And where is RFK Jr.??? Jenna discusses the upcoming cabinet positions, focusing on the nominees for Attorney General and the head of the CIA.

Takeaways:

• The cabinet can have varying numbers of members, not fixed by the Constitution.
• There are no specific qualifications required for cabinet members.
• The post office was once a cabinet-level department until the 1970s.

Chapters:

00:00 Quick Intro: Did you know this about the President's cabinet?

02:00 Contentious Hearings: Attorney General Nominee

05:04 The Role of the CIA and National Security

07:06 Write a letter this weekend! An ode to a former cabinet member ... 

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

The unexpectedly funny, and surprisingly bipartisan hearing of Sec. of State nominee, Senator Marco Rubio..

Takeaways

• A key focus on China.
• The Arctic become an increasingly important area of discussion.
• Personal stories in politics.
• The stakes of war and peace vs. viral moments.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of the Secretary of State

02:26 Key Takeaways from the Hearing

05:06 Insights on Global Engagement and Leadership

07:00: Greenland or bust?

Summary

President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hegseth, a veteran, author and former Fox News host, faced tough questions on his personal and professional record. Jenna breaks down the three key takeaways of this four-hour hearing.

Takeaways

• The Secretary of Defense is a historically significant role.
• The hearing revealed deep partisan divides in questioning.
• Hegseth's non-traditional background was acknowledged.
• Allegations against Hegseth became a focal point for Democrats.
• Republicans emphasized the military’s culture and Hegseth’s Christianity.
• Strategic questions about national security were largely overlooked.
• The confirmation process is likely to follow party lines.

00:00 The Importance of the Secretary of Defense - Did you know it was known as the Secretary of War?

02:28 Hearing Highlights: Party Lines and Allegations

05:57 - Character and Culture in Military Leadership

07:43 - Oversights in the Hearing

8:59 - Next Steps for Pete Hegseth's Nomination

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

✓ 2:00: Is it a full moon? 

✓ 3:00: An important caveat about timing in this week’s news cycle.  

✓ 5:00: Ceasefire talks happening in the Middle East.  

✓ 7:00: The Jobs Report.  

✓ 10:00: How does a surge at the border impact the labor market? 

✓ 15:00: Pres.-Elect Trump’s recent sentencing and why it matters.  

✓ 24:00: A quick caveat on eggs, always a lightning-rod topic for SmartHER News. 

✓ 27:00: The wildfires in California. 

✓ 31:00: Some context on fire retardant drops. 

✓ 33:00: This group fighting the wildfires may surprise you. 

✓ 36:00: The entanglement between nature and development.  

SHOW NOTES 

“December Jobs Report: ‘Surprisingly Strong’” (SmartHER News) 

“How Immigration Remade the U.S. Labor Force” (The Wall Street Journal) 

"Deadly California Wildfires Continue" (SmartHER News)

“L.A. Will Keep Having Catastrophic Fires No Matter Who You Blame | Opinion” (Newsweek) 

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

Your Top 5 News Stories To Watch In 2025:

1:03: Are we seeing a generational shift in the Middle East? Who will lead Syria and how does this change relationships all over the globe?

4:45: What does the border look like under a new Trump administration? Highlights from a new annual report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

9:00: What does MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) look like in action at a government level?  Will Medicare and Medicaid cover semaglutide injections? 14:30: Do we have the next showdown over abortion law in America in the works? A Texas case vs. a New York doctor pulls new abortion law back into the spotlight. 19:30: What new political identities will emerge?

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews  Show Notes:

* This was recorded before the recent events in New Orleans and Las Vegas New elections could take up to four years, Syria rebel leader says ICE Annual Report: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/eoy/iceAnnualReportFY2024.pdf Concerns About Ozempic and “Eye Rot” Texas AG's lawsuit sets up a red versus blue state abortion battle

We first published this interview in 2023 ~ celebrating 200 years of this popular poem's first, mysterious, appearance. We thought in this busy news year, you might appreciate some more insight on this holiday legend!

----

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house ..." These lines first appeared in a New York state newspaper on December 23, 1823. The author? Originally ... "Anonymous."

200 years later, many of us can still recite much of this poem from memory, solidifying the image of Santa and "his eight tiny reindeer" for generations.

While the mystery over who precisely penned this famous Christmas poem swirled for years, the impact of the lyrical writing remains undeniable. Historian and author Pamela Mccoll spent ten years researching the poem's origins and global impact, documenting her findings in her book, "Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem." Pam joins us to share incredible insight about the curious origins of the poem (including the party-filled streets of New York City) and why she believes it has such incredible lasting power.

A link to the poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas

A link to Pamela's book in the SmartHER Amazon storefront: Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem

Shop SmartHER News Gear!

Join us on SCOOP and support a free press! 

✓ 1:00: The imagery of doves as a symbol for peace. 

✓ 3:00: A quick, fun anecdote about a camel and our nation’s first president. 

✓ 5:00: Monday's breaking news: a school shooting in Wisconsin. 

✓ 11:00: Why details matter and what we’re watching for next.  

✓ 19:00: A key takeaway that needs more attention on how exactly “Targeted violence is preventable.”  

✓ 23:00: A story gaining speed: Will the government shutdown? 

✓ 29:00: The next generation of Democratic party leaders.  

✓ 31:00: What’s up with these drones? Plus, important context: the question about mysterious drones pre-dates this recent news cycle. 

✓ 34:00: Who is responsible for taking the lead? 

✓ 39:00: Trust ... and how has the relationship between the people and those elected changed in recent years? 

✓ 41:00: NY Judge Upholds Pres-Elect Trump’s Conviction in “Hush Money” Case. 

✓ 43:00: A settlement between Pres. Trump’s team and ABC News. 

✓ 47:00: The Travis Manion Foundation ... “If not me, then who?” Jenna ends today's broadcast sharing a special message from a remarkable speech.

SHOW NOTES 

Developing: Shooting at Wisconsin Christian School (SmartHER News)

Gun Violence Archive

Clock Ticks As Government Shutdown Looms (SmartHER News) 

Federal Agencies Respond to Drone Sightings on East Coast (SmartHER News) 

NY Judge Upholds Pres-Elect Trump’s Conviction in “Hush Money” Case (SmartHER News) 

Travis Manion Foundation 

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

An interview from our holiday vault! Be charmed by now 93-year-old Mrs. Koch - the "Chief Elf" of one Santa Claus, Indiana.

~~~~~~~

Have you heard of Santa Claus, Indiana?

Founded in 1856, this town serves as one of the main destinations for "Dear Santa" letters from all over the world.

And this happened, in many ways, because one family took the reins (no reindeer jokes ... yet).

Meet 92-year-old Mrs. Koch (pronounced "Cook"). She holds many titles – including Santa's daughter, Chief Elf, and founder of the Santa Claus Museum – preserving the stories of the past that she now shares with us, including:

• How Santa Claus, IN got its name
• How a WW1 veteran became Santa's best helper
• How the team receives and responds to tens of thousands of letters mailed from around the world.

A perfect news break for anyone who needs a little Christmas spirit – or has some to spare! We hope this interview leaves you with one thought this season ... "Believe!" --- Thank you for supporting SmartHER News! You keep us ad-free and independent. Please consider joining our insider service SCOOP or grabbing some gear in our SmartHER shop. 

✓ 2:00: The Manhattan Murder Mystery: Why is a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania making national news? 

✓ 7:00: We shift to an important international story. The fall of a 50-year regime in Syria. 

✓ 9:00: Why Syria’s geographic position matters.  

✓ 12:00: War Correspondent Hollie McKay joins us to discuss her previous experiences in Syria. 

✓ 14:00: Hollie’s take on this important interntional story. 

✓ 18:00: What we need to know about the rebel groups in Syria.  

✓ 22:00: What's happening in Syria, and why are U.S. troops there? 

✓ 27:00: A clip from “Face the Nation” ... what is HTS and who is its leader? 

✓ 36:00: Your questions ... answered. 

✓ 38:00: Hollie sheds light on what the news landscape of this story looks like abroad.  

✓ 44:00: Where is Austin Tice? We hear from the mother of a journalist assumed to be imprisoned in Syria.

✓ 48:00: The Manhattan Murder Mystery: Has there been a break in the case?

✓ 55:00: Pres-Elect Trump sat down for his first interview since winning the election. Jenna intentionally reports on a few important soundbites.  

✓ 1:13:00: The Manhattan Murder Mystery: The NYPD Police Commissioner goes on the record. 

SHOW NOTES 

“Developing: Upheaval in Syria” (SmartHER News)

Dispatches with Hollie McKay 

Pres. Elect Trump's Full Interview on "Meet the Press" (NBC News)

SUPPORT OUR MISSION     If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/  Website: https://smarthernews.com/  YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews 

Does the rule of law work in America?

Two stories this week highlight this question in unique ways: the pardon of the President's son, Hunter Biden & the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. 

We take a closer at this developing criminal investigation: the healthcare industry & the clues of the crime itself. 

SUPPORT OUR MISSION: If you’d like to help support SmartHER News’ mission of a free, independent, nonpartisan press – here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/     Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/ Website: https://smarthernews.com/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/smarthernews