Here We Go Again: Democrats Block Advancement of Republican Government Funding Package
Senate Democrats halted a Republican effort to pass a package of five appropriations bills that would have funded several major government departments through the fiscal year, citing concerns over the Trump administration’s proposed restructuring of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, a facility criticized by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought for promoting climate-related studies. The blockage, led primarily by Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, prevented the measures from advancing just before lawmakers departed for the holidays, postponing action until January and heightening uncertainty as a January 30 funding deadline approaches amid separate negotiations over expiring Obamacare subsidies; Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, expressed frustration but noted indications from Democrats of willingness to address the bills upon return, emphasizing that a government shutdown remains undesirable for both parties.
Recent Polling Indicates Challenges for Congressional Democrats Ahead of 2026 Midterms
A Quinnipiac University poll released in mid-December 2025 shows congressional Democrats with an approval rating of only 18 percent among registered voters, while 73 percent disapprove, marking the lowest such figure in Quinnipiac’s tracking since 2009; even among Democratic voters, approval has fallen to 42 percent, reflecting internal dissatisfaction that could complicate efforts to regain House control. CNN data analyst Harry Enten noted the party’s net approval at -55 points overall and far worse among independents, describing Democrats as viewed “lower than the Dead Sea” by the public, with their generic congressional ballot lead described as weak compared to historical midterm gains under similar conditions. While opposition parties often benefit in midterms, these numbers suggest Democrats face an uphill battle reliant on external factors rather than strong party support.
Sources: ZeroHedge, The Daily Wire
Trump Administration Suspends Diversity Visa Lottery Following Brown University and MIT Shootings
President Trump directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to immediately pause the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which allocates up to 50,000 green cards annually through a lottery to applicants from countries with low immigration rates to the United States, following confirmation that the suspect in the December 13, Brown University shooting and the subsequent killing of an MIT professor obtained permanent residency via the program in 2017; Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who initially entered on a student visa in 2000 before winning the lottery, was found dead from a self-inflicted wound on December 18, ending the investigation into attacks that left three dead and nine wounded, with Noem stating the suspension aims to prevent further risks from what she described as a flawed system long criticized for lacking merit-based selection.
Wisconsin Judge Convicted of Obstructing Federal Immigration Enforcement
A federal jury in Wisconsin convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan of felony obstruction of an official proceeding for actions taken in April 2025 to assist an illegal immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in avoiding detention by Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents during a courthouse appearance on battery charges, while acquitting her on a separate misdemeanor count of concealing a person from arrest; prosecutors argued that Dugan directed the defendant to a non-public exit and diverted ICE officers elsewhere, underscoring concerns over local officials interfering with federal immigration authority, with Dugan’s defense maintaining the actions stemmed from courthouse policy confusion and planning an appeal ahead of sentencing that could bring up to five years in prison.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Federalist
Democrats Withhold Public Release of 2024 Election “Autopsy” Review
The Democrat National Committee has completed an internal review of its substantial 2024 election losses but has chosen not to make the findings public, reversing an earlier commitment by Chairman Ken Martin to release such a report. Based on extensive interviews with party operatives nationwide, the review reportedly addresses shortcomings in messaging, resource allocation, and voter outreach, while party leaders argue that focusing on past setbacks would hinder efforts to regain ground in upcoming contests, particularly the 2026 midterms, where recent off-year victories have provided momentum. This decision reflects a preference for internal implementation of lessons learned over external scrutiny that could exacerbate divisions within the party following a cycle marked by significant Republican gains among traditional Democrat constituencies.
Sources: BizPac Review, The Washington Examiner
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Trump Grants Federal Employees Additional Time Off for Christmas Period
President Trump issued an executive order excusing most federal employees from duty on December 24 and December 26, 2025, effectively closing executive departments and agencies on those days in addition to the existing Christmas Day holiday on December 25, providing many workers with an extended break over the holiday season while allowing agency heads to require staffing for essential functions such as national security or public needs; this one-time administrative closure, which follows precedents from prior administrations but combines both surrounding days in an uncommon manner, comes amid the president’s earlier expressed concerns about the economic impact of excessive holidays.
Sources: The New York Post, FOX News
Former FDA Vaccine Advisor Describes Myocarditis Deaths as Minor Cost of COVID Vaccination
Paul Offit, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine who recently departed the FDA’s Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, stated in an earlier interview that cases of myocarditis associated with mRNA COVID vaccines—inflammation of the heart muscle in young males that, in many cases led to deaths—represented a very small price to pay given the vaccines’ role in addressing the pandemic, while acknowledging that rare severe outcomes and ongoing safety monitoring are part of post-authorization learning; this remark has resurfaced amid broader discussions of vaccine side effects and advisory panel changes under the current administration.
Brown University Faces Accusations of Disabling Campus Cameras Amid Sanctuary Policies and Activist Pressure
Following a deadly shooting at Brown University’s Barus & Holley building that claimed two lives and injured others, questions have arisen over the absence of surveillance footage in the affected area, despite the campus boasting over 1,200 cameras overall. Critics point to Providence’s sanctuary city status and an August 2025 letter from activist groups urging colleges to disable CCTV systems to prevent their use in immigration enforcement or against protesters, suggesting the university may have complied and created security vulnerabilities. A local radio host confronted officials at a press conference, alleging cameras were removed to avoid recording individuals who might draw ICE attention, prompting an abrupt end to the event; while university representatives attribute the lack of coverage in the 1965-built structure to its age, inconsistencies with equipped older buildings on campus have fueled scrutiny over priorities in campus safety versus ideological considerations.
Sources: ZeroHedge, The Conservative Treehouse
Trump Administration Approves Record Arms Package for Taiwan
The Trump administration has approved an arms sales package to Taiwan valued at more than $11 billion, marking the largest single weapons deal in U.S. history with the island and including advanced systems such as HIMARS rocket launchers, ATACMS missiles, self-propelled howitzers, Javelin anti-tank weapons, and loitering drones to enhance Taiwan’s defensive posture against growing pressures from mainland China; this move aligns with longstanding U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act to support Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities while maintaining regional stability, even as Beijing condemns the sale as a provocation that risks escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Washington Times
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Chinese Researcher Charged with Smuggling E. Coli Biological Material into United States
Federal authorities charged Youhuang Xiang, a Chinese national and post-doctoral researcher in the U.S. on a J-1 visa, with smuggling Escherichia coli (E. coli) hidden in a package from China and making false statements, in a case that highlights ongoing concerns over the improper importation of biological materials by foreign researchers granted access to American universities. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that uncontrolled E. coli strains could cause significant harm to U.S. agriculture and the economy, while urging academic institutions to enforce strict compliance with legal import licensing procedures; this incident follows prior charges against other Chinese nationals involved in similar smuggling efforts.
Sources: FOX News, The Daily Caller
EU Approves $105 Billion Loan to Ukraine, Sidesteps Use of Frozen Russian Assets
European Union leaders reached agreement on a 90 billion euro (approximately $105 billion) interest-free loan to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs for 2026 and 2027, opting to borrow funds on capital markets backed by the EU budget rather than tapping into frozen Russian sovereign assets due to unresolved legal and political concerns, particularly from Belgium where the majority of those assets are held. The decision ensures continued financial assistance to Kyiv amid its ongoing defense against Russian aggression, with Russian assets remaining immobilized until Moscow provides reparations, at which point they could potentially repay the loan; exemptions were granted to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to avoid financial impact on those nations.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Reuters
European Authorities Thwart Additional Islamist Plots Targeting Christmas Markets
European security services have prevented multiple Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks on Christmas markets in recent days, underscoring persistent threats to public gatherings during the holiday season following last year’s deadly incident in Magdeburg. In Germany, five foreign nationals—including an Egyptian imam, a Syrian, and three Moroccans—were arrested in Lower Bavaria on suspicion of planning a vehicle-ramming assault aimed at maximizing casualties, while a separate arrest involved a 21-year-old Central Asian man suspected of targeting crowds in Magdeburg with possible prior military training. In Poland, authorities detained a 19-year-old law student radicalized by Islamic State propaganda who was preparing an explosive attack on a Christmas market after establishing contacts with the group.
Israel Approves Major Natural Gas Export Agreement with Egypt
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced government approval of a $35 billion natural gas export deal with Egypt, marking the largest such agreement in Israel’s history and involving supplies from the offshore Leviathan field operated by Chevron and its Israeli partners through 2040. The arrangement, signed earlier in August but finalized after addressing security and domestic market concerns, will provide up to 130 billion cubic meters of gas to help alleviate Egypt’s energy shortages while generating substantial revenue for Israel’s treasury to support national priorities in education, health, infrastructure, and defense. This development reinforces Israel’s emerging role as a key energy supplier in the region and fosters economic ties with Egypt amid ongoing shared interests in Middle East stability.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, Reuters