News On Tap For Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The Holiday Rush

Today’s “News On Tap” keeps changing, as the holiday news rush is on. don’t worry though - we’ve got updates on all the news rushing around, including Trump’s desire for a new war for Xmas (& he doesn’t even play with the ones he already has). We’ve also got updates on the still-going fight over health care, and how Trumponomics is failing. We’ve also got news on Trump’s other wars, on immigration, good government, and buildings in & around DC. There’s also election news, media matters, and entertainment news too. Plus, Bob Cesca joins us for the last time this year! Read up & get informed!

First Round - Worst Regime Evah

Trump Wants A War For Xmas

• Trump Orders Blockade Of ‘Sanctioned Oil Tankers’ Into Venezuela, Ramping Up Pressure On Maduro

• As Trump Declares Naval Blockade Against Venezuela, Democrats Note His Action Is ‘Unquestionably An Act Of War’

• Hegseth Says He Won’t Publicly Release Video Of Boat Strike That Killed Survivors In The Caribbean

• Nonprofit Groups Begin Offering Legal Assistance To U.S. Service Members Amid Debate On Legality Of Boat Strikes

Talking Out Their Asses

• White House Scrambles To Address Susie Wiles’ Explosive Vanity Fair Interviews

• Trump Stands By Susie Wiles After Bombshell Vanity Fair Interviews, Admits He Has An ‘Alcoholic’s Personality’

• Lemire & Salama: Susie Wiles Has Nothing To Fear From Her Vanity Fair Interview - Because Trump Still Needs Her [Gift Link]

Second Round - Affordability Matters

Health Care Wars

• Shot: House Republican Leaders Ditch Vote On ACA Funding, All But Ensuring Premiums Will Rise

• Chaser: Endangered House Republicans Sign Onto Democratic ACA Discharge Petition, After Johnson & Allies Ditch Vote On Health Care Bill

• Anger Of Politically Vulnerable Republicans Boils Over On Speaker Mike Johnson As ACA Deadline Looms

Trumponomics Is Failing

• Trump Admin. Shrugs Off Increasing Unemployment Rate [Gift Link]

• Heating Costs Now Expected To Rise 9.2% This Winter [Gift Link]

• New NPR/Marist Poll: Trump’s Economic Approval Hits New Low At 36%

• Marist: More Than 6 In 10 Now Say Economy Is Not Working For Them Personally, As Economic Pessimism Is Widespread

• Paul Krugman: An A+++++ Economy, My A++

Third Round - Trump’s Many Wars

Immigration Wars

• Trump Admin. Expands Their Racist Travel Ban & Restrictions To Include An Additional 20 Countries

• South African Authorities Raid U.S. Refugee Facility In Johannesburg Over Allegations Of Racial Targeting, Violence

• How U.S. Cities Are Helping Each Other Resist ICE Attacks: ‘You Don’t Have To Do It Alone’

War On Good Govt.

• Trump Regime’s Russ Vought Now Moving To Dismantle Major U.S. Scientific Research Center In Colorado, The Natl. Center For Atmospheric Research

• An ‘Appeal To Heaven’ Flag, Linked To White Christian Nationalism & The Jan. 6 Insurrection, Hung At Education Dept. Office By MAGA Staffers

War On DC

• Federal Judge Allows Trump’s White House Ballroom Construction To Move Forward

• Related: Trump Signals White House Ballroom Costs Could Rise To $400M

• Rep. Raskin To Introduce Bill To Require Review Of White House Renovation Plans

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

On The Hill

• Jack Smith To Testify In Closed-Door House Judiciary Committee Session, As Republicans Plan To Make Political Hay Of The Meeting

• House Republicans Ram Through Key Vote On Major Energy Permitting Bill

Election Land

• Democrat Wins Special Election For Kentucky State Senate Seat By 47-Point Landslide

• New Research Confirms Former Trump Voters Swung Hard To Democrats In Elections This Year Over Rising Costs

Foreign Affairs

• EU Leaders Prepare To Take Unprecedented Steps To Help Ukraine At High-Stakes Summit

• EU Revokes Internal Combustion Engines Ban, But Replaces It With A 90% Carbon Dioxide Emissions Restriction Mandate

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Too Many Gone

• Gil Gerard, Star Of ‘Buck Rogers In The 25th Century,’ Dies At 82

• Country Rocker Joe Ely, Who Worked With Bruce Springsteen And The Clash, Dead At 78

• Jeff Garcia, Voice Of Sheen On ‘Jimmy Neutron’ & Friend Of Carlos Alazraqui, Dies Unexpectedly At 50

Media Matters

• Warner Bros. Discovery Rejects Paramount’s Hostile Takeover Offer, Calling It ‘Inferior’ to Netflix Deal and Alleging Ellisons ‘Misled’ Them On Financing

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Grilled In Senate Commerce Committee Over His Jimmy Kimmel “Easy Way Or The Hard Way” Warning To ABC Stations

Entertainment & More

• “The Voice” Reveals The Winner Of Season 28 In Finale Packed With Musical Guest Stars And Coach Performances

• NFL Playoffs To Miss Mahomes, Brady, And Manning For The First Time Since The 1998 Season

• FIFA Slashes Price Of Some World Cup Tickets To $60 After Global Fan Backlash For Trump ‘Peace Prize’

Your Bar Regular Tonight

Bob Cesca, podcaster, broadcaster, journalist, artist, & host of The Bob Cesca Show & co-host of Trek Politics is back in the bar tonight for one more time this year. Of course we’ll get a few rounds from the News On Tap, like Trump’s New War & the health care fights. But we’ll also talk about Bob’s latest pieces at The Banter, Why the President’s Mob Justice Can Never Be Normalized, and Be Careful What You Wish For, Donald. Plus we’ll ask Bob about his holiday plans, and maybe talk a little about Trek Politics. Grab a drink & join us tonight!

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