Foreigners without U.S. visas to face stiffer requirements

Foreigners who are allowed to come to the United States without a visa could soon be required to submit much more information. The Trump administration is proposing a plan that would require foreigners to provide information about their social media, email accounts, and extensive family history to the Department of Homeland Security before being approved for travel. The announcement refers to travelers from more than three dozen countries who take part in the Visa Waiver Program, and is part of the president’s stepped-up monitoring of international travelers and immigrants.

Trump to decide on new Fed chair in next week or two

President Trump could name a new Fed chair as soon as later this month. The president said he’d be making a decision in the next week or two on who should replace Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. His term expires in May. On Wednesday, he criticized the Fed’s quarter-point interest rate cut as too small, saying he would have preferred “at least double.”

Senate to vote on competing, partisan healthcare bills

The Senate today [THU] is set to vote on two competing, partisan healthcare bills. With COVID-era health care subsidies set to expire, Republicans want to replace them with expanded government-funded savings accounts. An idea backed by President Trump. Senators will also vote on a Democrat-sponsored bill that would extend the Obamacare tax credits subsidies for another three years.

U.S. military seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela

President Trump announced that the U-S has seized an oil tanker off the coast of  Venezuela. The president announced the vessel seizure amid mounting tensions with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U-S officials say the tanker was seized by the U-S Coast Guard with support by the Navy. On Tuesday, the U-S military flew a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela.

Judge orders Trump to end National Guard troop deployment in L.A.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop deploying California National Guard troops in Los Angeles. The judge in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction sought by California officials to end the deployment and return the 100 or so remaining troops to the state’s command. But he also put the decision on hold until Monday. Back in June, the Trump administration ordered the deployment of thousands of troops to Los Angeles over Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. California officials argued that conditions in L-A had changed since then, but the administration said remaining Guard members were still needed.

Trump’s economic speech veers into anti-immigrant rhetoric

President Trump’s speech on the economy turned into a campaign-style event as he looks ahead to the 2026 midterms. Speaking to a Pennsylvania audience, the president blamed Democrats for inflation and insisted prices were coming down. But he soon began weaving from topic to topic. The president’s speech was peppered with profanity and he ranted against immigrants from third world countries — calling them “filthy, dirty, disgusting.” It was the first of upcoming regularly scheduled events that his White House chief of staff said the president would hold ahead of next year’s midterms.

Trump touts economy, blames Biden and Dems for inflation

President Trump touted the U-S economy during a campaign-style speech in northeast Pennsylvania. Facing criticism over the high cost of living, the president used his visit to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, to blame Joe Biden and Democrats for the affordability crisis. He acknowledged there’s “more work to do” in improving the economy, as he defended his tariff policy and pointed to falling gas prices.

Senate to vote on two competing healthcare plans this week

The Senate this week will vote on two competing healthcare plans. With COVID-era health care subsidies set to expire, senators will vote on a Democratic bill to extend the ACA tax credits for three years. This vote was promised during the government shutdown, but it lacks the bipartisan support needed for passage. Republicans have a plan that would replace the subsidies with new savings accounts. It, too, is likely to fail. As a result, millions of Americans are bracing for more expensive health care coverage.

Trump expects new Fed chair to immediately cut interest rates

President Trump expects his new Fed chair to immediately cut interest rates. Ahead of this week’s meeting of the Federal Reserve Board and its decision on interest rates, the president is laying out his expectations for the person he’ll appoint to lead the Fed next year. He told Politico that immediately cutting interest rates will be a litmus test for whomever he appoints. Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term expires next year and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett is seen as the frontrunner to replace him.

Ukraine refuses to cede territory to Russia despite Trump pressure

The U-S and Ukraine do not see eye-to-eye on how to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. The peace plan proposed by the Trump administration calls for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. President Trump told Politico that Moscow has the “upper hand” in the war and that Ukraine needs to cut a deal and start “accepting things.” But Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is resisting U-S pressure for compromise and has reaffirmed his refusal to give up land. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange drone attacks.

In Pennsylvania visit, Trump will address the affordability crisis

Trump to use $12 billion in tariff revenue as aid to farmers

Trump’s former attorney resigns as NJ’s top federal prosecutor

President Trump’s former personal attorney has resigned as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor. Alina Habba is leaving the job as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey after an appeals court said she had been serving in the post unlawfully. In a social media statement, Habba assailed the court’s ruling as political, but said she was resigning “to protect the stability and integrity” of her office. She said she would remain with the Justice Department as a senior adviser to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Supreme Court likely to expand presidential control over agencies

Trump says Netflix deal to buy WB Discovery “could be a problem”

President Trump says the deal struck by Netflix to buy Warner Brothers Discovery “could be a problem.”
The president said the 72 billion dollar deal could be an antitrust problem because of the size of the combined market share. If approved by regulators, the merger would put two of the world’s biggest streaming services under the same ownership. Donald Trump said he’ll be “involved” in the federal government’s decision on the Netflix deal. That’s noteworthy because Paramount’s owners, who have strong ties to the president, are still pursuing a bid for Warner Brothers.

Trump angry with Democrat Rep. Cuellar after pardoning him

Congress unveils record $901 billion defense policy bill

Lawmakers have unveiled a massive new defense policy bill that would cost a record 901 billion dollars. The sweeping three-thousand-page bill authorizes a record 901 billion dollars in national security spending next year — billions more than President Trump’s request. The measure includes a 4 percent raise for enlisted troops, as well as 400 million dollars in military assistance to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the legislation would advance the president’s agenda by “ending woke ideology at the Pentagon and securing the border,” among other priorities.

GOP Sen. Cotton doesn’t oppose releasing military boat video

A key GOP senator has no objection to releasing video of a military strike that killed two survivors off the coast of Venezuela. Senator Tom Cotton, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, says a video of the military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean shows “nothing remarkable.” And he would not oppose its public release. However, Congressman Jim Hines, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said “this video was profoundly shaking.” Last week, President Trump said there would be “no problem” in releasing the video.

Trump White House targets media bias with web portal

The Trump White House is ramping up its criticism of the news media. President Trump has long derided news coverage he doesn’t like as “fake news” and he’s filed multiple lawsuits against news organizations. Now, his staff has established a hall of shame for journalists it finds guilty of media bias. And it’s calling on “everyday Americans” to participate with their own examples of where they consider journalists to be unfair. The White House launched a web portal to spotlight bias and already flagged the Boston Globe, CBS News, and The Independent.

GOP margin of victory in Tennessee raises 2026 questions

Republicans are celebrating their special election victory in Tennessee, but there are some underlying concerns for the GOP. In last year’s presidential election, Donald Trump won Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District by 22 points. Last week, a Republican candidate was victorious in that district’s special election for a seat in the U-S House. But Matt Van Epps won by only single digits in an overwhelmingly conservative district. That margin of victory, coupled with Democrat victories in other states this year, has some Republicans concerned about the 2026 midterms — prompting a call for the GOP and the White House to focus on ways to reduce the cost of living

Trump rails against “affordability,” calling it a “hoax”

President Trump claims that a renewed focus on affordability is a “con job” carried out by Democrats. When it comes to the cost of living, the president has repeatedly claimed progress. And he’s irritated with Democrats for talking about an affordability crisis, calling it a “con job” and a “hoax.” However, the high cost of living remains a top concern for Americans. A new Yahoo/YouGov poll shows almost twice as many respondents saying the president has helped raise prices rather than lowering them. Last month, the White House removed some tariffs on food imports in a bid to lower grocery prices.

Supreme Court to hear Trump’s birthright citizenship case

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the constitutionality of President Trump’s order on birthright citizenship. On the first day of his second term in office, President Trump signed an executive order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. That order would upend more than 125 years of understanding of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. This coming spring, justices will hear the Trump administration’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that struck down the citizenship restrictions.

Federal advisors vote to stop hepatitis B shots for newborns

A federal vaccine committee has voted to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns. For decades, the government has advised that all babies be vaccinated against liver infection right after birth. The effort was largely seen as a public health success. But an advisory panel, whose current members were all appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is no longer supporting the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation. The decision was met by stiff opposition from a chorus of medical experts and public health leaders.

Speaker Johnson to GOP members: Don’t criticize in public

House Republicans are increasingly airing their grievances about party leadership. With Republicans holding on to a slim majority, House Speaker Mike Johnson already has a difficult job. To make matters worse, his fellow GOP lawmakers are venting their frustrations in public. Over the past week, a member of Johnson’s own leadership team openly accused him of lying, rank-and-file Republicans acted unilaterally to force votes, and a leadership-backed bill failed. Johnson told reporters that getting upset is “part of the process.” But he’s urging Republicans to share their concerns privately with him, not on social media.