Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau">

By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

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Good morning. It’s Thursday, Dec. 18, and this list of seven home remedies for a sore throat is worth bookmarking in case you catch a cold this winter. Now let’s get to the news.

President Donald Trump delivered a combative 18-minute address to the nation.

• Last night: Trump bashed his predecessor and praised his own policy achievements. He read much of his speech at an unusually rapid pace, jumping from one topic to the next.
• Key takeaways: Trump aimed to ease concerns about the economy. But, with a rushed delivery and harsh tone, some of his allies fear he may have done more harm than good.

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The sign for former president Joe Biden declares him “by far, the worst President in American history.” (Alex Brandon/AP)

• What you’re looking at: Signs put on display at the White House. Written in the style of Trump, they take aim at Joe Biden, Barack Obama and others — see what they say here.
• Have you seen those Vanity Fair photos? The magazine published unvarnished close-up portraits of top Trump officials this week. The photographer explained his thinking.

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Senators froze a Coast Guard admiral’s promotion over a new swastika policy.

• This week: A workplace harassment policy that downgrades the definition of swastikas and nooses to “potentially divisive” took effect. Senators held up the promotion in response.
• At the FBI: Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced yesterday that he will leave his job next month. Trump suggested Bongino will return to his job as a conservative podcaster.

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The Trump administration is preparing a sweeping crackdown on leftist networks.

• The details: The effort is aimed at rooting out what officials see as left-wing extremism. But some experts fear a wide range of political speech may come under surveillance.
• In D.C.: Trump’s surge of federal law enforcement was designed to combat “out of control” crime. Residents in one neighborhood said the surge has not fixed safety issues.
• One more thing: A retired policeman was jailed over an anti-Trump meme — he’s suing.

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	The American Academy of Pediatrics abruptly lost millions in federal funding.

• Why? Officials cited several reasons for the cuts, including the AAP’s use of “identity-based language.” The group has been highly critical of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Why it matters: The AAP said the cuts could harm child health.
• In related news: Trump selected a Yale doctor who pushed an unproven covid treatment to lead the nation’s cancer effort.

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U.S. and Chinese spacecraft are routinely dueling as militarization escalates in orbit. (Aaron Steckelberg/The Washington Post)

• What’s happening? Satellites are whizzing by each other at close range, maneuvering to gain strategic advantage. In 2022, two satellites skirmished 22,000 miles above Earth.
• Why? A lot of it is simply spying, as countries try to gauge each other’s capabilities. Satellites are vital for both superpowers in trying to maintain military supremacy.

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Scientists are racing to develop simple blood tests to detect Alzheimer's.

• The latest: Recent research reflects continued advancements in tests to diagnose the memory-robbing condition. However, the tech is not yet ready for widespread use.
• A surprisingly hopeful year in Alzheimer’s research: Scientists made these five exciting advances in 2025, including new evidence that lithium could play a protective role.
• Reduce your risk: From diet to exercise, here are 15 science-based tips.

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Before you go … remember “To Catch a Predator”? A new documentary examined the hit show’s queasy appeal. Plus: We didn’t need a third Avatar, but our critic was entertained.

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