Trump News for Friday, December 26, 2025

Trump’s war on offshore wind faces another lawsuit

Justine Calma, The Verge

Dominion Energy, an offshore wind developer and utility serving Virginia's "data center alley," filed suit against the Trump administration this week over its decision to pause federal leases for large offshore wind projects. The move puts a sudden stop to fi…

Kennedy Center criticizes musician who canceled performance after Trump name added to building

STEVEN SLOAN, Yahoo Entertainment

The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday fiercely criticized a musician's sudden decision to cancel a Christmas Eve performance at the venue after the...

Judge blocks deportation of British man Trump accused of 'censorship'

Yahoo Entertainment

Venezuelan migrants sent to El Salvador demand justice after US judge ruling

REGINA GARCIA CANO, Yahoo Entertainment

Men who were part of the group of Venezuelan migrants that the United States government transferred earlier this year to a prison in El Salvador demanded...

Netanyahu pushes for Iran conflict, clashing with Trump’s priorities

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

US president's base opposes intervention in Iran while pro-Israel donors and hawks push for heightened US involvement.

Days Before He Died by Suicide, Jeffrey Epstein Gave Specific Reason for Why He Would Never Take His Own Life

Liam Quinn, Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE

Epstein died by suicide in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, but a suicide risk assessment form dated Aug. 1 of that year listed Epstein's "overall acute suicide...

Did Homeland Security Just Violate the First Amendment on Christmas?

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

The Department of Homeland Security’s tasteless holiday shitposting may have just violated the United States Constitution. The federal agency’s official X account published multiple posts Thursday that appeared to violate the Establishment Clause, which prohi…

Times Square NYE ball drop will be patriotic for America’s 250th birthday

Associated Press

After the crystal ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white, and blue to usher in 2026 and kick off months of celebrations for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. The patriotic touches at this year’s Times…

Cop Group Alleges “Discrimination” by Prosecutor for Being Too Nice to Immigrants

Akela Lacy, The Intercept

The pro-police group wants the Justice Department to investigate a reformist prosecutor for violating the civil rights of against American citizens. The post Cop Group Alleges “Discrimination” by Prosecutor for Being Too Nice to Immigrants appeared first on T…

California drops lawsuit seeking to reinstate federal funding for the state's bullet train

SOPHIE AUSTIN, Yahoo Entertainment

California this week dismissed a lawsuit officials filed against the Trump administration over the federal government's withdrawing of $4 billion for the...

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announces she's pregnant

Michelle Stoddart, ABC News

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Friday that she is pregnant with her second child.

Oracle’s AI Push Is Leading to Its Worst Quarter Since 2001

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Delayed AI infrastructure projects, rising debt, and weaker-than-expected earnings are reviving dot-com-era fears on Wall Street.

WATCH: Stranded turtles rescued and flown to warmer water

ABC News

Various organizations teamed up to get the "cold-stunned" sea turtles out of frigid Cape Cod waters.

WATCH: Torrential rains hit California coast during Christmas week

ABC News

Torrential rains inundated the California coast through Christmas, sparking numerous flash flood warnings, turning roads into rivers and sending debris cascading down hillsides.

Thomas Massie Hits Back at Trump With Obvious Epstein Question

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Representative Thomas Massie torched Donald Trump’s pathetic swipe at him in his outrageous Christmas post. The president posted a special Christmas message Thursday addressed to “the many Sleazebags who loved Jeffrey Epstein,” and congratulated himself for “…

Elon Musk Says He’s Removing ‘Sustainable’ From Tesla’s Mission

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

The future is "amazing," it's not necessarily sustainable.

Coffee Break: Boxing Day Miscellany

KLG, Nakedcapitalism.com

Part the First: No, This Is Not Another Bell Labs.  Bell Labs was justifiably renowned as the place to do high level physics and engineering.  It also supported Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson in their research that identified the background cosmic microwave r…

Former ‘South Park’ Writer Bought Trump-Kennedy Center URLs In Anticipation Of Venue Renaming

Greg Evans, Deadline

Toby Morton, a comedian and former writer for South Park and Mad TV, saw the writing on the wall, as it were. Last August, months before President Donald Trump began floating the idea of renaming The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in his own h…

Federal records show ICE has increased its surveillance tech spending to $300M+ under Trump, as the White House lowered privacy guardrails around citizens' data (Alfred Ng/Politico)

Techmeme.com

Alfred Ng / Politico: Federal records show ICE has increased its surveillance tech spending to $300M+ under Trump, as the White House lowered privacy guardrails around citizens' data  —  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is buying millions of dolla…

Marco Rubio congratulates Honduran President-elect Nasry Asfura

Brian Osgood, Al Jazeera English

Washington's top diplomat says he thanked Asfura, who was backed by Trump, for 'advocacy of US strategic objectives'.

South Park Writer Snagged ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ Web Domains Months Ago

Tom Hawking, Gizmodo.com

The writer has made a habit of acquiring official-sounding domains for satirical purposes.

This 1 Bond Dividend ETF Is the Best One You Can Buy Right Now

Omor Ibne Ehsan, 24/7 Wall St.

The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT) doesn’t have the prettiest chart when you look back at the past few years. The ETF has declined...

WATCH: President Trump and President Zelenskyy to meet in Florida on Sunday: Official

ABC News

Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet in Florida on Sunday, a Ukrainian official confirmed to ABC News.

Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida amid diplomatic push to end war

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Ukrainian president highlights 'significant progress' in talks, but Moscow says Kyiv is working to 'torpedo' deal.

Trump Tries to Save His Disaster Peace Deals at Mar-a-Lago

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

President Trump is holding two emergency summits next week at his Mar-a-Lago estate—first with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and then with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—in a supposed effort to stop two wars he’s failed to end.Axios repor…

Donald Trump and the White Man’s Burden in Nigeria

Adekeye Adebajo, Project Syndicate

US President Donald Trump has made good on his threat to take military action against Nigeria to save Christians from a “genocide.” Trump has three possible motives: his mercantilist quest for rare-earth minerals, his pandering to evangelical Christians, and …

Epstein Survivor Calls Out Trump as He Spirals Over Epstein

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse torched President Donald Trump’s outrageous message on the alleged sex trafficker.Trump, who reportedly had an intimate friendship with Epstein, posted a special Christmas message Thursday addressed to “the many Sleazebag…

Trump orders Christmas Day airstrikes against Islamic State in Nigeria with “more to come”

Garrett Owen, Salon

The exact militant group targeted and the effectiveness of the strikes are unknown

ICE Agents Violently Detain Black Pastor on Christmas Eve

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ by aggressively detaining a pastor. Multiple agents in tactical gear can be seen in a video arguing with a man in his car on a video taken on Christmas Eve in Lewiston, Maine. “…

Trump Posts Every Two Minutes in Crazed Early Morning Spree

Farrah Tomazin, Daily Beast

President Donald Trump began the day after Christmas with a self-soothing posting spree bragging about everything from firing federal workers to Bill...

Republican Lawmaker Brags About Beating Up Santa in Weird Photos

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

Indiana Senate Majority Floor Leader Chris Garten celebrated Christmas by posting AI-generated images of himself violently attacking Santa Claus in front of the Indiana Statehouse. “When you find out the North Pole is trying to bring more bureaucratic overrea…

Kennedy Center Honors Ratings Tank Like Never Before Thanks to Trump

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

The reviews of Donald Trump’s takeover of Kennedy Center Honors are in, and it’s official: The president shouldn’t quit his day job just yet. Trump had asked his fans Tuesday to let him know what they made of his stint as “Master of Ceremonies” for the yearly…

Joe Rogan tears into Trump over ‘crazy’ Biden plaque installed in White House

Tom Wrobleski, SILive.com

“You shouldn’t be allowed to do this.”

Bravo's Andy Cohen Has Three Words for the Obamas — and Many People Agree

Effie Orfanides, Parade

Cohen didn't hesitate to let Barack and Michelle know how he feels.

WATCH: New York City subway MetroCard to be retired

ABC News

The iconic card was swiped by millions daily for the past 32 years and will be retired Dec. 31.

White House announces new details on Trump’s ballroom plans will be revealed in January

Reuters, Reutersconnect.com

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 mi…

Trump Spent This Christmas Having His Most Deranged Meltdown Yet

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

What’s Grandpa Trump’s version of telling stories by the fire on Christmas? It seems to be unleashing a flurry of more than 100 posts on Truth Social lying, complaining, and congratulating himself. In the early hours of Thursday, Trump published a torrent of …

Consulting had a year of huge change in 2025. Here's how the Big Four firms performed this year.

Polly Thompson, Business Insider

This is how Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG performed in their latest financial years.

Trump says he doesn't like war — but he's got missiles and he's not afraid to use them

CBC News

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent foray into bombing hotspots on other continents has conflict monitors and even some supporters questioning whether the president — who has called himself the president of peace — really meant it when he said he was "not go…

Zelensky plans to meet Trump on Sunday for talks on ending Russian war

BBC News

The Ukrainian leader says he will see the US president in Florida to discuss a US plan aimed at ending Russia's war.

Nigeria Clarifies What Really Happened With Trump’s Airstrikes

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

The Nigerian government took the time to debunk President Trump’s claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria after he announced the bombing of Africa’s most populous (and most oil-rich) nation. “The United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISI…

The year the internet broke – the 11 biggest tech fails that defined 2025, ranked

Darren Allan, TechRadar

The biggest tech flops of this year, from Amazon taking out the internet to iPhone disappointment and hate for Copilot.

WATCH: Hero middle schoolers help save bus driver

ABC News

Surveillance video from inside a school bus shows the moment heroic students in Ashland, Ohio, helped save a bus driver in medical distress.

WATCH: Kīlauea’s summit eruption marks 1-year anniversary

ABC News

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano marked one year of continuous eruptions as Episode 39 sent lava fountains more than 1,000 feet into the air Wednesday.

WATCH: Santa Claus caught speeding through streets of Ohio

ABC News

Police body camera video shows Santa Claus being pulled over for speeding in Ohio, with officers reminding him that even Kris Kringle has to follow the rules of the road.

WATCH: Thieves use stolen SUV to rip ATM from convenience store: Police

ABC News

Texas authorities released surveillance video showing thieves using a stolen SUV to rip an ATM from a convenience store early Wednesday morning.

US bombs target ISIL in Nigeria: What’s really going on?

Shola Lawal, Al Jazeera English

Trump says strikes are related to 'Christian genocide' but attacks on Christian farmers happened in different area.

Remembering Bill Moyers: PBS Icon on Corruption of Corporate Media and Power of Public Broadcasting

webdev@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!), Democracy Now!

The legendary journalist Bill Moyers died in June at the age of 91. Moyers, whose long career included helping found the Peace Corps and serving as press secretary for President Lyndon Johnson, was an award-winning champion of public television and independen…

China sanctions 30 US firms, individuals over Taiwan weapons sales

Stephen Quillen, Al Jazeera English

Beijing urged the US to cease 'dangerous' efforts to arm the island, which it claims as its own.

Trump Administration Implements Its First National Abortion Ban

Danielle Han, Jezebel

The Department of Veterans Affairs is now banned from providing veterans and their families with abortion services.

PS Commentators’ Predictions for 2026

PS editors, Project Syndicate

Donald Trump’s second presidency has reset global expectations, making uncertainty the defining feature of today’s geopolitical and economic landscape. While the path forward remains unclear, the year ahead will likely be marked by greater geopolitical and fi…

Today News Headlines for School Assembly, Dec 26, 2025: MEA condemns B’desh lynching, Trump to meet Zelenskyy on Dec 28

Education Desk, The Indian Express

Today News Headlines for School Assembly, December 25, 2025: Get important National, International, Sports, Business, and GK current affairs updates curated for students, teachers, and morning assemblies.

Tanker defies Coast Guard as US escalates Venezuela oil blockade

Jason K. Morrell, San.com

The U.S. is preparing for a high-risk boarding of a massive oil tanker accused of evading sanctions tied to Venezuela. The post Tanker defies Coast Guard as ...

Trump could unveil Gaza ‘peace council’, ‘government’ soon: Israeli media

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US wants to move to phase 2 of ceasefire in January, is frustrated by Israeli 'delays', reports Israel's Channel 12.

Epstein owned painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress. Here's context

Rae Deng, Snopes.com

At Congress' behest, the U.S. Department of Justice released hundreds of files related to Epstein, a convicted sex offender, on Dec. 19, 2025.

A Misremembered Working-Class Democrat

Henry E. James, The Atlantic

Can Daniel Patrick Moynihan show the left how to win again?

10 Friday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My Boxing Day morning reads: • Playing Santa Does Strange Things to a Man. What It Did to Bob Rutan Was Even Stranger. Bob Rutan is legendary among the tight-knit fraternity of Macy’s Santa Clauses. Like many of these men, playing Santa changed Bob. Profoundl…

Links 12/26/2025

Conor Gallagher, Nakedcapitalism.com

Our rich daily links, including US strikes Nigeria, Project 2025 progress, Kupyansk, Israel detains Santa, and radioactive reindeer.

U.S. strikes ISIS in Nigeria. And, holiday shopping was higher than expected

Suzanne Nuyen, NPR

The U.S. has launched a "deadly strike" against Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria, according to Trump. And, holiday spending was higher than expected this year.

Jimmy Kimmel's Christmas message to the UK: 'Tyranny is booming' in the US

Nathan Rennolds, Business Insider

The talk show host appeared on British TV station Channel 4 to deliver its annual "alternative Christmas message."

US Launches Christmas Strikes on Nigeria—the 9th Country Bombed by Trump

Yves Smith, Nakedcapitalism.com

With Nigeria, Trump—who calls himself “the most anti-war president in history”—has now bombed more countries than any president in history.

Inside the quest to bring the Cybertruck to Europe

Tom Carter, Business Insider

The Cybertruck has been on sale in the US for nearly two years, but Tesla has shown no signs of brining its most divisive EV across the Atlantic.

The judiciary’s Christmas gift to Trump

Brian Karem, Salon

With two adverse rulings, this year the courts gave Trump a stocking of humility

12 of the Best Interviews Scientific American Did In 2025

Brianne Kane, Scientific American

From an interview with author Mary Roach to a chat with cardiologist Eric Topol, here are 12 of the most eye-opening conversations we had this year

Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here's a recap of his trade actions this year

WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS, Yahoo Entertainment

It's been a rollercoaster of a year for U.S. trade policy. President Donald Trump launched a barrage of new tariffs in 2025, plunging the U.S. into trade...

As ICE ramps up deportations, Texas prosecutors say they’re losing key witnesses in criminal cases

Colleen DeGuzman, Salon

Texas DAs say some cases, including murders, have been hobbled or lost because witnesses were detained or deported.

Was 2025 the year we found signs of past life on Mars?

Leah Crane, New Scientist

Tantalising signs of past microbial life showed up on Mars this year, but to truly know whether they contain the answer to the biggest question in the universe, we will need to bring samples back to Earth

Should the U.S. model its vaccine policy on Denmark's? Experts say we're nothing alike

Maria Godoy, NPR

The Trump administration wants to revamp U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations to align with some other peer nations, including one tiny country in northern Europe.

Kat Abughazaleh Thinks Campaign Funds Should Help Feed People

Jessica Washington, The Intercept

The Illinois congressional candidate turned her campaign office into a mutual aid hub. The post Kat Abughazaleh Thinks Campaign Funds Should Help Feed People appeared first on The Intercept.

Glenn Beck reveals the one thing he should have NEVER said about Donald Trump

BlazeTV Staff, TheBlaze

What many don’t know is that there are two sides to Donald Trump: the public persona known for scathing Truth Social posts and humiliating contentious reporters and the incredibly gracious family man behind the bombast.Before Glenn Beck knew the difference, h…

Will China come to Venezuela’s rescue?

Yang Xiaotong, Al Jazeera English

Despite close ties with Caracas, Beijing is wary of getting dragged into a distant conflict.

The scariest word this year for workers from DC to Silicon Valley

Allie Kelly, Business Insider

"Efficiency" defined the 2025 job market from the federal government to Silicon Valley.

Will the Russia-Ukraine war end in 2026?

Mansur Mirovalev, Al Jazeera English

A Ukrainian serviceman, ex-military chief and analysts predict what lies ahead.

Zelenskyy says meeting with Trump to happen 'in the near future'

Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

A meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump will happen “in the near future,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, signaling progress in talks...

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un pushes more missile production as ‘war deterrent’

David D. Lee, Al Jazeera English

North Korean leader calls for increased production of missiles, shells and more factories to produce them.

US releases missile launch video after northwest Nigeria strike

Al Jazeera English

The US Department of War published footage of a missile being fired on Nigeria.

A year of deepening political divides sets the stage for another

Manoj C G, The Indian Express

2025 was hardly a big election year. Yet fractiousness continued to define the discourse, be it in the government pushing through legislation such as the G RAM G Bill or in issues such as SIR and tariffs. And as a year of pivotal state elections awaits, there…

US judge blocks detention of British social media campaigner

BBC News

Imran Ahmed was among five people accused of seeking to "coerce" US firms into censoring free speech.

War on Christmas: Trump Announces Wave of Airstrikes Targeting ISIS Militants in Nigeria

Nick Turse, The Intercept

Trump cast the Nigeria strikes as an assault on those "who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." The post War on Christmas: Trump Announces Wave of Airstrikes Targeting ISIS Militants in Nigeria appeared first on The Inte…

100 years of CPI: ‘AI wasn’t there during Marx, Lenin’s time … Communists have to face it … cope with changes’

Manoj C G, The Indian Express

“We are all committed to Marxist ideology and Leninist philosophy. But how to apply Marxist-Leninist positions and ideology to Indian realities is important … why we have not grown is an issue that needs to be addressed,” says Communist Party of India's gene…

Judge grants injunction blocking US from detaining British anti-disinformation activist

By Simon Lewis, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON, Dec 25 (Reuters) - A U. judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from detaining British anti-disinformation campaigner...

President Trump Announces Deadly Strike Against ISIS in Nigeria

TMZ Staff, TMZ

President Trump has Christmas gifts for terrorists he claims have been slaughtering Christians in Nigeria ... deadly strikes. Trump hopped on social media on Christmas Day and announced the United States had just launched a "powerful and deadly…

Which states tax Social Security benefits? See the map and tax rates.

Allie Kelly, Business Insider

Some states tax Social Security benefits while others don't. See the map to find out if your benefits will be affected in 2026.

‘The Daily Show’ Trolls Donald Trump With Festive Video Compilation Of POTUS Snoozing At Events

Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline

Looking ahead to its return in the new year, The Daily Show is bidding “Merry Christmas to all” and to President “Donald Trump, good night.” In a 10-minute-long compilation video, the satirical late-nighter trolled the GOP leader with clips of him snoozing at…

Trump, 79, Fawns Over Little Girl, 8, While Epstein Drama Rages

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

President Donald Trump complimented a “beautiful” and “cute”-sounding 8-year-old girl, whom he also called “honey,” during a Christmas Eve phone call. Trump,...

U.S. launches 'powerful and deadly' airstrike in northwest Nigeria

CBC News

The United States carried out an airstrike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the…

Trump says US launched strike on ISIS terrorists in Nigeria

Michelle Stoddart, Mariam Khan, ABC News

In a post on X, Hegseth said there will be "more to come."

A US judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from detaining CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed, one of the Europeans the US barred on claims of promoting censorship (Aishvarya Kavi/New York Times)

Techmeme.com

Aishvarya Kavi / New York Times: A US judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from detaining CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed, one of the Europeans the US barred on claims of promoting censorship  —  Imran Ahmed, who runs an organization that chronicles disinfo…