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National

More migrants from the southern border arrived on buses outside of Vice President Kamala Harris' home in Washington, D.C. on Christmas Eve during freezing temperatures, various media outlets report. 

The big picture: Washington, D.C. declared a public emergency in September in response to Texas, Arizona and other states sending thousands of migrants on buses and airplanes from the southern border to the national capital.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) — who has spent millions in state funds to transport thousands of migrants to D.C. and other sanctuary cities since the spring — dropped off roughly 100 migrants outside of Harris' residence in D.C. in September. 

In October, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine opened an investigation into governors who have been relocating migrants to D.C.

Details: While it is unclear who sent the buses on Saturday night, organizers at the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network said Abbott is behind it, WJLA-TV reports. 

Many migrants were wearing only T-shirts in the freezing weather and were later given blankets before being moved to shelters and churches, CNN reports.

The migrants are at risk of being expelled under the Title 42 public health authority or could be placed into removal proceedings, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Saturday.

What they're saying: "As temperatures remain dangerously low all along the border, no one should put their lives in the hands of smugglers, or risk life and limb attempting to cross only to be returned," the DHS said Saturday.

Volunteers spring into action after migrants left outside Harris' home

El Paso scrambles to help migrants in Christmas border crisis

What we know about Texas and Florida's transport of migrants

Biden administration asks Supreme Court to let Trump-era immigration policy end

Migrants dropped off at Vice President Harris' home on Christmas Eve

Washington D.C. declared a public emergency in September in response to Texas, Arizona and other states sending thousands of migrants to the nation's capital.

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Jan. 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images

Vice president

Kamala Harris

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Pope Francis in his annual Christmas message Sunday called for the end to conflicts and wars worldwide, saying the world was suffering from a "famine of peace"

What he's saying: "Indeed, we must acknowledge with sorrow that, even as the Prince of Peace is given to us, the icy winds of war continue to buffet humanity," Francis said during his annual “Urbi et Orbi” ("to the city and the world)" blessing and message at the Vatican. 

The 86-year-old said that "attachment to power and money, pride, hypocrisy, falsehood" is blocking the path of peace.  

The big picture: The pope, who has repeatedly called for an end to the war in Ukraine, urged the world to "see the faces of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes due to the devastation caused by 10 months of war."

“May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!” the pope said in a message that came just hours after air sirens went off across Ukraine, Reuters noted. 

He also pointed to conflicts and humanitarian crises in Yemen, Syria, Haiti, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region. 

"We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering," he said. "On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace and, starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace."

Francis urged the Israelis and Palestinians to resume "dialogue and efforts to build mutual trust" as the region sees a surge in violence. 

He also called on the world to "not forget the many displaced persons and refugees who knock at our door in search of some comfort, warmth, and food."

"Let us not forget the marginalized, those living alone, the orphans, the elderly – who are wisdom for their people – who risk being set aside, and prisoners, whom we regard solely for the mistakes they have made and not as our fellow men and women."

The bottom line: In a separate message during his homily of the Vatican's Christmas Eve mass, Francis urged the world to "not let this Christmas pass without doing something good.”

Pope's Christmas message: World suffering from "famine of peace"

The "attachment to power and money, pride, hypocrisy, falsehood" is blocking the path of peace, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis waves as he appears at the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the traditional Urbi et Orbi message and blessing on Dec. 25 in Vatican City. Photo: Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images 

Pope Francis

Afghanistan

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Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

Major international aid groups suspended their operations in Afghanistan on Sunday after the Taliban banned all foreign and domestic non-governmental organizations from employing women. 

Why it matters: Afghanistan faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. NGOs like Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, CARE, the International Rescue Committee and Afghanaid have been crucial in providing aid to millions, particularly after the country's economy collapsed following the Taliban takeover last year. 

The UN humanitarian office warned earlier this month that a record 28.3 million people — more than two-thirds of the country's population — will need humanitarian and other assistance next year. 

What they're saying: "We cannot effectively reach children, women and men in desperate need in Afghanistan without our female staff," Save the Children, NRC and CARE said in a joint statement. 

"Without women driving our response, we would not have jointly reached millions of Afghans in need since August 2021," the statement added. 

"Beyond the impact on delivery of lifesaving assistance, this will affect thousands of jobs in the midst of an enormous economic crisis."

Afghanaid in a separate statement said it would suspend all operations while the international aid group consults with the UN and other NGOs. 

"If NGOs are unable to employ female staff, due to existing rules in the country that essentially prevent men from delivering aid assistance to women, Afghan women will be unable to receive humanitarian and development aid directly, and we therefore lose the ability to support half the population," Afghanaid warned. 

The IRC, which employs more than 8,000 people in Afghanistan, including 3,000 women, said it would also suspend its operations in the country. “Our ability to deliver services rely on female staff at all levels of our organization. If we are not allowed to employ women, we are not able to deliver to those in need,” the aid group said in a statement Sunday. 

Driving the news: The Taliban's Economy Ministry announced on Saturday that women could no longer be employed by NGOs, citing complaints that some female employees allegedly failed to wear the hijab correctly. 

Any NGO that doesn't comply with the new rule will have its operating license revoked, per AP. It was unclear if the rule applies to UN agencies and whether it only affects Afghan women or will be applied to foreign workers as well. 

The UN warned on Saturday that the rule would "only further hurt those most vulnerable, especially women and girls."

The big picture: When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 it took steps to restrict women's freedoms, despite initially claiming that they would honor women's rights within the "frameworks" of Islamic law. 

Since then, women's rights have been eroded even further. 

Last week, the Taliban banned women from attending universities. Schools had already been closed to most girls and young women after sixth grade.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the IRC’s statement. 

NGOs suspend Afghanistan operations after Taliban ban women

AfghanAid, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council and CARE said they could no longer effectively provide aid.

Afghan women protest against new Taliban ban on women accessing University Education on December 22, 2022

Afghan women protest against new Taliban ban on women accessing university education on Dec. 22. Photo: Getty Images

Sports

Axios Sports

For years, the NFL had Thanksgiving and the NBA had Christmas. Now, the NFL is coming down the chimney and stealing the NBA's milk and cookies.

What's happening: The NFL is playing on Christmas Day for a third straight season, and they're going bigger than ever this year, with the first Christmas triple-header in league history.

Broncos at Rams (4:30pm, CBS/Nickelodeon)

Why it matters: America has long been obsessed with watching football — just not typically on December 25. But with the NFL looking to expand its footprint, and with Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, Christmas is becoming a football holiday.

State of play: The NFL accounted for 41 of the 50 most-watched TV broadcasts of 2021, and 75 of the top 100. That's why today's triple-header will likely lap the NBA in ratings, even though only one of the teams playing — the Dolphins — has a winning record.

The NBA's Christmas Day games averaged 4.1 million viewers last year, the lowest viewership since the schedule expanded to five games in 2008.

That was due in part to the NFL's Christmas doubleheader, with Packers-Browns drawing 28.6 million viewers and Colts-Cardinals drawing 12.6 million.

A third NFL game will only make things worse for ABC/ESPN, which will air all five NBA games today. Disney, an NFL media partner, can't be thrilled.

The big picture: The NFL isn't just encroaching on Christmas. It's also adding a Black Friday game in 2023, tightening its grip on Thanksgiving weekend at the expense of college football, which has played Black Friday games since the 1970s.

The league has also successfully turned mundane offseason events like the schedule release and first day of training camp into tentpole events.

It's all part of a strategy to "grow the pie," as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones likes to say. If the mighty NFL wants to own a part of the calendar, it will.

By the numbers: There have been 27 Christmas Day NFL games, including today's slate. 20 of those have come this century and 15 have come since 2006, when Roger Goodell became commissioner.

The NFL is taking over Christmas

Football is stealing basketball's holiday thunder.

Illustration of a football wearing a red furry santa hat in front of a teal background

National Football League (NFL)

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

An Arizona judge on Saturday rejected GOP candidate Kari Lake's legal bid to overturn her defeat in the state's governor's race, confirming Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs' victory.

Driving the news: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled that Lake didn't prove election officials committed misconduct that would've changed the outcome of the race.

Thompson dismissed eight of Lake's 10 claims in her lawsuit before hearing the case last week.

In his ruling, Thompson acknowledged "the anger and frustration of voters" but said the court "cannot accept speculation or conjecture in place of clear and convincing evidence."

Flashback: Lake lost by about 17,000 votes to Hobbs, who will be sworn in next month.

Before the election, Lake indicated she would challenge an unfavorable outcome.

What they're saying: "For the sake of restoring faith and honesty in our elections, I will appeal his ruling," Lake tweeted.

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Kari Lake loses bid to overturn Arizona election results

Lake lost to Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs by about 17,000 votes.

Kari Lake speaks during the Republican Party's election night event in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Kari Lake speaks during the Republican Party's election night event in Scottsdale, Ariz. Photo: Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Kari Lake

Your Christmas meals with all the fixings, including eggnog and ham, cost around 16.4% more than last year with inflation.

Why it matters: Nearly every ingredient in 2022 holiday feasts is more expensive — hit by inflation, supply chain interruptions and the avian flu, according to data from Datasembly and the Consumer Price Index.

Yes, but: Consumer price gains have been slowing and CPI rose 7.1% in the year ending in November, down from 7.7% in October's inflation report, the Labor Department said.

CPI peaked at 9.1% year over year during the summer — the highest since 1981.

Inflation drives up price of Christmas dinner, eggnog

It's not just everyday food like eggs that have higher prices. Items for your Christmas meal also cost more.

Axios

Sunday's top stories

Migrants dropped off at Vice President Harris' home on Christmas Eve

Pope's Christmas message: World suffering from "famine of peace"

NGOs suspend Afghanistan operations after Taliban ban women

The NFL is taking over Christmas

Kari Lake loses bid to overturn Arizona election results

Inflation drives up price of Christmas dinner, eggnog

Mega Millions jackpot grows to $565 million

Support for Ukraine has shattered experts' predictions — and Putin's

Most Americans don't have peak protection against COVID