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.
JD Vance is considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2028 presidential election. However, he faces challenges with Latino voters who are increasingly dissatisfied with President Trump's job performance, especially on economic and immigration issues. These trends could affect Vance's chances, though strong Republican leads in key states like Texas and Florida might lessen the impact.
Key Facts
JD Vance is seen as a possible Republican candidate for president in 2028.
Latino voter approval of President Trump is low, with 70% disapproving of his performance.
65% of Latino voters do not support Trump's immigration policies.
61% of Latino voters feel Trump's economic policies have worsened their financial situation.
In 2024, Trump received 48% of the Latino vote, an increase from 28% in 2016.
Economic concerns are a key issue for Latino voters, with consumer confidence at a historic low.
71% of Latinos believe the current administration is too aggressive with deportations.
Despite potential loss of Latino support, Republican margins in states like Texas and Florida may still secure victories.
Xiomara Suarez-Marin, a Peruvian national seeking asylum, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a green-card application appointment in Los Angeles. She had fled Peru due to her sexuality and was in the U.S. under humanitarian parole. Her detention is part of a broader pattern of increased immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
Xiomara Suarez-Marin was detained by ICE despite having a pending green-card application.
She attended a scheduled appointment at a USCIS office in Los Angeles.
Suarez-Marin fled Peru due to issues related to her sexuality.
ICE detains her as part of a larger enforcement push under President Trump's policies.
Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security stated a pending application does not authorize presence in the U.S. if entered illegally.
Her wife, Grazielli Chiosky de Sousa, disagrees, stating all legal procedures were followed.
She remains in custody at the Adelanto Detention Center in California.
Suarez-Marin's next court hearing is scheduled for January 28.
Google searches for "bankruptcy lawyer" in the U.S. reached their highest level since 2004, as more Americans struggle to meet minimum debt payments. A survey also showed that fewer people believe they will be better off financially next year. President Donald Trump's handling of the economy received low approval ratings in a recent poll.
Key Facts
Searches for "bankruptcy lawyer" in the U.S. peaked in June and rose again in November.
The probability of people not making minimum debt payments increased from 12.6% in September to 13.7% in November.
Only 4% of Americans expect to be "much better off" financially next year.
President Trump received a 31% approval rating for his economic management in a December poll.
68% of surveyed U.S. adults believe the economy is "poor."
The AP-NORC poll was conducted with 1,146 adults and has a margin of error of ±4 percentage points.
President Trump thinks he has improved the economy, claiming energy prices decreased under his leadership.
There are tensions among high-profile supporters of President Trump's MAGA movement. These tensions have led to public conflicts and arguments. The disputes involve personal attacks and disagreements over political issues.
Key Facts
Prominent MAGA supporters are publicly arguing with each other.
Candace Owens accused Turning Point USA of involvement in Charlie Kirk's death, which TPUSA denied.
Tim Pool criticized Owens over her statements about Kirk's death.
Milo Yiannopoulos and Benny Johnson are involved in a legal dispute due to personal attacks.
Tucker Carlson faced criticism over accusations related to Qatar.
The internal conflicts reflect broader challenges within the Republican Party as it faces upcoming midterm elections.
President Trump's declining poll numbers and issues related to the Jeffrey Epstein files are influencing these conflicts.
Oregon has reported a record number of whooping cough cases in 2024, the highest since 1950. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination as cases of this contagious disease rise. Nationwide, vaccination rates have decreased, particularly for pregnant women and young children.
Key Facts
Oregon recorded 1,475 cases of whooping cough in 2024, the most since 1950.
Whooping cough is a contagious disease that starts like a cold but can lead to severe coughing fits.
Vaccination is the best protection against whooping cough, but fewer children are getting vaccinated.
The Oregon Health Authority urges vaccinations, especially for pregnant women and people around babies.
Nationwide, there is a decline in vaccination rates among kindergartners.
Whooping cough cases have increased across several states, including Texas, California, and Florida.
Experts suggest the COVID-19 pandemic may have decreased transmission temporarily, but now cases are rising.
Vaccination during pregnancy helps protect newborns through transferred antibodies.
The U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, announced that some Minnesota stores need to reauthorize to keep accepting SNAP benefits. These stores were labeled "high risk" after compliance checks. The announcement follows fraud concerns linked to Minnesota's Somali community.
Key Facts
Brooke Rollins is the U.S. Agriculture Secretary.
Certain Minnesota retailers are identified as "high risk."
These retailers must reauthorize to continue taking SNAP benefits.
SNAP benefits are used for buying groceries.
Rollins linked the actions to cracking down on fraudulent activities.
Concerns were raised about fraud involving Minnesota's Somali community.
The statement was directed at Minnesota's Governor, Tim Walz.
President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, and Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, have a tense relationship and often don't communicate. Despite rumors suggesting Noem might be replaced, President Trump supports both officials and enjoys their rivalry. The conflict between Noem and Homan appears to stem from personality clashes and differing management styles.
Key Facts
President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, and Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, have a difficult relationship and rarely speak.
There were rumors and news stories claiming Kristi Noem had fallen out of favor with President Trump, but Trump denied it.
Supporters of Noem and Homan blame each other's partisans for spreading these rumors.
President Trump reportedly enjoys the competition between Noem and Homan and feels it improves their work.
Kristi Noem's department has $170 billion to handle immigration issues, and she has used part of this on advertisement campaigns.
Tom Homan often appears on Fox News, which irritates Noem's team since it's not coordinated with their press office.
Allegations of misconduct have surrounded Homan, including a past FBI investigation into bribery claims.
President Trump has not shown interest in firing any key team members and seems satisfied with his current administration.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is testifying in front of the House Committee on Homeland Security about security threats to the U.S. This hearing is expected to focus on President Trump's immigration policies, which have been controversial recently.
Key Facts
Kristi Noem is the Homeland Security Secretary.
She is part of President Donald Trump's administration.
Noem is testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The hearing is about "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland."
The hearing is expected to focus mainly on immigration issues.
Immigration enforcement operations have been contentious in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
This is Noem's first congressional testimony in several months.
President Trump wants to reshape U.S. immigration policy, claiming the country faces an "invasion."
Legal papers in a federal immigration case involving President Trump suggest there might be threats or political pressure affecting judges' decisions. A Delaware attorney claims that such pressures could impact the independence of judges, from trial courts to the Supreme Court, raising concerns about their ability to protect people's rights.
Key Facts
The case involves five Venezuelan men challenging their detention in the United States.
Delaware attorney Meghan Kelly filed a motion about potential threats to judicial independence.
The motion mentions pressures that might affect judges, including Supreme Court justices.
Kelly links threats to landmark cases involving President Trump.
Concerns include potential influence from executive and legislative branches on judicial decisions.
Kelly also mentions risks to attorneys involved in such legal cases.
The motion highlights alleged past threats linked to political figures, though no public evidence supports these claims.
Category: us
A Republican congressman, Thomas Massie, has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to pull the United States out of NATO. The bill is co-sponsored by Anna Paulina Luna and a similar one is in the Senate, introduced by Mike Lee. There is no indication that President Trump supports this bill.
Key Facts
Representative Thomas Massie introduced a bill to have the U.S. leave NATO.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna co-sponsored the bill in the House.
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mike Lee.
Massie argues NATO was created for the Cold War, which has ended.
The bill suggests that NATO membership costs U.S. taxpayers a lot of money.
President Trump has criticized NATO spending but hasn't supported leaving the group.
NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union.
Massie's bill faces opposition as some lawmakers support stronger U.S. involvement in NATO.
A federal judge decided a lawsuit against the Trump administration's decision to cancel over $4 billion in grants for California's high-speed rail project can proceed. The case involves the California High-Speed Rail Authority challenging the funding cuts made by the administration. The decision by the court means the legal challenge will continue.
Key Facts
The case centers on over $4 billion in federal grants meant for California's high-speed rail project.
U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd allowed the lawsuit to move forward, rejecting the Justice Department's attempt to dismiss it.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority claims the funding cuts were arbitrary and against the law.
The lawsuit was filed after the Federal Railroad Administration withdrew the grants.
An extra $175 million earmarked for related projects was also revoked by the Department of Transportation.
The court ruled it has the power to hear the case, countering the Justice Department's argument.
President Donald Trump expressed support for the funding cut, calling the project overpriced and ineffective.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the cuts as politically motivated and harmful to jobs in the region.
Senators are set to question military leaders about President Donald Trump's decision to use the National Guard in U.S. cities. This decision has led to legal challenges and questions about states' rights. The Senate hearing is organized by the Armed Services Committee.
Key Facts
Senators will question military leaders about the National Guard's deployment in cities.
President Trump authorized this use of the National Guard.
The hearing is conducted by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Legal challenges have arisen from this National Guard use.
There are concerns about states' rights with this deployment.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EST.
