2018 Day 697: The Russian disinformation and influence campaign during the 2016 presidential election was more far-reaching than originally understood; Giuliani suggested that Mueller's investigation is "done" and all that's left is to investigate are "parking tickets and jaywalking"; two Michael Flynn business associates were arrested and charged with conspiring to "covertly and unlawfully" influence politicians; and Trump doesn't plan to support a funding extension to avert a partial government shutdown over the holidays. Dec 17, 2018
2019 Day 1062: Mitch McConnell rejected Democrats requests to have four White House witnesses testify during Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate; Trump denounced what he called a "partisan impeachment crusade," accusing Democrats of "perversion of justice" for their handling of impeachment; Rudy Giuliani confirmed that he needed the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine "out of the way," because she "was going to make the investigations difficult for everybody"; and the House approved a $1.4 trillion spending package to avert a government shutdown. Dec 17, 2019
2020 Day 1428: The United States reported its deadliest day of the pandemic to date; another 885,000 Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week; while lawmakers are close to a $900 billion coronavirus stimulus deal, Congress is preparing for the possibility of a short government shutdown; and suspected Russian hackers accessed the networks that maintain the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. Dec 17, 2020
2021 Day 332: Biden acknowledged that the Build Back Better bill will not clear Congress this year; the Senate parliamentarian rejected the Democrats plan to include immigration reform in the social spending bill for the third time; the Trump administration engaged in “deliberate efforts” to undermine the nation's response to the coronavirus for political purposes; New York state reported its highest number of new Covid-19 cases in a single day of the entire pandemic; and the Republican National Committee agreed to pay up to $1.6 million of Trump’s personal legal bills. Dec 17, 2021
2024 Day 1428: A judge rejected Trump’s effort to have his felony conviction dismissed on presidential immunity grounds; Trump filed a civil lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer, accusing them of engaging in “brazen election interference” and consumer fraud; Trump threatened to fire federal employees who refuse to return to the office, despite existing labor contracts that secure remote work arrangements for thousands of workers; Congress reached a bipartisan deal to prevent a government shutdown; Kamala Harris urged young leaders to “stay in the fight”; and House Democrats selected 74-year-old Gerry Connolly – who is battling esophagus cancer – over 35-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the top spot on the Oversight Committee. Dec 17, 2024
2025 Day 1793: Four House Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson and joined Democrats to force a House vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year; the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November – its highest level since 2021; the Senate passed the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act, using the must-pass bill to compel the Pentagon to turn over unedited video and written orders for U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela; White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles offered an unusually candid, on-the-record portrait of Trump and his second term in a yearlong series of interviews with Vanity Fair; former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith told the House Judiciary Committee that his investigations produced “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election and “powerful evidence” he illegally retained classified documents; and the Trump administration claimed that construction of the White House ballroom must continue as a matter of national security. Dec 17, 2025