War and Peace, Post-Holiday Edition
Hoping your Christmas (and/or day off) was spectacular, and not infiltrated by any bad Santas. While you were spending a good part of yesterday in your pajamas (it wasn’t just me, right?), the Trump administration was busy on multiple fronts, including a mixture of war and peace efforts.
We start with the war — Trump announced on Truth Social last night that the US “launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria.” The strike was done in coordination with Nigerian authorities, according to a post from the US Africa Command. Nigeria declared a security emergency last month after a series of abductions of almost 400 students and Christians. This is also a topic that is dear to the heart of MAGA-convert Nicki Minaj, who mentioned it in her recent Turning Point appearance.
The age-old tension between the US and China over Taiwan isn’t going away, but at least the Chinese response to Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan stopped short of a broader escalation. Gazing toward the new year, though, expect to see a wave of protests rattling governments as Gen Z deals with soaring rents and living costs while staring down a future where robots and AI threaten their jobs.
On the peace side — Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he will meet with Trump “in the coming days,” signaling optimism about a peace deal to end Russia’s four-year war. The warring parties in this case seem to have switched approaches on the Trump peace plan: now, it appears Russia has hesitations.
Speaking of peace, Trump is expected to meet Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to shore up the Gaza plan. And the State Department said yesterday that Marco Rubio is pushing for Cambodia and Thailand to end their violence.
New York’s Next Governor?
Bruce Blakeman has a clear path to the GOP nomination for governor of New York, the question now is can he overcome the steep odds to get elected?
It’s been more than 20 years since New Yorkers elected a Republican governor (
His path through the primary was cleared when
“I’m a candidate that knows how to build bridges, and I know this is a business of making friends,” Blakeman said. “And quite frankly, New Yorkers are miserable. They’re not happy, and as governor, I want to make them happy.”
A Million Epstein Documents
Pour a little bit of eggnog out for the DOJ lawyers who are spending their last week of the year redacting “a million more documents” related to the Epstein probe. According to one report, the department is asking staff in various offices to step up and help review the material.
So continue to expect more revelations (and explanations) over the coming weeks.
Court Action May Add to Insurance Prices
It’s not just the roll-off of subsidies that threaten to raise insurance costs for those covered under the Affordable Care Act.
Erin Durkin and Lauren Clason report that pending court action around Trump administration regulation of the Obamacare marketplace could further ratchet up the cost to enrollees in the new year.
A Maryland federal district court in August paused major portions of a rule aimed at tightening oversight in a challenge brought by Democratic cities. The Department of Health and Human Services is appealing part of the decision.
Next Week
A few things on the calendar for the usually sleeping week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, including some economic stats and the Fed minutes:
- Monday We’ll get pending home sales data, plus manufacturing activity from the Dallas Fed. Trump is expected to meet with Israeli prime minister
- Tuesday ADP issues its weekly employment report and we’ll get a read on home prices in 20 cities from what used to be called the Case-Schiller index, plus we get the minutes from the last Fed meeting
- Wednesday Jobless claims
- Thursday Holiday! 🎇 Zohran Mamdani gets sworn-in as New York City mayor. Legendary investor Warren Buffett steps down from Berkshire Hathaway
What Else We’re Reading
How Trump’s Justice Department Departed from Tradition in 2025
President Donald Trump’s return to power ushered in persistent structural and political shifts at the Justice Department that have redefined the White House’s role in directing federal law enforcement.
Larry Ellison, Not Elon Musk, Was 2025’s Defining Tech Titan
When the year began, a billionaire with close ties to the White House was a lock for the most newsworthy tech titan of 2025. But 12 chaotic months later,
Trump’s Push to Blunt EPA Air Rules Set to Ramp up in Year Ahead
The stage is set in 2026 for the Trump administration to finalize and propose a spate of new air emission and pollution rollbacks, ticking away at a deregulatory agenda that still has untouched items on its roster.
US Tells Afghan Migrants to Report on Christmas, New Year’s Day
BGOV OnPoint: Counter-Drone Powers, Market Demand Scale Up
Lawmakers extended military and law enforcement authorities for countering uncrewed aircraft systems operating in US airspace as drone threats persist.
Pediatricians Allege Retaliation in Lawsuit Over HHS Grant Cuts
The American Academy of Pediatrics is suing the Trump administration over its cancellation of grant funding, alleging the HHS move was in retaliation for the organization’s opposing views on vaccines and gender-affirming care.
Trump-Backed Construction Magnate Wins Honduras Election
A conservative construction magnate backed by
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