• Tyler Robinson appears in court: Alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson appeared in court for the first time on Thursday. Robinson’s parents and brother were present while the court was open to the public, but they were removed once the court entered to closed session. The media was allowed back into the courtroom after two hours of closed session, but was instructed to position their cameras so as not to show Robinson’s shackles. Security was tight on Robinson’s first day in court, with a heavily armed escort; the main courtroom entrance was also blocked off. Presiding Judge Tony Graf Jr. explained that while cameras would be allowed in the court, he would order them turned off at the court’s discretion. Erika Kirk says she is avoiding coverage of the proceedings for now; she has publicly called for camera access.

• Noem faces the House: Political theater erupted at the House Homeland Security Committee’s annual threats hearing on Thursday when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem faced off with hostile Democrats. The most explicit example of this came from Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), who, after accusing Noem of incompetence and lying, asked, “If you’re not fired, will you resign?” Noem answered, “Sir, I will consider your asking me to resign as an endorsement of my work.” Another Democrat, ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS), also called on Noem to resign, claiming, without any evidence, that she was engaged in corruption and malfeasance. It was clear from the meeting that Democrats were upset with Noem for her effective leadership in seeing border security reestablished and our nation’s immigration laws enforced.

• 18,000 confirmed and suspected terrorists entered the U.S. under Biden: The House Homeland Security Committee heard testimony from United States National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent on Thursday that the Biden administration allowed 18,000 known or suspected terrorists into the U.S., and that doesn’t count terrorists who may have crossed the open southern border. Roughly 2,000 of the total figure are Afghan “refugees” who had their entry into the U.S. facilitated by the administration under Operation Allies Welcome. Not all of the 88,000 Afghans who entered under that operation have been examined yet, so that number may continue to rise. Kent explained that the unknown nature of those who entered the country under Joe Biden is “the No. 1 threat that we have right now.”

• National Guard murder an “unfortunate accident,” says Bennie Thompson: A senior House Homeland Security committee member should probably know better than to call an Islamic terrorist attack an “unfortunate accident.” The event Thompson was referencing was when Afghan migrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal drove across the country to confront National Guardsmen the day before Thanksgiving, killing one and injuring another after shouting “Allahu akbar.” That doesn’t sound like an accident. Then again, Thompson is a Democrat, and they love to downplay Islamic terrorism. Who could forget when fellow House Democrat Ilhan Omar said 9/11 was an event where “some people did something.”

• Two ObamaCare bills fail in Senate: Two ObamaCare bills failed to advance in the Senate on Thursday. One bill proposed by Democrats would extend the enhanced ObamaCare subsidies for another three years. Four Republicans broke ranks to vote with the Democrats, but the bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold. Another bill proposed by Republicans would not extend the enhanced subsidies; instead, it would fund Health Savings Accounts for ObamaCare recipients and allow them to use these HSAs to pay for premiums and other out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Every single Democrat voted against advancing this bill, while all Republicans except for Sen. Rand Paul voted in favor. Paul objected, calling it a “watered-down version” of ObamaCare, and offering his own plan, which he claims “actually fixes the system” and “doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.” His plan “would legalize the ability to buy insurance across state lines, through a co-op.”

• Trump admin prevents $1B in student aid fraud: After Education Secretary Linda McMahon uncovered $90 million in student aid fraud, her department launched a nationwide identity-verification initiative that reinstated measures deprioritized under President Joe Biden. Under the previous administration, less than 1% of Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicants were required to verify their identities. McMahon’s verification initiative launched in June and flagged 150,000 FAFSA applications in the first week alone for “suspect identities.” The Education Department has been on task preventing fraud in other ways, too, with an “Avoid Student Aid Scams” section on its website warning students against filing applications with phony schools. McMahon says that the department’s efforts have ensured that $1 billion in taxpayer funds will go to American students rather than criminals, adding, “Merry Christmas, taxpayers!”

• Dow Jones hits record high: “STOCK MARKET JUST HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH!!! When will the Fake Polls show that I am doing a great job on the Economy, and much more???” Donald Trump posted on social media yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average did indeed hit a new record high, jumping over 600 points following the Federal Reserve’s unexpected decision the day prior to cut interest rates by another quarter point. While the Dow and S&P 500 hit record highs, the Nasdaq ended in negative territory as investors pulled back from AI investments. Trump’s message on the stubborn inflation rate is one of patience, claiming that prices are coming down even as the economy recovers from the damage caused by the Biden administration.

• Indiana Republicans reject new map: Indiana’s Republican-led Senate voted against adopting a newly redrawn redistricting map that favored Republicans. The new map would have likely given Republicans two more House seats in the 2026 midterms. Donald Trump has pressured Republican-led states to use their power like Democrats do and redraw redistricting maps in the GOP’s favor. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance had also pushed Indiana to adopt a new map, but when it came to a vote on Thursday, the state Senate voted 31-19 against it. State Sen. Greg Goode explained the rationale, arguing, “The consensus of Hoosiers in District 38 is to vote against.” However, state Sen. Liz Brown pushed back, stating, “Hoosier voices are going to be harder to hear. Without this, they’re going to be silenced because there will be no conservative voices in Washington, D.C.”

• Egypt and Iran object to gay pride FIFA match: Egypt and Iran still view same-sex relations as immoral and have laws criminalizing the behavior, even to the point of death in Iran. They are calling on FIFA to nix the gay pride celebrations at their 2026 World Cup match in Seattle. The Egyptian football association released a statement arguing that the planned celebrations “directly contradict the cultural, religious, and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.” The president of Iran’s Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, also criticized the decision to hold the game in Seattle that weekend. “Both Egypt and we have objected because this is an unreasonable and illogical move,” Taj said. Many have pointed out that while a guest in other countries, one is expected to abide by their laws and customs. Sadly, something so degrading is considered a “custom” in our country.

Headlines

• Another grand jury refuses to indict Letitia James (Hot Air)

• White House: U.S. intends to “seize” oil onboard impounded Venezuelan tanker (Washington Examiner)

• U.S. judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from immigration detention — again (New York Post)

• AI fuels surge in digital holiday scams (Washington Times)

• Pentagon warns that China is reaching its goals in space (Washington Times)

• Black Lives Matter OKC leader charged with wire fraud, money laundering in alleged $3.15M embezzlement scheme (Fox News)

• U.S. military persuades entire Venezuelan army to surrender by offering them some food (Babylon Bee)

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