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December 26, 2025
'Enjoy what may be your last Christmas!' Trump attacks 'sleazebags' in dark holiday screed
(Raw Story) President Donald Trump attacked people he described as "losers" and "sleazebags" in a dark screed on social media on Christmas night. In the post, Trump attempted to distance himself from disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, someone he has previously referred to as a close friend. This comes at a time when new revelations from recently released Epstein files show Trump rode on Epstein's private plane, dubbed the "Lolita Express," at least eight times. Other documents indicate Trump spent time at Epstein's home in New York City, and that the two men exchanged birthday pleasantries.
Go to discussionRepublican State Senator faces backlash for his weird AI-generated Christmas Day assault on Santa
(Huff Post) Talk about a violent night! Indiana state Sen. Chris Garten (R) is facing backlash after he kicked off Christmas Day by posting a bizarre series of AI-generated pictures showing him beat up Santa Claus in front of the state capitol building. The mock images depict a sleeveless Garten surrounded by a crowd of cheering supporters as he kicks, punches and pulls off a body splash on Kris Kringle in wrestler-like fashion.
Trump says US struck Islamic State targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians
(AP) President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians. The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had and the White House did not immediately provide further details.
Go to discussionBankruptcies hit US spirit makers as Americans drink and spend less
(USA Today) You'll have to excuse distillers and spirits makers if they need a stiff drink this holiday season. The past year has dealt makers of whiskey and other liquor a mix of challenges – from Americans cutting back on their alcohol consumption for health and spending reasons to declining exports hampered by trade issues and tariffs. It's not just restaurants and retailers hit with bankruptcies in 2025. Several distilleries across the U.S. filed for bankruptcy this year
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Zelenskyy says meeting with Trump to happen 'in the near future'
(ABC News) A meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump will happen “in the near future,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, signaling progress in talks to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. “We are not losing a single day. We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “A lot can be decided before the New Year,” he added.
Go to discussionWhite House to present plans for Trump's East Wing ballroom in January
(Reuters) The White House will unveil new details on President Donald Trump's planned East Wing ballroom during a hearing early next month, according to a federal commission tasked with reviewing the project. The new ballroom, which Trump has said would cost $400 million and would dwarf the adjacent White House building, has been challenged in court by preservationists, while Democratic lawmakers have called it an abuse of power and are investigating which donors are supporting it.
Trump Says 'Housing First' Failed the Homeless. Here's What the Evidence Says.
(New York Times) When the Trump administration announced plans last month to redistribute billions of dollars in homelessness aid, the move capped a conservative attack on the once-bipartisan philosophy that has guided federal work for a generation, an approach called Housing First. The administration called the policy a permissive approach that had let homelessness rise, while supporters said Housing First was backed by proven science.
Go to discussion'We're being blindsided': Federal charity drive suffers historic losses under Trump
(Raw Story) A federal charity drive is reportedly facing hardship due to Trump's actions. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10927, which authorized the U.S. Civil Service Commission to authorize nonprofit solicitations from employees of the federal government. The federal charity drive, according to Washington Post reporter Meryl Kornfield, has "raised more than $9 billion from federal government employees" over the years. But Kornfield, in an article published on Christmas Day 2025, reports that the program is "facing a steep decline in donations and other challenges just months after the Trump administration weighed canceling it altogether."
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