China’s shadow looms over Burma’s religious oppression

China's looming shadow over Burma’s shoulder is a concern for both Southeast Asia and here at home.

Zelensky, in Christmas message, says most Ukrainians may wish for Putin 'to perish'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged in his Christmas Eve message that many Ukrainians want to see Russian President Vladimir Putin dead. "'May he perish,' each of us may think to ourselves," Zelensky said in the broadcast. "But when we turn to God, of course, we

Trump should bolster, not undermine, Ukraine's fighting Christmas spirit

Putin’s military forces have bombed children’s hospitals, kindergartens and playgrounds. Russia has also kidnapped more than 19,000 Ukrainian children.

Noem, Patel face scrutiny at end of first year under Trump

As President Trump's first year back in office comes to a close, two officials in particular are under intense scrutiny, raising questions about how long they will remain in their jobs: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel. Trump has publicly

Who Is JD Vance? (No, Seriously. Who Is He?)

At the Turning Point USA conference at the University of Mississippi in October, an audience member asked Vice President JD Vance about the tension between his interracial, interfaith marriage with Usha, the daughter of Indian immigrants, and his beliefs that the U.S. should

The 12 Worst MAGA Monsters of 2025

Mike Johnson: The Man Who Knew Too Little

When all non-essential government services were suspended at the beginning of October, that also seemed to include the House Speaker Mike Johnson’s brain-processing power. But unlike the rest of the government, the Louisiana Republican has no intention of turning it back on.

Kristi Noem Is the Villain DHS Was Made For

Before the 2024 election, the idea that Kristi Noem would someday head the Department of Homeland Security seemed beyond unlikely. But her cruelty once handed this power was foreseeable. If Noem’s name rang any bells for most people before the Senate confirmed her to head DHS

Palau signs memo with Trump administration to take 75 migrants from US

Palau, a small archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, signed a memo of understanding with the Trump administration to take up to 75 “third-country nationals,” in exchange for $7.5 million in foreign aid. The agreement would allow migrants who have never been charged with a

Newsom proclaims state of emergency in multiple Southern California counties due to storms

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency in several southern counties on Wednesday, as a powerful winter storm swept through the state. Newsom issued the proclamation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta counties,

Honduras declares Asfura, backed by Trump, as presidential winner

Honduras on Wednesday declared President Trump-backed candidate Nasry Asfura the winner of the presidential election, ending a weeks-long vote count that sparked international concern. The conservative National Party candidate won the Nov. 30 election with 40.27 percent of the

Judge rejects Trump administration challenge to New York’s 'Green Light Law'

A federal judge on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration’s bid to block New York’s so-called Green Light Law, which allows the state to issue driver’s licenses to people without requiring proof that they’re in the country legally. U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci in Albany

Trump takes calls from kids on Christmas Eve: 'You don’t want clean, beautiful coal, right?'

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Wednesday got into the Christmas spirit as they fielded calls from children across the country in anticipation of the arrival of Santa Claus. The president and first lady joined the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

Conservatives press Trump: Where’s mifepristone review?

Click in for more news from The Hill {beacon} Health Care Health Care The Big Story Conservatives press Trump: where’s mifepristone review? Anti-abortion voices are growing increasingly impatient for the Trump administration to complete a review of the abortion pill

Crockett: 'I see the government shutting down' in January

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Tuesday she predicts the government will shut down in January and that lawmakers will not pass any appropriations bills to keep the government funded before the funding deadline. "I see the government shutting down," Crockett said in her

FEMA denies aid to Arizona counties after disastrous monsoon floods

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday denied aid to Arizona counties after September flooding. Local officials estimate there was more than $30 million in damage to public infrastructure and homes. “The people of Gila and Mohave County were devastated by

At UN, Venezuela says US has committed 'greatest extortion'

Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday accused the United States of committing the “greatest extortion known in our history” at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called over Washington’s seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers. “One of the countries

Attorney Mark Zaid scores win in security clearance fight with Trump administration

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled the Trump administration's stripping of an attorney's security clearance for representing a whistleblower pivotal to President Trump's first impeachment was a form of retribution and unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali granted a

American Academy of Pediatrics sues RFK Jr. over funding cuts

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the nation’s largest professional organization of doctors who treat children, said Wednesday it is suing the Trump administration after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly terminated nearly $12 million in federal

Watch live: Trump joins NORAD for Santa calls

President Trump will take part in the annual tradition of tracking Santa's flight around the world as he spends the holidays in Palm Beach, Fla. The president will participate in taking calls to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) — a joint United States and

Zelensky offers peace concessions to Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday presented a new 20-point peace plan that offers concessions to Russia in an effort to end the conflict in Ukraine. The proposal slims down the 28-point peace plan proposed by the Trump administration and allots for the creation

Murkowski ‘not satisfied’ with DOJ’s Epstein files release

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) said she is “not satisfied” with the Department of Justice’s rolling release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said she is working with Senate colleagues to press the department’s inspector general to

Retailers and restaurants that have already announced closures for 2026

While 2026 hasn't even started, major retailers and restaurants are already planning to shutter locations in the new year.

Michael Flynn presses Trump, Bondi, Wiles on Epstein response: 'This is a disaster'

Former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday urged President Trump and other top administration officials to ratchet up their response to the case surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Flynn, who briefly served as Trump's national security

Moody’s economist: GDP growth 'fragile because we're not creating jobs'

Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about the strength of the economy, warning the recently announced 4.3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth is “fragile” because of a lack of job growth. In an interview on CNBC’s

DOJ: Epstein files release may take 'weeks' after discovery of 1M more documents

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday that officials in New York had discovered more than 1 million additional documents potentially linked to the case of Jeffrey Epstein and that their release could take "a few more weeks." The announcement came as the department has

Paul redacts portions of Festivus rant as Jeffrey Epstein DOJ protest

Libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Christmas Eve took aim at the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files by posting a blacked-out criticism as part of his annual Festivus rant airing his “grievances” with Washington. Paul began his Festivus screed,

Pentagon deploys 350 troops to New Orleans through Mardi Gras

The Pentagon on Tuesday said it deployed 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted an immigration operation in the city earlier this month. The soldiers are expected to remain in the Crescent City through Mardi Gras.

DOJ mocks reporter for question about fake Nassar postcard: 'You dope'

The Department of Justice (DOJ) mocked a reporter Wednesday for asking a question on social platform X about a purportedly fake postcard from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to former women's doctor Larry Nassar. Independent reporter Jamie Dupree asked the DOJ why the

Makary, RFK Jr. Exaggerate Chronic Disease Benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Many doctors agree with the Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to remove the black box warnings on at least some forms of hormone therapy used to treat the symptoms of menopause. But in making the announcement, health officials misleadingly suggested that women

Republicans must hold the line: No Hyde Amendment, no deal on health care

Any plan that does not include Hyde can never be viewed as “clean.”

Judge rules Trump can't withhold FEMA grants to states over deportations

A federal magistrate judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from withholding disaster preparation grants to states if they don’t recalculate their population figures to reflect recent deportations. U.S. Magistrate Judge Amy Potter also found the administration

5 key details from latest Epstein document dump

The Department of Justice (DOJ) released its new cache of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, which brought more attention to President Trump's association with the disgraced financier and what else authorities knew about other Epstein associates. The DOJ released

Catsimatidis, Hochul, Blakeman take in 'Marty Supreme'

John Catsimatidis, a Republican grocer magnate and former New York City mayoral candidate, attended a special screening of the film “Marty Supreme” — which Catsimatidis enjoys a cameo appearance in — alongside two political rivals poised to compete against each other for the

19 Democratic-led states and DC sue over Trump gender-affirming care crackdown

A coalition of 19 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia late Tuesday sued the Trump administration, arguing a declaration from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rejecting gender-affirming care for transgender minors was an overreach of his

Rep. LaMonica McIver returns to detention facility months after scuffle

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) returned to the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey on Tuesday to push for its closure months after she was involved in a scuffle at the immigration detention facility that resulted in criminal charges. McIver’s latest visit comes after

Chris Van Hollen isn’t afraid to take a stand against Israeli brutality

For many of us critical of U.S. policy on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen has become the conscience of Congress.

Jack Smith calls for House committee to release full videotape of his deposition

Former special counsel Jack Smith wants the recording of his full deposition to a House panel released. His attorneys sent a letter Dec. 18 to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) requesting that his closed-door deposition be made public. “Mr. Smith respectfully

State governors must act now to prevent a mass homelessness crisis

Administrators of homelessness programs are in a panic over what might happen next.

US places visa bans on 5 Europeans, escalating 'free speech' fight

The United States placed visa bans Tuesday on five Europeans leading campaigns to combat misinformation and hate online, whom the Trump administration has accused of censoring social media platforms. The ban was placed on French former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, Center for

US on track for largest 1-year drop in murders ever

The United States is on track for the largest one-year drop in murders ever recorded, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher. Asher cited year-over-year data from the Real Time Crime index, which shows the murder rate has decreased nationally by nearly 20 percent from 2024 to

LIVE: Southern California hit with strongest Christmas storm in years

After days of ominous forecasts and warnings, a holiday storm with the potential to bring several inches of rain and flooding to Southern California has arrived. The National Weather Service predicts the storm may be the strongest Christmas event in years, with 4 to 7 inches of

Trump says CBS should put Colbert 'to sleep'

President Trump on Wednesday suggested CBS should cancel late night host Stephen Colbert's show immediately, rather than let him remain on air through May as planned. "Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck, with no talent or anything else necessary for show business

Trump might make the nation’s data disappear, but he can’t change reality

When elected officials dismiss data collection and statistics that have met the test of time yet tell a story that they dislike, they are effectively waging a civil war within our nation.

Bukele offers sardonic response to Hillary Clinton over CECOT criticism

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Tuesday gave a lengthy sardonic reply to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she criticized the conditions in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, the notorious prison known as CECOT. The president was replying to

Trump deploys quick-strike specialized military forces within range of Venezuela

The Defense Department on Monday deployed aircraft designed to transport special-operations forces, troops and equipment as part of an ongoing military buildup in the Caribbean that could signal imminent strikes against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The

DOJ hits National Guard shooting suspect with new firearms charges

The man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last month, killing Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, was hit with new firearm charges Tuesday. The Justice Department announced additional charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who is now charged with

America knows Trump’s first year was a fiasco — his desperate speech won’t change that

It’s easy to understand why Trump focused so heavily on trying to convince Americans that the economy was going great. Polls show that most Americans now believe their local economy is the worst it’s ever been, and even Trump’s own voters are blaming Republicans for their pain.