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Nigeria had a not-so-silent night as the U.S. launched strikes against ISIS.

On Christmas Day, a U.S. Navy warship launched sixteen missiles at two ISIS camps in northwest Nigeria, killing multiple militants. President Trump said the strikes were motivated by ISIS’s killing of Nigerian Christians, echoing his November warning that the U.S. military would come “guns-a-blazing” if the violence continued. 

Hours later, the Nigerian government issued a statement calling the strikes a “joint operation” to promote regional security. Africa’s most populous nation has faced overlapping jihadist insurgencies, banditry, and mass kidnappings for more than a decade—Nigerian officials maintain the militant groups kill as many Muslims as Christians, denying claims of a religious genocide and cautioning against “simplistic labels.”

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth signaled further strikes could follow if the killings persisted.

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PRAY WITH US
God of Peace, end the cycles of violence plaguing your world—in particular this fraught stretch in West Africa.  The overlapping terror and suffering are overwhelming and tragic. We ask you to make it stop: free people from fear, protect the vulnerable, and restore peace to the land. Amen.

“And he judges the world with righteousness; he executes judgment on the nations with fairness. The Lord is a refuge for the persecuted, a refuge in times of trouble.” 
Psalm 9:8-9 (CSB) (read full passage)

On Christmas Eve, the DOJ announced it had checked the list twice and found “over a million more” Epstein-related documents.

The DOJ received the files from the FBI and prosecutors in New York, and is “working around the clock” to review and release the documents but warned it could take “weeks.”

Many people in D.C. are less than happy. 

Rep. Massie (R-KY), a sponsor of the Epstein File Transparency Act, accused the DOJ of breaking the law by “making illegal redactions and missing the deadline.” Rep. Khanna (D-CA), another co-sponsor, questioned why the new files were only revealed after a dozen senators called for an independent audit into the DOJ’s handling of the files. Meanwhile, President Trump complained that the DOJ has been “forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax.”

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
When discussing divisive topics, such as the release of more Epstein files, remember that both your stance and how you take your stance reflect on Christ.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.” 
James 3:17 (CSB) (read full passage)

A recent U.N.-backed report projects that 2.3 million children in South Sudan under age 5 suffer from acute malnutrition, and over 700,000 of them are in severe condition. 

Thanks to the generosity of the TPO Community, World Concern’s first South-Sudan-bound shipment of life-saving Nutripackets—a peanut-based emergency food supplement—is already en route. 

But with so many hungry children, the need is still urgent. Help us get this shipment the last mile, directly into the hands of families fighting to survive.

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BE DOERS 
For every $12 you give, you’ll provide a child with an entire month’s worth of the emergency nutrition they desperately need for survival. Since September, TPO readers have helped 23,196 children! Now, we're aiming for 30,000 by December 31. TPO is matching the first $4K given through this link!

“If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,’ but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?”  
James 2:15-16 (CSB) (read full passage)

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President Trump had a call with Russian President Putin before hosting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Mar-a-lago yesterday, all in hopes of closing out a peace agreement.

A key sticking point remains “territorial issues.” Moscow says any deal must give it ownership of the contested Donbas region—which is largely under Russian control—while Ukraine refuses to cede any of its pre-war territory. Additionally, Zelenskyy has signalled willingness to stop trying to join NATO but has questions on how security guarantees will be enforced if Ukraine doesn’t join the alliance.

The presidential peace talks followed a deadly weekend in Ukraine.

Russia launched strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region, killing two, injuring 46, and knocking out power for more than a million households. Ukraine says private homes were targeted in the eastern city of Sloviansk, where one person died.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
War and its horrors sow fear, anxiety, and hopelessness. Yet because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be confident that our joyful eternity is secure—no matter how dark earth’s headlines become.

“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff ​— ​they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4 (CSB) (read full passage)

Uncle Sam’s latest economics exam is going on the fridge. The Commerce Department reported U.S. gross domestic product—the economy’s total output of goods and services—grew at a 4.3% annual rate in Q3 (July-September), crushing the ~3% expectations. AAA piled on the good news, announcing gas prices stayed below $3/gallon for most of the month—the cheapest December since 2020.

The Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s National Guard deployment to Chicago while litigation plays out, saying the administration “failed to identify” a legal authority for the decision; three justices dissented. The White House has argued the National Guard is needed to protect federal immigration officers from “violent resistance" in Chicago, while Illinois says local officers have handled “isolated protest activities.”

A much-too-white Christmas created holiday travel chaos in New England. The Northeast’s heaviest snowstorm in four years led to roughly 2,600 cancelled post-holiday flights across Friday and Saturday (scroll through the misery map). On the other coast, Southern Californians were drenched by their wettest winter storm in years, triggering dangerous mudslides, evacuations, and flooding roads.

Two helicopters crashed midair in southern New Jersey yesterday, killing one pilot and critically injuring the other. Neither aircraft had any passengers. The FAA and NTSB are both investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred near a municipal airport 35 miles from Philadelphia when winds were light and visibility was good.

The FBI is moving HQs. Director Kash Patel announced Friday the Bureau is ditching the aging J. Edgar Hoover building, which Hoover himself described as a “monstrosity” and was voted ugliest building in the country in 2023. The FBI will move into the Ronald Reagan Building, occupying offices previously used by the recently dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

We're not telling you who to root for this week, but this is cute...

How We’re Kicking Off the New Year
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If your resolutions focus more on feeling better than cutting things out, Seed is a great place to begin. Start your year strong—use code 25POUR for 25% off your first month!

What We’re Subscribing To
Help The Persecuted’s Prayer Newsletter*

This has been an unexpected source of encouragement to my faith and prayer life.

Each week, I receive the specific prayer needs of persecuted believers— people who have faced credible death threats, violence, or been forced from their homes for their faith in Christ. It’s brought a much-needed fresh perspective to my own walk with God and challenged me to reorient on what matters most. 

Also, the Bible is very clear that prayer is powerful and effective… and there’s something powerful about knowing I’m joining thousands of other Christians in praying for another brother or sister’s specific needs! Join me (it’s free).

Jason Woodruff | Founder

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