House Republican leaders ditch vote on ACA funding, all but ensuring premiums will rise
(NBC News) It's official: House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won't call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, effectively guaranteeing they will expire at the end of this month. That means higher insurance premiums will go into effect for millions of Americans who get coverage through Obamacare next year. The speaker made the announcement Tuesday after a closed-door Republican caucus meeting.
Trump's Top Aide Acknowledges 'Score Settling' Behind Prosecutions
(NY Times) President Trump's chief of staff said she tried to get him to end his "score settling" against political enemies after 90 days in office, but acknowledged that the administration's still ongoing push for prosecutions has been fueled in part by the president's desire for retribution. Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, told an interviewer that she forged a "loose agreement" with Mr. Trump to stop focusing after three months on punishing antagonists, an effort that evidently did not succeed.
Evangelical Leader Says Trump's Rob Reiner Post Represents 'The Shame of our Generation'
(Mediaite) Christian Today editor in chief Russell Moore pulled no punches in blasting President Donald Trump’s comments Monday on the murder of legendary director Rob Reiner and his wife. Moore, who is also an evangelical preacher and former top official at the Southern Baptist Convention, shared Trump’s message and added, “How this vile, disgusting, and immoral behavior has become normalized in the United States is something our descendants will study in school, to the shame of our generation.”
'Gaslighting of Lyme patients is over': RFK Jr. promises renewed focus
(USA Today) Heath Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised a renewed focus on the “diagnostic efforts” for tick-borne Lyme disease, describing it on Dec. 15 as an “invisible” illness that he claims has been ignored by previous White House administrations. Kennedy made the comments as he convened a roundtable of patients and medical providers. Just one year ago before he was confirmed as the health secretary in February, Kennedy promoted a conspiracy theory that Lyme disease is a militarily engineered bioweapon.
Kushner Scraps Trump Tower Belgrade After Officials Indicted
(Bloomberg) Jared Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners, dropped its plans for a hotel in Serbia, after tensions around the project culminated in the indictment of a government official who helped clear a path for its development. The decision caps months of controversy over Affinity’s bid to construct a Trump-branded luxury hotel on the remains of a former government building in Belgrade.
FBI sources: Kash Patel, Dan Bongino likely out soon
(Salon) Kash Patel’s troubled tenure as Donald Trump’s FBI director may be “at its end,” according to multiple sources, in the wake of the recent mass shooting at Brown University along with a series of other perceived mishaps. Meanwhile, staffers also say that Deputy Director Dan Bongino is already “out the door,” signaling a larger shakeup at the agency.
Mark Kelly's legal team hits back at Pentagon with stern threat
(Raw Story) An attorney representing Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) fired off a warning letter to the Department of Defense on Monday, saying the senator is prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary to stop what they regard as an illegal and politically motivated investigation into him. Kelly has been singled out for investigation under military law, after he and five other Democratic lawmakers with a military background published a video reminding servicemembers they have a duty to refuse illegal orders.
More redistricting bad news for Republicans: Texas may not net five GOP seats like they planned
(CNN) The Republican plans to pick off five Democratic-held congressional seats in Texas once seemed like a sure thing. Not anymore. President Donald Trump’s flagging approval ratings, particularly among Latinos, and strong Democratic performance in this year’s special elections have changed both parties’ assumptions. Now, the cushion the Texas GOP drew into its new map – Trump won every Republican-favored district by 10 points or more a year ago – seems like it might be too small.
BBC vows to defend itself in $10bn Donald Trump lawsuit
(The Guardian) The BBC has vowed to defend itself against the $10bn lawsuit that the US president, Donald Trump filed against it. In a complaint filed on Monday evening, Trump sought $5bn in damages each on two counts, alleging that the BBC defamed him, and that it violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
- Environment & EnergyTo Feed Data Centers, Pennsylvania Faces a New Fracking Surge
- Liberal YouTubersTrump Claims Everyone's Too Stupid To See How Great He Is
- Environment & EnergyFrom record warming to rusting rivers, 2025 Arctic Report Card shows a region transforming faster than expected
- Cable News ClipsSusie Wiles says Trump 'has an alcoholic's personality' and much more in candid interviews - CNN
- Foreign AffairsEastern flank summit ends with new NATO plan - TVP WORLD
- Environment & EnergyThe Next El Nino (bad news)
- Liberal YouTubersBreaking: Fox drops nightmare news on Trump - Pondering Politics
- Liberal YouTubersWe Investigated The Criminals Who Bought Trump - More Perfect Union
- Foreign AffairsUkrainian marines penetrate Russian defenses and push deeper along the exposed flank - RFU News
- Liberal YouTubersLet's talk about Trump's energy dominance, 13% increases, and what it means.... Belle of the Ranch
- Cooking & BakingWhat's for Dinner, Tues., Dec. 16, 2025
- Music AppreciationA 2025 cover by the band Filter of U2's classic A Sort of Homecoming (this is very cool!)
- ScienceA photographer finds thousands of dinosaur footprints near Italian Winter Olympic venue
- Music Appreciationif you are a eagles, joe walsh fan, or into guitars, poke me.
- PhotographyFinal project for the semester - Abstract Photography
- ArtistsAbstract Photography - final project for the semester
- PhotographyKrampuslauft part 2
- Photography
- PhotographyTroll's View from under the Poinsett Bridge - Built Ca. 1820 (said to be the oldest standing bridge in SC)
- Weird NewsPet cam captures bull and horse sneaking into home of NT politician Andrew Mackay
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) 'I'll kill you': NYPD investigating attack on Hasidic Jews on subway
- Jewish Group'The More I'm Around Young People, the More Panicked I Am'
- First AmericansSome Native Americans draw shocked response over contract to design immigration detention centers
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) In the darkest hour...
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) Bondi Beach attack transforms global Hanukkah celebrations into acts of defiance -- with added security
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) Son of former Iranian ambassador to Australia posts antisemitic message hours before Sydney attack
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) The 3 responses to the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack that could make Jews safer
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) The call of this hard Hanukkah moment remains simple and urgent: Light candles everywhere
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) Brown University students light first Hanukkah candle in the shadow of mass shooting
- Jewish Group(JEWISH GROUP) Australia shooting terrifies Jews worldwide -- and strengthens the case for Israel
- WashingtonKayakers allegedly looted a flooded area Saturday, deputies say
- WashingtonEverett mayor talks priorities for third term in office
- WashingtonEverett police arrest suspect linked to dog found zipped inside suitcase
- WashingtonHigh wind warning in effect for northwest Snohomish County
- CaliforniaNewsom launches website tracking Trump's top 10 criminal cronies
- WashingtonUW Huskies win OT thriller 3-2 for 1st men's soccer national title
- OklahomaGroup forms to give voice to disenfranchised Oklahoma independent voters
- ColoradoColorado voters to decide on harsher fentanyl penalties on 2026 ballot
- WashingtonLive or work in Tukwila, Kent, or Renton? It may be time to "go now" or "get set" to escape Green River flooding -- don't
- IllinoisBorder Patrol Boss Greg Bovino Back In Chicago As Agents Target Southwest Side
BREAKING: Two More Heritage Foundation Board Members Resign Amid Tucker-Fuentes Fallout
3 min ago - Dec 16th, 2025, 3:05 pm Two more members of The Heritage Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Shane McCullar and Abby Spencer Moffat, resigned on Tuesday, citing concerns over Heritage’s direction and approach to combating anti-Semitism. A stat ... (MEDIAite)
Customs and Border Protection officer fires gun in dispute with driver at JFK airport
6 min ago - Updated 12:20 PM CST, December 16, 2025 Leer en español NEW YORK (AP) — An on-duty Customs and Border Protection officer fired his gun several times during a confrontation with another motorist Tuesday on an access road for New York’ ... (AP)
SNAP Benefits Update: Trump Admin Suffers Setback in Lawsuit
55 min ago - Dec 16, 2025 at 08:04 AM EST A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump's administration must give states more time to implement rules relating to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Newsweek contacted the White House vi ... (Newsweek)
85% of people given federal pardons or clemency this year are white, House lawmaker's report says
1 hr ago - Dec. 16, 2025, 8:00 AM EST Eighty-five percent of the people granted pardons or clemency this year by President Donald Trump are white, and Jan. 6 defendants made up 90% of those who benefited, according to a new report compiled by Rep. Ayanna Pressl ... (NBC News)
Hegseth clips congressional wings in probe of 'double-tap' Venezuela boat strike
2 hrs ago - WASHINGTON (CN) — The Pentagon will not release unedited video of the reported “double-tap” strike against a boat the military believed to be smuggling drugs and will limit congressional access to the clip, Defense Secretary Pete Hegse ... (Court House News)
Full video of Venezuela drug boat strikes will not be made public, Hegseth says
2 hrs ago - Posted 10:20 AM, Dec 16, 2025 and last updated 45 minutes ago As Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was on Capitol Hill to address recent strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats off the coast of Venezuela, he told reporters that full videos of the ... (Scripps News)
House Republican leaders ditch vote on ACA funding, all but ensuring premiums will rise
3 hrs ago - WASHINGTON — It's official: House Speaker Mike Johnson says he won't call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, effectively guaranteeing they will expire at the end of this month. That means higher insurance premiums ... (NBC News)
11 firefighters and 2 other people injured after North Carolina house fire and explosion
3 hrs ago - Updated 10:32 AM CST, December 16, 2025 SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — Eleven firefighters and two other people were injured in a house fire explosion in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, officials said. Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell said firefi ... (AP)
Zelenskyy says proposals to end the war in Ukraine could be presented to Russia within days
4 hrs ago - By ILLIA NOVIKOV Updated 7:37 AM CST, December 16, 2025 Leer en español KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals being negotiated with U.S. officials for a deal to end the fighting in Russia’s near ... (AP)
Raskin to introduce bill to require review of White House renovation plans
4 hrs ago - Updated on: December 16, 2025 / 7:18 AM EST / CBS News Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that would subject White House renovations like President Trump's ballroom project to the same reviews as other fed ... (CBS News)
BBC vows to defend itself in $10bn Donald Trump lawsuit
5 hrs ago - Tue 16 Dec 2025 05.51 EST First published on Tue 16 Dec 2025 03.46 EST The BBC has vowed to defend itself against the $10bn lawsuit that the US president, Donald Trump filed against it. In a complaint filed on Monday evening, Trump sought $5bn in da ... (The Guardian)
Judge refuses to grant Sarah Palin a new trial in her libel suit against New York Times
6 hrs ago - 12/15/2025 10:16 PM EST NEW YORK — Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s bid for a new libel trial against The New York Times was rejected Monday by a New York federal judge who also refused Palin’s request that the judge re ... (Politico/AP)
Trump's Top Aide Acknowledges 'Score Settling' Behind Prosecutions
7 hrs ago - President Trump's chief of staff said she tried to get him to end his "score settling" against political enemies after 90 days in office, but acknowledged that the administration's still ongoing push for prosecutions has been fueled in part by the pr ... (NY Times)
ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate November 29, 2025
7 hrs ago - PR Newswire ADP National Employment Report Preliminary Estimate November 29, 2025 PR Newswire Tue, December 16, 2025 at 8:15 AM EST * 3 min read ROSELAND, N.J., Dec. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the four weeks ending November 29, 2025, U.S. private e ... (PR Newswire, via Yahoo!Finance)
Payrolls rose by 64,000 in November after falling by 105,000 in October, delayed jobs numbers show
7 hrs ago - Published Tue, Dec 16 2025 8:32 AM EST Updated 28 Min Ago Nonfarm payrolls grew slightly more than expected in November but slumped in October while unemployment hit its highest in four years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday in number ... (CNBC)
US Capitol statue of teen civil rights leader Barbara Rose Johns to fill Robert E. Lee's place
7 hrs ago - Updated 12:02 AM EST, December 16, 2025 Starting Tuesday, the U.S. Capitol will display a statue of a teenaged Barbara Rose Johns as she protested poor conditions at her segregated Virginia high school, a pointed replacement for a statue of Confedera ... (AP)
15 injured after a San Francisco cable car stops suddenly
8 hrs ago - Updated 9:26 PM CST, December 15, 2025 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — More than a dozen people were hurt when a San Francisco cable car abruptly stopped Monday afternoon. Fifteen people had injuries ranging from minor to moderate, the San Francisco Fire D ... (AP)
Mark Kelly's legal team hits back at Pentagon with stern threat
8 hrs ago - December 15, 2025 8:00PM ET An attorney representing Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) fired off a warning letter to the Department of Defense on Monday, saying the senator is prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary to stop what they regard as an il ... (Raw Story)
Crockett: People who 'regret' voting for Trump are 'absolutely welcome' in her campaign
8 hrs ago - 12h Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said any voter, regardless of party affiliation, is welcome to support her campaign to be one of the Lone Star State’s senators. “I’m a Texan, and so at the end of the day, I think people are trying ... (msn/The Hill)
National Guard troops under Trump's command leave LA before court's deadline
8 hrs ago - Sonja Sharp - Los Angeles Times (TNS) 12 hrs ago LOS ANGELES — Dozens of California National Guard troops under President Trump’s command apparently slipped out of Los Angeles under cover of darkness early Sunday morning, ahead of ... (swoknews.com)
