December 12, 2025

Good morning.

1. The Senate voted down Democrat and Republican bills addressing soon-to-expire ACA healthcare subsidies, as over 20M people face sharply higher premiums in 2026 (AP: nwppr.co/221z).

2. Indiana’s Senate rejected a new congressional map projected to give Republicans two more US House seats, with 21 GOP senators voting with Democrats despite pressure from President Trump (CBS: nwppr.co/221y).

3. President Trump signed an order to establish a national AI policy framework, saying a “patchwork” of state laws would stifle US competitiveness (Hill: nwppr.co/221x).

4. House Democrats released 19 photos of 95k received from the Epstein estate that show prominent figures, including Presidents Trump and Clinton (CBS: nwppr.co/221w).

5. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released from immigration detention after a judge ruled the Salvadoran national was detained without a “lawful removal order.” DHS will appeal (BBC: nwppr.co/221v).

6. The US issued new sanctions related to Venezuela's oil sector, including six vessels. Meanwhile, the White House said the tanker recently seized off Venezuela will be brought to a US port (BBC: nwppr.co/221u).

7. Bulgaria’s minority government resigned after mass protests, weeks before it is due to join the eurozone (AP: nwppr.co/221t).

8. NASCAR settled an antitrust suit by 23XI Racing (co-owned by Michael Jordan) and Front Row Motorsports, agreeing to move to “evergreen” team charters (NBC: nwppr.co/221s).

9. TIME named “Architects of AI” its Person of the Year (AP: nwppr.co/221r).

–Editors