Key Events (10)
Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before House Judiciary Committee that Trump's actions around the 2020 election had no historical analog and that the January 6 Capitol riot would not have occurred without Trump's involvement. His closed-door testimony was released by House Republicans on January 1, 2026.
President Trump announced the withdrawal of National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, ending an earlier effort to deploy them to these cities. The move comes as an appeals court previously ordered an end to Trump's command of California's National Guard.
The CIA assessed that Ukraine did not attempt to target Putin's residence in a recent drone strike, contradicting claims made by the Russian leader to President Trump. The intelligence finding was reported to have influenced Trump's understanding of the incident.
Congressman Lauren Boebert alleged that President Trump's veto of a safe drinking water bill constitutes retaliation, noting that the bill had passed unanimously through both the U.S. House and Senate. Boebert had previously pushed for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump administration froze federal childcare funding to all states citing fraud concerns, with Minnesota families among those affected. The move threatens to disrupt childcare programs and has raised alarm among parents and childcare providers.
A South Park writer purchased the domain name trumpkennedycenter.org in response to Trump's renaming of the Kennedy Center. The satirical website advertises fictional performances and has drawn attention to the controversy surrounding the institution's renaming.
The Trump administration restricted U.S. foreign aid by applying conditional requirements and excluding certain countries from priority aid designations, with Afghanistan and Yemen notably excluded from a list of 17 priority countries selected to receive $2 billion in aid.
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new Democratic Socialist mayor of New York City, with Bernie Sanders administering the oath. Mamdani campaigned on policies including freezing rents, providing free buses, and establishing municipal grocery stores.
Trump rang in 2026 at Mar-a-Lago by auctioning a freshly painted portrait of Jesus Christ for $2.75 million. He stated his New Year's resolution was 'peace on Earth.'
Venezuela released at least 80 political prisoners, including one with U.S. ties, though rights groups report that more than 800 people remain detained for opposing President Nicolás Maduro's rule.