President Trump on Wednesday announced he's dropping his push for National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, saying crime in those cities has been "greatly reduced."
The big picture: The Trump administration has fought in court to carry out controversial federal troop deployments against local leaders' wishes, spurring massive protests in response.
With the 2026 midterm season approaching, voters on both sides of the abortion debate are likely to head to the polls to influence reproductive care laws in several states.
Why it matters:Abortion laws in many states have been in limbo since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday released former special counsel Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript, shedding new light on his investigation and indictments of President Trump.
The big picture: Although Smith's testimony earlier this month was conducted behind closed doors, his request to release the full transcript underscores his confidence in his team's work and conclusions — despite Trump's threats to prosecute him.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of attacking Iran again in 2026 during his meeting with President Trump on Monday, according to a U.S. official and two additional U.S. sources familiar with the details of the meeting.
Why it matters: Another war with Iran could further destabilize a region that's seeking stability after two years of crises.
The big picture: Broadly, changes from the law pose new obstacles for the poorest of households, but there are potential opportunities for working-class and middle-class Americans — such as extended tax cuts — that are worth keeping an eye out for.
AI-driven scientific innovation accelerated in 2025 — fueling major progress in fields ranging from robotics to health care.
Why it matters: Powerful new models and computing tools are influencing everything from how experiments are designed to how results are analyzed — with much of that momentum coming from the private sector.
Why it matters: Benefits are rising 2.8%, or about $56 a month for the average retiree, but higher Medicare premiums and tax rules will determine how much of that increase ends up in retirees' pockets.
All child care payments to Minnesota were frozen Tuesday evening as the Trump administration investigates alleged fraud by organizations in the state, Health and Human Services deputy secretary Jim O'Neill announced.
Why it matters: The Trump administration has repeatedly portrayed Minnesota as a propagator of fraud, particularly placing blame on the state's large Somali community.
President Trump's takeover this year of the Kennedy Center — which was renamed to include Trump earlier this month — is continuing to prompt cancellations from scheduled acts.
The big picture: At least three sets of performers have pulled out in the wake of the renaming, joining at least eight others who left Kennedy Center roles or canceled appearances following Trump's February election as board chairman.
The number of recorded measles cases in the U.S. during 2025 has exceeded 2,000 for the first time in more than 30 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why it matters: This year's surge in cases and prolonged outbreaks could cause the U.S. to lose its globally recognized measles "elimination status" for the first time in decades by the end of January 2026.
The Justice Department has sued Virginia over its policy of giving qualifying local undocumented immigrants access to in-state tuition pricing, claiming that it discriminates against citizens living in other states.
Why it matters: It is the latest example of the DOJ's push to limit states from offering tuition benefits to undocumented immigrants, without which higher education could be inaccessible to the nation's estimated 850,000 undocumented minors.
Some Federal Reserve officials were hesitant to support more interest rate cuts in 2026, according to minutes from the Fed's most recent policy meeting published on Tuesday.
Why it matters: The Fed is split over how much more to lower borrowing costs to support the economy, a division that might deepen next year against the backdrop of President Trump pressuring the central bank to lower rates.
The big picture: The judge's order permits sharing of basic biographical, contact and location information, a win for the Trump administration's effort to use Medicaid data in its immigration crackdown — an arrangement that critics said raised privacy concerns.
The U.S. economy was beaten and battered in 2025, and powered ahead despite it all.
The big picture: The question for 2026 is whether the underlying sources of weakness that are already evident will broaden out into something that threatens to undermine its overall resilience.
China's military held massive live-fire drills around Taiwan for a second day on Tuesday, but President Trump said he's not concerned about the action that Beijing launched after expressing anger at a proposed U.S. arms sale to Taipei.
The big picture: Trump told reporters Monday he has "a great relationship" with Chinese leader Xi Jinping "and he hasn't told me anything about" the drills. "Nothing worries me" about the drills, he added. "Nothing. They've been doing naval exercises for 20 years in that area."
President Trump and his top advisers asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank during their meeting on Monday, according to a U.S. official and another source, both with direct knowledge.
Why it matters: While the security situation in the West Bank has deteriorated dramatically, and other Western governments have denounced Israel's policies, the Trump administration has been seen as supportive. This is the first time in his second term that Trump and his team have weighed in at length with Netanyahu about West Bank policy.
