Stories I’m reading…

She provides the raw material to Trump's influencer machine - via The Washington Post

The year big events came back - via Axios

1 for the road: $400K lobster heist - via Axios

1 big thing: Health care sticker shock coming - via Axios

SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods take effect in five states Jan. 1 - via AP News

Alleged DC pipe bomber appears at detention hearing as his attorneys argue he should be released from jail - via CNN

Mark Cuban Tells Us How He Can Fix America’s Shitty Health Care - via The Bulwark

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Official Responds To Daily Beast Article Dismissing Her As Mere ‘Beauty Salon Owner’ - via The Daily Caller

Top tweets…

@seanspicer: Doubling down on fraud is a true knucklehead move

NEW Morning Show!! Start your day in the know with THE HUDDLE

Are you starting you day in the know? Starting this MONDAY — every weekdays morning at 8:30am ET you can now join Dan Turrentine and journalist Rachael Bade as we break down the top political stories.

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Good news for 2026…

Per Axios, there are 271,000 fewer federal employees than there were at the start of 2025.

 

Resolutions in the new year...

Two days into 2026, I’ve been thinking about resolutions.

Most people make them with big ambitions, big plans for the new year.

But let’s be honest, most resolutions are broken by the end of January, if not already—it can be hard to have the discipline to stick to whatever resolution you committed to:

Exercise more.

Eat healthy.

Sleep better.

They’re all easier said than done.

And it got me thinking.

Those things I mentioned are all good goals, worth sticking to.

But what if this year, we focused more on getting our priorities straight?

I’m talking about spending time and energy on what really matters—faith, family, and country.

Just take a cue from the how the Trump administration tackled 2025.

They went into the year with a clear priority and a goal: put America first.

And they delivered.

A strong southern border, a booming economy, huge foreign policy wins. . . this administration didn’t mess around.

It wasn’t a lot of talk, lofty policy goals, or empty promises that never came true.

It was a crystal clear goal, made reality by a group that is laser-focused on restoring American greatness.

Trump committed to putting America first, and put together a team of high-achievers that could get the job done.

It’s a good lesson in how to practically stick to your goals.

Have clear resolutions, based on what you want to prioritize in your life: your relationship with God, your family, and whatever else may be important to you.

Think about small steps to make each happen. Maybe it’s 5 minutes of prayers every morning or evening. Each of these steps can turn into long term habits.

But if it stops there, it’s likely to end up like so many resolutions committed to and then abandoned by February.

The key is surrounding yourself with like-minded people who can both support you and hold you accountable.

As ambitious as I feel going into a new year, I know I can’t reach any of my goals alone.

That’s why I keep good friends and family around me to help me get there.

So, as we head into 2026 take a second to pause and ask yourself what’s most important to you.

What do you want to prioritize?

The answer—and the people you choose to have around you— will help you keep those resolutions, into the new year and beyond.

. . .

As a final note, this year also marks the 250th birthday of the United States.

250 years of the greatest country on earth.

We’ve made it through a lot to get to this anniversary—I’m feeling optimistic about what 2026 has in store for America.

 

Cheers to 2026.