News Wrap: White House defends Trump's $45,000 gifts to Natalie Harp and other aides

Key Points:

• President Trump gave substantial holiday gifts to several White House aides, including $45,000 to Natalie Harp, Margo Martin, and Chamberlain Harris, raising legal and ethical concerns about outside compensation for federal employees; the White House defends the practice as longstanding and permissible.
• Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated with missile attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, including Iranian claims of striking American ships, which the U.S. denies; the conflict has driven oil prices above $100 a barrel and heightened regional instability.
• The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported Iran to the Security Council for non-cooperation in an investigation of undeclared uranium, a largely symbolic move given potential vetoes by China and Russia.
• The U.S. imposed a ban on certain Canadian imports, including dairy products and motorcycles, escalating the trade war with Canada, which recently retaliated with tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. goods.
• Hawaii is recovering from Hurricane Lowell, which caused flooding, power outages, and one fatality; the storm has weakened to a tropical storm but flood and mudslide risks remain.
• The TSA is reinstating gateside access for TSA PreCheck members at select airports, allowing them to pass security and enter gate areas without a ticket, a practice discontinued after 9/11, with plans to expand the program.