News for December 20, 2025

The Justice Department briefly removed at least 15 newly released Epstein files from its website, raising fresh questions about its document release.

Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman for New York governor after Elise Stefanik left the race, backing him as the Republican field takes shape.

Seattle and King County Public Health warned that heavy rain and flooding could push rats into sewer systems and, in rare cases, into toilets.

Trump and JD Vance tried to defend the economy in Allentown, Pa., but rising prices and local frustration showed how hard that message may be to sell before the midterms.

Florida woman Susan Erica Avalon is accused of fatally shooting her two ex-husbands on the same day, and police are investigating the case as a double homicide.

Bowen Yang gave an emotional farewell to “Saturday Night Live” mid-season after a run of major cast changes.

A police response to a domestic violence call in Rochester ended in a fatal shooting that injured three officers and the man who had called police.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said U.S. retaliatory strikes in Syria killed at least five ISIS members after an attack that killed U.S. troops and an American interpreter.

Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new strikes against Iran, with Israel focused on Iran’s missile buildup and rebuilding of damaged nuclear and air defense sites.

Walmart is expanding training to fill maintenance and repair jobs as the U.S. loses more skilled trades workers, while Lowe’s and other companies also push programs to ease the shortage.

Mark Penn says he built Stagwell to be a more people-focused company and now runs his days with a strict, meeting-heavy routine in Miami Beach.

Ben Shapiro and Steve Bannon turned a Turning Point USA conference into a public MAGA fight over Israel, antisemitism claims, and who will shape the movement before 2028.

An NJ Transit train derailment in Montclair, New Jersey, injured 17 people and led to a joint investigation.