Top Items:
Cassandra Vinograd / New York Times:
Russia Pummels Kyiv Before Trump-Zelensky Meeting — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that the assault, which continued for nearly 10 hours, showed that Moscow was not serious about peace. — Powerful explosions boomed in the skies over the Ukrainian capital on Saturday …
Discussion:
The Hill, Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Times of Israel, Bloomberg, France 24, RTÉ, The Japan Times, NewsMax.com, New York Post and CNN
RELATED:
Tim Balk / New York Times:
Some G.O.P. Senators Join Democrats in Urging Trump to Adopt Hard Line With Putin
Some G.O.P. Senators Join Democrats in Urging Trump to Adopt Hard Line With Putin
Discussion:
Raw Story and The Dispatch
Steven Nelson / New York Post:
Trump tells Post there's a ‘good shot’ at reaching Russia-Ukraine peace during Zelensky's visit
Trump tells Post there's a ‘good shot’ at reaching Russia-Ukraine peace during Zelensky's visit
Tim Balk / New York Times:
Trump Administration Live Updates: Zelensky Says He Will Meet President This Weekend
Trump Administration Live Updates: Zelensky Says He Will Meet President This Weekend
Discussion:
MS NOW, Straight Arrow News and UPI
Nimi Princewill / CNN:
Fear and confusion in Nigerian village hit in US strike, as locals say no history of ISIS in area — Africa National security Terrorism Donald Trump — A day after part of a missile fired by the United States hit their village, landing just meters from its only medical facility …
Discussion:
Daily Post Nigeria, Associated Press, Informed Comment, Al Jazeera, NewsMax.com and UPI
RELATED:
New York Times:
Trump's Claims About Nigeria Strike Belie a Complex Situation on the Ground — President Trump said the targets of airstrikes in Nigeria were Islamic State terrorists responsible for killing Christians, but experts question his framing. — After the U.S. military launched airstrikes …
Discussion:
vaticannews.va, The Guardian, Truth Nigeria, JURISTnews, Channels Television, Associated Press, Fox News, Straight Arrow News, twitchy.com, The Intercept, Reuters and HotAir
Samuel Chamberlain / New York Post:
Trump on Nigeria strikes: ISIS ‘got a very bad Christmas present’
Trump on Nigeria strikes: ISIS ‘got a very bad Christmas present’
New York Times:
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving — It's uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk. — Billionaires including Peter Thiel …
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, more at Techmeme »
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Max Rego / The Hill:
The key ballot measures to watch in 2026 — Voters will head to the polls in next year's midterms to decide on a number of critical ballot measures. — While most of the attention in 2026 will be on the fights for the House, Senate and governor's mansions, these measures are no less significant.
Washington Post:
Kennedy, other Trump officials balk at requests to testify on Capitol Hill — Democrats have suggested the lack of testimony is yet another way the administration is snubbing the legislative branch. — When Sen. Bill Cassidy announced in February that he would vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr …
Discussion:
Raw Story
RELATED:
The Hill:
Congress looks to reclaim relevance after ceding power to White House — Frustrated lawmakers are looking to 2026 in the hopes that they can reclaim some of the power many fear they've ceded to the White House under President Trump. — Over the course of 2025, the Trump administration …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Steven Nelson / New York Post:
Trump tells The Post he's not ready to embrace Somaliland independence — unlike pal Netanyahu — WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post that he won't quickly follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recognizing the independence of Somaliland — saying he has to “study” …
Discussion:
The Times of Israel, CBS News, Reuters, NewsMax.com, France 24, Fox News, Breitbart, New York Sun, New York Times, UPI, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, The Hill, The Forward, The Independent and VINnews
Fox News:
Karoline Leavitt is expecting a baby girl in May 2026, says motherhood is ‘closest thing to Heaven on Earth’ — EXCLUSIVE: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is expecting a baby girl, Fox News Digital has learned. — Leavitt and her husband Nick are expecting their second bundle of joy to be born in May 2026.
Discussion:
Breitbart, HuffPost, The Daily Signal, RedState, The Independent, Washington Examiner, The Hill and Blaze Media
RELATED:
Steven Rattner / New York Times:
Trump's First Year Back, in 10 Charts — President Trump indisputably dominated 2025. Only the second president to be elected to nonconsecutive terms, the reinvigorated Mr. Trump plunged back into office with a muscularity unmatched by any other president in my lifetime.
Victor Nava / New York Post:
LA Mayor Karen Bass calls it ‘sad’ that Hispanics are joining Border Patrol - suggests they're desperate for money — Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass expressed disappointment and concern Friday with Hispanics joining Border Patrol - arguing they're only doing it for the paycheck.
Discussion:
RedState, The Gateway Pundit, NewsMax.com and Fox News
Allan Smith / NBC News:
The fight for young men intensifies ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — Democrats believe they're making progress after Trump's gains with young men helped him win in 2024. Republicans say they're focused on ensuring those inconsistent voters turn out. — Add NBC News to Google
Discussion:
Politico
Sophia Cai / Politico:
Trump to POLITICO: Midterm elections will be about ‘pricing’ … Trump's comments follow a string of favorable economic reports over the last two weeks showing inflation is cooling and the economy is hotter than expected. The White House is keen to tout the latest data as it confronts cost …
Discussion:
American Thinker and Mediaite
Ron Filipkowski / Meidas+:
25 Worst Villains of the Trump Admin — The worst of the worst, ranked 1-25. — 1,984 — This most difficult part of this exercise was only picking 25. — I'm sure some of you have someone in mind that I may have missed, but these are my worst in ranking order based on covering the toxic Trump admin every day.
Joe Walsh / CBS News:
Trump calls for release of any Epstein files naming Democrats: “Embarrass them” — As prosecutors contend with a massive trove of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump suggested Friday the Justice Department is spending too much time on the issue …
Discussion:
The Times of Israel, Raw Story, NewsMax.com, Newsweek, RedState and The Gateway Pundit
Steven Sloan / Associated Press:
Kennedy Center criticizes musician who canceled performance after Trump name added to building — The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday fiercely criticized a musician's sudden decision to cancel a Christmas Eve performance at the venue after the White House announced …
Wall Street Journal:
A Tariff Mash for Kentucky Whiskey — Jim Beam halts a main production line, while U.S. spirits exports sag. — Click for Sound — Jim Beam has decided to “pause distillation at our main distillery on the James B. Beam campus for 2026,” the company said last weekend, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Discussion:
Cafe Hayek and Raw Story
Katie Martin / Financial Times:
So long, American exceptionalism — For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’ — Make no mistake, global markets really did change in 2025. American exceptionalism may never be the same again. — You have to poke around to see this clearly.
Autumn Billings / Reason:
Justice Department Says Filming Immigration Raids Is ‘Domestic Terrorism’ — After leaving the Chicago area in November, U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino made an unexpected return on December 16, along with several hundred federal agents and a film crew.

