4 Things To Know This Afternoon

Trump weighs scaling back Border Patrol in Minnesota amid standoff with state leaders: The president is considering reducing federal agents in Minnesota while sending Tom Homan to negotiate cooperation. Gold surges above $5,000 as BRICS nations push away from the U.S. dollar: China is encouraging BRICS countries to abandon the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency and move toward gold. Republ...

The Liam story collapses as media walk back false claims about ICE: Multiple national outlets falsely reported that a five-year-old named Liam was used as "bait" to trap his father. Trump administration considers a Cuban naval blockade: The White House is reportedly weighing a naval blockade to cut off oil and imports to Cuba, believing the regime is nearing collapse. Minnesota businesses and scho...

Greenland deal details remain murky as Denmark rejects sovereignty transfer: President Trump continues to promote a "great deal" involving Greenland, but Denmark and Greenland's leaders have firmly rejected any surrender of sovereignty or territory. Trump unveils ambitious real estate vision for Gaza: The administration floated a sweeping redevelopment concept for Gaza featuring tourism, skyscrape...

Trump announces Greenland deal and cancels threatened tariffs: President Trump says the U.S. will not pursue sovereignty or territorial control over Greenland, acknowledging Denmark's position while opening negotiations with European allies. In exchange, Trump pulled tariff threats against U.S. allies, triggering a major market rally with the Dow jumping more than 700 points. . Gavin Newsom blocke...

Markets react sharply to Trump's Greenland strategy and tariff threats: Investors are responding negatively to President Trump's handling of Greenland, NATO allies, and renewed trade war rhetoric. While there is broad agreement that Greenland is a strategic military asset, even Republicans are uneasy with the president's approach to claiming it as U.S. territory. Market pressure previously forced...

New data shows Americans paying the price for tariffs: According to reporting cited by the Wall Street Journal, roughly 96 percent of tariff costs have been paid by American consumers, not foreign companies. While tariff revenue has helped reduce the federal deficit, wage growth has slowed and prices have risen on affected goods. A pending Supreme Court ruling could force massive reimbursements if...

White House plans to allow 401(k) withdrawals for home down payments: The Trump administration is preparing a proposal that would let Americans tap their 401(k) retirement accounts without penalty to fund home down payments. The plan, expected to be unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, could give first-time buyers a boost, though details are still being finalized. Kevin Hassett likely st...

Allies warn against U.S. strikes on Iran amid regional instability: Israel, Arab nations, and European partners are urging President Trump not to launch military strikes on Iran, warning of dangerous spillover effects. Protests inside Iran have slowed after hopes of U.S. intervention faded, raising concerns that thousands of demonstrators were killed while waiting for help that never came. NATO re...

U.S. military prepares for possible strikes on Iran: The USS Roosevelt has been repositioned in the Persian Gulf as U.S. personnel evacuate bases across the Middle East.   Home sales surge as interest rates fall, but affordability worsens: Home sales jumped 5%, the strongest increase in two years, signaling renewed economic activity. However, rising median home prices and limited inventory continu...

ICE and Border Patrol employees targeted in major data leak: Sensitive personal information tied to roughly 4,500 ICE and Border Patrol employees has been leaked, allegedly by someone inside DHS.   Republicans move to block welfare benefits for illegal aliens: The Republican Study Committee is drafting legislation to bar illegal aliens from receiving state or federal welfare benefits.   U.S. signa...

White House weighs strikes on Iran: The administration is considering military action against Iranian assets as Tehran quietly seeks renewed nuclear talks.  Top federal prosecutor fired amid Comey controversy: Robert K. McBride, the first assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, has been ousted amid tensions over stalled confirmations, judicial intervention, and pressure to rev...

Job creation collapses in 2025: The U.S. sees its worst year for job growth since COVID, driven by federal layoffs and weak manufacturing.   New York pushes January 6 education mandates: State lawmakers want schools to teach January 6 despite ongoing failures in reading, writing, and math.   Iran on the brink of revolution: Protests intensify as police side with demonstrators, regime figures seek...

Supreme Court signals surprise rulings: The Court unusually announces decisions will be issued tomorrow, fueling speculation over major cases involving presidential emergency powers, tariffs, and Louisiana redistricting that could reshape national political strategy. U.S. eyes Greenland and Venezuela for critical minerals: The administration pushes rare earth mineral investments to counter China,...

Trump targets defense contractors: The president announces plans to restrict executive compensation, dividends, and stock buybacks at publicly traded defense companies unless they invest in modernizing weapons manufacturing and improving maintenance and delivery timelines. Minnesota ICE shooting controversy: A deadly encounter involving ICE agents sparks debate after video shows a suspect vehicle...

Ukraine Peace Deal Framework Lacks Real Buy-In : Steve Witkoff claims a framework for a Ukraine peace deal is in place, with Britain and France even willing to deploy peacekeeping troops. But behind the scenes, European leaders do not believe Vladimir Putin wants peace and are deeply skeptical of Witkoff's role.   Venezuela Halts Oil Shipments to China : Venezuela has suspended oil shipments to Ch...

Maduro Faces Federal Charges : Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro has pleaded not guilty in U.S. federal court to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, claiming he is the lawful president and a kidnapping victim.   Tim Walz and Minnesota Welfare Fraud Fallout : Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faces growing political backlash over massive welfare fraud schemes tied to the Somali community, inc...

Brown & MIT Shooting Update : Federal authorities confirm the Brown University shooter was also responsible for the MIT killing.   Home Sales Tick Up Amid Rate Pressure : Home sales rose for the third straight month in November, though 2025 is still shaping up as one of the weakest housing markets in three decades. . Green Card Lottery Suspended : The Department of Homeland Security has suspended...

U.S. Approves $11B Arms Package to Taiwan : The Trump administration greenlights an $11 billion weapons sale to Taiwan, systems proven effective against Chinese technology on the Ukrainian battlefield. China is furious, but the move signals renewed U.S. commitment to Taiwan's defense, reportedly encouraged by quiet diplomacy with Japan's new prime minister. The "Warrior Dividend" Explained : Washi...

President Trump to Address the Nation Tonight : The president is scheduled to speak at 9 p.m. Eastern, with speculation centered on Venezuela. The administration is escalating pressure on Nicolás Maduro, including plans to seize oil tankers, signaling a broader effort to destabilize the regime and potentially accelerate the collapse of allied authoritarian governments. Congress Passes National Def...

Obamacare reform stalls: Top Republicans in Congress reject a centrist push to reform Obamacare, led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and a bipartisan group. With no consensus inside the GOP, Republicans again lack a unified health-care strategy, leaving Democrats with the messaging advantage. Brown University shooting raises alarms: A masked gunman opens fire at Brown University, exposing serious securi...

Trump vs. pro-life allies: The Trump administration is doubling down on access to the abortion drug while publicly clashing with pro-life leaders. Josh Hawley and Mike Pence are now targets, raising alarms that the White House is alienating a key part of the Republican base ahead of the midterms. Ukraine peace deal gamble: President Trump is offering Ukraine U.S. security guarantees in exchange fo...

RNC Alarm Bells: Leaked audio reveals Republican leadership privately warning of "almost certain defeat," raising concerns about messaging failures, low morale, and a fractured coalition heading into critical elections. Economic Stress Signals: Budget food staples like beans are surging in sales as grocery prices remain high, signaling growing financial strain on American families despite claims o...

Trump approval drops sharply: New AP polling shows President Trump at just 31% approval on the economy and 38% on immigration, signaling growing voter backlash tied largely to tariffs and cost-of-living concerns. Obamacare subsidies collapse in the Senate: Democrats fail to overcome a filibuster to extend enhanced ACA subsidies, while House Republicans scramble without a unified alternative health...

Federal Reserve Rejects Larger Rate Cut : Donald Trump's own Fed appointee declines a half-point cut, holding at a quarter-point instead. The Fed signals it is unlikely to issue additional rate cuts, leaving markets uneasy as investors wait for clearer labor-market data. AI Bubble Warning Signs Grow : AI markets continue surging, but regulators warn of a debt-fueled bubble driven by circular inves...

Trump hits the campaign trail in Pennsylvania : The president focuses on affordability after walking back comments that affordability concerns were a "scam." Susie Wiles signals Trump will campaign aggressively to reshape the economic narrative. NVIDIA's controversial China workaround : NVIDIA plans to route chips through the U.S. for a "security review" before exporting them to China, while payin...