đď¸Republican Congress Achieves Historic Low Legislative Output in 2025
The Republican-led Congress in the first year of President Trumpâs second term signed fewer than 40 bills into law as of late December 2025, establishing a modern record for the lowest number of enacted measures during the initial year of a new presidency, according to data from C-SPAN and Purdue University. This limited productivity reflects ongoing legislative challenges within the majority party. Lawmakers have noted a continued pattern of reduced congressional activity alongside a shift of greater authority to the executive branch. Despite early efforts to advance priorities through budget reconciliation and a major agenda package earlier in the year, the overall output remained markedly constrained, highlighting difficulties in unifying to pass substantive legislation amid internal dynamics and procedural hurdles.
Sources: The Washington Post, FOX News
âď¸Lawfare Dupe Jack Smith Planned to Prosecute Trump for Thought Crimes
Special counsel Jack Smith built his federal election interference case against President Trump by attempting to prove Trumpâs criminal intent through assumptions about what Trump knew and believed regarding the 2020 election outcome. Smith planned to use testimony from Republican figures, including former Vice President Mike Pence, to establish that Trump had been informed Biden won legitimately yet rejected that information to perpetrate fraud. This approach aimed to overcome First Amendment protections by framing Trumpâs challenges to the election as intentional fraud rather than protected speech. Smith defined truthful information based on these witnesses and sought to demonstrate Trumpâs mens rea, effectively targeting his mindset. The prosecution relied on proving Trump knowingly promoted falsehoods despite contrary advice from senior Republicans. The case was ultimately dropped following Trumpâs 2024 election victory.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The Federalist
đMamdani Delivers Ominous Collectivist Inauguration Speech
On January 1, 2026, Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated as New York City Comptroller and delivered a speech pledging to usher in a new era of collectivism to replace rugged individualism. He explicitly declared that he was elected as a Democratic socialist and would govern as one. Mamdani promised to shift the property tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer neighborhoods. He committed to increasing taxes on the wealthiest to fund universal childcare, freezing rents in stabilized homes, and making public transportation free and efficient. The speech rejected claims that the era of big government is over, insisting that city hall would no longer hesitate to use its power to improve lives through expanded government programs. Bernie Sanders administered the oath and spoke in support.
Sources: The Post Millennial, Breitbart
đ¨FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Yearâs Eve Terror Plot in North Carolina
Federal authorities successfully disrupted an alleged ISIS-inspired terrorist attack planned for New Yearâs Eve in Mint Hill, North Carolina, where 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant intended to stab civilians at a local grocery store and fast food restaurant using knives and hammers while targeting Jews, Christians, and LGBTQ individuals in an effort to kill up to 21 victims and die as a martyr by attacking responding police. Sturdivant, who had been radicalized online and previously came under scrutiny as a juvenile in 2022 for similar ISIS contacts that were halted by family intervention, communicated his plansâincluding sending images of weapons and declaring âI will do jihad soonââto an individual he believed was an ISIS affiliate but who was actually an undercover government operative. A search of his residence uncovered handwritten notes titled âNew Years Attack 2026â detailing the plot, along with hidden hammers, butcher knives, tactical gear, and a vest. He faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, with a potential 20-year prison sentence, as law enforcement acted decisively to protect innocent lives through vigilant monitoring and intervention.
Sources: FOX News, The Daily Caller
đ¨Seattle Mayor Threatens Independent Journalists Investigating Taxpayer Fraud
Seattleâs socialist Mayor Katie Wilson publicly condemned independent journalists probing allegations of fraud in Somali-operated childcare programs that receive substantial taxpayer subsidies, branding their investigative efforts as a âsurveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencersâ and expressing solidarity with the providers who claimed targeted harassment. She highlighted that family home childcare facilities are private businesses, not public spaces, and announced coordination with city departments including police to safeguard the providers. Wilson urged those feeling victimized to report incidents to the stateâs Hate Crimes and Bias Incident Hotline, amid reports of daycares receiving hundreds of thousands in funds while showing no operational signs or posing risks to children.
Sources: The Post Millennial,
đJack Smith Asserts Fraud Overrides First Amendment Protections in Trump Election Case
In a newly released deposition transcript from his closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, former Special Counsel Jack Smith stated that former President Trumpâs claims about fraud in the 2020 election were not protected by the First Amendment because they were allegedly made with knowing falsity to target a lawful government function. Smith emphasized that fraud is not shielded by the First Amendment. He distinguished the case from protected speech and rejected the notion that Trumpâs statements qualified for such protection when questioned about historical precedents of disputed elections. Smith maintained there was no analogous situation in history to Trumpâs actions. He defended his prosecution as based solely on Trumpâs conduct as detailed in grand jury indictments.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The Washington Examiner
đ°Minnesota Implements Expansive Paid Leave Program Accessible to Non-Citizens
Minnesotaâs paid family and medical leave program, signed into law by Governor Tim Walz, officially took effect on January 1, 2026, providing eligible workers up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave for serious health conditions and up to 12 weeks of family leave for bonding with a new child or caring for a relative, capped at a combined 20 weeks per year with partial wage replacement on a progressive scale favoring lower earners. The initiative is funded through a mandatory 0.88 percent payroll tax shared by employers and employees. Eligibility requires earning at least $3,900 in qualifying wages over the prior year and contributing to the system, without mandates for a Social Security number or proof of citizenship, thereby extending benefits to non-citizens, including undocumented individuals. This development raises legitimate concerns among taxpayers regarding potential abuse, particularly in light of ongoing investigations into billions in welfare fraud under the current administration.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Daily Wire
âď¸Activist Federal Employees Challenge Administration Policy on Gender Transition Coverage
A group of federal workers filed a class-action complaint on January 1, 2026, against the Trump administrationâs policy that prohibits federal health insurance programs from covering procedures and medications intended to facilitate gender transition. The policy, implemented through the Office of Personnel Management, bars reimbursement for chemical and surgical modifications of sex traits. Plaintiffs contend that this exclusion constitutes discrimination based on sex. The challenge seeks to overturn the coverage ban as unlawful under existing federal employment protections.
Sources: The Epoch Times, The Federal News Network
đMinnesota Ethnic Studies Mandate Promotes Racism; Threatens Traditional Education
Minnesota has enacted legislation requiring all public K-12 schools to integrate ethnic studies into social studies instruction and offer a standalone ethnic studies elective in high schools beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The state Department of Education defines ethnic studies as analyzing race and racism as persistent social, cultural, and political forces linked to group stratification. Schools must embed this content across subjects like math and health during revisions. Available materials from a university center include lessons on Black Lives Matter principles for younger students and resistance to oppressive systems for older ones. Critics from policy organizations argue this approach promotes divisive ideological perspectives over neutral historical and cultural education, potentially fostering tribalism in classrooms. Parents retain rights to review materials and opt out with alternatives provided. School districts hold authority in selecting curricula amid ongoing debates over implementation.
Sources: ZeroHedge, American Greatness
đłď¸Northwestern University Persists with DEI Integration Efforts
Northwestern Universityâs School of Education and Social Policy released an article on December 16 summarizing a webinar that provides guidance for embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives deeply into institutional policies and strategies. The piece advises anchoring equity in core strategic planning rather than treating it as subject to political pressures or temporary sentiment. It recommends clarifying non-negotiable values and practices while identifying ways to strengthen high-impact programs instead of retreating. The article critiques mere rebranding to terms like âbelongingâ as insufficient, arguing that true inclusion demands valuing both belongingness and authentic uniqueness simultaneously. Speakers expressed resolve among practitioners to adapt and emerge with stronger approaches amid ongoing challenges to such programs.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, Campus Reform
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đ˘ď¸Sanctioned Oil Tanker Evades US Seizure Through Russian Reflagging
An oil tanker previously known as Bella 1, sanctioned by the United States for transporting Iranian oil and operating within shadow fleets that evade sanctions on nations including Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, fled a U.S. Coast Guard boarding attempt in December while approaching Venezuelan waters to load crude. The vessel refused interception, executed a U-turn into the Atlantic, and has since been pursued by American forces awaiting higher authorization for seizure. In response, the crew painted a Russian flag on the hull, and the tanker has been renamed, formally registered in a Russian ship database with claims of Russian nationality, potentially shielding it from stateless vessel provisions under international law that previously justified pursuit. This development complicates enforcement of President Trumpâs blockade on sanctioned tankers trading with Venezuela, aimed at curtailing revenue supporting the Maduro regime.
Sources: Windward.ai, The New York Sun
đMaduro Signals Openness to Drug Trafficking Negotiations
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated in a New Yearâs Eve interview on state television that his government stands ready to engage in serious discussions with the United States on an agreement to combat drug trafficking, emphasizing that American officials have been informed through various channels of this willingness and calling for talks based on concrete data. He made these remarks amid ongoing U.S. military operations targeting suspected narco-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, including recent strikes on December 30 and 31 that eliminated several individuals identified as narco-terrorists. Maduro also expressed openness to American oil investments similar to existing arrangements while deferring comment on specific U.S. actions for a later time and criticizing broader American policies as outdated and widely rejected in Venezuela.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, Breitbart
â ď¸Iran Deadly Anti-Regime Protests Escalate
Iran faces its largest and most violent anti-regime demonstrations in three years as protests, ignited by severe economic hardship including a sharply devalued currency and inflation exceeding 40 percent, compounded by Western sanctions and the aftermath of a 2025 conflict with Israel, enter their fifth day with widespread clashes across multiple cities, including Tehran, Marvdasht, Kuhdasht, and Isfahan province. Security forces have opened fire on civilians, resulting in several deaths and injuries, including a protester shot in Isfahan and a Basij paramilitary member killed in Kuhdasht amid disputed accounts, while bazaars close, students join merchants in the streets, and unverified videos capture intense confrontations and attempts to aid the wounded. Authorities have responded with heavy deployments, arrests, and an offer of dialogue with merchant representatives alongside instructions to address legitimate demands, yet violence spreads nationwide, highlighting deep discontent with the regimeâs handling of the crisis.
Sources: The Daily Mail, Reuters
âď¸Saudi Forces Clash With Separatists In Oil-Rich Yemen Border Region
Clashes erupted in Yemenâs oil-rich Hadramout province along the Saudi border as Saudi warplanes conducted airstrikes targeting positions held by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, while Saudi-supported government forces launched a military operation to reclaim key institutions and assert state authority in the strategically vital area. The fighting stemmed from deepening rivalries between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with the separatist council having seized control of Hadramout and adjacent territories in recent weeks, prompting Riyadh to view the advances as a direct threat to its national security and border stability. Airstrikes reportedly killed seven and wounded over twenty, according to separatist statements, amid announcements from Yemenâs Saudi-backed government emphasizing the need to secure oil-producing regions and prevent further fragmentation in the face of ongoing regional threats, including Iran-aligned Houthis.
đĽFrance New Yearâs Eve Migrant-Police Clashes
France faced escalating confrontations between migrants and law enforcement during New Yearâs Eve celebrations into 2026, as violent groups launched fireworks mortars and projectiles at police and firefighters in multiple cities, turning festivities into direct assaults on authorities. The Ministry of the Interior reported 1,173 vehicles set ablaze nationwide, a rise from the prior year, amid 505 custodies and widespread attacks including mortar fire on police stations and officers sustaining injuries in places like Strasbourg, Rennes, and Marseille. These clashes highlighted ongoing public order strains, with reports indicating many perpetrators were migrants engaging in targeted aggression against security forces despite heavy deployments.