President Donald Trump's administration is investigating Representative Ilhan Omar for possible immigration fraud. Tom Homan, a key figure in Trump's border management team, announced the investigation on Newsmax, mentioning the involvement of Homeland Security Investigations. Omar has denied claims related to the alleged immigration fraud, including the accusation that she married her brother.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is looking into claims of immigration fraud against Representative Ilhan Omar.
Tom Homan, a border management official, discussed the investigation on Newsmax.
Accusations include a claim that Omar married her brother, which she denies.
Omar's family fled Somalia during a civil war, later gaining asylum in the U.S.
Omar became a U.S. citizen at 17 years old in 2000.
The Department of Homeland Security warns against marriage fraud with severe penalties.
The Trump administration focuses heavily on immigration enforcement.
Democratic Congresswoman Valerie Foushee from North Carolina is facing a primary challenge from Nida Allam, who is supported by progressive groups and Senator Bernie Sanders. This is part of a larger attempt by progressives to replace moderate Democrats with more left-leaning candidates.
Key Facts
Representative Valerie Foushee is a Democrat from North Carolina.
Nida Allam, who ran against Foushee in 2022, is challenging her again in the next primary.
Allam has backing from Senator Bernie Sanders and progressive groups like Justice Democrats.
The challenge is part of a broader push by progressives to change the Democratic Party.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is also challenging another moderate Democrat, Rep. Dan Goldman, with similar support.
Progressive groups involved include Sunrise Movement and the Working Families Party.
Allam emphasizes the need for leaders who want change and a better future.
Foushee's campaign has not yet commented on the challenge.
The White House explained that President Donald Trump has bandages on his hand due to frequent handshakes. A spokesperson also mentioned that Trump's aspirin use may cause bruising. The timing of Trump's cognitive tests is not yet shared, but will be provided later.
Key Facts
President Trump has bandages on his hand.
The bandages are from "constantly shaking hands."
Trump's aspirin use might also cause bruise-like marks.
Trump meets with many people daily.
Details of Trump's recent cognitive tests will be shared later.
Americans are expected to get an average extra $1,000 in tax refunds next year. The White House says this is partly due to a new bill supported by President Trump. This increase could mean refunds are about one-third larger than usual.
Key Facts
The White House announced an extra $1,000 average increase in next year's tax refunds for Americans.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made the announcement during a press briefing.
The expected increase is due to the "One Big Beautiful Bill" supported by President Trump.
Investment bank Piper Sandler's analysis supports this projection.
The 2026 tax refunds are predicted to be the largest ever.
The story is developing, with more information to be added later.
Mike Lindell, known as the "MyPillow Guy," announced he will run for governor of Minnesota in 2026. He aims to secure the Republican nomination to challenge the current Democratic governor, Tim Walz.
Key Facts
Mike Lindell is the founder of MyPillow and a supporter of President Donald Trump.
Lindell announced his run for governor at his factory in Shakopee, Minnesota.
He wants to run in the 2026 election against current Governor Tim Walz.
Lindell claims opponents tried to harm his business due to his support for Trump's election fraud claims from 2020.
The announcement was broadcast live on his Lindell TV platform.
Lindell also joined Steve Bannon in a podcast interview right after his announcement.
A conference organized by a white nationalist group called American Renaissance was held in Tennessee. Prominent figures from far-right groups attended, including Thomas Rousseau of Patriot Front. The Southern Poverty Law Center labels American Renaissance as a hate group.
Key Facts
The American Renaissance Conference took place in Tennessee last month.
Attendees included figures like Thomas Rousseau, Eric Orwoll, Greg Johnson, and David Zsutty.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated American Renaissance as a hate group.
Thomas Rousseau founded the group Patriot Front after a rally in Charlottesville in 2017.
Eric Orwoll leads a whites-only community called Return to the Land in Arkansas.
Greg Johnson runs Counter-Currents, which promotes white identity politics.
David Zsutty is involved with The Homeland Institute, which criticizes multiculturalism and globalization.
The WCVB news outlet identified guests by overhearing names at a public security checkpoint.
Congressman Bennie Thompson asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to step down. He criticized her for focusing too much on President Trump's immigration policies and not answering Congress's questions about safety.
Key Facts
Rep. Bennie Thompson is a Democrat from Mississippi.
Thompson is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
He criticized Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, for her immigration policies.
Noem is working under President Donald Trump.
Thompson claims Noem did not answer basic questions from Congress.
Thompson called for Noem to resign from her position.
The context involved discussions on security threats.
The conversation took place during a House hearing.
Four Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins, and Josh Hawley—voted for a Democratic bill to extend certain health care subsidies. The bill aimed to keep Affordable Care Act tax credits from expiring but was ultimately rejected.
Key Facts
Four Republican senators supported a Democratic health care bill.
The senators were Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Susan Collins, and Josh Hawley.
The bill planned to extend tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
Without the bill, costs for many people are expected to rise sharply next year.
The Senate rejected both the Democratic and a Republican health plan.
The Democratic bill's goal was to extend subsidies set to expire on January 1.
Unemployment benefit applications in the U.S. rose to 236,000 last week, suggesting potential concerns about the labor market. The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates, hinting that the job market may be weaker than it seems, with sluggish job growth and an increase in the unemployment rate to 4.4%.
Key Facts
236,000 Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week.
This is a jump from the previous week’s 192,000 applications.
Analysts expected 213,000 new applications, but the number was higher.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates, indicating job market worries.
Job growth has slowed, with only 40,000 jobs added monthly since April.
Sometimes jobs added are revised lower, which could indicate job losses.
The unemployment rate increased to 4.4%.
Ongoing jobless claims dropped to 1.84 million, the lowest since April.
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case, NRSC v. FEC, about limits on how much political parties can spend in elections. Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned if removing these limits would favor the Republican Party more than the Democratic Party. The court has not yet decided on the case.
Key Facts
The case is called NRSC v. FEC.
It deals with spending limits for political parties in elections.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked if overturning these limits would help Republicans more.
Marc Elias represented the DNC in arguing against lifting the limits.
Republicans want to remove these limits to increase spending on campaigns.
The Federal Election Commission now also opposes the spending limits.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed concerns about how campaign finance rules affect political parties.
President Donald Trump's immigration policy separated over 5,000 children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border during his first term. Currently, with illegal border crossings at a low, mass deportations are affecting families with mixed legal status in the U.S.
Key Facts
President Trump's zero-tolerance policy led to the separation of more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border.
The policy was implemented during President Trump's first term.
The current focus is on deporting families with mixed legal status within the U.S.
Illegal border crossings are at their lowest level in seventy years.
Federal and local officials are detaining tens of thousands of asylum-seekers and migrants.
Detainees often face poor living conditions and extended detention times.
Many detainees are deported or request to return home after prolonged detention.
Articles of impeachment have been introduced in Congress against President Donald Trump and two of his administration members. These actions highlight tensions among political parties, especially with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Although unlikely to succeed because Republicans control Congress, the impeachment attempts are drawing public attention.
Key Facts
At least three Republican leaders, including President Trump, are facing articles of impeachment.
Texas Democrat Al Green is preparing to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is also targeted by impeachment articles.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces impeachment articles accusing him of undermining public health.
The impeachment process requires a majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
Articles of impeachment highlight divisions between political parties and reflect debates over government accountability.
The impeachment measures are seen as unlikely to pass due to the Republican majority in Congress.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced questions from Democrats about allegations of wrongful deportations involving U.S. military veterans and their families. During a House hearing, Noem said she would review specific cases highlighted by Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner, including that of a deported veteran.
Key Facts
Kristi Noem is the Homeland Security Secretary.
Democrats questioned Noem about deportations of U.S. military veterans and their families.
The discussion took place during a House hearing.
Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island raised specific cases.
One case involved a combat veteran who received a Purple Heart and was deported to South Korea.
The deadline for Pennsylvania residents to apply for property tax and rent rebates has been extended to December 31. The extension allows more time for eligible homeowners and renters to claim financial assistance.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania extended the deadline for property tax and rent rebate applications to December 31.
Eligible residents include people aged 65 and older, widows/widowers aged 50 and above, and people with disabilities aged 18 and above who meet income limits.
To qualify, applicants must have a yearly income under $46,520 with exclusions for half of Social Security income.
Successful applicants can receive rebates between $380 and $1,000.
Additional supplemental rebates are available for some residents in Philadelphia, Scranton, and Pittsburgh.
Since July 1, over 502,000 rebates totaling more than $307 million have been issued.
Property taxes have increased nationwide, with Pennsylvania rates higher than the national average.
The program aims to help millions, including 3.5 million Pennsylvania residents aged 60 and older.
President Donald Trump has proposed a policy requiring foreign tourists from certain countries to share their social media history before entering the United States. This proposal targets travelers using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which includes citizens from 42 Visa Waiver Program countries. The plan is intended to enhance national security but has raised concerns about privacy and potential misinterpretation of social media data.
Key Facts
President Trump wants foreign tourists to provide up to five years of social media history.
The proposal affects travelers using the ESTA system, not those with visas.
It applies to nationals from 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program.
Additional data such as family information, past phone numbers, and email addresses may be required.
The policy is described as a national security measure to identify potential threats.
Concerns include the risk of misinterpreting social media content and increasing administrative burdens.
The proposal coincides with the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host, potentially impacting visitors for the event.
A new report from JPMorganChase highlights a shortage of skilled workers in key sectors, posing a challenge to U.S. competitiveness and national security. This report aligns with President Trump's recent comments on allowing skilled immigrants to fill these gaps, sparking debate on immigration policies.
Key Facts
JPMorganChase released a report on workforce challenges in the U.S.
The report says there's a skills shortage in sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, defense, energy, and AI.
This shortage is seen as a national security risk as other countries invest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education.
President Trump recently spoke about the need for skilled immigrants to help train U.S. workers.
Some supporters of strict immigration policies disagree with allowing more skilled immigrants.
Three-quarters of U.S. companies find it hard to hire qualified workers.
40 percent of U.S. adults lack basic digital skills.
The report suggests creating federal and state policies to improve training through apprenticeships and other programs.
Bakkavor USA is recalling its Meal Simple Red Lentil Dal Soup sold at H-E-B stores in Texas because the product contains undeclared milk. This can cause severe allergic reactions in people with milk allergies. The recall affects products with the "BEST BY 1/11/2026" label, and customers can return them for a full refund.
Key Facts
Bakkavor USA recalled the Meal Simple Red Lentil Dal Soup due to undeclared milk.
The recall is a precaution for individuals with milk allergies, who could have severe reactions.
Some of the soup cups contained a different soup that includes milk, leading to the recall.
The mislabeled product was sold at H-E-B stores in Texas between November 3 and December 8, 2025.
The affected soup is packaged in 16-ounce clear plastic cups.
As of the announcement, no illnesses related to the recall have been reported.
Customers can return the recalled product to H-E-B for a full refund.
Mike Lindell, known as the "MyPillow Guy" and a supporter of President Donald Trump, has officially announced his run for governor of Minnesota. He aims to become the Republican nominee to challenge the current Democratic Governor Tim Walz in the upcoming election. Lindell, who has faced various legal and financial issues, believes his personal and business experiences can address issues like addiction, homelessness, and fraud.
Key Facts
Mike Lindell is running for governor of Minnesota and seeks the Republican nomination.
He will challenge Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who plans to run for a third term in 2026.
Lindell is known for founding MyPillow and his support for President Trump.
He claims his business experience and personal recovery from addiction will help solve state issues.
Lindell has faced legal and financial troubles due to promoting false claims about the 2020 election.
Major retailers stopped selling MyPillow products after these claims, leading to revenue drops.
Lindell has defamation lawsuits against him, including one from the voting company Smartmatic.
Minnesota has a history of electing unconventional candidates, which Lindell hopes to leverage.
President Donald Trump has launched a new immigration program called the Gold Card visa that aims to reshape the U.S. immigration system. Applicants can apply online through the Trumpcard.gov site, with a processing fee of $15,000. The program targets skilled workers and requires applicants to meet financial and employment-based immigration criteria.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the launch of the Gold Card visa program through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Applicants can submit Form I-140G on the Trumpcard.gov website.
The program requires a $15,000 processing fee for expedited service.
Gold Card applicants must meet existing EB-1A or EB-2 criteria for immigration.
Applicants need to show substantial financial resources, like a net worth of $1 million or $2 million for corporation-sponsored applications.
Evidence of funds can include bank statements, tax returns, and other financial records.
The application asks for details on the source of funds and checks for any criminal activities like money laundering.
The program utilizes the existing visa allocation system without creating a new visa category.
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on two bills related to health care subsidies that are running out soon. These subsidies helped keep insurance costs low, but if the bills don't pass, many people might have to pay more for insurance. The Senate needs to act quickly since the subsidies will expire in three weeks.
Key Facts
The Senate will vote on two different health care bills.
The bills address COVID-era subsidies that are ending.
The loss of subsidies could lead to higher insurance costs for many Americans.
If no action is taken, some people may pay more than double their current premiums.
The vote is happening with only three weeks before the subsidies expire.
Rising insurance costs are becoming a significant concern for voters.
The political impact of these costs is important as midterm elections approach.
