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.
The Turning Point USA AmericaFest event showcased strong participation from women within the Make America Great Again movement, drawing attention to how conservative organizations are reaching younger female audiences. The event featured speeches focused on traditional views of femininity and criticisms of liberal feminism and gender ideologies. Religion played an important role in shaping the viewpoints of many attendees.
Key Facts
Turning Point USA's AmericaFest attracted approximately 30,000 attendees, with 54% being women.
President Trump's support among 18- to 29-year-old voters increased by 11% in 2024 compared to 2020.
The event highlighted women's involvement and empowerment within conservative circles, with a noticeable push to engage younger female demographics.
Conservative activist Riley Gaines spoke against modern feminism and advocated for traditional feminine roles.
Attendees like Samantha Fulnecky drew attention for their traditional viewpoints on gender roles.
Many speeches at the event portrayed gender ideology as negative and harmful.
Religion was frequently cited as influential in shaping attendees' beliefs on femininity.
Prominent conservative women like Riley Gaines and Savannah Chrisley addressed the importance of embracing traditional views of womanhood.
A power outage in San Francisco affected about 130,000 homes and businesses on Saturday. The disruption was due in part to a fire at a PG&E substation and led to significant disruptions in daily life and commercial activities. PG&E reported that they had restored power to nearly all affected customers within hours.
Key Facts
About 130,000 customers in San Francisco lost power on Saturday.
The outage impacted roughly one-third of PG&E's customer base in the city.
A fire at a PG&E substation contributed to the blackout.
Areas affected included the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods near Golden Gate Park.
The outage affected public transportation, with some bus and train stations bypassed.
PG&E reported that about 98% of affected customers had their power restored within hours.
Traffic signals in the city went dark, and drivers were advised to treat them as four-way stops.
San Francisco officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the outage.
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) held a conference in Phoenix, Arizona, replicating the booth where Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September at Utah Valley University. This recreation sparked backlash and debate over how to properly honor his memory. The event featured many conservative figures and served as a tribute to Kirk.
Key Facts
TPUSA hosted a four-day conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
The conference included a recreation of the booth where Charlie Kirk was fatally shot.
Charlie Kirk was shot in September at Utah Valley University.
The recreation led to backlash, even among conservative supporters.
TPUSA's event included appearances from conservative figures like JD Vance, Ben Shapiro, and Tucker Carlson.
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, now leads the $100 million TPUSA organization.
Tyler Robinson faces charges related to Kirk’s death, which he described as having "had enough of his hatred."
Lawmakers and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes are upset over the release of documents with many redactions. While the Justice Department released thousands of pages, some important details were hidden to protect victim identities. The release was part of a Congressional directive for public transparency.
Key Facts
Thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes were released but with many redactions.
The release was part of a Congressional act demanding transparency from the US Justice Department.
Redactions in the documents aim to protect the identities of over 1,200 victims or their families.
Some photos and details included high-profile names, like President Trump, but with no indication of wrongdoing.
The DOJ stated it didn't redact politician names unless they were victims.
DOJ redactions also covered child and physical abuse materials and sensitive information affecting national security.
Legal experts expressed concern that heavy redactions might encourage conspiracy theories.
The Justice Department must provide Congress with a list explaining the redactions within 15 days of release.
Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland opposes the addition of President Donald Trump's name to the Kennedy Center. He plans to introduce an amendment to reverse the name change. The Kennedy Center board had voted to include Trump's name, but there is opposition from some Democrats and Kennedy family members.
Key Facts
Senator Chris Van Hollen announced plans to submit an amendment to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center.
The Kennedy Center's board voted to add President Trump's name, calling it the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
The center was originally named in memory of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination.
Some people, including family members of Kennedy, oppose the name change and question the board's authority.
Senator Van Hollen described adding Trump's name as "illegal" and expressed intentions to reverse the decision in Congress.
Protesters expressed discontent with the renaming at a rally, holding various signs against the change.
The Kennedy Center promotes arts and cultural programs, historically tied to President Kennedy’s legacy.
President Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for New York governor after Elise Stefanik decided to pause her campaign and not run for Congress again. This endorsement aims to consolidate Republican support behind one candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial election in New York.
Key Facts
President Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for New York governor.
The endorsement came after Elise Stefanik suspended her campaign for governor.
Trump announced his support on Truth Social.
Blakeman is described as having strong ties to immigration enforcement.
The endorsement aims to unify Republican support and avoid a primary contest.
The move could strengthen Republican chances against the current Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul.
At least 16 files, including a photo featuring President Donald Trump, disappeared from the Justice Department's public webpage for Jeffrey Epstein documents. The files were available one day and missing the next, with no explanation provided by the government.
Key Facts
16 files related to Jeffrey Epstein vanished from a Justice Department webpage.
These files were accessible on a Friday and missing by Saturday.
The missing files included a photo of President Trump with Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Some missing files contained images of paintings depicting nude women.
The Justice Department has not explained why these files were removed.
There was no public notice or explanation given about the files' disappearance.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have pointed out the missing photo of Trump and called for more transparency.
Several files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have disappeared from the Department of Justice's website. These missing files include a notable photo featuring President Donald Trump with Epstein. House Democrats have raised questions about this disappearance and demand transparency.
Key Facts
16 files have disappeared from the DOJ's online portal concerning the Epstein investigation.
These files were initially released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Among the missing files is a photo showing President Trump, Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell.
House Democrats, including members of the House Oversight Committee, have questioned why specific files, like file 468, are missing.
The White House referred inquiries to the DOJ and claimed the Trump Administration is highly transparent.
The missing files included images of nude paintings and the significant photo of President Trump with Epstein.
The situation involves ongoing exchanges between the Trump Administration and House Democrats over transparency and past connections with Epstein.
The Justice Department has released additional documents about Jeffrey Epstein, but many parts are blacked out. The released documents do not fully meet the requirements of a recent law demanding complete disclosure.
Key Facts
The Justice Department released more documents on Jeffrey Epstein.
Many parts of these documents are blacked out, meaning they can't be read.
These new documents add to thousands of pages released earlier.
The release does not fully comply with a new law requiring full disclosure.
Lawmakers have criticized the incomplete release of information.
Congress passed this law last month to ensure transparency.
The mayor of Providence wants the FBI to give a $50,000 reward to a person who provided critical information about a shooting at Brown University. This informant's tip helped identify the suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who was found dead in New Hampshire. The FBI has not confirmed if the reward will be given.
Key Facts
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley wrote to the FBI asking them to pay a $50,000 reward to a tipster named "John."
The reward is for information that helped lead to the identification of the Brown University shooting suspect.
The suspect, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, is accused of killing two students and injuring nine others.
Valente was found dead in a New Hampshire storage unit from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The FBI has not confirmed if the tipster will receive the reward.
The FBI says reward payouts require approval and are not publicly disclosed.
The nomination for reward payment involves an interagency committee evaluation.
The FBI does not disclose details about who receives rewards or if they have been paid.
Flu and norovirus cases are rising across the United States as people prepare for holiday travel. Health officials are concerned about a new strain of flu and high norovirus levels, which could affect gatherings and overwhelm healthcare services.
Key Facts
A new strain of flu, H3N2 subclade K, is dominant and may not match well with the flu vaccine.
About 4.6 million flu cases, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths have occurred in the U.S. this flu season.
Norovirus, known for causing vomiting and diarrhea, has increased by 69% across the U.S. since October.
Some school districts closed due to outbreaks of flu and norovirus.
The holiday season is expected to see 122 million Americans traveling, raising the risk of spreading these viruses.
Health officials recommend staying home if sick, washing hands thoroughly, and getting flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Lawmakers are considering impeaching U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. This comes after the Department of Justice released some files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which were heavily redacted. The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires full release, and some believe the DOJ did not comply.
Key Facts
The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the release of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The files were released by the Department of Justice, but many were redacted.
Lawmakers, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, say the DOJ overstepped with the redactions.
Some believe the DOJ's actions violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
There are calls for impeachment of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law.
Lawmakers are considering other actions, such as holding DOJ officials in contempt or supporting lawsuits.
President Donald Trump has warned the Smithsonian Institution that he may stop government funding unless it gives him certain internal records. The White House wants to make sure the Smithsonian's exhibits present a positive view of U.S. history ahead of the country's 250th anniversary in 2026.
Key Facts
President Trump has threatened to withhold funding from the Smithsonian if it doesn't share specific internal records.
The records requested include exhibition plans, budgets, and partnership lists related to the 250th anniversary of America.
The Smithsonian gets about two-thirds of its $1.25 billion budget from federal funding.
The White House wants Smithsonian exhibits to show a positive view of American history.
Trump issued an executive order in 2025 about removing exhibits he believes promote divisive messages.
Democratic senators have urged the Smithsonian to resist any pressure from the White House.
The Smithsonian is managed as an independent federal trust, not directly controlled by the President.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized President Donald Trump after he commented on her at a rally in North Carolina. Greene mentioned she voted with Trump 98% of the time, but their relationship has soured over differences on issues like the Epstein Files. Greene has decided to resign from Congress, and a special election will be held for her seat.
Key Facts
Marjorie Taylor Greene responded to Trump after he spoke about her at a North Carolina rally.
Greene claimed she supported Trump 98% of the time in her voting record.
Trump called Greene a "traitor" due to disagreements on various issues.
Greene announced her resignation from Congress.
A split is seen between Trump's base and traditional Republicans.
A special election will occur for Greene’s congressional seat in January 2026.
Trump did not discuss the Epstein Files in his North Carolina speech.
Thousands of Americans have been warned of travel disruptions during the Christmas period due to a forecast of up to four feet of snow. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning for major snowfall in California's Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades, with additional risks of flooding from heavy rain.
Key Facts
The National Weather Service warned of travel issues due to snow in California’s Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades.
Up to four feet of snow is expected at higher elevations from Tuesday night through Friday morning.
Strong winds, up to 50 mph, may create dangerous driving conditions.
Significant snowfall is forecast for parts of the Sierra Nevada, western Plumas County, and Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Potential travel disruptions include chain controls, road closures, and reduced visibility.
Flood watches are in effect for the Sacramento Valley and other areas due to expected heavy rainfall.
Rockslides and mudslides are possible in mountain and foothill regions.
Travelers are advised to delay trips if possible and carry emergency kits.
The Trump administration is appealing a judge's decision to dismiss charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A federal judge ruled that the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was not lawfully appointed, which led to the dismissal of charges. The U.S. Justice Department is contesting this decision at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is appealing against the dismissal of charges against Comey and James.
The charges were dismissed because the judge said Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor, was unlawfully appointed.
Lindsey Halligan was a member of President Trump's defense team.
Charges against Comey related to his testimony to Congress in 2020.
Charges against James related to mortgage fraud.
The U.S. Justice Department filed the appeal on Friday.
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Halligan’s appointment violated federal law and the Constitution.
There is uncertainty about reviving the case against Comey due to a statute of limitations.
