Trump tells Congressional Ball guests new White House ballroom will be complete in 18 months, following demolition of historic East Wing that Democrats called a “vanity project.”
Indiana lieutenant governor confirms Trump administration threatened to strip all federal funding from the state if legislature refused to eliminate Democratic congressional seats.
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.”
Texas and Florida attorneys general sue FDA to restrict abortion pill mifepristone, challenging both the 2000 approval and a new generic version approved under Trump’s own administration.
Arkansas public television votes to disaffiliate from PBS after Corporation for Public Broadcasting lost federal funding this summer, projecting $6 million deficit by 2030 without separation.
Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado arrives in Oslo after U.S. helped her escape through 10 military checkpoints, first public appearance since January.
U.S. Forces Japan acknowledges “mistake” after video shows military police slamming American civilian to Okinawa pavement after he warned detaining him “would be an illegal act.”
Federal grand jury refuses for second time in seven days to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, marking DOJ’s third failed attempt to prosecute Trump’s political target.
Interior Department orders national parks to review gift shops and remove items related to diversity, equity and inclusion by Dec. 19, part of effort to keep parks “neutral spaces.”
House tables Trump impeachment resolution 237-140 after Democratic leaders vote “present,” citing lack of investigative process despite articles referencing Trump’s “punishable by DEATH” post about lawmakers.
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.
Senator says FAA administrator failed to sell Republic Airways stake 150 days after promising to divest within 90, as stock nearly doubled following merger announcement.
Trump signs executive order creating DOJ task force to challenge state AI laws and withhold broadband funding from states with regulations the administration dislikes.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore $3.6 billion in canceled FEMA disaster mitigation funding after 22 states sued, ruling Congress appropriated the money and “the government must follow the law.”
Trump claims to pardon Tina Peters for state election tampering conviction he has no constitutional authority over, as Colorado officials reject transfer and call it “a lawless act.”
House passes bill to restore collective bargaining rights for 600,000 federal workers after 20 Republicans join Democrats to bypass GOP leadership and rebuke Trump’s March executive order.
Treasury sanctions three nephews of Maduro and his wife, including one removed from sanctions list in 2022 during Biden-era negotiations for democratic elections in Venezuela.
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.”
Federal judge orders immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia after four months of detention, calling administration’s threats to deport him to African countries where he has no ties “misrepresentation to the court.”
Democrat confronts Homeland Security Secretary Noem with deported Army veteran on Zoom after she testified no veterans have been deported, then left hearing early for a meeting that was canceled.
Senate rejects both Republican and Democratic plans to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, leaving 24 million Americans facing sharp premium increases starting in January.
Indiana Senate rejects Trump-backed mid-cycle redistricting 31-19 after 21 Republicans join Democrats to block elimination of two Democratic congressional seats.
Rep. Mace (R-SC) introduces bill to rename former Black Lives Matter Plaza after Charlie Kirk, three months after conservative influencer was killed at Utah college.
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 judge blocks DHS rule criminalizing “unusual noise” near federal buildings after activists arrested or threatened for using megaphones on public sidewalks.
ICE tells watchdog it has “no records” of body camera footage from Chicago operation despite submitting video clips to federal judge weeks earlier.
FBI spent years extraditing woman accused of smuggling aviation tech to Russia, now ICE wants to deport her to Belarus where US cannot get her back.
DHS signs contract to buy six Boeing 737s for deportation flights, building its own fleet after failed attempt to purchase engineless planes from Spirit Airlines.
House passes defense bill withholding quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget until Pentagon releases unedited boat strike videos to Congress.
Third federal judge orders release of Epstein records in a week, granting DOJ request to unseal 2019 grand jury materials one day after Maxwell ruling.
Montana judge blocks school voucher program that required families to waive special education rights in exchange for funding that “often would not cover basic needs.”
Federal judge orders Trump to end National Guard deployment in Los Angeles and return 4,000 troops to Newsom’s control, White House vows appeal.
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.
New York Times says it “won’t be deterred” from reporting on Trump’s health, responds to president calling coverage treasonous with pledge to continue scrutiny.
Rubio orders State Department to switch back to Times New Roman, calling Biden’s accessibility-driven Calibri adoption a “degradation” of official correspondence.
Trump officially launches “gold card” program selling path to citizenship for $1 million, with Commerce Secretary promising buyers will be “perfect people.”
Interior Department transfers most of California’s border jurisdiction to Navy, extending militarized zones to fourth state as border arrests hit 1960s lows.
US forces seize oil tanker off Venezuela coast one day after fighter jets flew over Gulf, Caracas condemns “piracy” and “blatant theft.”
IRS closes all pending hardship telework requests “effective immediately,” including for domestic violence survivors and immunocompromised employees, citing return to office mandate.
South Carolina measles outbreak hits 111 cases with 254 quarantined, as U.S. faces losing elimination status if transmission continues through January.
Illinois bars ICE from within 1,000 feet of state courthouses, requires hospitals and daycares to develop enforcement response plans.
Trump administration proposes requiring all foreign tourists, including from UK and Germany, to disclose five years of social media history to enter U.S.
Justice Department repeals 50-year-old civil rights rules barring policies that disproportionately harm people of color, skips public comment process.
FDA says it is investigating COVID vaccine deaths “across multiple age groups” after official claimed without evidence that 10 children died.
Trump taps election denier Gregg Phillips to lead FEMA disaster response, 3 years after he was jailed for refusing to produce evidence for voter fraud claims.
House Armed Services chair Rogers ends boat attack probe saying “it’s done,” as Holsey tells lawmakers his ouster was “personal” despite reports Hegseth fired him over legality concerns.
Democrat Eric Gisler flips Georgia state House seat by 200 votes, one year after losing same district 61-39, as GOP drops below 100 seats for first time since 2005.
Federal judge grants DOJ request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell records, second ruling in a week after Trump dropped opposition to Epstein files release.
Trump calls European allies “weak” and “decaying,” pressures Zelenskyy to “play ball” by ceding territory, days after Russia praised U.S. national security strategy.
ICE agents pepper spray crowd in Minneapolis Somali neighborhood, detain 20-year-old U.S. citizen before releasing him, as Trump attacks Rep. Omar at rally.
