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.
The U.S. FDA has issued a high-risk recall for cheddar cheese sold in Michigan due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall affects 420 packages of cheese from Boss Dairy Farms, with concerns about potential health risks, especially for vulnerable groups.
Key Facts
The FDA issued a warning for cheddar cheese possibly contaminated with Listeria.
The recall affects 420 units of Mild Cheddar Cheese from Charlevoix Cheese Company.
These packages are sold in Michigan and weigh 8 ounces each.
The recall started on November 16, 2025.
The FDA classified the situation as a Class I recall on December 10, which means it poses a high health risk.
Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious illness, including listeriosis, in vulnerable people.
Listeria can grow at cold temperatures and is hard to control in foods stored in refrigeration.
Lunds & Byerlys, a grocery chain based in Minnesota, has recalled a batch of cookies because they were mislabeled with the ingredients of a different product. This mistake means that some allergens like peanuts, eggs, and soy were not listed, which could cause serious allergic reactions in people with those allergies.
Key Facts
Lunds & Byerlys recalled cookies because of a labeling mistake.
The label incorrectly showed the ingredients for a Tex-Mex Turkey Wrap instead of the cookies.
The cookies contain peanuts, eggs, and soy, which are common allergens.
No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported due to this error.
The affected cookies were sold between November 15 and December 9, 2025, in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud areas.
Customers can return the cookies to any store for a full refund.
About 6.2 million Americans have peanut allergies, 1.9 million have soy allergies, and 2.7 million have egg allergies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is monitoring the situation for any health incidents.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the deadlines for mailing packages and cards to ensure they arrive before December 25. USPS also mentioned improvements made to handle the increased demand during the holiday season, such as new processing facilities and vehicles.
Key Facts
The USPS has set mailing deadlines for Christmas delivery in the U.S.: December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail, and December 20 for Priority Mail Express.
For deliveries to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, the deadlines are December 16 for Ground Advantage, December 17 for First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail, and December 20 for Priority Mail Express.
USPS will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, resuming service the following day.
USPS has installed over 600 package sorters since 2020 to increase sorting capacity to 88 million packages daily.
Around 200 new processing facilities have opened since 2020 to improve efficiency.
USPS has acquired approximately 36,000 new delivery vehicles, including plans for 66,000 electric vehicles.
New delivery standards aim for two to three-day delivery within the same region.
The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on two health care proposals that will influence the cost of health insurance for millions. The Democratic plan aims to extend enhanced tax credits that reduce premiums, while the Republican plan proposes Health Savings Account deposits and other changes.
Key Facts
Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced votes on the proposals following a government shutdown over health care costs.
Democrats want to extend current premium tax credits for three more years, which help make insurance more affordable.
The enhanced credits remove income caps for eligibility, allowing more people to get help based on insurance costs relative to their income.
Republicans propose one-time deposits into Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) instead of extending premium subsidies.
HSAs are accounts where people can save money tax-free for medical expenses.
Both plans need 60 Senate votes to pass, but they are unlikely to get that support.
The enhanced credits will expire soon, raising premiums if not extended, while the Republican plan does not directly reduce premiums.
A lawsuit was filed against the Trump administration for replacing the winning photo on the National Parks annual pass with a portrait of President Donald Trump. The lawsuit claims this change violates federal law, which requires the winning photo from a public contest to be used. The changes also included a new type of pass that the law does not authorize.
Key Facts
The Trump administration replaced the contest-winning photo on the 2026 National Parks pass with President Trump's portrait.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit on December 10 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The lawsuit claims this move ignores legal requirements outlined in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA).
FLREA requires a photo contest to select the image for the parks pass.
The lawsuit also challenges new "Resident" and "Nonresident" pass types, which the law did not authorize.
The Department of the Interior says the changes are part of a modernization effort.
Critics argue the changes politicize federal land policy by using the pass for personal promotion.
The lawsuit is concerned with keeping park access nonpartisan and legally compliant.
The U.S. Mint announced new coin designs to celebrate America's 250th anniversary in 2026. These coins will have special designs representing important moments in U.S. history and will be available for general use and as collector's items.
Key Facts
The U.S. Mint will release new coins for the country's 250th birthday in 2026.
This includes nickels, dimes, and quarters with the dual date "1776 ~ 2026."
Designs will honor historical U.S. documents and symbols, like the Declaration of Independence and Lady Liberty.
The half dollar is a collectible item with a new design since 1976, showing the Statue of Liberty.
A special collector's penny will feature the dual date but won't be in regular circulation.
Collectible series coins will have a Liberty Bell mark and the number "250."
The coins will be made in Philadelphia and Denver for one year starting January 2026.
After this, the design focus will shift to youth and Paralympic sports.
A bill aimed at tackling the U.S. housing affordability crisis was removed from important legislation by House Republicans, causing a delay in the biggest housing reform effort in over a decade. The bill, known as the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, aimed to increase housing supply and affordability and had received strong support from both parties in the Senate. Now, there are plans to work on a standalone bill to address the issue in the future.
Key Facts
The HOUSE Republicans removed a bipartisan housing bill from "must-pass" legislation.
The bill aimed to boost the U.S. housing supply and make homes more affordable.
High home prices, increased during and after the pandemic, have made owning a home unaffordable for many.
President Donald Trump promised to improve housing affordability during his 2024 campaign, focusing on increasing housing inventory.
The Senate passed the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 with unanimous support as part of a defense spending bill.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill wants to pursue a standalone bill for housing reform.
Industry experts praised the bill for addressing the current housing crisis through construction and policy changes.
Republican voters are showing less confidence in President Trump's handling of the economy, according to a new poll. The poll indicates a drop in approval from 78% to 69% among Republicans and a drop to a record low of 31% among the general public. Concerns about inflation, tariffs, and economic recovery appear to be influencing this decline.
Key Facts
A new AP-NORC poll shows a nine-point drop in Republican approval of President Trump's economic handling since March, from 78% to 69%.
General public approval for Trump’s economic agenda has fallen to a record low of 31%.
Concerns include persistent inflation and Trump’s tariff strategy, impacting support from his base.
Overall public approval of President Trump's performance is at 36%, down from 42% in March.
Approval of Trump's handling of crime has decreased from 53% to 43%, and approval of immigration from 49% to 38%.
Half of U.S. adults approve of Trump's border security management, down from 55%.
Two-thirds of Americans describe the economy as “poor,” similar to ratings during President Biden's final year.
The poll included 1,146 adults, conducted from December 4–8, with a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
A new poll by Emerson College shows that political races in Ohio for the governorship and a U.S. Senate seat are very close. These races, important for both Democrats and Republicans, will be decided in the November 2026 elections.
Key Facts
A new poll indicates tight races for Ohio's governor and one U.S. Senate seat.
The gap between Democratic and Republican candidates is within the margin of error, meaning the results are very close.
Republicans currently control the governorship and both U.S. Senate seats in Ohio.
One of the Senate seats was held by Vice President JD Vance before he joined the White House in the current Trump administration.
The elections for these positions are scheduled for November 2026.
Poll results suggest Ohio could potentially see a change in political control.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that working Americans can expect tax refunds of $1,000 to $2,000 per household next year. These refunds stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax legislation passed under President Trump's administration. The refunds are expected in the first quarter of 2026 due to changes in tax policies like no tax on tips and overtime.
Key Facts
Working Americans will get tax refunds of $1,000 to $2,000 per household.
The refunds come from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump.
The tax legislation was passed in July and changes how certain earnings, like tips and overtime, are taxed.
Refunds are expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared that many people have not yet adjusted their tax withholding, leading to larger refunds.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett estimates the average refund will be between $1,600 and $2,000.
Once people adjust their withholding, they should see more in their regular paychecks.
Two U.S. senators from California, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, are proposing to enlarge two National Parks in the state. They aim to expand Joshua Tree National Park by over 20,000 acres and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by 100,000 acres. This comes amid ongoing staffing and budget issues faced by the National Parks.
Key Facts
Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla are the senators proposing the expansion.
They want to add over 20,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park.
The proposal suggests adding 100,000 acres to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
National Parks have been experiencing budget cuts and staffing shortages.
The proposal aims to protect wild areas while respecting property rights.
Changes are planned for National Parks entrance fees and digital passes by 2026.
The Department of the Interior announced new plans to modernize park access.
New "resident-only patriotic fee-free days" will replace some current holidays in 2026.
President Trump's administration announced a plan to create a new militarized zone along the California-Mexico border. The plan involves transferring 760 acres of public land in San Diego and Imperial counties to the Navy over three years to enhance border security and national defense. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce illegal immigration.
Key Facts
A new militarized zone is being created along the U.S.-Mexico border in California.
760 acres of public land will be transferred to the Navy.
The land transfer will occur over three years in San Diego and Imperial counties.
The goal is to support border security operations and national defense.
President Trump's executive order declared illegal immigration a national emergency.
The administration has set up similar zones in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Illegal border crossings are at their lowest point in decades.
Critics argue this military role could impact democratic freedoms and legal rights.
President Donald Trump's approval rating has dipped below positive in Iowa and Ohio, two states that lean Republican. Polls show that 48% of people in these states approve of Trump, while 49% disapprove. This change could impact future elections, like the 2026 midterms.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating is net -1% in Iowa and Ohio, meaning slightly more people disapprove (49%) than approve (48%).
Iowa and Ohio are Republican-leaning states where Trump won in previous elections.
Trump's overall net approval rating is positive in 22 states.
A recent poll showed Trump's national approval rating at 39%, with 58% disapproving.
Wyoming is where Trump is most popular, with 66% approval.
Vermont is where Trump is least popular, with 66% disapproval.
President Trump has criticized media polls as biased against him.
Changes in approval ratings could affect Republican chances in the 2026 midterm elections.
