to follow the law in releasing the files.
A recent poll by AtlasIntel suggests that if midterm elections were held now, more people would vote for Democrats than Republicans. This creates concern for the GOP, particularly given their narrow majority in the U.S. House and Senate. The poll also shows President Trump's approval rating has declined.
Key Facts
AtlasIntel's poll says 54.4% would vote for Democrats, while 38.4% would pick Republicans.
The poll included 2,315 respondents and was conducted from December 15 to 19.
It has a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.
6% of respondents were unsure, and 1.2% said they would not vote.
11.7% of Republicans said they would support a Democratic candidate.
Trump's current approval rating is 39.3% with a net disapproval of 20 percentage points.
The GOP currently has a slim majority in the House (219 to 214) and the Senate (53 to 47).
AtlasIntel is considered a very accurate pollster, as recognized by Nate Silver and 538.
The National Weather Service has warned several U.S. states to prepare for severe flooding due to atmospheric rivers, particularly affecting areas in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These conditions could disrupt travel plans during the busy week leading up to Christmas. Authorities advise people to stay informed about local forecasts and avoid driving through flooded areas.
Key Facts
Atmospheric rivers are causing heavy rain and potential flooding in parts of the U.S.
The Skokomish River in Washington is expected to rise above flood level, potentially reaching 17.8 feet by Tuesday.
In Oregon, the Pudding River at Aurora may cause significant flooding, currently standing at 24.9 feet, which is almost 3 feet above flood level.
Northern California counties, including Butte, Nevada, and Sierra, are at risk of floods and landslides due to expected 3 to 6 inches of rain.
The National Weather Service advises motorists not to drive through flooded roads.
Recently burned areas may face increased risks of flash flooding and debris flow.
High winds and heavy rain could cause power outages in some regions.
People in affected areas are encouraged to stay updated on local weather forecasts.
AmericaFest is an annual conference organized by Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Arizona. Erika Kirk, the new CEO, is leading the event following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, the organization's founder. The conference features several prominent conservative figures as speakers.
Key Facts
AmericaFest is Turning Point USA's yearly conference held in Phoenix, Arizona.
The event includes conservative leaders, elected officials, and media figures as speakers.
This is the first conference since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA.
Erika Kirk, Charlie's wife, is now the CEO of Turning Point USA.
The conference's theme celebrates faith, freedom, and Charlie Kirk's legacy.
Notable speakers at the event include Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, and Megyn Kelly.
Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, praised Jeannie Beeman, also known as "Jeannie from Target," during the 2025 AmericaFest conference by Turning Point USA. Jeannie became well-known after a video showed her being confronted for wearing a "Freedom" T-shirt linked to Charlie Kirk's campaign. The video gained a lot of attention online, leading to public support and significant donations for Jeannie.
Key Facts
Erika Kirk is the widow of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who co-founded TPUSA.
Jeannie Beeman works at Target and was criticized by a customer for her "Freedom" T-shirt supporting Charlie Kirk.
The confrontation was filmed and went viral on platforms like TikTok and X.
A fundraiser for Jeannie raised over $250,000 following the viral incident.
At the TPUSA conference, Jeannie was publicly supported and honored by Erika Kirk.
Jeannie may consider retiring, but no decision has been made public yet.
A customer named Michelea Ponce apologized publicly for her actions against Jeannie.
A person talks about how they took on the responsibility of gift-giving in their family after realizing their spouse struggled with choosing presents. They describe their holiday traditions and emphasize finding gifts that suit their family members' interests. This approach helped them appreciate each other's strengths in their relationship.
Key Facts
The author realized their spouse, Vicky, was not good at choosing gifts early in their marriage.
The author took over gift-giving responsibilities during holidays like Chanukah.
Their family has a unique holiday tradition they call "Chanaclause."
The author actively looks for gifts that match what family members like, such as gardening tools for Vicky.
Vicky does not often purchase items she admires online; she prefers to dream about them.
The couple comes from different cultural backgrounds, with Vicky being Catholic-Venezuelan and the author Jewish-American.
The author appreciates that Vicky takes care of other responsibilities, like managing bills and planning trips.
The gift-giving adjustment helped strengthen their relationship by focusing on their individual strengths.
President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped according to a poll by AtlasIntel, known for being accurate. The poll shows 59.6% disapprove of him and 39.3% approve, giving him a net approval rating of -20 percentage points. The drop in approval comes as crucial midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating is currently at 39.3%, while 59.6% disapprove.
His net approval rating is -20 percentage points, down from -15 points in November.
AtlasIntel conducted this poll with 2,315 people between December 15 and 19, 2024.
The poll's margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points.
AtlasIntel is noted for being highly accurate in past elections.
Midterm elections in 2026 are important as the GOP holds a slim majority in Congress.
Trump's approval ratings have been dropping since early in his current term.
Other polls also indicate a decline in Trump's approval over recent months.
Fulton County in Georgia is under scrutiny due to some early votes from the 2020 election not being signed by poll workers. Though the lack of signatures is seen as a procedural error, it has reignited claims of voting fraud. There is no evidence that the election outcome, showing Joe Biden's win in Georgia, was affected.
Key Facts
Some early 2020 election votes in Fulton County, Georgia lacked required poll worker signatures.
Vote tabulation tapes are normally signed to verify that votes are accurately counted.
A hand audit confirmed Joe Biden won Georgia in the 2020 election.
Fulton County has since updated procedures and trained poll workers to prevent this issue.
The Department of Justice is suing Georgia's Fulton County for access to 2020 election voting records.
Allegations of voter fraud in Fulton County have resurfaced but still lack evidence.
A legal case against President Trump regarding election interference in Georgia was dismissed.
The U.S. government released documents about Jeffrey Epstein with many pages blacked out, causing frustration among victims and lawmakers. These documents were supposed to reveal details about Epstein's crimes and interactions with powerful people, but much information is still hidden. Some files also mysteriously disappeared from the public website.
Key Facts
The U.S. government released Epstein files that were heavily redacted, meaning much information was covered up.
16 documents from the release disappeared from the public webpage shortly after being posted.
The files were released to satisfy a law requiring disclosure of Epstein-related documents.
Some redactions were meant to protect the privacy of victims.
Victims expressed disappointment and anger over the lack of transparency.
Lawmakers, like Representative Thomas Massie, criticized the incomplete release of information.
A missing image showed a photograph of President Donald Trump.
The Department of Justice plans to release more documents over time.
A database called PlasticList found high levels of plastic chemicals, specifically phthalates, in several fast food items from major U.S. chains. These chemicals, often found in plastic packaging, can get into food and potentially harm human health. Calls to ban these chemicals have increased, but they are not yet banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Key Facts
Fast food items were found to contain a high concentration of phthalates, a type of plastic chemical.
Phthalates can enter food through contact with plastic packaging and are linked to health issues.
Taco Bell's Cantina Chicken Burrito had notably high levels of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP).
DEHP can increase cancer and birth defect risks, and was one of the highest found in Taco Bell's item.
McDonald's Quarter Pounder with cheese also had high levels of other phthalates like DIBP and DEHT.
Burger King's Whopper with cheese contained the highest levels of DEHT on the database.
These chemicals are not currently banned by the FDA, despite concerns over their health effects.
Researchers and organizations are calling for these chemicals to be banned from food products.
Saturday Night Live (SNL) made fun of President Donald Trump after the Department of Justice released some files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which were partially hidden or redacted. President Trump had earlier signed a law to make these files public, but their release with parts blacked out led to questions. The Department of Justice explained that redactions protect victim identities and ongoing investigations.
Key Facts
SNL mocked President Trump about the release of redacted Jeffrey Epstein files.
President Trump signed a law to release these files for public viewing.
Epstein died in 2019 while in jail awaiting sex-trafficking charges.
Released files had parts blacked out, creating speculation.
The DOJ says redactions protect victims and ongoing investigations.
Some Democrats criticized these redactions and called for accountability.
The skit featured impersonations and suggested renaming a center after Trump.
Starting in 2026, at least 18 states will begin banning the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy junk food and drinks. Changes in SNAP work requirements aim to encourage able-bodied adults without dependents to work or engage in training to continue receiving benefits. The age and caregiving exemptions for these work requirements have been revised and will come into effect as states begin implementing them.
Key Facts
SNAP helps about 42 million low- and no-income people in the U.S. buy food.
In 2026, 18 states will ban buying junk food with SNAP benefits to encourage healthier eating.
These states include Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Virginia, among others.
States can differ in banning rules due to waivers allowing them to adjust federal SNAP rules.
New SNAP work requirements apply to able-bodied adults without dependents, requiring work or training to receive benefits beyond three months.
Recent changes raised the age limit for exemptions from work requirements from 59 to 65.
Caregiving exemptions now cover only those caring for children under 14, not under 18.
Exemptions for homeless people, veterans, and former foster care youth have been removed.
The Trump administration is making significant changes to U.S. immigration policies, focusing on more restrictions for legal entries, asylum seekers, and high-skilled visas. Starting January 2026, new fee structures and more stringent checks are expected to affect various visa programs, including the H-1B program. These policies are causing concern among employers and advocacy groups about their impact on access to global talent.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration is changing U.S. immigration rules to be more restrictive.
New fees for asylum-related applications will start in January 2026.
The diversity visa lottery program has been suspended after a shooting incident.
An extra $100,000 fee for some H-1B visa applications has been proposed.
Lawsuits have been filed against the new H-1B visa fee, questioning its legality.
Federal scrutiny on H-1B applications has increased, resulting in more denials.
Employers, universities, and some states are opposing restrictions on H-1B visas, fearing impacts on talent and innovation.
USCIS will review green card statuses from 19 countries, considering country-specific factors.
Millions of Americans might face higher health insurance costs next year because enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are set to expire. States that voted mainly for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election are expected to experience the largest increases in these costs. Lawmakers have not yet agreed on a plan to extend these subsidies, which could lead to significant premium hikes.
Key Facts
Enhanced ACA subsidies, which help reduce insurance costs, are due to end this year unless Congress extends them.
States that supported President Trump in 2024 might see the highest health insurance cost increases.
If subsidies expire, premiums may more than double for many, potentially leaving about 2 million more people uninsured.
Wyoming and West Virginia are listed as having the highest forecasted premium increases.
In contrast, states like New York and Massachusetts are expected to have smaller cost rises due to long-standing market regulations.
The top 10 states with anticipated highest premium hikes include seven that voted for Trump.
Reasons for high premiums include fewer insurance options, older populations, and higher healthcare provider costs.
Congress has not reached a decision to continue the enhanced ACA subsidies.
President Donald Trump's approval rating among Americans with the least education has decreased over the past three months, according to a new poll from Quantus Insights. This shift comes as concerns about the U.S. economy continue to grow.
Key Facts
Trump's approval rating with less educated Americans has declined recently.
The latest Quantus poll shows 44% of overall Americans approve of Trump's performance, while 53% disapprove.
In October, 47% of Americans approved of Trump's job performance, with 51% disapproving.
Among noncollege-educated voters, approval dropped from 50% in October to 46% in December.
During the 2024 presidential election, Trump received more support from states with fewer college graduates.
Exit polls from the 2024 election showed a divide in voter education levels, with more college graduates supporting Kamala Harris.
Trump and his administration claim to have improved the economy by reducing inflation and increasing real wages.
White House spokespersons argue that Trump inherited economic challenges from the previous administration.
The federal student loan repayment system is set to change in 2026 due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump. New borrowers will have different repayment options, and certain types of loan forgiveness will become taxable again. There will also be new borrowing limits for different types of loans.
Key Facts
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump in July.
Changes to loan repayment options will start on July 1, 2026, for new borrowers.
New borrowers after July 1, 2026, can choose between the Standard Repayment Plan and the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
RAP will calculate payments based on a borrower's income, with some paying as little as $10 per month.
Existing repayment plans like Income-Contingent Repayment will be phased out by July 2028.
Starting January 1, 2026, student loan forgiveness will be taxable again under income-driven repayment plans.
New borrowing limits will be introduced, capping graduate students at $20,500 per year and $100,000 total.
Parent PLUS loans taken after July 1, 2026, will not qualify for income-driven repayment plans.
President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, bringing several key allies into prominent roles. JD Vance became the vice president, while Marco Rubio took charge of the country's foreign policy as Secretary of State. Meanwhile, some faced challenges, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, affected by controversies.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump began his second term in office in 2025.
JD Vance was appointed vice president and played an active role in the administration.
Marco Rubio served as Secretary of State and focused on U.S. strategy in Latin America.
Stephen Miller influenced domestic policy as deputy White House chief of staff.
The Epstein files created issues for the FBI and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced negative attention due to Pentagon leaks.
Elon Musk was at first a campaign asset but later became a political challenge for Trump.
Some Democrats, like Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rose in opposition roles.
