Health care costs rise sharply for millions of ACA enrollees in 2026

Millions of Americans are facing higher health costs with the arrival of 2026. Democrats forced a six-week government shutdown over the expiring Obamacare tax credits. But the clash with President Trump and Republicans did not result in any changes. Congress offered no fix before the New Year’s Day deadline for the subsidies, which were enacted during the pandemic. On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114 percent, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

Trump delays higher tariffs on furniture and others goods for one year

President Trump is putting the brake on increased tariffs on furniture and other goods. The president signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year. He cited ongoing trade talks for the reason. The order keeps in place a 25 percent tariff he imposed in September on those goods. The president has said the tariffs on furniture are needed to “bolster American industry and protect national security.”

Trump says he’s taking more aspirin than his doctors recommend

President Trump admits to not exactly following his doctors’ orders. The president told The Wall Street Journal that he’s taking a larger daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend. He said “aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart.” He went on to say that he wants “nice, thin blood.” The 79-year-old Trump is the second-oldest person to ever hold the presidency, following his predecessor Joe Biden.

Trump says U.S. is running Venezuela after ousting Maduro

The United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flown him out of the country.
After several months of escalating Trump administration pressure, the U-S military carried out a stunning operation that removed a sitting leader from office. At a Mar-a-Lago news conference, President Trump said the U-S is temporarily in control of Venezuela. Asked about a possible U-S military presence in Venezuela, the president said he’s “not afraid of boots on the ground” and said he would be tapping the country’s oil reserves to sell “large amounts” to other countries.

Trump says Venezuela operation is a warning to the world

President Trump is putting the world on notice after the U-S captured and removed Venezuela’s sitting president. Following the military operation, the president said the U-S is going to control Venezuela during the transition and he said other countries should learn a lesson. Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken from their home on a military base in the Venezuelan capital and are set to face criminal charges in the United States.

Trump says U.S. to tap Venezuela’s vast oil reserves

President Trump says the United States will be tapping Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, now that it has removed President Nicolas Maduro. The president said the U-S is “in the oil business” and plans to “fix” Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Donald Trump said there are plans to sell the oil to other countries and keep some. He said the U-S will be running Venezuela during the transition.

One of Trump’s vetoes angered fellow Republicans

President Trump angered some fellow Republicans with his end-of-the-year vetoes. The president used his veto pen for the first time in his second term, rejecting two bipartisan natural resources bills. One of the bills, for a drinking water pipeline, was sponsored by Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado. She’s a longtime Trump ally who broke with the president over releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Boebert wrote online that she hopes the veto “has nothing to do with political retaliation.” She went on to say “this isn’t over.”

New year brings higher health care costs for millions of Americans

The new year is bringing higher health care costs for millions of Americans. When the calendar turned to 2026, enhanced tax credits for enrollees in the Affordable Care Act expired. Congress and the White House squabbled over the issue, but ultimately took no action. As a result, Obamacare premiums are rising by more than 100 percent, according to the research group KFF. The end of those pandemic-era subsidies affects a cross-section of Americans who don’t get their health insurance from an employer and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.

Wall Street opens trading in 2026 after a stellar 2025

It’s the first day of Wall Street trading in 2026. After taking off the New Year’s holiday, U-S financial markets are open for business in the new year. In 2025, the three major U.S. stock indexes posted double-digit annual gains. For the year, the S&P 500 rose more than 16 percent, the Nasdaq was up by 20 percent, and the Dow climbed nearly 13 percent. It was a roller coaster ride, with Wall Street bouncing back from April’s low after President Trump’s tariffs sparked a meltdown in global markets.

Trump delays increased tariffs on furniture and other goods for one year

President Trump is putting the brake on increased tariffs on furniture and other goods. The president signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying higher tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year. He cited ongoing trade talks for the reason. The order keeps in place a 25 percent tariff he imposed in September on those goods. The president has said the tariffs on furniture are needed to “bolster American industry and protect national security.”

Trump admits he’s not exactly following orders from his doctors

President Trump admits to not exactly following his doctors’ orders. The president told The Wall Street Journal that he’s taking a larger daily dose of aspirin than his doctors recommend. He said “aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart.” He went on to say that he wants “nice, thin blood.” The 79-year-old Trump is the second-oldest person to ever hold the presidency, following his predecessor Joe Biden.

2026 ushers in a variety of new state laws

The new year is bringing with it a variety of new state laws. Hawaii has become the first state to hike its tourist lodging tax specifically to help cope with the effects of a changing climate. Utah’s already strict alcohol laws are getting even stricter. People convicted of “extreme driving under the influence” will receive a new driver’s license bearing a red stripe on the front alongside the words “No Alcohol Sale.” And Washington’s statewide minimum wage has risen to 17-dollars 13-cents an hour, making it the first state to exceed the 17-dollar threshold.

New SNAP restrictions take effect in five states

New restrictions are now in effect for SNAP recipients in five states. The new year has brought new rules for Americans who get government help paying for groceries. SNAP recipients in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, and West Virginia cannot use the federal funds on soft drinks, candy, and other sugary or processed foods. The five states are the first of at least 18 states to enact waivers prohibiting the purchase of certain foods through SNAP.

DOJ sues Virginia over tuition benefits for illegal immigrants

The Justice Department is suing Virginia for providing in-state tuition for immigrants who are in the country illegally. The lawsuit targets a Virginia law that allows non-citizens to access reduced, in-state tuition rates at public universities and colleges if they can establish they reside in the state. The Justice Department argues the measure conflicts with federal immigration law in violation of the Constitution. This week’s lawsuit marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to challenge state laws that provide benefits to illegal immigrants.

Court says Trump can’t de-fund consumer finance agency

A federal district court says the White House cannot defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. At issue is whether President Trump’s budget director can effectively shut down the agency and lay off all of its employees. The judge said the White House cannot lapse in its funding of the bureau and that the government must continue to pay employees. Since Donald Trump took office in January, the consumer finance agency has largely been inoperable as the administration has sought to close it down.

Trump warns Iran not to rebuild its nuclear program

President Trump is putting Iran on notice. As he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for talks in Florida, the president warned Iran against reconstituting its nuclear program. He said the U-S military would strike Iran hard if it attempts to rebuild that program. The president has insisted that Tehran’s nuclear capabilities were “obliterated” after military strikes in June. But Israeli officials have expressed concern about Iran rebuilding its long-range missile capability.

After Zelenskyy meeting, Trump says “closer than ever” to peace deal

There appears to be progress toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine following President Trump’s weekend meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Donald Trump hosted the Ukrainian leader for talks in Florida, declaring that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace deal. However, both leaders acknowledged that difficult issues remain, including whether Russia can keep Ukrainian territory it controls. President Trump insisted that both countries want peace, but warned that negotiations could still break down. After their meeting, the two presidents called European leaders to discuss the latest developments.

New Trump envoy: U.S. not looking to “conquer” Greenland

The newly appointed envoy to Greenland says the U-S is not looking to “conquer” the Danish territory.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry says the Trump administration wants to begin a conversation with Greenland’s residents about the best way forward and isn’t going to try “to take over anybody’s country.” However, those comments seemed at odds with President Trump, who has repeatedly said the U-S needs to take over the Arctic territory. In response, the leaders of Denmark and Greenland demanded respect for their territorial integrity.

Zelensky to meet with Trump in Florida to discuss peace plan

Trump deploys 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans

Student loan borrowers in default to have wages garnished

U.S. launched strikes against ISIS in Nigeria for targeting Christians

President Trump says the U-S launched a deadly strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria. In a Christmas evening announcement, the president said he directed the military strikes against ISIS for “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” He wrote on social media that he had previously warned the terrorists there would be consequences “if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians.” The military strikes came after the U-S recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Justice Department needs a “few more weeks” to release all Epstein documents

The Justice Department says authorities have uncovered “over a million more documents” related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a Christmas Eve announcement, the DOJ said it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on Epstein. It further delays compliance with last week’s congressionally mandated deadline to make all the files public. The news came as a surprise after department officials suggested months ago that a comprehensive review of the documents had taken place. A dozen U-S senators have called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline.

On Christmas Eve, Trump talks with children, thanks troops, attacks the Left

President Trump ushered in Christmas talking with children, thanking troops, and attacking his political enemies. The president and first lady spent part of Christmas Eve on the phone thanking U-S military personnel stationed overseas. They spoke with soldiers in Iraq, the Philippines and the U-S Virgin Islands. The president also talked with several children dialing into the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which playfully tracked Santa’s progress around the globe. And he posted a political holiday message online that said “Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly.”