January 9

December 2025 jobs report: only 50,000 jobs added, capping worst hiring year since 2020

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the U.S. added just 50,000 jobs in December 2025, capping a year in which only 584,000 total jobs were created — the weakest annual hiring since 2020 and second-worst since the 2008 financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 4.4%, but the decline was partly attributed to BLS seasonal adjustments. October was revised to a loss of 173,000 jobs from an initial -105,000. Gains were concentrated in food services and health care; losses hit retail and manufacturing.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Election Order Requiring Citizenship Proof to Vote

U.S. District Judge John H. Chun in Seattle permanently halted enforcement of key sections of Executive Order 14248 — Trump's March 2025 election order — in a lawsuit filed by Oregon and Washington. Judge Chun found the order unconstitutional, writing that the Constitution assigns election regulation authority to states and Congress, not the president. The ruling blocked requirements that would have required documentary proof of U.S. citizenship on federal voter registration forms and that military personnel provide such proof when registering to vote.

Trump signs executive order blocking courts from seizing Venezuelan oil revenue

President Trump signed an executive order on January 9, 2026 declaring Venezuelan oil revenues held in U.S. Treasury foreign government deposit funds to be sovereign property not subject to private claims. The order explicitly blocked court proceedings by companies including ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil, which had filed multi-billion dollar arbitration claims over Venezuela's nationalization of their assets. Trump signed the EO the same day he met with Exxon CEO Darren Woods and other oil executives to discuss $100 billion in Venezuela investment.

CBS Evening News Loses 1.2 Million Viewers in First Week Under Bari Weiss Overhaul

In the first five days after Bari Weiss relaunched CBS Evening News with anchor Tony Dokoupil (Jan 5–9, 2026), total viewership fell from 5.4 million to 4.17 million — a drop of over 1.2 million, roughly 23%. The advertiser-coveted 25–54 demographic fell 23% from 690,000 to 533,000. The relaunch shifted the broadcast toward a more conservative editorial posture, drawing both industry criticism and advertiser concern.

State Dept Refuses to Rescind 250 Foreign Service Layoffs Despite Shutdown Deal

The State Department refused to rescind reduction-in-force notices for nearly 250 Foreign Service officers and approximately 30 civil service employees, despite the Trump administration initially telling plaintiffs it would rescind the RIFs. A federal district court judge ruled in January that the layoffs fell outside layoff protections in the shutdown-ending deal. The separations were ultimately finalized in May 2026. Secretary Rubio oversaw the workforce contraction.

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