CBS NEWS
hour-long tribute "special"
programming on
SUNDAY, Dec. 21, 2025 approx.
to start
8:30 p.m. Eastern Time Zone
"celebrating the life
and legacy of legendary
Film Director Rob Reiner"
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Face the Nation : Ro Khanna & Thomas Massey
Bipartisan co-authors of the
Discharge Petition which forced
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
Attorney General (Dept.Justice) Pamela Jo Bondi
POTUS Donald John Trump
to release
the Epstein Files (slowly
emerging)
appear today on FACE_THE_NATION
CBS Panel Discussion Political &
Diplomatic News-Events
10:30 a.m. (check local listings)
today is the shortest Day (as far as between sunrise and sunset) and Longest night-time -- Solstice begins in 6 hours
The Winter Solstice
is
10:03 a.m.
Sunday
December 21, 2025;
only 9 hours and 10 minutes
daylight.
Blood Drive (SBMF) - Today (Niles, MI) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - St. Mary's Church
South Bend Medical
FOUNDATION - Blood
Donor facility & Mobile
Unit : Sunday 12/21/2025
9 a.m. start until 1 p.m.
at Niles, MICHIGAN
St. Mary's of the Immaculate
Conception (Roman Catholic)
Parish Hall - near St. Mary's
School, Old Chicago Road
Reserve a time at their website
sbmf.org [givebloodnow.com ]
St. Thomas Day -- how to observe it
Line of poetry / rhyme
Line of advice on Dec. 21 (Winter Solstice)
St. Thomas Day, St. Thomas gray,
The Longest night and the Shortest day.
____________________
In England it was observed as
Thomasmas
people went door to door
"Thomasing_" or "Gooding"
in their communities -- asking
for donations of money or food :
this practice ensured that no one
went without for Christmas.
_____________________
In parts of Central Europe
the custom on St. Thomas Day
was to scare away demons or
evil spirits with screeching,
banging, howling with fearful
costumes
_____________________
Suggestion: make
Kletzenbrot
a dried fruit bread from Austria
traditionally made on Dec. 21
Hymn about the doubting Thomas (disciple and later Apostle to India) : lyric by J.R. Darbyshire
Who dreads, yet undismayed
Dares face his terror;
Who errs, yet having strayed
Avows his error --
Him let St. Thomas guide,
Who stirred his fellows' pride
To move to death beside
Their Lord and Master!
Who longs for guidance clear
When doubts assail him,
Nor dares to move for fear
Lest faith should fail him --
For such let Christ's reply
To his discples' cry
'I AM THE WAY,' supply
The light in darkness.
Who grieves that love lies dead
On fate's wheel broken;
And stands uncomforted
By any token --
His faith shall be restored
By Christ's compelling word
When Thomas saw the Lord,
And seeing worshipped!
Thomas Didymus
From GREEK (Koine or Classical)
"Thomas the Twin"
besides THOMAS the APOSTLE
other famous Saint Thomases are
St. Thomas Aquinas (whose feast day is Jan. 28 annually)
and
St. Thomas More (whose feast day is July 6 annually)
An old-fashioned German Christmas Card (Weihnachten)
from Collected Poems of
William Carlos Williams
p. 354
Armed with
a bass-violin
horn
Clarinet and
fiddle
go four
poor musicians
trudging
the snow
between
villages in
the cold
Nature Walk -- 6 - 8 p.m. Winter Solstice (St. Patrick's Park, St. Joseph County, MI)
pre-registration required [ phone 574-654-3155 ]
Event called
Winter Solstice Walk (begins 6 p.m.)
family lanterns available
admission $5 per person
afterwards enjoy a fun treat,
hot cocoa, and make a holiday
ornament.
visitsouthbend.com/event/winter-solstice-hike/8719/
Motortown All-Stars present Motown Classic songs -- Upton Hall, Benton Harbor, MI
TODAY
Dec. 21, 2025
3 p.m. at Mendel Center, Upton Hall,
LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE campus
Napier Avenue Benton Harbor, MI
Berrien County SW Michigan
a live band of the finest players
hits of the
Temptations,
Four Tops,
Jackson Five,
Stevie Wonder,
Supremes.
This will be their only appearance
this holiday season (Sunday mid-
afternoon). Free Parking.
Green Christmas 2025
Expect temperature to reach
50ish degrees on Thursday 12/25/2025
with an overnight low of 46 degrees.
A balmy holiday at the day of
Christmas this year!
When will Chloe Zhao's 2025 feature film _HAMNET_ be in "general release" across the U.S.?
The next big
William Shakespeare film,
Hamnet
had a limited U.S. release 26 Nov. 2025.
With a broader general release on Dec. 5
it is already in Release to Theaters across
the United States. Unlike other major
"contenders" for the award season of 2026,
it will be the major movie of Universal Pictures
upcoming. as a pay-per-view or Cable focussed
feature, details are yet t.b.a. to be announced fully.
It will be interesting to see whether it will be
called "Paul Mescal's" HAMNET or Zhao's Hamnet
during the media blitz upcoming. . .
Archbishop of Westminster (U.K.) historic bishopric
80-year-old retires
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
(16 years tenure in that
church leadership role (R.Catholic))
as of Dec. 19, 2025;
NEWLY appointed by Pope LEO XIV
is
Bishop Richard Moth to be next
Archbishop of Westminster,
marking a generational change
of leadership in the church in
England and Wales.
The 8 nights of Hanukkah / Chanukah end Monday Dec. 22, 2025
The First Night of
Hanukkah / Chanukah begins
Evening of December 14, 2025
(a Sunday) until
Monday, Dec. 22, 2025
(day after the Winter Solstice this year)
Happy Birthday, Samuel L. Jackson (actor, producer, commercial spokesperson) - 77 today!
born Sept. 21, 1948
has appeared in 100+ films
Academy Award nominated at onset of
career for Pulp Fiction (1994);
commercial endorser for CAPITAL One,
financial services/credit card corporation,
D.C. native
served as usher in 1968 for MLK Funeral
Morehouse College
in 1980s-1990s associated with Spike Lee
for trio of films
Spero House -- Nov.1 - Dec. 31, 2025 - ministry to Niles' homeless and disadvantaged families / individuals
Branch bank locations of United
Federal Credit Union
(North Branch @ Second
Street, Niles Downtown;
South Branch @ 11th Street
South, Niles Twp. near Wal-Mart)
are proudly supporting
a donation drive for
local charity SPERO HOUSE,
Niles, Michigan
These items are sought:
Canned goods
Pet food
Hygiene Products
Other non-perishable items
______________________
in each United Federal
Credit Union lobby -
main area there are
collecting boxes to
place your Nov. / Dec.
donations; the charity
thanks you -- the CU
is NOT an affiliate nor
does it profit/benefit
from such in-kind giving.
American Theatre Guild's tour production of _HADESTOWN_ - last showing / performance [ tickets $47 - $131 ]
This weekend (Friday - Sunday performances)
of the
Tony for Best Musical 2019- winning
HADESTOWN
at the Morris Theater,
South Bend downtown.
Tickets still available for
Sunday Dec. 21, 2025
at 2 p.m.
Details at
MORRIS performing arts center.
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Christkindlmarkt at Grand Rapids, Michigan - Final Advent season weekend 2025 - until next Tuesday 12/23/2025
https://experiencegr.com
Event -- Christkindlmarkt (West Michigan's Market
during Advent - most of December 2025)
Wed., Thursdays
Friday-Sat. - Sundays
Closed Mondays-Tuesdays
FRIDAY (day after Turkey Day)
November 28, 2025 up to
Monday Dec. 22
Tuesday Dec. 23 (Both days 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
Julie Chen & performer Blake Shelton (audio muted) -- tonight 8 - 9 p.m. Eastern CBS network - limited to 60 minutes, commercials in-house and SPONGE BOB 2 feature film
the hostess of
BIG BROTHER (summer replacement
reality - comedy program/competition)
on CBS will ironically be the host
network spokeswoman for
FAMILY FILM & TV awards show.
It is a taped and edited for length
presentation show featuring 2 performances
by singer Blake Shelton and
a lifetime "award" for her fellow
CBS "personality/host" Jeff Probst.
check local listings for the CBS
Affiliate in your area.
Winners (8 - 9 p.m.) CBS "Live" awards Show -- Limited to Seven (7) Family FIlm & TV Awards - voted by Polling Agency / watchers-moviegoers
Favorite Family Film of the Year:
Happy Gilmore 2 = Adam Gilmore gave 2nd speech of the night
Best Family classic TV series
That's So Raven (DISNEY+
channel : weekly Series)
accepting was key character
actress Raven-Symone;
Family TV Icon (Honor / lifetime Award) - presented by Show PRODUCERS
producer-star Jeff Probst
Survivor (CBS reality-competition);
Favorite actor in a feature film :
Adam Sandler
Happy Gilmore 2;
Favorite TV ensemble
TV series
The Neighborhood
lead actress Tishina Arnold gave speech;
Favorite family Sports film :
Karate Kid Legend
unable to attend [ RALPH MACCHIO ];
Favorite Game Show:
Wheel of Fortune [did not send representative];
"Legendary" family entertainer duo
PENN & TELLER;
favorite family film as "Icon" award -
The Sandlot (1993 -- 32 years ago)
Spirit of Family Award: Marines National
Guard Reserves - Toys for Tots Program.
Favorite Competition Series - television
Survivor giving 2nd speech was Jeff Probst . . .
ENTIRE program hosted by J. Chen
ran over until 9:06, even though it was
taped_ long before and highly edited down
the music & acceptance speeches. . .
CBS NEWS : Tony Dokoupil
Breaking News -- after departure of
CBS co-hosts John Dickerson and
Maurice Dubois -- last broadcast DEC. 19, 6:30 - 7 p.m.
Eastern CBS Evening News
______________________________
New December 2025 anchor will be
Tony Dokoupil
interim until Jan. 26 is
Kim Harvey
11/26/2025 UPDATE :
Anti-woke crusader BARI WEISS
was hired to overhaul the CBS NETWORK
News division (Nightly News, 60 Minutes,
other programming of the past -- weekend
anchors, 48 Hours, FACE_THE_NATION,
[ she was hired to do that overhaul / mass firing
by David Weiss, new owner of PARAMOUNT + /
CBS ]
November 2025
April 28, 2025 (7 months ago)
CBS Producer BILL OWENS of
_60 Minutes_
resigned instead of being fired
by Paramount Corporation that
owns CBS News and CBS Entertainment
See CBS News.com for
"The Last Minute" Scott Pelley impersonates
Andy Rooney and tells why everyone on the
Staff is upset about his resignation after 4 decades
QUOTATION OF Pelley former Nightly News anchor:
Paramount began to
supervise our content
in new ways. . ./ / /
No one here is happy
about it. . .
What would surprise Jesus about Christmas 2025? conversation with Bart Ehrman, Scholar of New Testament & Christianity
Nicholas Kristof column
Dec. 21 OPINION
nytimes.com/2025/12/20/opinion/jesus-christmas-religion.html
My rating on the interaction between Kristof (non-Christian
who challenges the Univ. Professor about Christian gap
between idealism and actual history of Christian tyranny,
hypocrisy, and lack of consistent application in fields of
ethics and Christian compassion (today's lack of empathy,
listening, charity for the most impoverished and marginalized) . . .
5* out of a possible 5!
Crypto Queen (Wyoming's Jr. Senator in U.S. Senate) -- to retire and not seek re-election
Cynthia Lummis
served only one term as a U.S. Senator
OTHERS to retire in 2026 are
Joni Ernst (Jr. Senator, IOWA)
Thom Tillis (NC)
Tommy Tuberville (AL)
Marsha Blackburn (TN)
__________________________
Catie Edmonson mini-profile
of the MAGA Western "power-player"
NYTimes.com/2025/12/20/us/politics/cynthia-lummia-reelection.html
Glad I tried this today
From Redefine Foods:
Skippy Oatmeal Protein Pie
(natural flavoring with other
natural flavors) Non-GMO
with 15g Protein and 10g
Dietary Fiber (from Oats &
Peanut & Corn Fiber)
glad I used my CVS "dollars"
for its $2.75 price at Granger, IN
Rob Reiner's family film _The Princess Bride_
part of a LIBRARY sponsored film series
at main library's viewing theater
Leighton Auditorium
Feb. 6, 2026 [ FACEBOOK
online post has entire Series 2025-2026 ]
6 - 8 p.m.
FREE
details at
visitsouthbend.com/event/the-page-to-screen-
film-series/8747
Friday, December 19, 2025
Chelsea, Michigan : Home to JD (Jeff Daniels) Stage Bistro will undergo renovations
A short distance away in Chelsea Michigan
from the Jeff Daniels'
Purple Rose Theater
(137 Park St.) founded in 1991
--
S. Main Street downtown
details at
M Live! online article entitled
"Jeff Daniels' new Chelsea
venue will have 1920s era
Chandelier & Art Deco Marquee"
mlive.com Dec. 13, 2025 10 a.m.
posted at Michigan Live!
Plans are for the Bistro to open
in 2026 after delays from the 2008
Great Depression that delayed
expansions / improvements.
Trump's EXEC. order easing federal restrictions on Marijuana from Level III to Level I
Happening "under the radar" of
public awareness of a major change
like this
THURSDAY 12/19/2025
POTUS 47 signed the executive order
permitting the use in federal matters of
Marijuana to drop
from a level III
(same as heroin) to
a level I
(misdemeanor). This momentous
act of a Chief Executive deserves
much more public scrutiny as far
as timing and whether lobbyists
for the cannabis-marijuana resale
and growth industries were kept
at arm's length as far the accomplishment
of any "campaign - re-election" promise
or "deal".
A new Space Race : return to old rhetoric of "falling behind"
Just-sworn in NASA
chief
Jared Isaacman
nbcnews.com/science/space/
nasa-administrator-jared-isaacman-
sworn-in-priorities-rcna250089/
Friday 12/19 5 p.m. posted at
Network News online features
Next Leader in Palestine
who is the successor to the 90ish
Mahmoud Abbas / "Abu Mazen" who
has held control without re-election over
West Bank and P.L.O. prior authorities?
Jerusalem Post asks about
Hussein al-Sheikh
who has been named
interim president
in the event of Abbas'
sudden disappearance;
Marwan Barghouti -
charismatic leader of
Fatah movement;
Jibril Rajoub;
Muhammad Dahlan;
Salam Fayyam.
jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-879613
Dec. 19, 2025 14:13
NBC News (Dec. 20) on Departure of the House and the Senate for 2 1/2 3 week vacations : no action on Health Care Insurance assistance/subsidies
NBC News dot-com/ politics/ Congress/
Congress-leaves-town-2026- no-health-care-deal-
forcing-premium-hikes-rcna249817
5 a.m. Sat. Dec. 20, 2025
Gone on a Hanukkah and
early winter (Solstice, Dec. 24 - 26, Kwanzaa,
New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Epiphany)
BREAK;
allowing the ACA subsidies to
lapse or leave the minds of
anyone who cared . . .
Dec. 2025 blog Statistics
Month of December
2025
December 1 (Monday) 1,959
Dec. 2 1,522
Dec. 3 1,712
Dec. 4 1,166
Dec. 5 772
Dec. 6 (St. Nicholas' Day) 1,098
2nd Sunday of Advent 1,228
Dec. 8 1,831
Dec. 9 2,736 [most views / visits during 31 days of Dec. ]
Dec. 10 1,446
Dec. 11 2,402
Dec. 12 1,312
Dec. 13 1,511
3rd Sunday of Advent 1,333
Dec. 15 1,372
Beethoven's Birthday 1,307
Dec. 17 1,250
Dec. 18 874
Dec. 19 1,146
Dec. 20 1,178
Winter Solstice 607
Dec. 22
Dec. 23
Xmas Eve
Xmas Day
Boxing Day
Dec. 27
Dec. 28
Dec. 29
Dec. 30
New Year's Eve
Total (entire month, 31 days) = 29,783
On Dec. 19, 1777
ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY
General George
Washington leads his
troops on December
19, 1777 into
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
(then one of 13 commonwealths/
states, seeking independence
through war with the "Mother
Country" Great Britain &
King George III)
EPSTEIN FILES
The Attorney General
opted to release the
"Epstein Client List" and
related "Epstein Files" --
as late as possible : 4 p.m.
Eastern Dec. 19 which was the
extent of the 30-day window
in which to satisfy Congress
which passed a law after a
"DISCHARGE PETITION".
apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-12-19-2025
Bob Dylan - just announced tour dates for Spring 2026 Mid-America
"Rough and Rowdy Ways" Tour -- Bob Dylan
Mid-America
concert tour for next year :
Scheduled dates include
Thursday April 2, 2026 at DeVos
Performance Hall, Grand Rapids,MI
and Friday April 3 Saginaw,MI
and Saturday April 4 at the Masonic
Temple Hall in Detroit,MI.
mlive.com/ Michigan Live!
includes in online article Dylan's
entire 2026 schedule from
March 21, Omaha, NE until
May 1 Abilene, TX
Abilene Auditorium.
Newsmaker of the Year: a North Star of moral clarity
Pope Leo XIV
National Catholic Reporter
online names the newly
elected POPE as "NEWSMAKER
of the YEAR"
ncronline.org/opinion/editorial/
pope-leo-xiv-ncrs-newsmaker-year-2025
posted
15 December 2025
At the brink of winter
from The Collected Poems of
William Carlos Williams
"At the brink of winter
planting the bulbs
Sh!
she said to the garden,
They are going to sleep!"
pages 348 - 349
Apollo 17 -- last time Astronauts landed and took off from the Moon
The lunar Mission
Apollo 17,
captained by Eugene Cernan
was the last time U.S. or any
astronauts walked on a non-
terrestrial surface (Dec. 7 - 19,
1972). A scientist was on board
[ geologist Harrison Schmitt ]
and it was the 6th successful
trip from Earth to the Moon.
Will people (average Joes and Janes) read the "Declaration of Independence" in the coming year?
January 1, 2026 (day One
of the 250th Birthday of
the free, democratic
Constitutionally-ordered
representative government)
up to
Dec. 31, 2026 (New Year's eve
one year from now)
Warming Centers - Niles MI (December 2025)
City of Niles
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -- phone 269-
683-4700
FERRY STREET RESOURCE CENTER
683-9860
NILES BUCHANAN YMCA
905 N. Front Street, Niles
Sunday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Monday - Thurs. 5 a.m. -
9 p.m.
Friday 5 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. only
683-1552
SALVATION ARMY, Niles
684-2660
Who said "Independence is my Happiness"?
Author of
The Rights of Man
Thomas Paine / Tom Paine
Independence is my
Happiness, and I view things
as they are, without regard
to place or person;
my country is the world,
and my religion is to do good
[ BTW he was an expatriate who left his native England for the United
Colonies to become an activist - writer - pamphleteer; he was anti-
religion stating at one time : It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty. . . ]
UPDATE: the "Warrior Dividend" will not be given to those at rank of Admiral and General
The one-time disbursement of
$1,776 apiece_ for the
1.4 million plus active military
(Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard,
Air Force, Space Force)
IT IS COVERED through the
monthly housing-allowance allocation.
1st Full Moon of 2026
Saturday
January 3, 2026.
The first FULL MOON
for calendar year 2026 will be
the FULL WOLF MOON
full illumination at 5:03 a.m.
Eastern Time. see further
ALMANAC dot-com
"Old Farmer's Almanac"
astronomy facts and interesting
trivia
These are the times . . .
author Tom Paine
work the quoted sentences come from : The American Crisis
These are the times that try
men's souls . . . Tyranny,
like hell, is not easily conquered. . .
Tis surprising to see how a panic
will sometimes run through a country.
All nations and ages have been
subject to them. (Panics') duration
is always short; the mind soon
grows through them and acquires
a firmer_ habit than before. (Panics')
peculiar advantage is, that they are the
touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy,
and bring things to light which otherwise
might have lain_ forever undiscovered.
. . .Let it be told to the future world that,
in the depth of winter, when nothing
but hope and virtue could survive, that
the city and country, alarmed at one
common danger, came forth to meet
it and to repulse it!
When will 9 members of the House majority force a vote of "no confidence" on Speaker Mike Johnson (Louisiana)?
Under current House rules,
a "motion to vacate the chair"
requires the support of 9
GOP members of the House
of Representatives;
currently the most dissatisfied
members of the HOUSE
Thomas Massie (KY)
and Majorie Taylor Greene (GA)
have publicly criticized Johnson
and outrightly inform him he does
NOT have their full support.
Recently 4 GOP "moderate" members
split with Johnson and signed a
"Discharge Petition" forcing him to
allow a vote on the ACA (ObamaCare)
subsidies for low- and middle-income
households which gives them
insurance options.
Perpetrator who shot an M.I.T. professor (Engineering faculty) as well as 2 others lethally on Brown Univ. campus -- found dead of self-inflicted gunshot
The alleged 48-yr.-old
a former Brown Univ. Student
was found in a storage unit in New Hampshire
dead of a self-inflicted wound.
Dec. 19, 2025
Other students at Brown Univ. were injured in the
perpetrator's attack where he shot and killed 2 who
were taking Final Semester exams.
Jan. 1, 2026
Kick-off for the events of the first year of
America's 250th Birthday
[ reckoning on the specific SIGNING
of the DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE
from the British Empire on July 4, 1776 ]
Hunter Ice Festival 2026
Friday Jan. 18 - Sunday Jan. 20, 2026.
uncoverniles.com/news-and-updates/2026-Hunter-Ice-Festival
web page/platform for
DOWNTOWN Niles, Michigan and businesses/corporations
phone # 269-687-4332
Whatever happened to Tom Paine (author of RIGHTS_of_MAN, pamphlet COMMON_SENSE)? Associate of Benjamin Franklin?
The expatriate who left
England for the colonies of
N. America became a citizen here
in 1774, taking an oath of allegiance;
lived out his final years in the City of
New York, dying in 1809, largely
ostracized and having his citizenship
questioned. He did die an American
and was buried in New Rochelle, NY,
before he was later re-interred in England.
He would idealistically often assert that
he was a "Citizen of the world". He had
been made a citizen of France, an honor
granted to him in his lifetime and other
heroes like Alexander Hamilton, George
Washington, Ben Franklin at the time
of the 1789 French Revolution.
What was the age range of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence (July 1776)?
The actual signing in
Philadelphia, PA of the
Declaration of Independence
of the 13 colonies took place
on July 3 with it being proclaimed
on the following day :
Benjamin Franklin of
the Pennsylvania Commonwealth
(later designated that same year)
at age 70 was the eldest
Edward Rutledge of
South Carolina colonial govt.
(with its own constitution in
March 1776)
was the youngest at age 26.
In 1776, how many were accepted as "Free" from the tyrannies of the King (GEORGE III)?
The colonies each would
reckon the matter of who
could vote at a town, region,
or colony level; no such
"Register" of voters in the
Revolution / post-Revolutionary
era granted suffrage (the right to
vote) to women of all colors, hues,
standing in the eyes of the voting
"judges" :
1776 population of 13 colonies was
approx. 2.5 million while
1.25 million were women -
children of the families (orphans,
fatherless included) and
1.25 million were males come of age.
[estimate of demographers,
historians, experts of early
America, 18th Century]
IN 1776, how many were resident / men, women, youth, children / in the 13 colonies that would send Representatives to enact a "Declaration of Independence"?
Historians / demographers /
specific experts of the era of
the American Revolution put the #
2.1 to 2.5 million persons (adults -
youngsters of all sorts)
Those counting the entire population
remind those us now alive that
500, 000
of those 2 and 1/2 million were
of African descent (some who would
remain enslaved until Juneteenth 1865
and some who were free persons of color
due to their buying their freedom or
the prior "owners" granting them
emancipation). twenty percent of
Americans in 1776 were either
under "servitude" or had been
granted freedom or had "run away". . .
When did the "guardrails" come off? Election Day or Inauguration Day
Nov. 5, 2024 (first Tuesday)
January 20, 2025 (it was
simultaneous this year with
the MLK Holiday - 3rd Monday)
_______________
make your choice;
discuss with one another.
77,302,580 (carrying 31 states
and Maine's 2nd Congressional
District)
that was NOT
50% of the voting electorate for
an every-four-year Presidential
Balloting turnout . . .
Thursday, December 18, 2025
How much is $1,776 times 1.4 million active military members =
$2.6 billion
in the form of checks payable
by Christmas holiday
(Dec. 24, 25, 26 this year)
Oddly named "Warrior Dividend" for military members ($1,776 checks) -- announced as Tariff "benefit"
Pres. Trump (2nd term) has now re-assigned
funds that were approved by Congress for
Pentagon housing funds
to a financial incentive
for the working members
/active military of an
end-of-the-year
$1,776 bonus
calling it
Warrior Dividend.
Hannah Dugan, judge, found guilty of trying to obstruct Federal ICE agents
Wisconsin State Judge,
Hannah Dugan
was accused of
attempting to usher a man
to a side door while ICE
agents (DHS Secy. Kristi
Noem deputies) waited
outside a state courtroom.
At that moment she was beginning
a full calendar of misdemeanor
cases and interacted with Federal
Customs & Immigration agents
eager to take away in handcuffs
the immigrant before her in her
court for setting calendar dates.
The defendant in her
courtroom was an undocumented
immigrant.
nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/judge-hannah-dugan-trial-verdict.html
She faces up to 5 years in
prison for her non-violent
crime of illegally aiding
a person accused of domestic
burglary charges in WI.
Peter Mandelson, British ambassador at high levels, fired for links to Jeffrey Epstein
The British Ambassador to the United States
who replaced fired diplomat
Peter Mandelson
is
Christian Turner who
has spent nearly 30 years
working for the British government
in Foreign Office roles . . .
A way for Ukraine to move forward -- funding of $105 billion for the European besieged nation (Ukraine) from EU
Thursday Dec. 19, 2025
THE European Union has announced
$105 billion funding plan
and had intended to use
Russia's frozen assets (since
2021 invasion) -- "This will address
the urgent financial needs of Ukraine"
said ANTONIO COSTA, the president
of the European Council in an early morning
news conference in Brussels (capital /
adm. center) of the EU.
Timing was important as Ukraine was
expected to begin running out of money
early in 2026.
Signage change of the "Kennedy Center" to the "TRUMP_KENNEDY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS"
New Signage installed early on Friday, Dec. 19
CNN Reports that workmen have posted :
"TRUMP KENNEDY"
Dec. 18, 2025 -- following a meeting of the Board of
the National Center for
PERFORMING ARTS -- a voted proposal
from the Trump-Vance officials who now
run the Concert Hall - facilities for music,
dance, theater, symphony performances
to change the name to include POTUS 47
may need a formal
"ACT OF CONGRESS"
to achieve the name
uniting . . .
Did Trump 2.0 re-name Jan. 20 as "his" Inauguration Day? Annually ? ? ?
The Hill platform reviews the 13 federal holidays takes credit for
observance and government offices being closed:
2025 dates observed by Presidential "Proclamation"
Monday Jan. 20, 2025 MLK Birthday Holiday
February 17, 2025 Presidents' Day
May 26, 2025 Memorial Day (originally Decoration Day)
[ Trump wanted it to be designated as WW II veterans recognition ]
June -- ? ? ? - his birthday ? ? ?
July 4, 2025
September 1, 2025 LABOR Day (First Monday by law)
Oct. 13 (2nd Monday by Law): Columbus Day
Nov. 11 (Trump suggested it be Veterans of WW I recognition )
this December he is designating
Dec. 24 (a Wednesday) Dec. 25 (a Thursday) Dec. 26 (a Friday)
to be federal holidays -- 3 days together with no offices opened
except in required for security and important exemption . . .
thehill.com/homenews/administration/5655984-trump-declares-christmas-holidays
stories of those "fired" in 2025 by Trump : 317,000
WVPE dot-org (NPR affiliate
Michiana / N. Indiana Radio station)
wvpe.org/npr-news/2025-12-18/under-trump-317-000-workers-
are-out-of-work-here-are-3-of-their-stories
Liz Goggin, Vet. Administration
Mahri Stanniak, Maine, Office of Personnel Management
Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service
Elvis Presley in Concert : Feb. 27, 2026 to debut nationwide -- archive footage (100 minutes)
2025 documentary produced by
noted director
Baz Luhrmann
length of this never-before-seen
and never-before-heard
recordings & Concert Footage
is
100 minutes in length.
imdb.com/title/tt35003538/?ref_=po_rs_ansr
Happy 79th Birthday to Steven Spielberg, film producer / director!
Steven Spielberg
born Dec. 18, 1946
Cincinatti, OH
USA
Septuagenarian plus 5 (75-year-old) resigns Episcopal Office, Archdiocese of NY
Bishop Timothy Dolan
of New York (a Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church)
No ifs, ands_, or buts
Wall Street Journal
(owner-publisher Rupert
Murdoch)
reports Dec. 17, 2025 that
DONALD JOHN TRUMP
has been told by his friend-
adviser ALAN DERSHOWITZ
that
the CONSTITUTIONALITY
of a 3rd Term is "unclear"
EXCLUSIVE reporting for
the WSJ.com
Trump after vicious, unChristian remarks slamming the Reiner couple slain by son at Brentwood, CA home, sticks with rudeness
Speaking of himself in the 3rd person,
I wasn't a fan of his at all
[Rob Reiner, director-writer-
actor/political advocate]. . .He was
a deranged (?) person as far
as Trump is concerned. . .a
part of the "russia_Hoax"
Steve Lotter
Dec. 18, 2025 as updated for online article
STEVE LOTTER, staff working on behalf of the
JEWISH FEDERATION (St. Joseph Valley, Michiana)
responds to the shootings / injuries in Sydney Australia
"Bondi Beach"
WSBT.com/news/local/jewish-federation-speaks-about-australia-
hanukkah-shooting
Ghislaine Maxwell
Writ of HABEAS CORPUS filed
by GHISLAINE MAXWELL
claiming lots of new evidence not presented
originally at her trial and conviction/sentencing
NBC News/us-news / Dec. 17, 7:38 p.m.
story filed by Tim Stelloh and Chloe Atkins
________________________________
Documents from THE HILL platform
show Todd Blanche meeting over 2 days
to give this convict special treatment / transfer
to lower security fed. prison -- possible commutation
by POTUS / in future months
Ghislaine Maxwell
associate and enabler
of pedophile billionaire
Nov. 10 a.m. - the Hill.com
Jeffrey Epstein.
thehill.com/ Monday
Nov.10, 2025 early a.m.
Muse_ Films Production company will release FLOTUS documentary in 8 weeks (end of Jan. 2026)
More details The HILL platform
thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5652663-melania-trump-
film-trailer-unveiled/?tbref=hp
Tara Suter - correspondent/BLOGGER - Wed. Dec. 17 online
article
"Melania" documentary
is on schedule for Jan. 30
2026 theatrical release
hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/
melania-trump-production-company-muse-films-
1236432711/
This sets a historical precedent for a FLOTUS while
in Office to seek to make films under the aegis of
a for-profit Production company (Hollywood, CA).
Past First Ladies like Nancy (Davis) Reagan who
had a film and TV career were not releasing
film documentaries for profit about their impact
on Washington, the nation, and the world.
Such media appearances (guest shots on
Sesame Street (PBS) for example) were
charitable in nature, NOT for-profit, benefitting herself.
Christmas Eve (St. Peter's Basilica)
Yes, NBC
plans on its Dec. 24, 2025 schedule to broadcast
from the Vatican City location its annual
coverage of
Christmas Eve Mass
beginning at 11:30 p.m.
Eastern. Celebrant will
be 70-year-old newly
elected Pontiff,
LEO XIV.
Weather and Climate Research Center to be dismantled after many firings / layoffs
National Weather data is
on the way out . . .
National Center for
Atmospheric Research
in Colorado
nytimes.com/2025/12/17/
climate/national-center-for-
atmospheric-research-trump.html
Taiwan Defense Ministry will receive -- arm sales/purchases from US / / Trump-Vance left this unmentioned Dec.18 OVAL OFFICE "blame Biden, credit Me" speech
Medium-range missiles,
howitzers, drone
$10 billion
current and ongoing/future
sales to TAIWAN :
a move that is sure to
enfuriate China
npr.org/2025/12/18/nx-s1-
5648080/us-arm-sales-taiwan-10-billion
Promises and Blame : how to make sense of Dec. 18 address that was high on attack-rhetoric
PBS timed it out as
26 minutes, 44 seconds
pbs.org/video/trump-addresses-the-nation-from-the-White-House-
ngqyr6/
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
H3N2 Subclade K
The new version of a global
Influenza virus
that is rampaging
and wreaking havoc for
those vulnerable and
with lower immunity. . .
Dec. 17, 2025
216 - 211 (with 7 absent or voting "present")
House of Representatives GOP only
manage with less than half of
435 members to pass a HEALTH CARE
bill that omits ACA ObamaCare subsidies
________________________________
a tie vote would have meant defeat for
HOUSE Speaker Johnson as well as
his Majority Whip and others towing
the MAGA - Trump line . . .
8 p.m. Wed. 12/17/2025
just one hour ahead of
TRUMP "Address to the Nation"
it remains unclear
how Trump will "stick
pins" the obvious state
of being for American
citizens struggling to afford
less with less benefits / salary
+ take-home pay
Measles Cases explode -- end of year 2025
FOLLOW-up
now Dec. 17, 2025
Cases Mount in Utah,
Arizona
South Carolina
New Outbreak confirmed:
19 states documented with
the highly contagious virus
which spreads rapidly through
unvaccinated or undervaccinated
communities
thehill.com/ end of March 2025
483 cases nationwide;
MN and TN are newest
states to detect
measles / rubeola
FBI (Kash Patel) chose outsider as his deputy, Dan Bongino -- will soon leave and return to podcasting New Year 2026
DEC. 17 2025 early evening
CNN has "scoop" that
Dan Bongino will soon
leave the D of J and his spot as an
outsider, running the FBI for Kash
Patel with another co-deputy
DETAILS FORTHCOMING . . .
AXIOS reports that he had "cleared
his desk at the FBI" and intends to
"return to his show"/podcast
NY TIMES is reporting on Patel law
grad since 2005 (degree from Pace Univ.
School of Law), worked in DOJ as a prosecutor,
also a national security advisor,
and his deputy
who had NYPD and Secret Service in his resume'
"Unease at FBI intensifies as Patel ousts top officials"
(June 1, 2025) us/politics/fbi-patel.html
__________________________________________
USA TODAY is reporting on Friday 16 May 2 p.m.
Eastern that the newly confirmed FBI Head and
his Deputy decided to close
the J.Edgar Hoover office due to its danger.
He told FOX NEWS that his agents & office
workers need to go fight crime outside of
Washington / Maryland / Virginia environs.
usatoday.com/
May 16, 2025
NBC on Monday Tuesday Dec. 15 - 16 : Live Music Performances ("THE VOICE") and on Tuesday Dec. 23 -- to air 5 hours of NBA Pro. games (Dallas & Inglewood, CA)
according to TV Insider -- ahead of Xmas Eve airing of "It's a Wonderful Life"
3-hour edited for TV version and 11:30 p.m. Live airing of Christmas Eve Mass
from St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City [ 12/24/2025 Wednesday ]
on Dec. 23, 2025
NBA basketball "double header" from Dallas, TX
8 - 10:30
from Inglewood, CA 10:30 - 1 p.m. Eastern
Texas college student (age 20) is winner of THE VOICE
Aiden Ross
Results of the several months / autumn competitions/practices
will be televised on
Tuesday Dec. 16 on NBC
approx. 11 p.m. Eastern
_____________________________________________
Monday, December 15, 2025
9 - 11 p.m. Eastern Time
[event is actually held in
Universal City, CA]
hosted by Carson Daly
[ season judges-coaches were performers
Michael Buble', Snoop Dogg,
Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire ]
The top six artists performed a
contemporary song and a classic
song each to attain the title of
"VOICE" winner for Dec. 2025.
Team Snoop was Ralph Edwards;
Team Reba was Aubrey Nicole;
the others judges had two apiece =
TEAM Niall had trio DEK of Hearts +
Aiden Ross; TEAM Buble' had Max
Chambers (14-yr.-old) and Jazz
McKenzie.
International Peace Resolution force inside Gaza Territory (Palestinian urban - rural) (NOV. - DEC. 17, 2025) J.Post dot-com
IN covering this story, the JERUSALEM POST
reports that
Turkey has been excluded from
Gaza peacekeeping force talks
in Qatar: sources
jpost.com/middle-east/article-880438
Nations who voiced possible supply of
armed forces to help IDF (Israel) disarm HAMAS:
Indonesia
United Arab Emirates,
Egypt
Qatar
Azerbaijan
_____________________
17 nations have been on the
"invited list" to set up a
PEACEKEEPING FORCE
by 2026.
___________________
many of these have not
made firm commitments
At Hanukkah reception (1600 Pennsylvania Ave.) -- POTUS 47 indicates new price tag : $400 million
The Hill platform / web media
reports from a HANUKKAH
reception in WHITE HOUSE
that the new expected spending total
for an enormous BALLROOM (The
Trump Ballroom) will be
$400 million,
twice what he originally
announced and then
commenced demolition
of the East Wing.
thehill.com/ trump-cost-new-ballroom-400m
Dec. 17, 1903 : Aviation History and a great leap ahead
Kitty Hawk, NC
Wilbur and Orville Wright,
of Dayton, Ohio
conducted the first successful
manned powered-airplane
flights on Dec. 17, 1903
using the Wright Flyer !
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Residents of Angola to Zimbabwe : new / partial RESTRICTIONS
List of Countries stretches from "A" to "Z"
Afghanistan
Angola
Antigua & Barbida
Benin
Dominica
[Cote de Ivoire] / Ivory Coast
Gabon
Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tonga
Tanzania
Zanzibar
Zimbabwe
the latest manifestation of
the President's disdain for
immigrants from what he calls
admittedly the sh*t house
developing countries of
Africa and Asia/Middle East
Jan. 1, 2026 Travel Ban to now include Syria, Burkina Faso, S.Sudan, Niger, Mali, Palestinian Authority visas
just announced on
Tuesday Dec. 16 -- a mere
16 days ahead of NEW YEAR
the Trump 2.0 "Travel Ban" has
been expanded =
nytimes.com/2025/12/16/us/politics/trump-expanded-travel-ban.html
Zootopia 2 -- already on Dec. 16 has surpassed "Lilo & Stitch" to become highest grossing movie this entire year
Reported total
Dec. 16, 2025
$1.13 billion global
BOX OFFICE
_______________
BOX OFFICE TOTALS (as of 12/13)
$238.8 million for ZOOTOPIA 2
____________________________
Weekend of Dec. 5 - 7, 2025
Zootopia 2 back with only $43 million
in Box Office Ticket Sales
Already reported
BOX OFFICE total on Thursday 11/27/2025
for
Zootopia 2
$156 million
_____________________
To date (Dec. 3)
its worldwide Gross
total receipts are
$589.2 million
Trump sued over East Wing demolition by Historic Preservation group // Secret Service acting Deputy & POTUS lawyers argue BALLROOM needed "National Security"
AP NEWS dot-com
Dec. 16, 2025
Trump lawyers / Secret Service acting Deputy argue
post-demolition the new BALLROOM construction
is for unstated "national security reasons" . . .
article/white-house/trump-white-house-ballroom-national-security . . .
see CNN.com
Friday Dec. 12, 2025
regarding recent wrecking of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
those suing TRUMP 2.0
are:
National Trust for
Historical Preservation
A Christmas Tree has been lit in Kyiv, Ukraine (in front of St. Sophia Cathedral)
Dec. 6, 2025
www3.nhk.jp.or/nhkworld/en/news/20251206_08/
the 18-meter tree was where many people gathered
for a lighting ceremony and reflected on peace :
. . .the tree is a small joy. . .Ukrainians want to
return to the life they had, which was taken away by Russia.
Anniversary of 250 years since birth of Novelist Jane Austen -- her main work was PRIDE & PREJUDICE; SENSE & SENSIBILITY; PERSUASION; EMMA
born Dec. 16, 1775
Steventon
Hampshire
near Basingstoke
where her father was
the rector
Monday, December 15, 2025
Tragic news from Brentwood, CA : couple found dead of stab wounds
Sunday Dec. 14, 2025
Couple found dead by L.A. Cops
after medical aid request at mid-afternoon
- - - home of actor-director Rob Reiner.
PRAY for the couple who resided there and their
friends/family/ immediate circle of neighbors
well-wishers in this sad period of uncertain identification
by authorities.
POLITICO dot-com PLATFORM with the
breaking news.
Could pesticide PARAQUAT be the cause or "trigger" for Parkinson's Disease? Farmers seeking answers / day in liability court
Thousand of U.S. farmers have
Parkinson's disease; they blame
a deadly pesticide (PARAQUAT)
mlive.com/2025/12/live/
thousands-of-us-farmers-
have-parkinsons-they-blame-
a-deadly-pesticide.html
Michigan Live! 10 a.m. online
article
reporter is Rose White
POTUS 44 (two-term Commander-in-Chief) remembers the late Rob Reiner
Rob's achievements in
film and television gave
us some of our most
cherished stories on screen.
But beneath all of the stories
he produced was a deep
belief in the goodness of
people -- and a lifelong
commitment to putting
that belief into action.
Together, he and his wife
lived lives defined by purpose.
They will be remembered
for the values they championed
and the countless people they
inspired!"
Barack Obama -- President from
Jan. 20, 2009 - Jan. 19, 2017,
honorable resident - head of
household for a pioneering
FLOTUS and two First Daughters
and even his mother-in-law
in her final years . . .
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., D.C.
back when it had not only
a West Wing but also an
intact East Wing.
Ever in bad taste, POTUS 47 (Trump as spoiled brat) criticizes murder victim who was a Trump-hater
"Entertainment Weekly" coverage by reporter Shania Russell
at 1 p.m. Eastern covers the specific claim - insult hurled by
the "most powerful person on the planet" -- a spoiled twice-impeached
POTUS who had no one censoring his portable "X" / Twitter Blackberry
and managed to insult those who remember Rob Reiner fondly.
"Donald Trump blasts Rob Reiner died due to TRUMP DERANGEMENT
SYNDROME after Film maker / his wife's apparent homicide"
ew.com/ Dec. 15, 2025
Among the typical and
expected responses to the
death of a couple in Hollywood,
Donald John Trump joined a chorus
of haters criticizing the actor and
much-admired Director / writer.
How is it this far in the Second Term
of Trump revisited that such merciless,
anti-Christian behavior is
"par" and allowed to stream forth
from his ever-on Media vomiting?
Brown University, R. Island cancels remaining days & exams of this semester (Dec. 14, 2025)
The IVY LEAGUE school decided,
as proclaimed by the Provost,
to cancel remaining exams on the Sept. - Dec. schedule
and to send all students home following a
shooting and attempted hostage-taking on its campus
earlier in the weekend.
This applies to undergraduate, graduate, and medical
students entirely. Two people were shot and 9 injured
requiring medical intervention.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
FRANKLIN defeats "narco-terrorists" with military-grade grenades -- removed later by Pete Hegseth and associates from his Social Media
Early December 2025 --
a repentant Pete Hegseth (confirmed by the U.S. Senate
only by the tie-breaking vote of VP JD Vance after a
50-50 split where several GOP members of the Senate
did not follow Majority Leader's example to approve
the handpicked former Fox News Weekend anchor to
supervise a massive part of the Federal Govt.)
has now taken down his taunting social media
braggart homemade
AI - generated "Franklin
the Turtle" cartoon depicting
violence against those in
ships off Venezuela, S. America.
SLOP
In the hands of Pete Hegseth -- using AI -- the kids-harmless figure of "Franklin the Turtle"
A prime example of
slop
would be the AI-manipulating
transformation of a harmless
Kid Lit figure
Franklin the Turtle
into a bomb-dropping,
civilian attack force killing
those in an unarmed ocean
vessel while leaning out of
U.S. Army military helicopter
see further
AP News.com/ "Slop" is
Word of the Year
Dec. 14, 2025 article online
KIDS Can Press,
Animators at the Canadian
National Public TV show,
objected vociferously once
the Military Leader (PENTAGON
Head) posted the childish
caricature of the harmless
kids TV and illustrated books
over many decades (originator
artist has since died) : FRANKLIN
the TURTLE
Greg Barlow, president of Merriam Webster
Dictionary CEO says that a WORD of the Year
slop
means :
absurd videos, weird
advertising images, cheesy
propaganda, fake news
that looks real, junky
AI-written digital books.
Merriam-Webster's WORD of the Year
Announced by Dictionary MERRIAM-WEBSTER
is
Word of the Year
is "slop"
Dec. 15, 2025
Almost 30 years ago, Australia's weapons-limiting laws were updated after lone gunman slaughtered 35
More details from the announcement by
Prime Minister Albanese of Australia
back in 1996 when a gunman
killed 35 in Port Arthur, Australia
Australia's gun laws were revised --
the act of vicious violence brought
consensus among lawmakers following
the grief and shock in Tasmania.
Prime Minister Albanese proposes new gun limiting laws after 15 executed with six guns at Sydney's Bondi Beach
Hanukkah, 2025
at Sydney Australia beach event for Jewish Community --
a pair of gunmen (50-yr.-old father and son suspects)
amassed six guns legally but used them violently and
with evil intents killing 12 and injuring 38 in
Sydney hospitals / treatment facilities.
A 24-year-old gunman was disarmed and his father killed
by police in response action
at the scene of their wanton anti-Semitic actions. Death
included a 10-yr.-old child, a Holocaust survivor, and a CHABAD
clergyman, Rabbi Eli Schlanger (formerly of Brooklyn, NY).
____________________________________________
MORE in upcoming days / hours on this breaking story
APNEWS.com/article/australia-shooting-bondi-beach-sydney
11:43 p.m. update
Dec. 14, 2025
dateline -- Australia, WORLD news
Hanukkah (lighting Menorah) Dec. 14, 2025 between 5 - 6 p.m. Eastern -- those celebrating @ Morris, S. Bend grieve murder of Rabbi Eli Schlanker, Australia
ANNUAL event with police security in Downtown S. Bend, IN
those gathered met INSIDE the Morris Center this year and heard
speeches / greetings but also paused for prayers of support and grief
following murder of 15 at Sydney Australia's Bondi Beach early
Sunday -- the lighting of the Chanukia also took place as a sign
of continued life and commitment to freedom to worship and
to share in modern community without anti-Semitism.
Jon Hunt Plaza
211 N. Michigan St.
Community Chanukah
Ceremony sponsored by
City of South Bend, IN
and the Jewish Federation
of St. Joseph Valley, IN
FREE to all ages.
Together those who attend
will light the first light of the
8-night festival; we'll hear from
leaders of our community
and light the Chanukiah outdoors.
Thanks to the South Bend, IN
Police Department for providing
security for this evening.
thejewishfed.org/news-events/events.html/event/2025/12/14/
downtown-south-bend-celebrates-chanukah/545652
FACE THE NATION (CBS weekly News-Politics with Margaret Brennan) : Maria Corina Machado - CBS NEWS dot-com
Today (21 minutes 14 seconds)
following CBS SUNDAY (w/Jane Pauley)
is
Exclusive interview Q/A
with leader of the
Venezuelan Opposition to
Maduro
Maria Corina Machado
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
LAUREATE for 2025
Machado speaking on behalf of opposition to Venezuela's President Maduro
Maria Corina Machado
tells Margaret Brennan (CBS host of FACE THE NATION)
Absolute Support Trump-Vance-Hegseth strategy
Pressure Campaign
which involves ship
strikes and oil cargo
ship seizures.
Sunday 14 Dec. 2025
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Eastern Time Zone
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