Several members of President Trump's national security team have taken on unusually large public profiles — with frequent on-camera appearances, dramatic pronouncements and even eyebrow-raising wardrobe choices.
Why it matters: It's no secret that Trump prefers his appointees to appear straight out of "central casting." But in national security roles, showmanship can quickly become a liability.
Zelensky also revealed he's willing to bring that plan up for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days.
Why it matters: While Zelensky emphasized that great progress has been made,Trump's plan still demands painful territorial concessions from Ukraine in the east. Zelensky is still hoping to improve those terms and said he'll need to seek approval of the Ukrainian people if they can't get to a "strong" position on territory.
President Trump is expected to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to try and reach agreement on the U.S. peace plan, Ukrainian officials say.
Why it matters: The meeting is a sign of significant progress in the talks. Trump said previously that he'd only meet Zelensky if he felt a deal was close.
President Trump plans several big announcements on Gaza in early January, but the next steps hinge on his meeting on Monday at Mar-a-Lago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Why it matters: White House officials think Netanyahu is slow-walking the peace process, and fear he will resume the war with Hamas. But while the Israeli prime minister is butting heads with Trump's team, he hopes to bring the president himself over to his more hawkish point of view, a senior Israeli official said.
The U.S. is undergoing its fastest religious shift in modern history, marked by a rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated and numerous church closures nationwide.
Why it matters: The great unchurching of America comes as identity and reality are increasingly shaped by non-institutional spiritual sources — YouTube mystics, TikTok tarot, digital skeptics, folk saints and AI-generated prayer bots.
The U.S. military "launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS" in Nigeria's northwest on Christmas Day following the targeting of Christians in the West African country, President Trump announced Thursday.
The big picture: U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on X it "conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria" in Sokoto State on Thursday at the direction of the president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, "and in coordination with Nigerian authorities."
