Warning: This article contains images and descriptions some people may find distressingThe Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Month: December 2025
Amid the forward momentum, it’s telling that Trump touched the brakes.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
Brigitte Bardot was the sultry film siren who helped ignite a sexual revolution, a woman whose cultural significance extended beyond her acting career.The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News
The midterm elections for Congress won’t take place until November, but already a record number of members have declared their intention not to run – a total of 43 in the House, plus 10 senators. Perhaps the most high-profile person to depart, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, announced her intention in November not just to retire but to resign from Congress entirely on Jan. 5 – a full year before her term was set to expire.
There are political dynamics that explain this rush to the exits, including frustrations with gridlock and President Donald Trump’s lackluster approval ratings, which could hurt Republicans at the ballot box.
Rather than get swept away by a prospective “blue wave” favoring Democrats – or possibly daunted by the monumental effort it would take to survive – many Republicans have decided to fold up the beach chair and head home before the wave crashes.
As of now, two dozen Republican House members have either resigned from the House or announced their intent to not run for reelection in 2026. With only two exceptions – Republicans in 2018 and 2020 – this is more departures from either party at this point in the election calendar than any other cycle over the past 20 years.
There is also growing concern within the House Republican caucus that Greene’s announcement is a canary in the coal mine and that multiple resignations will follow.
As a political scientist who studies Congress and politicians’ reelection strategies, I’m not surprised to see many House members leaving ahead of what’s shaping up to be a difficult midterm for the GOP. Still, the sheer numbers of people not running tells us something about broader dissatisfaction with Washington.
Why do members leave Congress?
Many planned departures are true retirements involving older and more experienced members.
For example, 78-year-old Democratic congressman Jerry Nadler is retiring after 34 years, following mounting pressure from upstart challengers and a growing consensus among Democrats that it’s time for older politicians to step aside. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker who will turn 86 in March, is also retiring.
Sometimes, members of Congress depart for the same reasons other workers might leave any job. Like many Americans, members of Congress might find something more attractive elsewhere. Retiring members are attractive hires for lobbying firms and corporations, thanks to their insider knowledge and connections within the institution. These firms usually offer much higher salaries than members are used to in Congress, which may explain why more than half of all living former members are lobbyists of some kind.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Other members remain ambitious for elective office and decide to use their position in Congress as a springboard for another position. Members of the House regularly retire to run for a Senate seat, such as, in this cycle, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan. Others run for executive offices, including governor, such as Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.
But some are leaving Congress due to growing frustration with the job and an inability to get things done. Specifically, many retiring members cite growing dysfunction within their own party, or in Congress as a whole, as the reason they’re moving on.
In a statement announcing his departure in June, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., mused that “between spending another six years navigating the political theater and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with my family,” it was “not a hard choice” to leave the Senate.
What’s unique about 2026?
In addition, there are a few other factors that can help explain why so many Republicans in particular are heading for the exits leading up to 2026.
The shifting of boundaries that has come with the mid-decade redistricting process in several states this year has scrambled members’ priorities. Unfamiliar districts can drive incumbents to early retirement by severing their connection with well-established constituencies.
In Texas, six Republicans and three Democrats – nearly a quarter of the state’s entire House delegation – are either retiring or running for other offices, due in part to that state’s new gerrymander for 2026.
All decisions about retirement and reelection are sifted through the filter of electoral and partisan considerations. A phenomenon called “thermostatic politics” predicts that parties currently in power, particularly in the White House, tend to face a backlash from voters in the following election. In other words, the president’s party nearly always loses seats in midterms.
In 2006 and 2018, for example, Republican members of Congress were weighed down by the reputations of unpopular Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Trump. Republicans had arguably even greater success in midterm elections during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Currently, 2026 looks like it will present a poor national environment for Republicans. Trump remains highly unpopular, according to polls, and Democrats are opening up a consistent lead in the “generic ballot” question, which asks respondents which party they intend to support in the 2026 midterms without reference to individual candidates.
Democrats have already been overperforming in special elections, as well as the general election in November in states such as New Jersey and Virginia, which held elections for governor. Democrats are on average running 13 points ahead of Kamala Harris’ performance in the 2024 election.
As a result, even Republicans in districts thought to be safe for their party may see themselves in enough potential danger to abandon the fight in advance.
Retirement vs. resignation
One final, unique aspect of this election cycle with major consequences is not an electoral but an institutional one.
House conservatives are quietly revolting against Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership style. That members may be frustrated enough not just to retire but resign in advance, leaving their seats temporarily vacant, is a notable sign of dysfunction in the U.S. House.
This also could have a major impact on policy, given how slim the Republicans’ majority in the lower chamber is already. Whatever the outcome of the midterms in November, these departures clearly matter in Washington and offer important signals about the chaos in Congress.
Charlie Hunt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Politics + Society – The Conversation
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King Charles wrapped up a challenging year with an encouraging message for both his nation and, really, the entire world on Christmas Day.
For the first time, King Charles recorded his annual statement at the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey, which is typically known for its royal weddings and coronations.
The monarch did so after providing United Kingdom citizens with an update on his cancer treatment.
At one point in his speech, the British sovereign said that “pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it has particular significance for our modern world…
“It is about journeying forward into the future while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons.”
The speech comes at the end of a VERY turbulent year for the Royal Family.
In November, the king stripped his brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his titles and honors and has tried to evict him from the Royal Lodge for his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Charles also has been facing an undisclosed type of cancer.
On Thursday, Charles reflected on the “courage and sacrifice” of World War II and praised “the way communities came together,” in his traditional speech … which coincided with the 80th anniversary of the end of the conflict earlier this year.
The king stressed “we need to cherish the values of compassion and reconciliation,” and also said: “As we hear of division, both home and abroad, they are values of which we must never lose sight.”
In times of uncertainty, he added, “resilience in the face of adversity; peace through forgiveness” and “showing respect to one another” are what bring hope.”
It’s also worth mentioning here that Charles continues to be estranged from son Prince Harry and that daughter-in-law Kate Middleton has also been battling cancer over the past year and a half or so.
The 2026 address was aired after the Royal Family made its annual processional to St. Mary Magdalene Church.
The Christmas Day walk, which included Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, but not their parents, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
As he spoke on December 25, video was shown of Charles meeting survivors and emergency responders in Manchester… before the broadcast featured people laying flowers at a memorial honoring Bondi victims and survivors in Australia.
The tradition of the monarch’s Christmas broadcast dates back to 1932 and was first delivered by George V. It has since become a staple of the holiday for many Britons who gather to watch and listen to it at 3 p.m. on Christmas Day.
According to the Palace:
“Each Broadcast carefully reflects current issues and concerns, and shares The Monarch’s reflections on what Christmas means to them and their listeners. Over the years, the Christmas Broadcast has acted as a chronicle of global, national and personal events which have affected the Monarch and their audience.”
King Charles Pushes for “Courage and Reconciliation” in Historic Christmas … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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Robin Thicke has been married and divorced over the lengthy course of his career.
From his controversial lyrics to his dubious sense of style and salacious performances, he made a name for himself years ago.
His life has transformed dramatically since “Blurred Lines” first prompted thinkpieces.
Here’s a rundown of the polarizing rapper’s relationship history and where things stand today.
Robin Thicke met his first wife when he was only 14
When Robin Thicke was 14 years old, he met then 15-year-old Paula Patton. They were at Balistyx, an under-21 hip-hop club on the Sunset Strip of Los Angeles. It was 1991. He asked her to dance.
(Most of the time, when we cover a celebrity who first met a spouse as a young teenager, it’s an all-out gross story. These two got their start in an unusual but oddly innocuous context)
Unlike the vast majority of high school-aged relationships, they remained together for many years.
In 2005, Thicke and Patton married. They welcomed their son, Julian, in 2010.
Patton is an actress. For years, she was the more famous of the two.
In February of 2014, Thicke and Patton separated. They had been married for almost nine years, and together for 21 years.
On October 9 of that year, Patton officially filed for divorce.
Just over a year after they separated, in march of 2015, Robin Thicke and Paula Patton officially divorced.
In a disturbing turn of events, 2017 saw Patton accuse Thick of child-abuse. Though a judge initially declined to limit Thicke’s custody, Patton later received sole custody — and a protective order covering her, their son, and her mother.
Patton and Thicke reached a new custody agreement in August of that year.
Robin Thicke and April Love Geary were together for a decade before they married
In 2014, the year of his separation from Paula Patton, Robin Thicke and model April Love Geary met at a party.
By 2015, they were making their debut at public events together.
Thicke and Geary welcomed their first child, Mia Love, in February 2018.
In August, Geary shared that they were expecting their second child. (Doctors recommend waiting two years between childbirth and conception)
They welcomed Lola Alain in February 2019.
Before Lola’s birth, however, Geary became Thicke’s fiancee. They became engaged on December 24 of 2018.
In December of 2020, Thicke and Geary revealed that they had welcomed Luca Patrick, their third child.
During a trip to Cannes, the rapper re-proposed to Geary, this time with a ring that her friend had designed.
Seemingly, the engagement had lasted long enough that it was time to recommit.
On May 30, 2025, Robin Thicke — who had been divorced from Paula Patton for about a decade — and April Love Geary married.
Where do things stand today?
Robin Thicke and April Love Geary remain together to this day.
They have weathered hardships together.
In late 2018, the couple lost their Malibu home to the devastating fire that consumed a tremendous amount of property.
Thicke remains a deservedly controversial figure, both as a rapper and as a human being.
But his marriage seems to be working out so far.
Robin Thicke Divorced: His History of Marriage, Explained was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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Terrible news this week out of the reality television universe:
Mickey Lee, a contestant on the most recent season of the CBS reality show Big Brother, has passed away.
She was 35 years old.
Lee’s family confirmed the death in an Instagram shared on Friday, December 26. It read as follows:
“With profound sadness, the family of Mickey Lee announces her transition on Christmas in the early evening.
Mickey captured the hearts of audiences nationwide through her appearance on Big Brother, where her authenticity, strength and spirit left a lasting impression on fans and fellow cast members alike.
“She will be remembered for the joy she brought into the lives of so many and for the genuine connections she formed both on and off screen.”
According to various celebrity gossip outlets, Lee had been hospitalized due to multiple cardiac arrests as she battled complications from the flu.
Lee was a resident of the most recent Big Brother house for 59 days and was the final contestant to be evicted before the jury phase got underway.
She was best remembered on the CBS program for using her “HoH Interrogator” power to dethrone Rylie Jeffries as Head of Household.
She then turned around and nominated Rylie for eviction… before he won his way off of the chopping block and Jimmy Heagerty went home instead.
Lee had been in the ICU prior to her death, according to a GoFundMe created on December 22.
The event planner was from Jacksonville, Florida, but had been based in Atlanta, based on this same page.
“A vibrant, strategic, and unforgettable personality, Mickey captured the attention of fans with her energy, authenticity, and bold gameplay,” reads a section of the GoFundMe. “She brought charm and fierce competition to the Big Brother house as an event curator and creative force.”
The fundraiser continued:
“This sudden health crisis has left Mickey and her family facing enormous emotional and financial strain from mounting hospital bills to ongoing care and recovery costs.”
In the wake of this passing going viral, Big Brother alumni — both from season 27 and from previous editions — have begun to post their condolences on social media.
“This is absolutely horrible,” Big Brother 27’s Will Williams wrote via Instagram. “Life is so short. Mickey was an incredible spirit and a joy in the house. Prayers to her family. The big brother family will miss her dearly.”
Added Big Brother 13 winner and season 27 house guest Rachel Reilly-Villegas:
”Sorry for your loss and my prayers for your family RIP MICKEY you are missed – love to all of you.”
There was also this from Bayleigh Pelham wrote:
“This is so heartbreaking. I’m so happy she got to live out an experience of a lifetime on big brother and share her light with the world. I’m honoured to have met her for a brief moment. She was SO kind and beautiful, I was truly amazed by her light. This one hurts. Sending all my love to her family and friends.”
May Mickey Lee rest in peace.
Mickey Lee Cause of Death: Big Brother Contestant Gone at 35 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
When the singer announced his cancer diagnosis on Instagram, he also revealed that he would not undergo radiation therapy, which came as a surprise to many.
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