World Sports
GoFundMe refunds donors in alleged scam involving homeless vet, NJ couple – Fox News
Video Homeless man, couple conspired to deceive GoFundMe funds GoFundMe refunded more than $400,000 to 14,000 donors who believed they were helping a homeless veteran from Philadelphia — but later discovered it was an alleged scam concocted by a New Jersey couple. GoFundMe spokesman Bobby Whithorne said Tuesday refunds were issued to those who donated to the fund to help Johnny Bobbitt that was created by Katelyn McClure and her…
Trump says no end to shutdown until border barrier funded, plans January visit to new section of wall – CNN
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Shutdown spirit: Holiday visitors to nation’s capital find bathrooms locked, tree lights dark – NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON — The lights were not twinkling. The toy trains were not whirring. Even the nearby bathrooms were locked. The national Christmas tree, symbol of a country’s seasonal cheer, instead stood as an icon of a government in paralysis, as the partial shutdown stretched into the holiday with an array of federal services frozen, some 800,000 public servants either idled or about to be and the disruption to the broader…
Social media reacts to Trump asking a 7-year-old if he still believes in Santa Claus | TheHill – The Hill
Lawmakers, media figures and social media users took to Twitter after President TrumpDonald John TrumpPresident Trump, first lady attend Christmas service at National Cathedral Trump open to visiting Turkey in 2019 but no ‘definite’ plans, White House says Trump has weighed dismissing Mnuchin: Bloomberg MORE asked a seven-year-old if he believes in Santa Claus. Trump and first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpPresident Trump, first lady attend Christmas service at National Cathedral Trump asks child if…
Mattis Shares Christmas Message Taped One Day Before Resignation – HuffPost
“Since Washington crossed the Delaware at Christmas in 1776, American troops have missed holidays at home to defend our experiment in democracy,” he says. “To all you lads and lasses holding the line in 2018 on land, at sea or in the air, thanks for keeping the faith. Merry Christmas and may God hold you safe.”
Government Shutdown Scuppers Holiday Plans, Threatens to Delay Paychecks – Wall Street Journal
Alison Adams, a kindergarten teacher visiting Boston from Superior, Colo., said she is upset that the shutdown may affect the paycheck of her 18-year-old son, who is in the Coast Guard and is stationed in Massachusetts on his first assignment. The Coast Guard said on its official blog that if the shutdown persisted beyond Dec. 28 paychecks could be delayed. The military branch’s funding is under the Department of Homeland…
Christmas stalemate in Washington over border wall, shutdown – Fox News
The empty U.S. Capitol Rotunda is seen during a partial government shutdown in Washington, Monday, Dec. 24, 2018. Both sides in the long-running fight over funding President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall appear to have moved toward each other, but a shutdown of one-fourth of the federal government entered Christmas without a clear resolution in sight. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) WASHINGTON – Both sides in the fight over President Donald…
Trump asks 7-year-old ‘Are you still a believer in Santa?’ – CNN
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National Christmas tree in Washington, D.C.,, goes dark due to government shutdown – AOL
Lots of folks aren’t seeing the light in Washington this week. The National Christmas Tree may stay dark during the partial government shutdown, according to reports on Sunday. “During the federal government shutdown, the White House Visitor Center and National Christmas Tree site will be closed,” the National Park Service wrote on its website. “Restroom facilities will be closed.” The tree, a massive Colorado blue spruce, was damaged Friday when…
In Latest Shutdown, Some Lawmakers See a Diminished Congress – The New York Times
“The timing of it wasn’t right; the House has to have its say,” Mr. Roberts said. “Now we’re in a situation where both sides say, ‘Well, it’s the other side’s fault.’ We just have to get through that.” The desultory impasse has prompted some lawmakers to lament the magnification of what one former legislator described as “the natural tension between Article I and Article II of the Constitution” — Article…
Trump tells NORAD caller believing in Santa at age 7 is "marginal" – CBS News
The government may have partially shut down, but the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is still tracking Santa Claus’ journey across the globe. NORAD will be fielding calls throughout the night and day from children, trying to pinpoint exactly where Santa is and when he will make his long awaited arrival. NORAD has been following Santa for decades with the help of nearly 1,500 military personnel and volunteers. In…
Trump calls on Democrats to make a deal on border security during government shutdown – ABC News
President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Christmas Eve to air his grievances with some of the senior officials who have recently resigned from his administration, friend-turned-foe Sen. Bob Corker and the Federal Reserve, on a bad day for the U.S. stock market. Michael Reynolds/EPA via Shutterstock Senator Bob Corker speaks to members of the media following a closed briefing for US senators on Saudi Arabia in Washington, DC, Nov….
Chief Justice Roberts weighs in on mystery subpoena clash potentially tied to Mueller – Fox News
Video Mystery firm reportedly takes subpoena fight potentially tied to Mueller investigation to Supreme Court Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has weighed in on a clash over a mysterious grand jury subpoena, which is rumored to be connected to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. The dispute involves an unknown company owned by a foreign nation, which has fought the subpoena and appealed a related contempt citation. In a brief order…
Schumer and Pelosi accuse Trump of plunging country into chaos as markets tank | TheHill – The Hill
Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerWhite House, lawmakers signal shutdown will drag on Shutdown is bad for Republicans, an opportunity for Democrats House adjourns without clear path to avert shutdown MORE (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Nancy PelosiNancy Patricia D’Alesandro PelosiWhite House, lawmakers signal shutdown will drag on Shutdown is bad for Republicans, an opportunity for Democrats Mulvaney: ‘Very possible’ shutdown will go into the new Congress MORE…
Judge orders North Korea to pay Warmbier family $500 million for wrongful death – CNN
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National Christmas Tree will be lit again after donations save it from darkness during shutdown – The Washington Post
Visitors are turned away from the National Christmas Tree on Monday before it reopened. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Eli Rosenberg December 24 at 2:23 PM In a Christmas season of drastically reduced ambitions, perhaps this qualifies as a miracle. The National Christmas Tree that sits behind the White House will be reopened to the public on Monday after becoming an unfortunate totem of Washington’s political dysfunction when it went dark over the…
Kevin Spacey shares ‘House of Cards’-inspired video as authorities announce he faces felony sex assault charge – Fox News
Video Kevin Spacey shares bizarre ‘House of Cards’-inspired video as he faces felony sex assault charge Kevin Spacey resurfaced to post a bizarre Frank Underwood, ‘House of Cards’-inspired video that addresses his ‘fans,’ while authorities announced he is facing a felony charge for allegedly sexually assaulting the teenage son of former WCVB news anchor Heather Unruh. Kevin Spacey shared a bizarre video of himself Monday as his Frank Underwood character…
On Christmas Eve, Trump airs more grievances – AOL
The president is making a list, and checking it twice: the politicians who have wronged him. Donald Trump kicked off Christmas Eve with a string of complaints: Democrats oppose his border wall plans but supported border fencing in the past. American allies “take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in military Protection and trade,” he complained in a second tweet. Defense Secretary General James Mattis didn’t understand…
Melania Trump closes 2018 with fewer personal woes, but a difficult public perception – CNN
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Rescue Efforts Underway After Tsunami Hit Indonesia Without Warning – NPR
Indonesian soldiers search for the bodies of tsunami victims at a beach resort on the island of Java on Monday. Waves swept terrified people into the sea Saturday night following an eruption on Anak Krakatau, one of the world’s most infamous volcanic islands. Achmad Ibrahim/AP hide caption toggle caption Achmad Ibrahim/AP Indonesian soldiers search for the bodies of tsunami victims at a beach resort on the island of Java on…