Kentucky Republican congressman Thomas Massie — singled out by former president Donald Trump on Christmas as a “lowlife” after he helped pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act — said the attack came for fulfilling a pledge to “help victims.” Massie used the insult to appeal for donations and, within hours, reported more than 40 donors had given nearly $3,000 to his 2026 campaign.
Massie, who has represented his district in the US House since 2012, co-authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the federal government to release files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and moved through Congress in November. Trump has endorsed retired US Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie in the Republican primary.
On Christmas Day Trump posted on Truth Social dismissing congressional scrutiny of Epstein as a “scam” and singled out Massie by name, calling him “one lowlife ‘Republican’.” Massie responded on X (formerly Twitter), describing the moment of receiving the attack on a family holiday and urging supporters to back his campaign. His appeal quickly generated small-dollar donations and social-media attention.
Wider Political Context
Political observers say signs are worrying for Trump heading into November 2026. Democrats appear energised and some Republicans are distancing themselves from the party’s direction; several Republican senators have already announced they will not seek re-election. Polling from Gallup cited in recent coverage put Trump’s job approval at 36% and disapproval at 60%, the lowest approval of his second term so far. Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller said voters are expressing frustration and sending a signal to Republican leaders about the party’s direction.
Other Top Stories
Kennedy Center Controversy
Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center, demanded $1 million in damages and sharply criticised jazz musician Chuck Redd after the performer abruptly cancelled a Christmas Eve concert. Grenell said the cancellation was explicitly in response to the center’s renaming to honour President Trump’s role in preserving the facility and described the withdrawal as a costly political stunt.
Filibuster Debate
Trump has floated ending the Senate filibuster, arguing in a Politico interview that abolishing the procedural rule would make it easier for Republicans to pass their legislative agenda and avoid future government shutdowns. “The filibuster is hurting the Republican party,” he said, urging Senate Republicans to scrap it.
Las Vegas Police Receive Donated Cybertrucks
Las Vegas unveiled a fleet of 10 Tesla Cybertruck tactical vehicles in November, becoming the first US city to deploy the model for police use. The Las Vegas Police Department said the fleet was donated by an anonymous supporter, sparking speculation about the donor’s identity.
Rare Ectopic Pregnancy Yields Healthy Baby
In California, 41-year-old emergency nurse Suze Lopez of Bakersfield delivered a healthy baby, Ryu, via surgery after a rare ectopic pregnancy in which the fetus developed outside the uterus. Doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles described the case as extremely rare — about 1 in 30,000 pregnancies — and plan to document it in medical journals.
Northeast Winter Storm Disrupts Travel
A mix of snow and ice disrupted post-holiday air travel across the US northeast, prompting weather emergencies in New York and New Jersey. By mid-morning on Saturday more than 14,400 domestic flights were delayed or cancelled, with the majority of disruptions concentrated in the New York area.
Catch-up: These developments were current as of 26 December 2025.
