The Trump administration is planning an immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Additionally, Michael Dell promised to donate $6.25 billion to the Trump administration for children's investment accounts. Pope Leo has concluded his first international trip as a pontiff.
Key Facts
The immigration operation will focus on undocumented Somali immigrants located in Minnesota.
The operation is being organized by the Trump administration.
Michael Dell pledged a $6.25 billion donation to the Trump administration.
The donated funds are intended for investment accounts for children.
Pope Leo has completed his first trip abroad as a pontiff.
More four-year colleges are starting to offer two-year degrees to help students who might not usually attend college. This approach aims to support students who are the first in their families to attend college and come from low-income backgrounds.
Key Facts
About 25% of college students are first-generation and from low-income families.
Boston College has introduced a two-year associate's degree program called Messina College.
Messina College's program is fully residential, meaning students live on-campus.
The program provides various support to make college more accessible for these students.
John Yang visited Boston College as part of a series called "Rethinking College."
An elementary school in Providence, Rhode Island, is trying to improve its image by having young students work as journalists. The school aims to address issues of low test scores and communication challenges with bilingual families.
Key Facts
Providence, Rhode Island's public schools have faced problems with low test scores.
The schools also have issues with old and deteriorating buildings.
There are ongoing challenges in communicating with families who speak multiple languages.
An elementary school in the city is using student journalists to change how people see the school.
This effort is part of an arts and culture series called CANVAS.
President Donald Trump announced that all documents, including pardons and commutations, signed by the autopen during Joe Biden’s presidency are no longer valid. He posted on Truth Social that these documents are considered null and void.
Key Facts
President Trump made a statement about documents signed by an autopen during Joe Biden's presidency.
He said that all such documents, including pardons and commutations, are "terminated."
Trump shared this message on a social media platform called Truth Social.
An autopen is a device used to sign documents automatically.
This decision affects legal documents signed during Biden’s term.
The announcement could change how executive documents are recognized if signed by an autopen.
A second snowstorm is predicted to hit parts of the U.S. Northeast and mid-Atlantic within days of a previous storm. The new storm is expected to bring less snow than the first, with only light snowfall anticipated. However, the associated weather could still impact travel in affected areas.
Key Facts
Seven states, including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, may see a second snowstorm.
The first storm dropped up to 12 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast.
Hundreds of schools closed due to the first storm, and travel was disrupted.
The second storm is expected to bring lighter snow, about 3 inches or less.
AccuWeather predicts mixed weather, including snow, ice, and rain.
National Weather Service has issued advisories in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and up through Maine.
The storm could affect major travel cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
The interaction of cold air and the storm will determine snow accumulation areas.
The Trump administration stopped immigration processing for people from 19 countries that had been affected by a travel ban. This pause includes applications for green cards and citizenship. The move follows a recent incident involving violence by an Afghan immigrant in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted green card and citizenship applications from 19 countries under a travel ban.
Countries affected include Venezuela, Haiti, Iran, Afghanistan, and 15 other nations.
President Trump had announced plans to pause immigration from these countries following a violent incident involving an Afghan immigrant.
Between fiscal years 2021 and early 2024, about 720,000 green cards were given to people from these countries.
An immigration attorney in Texas reported that interviews for applicants from these countries have been canceled without explanation.
The Trump administration criticized previous immigration policies, mentioning misuse of refugee pathways during high migration periods.
President Donald Trump's administration announced it might stop SNAP food aid for people in Democratic-led states unless those states provide information about aid recipients. The administration wants this data to reduce fraud, but some states are suing to block this requirement, arguing privacy concerns.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration will withhold SNAP aid from Democratic-controlled states if they don't provide recipient data.
The requested data includes names and immigration status of people receiving SNAP benefits.
Democratic states have sued to prevent sharing this data, citing privacy issues.
A judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked the administration from collecting this information.
The administration argues the data is necessary to identify fraud within the program.
About 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to purchase groceries.
Some states have provided data showing instances of deceased individuals receiving SNAP benefits.
A proposed bill from Republican Senator Bernie Moreno aims to end dual citizenship in the U.S. If the bill becomes law, people with dual citizenship, including celebrities and political figures, would need to choose between their U.S. citizenship and their foreign citizenship. The proposal may face legal challenges due to existing constitutional protections for dual citizenship.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno has proposed a bill called the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025.
The bill seeks to eliminate dual citizenship in the United States.
If passed, individuals with dual citizenship would have to renounce foreign citizenship or U.S. citizenship within one year.
First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, who hold dual U.S.-Slovenian citizenship, are among those affected.
Several celebrities also have dual citizenship, including Tom Hanks, Ryan Reynolds, and Salma Hayek.
The U.S. Constitution and past court cases like Afroyim v. Rusk protect the right to dual citizenship, suggesting the bill might face legal challenges.
Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and the publisher of Franklin the Turtle are criticizing the Trump administration for using their work in social media posts. Carpenter's song was featured in a video about immigration raids, and an altered image of Franklin the Turtle was used in a post about drug traffickers.
Key Facts
Sabrina Carpenter is a pop singer whose music was used by the Trump administration.
Her song “Juno” appeared in a video about U.S. Immigration raids.
Carpenter publicly opposed the use of her song, calling it inappropriate.
The publisher of Franklin the Turtle is Kids Can Press.
Kids Can Press disapproved of an altered image showing Franklin with a weapon.
The altered image was posted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The post suggested Franklin was targeting drug traffickers.
This year, mass killings in the U.S. reached their lowest point since 2006. The decrease aligns with a general drop in violent crime across the country. Most mass killings continue to involve guns, with many occurring in or around homes.
Key Facts
Mass killings in the U.S. are at their lowest in 2025 since records began in 2006.
A mass killing is defined as an event where four or more people are killed intentionally in 24 hours, excluding the attacker.
The highest number of mass killings was 46 in 2019; in 2025, there have been 17 incidents so far.
Most mass killings (79%) involve firearms.
Data shows about 67% of mass killings happen in or near people's homes.
Mass shootings also decreased, recording 381 incidents in 2025 compared to 503 in 2024.
Gun violence remains a significant issue, with many initiatives targeting its reduction.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about the Social Security Administration's (SSA) plan to cut field office visits by half in 2026. The SSA aims to use more technology to provide services, although this has led to worries about how it might negatively impact those who prefer or need in-person help. The administration, under President Trump, emphasizes a digital shift to improve efficiency and service.
Key Facts
The SSA plans to reduce field office visits from over 31 million to about 15 million by 2026.
Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano wants to improve efficiency by using more technology.
The SSA is not planning to eliminate field offices entirely.
Staffing at SSA offices has decreased by 2,000 people nationwide.
In July, the SSA transferred 1,000 field office employees to its national phone team.
The shift to online services is aimed at newer generations more familiar with digital systems.
Concerns have been raised that reducing staff and office visits might harm those who depend on in-person support.
Senator Warren has expressed strong opposition to the proposed changes, advocating for continued access to earned benefits.
President Donald Trump's administration warned certain states that they might lose federal funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they do not share detailed recipient data. The primary conflict is with states led by Democrats, who are refusing due to concerns over privacy and legality. The administration argues that this measure is to reduce fraud in the program.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is demanding states share detailed data about SNAP recipients.
If the states do not comply, they risk losing federal administrative SNAP funding.
SNAP is a program that helps around 42 million Americans with low or no income buy groceries.
Twenty-one Democrat-led states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, are resisting the new data-sharing rules.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a team analyzing data to prevent welfare fraud.
Twenty-eight states have complied with the data-sharing requirement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the federal government’s move, noting significant cuts to SNAP funding.
President Donald Trump mentioned that his administration is looking into a new retirement program inspired by Australia’s retirement savings system. This program is still in the exploration phase, and specific details have not been provided. The announcement was made during a White House event where a significant donation was pledged to aid children's savings.
Key Facts
President Trump discussed the idea of a new retirement savings program.
The program takes inspiration from Australia’s retirement system.
Australia’s system involves employers contributing a portion of workers' earnings to retirement funds.
Trump mentioned the idea in the context of addressing U.S. birthrate policies.
The announcement was made at a White House event.
Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion for a children's savings initiative.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, aiming to extend the Hospital at Home program until 2030. This program allows hospitals to provide at-home care to Medicare patients, which was first introduced in 2020. The bill received support from both political parties and now awaits action in the Senate.
Key Facts
The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the Hospital at Home program for five more years.
The program originally started in 2020 to let hospitals offer care at home for Medicare patients.
Over 400 hospitals in 39 states participated, focusing on elderly patients and those with certain health conditions.
The program reduced mortality rates and hospital admissions while increasing patient satisfaction.
The bill requires CMS to study the program's impact on quality of life, costs, services, and patient demographics.
The American Hospital Association supports the bill, highlighting benefits like lower costs and safer patient care.
The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is having a special election, which is the sixth such election in the House this year. The election has caught attention for multiple reasons, and live results are being tracked.
Key Facts
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is holding a special election.
This is the sixth special election in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023.
The special election is generating significant interest.
Live results of the election are being monitored.
Special elections often fill vacant seats between regular election cycles.
An Afghan man, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, pleaded not guilty to charges related to the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The incident resulted in the death of one soldier and injury to another. The attack occurred during a period when additional military forces were deployed in Washington D.C. under President Donald Trump's initiative.
Key Facts
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House.
The attack took place on November 26, resulting in the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and injury to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe.
Lakanwal's attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during a court hearing.
The incident happened as part of President Donald Trump's law-enforcement surge in Washington D.C.
Lakanwal came to the U.S. in 2021 through an Afghan resettlement program initiated by the Biden administration.
President Trump described the shooting as a "terrorist attack."
Authorities believe the attack was a planned ambush.
A judge has ordered Lakanwal's detention pending further proceedings.
President Donald Trump stated that the rising cost of living, described as a lack of affordability, is a misleading idea pushed by Democrats. He claimed his administration improved the economic situation after he inherited high inflation. Trump argued that Democrats use the term "affordability" to create a false narrative.
Key Facts
President Trump discussed the issue of rising costs in a Cabinet meeting.
He said the idea of struggling with high living costs is a false narrative by Democrats.
Trump claimed he took over a situation with the worst inflation in history.
He credited his administration with reducing prices.
Despite this claim, many Americans still find housing and groceries expensive.
Trump specifically criticized the use of the word "affordability," calling it a "con job."
President Donald Trump announced plans to refund taxpayers using money collected from tariffs, claiming this could eventually eliminate income taxes. However, experts question the feasibility of this plan, noting that the revenue from tariffs is far less than needed to cover tax refunds or replace income taxes.
Key Facts
President Trump said he plans to use tariff money for taxpayer refunds.
He suggested this move could eventually eliminate income taxes.
The U.S. collected $258.1 billion in tariff revenue so far this year.
This amount is significantly more than last year's $90 billion but not "trillions."
The national budget shortfall last fiscal year was $1.8 trillion.
Experts are uncertain about how refunds from tariff revenue would work.
Tariffs are taxes on goods imported from other countries.
A new bill allows children under 14 to get a new Social Security number if their card is stolen or lost. This measure aims to better protect children from identity theft. The bill passed the House and now awaits Senate approval and President Trump's signature to become law.
Key Facts
The bill targets children under age 14 who have lost or had their Social Security card stolen.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a 386-0 vote.
Representative Lloyd Smucker from Pennsylvania introduced the Social Security Child Protection Act.
The bill requires the Social Security Administration to issue a new Social Security number to affected children.
Currently, a victim of fraud must report it to get a new number, and this often isn't discovered until adulthood.
The new law aims to help prevent long-term troubles associated with identity theft.
Christina Woodling, whose child's Social Security number was stolen, supports the bill as a way to protect children.
The bill is now with the Senate and needs President Trump's approval to become law.
President Donald Trump stated during a Cabinet meeting that he does not want Somali immigrants in the U.S., citing their reliance on social services and claiming they contribute little. This follows his administration's decision to halt all asylum decisions after a shooting incident involving a suspect from Afghanistan.
Key Facts
President Trump stated he does not want Somali immigrants in the U.S.
He claimed that Somali immigrants rely too much on U.S. social services.
Trump mentioned that Somali immigrants contribute little to the country.
His comments came after a decision to stop all asylum decisions.
The decision followed a shooting in Washington involving an Afghan suspect.
Trump raised concerns about immigrants from nations like Somalia.
The administration plans an operation in Minnesota focusing on Somali immigrants.
