President Donald Trump delivered a holiday-season address framing the economy as a success story, even as polls show voters growing more anxious about costs. He leaned on tariffs, inflation claims and what he called a “warrior dividend.”

Plus, Venezuela responded to Trump’s oil tanker blockade with action, not rhetoric. The country has begun using military escorts to move oil shipments, raising the stakes in an already tense standoff.

And new plaques lining the White House colonnade were billed as tributes to past presidents. Instead, some read more like roasts.

These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, December 18, 2025.