President Trump provided an explanation for bruises on his hand that last year sparked rumors about his health during an interview with the Wall Street Journal that was published Thursday.
Why it matters: The 79-year-old president, who's faced age-related health scrutiny, revealed that he has for years taken higher doses of aspirin for "cardiac prevention" and this "causes bruising."
U.S. adults surveyed in 1999 correctly predicted major shifts for the half-century ahead: the election of a Black U.S. president, civilian travel to space and a warming planet.
The big picture: The turn of the millennium marked a cultural, technological and political inflection point, with Americans anticipating some of the changes that have come to define the 21st century so far.
The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 was a campaign trail boogeyman for President Trump, but much of it became reality during his first year back in office.
Why it matters: From reshaping the federal government to his push to recognize only two genders, Trump spent much of2025 ticking off items from the conservative wishlist.However, the plan has dozens more action items awaiting his attention in 2026.
The Supreme Court has many pivotal cases lined up for the coming year, many revolving around President Trump's policies.
The big picture: Trump has relied heavily on the court's emergency docket during his second term, using it to block lower court rulings while cases play out.
There are 271,000 fewer federal employees than there were at the start of 2025 — about a 9% drop, per the latest tally from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Why it matters: The sharp decline is a result of President Trump's efforts — initially spearheaded by Elon Musk's DOGE — to drastically reduce the size of the federal government.
The big picture: The new gambling laws on the state and federal level for 2026 could directly impact betters nationwide and how much income they claim on their taxes in the years to come.
New tax brackets, higher standard deductions and expanded credits are now in effect — changes that could boost paychecks and lower income taxes for many Americans in 2026 and beyond.
Why it matters: The IRS updates reflect annual inflation adjustments and sweeping tax changes signed into law last summer in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), making several provisions from the 2017 tax overhaul permanent.
Many of the key changes of President Trump's flagship first-year legislation go into effect in 2026, along with state-level policy expanding tech and labor protections.
Why it matters: New and amended laws intended to advance or restrict this administration's policies and platforms will affect Americans' wallets, work and entertainment in 2026.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) criticized President Trump's veto of a bill that would have funded a Colorado drinking water project in her district.
Why it matters: The prominent MAGA lawmaker and longtime Trump ally, who was among a group of Republicans pushing for the president to release the Epstein files, in a statement to a Colorado news station questioned his motives for the veto.
President Trumphas issued thefirst two vetoes of his second term, rejecting bills with bipartisan support that would have aided a Colorado water project and expanded tribal land in Florida.
The big picture: Trump appears to be using his veto power to settle scores. Although he said his vetoes protected taxpayer dollars, he alsomade clear at least one was punishing a tribe for joining a lawsuit against his immigration agenda.
President Trump's initiative to commemorate the 250th year of the founding of the U.S. kicked off with the projection of images on the Washington Monument during New Year's Eve celebrations in D.C. Wednesday night.
The big picture: The six-day art installation is one of many projects Trump has planned for the yearlong "America 250" celebrations.
