In a year-end special election, Democrat Renee Hardman won the Iowa state Senate seat representing parts of the Des Moines suburbs, defeating Republican Lucas Loftin by a wide margin. Hardman’s victory prevents Republicans from regaining a two-thirds control of the chamber, a seat that became vacant after the death of Democrat Claire Celsi. This win marks the latest in a string of special election victories for Iowa Democrats, giving them 17 seats to Republicans’ 33. This win is a major check on Republican power, as they need to get support from at least one Democrat to approve Reynolds’ nominees.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi posted and then deleted a graph showing a decline in drug overdose deaths, attempting to give credit to the Trump administration for progress made under Joe Biden. The graph, tracking overdose deaths from 2015 to 2024, illustrated a spike before plateauing in 2022 and 2023, followed by a sharp decline during Biden’s term, which Bondi misrepresented. Social media users and politicians, like Rep. Ted Lieu, quickly pointed out the error, leading to the post’s deletion. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about potential risks to these gains due to Trump’s policies, including budget cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency and aggressive actions in other countries.
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Donald Trump’s renaming of the Kennedy Center has led to multiple artists canceling their performances, creating financial and reputational damage to the institution. The Cookers, Chuck Redd, Kristy Lee, and Doug Varone and Dancers are among those who have withdrawn, citing the political implications of Trump’s action. Ric Grenell, the center’s head, has responded with threats of lawsuits and attacks on the artists, while Senate Democrats investigate him for alleged misconduct. The Kennedy Center’s revenue has plummeted since Trump’s intervention, exacerbating the fallout from the controversy.
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A recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club sent young female employees to provide massages to Jeffrey Epstein for years, despite these employees warning each other about Epstein’s inappropriate behavior, including sexual suggestions and indecent exposure. In 2003, after an 18-year-old beautician complained about being pressured for sex by Epstein, a manager informed Trump, leading to Epstein’s ban from the club. Notably, Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Epstein’s, had been recruited from the Palm Beach club three years prior. The report also highlights that Trump’s second wife, Marla Maples, had also expressed concerns about Epstein’s character, and that other Mar-a-Lago employees were listed in Epstein’s address book.
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The Trump administration announced a freeze on child care funds to Minnesota and mandated an audit of day care centers following reported fraud schemes, citing widespread issues across the country. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill stated the move was a response to blatant fraud, referencing allegations of significant fraud within day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz criticized the move as political, while investigations into state-run programs and the targeting of the Somali diaspora continue. The Administration for Children and Families will require justification and evidence for payments and has launched a fraud-reporting system.
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A recent fundraising email from Donald Trump’s political action committee employed alarmist language, claiming Democrats would steal supporters’ tariff rebate checks to give them to “illegals” if they didn’t donate within an hour. The email, featuring a graphic of Trump and a boiling pot, framed the appeal as an urgent, year-end emergency and warned that everything would be lost without immediate action. This fundraising tactic comes as Trump flirts with the idea of sending Americans $2,000 funded by tariff revenue, a policy that economists have questioned and consumer-protection experts have warned could be exploited by fraudsters. The appeal also surfaces amid reports of growing frustration among some of Trump’s own supporters with his economic policies.
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During Christmas Day, Donald Trump engaged in a prolific social media posting spree, attacking various targets and amplifying claims made by supporters. Analysis revealed that a significant portion of the shared content originated from foreign accounts, despite claims of being based in the U.S. These accounts, often located in South Asia and Eastern Europe, promoted pro-MAGA rhetoric and echoed Trump’s sentiments on issues like election integrity and immigration. This behavior isn’t new, as Trump has previously relied on foreign accounts to bolster his online presence and support for his agenda.
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Although Donald Trump is 79 years old and questions have been raised regarding his health, including concerns about his speech and behavior, the article argues that age is not the primary factor in his unfitness for office. The author contends that Trump’s flaws stem from his character and long-standing tendencies, rather than his age. Attributing his shortcomings solely to age not only diminishes older adults but also lets Trump off the hook. Ultimately, the article suggests that voters are aware of Trump’s age and other issues, making it a consideration in their decision, but not the root of the problem.
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Lauren Chen, a right-wing media personality, was forced to leave the United States in July after her media company, Tenet Media, was exposed as a Russian media front. The company allegedly received illicit funding from a pro-Putin propaganda outlet, leading to Chen losing her work visa. Despite the ongoing federal case against Tenet’s funders, Chen and her husband returned to the U.S. this holiday season. This was made possible by the Trump administration’s intervention, specifically with assistance from State Department official Joe Rittenhouse.
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Following the Kennedy Center board’s decision to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center, several artists have canceled their performances in protest. New York Dance Company Doug Varone and Dancers, the Cookers, and Kristy Lee are among those who have withdrawn. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has responded, criticizing the artists’ actions and claiming the previous leadership favored “far left political activists.” These cancellations add to a growing list of performances, including those by Issa Rae, that were previously canceled earlier this year, citing concerns about the center’s values.
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John Q. Hosedrinker