MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 25, 2025
- Powerball Jackpot Winner: A ticket in Arkansas won the massive $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot from the Christmas Eve drawing, ending a three-month rollover and marking one of the largest in U.S. history.
- Epstein Files Delay: The Justice Department announced a delay in releasing additional Jeffrey Epstein documents after discovering over a million more potentially relevant files, requiring further review and redactions.
- Strong Q3 GDP Growth: U.S. GDP surged 4.3% annualized in the third quarter, driven by robust consumer spending and exports, outperforming expectations despite concerns over jobs and inflation.
- Stock Market Records: The Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs on Christmas Eve, fueled by optimism in AI and resilient economic data, marking a strong "Santa Claus rally."
Massive Holiday Storm: A powerful storm system is lashing Southern California today, bringing threats of flash floods and mudslides to already waterlogged regions.
Epstein File Release Delayed: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it may need a "few more weeks" to finish the release of over a million newly discovered documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, missing a previous year-end deadline.
Arkansas Lottery Win: A Powerball player in Arkansas has officially claimed a massive $1.817 billion jackpot, one of the largest in U.S. history.
Border Violence: ICE agents were involved in a shooting on Christmas Eve in which they fired at a moving vehicle, resulting in two injuries.
- Trump-Backed Honduras Election Win: Nasry Asfura, endorsed by President Trump, was declared winner of Honduras' disputed presidential election after weeks of delays and fraud allegations.
- Venezuela Oil "Quarantine": The White House ordered U.S. military forces to prioritize enforcing sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments, signaling economic pressure over military options.
- Epstein Documents Release Delayed: DOJ cited discovery of over a million additional files, pushing back full disclosure amid ongoing scrutiny.
- Immigration and Security Policies: Ongoing actions include visa suspensions and investigations tied to recent events, reflecting administration priorities.
Kennedy Center Controversy: A Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center was canceled after host Chuck Redd called off the show in protest of President Trump’s name being added to the building.
Trump’s Christmas Calls: Continuing tradition, President Trump participated in NORAD Santa Tracker calls, using the platform to warn against "bad Santas" and defend the coal industry.
Youth Care Lawsuits: More than a third of U.S. states have filed a joint lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over federal moves that could curtail gender-affirming care for youth.
Project 2025 Review: Political analysts are releasing year-end reports today tracking the Trump administration's progress on the "Project 2025" policy wishlist.
- Ukraine-Russia Conflict Updates: Russia claimed capture of Pokrovsk; missile strikes hit Dnipro; Kremlin analyzes new U.S.-Ukrainian peace plan but signals rejection.
- Honduras Presidential Result: Trump-backed Nasry Asfura declared winner amid disputes, potentially shifting regional alliances.
- Bangladesh Political Return: BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned from 17-year exile ahead of elections.
- Venezuela Sanctions Enforcement: U.S. focuses military on "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil amid tensions.
Pope Leo’s First Christmas: In his first Christmas sermon, Pope Leo XIV (the first U.S. pope) made an unusually direct appeal for Palestinians, decrying the conditions in Gaza and comparing their tents to the stable in Bethlehem.
Honduras Election: Nasry Asfura, a candidate backed by President Trump, has been declared the winner of the Honduran presidential election.
Ukraine Peace Proposal: President Zelenskyy has expressed openness to creating a demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s industrial heartland, provided Russia reciprocates by pulling back troops.
Nigeria Mosque Attack: A tragic suicide bombing at a mosque in Nigeria has killed 5 people and injured more than 30 during holiday gatherings.
- Campus Security Review: U.S. Department of Education launches review of Brown University following a recent shooting incident.
- Global Interest in Indian Education: Countries like Bhutan and Morocco request IIT campuses abroad.
- Exam Security Enhancements: India considers facial recognition for entrance exams.
- Year-End Reflections: Debates on federal programs, AI in education, and access issues persist into the new year.
Brown University Review: The U.S. Department of Education is conducting a program review of Brown University following a shooting on campus earlier this month that killed two students.
FAFSA Success: Education officials reported a 150% increase in 2026–27 FAFSA submissions compared to last year, totaling over 5 million applications.
California School Uncertainty: As the year ends, California schools are bracing for potential federal funding cuts as the White House continues its push to dismantle or significantly reshape the Department of Education.
- Record Stock Closes: Dow and S&P 500 hit all-time highs on Christmas Eve amid AI optimism and strong GDP data.
- Q3 GDP Surge: Economy grew 4.3% annualized, boosted by consumer spending, though job concerns linger.
- Jobless Claims Mixed: Initial claims fell unexpectedly, but continuing claims rose, signaling hiring slowdowns.
- K-Shaped Recovery: Growth benefits top earners most, with consumer confidence weakening amid income anxieties.
Market Closure: U.S. stock markets (NYSE and Nasdaq) are closed today for Christmas.
Trading will resume tomorrow, December 26. Small Business Struggles: Despite a "hot" overall economy, higher costs and shifting consumer habits toward big-box retailers are leaving many small businesses with a bleak holiday season.
Currency Shifts: The Korean won and Japanese yen have strengthened today following warnings from Asian policymakers against excessive currency weakness against the U.S. dollar.
- AI Infrastructure Boom: Stocks like Lumentum, Celestica, and Seagate outperformed Nvidia in 2025 gains amid massive data center investments.
- New 3D Chip Breakthrough: Researchers develop vertical-stacked chip to speed data movement, addressing AI bottlenecks.
- PFAS Removal Tech: Eco-friendly material destroys "forever chemicals" in water hundreds of times faster than current methods.
- Tesla Robotaxi Lag: Optimism drives shares, but experts note Tesla trails Waymo in autonomous deployment.
Cybersecurity Threats: Security bulletins today highlighted "Stealth Loaders" and new AI chatbot flaws being used by hackers to blend into everyday corporate tools.
Trifold Hardware: Samsung is making waves with reports of a new "Galaxy Z trifold" device, signaling a shift beyond standard foldable phones.
"AI Slop" Backlash: Digital communities are increasingly rebelling against "AI slop"—low-quality, AI-generated content—leading to new moderation experiments on major social platforms.
- Weight-Loss Pill Impact: FDA approval of new GLP-1 pills expected to reshape food industry as cheaper oral options boost demand.
- Alzheimer's Reversal in Mice: Study restores memory by targeting brain energy failure, offering hope for human treatments.
- Flu and COVID Surge: Rising cases nationwide, with new severe H3N2 variant and low vaccination rates ahead of holidays.
- Global Health Wins: Millions more girls vaccinated against cervical cancer; several African countries eliminate measles.
Dementia & Dairy: A new 25-year study released today suggests that high-fat cheese and cream consumption may be linked to a lower risk of dementia, challenging previous assumptions about dairy fat.
Obesity Treatment: Researchers have announced progress in developing "mitochondrial uncouplers" as a potential new therapy for obesity.
PBM Transparency: New health laws in California targeting Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are being highlighted today as a potential national model for reducing drug costs.
- NBA Christmas Slate: Five games highlight the day, including matchups with debuts for stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cooper Flagg.
- NFL Christmas Games: Tripleheader features divisional rivalries, with halftime shows including Snoop Dogg.
- College Basketball Rankings: Texas Tech rises to No. 15; Kentucky and Gonzaga climb in power rankings.
- Bowl Season Ongoing: Multiple games, including holiday matchups, as postseason continues.
NFL Christmas Games: The NFL continues its holiday tradition with high-stakes matchups today, while Saints fans are notably rallying behind quarterback Tyler Shough.
Women’s Sports Expansion: In Minnesota, the "Frost" (PWHL) and the inaugural season of the "TC Gemini" rugby team are being celebrated as major milestones for women's professional sports in 2025.
College Football Ratings: CFP ratings have reportedly dropped 7% this season, with analysts citing heavy competition from NFL holiday scheduling.
