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President Trump signed an executive order on December 18 directing the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a move that positions Republicans as leaders on cannabis reform amid Democratic inaction. The White House released video footage of the signing, highlighting Trump's push for swift action on this long-debated issue. Transitioning to workforce matters, Trump issued another executive order on December 18 granting federal employees holidays on December 24 and 26, creating a five-day Christmas weekend for most feds, with exceptions for national security needs—this echoes a similar move by Obama in 2014 but adds Christmas Eve off.

On healthcare, rebel Republicans joined Democrats to oppose a party-proposed bill expanding association health plans, with House Speaker Mike Johnson calling these not normal times amid the internal pushback. The administration also proposed major restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, aiming to cut federal Medicaid and Medicare funding to hospitals providing such treatments, signaling a firm policy shift.

A fresh Punchbowl News canvass from October 2025, reflecting recent sentiments, shows Republicans viewing their party as highly united at 77% among GOP respondents, far ahead of Democrats at 17%. GOP insiders predict strong midterm gains, with 98% expecting Republican Senate control in 2026 and 49% for the House. They largely back Trump's moves, like National Guard deployments (53% say it helps in midterms) and executive orders on nonprofits probing domestic terrorism networks, though broader voter blame for potential shutdowns tilts against Republicans at 60%.

These developments underscore Trump's aggressive executive agenda and Republican cohesion heading into the holidays and beyond.

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