Energy Department orders two Indiana utilities to keep coal plants running to “prevent blackouts,” overriding closure plans as residential electric bills spiked 17.5% this year.
Trump administration will begin garnishing wages of defaulted student loan borrowers in January, first seizures since pandemic pause began nearly six years ago.
Federal judge upholds Trump’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, rejecting U.S. Chamber of Commerce lawsuit challenging the September proclamation.
Interior Department suspends five East Coast offshore wind projects citing classified national security concerns weeks after Trump said “wind is the worst” and “we don’t approve windmills.”
Twenty-one states and DC sue to block Trump from defunding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned $21 billion to consumers since 2011.
Nine more drugmakers agree to Trump pricing policy as administration keeps deal details confidential and experts say Medicaid impact may be negligible.
Trump touts “economic boom” in Rocky Mount, NC, where unemployment rose and a factory collapsed, while attacking Roy Cooper as “radical left” in the former governor’s home region.
IRS reassigns 1,000 IT employees out of tech division effective Dec. 28 with no clear new roles, telling them to upload resumes to be considered for other positions.
Trump Media announces $6 billion merger with Google-backed nuclear fusion firm TAE Technologies, with Devin Nunes saying deal will “cement America’s global energy dominance.”
Trump signs executive order directing agencies to reclassify marijuana as Schedule III drug, finishing process Biden started in 2022 after marijuana lobbyists courted president.
Pentagon confirms Trump’s $1,776 military bonuses come from housing funds Congress appropriated, not tariff revenue as president claimed in primetime address.
Delaware lawmakers introduce legislation stripping Avelo Airlines of jet fuel tax breaks and state contracts over ICE deportation flights the state’s only commercial carrier operates elsewhere.
As Venezuela standoff intensifies, Trump announces $1,776 “warrior dividend” checks for 1.4 million service members from tariff revenue.
DOJ tells court targeting blue states for energy grant cuts is “constitutionally permissible” because partisanship “can serve as a proxy for legitimate policy considerations.”
Trump demands Venezuela return oil assets nationalized decades ago, admitting blockade is motivated by disputes over seized U.S. investments.
Trump uses prime-time address to blame Biden for economy and defend tariffs amid slumping approval, offering no new policies.
House Republicans revolt against Johnson over expiring ACA tax credits while leadership in both parties refuse to negotiate on extension timeline.
Sixteen states sue Trump administration for withholding $2.1 billion in EV charging funds Congress allocated under Biden’s infrastructure law.
Unemployment hits four-year high of 4.6% as economy added only 64,000 jobs in November, with economists declaring a “jobs recession.”
Trump orders total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, demands Caracas return oil assets Venezuela nationalized in the 1970s.
Fed chair candidate Hassett says Trump’s voice “would have no weight” in rate decisions, two days after Trump told Wall Street Journal his pick should seek his insight.
More than 47,000 people applied for 5,000 housing voucher spots in Maryland’s Prince George’s County during first waitlist opening in a decade.
Speaker Johnson unveils House Republican health plan that lets enhanced ACA subsidies expire Dec. 31, as bipartisan discharge petitions gain signatures to force extension votes.
GSA completed only 30% of DOGE-directed lease terminations after discovering closures would disrupt public services, as Musk says he “wouldn’t do it over again.”
Tallahassee votes 3-2 to sell golf course with unmarked graves of enslaved people for $1 million, days after finally installing memorial sign minted in 2021.
Trump signs executive order creating DOJ task force to challenge state AI laws and withhold broadband funding from states with regulations the administration dislikes.
White House confirms seized Venezuelan oil tanker will go to U.S. port and administration “intends to seize the oil” after Trump said Wednesday “we keep it, I guess.”
Senate rejects both Republican and Democratic plans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, leaving 24 million Americans facing sharp premium increases starting in January.
Powell says federal data may overstate job creation by 60,000 per month, meaning economy could actually be losing 20,000 jobs monthly since April.
Federal Reserve cuts rates for third time this year in divided 9-3 vote, signals just one more cut in 2026 as Trump prepares to replace Powell.
Trump officially launches “gold card” program selling path to citizenship for $1 million, with Commerce Secretary promising buyers will be “perfect people.”
US forces seize oil tanker off Venezuela coast one day after fighter jets flew over Gulf, Caracas condemns “piracy” and “blatant theft.”
Trump falsely claims prices “coming down very substantially” at Pennsylvania inflation speech, attacks Rep. Omar as crowd chants “send her back.”
SBA orders all 4,300 certified minority small business contractors to turn over three years of financial records by Jan. 5 or face removal from program.
Federal judge vacates Trump’s day-one wind energy ban as “arbitrary and capricious,” ending 11-month permitting freeze that blocked all offshore projects.
Trump announces $12 billion farmer bailout from tariff revenue same day Treasury Secretary Bessent sold his soybean farm at year’s highest prices.
Treasury Secretary Bessent sold his soybean farm last week, 11 months after ethics agreement required it, as futures hit year’s high and farmers await bailout.
Trump signals he will be “involved” in decision on $82.7 billion Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros., citing “big market share” concerns days after meeting with Netflix CEO.
Trump administration waives final $11 million of Southwest Airlines fine for 2022 meltdown that stranded 2 million passengers and canceled 17,000 flights.
FAA investigates major airlines for compliance with shutdown flight reduction order as Delta discloses $200 million loss, the first public financial toll from a U.S. carrier.
Texas becomes first state to invest public funds in bitcoin with $5 million purchase after legislators created cryptocurrency fund outside state treasury, limiting future appropriation oversight.
Trump rolls back Biden fuel economy standards requiring 50.4 mpg by 2031 months after GOP eliminated all penalties for noncompliance.
Treasury Secretary Bessent threatens to “veto” Federal Reserve regional presidents who haven’t lived in their districts three years, escalating White House pressure on independent agency.
Trump calls affordability a Democratic “hoax” and “con job” one week after branding himself “the affordability president,” dismisses consumer concerns about cost of living.
Billionaire Michael Dell pledges $6 billion to seed “Trump accounts” for 25 million children as Dell Technologies holds multiple federal contracts.
Congress left “pornographic activity” undefined in tips tax law, forcing IRS agents to review OnlyFans content before denying deductions capped at $25,000.
Trump approval drops to 36% in Gallup poll, lowest since January 6 Capitol attack, as Republican support falls 7 points and independents drop to 25% following election losses and shutdown.
EU moves to seize $225 billion in Russian assets frozen in Belgium, rejecting Trump bid for US control.
Medicare will save $12 billion on 15 drugs through Biden-era negotiation program that Trump officials have sought to downplay, with Kennedy claiming Democrats lied about first-round results.
Congressional Republicans reject Trump’s health care plan before release, forcing White House to delay proposal after lawmakers learned framework from social media.
