Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God  —  Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself.

Kennedy Center's Christmas Eve Jazz Show Canceled After Trump Name Added to Building  —  Chuck Redd, a jazz musician, said he canceled his annual concert after President Trump's name was affixed to the Washington building's facade.  —  An annual Christmas Eve jazz concert scheduled for Wednesday …

Trump rings in Christmas Day with a flurry of posts denouncing perceived foes and casting doubt on the 2020 election  —  The president posted on Truth Social over 100 times overnight, also touting his own economic policies and efforts to end foreign wars.  —  Christmas Eve found President Donald Trump …

19 states sue to block Kennedy's plan to curb trans care  —  Nineteen states and D.C. sued Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health department to block the Trump administration's plan to curb young people's gender-affirming care. … - He said the Department of Health and Human Services' move …

The ultraprocessed food makers have an answer for RFK Jr. … In late October, major industry trade groups and food companies, including Kraft Heinz as well as frozen-pizza-maker Nestle, and PepsiCo, which along with its signature drink makes all-American favorites Doritos and Cheetos …

Two vulnerable senators stand to benefit from intense focus on constituents  —  Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jon Ossoff (D-Georgia) are two of the chamber's staunchest believers in the value of constituency services.  —  Justin Juray didn't know where to turn.

What Republicans think Trump is getting wrong about nurses … Deans of nursing schools and associations representing nurses fear the omission from the list will ultimately discourage people from becoming nurse practitioners, the medical professionals who can treat and prescribe medications to patients …

Police investigate fire attack on ‘Happy Chanukah’ car in St Kilda East  —  In short:  —  Police are investigating the apparent firebombing of a car adorned with Jewish symbols in Melbourne overnight.  —  A nearby family was evacuated as a precaution, but no injuries were reported.

All in the family: In 2026, a surge of politicians' kids are running for office  —  As voters clamor for change, a new generation of Pelosis, Kennedys, Kings and other powerful families are stepping up to keep their political legacies alive.  —  Listen to this article with a free account

Federal government's charity drive doing far worse under Trump  —  Donations are down by more than 40 percent after a year when federal workers faced major agency downsizing and a lengthy government shutdown.  —  The federal workers' charity drive, the largest of its kind in the country …

Republicans Who Backed Afghan Visas Are Mum as Trump Halts Them  —  After a fatal shooting, the Trump administration froze a visa program for Afghans that Republicans in Congress had championed.  The G.O.P. has not objected.  —  Back in 2021, as Kabul fell to the Taliban following …

Why RFK Jr.'s plan to follow Europe on vaccines is getting panned … “If [Kennedy] would like to get us universal health care, then maybe we can have a conversation about having the schedule adjusted,” Demetre Daskalakis, who led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center …

JD Vance and the future of MAGA  —  JD Vance crossed many things off his to-do list this year.  But what's in store for 2026 and 2028? … After a successful 2024 election, Vice President JD Vance came into the White House ready to shake things up, support President Donald Trump at all costs …