USPS, holiday shipping
by Keka Araújo

December 30, 2025

The Postmark Trap: New USPS Rules Could Trigger IRS Penalties & Missed Deadlines

A consequential shift in United States Postal Service (USPS) operations officially took effect on Dec. 24, 2025, creating a high-stakes “timing gap” that could leave taxpayers, donors, and voters facing unexpected legal and financial consequences.

Under the final rule (FR Doc. 2025-20740), the USPS has added Section 608.11 to the Domestic Mail Manual, codifying that a machine-applied postmark represents the “date of the first automated processing operation” — not necessarily the day a piece of mail was dropped in a collection box.

The Ramifications: Why the “Mailbox Rule” is at Risk

The primary danger of this policy shift is the potential for missed deadlines, late fees, and penalties. Traditionally, dropping a document in a blue box by the daily deadline ensured a same-day postmark. However, due to the nationwide implementation of the “Regional Transportation Optimization” (RTO) initiative, mail dropped off at local units is increasingly held overnight or transported to regional hubs before its first scan. This operational consolidation means an item mailed in a city like Tulsa, Oklahoma, may not be postmarked until it reaches a regional center over 50 miles away.

Key areas impacted by this change include:

  • Tax Filings and Payments: Under IRC §7502, the IRS uses the postmark to determine whether a filing is timely. A delayed postmark could result in failure-to-file penalties and interest charges. As of late December, the IRS has not issued official relief for these processing delays, making it critical for taxpayers to secure independent proof of mailing.
  • Charitable Contributions: To claim a 2025 deduction, gifts must generally be postmarked by Dec. 31. A January postmark on a check mailed in late December could shift the deduction into the following tax year, potentially impacting financial planning for high-net-worth donors.
  • Legal Filings & Ballots: Court proceedings, unemployment appeals, and mail-in ballots often rely on postmarks for eligibility. Rural communities face a disproportionate risk, as their mail is now statistically more likely to be processed one or more days after drop-off than mail in major metropolitan centers.
  • Bill Payments: Rent or property tax payments made by mail may incur unexpected late charges if automated processing occurs on a new calendar day.

The USPS admits the postmark is no longer a “perfectly reliable indicator” of the mailing date. The rule codifies that postmarking operations often cross calendar days, meaning the date inscribed only confirms that the USPS possessed the item by that specific time, not the moment they took custody.

Notably, the rule warns that pre-printed labels — including those from Self-Service Kiosks, Click-N-Ship, or personal meters — only show when postage was printed, not when the USPS accepted the item. Starting Jan. 18, 2026, the USPS will implement price hikes of 5% to 8% across Priority Mail and Ground Advantage services, adding additional pressure on the system.

How to Mitigate Risks and Secure Proof

To protect against “postmark creep,” the USPS and financial advisors recommend bypassing unattended drop boxes for time-sensitive mail.

To ensure a same-day postmark, utilize these retail methods:

  • Request a Manual Postmark: Present your mailpiece at a retail counter and request a “manual (local) postmark.” The final rule explicitly states that this service is applied free of charge.
  • Postage Validation Imprints (PVI): Paying for postage at the counter generates a PVI label that serves as evidence of the date of acceptance.
  • Certified or Registered Mail: This remains the only prima facie evidence of timely mailing under IRC §7502. A receipt stamped by a USPS employee is vital for legal protection as it serves as the deemed postmark date under federal law.
  • Plan Ahead: For those unable to visit a counter, experts recommend mailing essential documents at least 1 week before the deadline or filing electronically.

As the effective date coincides with the holiday peak and year-end tax season, the USPS reminds customers presenting 50 or more mailpieces for manual postmarks to contact local management in advance to ensure adequate resources are available.

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Cam Newton, Natalie Nunn, interview
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2025

‘Baddies’ Natalie Nunn Brags About Turning The Tables On Cam Newton During Podcast Interview

'Uno, reverse.'

Natalie Nunn, who was initially a cast member on the fourth season of Bad Girls Club and is now an executive producer and cast member of Zeus Network’s Baddies reality series, sounded off after appearing on Cam Newton’s podcast, Funky Friday. In a video clip, she advised her fellow “baddies” on how to conduct themselves in an interview, as she claimed that she “ate that man up, interviewed him, spit him out, took his hat, and walked up out that bitch.”

Nunn was talking to the former NFL player, and, according to her, the conversation went as she had envisioned, leading to her interviewing him. She took the stance that nowadays, podcast hosts typically “try you” on their shows, and she wanted to make sure that she was so on point that if anyone were to get played, it wouldn’t be her.

“They will try you. They will play in your face,” she stated in the clip. “They will ask you manipulative, sarcastic, underlying questions. They will do all of that, and baby, let me tell you. I read the room, understood it right from the beginning, and played that game right back. Amplified it on 10, ate that man up, interviewed him, spit him out, took his hat, and walked up out that bitch.”

As the clip continued, she said she thought Newton had won a Super Bowl ring but was surprised to hear from him that he hadn’t. But, even during the clip, she needed to find out from him how it felt to lose and be number two, but she still respected him in the end. But, she didn’t let him off easy.

While speaking to her “baddies” in the video, she reiterated that she felt he was trying to play her with some disrespectful questions.

“I just was being funny, running around in circles with him, and I didn’t want to answer his questions because they were underlying, disrespectful, sarcastic, and you’re not about to play in my face.

“So that’s why I answered the questions arrogantly. I mean, he said stuff about, so why should a man take a baddie serious? So I said the things that I knew a man like him doesn’t want to hear when a woman makes her own money and could do what the f**k she wants. 
And part of that is absolutely true. I do believe that too, but obviously, you guys don’t, like, play. I was playing my role, like he was trying to play his, and the roles were being reversed on his ass. 


“Uno, reverse, bitch.”

Check out the whole discussion below:

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Obama-Appointed Judge, Trump Administration , Medicaid Data, Undocumented Immigrants, ICE
by Mitti Hicks

December 30, 2025

Obama-Appointed Judge Rules Trump Administration Can Share Medicaid Data Of Undocumented Immigrants With ICE

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, appointed by former President Obama, initially blocked the Trump administration from sharing personal information.

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can share location data about undocumented immigrants who receive Medicaid or any other public health insurance benefits with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It’s a significant blow for California Attorney General Rob Bonta and his 21 other Democratic counterparts, who sued the administration in July to prevent the administration from using Medicaid data to target undocumented immigrants.

According to Politico, California, along with other states, sued the Trump administration following reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was sharing personal data collected from undocumented Medicaid enrollees with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria, appointed by former President Barack Obama, initially blocked the Trump administration from sharing personal information for immigration enforcement temporarily in August. However, he changed his tune after ICE and HHS leaders published formal notices in November detailing how they plan to use Medicaid data for immigration purposes.

“The sharing of such information is clearly authorized by law, and the agencies have adequately explained their decisions,” Chhabria wrote in his updated ruling Monday.

While undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in federal Medicaid programs, some states allow people to receive state-funded benefits regardless of immigration status. These states include California, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Washington, Oregon, and Minnesota, as well as Washington, D.C.

Chharbria’s order covers six categories of basic personal information, including citizenship, immigration status, address, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid ID, according to Courthouse News Service. However, the judge sided with the states regarding data beyond basic information. According to the judge’s ruling, the Trump administration is only allowed to share Medicaid data about people unlawfully living in the United States. This means ICE cannot access personal information collected from other immigrants receiving Medicaid.

In addition, ICE and HHS remain barred from sharing personal health records and other potentially sensitive medical information for immigration enforcement under the judge’s preliminary injunction. Chhabria said the agencies did not provide a compelling reason for exchanging such information. California and other states argued that sharing this information would violate health privacy laws.

The California Attorney General’s Office told Courthouse News that it is disappointed with the judge’s decision.

“When individuals signed up for Medi-Cal, they did so with the understanding that their data would not be used for purposes unrelated to administering the program,” a spokesperson told Courthouse News Service. “The Trump administration’s effort to use Medicaid data for immigration enforcement is a violation of their trust and will lead to fewer people seeking vital health care, harming the overall health of our communities and increasing public health costs to the state.”

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Dwight Howard, military service
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2025

Dwight Howard Has One Suggestion He Thinks Every American Should Do

'One year of service mandatory for everyone born in America,' he suggests.

NBA Hall of Famer Dwight Howard took to social media to offer President Donald Trump a suggestion that many people, including the president, may disagree with: that “everyone born in America” should serve a mandatory year of service to the country.

The former Orlando Magic center took the stance that if we, as Americans, served one year, it would help with discipline and structure. He did ask people to chime in with their thoughts.

The people did not disappoint in their responses.

A suggestion was made that may benefit more citizens by promoting decency among them. Someone said people should spend a year working in customer service to learn how to better deal with different people.

However, Howard doubled down and continued to push for the mandatory military service. Another person advocated requiring people to take aptitude tests to be allowed to vote, then to serve a year.

This user is not part of that program at all, as he believes no one should be forced into service to “build discipline.”

X user Doran Maul wondered how this can happen when we can’t even get people to vote voluntarily.

Someone else had to remind him that even the president himself evaded service by claiming he had bone spurs.

Howard played 18 seasons in the NBA with the Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA Championship while playing with the Lakers in 2020. He was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons, named to the All-NBA First Team in five consecutive seasons for eight appearances, and selected for the All-Star Game in eight straight seasons. He also led the league in rebounds for five seasons and blocks in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

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Ohio, jewelry heist, arrest
by Kandiss Edwards

December 30, 2025

Time’s Up! Police Arrest Suspect In $250K 2022 Jewelry Heist — Three Years Later

Police in Columbus, Ohio, arrested 24-year-old Dashaun Allen in connection with the 2022 burglary.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, have arrested 24-year-old Dashaun Allen in connection with a 2022 burglary in which more than $250,000 worth of jewelry was stolen.

The Christmas day arrest came nearly four years after the crime, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office reported. Officers were originally called to the jewelry store on the 5000 block of Tuttle Crossing on Jan. 2, 2022. Employees reported that several tempered glass display cases had been smashed and that large quantities of merchandise were missing.

Investigators filed a warrant for Allen’s arrest in November 2025 after evidence from the scene was finally processed. The suspect was taken into custody on Christmas Eve by deputies from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Franklin County Jail on a theft charge tied to the burglary. After Allen was arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court, a judge set bond at $15,000. His next scheduled court date is Dec. 30, CWColumbus reported.

Police have not indicated whether any of the stolen jewelry has been recovered. Additional details about the investigation and the evidence that led to the warrant filing have not been released. Columbus police encouraged anyone with further information about the burglary to contact investigators. 

Although little has been released about the details of the investigation, some may question the three-year delay. While forensic investigation is a meticulous and time-consuming process, years-long analysis may seem extreme. However, according to Legal Clarity, accurate forensic analysis hinges on multiple factors and is often the reason for prolonged investigation. Understaffed crime labs are often not able to keep pace with real-time investigations.

“Forensic analysis is a frequent source of delay in modern police investigations. The processing of physical evidence like DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics is a meticulous scientific process that requires time and precision. Crime labs often face significant backlogs, meaning evidence from a new case must wait in line behind hundreds or thousands of other samples. This can add weeks or months to an investigation’s timeline.”

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Grammy snub, Ciara, Body Party
by Kandiss Edwards

December 30, 2025

Ciara Opens Up About ‘Body Party’ Grammy Snub And ‘Validation’

After being overlooked, the mother of four began to reconsider where she places value and "validation" as an artist.

R&B songstress Ciara reflected on her 20-year career accomplishments in a recent interview, including that she was disappointed when her 2013 hit “Body Party” was not nominated for a Grammy Award.

Ciara said she “literally checked off every box” she believed would position “Body Party” for a nomination. After she failed to receive the nod, Ciara began to reconsider where she places value and “validation” as an artist.

“I never want to feel like the validation of my success is within any tool, anything physical or material. You have to have your own success meter in your mind and as long as I’m doing what I love and it’s making me happy…I decided, I don’t want to put too much weight or merit in things that I can’t control,’ she said on the ZeZe Millz Show.

“Body Party” was released in March 2013 as the lead single from Ciara’s self-titled fifth studio album and became a commercial success, peaking at No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Grammy nominations often reflect a combination of artistic merit, voting patterns, and competition in a given year, and not all commercially successful tracks secure nominations. (No single verifiable news outlet beyond Complex and chart history found specific commentary on this point.)

Ciara has been recognized by the Recording Academy in the past. According to references, including Billboard, she received a Best Dance Performance award for “Body Party” at the Soul Train Music Awards in 2013. She has also garnered Grammy nominations, including a Best New Artist nod in 2005 and nominations tied to collaborations such as Missy Elliott’s single “Lose Control.”

The mother of four isn’t the only singer the Grammys have failed to acknowledge despite great music and great success. One of the most successful singers in history Mariah Carey has too felt snubbed by the academy. Despite being nominated for 34 Grammy Awards over more than three decades, Carey has won only five.

Her wins include Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Performance in 1991 and multiple awards in 2006 for The Emancipation of Mimi. In 2024, Carey received the special Grammy Global Impact Award by the Recording Academy.

Carey herself has spoken about her complicated relationship with the Recording Academy and the emotional impact of not winning more awards. In a 2025 appearance on Live With Kelly and Mark, Carey said she felt the Grammys had “pushed her out.” 

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United Nations, humanitarian aid, Trump administration, funding
by Mitti Hicks

December 30, 2025

Trump Administration Cuts U.N. Aid: Agencies Told To ‘Adapt or Die’ Under New Policy

The Trump administration is now warning United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink, or die.”

The Trump administration is pledging only $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian aid, a significant cut to the agency’s funding. The administration is now warning United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink, or die.”

According to the Associated Press, U.N.-coordinated programs have run as high as $17 billion annually. U.S. leaders told the outlet that an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion has been in voluntary contributions. The remaining funding has been used for U.S. Membership annual dues.

Despite the small fraction of funding the U.S. has contributed in the past, the Trump administration believes it’s still a considerable amount to the U.N., helping maintain America’s status as the world’s largest humanitarian donor while ensuring that “American taxpayers” are not funding “waste and anti-Americanism.”

“This new model will better share the burden of U.N. humanitarian work with other developed countries and will require the U.N. to cut bloat, remove duplication, and commit to powerful new impact, accountability and oversight mechanisms,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.

With Cuts From Trump Administration, Here’s How Funding To U.N. Will Likely Be Allocated

The $2 billion pledge will create an “umbrella fund,” with funds allocated to agencies and priorities. This new system is a key part of the Trump administration’s demands, which are pushing for change across the U.N.

Humanitarian workers fear that the funding will lead to severe reductions in programs and services worldwide. The second Trump administration has already cut billions in U.S. foreign aid. Critics now worry the additional cuts will drive millions toward hunger, displacement, or disease.

According to U.N. affiliates such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the world is witnessing historic levels of displacement driven by disasters, economic instability, climate change, and conflict.

“The international community must not sideline migration governance,” IOM leaders stated in March. “Addressing forced displacement, climate-induced disasters, and mobility is not only a humanitarian imperative but also essential to future global stability. ”

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Israel, Somaliland
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 30, 2025

Israel’s Recognition Of Somaliland Sparks International Backlash, Emergency U.N. Session

President Donald Trump, who met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 29, said he would not follow Israel’s recognition.

After Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, a small territory in Somalia that claimed its independence in 1991 and has been riddled in war since, countries are pushing back against the decision, Politico reports. 

Countries including Jordan, Qatar, and Algeria, along with the African Union, rejected Israel’s move after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a joint declaration on Dec. 26 with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullah, citing it as “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”

Qatar called the declaration “a dangerous precedent and a unilateral action that violates the principles of international law.”

The African Union, a continental union of 55 African states, released a statement  saying it “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity” with failure to mention Israel by name. 

Somaliland is located on Somalia’s Gulf of Aden coast, with Djibouti, home to the largest U.S. military base in Africa, next door. It is also located where the Bab el-Mandeb strait connects with the Red Sea, known as a strategic section of trade routes. 

The United States caught wind of the recognition, with the State Department announcing it will continue to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, “which includes the territory of Somaliland.” President Donald Trump, who met with Netanyahu on Dec. 29 in Florida, said he would not follow in the footsteps of Israel’s recognition.  

According to The Washington Post, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting on Dec. 29 following Israel’s decision, citing that the move lists Israel as a potential outsider among the international community. 

The European External Action Service, working with the European Union, took a slightly different stance, calling for “meaningful dialogue” between Somalia and Somaliland, and saying the recognition “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity” of Somalia. 

The move comes at a time where Somalia is the topic of conversation, especially in the U.S. Trump has aggressively pushed back against Somalian refugees settling in the states, particularly in Minnesota. The state is home to hundreds of Somalian natives, including Rep. Illhan Omar, who has been under attack from the president, GOP lawmakers, and MAGA loyalists. 

Omar opposed the Somaliland recognition and is being scrutinized for it by experts and analysts who feel the congresswoman’s views on Somalia could contradict her goals while in office.

“Ilhan Omar left Somalia, but Somalia never left her,” senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Michael Rubin told Fox News Digital. “In her Somali-language speeches, she refers to Somalia as her home, not America and so it is clear she appears to seek to advance Somalia’s interests on the global stage.”

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Shaquille O’Neal, shaq, Georgia, Sheriff's Office
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2025

A Tall Order: Shaq Backs 7’3” Former Pro After Narrow Miss On Police Cadet Exam

Shaq has agreed to help Jordan Wilmore after the police cadet failed an exam by one point

Shaquille O’Neal, recently announced as the new Chief of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in North Georgia, has offered to sponsor the career aspirations of a former basketball player who wants to become a police officer.

According to CBS News, Jordan Wilmore, a Memphis native, successfully completed the police academy but failed his exam by one point. Wilmore, who is 7-foot-3-inches, played college ball at Missouri, Northwestern State, and Austin Peay State University before playing professionally overseas, most recently in the Philippines.

Wilmore will attend another police academy, with Shaq providing financial support. Wilmore is seeking a career with the Kemah (Texas) Police Department.

“I found out about him through jealousy,” O’Neal, who stands at 7’1″, told CBS News. “I thought I was the tallest, handsomest cop in the world.”

Shaq’s love for law enforcement is well-documented, and he has worked with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for nearly five years. “It’s commendable that a kid wants to be an officer. I love cops,” the basketball legend and Inside the NBA stalwart said.

Wilmore admitted that he wanted to become a police officer, but was encouraged to pursue basketball because he was so tall.

“It was hard for me to share, like, my dreams or, you know, the stuff I wanted to do growing up because it was, ‘Well, you just got to focus on basketball because it can make you millions,'” Wilmore told CBS News in September.

Shaq added some words of encouragement for Wilmore. “I wanted to just let him know, he has my full support. I’m going to be on you, brother, make sure you’re getting it done,” the Hall of Fame big man said.

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Passenger, Marriott Bonvoy, Status Match, lawsuit, Flight Perks
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 30, 2025

Traveler Sues Marriott Bonvoy Over Delayed Status Match, Claims $6K In Lost Flight Perks

The lawsuit alleges the travel loyalty program failed to match an offer that would have awarded the passenger flight perks.

A Marriott Bonvoy member is suing the hotel chain for $6,472, alleging that it failed to match an offer that would have awarded him perks he could have used for the flights he took.

According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo, frequent flyer Sergey Firsov said Marriott Bonvoy failed to process a status match offer with the United Airlines MileagePlus program.

The lawsuit was filed in Northern California, where the plaintiff alleged that Marriott took five months to upgrade his status, resulting in the loss of perks, including free baggage and other status benefits he would have received. One reason Firsov said he chose the program was for its benefits.

He achieved Titanium Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, which means Firsov would automatically be matched to United’s MileagePlus Premier Silver status. With that bump, he gained one free checked bag in economy, group two boarding, and eligibility for a free day-of-departure upgrade.

The passenger stayed at Marriott Bonvoy properties for 75 nights by the end of 2024, thereby solidifying his Titanium Elite status, which should have prompted Marriott to process his status match to United Premier Silver.

Marriott Bonvoy assured him that the upgrade would occur within 10 days, but Firsov said that two weeks later there had been no change in status. After calling to remind the hotel of the promise, Firsov said he was informed that it was already underway but that 10 more days were required. After 10 days, there was still no change.

Firsov claimed that it took Marriott Bonvoy five months to process the status match, which made him eligible for the Premier Silver benefits at United as well as other airlines that are part of the Star Alliance.

Due to Marriott’s tardiness, during the five-month wait, Firsov said he incurred baggage fees that should have been waived under the program’s benefits. Instead, paid between $40 and $75 per flight. During that waiting period, he had taken 16 domestic and international flights.

Although United Airlines refunded some of the baggage costs, Firsov believes that was insufficient. Because Marriott failed to process the status match in a timely manner, he seeks a full refund of the $6,472 in airfare for United and other Star Alliance carriers. He is also requesting that he be awarded additional damages for emotional distress and wants his Premier Silver status to be extended for a year.

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