Trump News for Saturday, December 20, 2025

The US is now reviewing the social media of certain visa applicants. Here's everything you need to know.

Lauren Edmonds,Lakshmi Varanasi, Business Insider

The Department of Homeland Security is now reviewing the social media of some visa applicants, causing delays in processing for some foreign workers.

This billionaire tested China's limits. It cost him his freedom

BBC News

Lai, who is facing life in prison, always said he owed Hong Kong, a city that had given him "everything".

Leaked Memo Reveals Why TikTok's New US Owners May Have Less Power Than Expected

Bibhu Pattnaik, Yahoo Entertainment

TikTok has finalized a deal with new US owners including Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake. However, these investors will not have significant control over key...

Kamala Harris Reveals Detail Call With Trump After Assassination Attempt

Bibhu Pattnaik, Yahoo Entertainment

Former Vice President Kamala Harris shared a detail about her conversation with President Donald Trump following the attempt on his life. What Happened...

What Is Actually in the Epstein Files?

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic

The heavily redacted trove of documents is shocking, disorienting, and—most important—incomplete.

Trump Takes Housing Grant Money And Makes It A 'Warrior Dividend'

Ed Scarce, Crooksandliars.com

To keep the U.S. military on board with his reckless lawbreaking, Trump will send out 'warrior dividend' checks of $1776 to 1.45 million military service members —a Christmas bonus from funds already congressionally approved to subsidize housing allowances, p…

North Carolina's Lumbee Tribe receives full federal recognition after 137-year effort

Kristin Wright, NPR

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has finally received full federal recognition, which it has sought since 1888. Tribal leaders were moved to tears after President Trump signed the measure.

The Me Too movement in the age of Trump and Epstein

Al Jazeera English

Tarana Burke tells Marc Lamont Hill on Epstein, Trump and how widespread sexual violence is in the United States.

Chilling ‘Toddler’s Foot’ Appears In Photo Beside Epstein As New Files Are Exposed

Rocio Corsi, Boredpanda.com

A chilling Epstein photo shows a tiny foot beside him, reigniting outrage over his past minor abuse.

New vetting rules slow H-1B visa processing, leaving workers in limbo

CK Smith, Salon

US visa delays have left hundreds of H-1B workers stuck abroad, raising concerns for employers and families

US seizes second oil vessel off Venezuela coast, officials say

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that the US has seized an oil tanker near Venezuela.

This Week In Techdirt History: December 14th – 20th

Leigh Beadon, Techdirt

Five Years Ago This week in 2020, USA Today published its latest bogus oped against Section 230 that misrepresented the law, a district court rejected CDT’s challenge of Trump’s ridiculous executive order about 230, and Trump appointed an unqualified 230-hate…

Available to download Friday, some Epstein files no longer there Saturday afternoon

Casey Morell, NPR

An NPR analysis of the Epstein files shows some documents, originally available on Friday, are no longer on the Department of Justice's "Epstein Library" website as the DOJ releases more files.

WATCH: DOJ releases limited cache of Epstein documents

ABC News

After months of delays, the Justice Department began to release documents from its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Survivors and lawmakers voice frustration over partial Epstein file release

BBC News

US lawmakers who pushed for the documents to be made public have criticised the initial release as incomplete.

US seizes vessel in international waters off Venezuela's coast, officials say

BBC News

The move comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

U.S. forces stop a 2nd merchant vessel off Venezuela coast, officials say

The Associated Press, NPR

U.S. forces stopped a vessel off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks as President Trump continues to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The biggest tech stories of 2025: Foldables, AI, XR, and the forces reshaping the smartphone industry

nandika.iyerravi@futurenet.com (Nandika Ravi) , Nandika Ravi, Android Central

From tri-fold phones and ultra-thin designs to AI going mainstream, rising phone prices due to tariffs, here are the biggest tech stories that defined 2025

Volkswagen’s Microbus-Style EV Will Not Come Back in 2026

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

Is it being paused, only to be quietly killed later on?

State of Crypto: Trying to figure out the market structure bill's prognosis

Nikhilesh De, CoinDesk

Will we get this bill after all?

25 rumors involving Trump (or his admin) we investigated in 2025

Megan Loe, Snopes.com

These rumors about the president or his inner circle from the past year stood out to our reporters.

Trump Goons Bombarded With Blistering Epstein Community Notes

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Democrats are sharpening their knives for Trump’s DOJ after a suspiciously Trump-free Epstein files dump on Friday. “Thomas Massie and I are drafting...

NY climate advocates celebrate rare good news after Gov. Hochul nixes gas hook-up rule

Rosemary Misdary, David Giambusso, Gothamist

New gas hook-ups are likely to be reduced after a bill signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul ends a giveaway to utilities and developers Critics of the "100-foot" rule said it was a giveaway to developers on the backs of utility customers. [ more › ]

At TURNING POINT's annual gathering, young conservatives fret about future..

Steve Contorno, Jeff Simon, CNN

At TURNING POINT's annual gathering, young conservatives fret about future.. (First column, 6th story, link) Related stories:Tucker inflames raging battle for MAGA's future... 'F*** You, Shapiro': Candace Unloads on Former Boss...

Stock Market News this week: Cannabis stocks, Trump Media & Technology and TikTok

Aparajita Chatterjee, TheStreet

This week was replete with new data, deals, and drama. The Warner Bros-Netflix-ParamountSkydance bidding war unfolded with the latest developments on...

Trump Plans $2,000 Direct Payments to Americans Using Tariff Revenue Instead of Debt

David Beren, 24/7 Wall St.

On November 9, 2025, President Trump proposed a new round of direct payments to all American taxpayers, similar to those made during COVID. However, this...

Kennedy Center Board Member: Name Change Was Not Unanimous!

Chris capper Liebenthal, Crooksandliars.com

On Thursday, for the Epstein distraction du jour, the Trump administration made a grandiose statement that the Kennedy Center board voted unanimously to debase the center by changing the name to Pedo Kennedy Center. Guess what! Those dots on Leavett's lip…

Maria Shriver’s Furious Post On Kennedy Center Renaming Is Blowing Up Online

Rocio Corsi, Boredpanda.com

Maria Shriver calls Kennedy Center’s decision to add President Donald Trump’s name "beyond comprehension".

James Cameron No Longer Interested in American Citizenship: “I’m Over It”

Chris Coplan, Consequence.net

The Avatar filmmaker also promises to "fight to the last moose" if Trump dares to invade Canada James Cameron No Longer Interested in American Citizenship: “I’m Over It” Chris Coplan

Gold and silver hit records in 2025. They aren't the only metals having a massive year.

Jake Conley, Yahoo Entertainment

In a year of market upheaval, store-of-value stalwarts gold and silver had their best stretch in decades. Industrial metals also spent 2025 in a run-up.

Trump, 79, Rushes to Brag About Poorly Attended Rally

Yahoo Entertainment

WATCH: Jamie Campbell Bower makes appearance in 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'

ABC News

Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna in the hit Netflix series, appeared onstage in the Broadway production of "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" on Broadway, taking over the role of Henry Creel.

WATCH: 100-year-old toymaker's holiday shop

ABC News

Harold Yoke is a 100-year-old toymaker, and every item he creates is made completely by hand.

Luigi Mangione‘s lawyers say AG Pam Bondi's decision to seek death penalty a 'profound conflict of interest'

CBC News

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers contend Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to seek the death penalty against him in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was tainted by her prior work as a lobbyist at a firm that represented the insurer’s parent comp…

UNSC condemns Rwanda, M23 rebels for offensive in eastern DR Congo

Faisal Ali, Al Jazeera English

Resolution urges Rwandan troops to withdraw from area of conflict that has killed hundreds, displaced tens of thousands.

Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria

Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

Jordan confirmed Saturday that its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation for...

Pushing Democrats to move beyond resistance

Christopher D. Cook, Salon

Rural Americans — and a Rural New Deal — could be the key to a new wave of economic populism

Judge Blasts ICE for “Evasive and Demonstrably False” Lies Under Oath

Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine

Judges around the country have begun to show a simmering fury at the conduct of federal agents.

2025 was huge for Apple — here’s why

D. Griffin Jones, Cult of Mac

In this end-of-year roundup, we’ve gathered the most ground-breaking rumors, consequential news and biggest surprises of 2025. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Rob Reiner after Rush Limbaugh's death: 'No scarcity of purveyors of disinformation'

Joey Esposito, Snopes.com

After the death of political pundit Rush Limbaugh in 2021, director Rob Reiner "attacked" the deceased in a tweet, saying, “Rush Limbaugh is gone. But there is no scarcity of purveyors of disinformation left in his wake. To protect our Democracy we must remai…

The Epstein files release did nothing to clear up the scandal’s biggest question

Andrew Prokop, Vox

The Trump Administration was legally required to release all documents related to federal investigations of Jeffrey Epstein by Friday, with only limited grounds for withholding documents and full explanations required for any redactions. They did not do this.…

Dave Chappelle Addresses Charlie Kirk, Saudi Comedy Fest in New Netflix Special The Unstoppable…

Alex Young, Consequence.net

The 75-minute special, Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable…, is now streaming on Netflix Dave Chappelle Addresses Charlie Kirk, Saudi Comedy Fest in New Netflix Special The Unstoppable… Alex Young

U.S. Plan to Drop Some Childhood Vaccines to Align with Denmark Will Endanger Children, Experts Say

Lauren J. Young, Tanya Lewis, Scientific American

The U.S. reportedly plans to overhaul the country’s childhood vaccine schedule. The move could set public health back decades, experts say

TikTok announces JV to divest US business from Chinese parent: How deal sidesteps US ban

Explained Desk, The Indian Express

The concerns on TikTok’s ownership date back to 2020, when Trump accused the app of mishandling the Covid pandemic and spreading conspiracies about the origins of the virus. He went on to sign an executive order demanding ByteDance sell its US operations.

Jordanian Army participated in US strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria

Express Web Desk, The Indian Express

Two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed on Saturday in the central Syrian town of Palmyra by an attacker who targeted a convoy ‌of American and Syrian ‍forces.

I Asked ChatGPT What Trump’s $2K Dividend Could Mean for Retirees

Josephine Nesbit, Yahoo Entertainment

Some retirees could see real relief from Trump’s proposed $2,000 tariff dividend. Here’s how the payout could impact budgets, savings and retirement plans.

Democrats Just Won Seats in Mississippi. The Supreme Court Could Block a Repeat.

Josh Gerstein, Politico

A veteran civil rights attorney won a landmark redistricting case. He fears such wins could soon vanish.

Trump’s Power Grab Over the Budget Is Breaking the Constitutional Design

Zachary S. Price, The Atlantic

If this pattern holds, the result will be more wild swings in policy across administrations.

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) a Moderate Buy, Per Wall Street Analysts

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On December 16, Barclays maintained its Overweight rating on the stock with a ...

Analysts Forecast 9% Upside To Capital One Financial Corporation (COF)

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:COF) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On December 15, BofA Securities raised its price target on the...

Analysts Have a Moderate Buy Rating on Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On December 15, JPMorgan analyst Samik Chatterjee maintained an Overweight rating on...

Is NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) the Best S&P 500 Stock to Buy Now?

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On December 17, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintained a Buy rating ...

Analysts Rate Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) a Strong Buy, Forecast 28% Upside

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On Wednesday, RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson reiterated the firm’s...

Analysts See 33% Upside To Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. As of the close of business on December 17, Wall Street analysts have a...

Wells Fargo Reiterates Overweight Rating on Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN)

Ashar Jawad, Yahoo Entertainment

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is among the 14 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now. On December 17, Wells Fargo analyst Ken Gawrelski maintained an Overweight...

Links 12/20/2025

Yves Smith, Nakedcapitalism.com

Our stimulating daily links: kangaroo mechanics, food supply worries, China RE construction at low, Russian asset steal fail, Vilnius protests, moar genocide, T, Kennedy Center renaming, Home Depot v. immigrants, AI hackers, Bitcoin fall upsides, TSA fee grift

Michael Hudson: Trump Floundering Efforts to Shore Up US Hegemony

Yves Smith, Nakedcapitalism.com

Why Trump's National Security Strategy and his efforts to shore up dollar dominance are proofs of weakness.

Israel launched Operation Narnia on Iran's nuclear scientists with US backing

JERUSALEM POST STAFF, The Jerusalem Post

At least 71 civilians were killed during Operation Narnia, a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear scientists, about which the US was informed before it began...

Kosmos Energy (KOS) Price Targets Trimmed by Analysts

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) fell by 10.68% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the...

ProFrac Holding (ACDC) Assumed with ‘Underweight’ Rating by Analyst

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of ProFrac Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:ACDC) fell by 13.02% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost...

Borr Drilling (BORR) Fell This Week. Here is Why

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of Borr Drilling Limited (NYSE:BORR) fell by 13.69% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost...

PBF Energy (PBF) – Among the Energy Stocks that Fell This Week

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) fell by 16.19% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most...

NextNRG (NXXT) Falls Following a Strong Rally. Here is Why

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of NextNRG Inc. (NASDAQ:NXXT) fell by 17.16% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most...

ProPetro Holding (PUMP) Slumps Following Decline in Oil Price

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of ProPetro Holding Corp. (NYSE:PUMP) fell by 20% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the...

Fluence Energy (FLNC) Slides Following Analyst Downgrades

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of Fluence Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLNC) fell by 22.01% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost ...

Bloom Energy (BE) Slumps Amid AI Bubble Fears

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

The share price of Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) fell by 24.01% between December 10 and December 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost ...

Analyst Trims Price Target on Eversource Energy (ES) Amid Model Updates in the Utilities Sector

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) is included among the 11 Best Utility Stocks to Invest in According to Hedge Funds. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) operates New...

CMS Energy (CMS) Price Target Cut by $5 by Analyst

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is included among the 11 Best Utility Stocks to Invest in According to Hedge Funds. CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS) is an...

Edison International (EIX) Price Targets Reduced Amid Cautious Outlook for the Utility Sector

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

Edison International (NYSE:EIX) is included among the 11 Best Utility Stocks to Invest in According to Hedge Funds. Edison International (NYSE:EIX) is one of...

Entergy (ETR) Price Target Trimmed to $86 by Analyst

Sultan Khalid, Yahoo Entertainment

Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is included among the 11 Best Utility Stocks to Invest in According to Hedge Funds. Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is an...

The madness of George Will: Last lonely never-Trumper forges on

Mike Lofgren, Salon

Legendary Washington Post columnist bailed on GOP over Trump — but hasn't changed his mind about anything else

Russian attack on Ukraine’s Odesa kills at least 8 as peace talks lumber on

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Strikes intensify as Ukraine also hits Russian assets and US-led peace talks begin in Miami.

Trump enters election year with big wins - and bigger political headwinds

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump stormed back into office with a shock-and-awe policy blitz that expanded presidential power and...

Monkey sounds, “white power” and the N-word: School racial harassment ignored under Trump

Jennifer Smith Richards, Megan O’Matz, Jodi S. Cohen, Salon

The Trump Education Department’s civil rights office has not resolved a single racial harassment investigation.

StopAntisemitism Takes Credit for Getting Hundreds Fired. A Music Teacher Is Suing.

Jonah Valdez, The Intercept

Known for targeting celebrities like Ms. Rachel, the pro-Israel blacklist also goes after private individuals who post in solidarity with Palestine. The post StopAntisemitism Takes Credit for Getting Hundreds Fired. A Music Teacher Is Suing. appeared first on…

The Immanent Joy of Detrumpification

Matt Ford, The New Republic

There was no shortage of bad news to cover in 2025. But I want to end the year by looking to the future and focusing on something more joyous: detrumpification. I spent most of this year—indeed, most of this last decade—thinking about one man. Now, for just a…

Trump's AI policy is dividing his party. Here's what key GOP critics are saying about it.

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

Several key Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Josh Hawley, have been outspoken against federal AI preemption.

Cancer screening. Vaccine wariness. Family doctors. Our watch list for health stories in 2026

CBC News

Here’s what’s on the CBC Health Unit’s watch list for 2026: New approaches to connecting people with family doctors, anticipated changes to cancer screening, misinformation and vaccine wariness, future uses for GLP-1 agonists (like Ozempic and Wegovy) and the…

Student-loan borrowers are gearing up for higher monthly payments after Trump moves to ax their affordable plan: 'I'm bracing for an astronomical bill'

asheffey@businessinsider.com (Ayelet Sheffey), Business Insider

David Chatman, 51, said he's going through bankruptcy proceedings because he cannot afford his student-loan payments without the SAVE plan.

Russia’s economy is struggling. But that won’t bring Putin to the negotiating table for years

Analysis by Lauren Kent, CNN, CNN

The Russian economy has been dealing with growing headwinds this year: unruly inflation, a ballooning budget deficit and shrinking energy revenues. But...

US pushes for ceasefire in Sudan’s civil war as Kordofan violence escalates

Faisal Ali, Al Jazeera English

Top US diplomat warns all involved will face lasting condemnation as fighting escalates in strategic central region.

Luigi Mangione‘s lawyers say Bondi’s death penalty decision was tainted by conflict of interest

MICHAEL R. SISAK, Yahoo Entertainment

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers contend that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to seek the death penalty against him in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO...

Who and what is in the Epstein files?

BBC News

High-profile figures, including Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson, can be seen in the long-awaited files.

The Most ████ Administration Ever

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic

The Epstein files are here, and they are too redacted to satisfy anyone.  

US sanctions more relatives, associates of Venezuelan President Maduro

Lyndal Rowlands, Al Jazeera English

New sanctions come days after the Trump administration imposed a blockade on Venezuela's oil tankers.

U.S. launches strikes in Syria targeting Islamic State fighters after American deaths

The Associated Press, NPR

The Trump administration launched military strikes in Syria to "eliminate" Islamic State group fighters in retaliation for an attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American interpreter a week ago.

Trump’s name added to Kennedy Center exterior, one day after vote to rename

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Relatives of the late President John F Kennedy slammed the centre's board, saying the name cannot be changed under law.

California Brings Former CDC Staff On To Do The Work RFK Jr. Refuses To Do Nationally

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

With national public health being run by RFK Jr., or run into the ground if you prefer, it’s been left to individual states to figure out where and how to fill in the gaps. Some states, such as Florida, have fully embraced Kennedy’s anti-scientific posture an…

Epstein’s Victims Are Furious

Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic

The Trump administration’s release of long-awaited files didn’t provide what survivors were looking for.

Airbus Moving Critical Systems Away From AWS, Google, and Microsoft Citing Data Sovereignty Concerns

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

Airbus is preparing to tender a major contract to move mission-critical systems like ERP, manufacturing, and aircraft design data onto a digitally sovereign European cloud, citing national security concerns and fears around U.S. extraterritorial laws like the…

WATCH: What is 'Thriftmas?' A look at the thrifting trend taking over social media

ABC News

Jenli Kaylor of Texas says people leave comments on her videos saying they didn't realize they could save money and give beautiful gifts by thrifting.

Trump government suspends visa lottery linked to Brown University suspect

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The US president has repeatedly taken actions to limit immigration after violent attacks, blaming foreigners for crime.

The United States of Donald Trump

David A. Graham, The Atlantic

Donald Trump is slapping his name and face on everything he can, but America’s institutions don’t belong to him.

Photos of Bill Clinton included in newly released Epstein files

STEVEN SLOAN, Yahoo Entertainment

Former President Bill Clinton featured prominently in the first batch of files released Friday by the Justice Department stemming from its investigation into...

US launches large-scale attacks on ISIL in Syria, Trump says

Lyndal Rowlands, Al Jazeera English

The attacks come a week after three Americans, including two US soldiers, were killed in Syria's Palmyra.