News From Around the Web
#1 US Announces Massive Package of Arms Sales to Taiwan Valued at More Than $10 Billion - The Associated Press/npr, Reuters, The Japan News, Wall St Engine, CNBC International, and Three Men Crew on X
The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers, and drones, a move that is sure to infuriate China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak about China or Taiwan at all. U.S.-Chinese tensions have ebbed and flowed during Trump's second term, largely over trade and tariffs but also over China's increasing aggressiveness toward Taiwan, which Beijing has said must reunify with the mainland...
#2 Republicans Defy Speaker Mike Johnson to Force House Vote on Extending ACA Subsidies - Kevin Freking for Associated Press/PBS, Capitol Report_NTD, WRNB HD2, Luke Garrett, PA Capitol News, and Mike Lawler/Catherine on X
Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans. The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a health care bill that does not address the soaring monthly premiums that millions of people will soon endure as the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end.
#3 The White House Promises to Dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research - Sam Brasch CPR News, KerryRogersTX, El lobo, Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!), Roger Sowell, and R eng on X
More than half a century after its founding, the Trump administration has vowed to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a Boulder-based research hub built to better understand Earth’s weather systems. Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, posted the news on Tuesday on X, claiming NCAR is one of the country’s largest sources of “climate alarmism.” USA Today broke the story earlier in the day.
“Any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location,” Vought wrote...
#4 Gov. Pillen, Dr. Oz Announce Nebraska Is First in the Nation to Pursue Medicaid Work Requirements - Governor Jim Pillen Office of the Governor, Sean Hannity, Senator Megan Hunt, KETV NewsWatch7, and Aaron Sanderford on X
Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CEO Steve Corsi in announcing that Nebraska is the first state in the nation to pursue work requirements for Medicaid expansion members. At the news conference today, Gov. Pillen signed a letter to CMS, detailing Nebraska’s intent to implement requirements by May 1, 2026.
The new work requirements are the result of HR1, the One Big Beautiful Bill. Among its key provisions is a requirement that able-bodied adults in the Medicaid expansion population engage in work or other qualifying activities as a condition of receiving Medicaid benefits. Governor Pillen praised the Trump administration for passage of the OBBB and emphasized that the policy will promote long-term independence and stronger community ties...
#5 Democrats’ Push to Limit Boat Strikes and Attacks on Venezuela Fails in House - Caitlin Yilek for CBS News, Zed Toppel, Dave DeCamp, Steve Hanke, José Alvarez, and The Western Journal on X
The latest Democratic-led attempt to limit President Trump's authority to strike Venezuela and suspected drug-smuggling boats in the region failed Wednesday, as tensions with the South American country continue to escalate. House Democrats forced votes on two war powers resolutions as Mr. Trump has warned that land strikes against the country could commence "soon." Mr. Trump's threats come amid a months-long military campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that have killed at least 95 people. Both measures fell short.
#6 Thomas Massie Blasts Trump’s Venezuela Sabre-Rattling: ‘This Is About Oil and Regime Change’ - Alex Griffing for Mediaite, Thomas Massie, Amador Auad H./Holden Culotta, Nunya Business, and Irlandarra/Spencer Hakimian on X
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) pulled no punches on Wednesday in opposing President Donald Trump’s saber-rattling about ousting Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Massie took to the House floor and called for Trump to seek Congressional approval before taking direct military action against Venezuela, which some in the media have predicted Trump may announce in prime time Wednesday night. “Mr. Speaker, James Madison warned us that in no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war and peace to the legislature and not the executive. Madison called it the crown jewel of Congress. The framers understood a simple truth: to the extent that war-making power devolves to one person, liberty dissolves. If the president believes military action against Venezuela is justified and needed, he should make the case, and Congress should vote before American lives and treasure are spent on regime change in South America,” Massie began, adding...
#7 War Department Reevaluates Discharge Characterizations for COVID Vaccine Refusal - C. Todd Lopez for Pentagon News, Department of War, Real America's Voice (RAV), healthbot, Stars and Stripes, and PAZ Phillips on X
For service members involuntarily discharged solely for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, the War Department has ordered a reevaluation of their discharge status to see who might be eligible for an upgrade to an honorable discharge. Between Aug. 24, 2021, and Jan. 10, 2023, over 8,000 service members were involuntarily discharged from the military for refusing to take the vaccine. Most of those service members received an honorable discharge, but over 4,000 had their service characterized as general (under honorable conditions). That's one step below honorable, and that discharge characterization meant they were ineligible to use GI Bill educational benefits for themselves or a family member. While nearly 900 veterans have already had their discharge characterizations upgraded, over 3,000 remain to be reviewed. In a Dec. 6 memorandum, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the military services to provide relief to those service members who received a general discharge but might have deserved an honorable one.
#8 Dan Bongino Plans to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director in January - CNN, Mike Davis/Dan Bongino, Benny Johnson, JamminLu/General Mike Flynn, Eric Daugherty, Spencer Hakimian, and Kyle Griffin on X
Deputy FBI director Dan Bongino is stepping down soon from the job after eight months marked by clashes with his boss, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and fighting off the conspiracies he once fueled. President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he thought Bongino wanted to go back to his podcast. Soon after, Bongino posted on X that he’d leave his post in January. “I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you,” Bongino wrote. “God bless America, and all those who defend Her.” Before the president’s remark Wednesday, Bongino was seen at a gingerbread house decorating contest at FBI headquarters...
#9 Trump's Year-End Address - CBS News, Deborah Toppings, Mark Dresser, Frank Buckley, Believer, Jade Elliot, and Jonathan Chevreau on X
What to know about President Trump's prime-time address. President Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night from the White House Diplomatic Reception Room to tout his accomplishments in 2025 and his goals for the next three years in office. The address was about 20 minutes long. Mr. Trump touted his economic record, defending his handling of inflation and tariffs, and accused Democrats of bringing the country to the "brink of ruin" as his administration deals with widespread voter frustration over the economy...
#10 FDA Has No Plans to Put Most Serious Warning on COVID Vaccines, Bloomberg News Reports - Reuters, Steve Kirsch/Dr Sherry Tenpenny, claire mckenna, Senator Ron Johnson/James Madison, Penguin X-01, A.J. Leonardo, and
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has no plans to put a "black box" warning on COVID-19 vaccines, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing the agency's top official Marty Makary.Some agency officials had recommended putting the most serious warning on the shots, but agency leaders, including top vaccine regulator Vinay Prasad, did not think it was necessary, FDA commissioner Makary told Bloomberg News in an interview. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. CNN reported last week that the agency was planning to put a boxed warning on these vaccines, and that it was being orchestrated by Prasad, the FDA's chief medical and scientific officer...
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