President Zelensky visited Kupiansk, a frontline city, to commend Ukrainian troops, contradicting recent Russian claims of capturing it. The visit coincided with Ukraine’s National Guard announcing a successful counterattack north of Kupiansk, carried out by the 2nd Khartiia Corps, which reportedly blocked Russian land routes and liberated villages. This success is seen as crucial for Ukraine’s diplomatic leverage, as highlighted by Zelensky. The corps reported significant casualties inflicted on Russian forces during the period of September 22 to December 12.
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Representative Delia Ramirez has called for the resignation or impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, citing concerns over alleged misleading statements, misuse of resources, and disregard for court orders. Ramirez requested investigations from House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. Noem has defended her department’s actions and enforcement strategy, however, Democrats have criticized her leadership and immigration policies. Despite Ramirez’s demands, impeachment is unlikely due to Republican control of the House and President Trump’s support of Noem.
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The Trump administration is taking steps to end the Biden administration’s SAVE student loan forgiveness program, which provided lower monthly payments for over 7 million borrowers. This follows a settlement with Missouri, a state that sued to halt the plan, effectively eliminating it. The settlement also requires the Department of Education to notify Missouri 30 days before any future broad student debt relief, potentially hindering future forgiveness efforts. Critics argue this move will likely force more borrowers into default, exacerbating financial struggles amid rising living costs.
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The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, aiming to remove the former president’s image from the 2026 national park passes. The lawsuit alleges the Interior Department violated the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act by replacing the winning photograph of Glacier National Park with an image of Trump. The group asserts this action disregards the contest’s rules, undermines public participation, and clashes with the program’s intended conservation goals. They are requesting a federal judge to prevent the display of Trump’s image and declare the administration in violation of the law.
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In response to the influx of low-cost imports, EU finance ministers have decided to implement a €3 tax on all small parcels entering the bloc beginning July 1, 2026. This decision follows the earlier agreement to eliminate duty exemptions for packages under €150, primarily from Chinese platforms. The temporary fixed fee aims to address unfair competition faced by European retailers and will remain in effect until a permanent import tax solution is established. With a staggering 4.6 billion small packages entering the EU last year, the majority originating from China, this move is a priority, especially for countries like France.
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The legal challenge asserts that any construction on federal land, including the White House and President’s Park, requires congressional approval. Former President Trump’s actions, including the firing of all six members of the Commission on Fine Arts, appeared to pave the way for alterations to national monuments. The official reason given was the desire to appoint individuals more closely aligned with his policies, but the positions remained vacant months later. Additionally, Trump reportedly had a disagreement with his architect regarding the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which could have overshadowed the White House mansion.
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Newly released files from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate contain a photograph of Donald Trump with a group of young women, further linking the former president to the disgraced financier. The image, believed to be from 1998, shows Trump with his arms around two women, who were models representing Hawaiian Tropic. These latest document releases, initiated by Democrats, also include photos of other prominent figures, highlighting the extent of Epstein’s social circle.
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In a significant blow to Trump’s efforts, the Indiana Senate rejected the proposed congressional redistricting plan designed to favor Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The vote, with a substantial majority of Republican senators voting against the plan, marks the first time Trump’s redistricting campaign has been defeated by members of his own party. The opposition was driven by concerns over “mid-cycle gerrymandering,” with many Republicans citing conservative principles and resistance to federal overreach as their rationale, while Democrats also opposed the plan for potentially diluting the voting power of minority communities. The defeat came after weeks of political conflict and amid escalating tensions, including threats against Republican lawmakers supporting the redistricting efforts, highlighting the deeply divisive nature of the issue.
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A new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, believe the Trump administration is concealing information about Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged child sex crimes and his death. The survey indicates that 70% of respondents think the administration is hiding details about Epstein’s associates, and 62% believe the government is hiding information surrounding his death. The poll further indicates that only a small percentage of Americans believe Trump was unaware of Epstein’s crimes, despite his efforts to distance himself from the disgraced financier.
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According to the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, the British government threatened to defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute if arrest warrants were issued against Israeli officials. Khan alleged that a British official, potentially then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron, warned against the warrants. Furthermore, Khan claims to have received warnings from both US officials and Senator Lindsey Graham about the potential consequences of pursuing the warrants. Khan maintains he acted neutrally and insists his decisions were based on meticulous preparation, including input from a panel of international law experts.
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John Q. Hosedrinker