House Sends Land Development Permit Reform Bill to Senate

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Dec. 18, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times The Republican-led House passed a permit reform bill designed to trim environmental reviews and judicial timelines for the development of federal public lands in a 221–196 vote on Dec. 18. The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, co-filed in

5 Takeaways From Ex-Hochul Aide’s Chinese Agent Trial

NEW YORK—Former aide to New York governors Linda Sun has been on a month-long trial over allegations that she acted as a Chinese agent while employed by the state. The prosecution presented evidence suggesting Sun’s connections with Chinese authorities, including text messages, transaction records, and photos involving both Sun and Chinese officials and agents. We

Trump Leans Into Affordability Pitch in Primetime as Inflation Cools

President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Room of the White House on Dec. 17, 2025. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images President Donald Trump’s Dec. 17 primetime speech touting his economic record landed with an added tailwind after fresh inflation data on Dec. 18 showed a sharp slowdown. Affordability has been top of mind for

Democrats push for last-minute vote on expiring health care subsidies

Washington — House Democrats called on GOP leaders to hold a last-minute vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits on Thursday as lawmakers are poised to head home for the holidays without addressing the expiring subsidies.  “We’re demanding a vote today on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits today — not tomorrow, not