Beltway Insider: Trump Eases Cannabis Law, Epstein Photos, Health Subsidies, R.I. Shooting, Miami Mayor, Measles Outbreak

Details: Category: Haute This Issue; Published on Saturday, 13 December 2025 18:21; Written by Janet Walker

President Trump has once again become the center of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as the House Oversight Committee released several pictures of the president, along with other well-known public figures, in the company of the convicted sex offender.

The President's job approval rating, according to Gallup featured in The New York Times for the period ending December 13, 2025, of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President remained constant with 36% and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as president remained constant at 60%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

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Jeffrey Epstein Photos Released

President Trump's argument of limited knowledge and interaction with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein suffered a setback this week, after the House Oversight Committee released many photos, showing the president surrounded by many young females as well as a large bowl of merchandise labeled, "Trump Condom" $4.50 with Trump's image and underneath the phrase "I'm HUUUUGE!."

Other well-known leaders of business, industry and academia included former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates was pictured with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, former Harvard President Larry Summer, Harvard Professor and Scholar Alan Dershowitz, Film Director Woody Allen, and Trump's former Chief White House Strategist Steve Bannon.

The Oversight Committee posted in the social media platform X "Oversight Dems received 95,000 new photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate. These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. Time to end this White House cover-up. Release the files!"

To date, the House Oversight Committee has not suggested the president is guilty of anything other than poor choices and bad decisions, and according to Epstein's own account, Trump, "was the only dog that didn't bark." However, poor choices and bad decisions coupled with his current alleged cognitive decline may be sufficient to force action.

Epstein's partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a twenty year sentenced in a minimum security prison, in Bryan, Texas, after receiving a transfer earlier in the year in exchange for her testimony.

As Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi has used the Epstein files to target many leading democrats, the photos released include both, democrats and republicans. And again, party politics and privileged has suppressed the rights of the citizen.

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Trump Announces Intent to Reclassify Cannabis Laws

The debate over Cannabis laws continue to rage on, as President Trump has announced his intent to reclassify Marijuana currently considered a Schedule III narcotic, to a Schedule 1 narcotic, along the same lines as Tylenol with codeine.

Currently, the widely used drug, in the United States, cannabis is legal in 40 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. Ten states that have yet to alter their Cannabis laws.

"Trump would move to classify marijuana as a Schedule III substance, which regulators say carry less potential for abuse and are used for certain medical treatments, but can also create risks of physical or psychological dependence. Other Schedule III drugs include Tylenol with codeine, as well as certain steroid and hormone treatments," The Washington Post reported.

The debate over Marijuana and its benefits or conversely detriments to users have been ongoing since the late 1960s, when Cannabis became more widely accepted and used by the youth culture. Harsh penalties accompanied the sale and distribution and became the first trafficked substance.

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, as Cancer patient attested to its calming effects and ability to alleviate nausea. It would be 16 years before any state legalized the recreational use of Marijuana with Colorado and Washington State passing legislation in 2012. However, even with the passage of these laws, tourists who arrived in their home state, with contraband from a legal state still faced the possibility of incarceration, and legal penalty.

As the debate continued, and more than 50% of the population regularly engages in the drugs usage, state government's began to embrace the possibility that legalizing, and thus regulating the sale, allows for additional state revenue through taxation.

Should Trump decide to declassify Marijuana from a Schedule III Narcotic, which essentially states Cannabis has the same incapacitating and addictive effects as Heroin, the remaining ten states, nine of which are republican strongholds, may chose to address their rigid laws.

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Senate Fails to Lock in Healthcare Subsidies

After a 43 day government shut down resulting from the inability of Congress to agree on language that would appease both parties, a compromise by Senate Democrats based on a promise of their Republican colleagues of addressing healthcare subsidies before the end of the year, has resulted in democrats begin hoodwinked by their fellow republicans.

"With Congress set to leave for the holidays after next week and the two sides still far apart on their approach to rising health insurance costs, time was [is] nearly out to renew the premium subsidies that millions of Americans depend on to afford coverage on the federal health care exchange," The New York Times reported.

The inability to draft or address Obama era healthcare subsidies, especially after the government was already shutdown for 43 days, means that Senate Democrats were unable to withstand the pressure from their constituents who were unable to see the bigger picture. The possibility exists that republicans used pressure tactics by fabricated pleas to wavering democrats to pass the budget without the ACA subsidy provision.

For this congress, the one lesson democrat should have learned by now, is that the promise or word of their republican colleagues cannot be considered trustworthy. Now, as time has expired for the millions of Americans who depend on government healthcare subsidies, both parties have been attempting to advance legislation that addresses this political sinkhole, and Democrats, have announced they will make the inability and deceitful tactics of republican leadership a campaign heading into 2026 midterm elections.

Unfortunately, it wasn't only democrats who failed their constituents by blinking and accepting a promissory note from republican colleagues but also republicans who refused to put the citizen above party politics.

Ukraine Rejects Key Component to Peace Deal

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this week, that he would not agree to any peace deal that would secede Ukraine territory to Russia, a caveat included in recent U.S. backed peace deals circulated by the Trump Administration.

"Under our laws, under international law — and under moral law — we have no right to give anything away," Zelensky said, after meeting with top European leaders to discuss Trump's plan Monday. "That is what we are fighting for." The unequivocal declaration that Ukraine will not surrender land could mark the collapse of Trump's plan, which critics condemned as fulfilling a wish list of Russian President Vladimir Putin," The Washington Post reported.

No nation is more determined to secure a peace deal than the Ukraine. As the nearly four year war has resulted in between in an estimated 1.5 Russian killed and wounded, and an estimated 400,000 Ukrainians.

The terms of the recent Peace Deal, which heavily favored Russia, have been all but rejected, with key components including seceding land removed, as well as any Russian authority that would control Ukraine armaments or future autonomy, growth, independence, and rebuild.

The Peace Plan, which official who have had an opportunity to see the plan have stated that, as it looks like a document translated from the Kremlin, it also reads like a document that has been pasted together from many other historical documents.

"Some European officials who have seen the documents said they weren't sure whether to take some of the U.S. proposals seriously. One official compared them to President Trump's vision of building a Riviera-style development in Gaza. Another, referring to the proposed U.S.-Russia energy deals, said it was an economic version of the 1945 conference where World War II victors divvied up Europe. "It's like Yalta," he said," reported The Wall Street Journal.

The autonomy of Ukraine echoed across Ukraine's European partners, as Zelensky meet with NATO and EU leadership to ensure their commitment to a free Ukraine.

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Coronavirus Total

At the order of the President of the United States, the U.S. no longer recognizes the value of The World Health Organization. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually. The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from each new variants.

For the seven days ending December 13, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by the World Health Organization increased by 14,884 to 778,956,825. The total worldwide death toll increased by 48 to 7,103,462 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated November 23, 2025, from the World Health Organization).

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Brown University Campus Shooter

Shooting erupted on the campus at Brown University, in Rhode Island, killing two students and critically wounding eight others, as the unknown gunman, dressed in black, began his rampage in the Engineering building.

"The first 911 call on Saturday came in at 4:05 p.m., officials said, and the shooting took place at the Barus and Holley Engineering building, which contains laboratories and classrooms. Police searched the building but did not locate the gunman, whom they described only as a male dressed in black," The Washington Post reported.

At this time the identity of the gunman is not known and remains at large. Residents of Providence, and the immediate areas surrounding Brown University are encouraged to shelter in place, until FBI and local police provide further instructions.

Miami Elects Female Mayor

During the November election, voters across the country were showing up to the polling stations armed with the only power they possessed to express to the current leadership their dissatisfaction, their vote. Repeatedly in pivotal races around the nation, Democrats were besting their republican challengers.

In Miami, where the cities mayoral seat was hanging in the balance, City Comptroller Eileen Higgins was winning the night. However, when the votes were tallied, even with 39% of the vote, she failed to secure the necessary 51% majority needed to win. Her closest challenger, Emilio T. Gonzales, 41, a republican Hispanic, secured 195.

In a city where the 70% of the population is Hispanic/Latino, the idea that Eileen Higgins, a white, middle aged democratic female, could be the next mayor of this diverse and vibrant city was a surprise. When it became apparent there would be a run-off between Higgins and Gonzales, the race began to draw national attention and the attention of President Trump who backed Gonzales.

"Although the race was technically nonpartisan, the political divide was clear. Trump backed González, while the Democratic National Committee and potential Democratic presidential hopefuls supported Higgins," The Washington Post reported.

Even as run-off election, have a certain amount of risk, this year, in Miami, voters returned again to the polls, and overwhelmingly cast their vote for Eileen Higgins, who won the night with 59% of the vote, to become first female elected as mayor of Miami in three decades.

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South Carolina Measles Outbreak

Spartanburg, South Carolina has become ground zero in a measles outbreak that has resulted in more than 100 infections, and more than 250 to be ordered to quarantine, for 21 days, to ensure the highly contagious disease, that was allegedly eradicated two decades ago is contained.

With recollections of the coronavirus pandemic still resonating in the psyche of much of the population, citizens of Spartanburg are dealing with more than simply an outbreak of the measles, which is challenging enough, especially for the vulnerable which are most commonly affected.

The order to quarantine is reminiscent of the pandemic, and as schools have yet to order remote learning until the holiday break, which begins December 19, 2025, in order to curb a further outbreak, all measures should be considered. The Spartanburg school district reported an average of 90% of its students had the MMR vaccine, a 95% vaccination rate is considered necessary to stop an outbreak.

Officials who believe the spike in cases came after family gatherings and travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, are cautious that upcoming holiday activities, in schools, homes, highly trafficked areas, airports, shopping centers, and other areas, could result in a higher spike and further nationwide spread.

"Speaking at a news conference this week, Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, said the state was not going to issue vaccine mandates for measles. "We've been through that with Covid, and we don't want to go in that direction," Mr. McMaster said. "People need to understand it's dangerous, just like a lot of other diseases. If there's some way to prevent it, you ought to do it," The New York Times reported.

While citizens look to the government in times of emergency, the best possible solution is preventive care, and in the case of measles, it is the MMR vaccine.

For more information on President Donald Trump: Whitehouse.gov.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five award-winning screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," a non-fiction narrative, "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," and "Songs of Freedom: A Collection of Biblical Teachings," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.