Thursday, December 18 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Thursday. Christmas is one week from today! 🎄 |
Inflation unexpectedly cools in November Trump rattles off 2025 wins Service members' $1,776 'Warrior Dividends' Trump's potential marijuana announcement Pope Leo signals change in N.Y.'s next archbishop
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Programming note: 12:30 Report will not publish on Friday. We'll be back on Monday with everything you missed. Do something holiday-festive for me this weekend! 🎅 |
A key data point on the heels of Trump's big speech: |
Doug Mills, The New York Times via Associated Press pool |
Inflation unexpectedly slowed in November, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), catching economists by surprise. Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent over the past 12 months, down from 3 percent in September. For context, economists had expected an annual inflation rate of 3.1 percent. (There was no October data because of the government shutdown.) Now, today's inflation numbers may have been distorted: The Wall Street Journal pointed out that economists caution there were gaps in the economic data because of the 43-day shutdown. In fact, the Labor Department had to use workarounds to make up for those gaps, which may have underestimated the inflation rate. Read more on how the data may have been distorted But regardless, Trump will almost certainly celebrate that figure. In his nationally televised prime-time address Wednesday night, the president touted falling prices, saying, "I am bringing those high prices down and bringing them down very fast." More on the speech: The president delivered an infomercial-style 18-minute address to the American people, touting various wins and rattling off arguments for why his policy agenda has been successful, though facts he referenced were exaggerated at times. The president is stepping up his messaging around the economy and kitchen table topics amid lagging polling figures ahead of next year's midterm elections. Trump also announced a bonus for US service members: The president promised to pay service members $1,776 bonus checks, funded by tariff revenue. Read more takeaways from Trump's prime-time address Another view, from The Atlantic's Tom Nichols: 'This Is What Presidential Panic Looks Like: Donald Trump delivered a fear-drenched rant live from the White House.' 💬 Follow today's live blog |
Trump said last night that he "inherited a mess," blaming former President Biden for problems in the economy and saying he's working to fix them. NewsNation's Libbey Dean asked Trump's National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett this morning when it will become Trump's economy. "It's the Trump economy now," Hassett responded. 📹 Watch the back and forth |
➤ A MARIJUANA ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE COMING: |
During the infamous Vanity Fair photoshoot, Vice President Vance joked to the photographer, "I'll give you $100 for every person you make look really s---ty compared to me. And $1,000 if it's Marco." Well, Secretary of State Marco Rubio 📸 posted the awkward photo of himself standing in the corner looking at his feet on X and captioned it, "#NewProfilePic." Vance then responded to Rubio's post, "I guess I owe that guy $1,000." |
House Republicans put Senate Republicans in an awkward spot: |
"Republican senators who defeated a Democratic bill to extend ObamaCare subsidies for three years without reforms to the program are frustrated the same proposal appears likely to pass the House after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was unable to quell a rebellion within his own party," reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton. Yes, but: "GOP senators want to preserve their working relationship with Johnson, so they are careful about criticizing him publicly." Where things stand: The Democratic proposal to extend the expiring health care credits "now has enough momentum to pass the House, which means it would likely come to the Senate early next year, putting GOP senators on the defensive once again over the expiring ACA subsidies just when funding for broad swaths of government is due to expire Jan. 30." Read more: 'GOP senators frustrated by Speaker's handling of explosive health care issue' |
➤ HMM, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING: |
NOTUS reporters asked more than 120 House Republicans if they plan to run for reelection. Several Republicans were surprisingly noncommittal. Read lawmakers' responses Lots of Capitol Hill journalists have been posting about this report. |
President Trump will sign the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this evening. The Senate passed it on Wednesday in a 77-20 vote. |
Pope Leo names a new NY archbishop: |
Pope Leo XIV appointed a fellow Illinois native as the next archbishop of New York. Bishop Ronald Hicks will replace retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan. This is a big deal: Cardinal Dolan is an outspoken conservative who appears on Fox News and prayed at both of Trump's inaugurations. However, his replacement is much less outspoken on politics. What to know about Hicks: "Bishop Hicks has advanced under the leadership of more progressive church leaders, including Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, an ally of Pope Francis who has prioritized immigrants and a welcoming stance toward L.G.B.T.Q. people. … But in the diocese of Joliet, he also has found support from conservative priests and parishioners who observe the traditional Latin Mass, an old form of worship that Pope Francis attempted to discourage." (The New York Times) | — The Democratic National Committee has decided not to publish its autopsy report of what went wrong in the 2024 election, per The New York Times's Shane Goldmacher. The chair thinks it would be counterproductive. — The U.S. admitted fault for the midair collision between a commercial plane and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. This may help families receive a settlement. — The U.S. announced the sale of more than $10 billion in weapons to Taiwan. This will likely anger China. — The Department of Health and Human Services has terminated federal grants for the American Academy of Pediatrics that don't align with the Trump administration's priorities. — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's daughter called out TSA (which falls under the Department of Homeland Security) following a recent airport security pat-down that she called "absurdly invasive." |
➤ MORE READS GETTING ATTENTION TODAY: |
New York Magazine: How the Phone Ban Saved High School: Since the bell-to-bell device lockup, teens have rediscovered the simple pleasures of conversation and poker. The Wall Street Journal: Trump Told by Alan Dershowitz Constitutionality of Third Term Is Unclear The New York Times: Nearly $900 Million Flowed in Secret to Help Harris and Trump in 2024 The Washington Post: Stephen Miller's hard-line Mexico strategy morphed into deadly boat strikes |
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The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
Noon: The Senate votes. 📆 Today's agenda 1:30 p.m. Trump signs an executive order. 2 p.m. First and last House votes. 📆 Today's agenda 4:15 p.m. Trump participates in a Christmas reception. 6 p.m. Trump signs the NDAA into law. 💻 Livestream 8:15 p.m. Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in a Christmas reception. This weekend: U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Miami to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. |
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🐖 Celebrate: Today is National Roast Suckling Pig Day. 🐼 What goofy creatures: The pandas at the Washington National Zoo frolicked in the snow last weekend. 📹 Enjoy the video |
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