December 26, 2025 – US Headlines

Story gist: President Trump stated the US military launched strikes against the Islamic State in Nigeria.

Bias summary: Left-leaning CNN emphasizes Trump’s statement and labels ISIS as ‘terrorists’ neutrally, omitting timing or context. Center BBC reports factually using Trump’s ‘powerful strikes’ phrasing without added details. Right-leaning Fox frames Trump as directly launching ‘Christmas night airstrikes’ on ISIS ‘Terrorist Scum’ tied to Christian killings, with emotive, supportive tone highlighting presidential action.

Story gist: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US envoys. He described their talks as featuring ‘new ideas’ on peace.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like NYT frame skeptically, headlining Russia’s likely rejection of the US-Ukrainian plan and emphasizing obstacles. Center outlets like BBC report neutrally, echoing Zelensky’s positive hailing of ‘new ideas.’ Right-leaning coverage absent, missing potential emphasis on US diplomatic leverage or critiques of Russian intransigence.

Story gist: A storm brought flooding rain, high winds, and mountain snow to California on Christmas Day, causing extensive mudslide damage in Southern California mountains. The storm remains a threat.

Bias summary: Left-leaning CNN frames the storm dramatically as ‘slamming’ California on Christmas Day, emphasizing broad weather impacts like flooding and snow. Center KTLA offers neutral live updates focused on mudslide damage extent and ongoing SoCal threat. Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting potential focus on emergency response, local impacts, or climate policy critiques.

Story gist: Meteorologists predict a major winter storm to bring snow and ice to the Midwest and Northeast. Winter storm warnings are in effect for the New York City Tri-State area from Friday night into Saturday morning.

Bias summary: Left-leaning ABC News frames the story broadly with regional scope across Midwest and Northeast, using ‘major’ to denote scale. Center ABC7 New York emphasizes local details like NYC Tri-State warnings, specific timing, and ‘widespread snow, mix.’ Right-leaning outlets absent, omitting any conservative framing on impacts, preparations, or disruptions.

Story gist: The U.S. Department of Justice stated it may need a few more weeks to complete releasing Jeffrey Epstein files. The Guardian reported some redactions in the files are being undone through hacks.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian emphasizes hacks bypassing redactions, suggesting public ingenuity against official delays (tone: activist exposure). No center coverage, absent neutral focus on procedural timelines or DOJ logistics. No right coverage, missing potential emphasis on government foot-dragging, Epstein elite ties, or demands for faster unredacted release. Coverage skewed left with activist slant.