Good morning everyone, and happy New Year’s Eve. What a relentless and historic year it has been. If you missed my 2025 end-of-year recap, be sure to check it out.
Even on New Year’s Eve, the news does not slow down. There is a lot to cover, and much of it is consequential. Top of mind are the Epstein files and the growing body of reporting detailing Donald Trump’s far closer relationship with Jeffrey Epstein than previously acknowledged. We are also digging into Trump’s veto of bipartisan legislation, the Kennedy Center board’s improper bylaw changes to advance his interests, and Attorney General Pam Bondi quietly deleting a post after falsely crediting Trump for policy successes that occurred under President Biden.
For your reference, I will publish another post this evening well before the ball drops, recapping the rest of today’s developments. Tomorrow morning, you will receive a good-news-only New Year’s post, because we are starting 2026 with intention and the right tone.
To everyone who made this year possible, thank you. This work exists without major corporate backing and without loyalty to anyone but you and the truth. If you value independent, accountable reporting, please subscribe and help make 2026 even stronger.
Here’s the news:
A new report detailed by The Wall Street Journal alleges that Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club repeatedly sent young female spa employees to massage Jeffrey Epstein for years despite internal warnings about his sexual misconduct, with former staff saying Trump ultimately barred Epstein only after a 2003 complaint from an 18-year-old worker, though the incident was not reported to police; the White House denies wrongdoing, but the revelations have intensified scrutiny of Trump’s long relationship with Epstein amid controversy over missing DOJ files and the administration’s handling of the case.
President Donald Trump issued the first vetoes of his second term, blocking two bipartisan infrastructure bills—H.R. 131, which would have reduced Colorado communities’ costs for a water pipeline, and H.R. 504, which would have expanded land for the Miccosukee Tribe and funded flood mitigation—arguing they wasted taxpayer money, while Democrats including Michael Bennet accused him of political retaliation amid broader disputes with Colorado leaders, and GOP sponsor Lauren Boebert vowed to keep fighting the measure.
The Washington Post has confirmed that The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts quietly changed its bylaws earlier in 2025 to restrict voting power to trustees appointed by the president, a move that paved the way for a unanimous vote by Donald Trump’s appointees to add his name to the institution, drawing protests and criticism from excluded board members while the center said the rule change followed longstanding precedent.
Attorney General Pam Bondi deleted a social media post after being called out for falsely crediting Donald Trump for a sharp drop in U.S. drug overdose deaths that actually occurred during Joe Biden’s presidency, as the chart she shared—sourced from a Journal of the American Medical Association study—ended before Trump took office, prompting criticism from Democrats including Ted Lieu and renewed scrutiny of Trump administration claims amid drug policy cuts and controversial pardons.
Enhanced premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act are expiring after today, likely driving 2026 premiums sharply higher for millions—by more than $1,000 on average according to KFF—with early signs showing lower new enrollment, more plan downgrades to cheaper bronze coverage, and some people dropping insurance altogether as Congress remains stalled on an extension, though states say systems could be updated quickly if lawmakers act.
New waivers take effect Jan. 1 banning the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy soda, candy and other items in five states—Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia—affecting about 1.4 million people as part of the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” push led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., though retailers and health experts warn the complex rules could raise costs, cause checkout confusion, and may not significantly improve diets or health outcomes.
Donald Trump rang in the New Year with a late-night Truth Social rant falsely claiming overwhelming voter approval, dismissing negative polls as “rigged,” and boasting about border security, inflation and the economy, continuing his long-running tradition of pairing New Year’s greetings with attacks, exaggerations and grievances rather than conciliatory messaging.
According to Reuters, Peruvian shamans issued a ritual prediction warning that Donald Trump could become “seriously ill” in 2026, a claim that has drawn attention amid ongoing public scrutiny of his bruising and chronic venous insufficiency diagnosis, though the White House rejected the prophecy and insisted Trump remains in excellent health, while noting the shamans’ forecasts have historically mixed accuracy.
New bruising on Donald Trump’s left hand has renewed scrutiny of the 79-year-old president’s health, with medical experts saying the discoloration is likely benign and age- or medication-related but warning that the White House’s limited transparency—following earlier explanations about handshaking, aspirin use, and a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency—has fueled ongoing speculation about his condition.
The Trump administration froze all federal child care payments to Minnesota after a viral video alleged widespread daycare fraud, drawing praise from federal officials, criticism from Gov. Tim Walz as politically motivated, and prompting new nationwide verification requirements for child care funds.
According to the The New York Times, Donald Trump erupted at special envoy Keith Kellogg during an Oval Office meeting after Kellogg praised Volodymyr Zelensky as courageous and compared Ukraine’s fight for survival to Abraham Lincoln’s leadership in the Civil War, later dismissing Kellogg to advisers as “an idiot.”
According to The Guardian, the Trump family’s business delayed the launch of its $499 gold “T1” smartphone after supply disruptions linked to a government shutdown, undercutting claims that the device is “proudly American”–made and raising fresh questions about conflicts of interest as Trump Organization licenses the president’s name for a heavily regulated telecom venture run by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
U.S. executions surged to a 16-year high in 2025, with 47 men put to death, nearly double last year’s total, a spike driven by Donald Trump’s push to revive capital punishment and the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to halt executions, deepening a growing disconnect between state actions and public opinion that now shows majority opposition to the death penalty, especially among younger Americans.
Taiwan remained on high alert after China’s large-scale “Justice Mission 2025” military drills—featuring rocket launches, warships, and aircraft near the island—began to ease, though Beijing has not formally declared the exercises over, keeping regional tensions elevated.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
