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Ali Larter Shares the Secret to Her 16-Year Marriage to Husband Hayes MacArthur (Exclusive)

December 24, 2025
Bryan Steffy/Getty  Ali Larter and Hayes MacArthur in November 2025

Bryan Steffy/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • During an interview with PEOPLE at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov. 22, Ali Larter shared the secret to her 16-year marriage to husband Hayes MacArthur

  • The Landman star wed MacArthur in Maine on Aug. 1, 2009

  • The couple share two children, son Theodore and daughter Vivienne

Ali Larteris sharing the secret to a strong relationship after more than 16 years of marriage with husbandHayes MacArthur.

TheLandmanstar, 49,wedthe fellow actor, 48, on Aug. 1, 2009. While exclusively chatting with PEOPLE at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, Nov. 22, Larter revealed the simple key to her long-term marriage.

"Enjoy every day," Larter says. "Try to be really kind."

David Becker - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Ali Larter and Hayes MacArthur with their children, Theodore and Vivienne, at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov. 22, 2025

David Becker - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty

Since tying the knot in an outdoor ceremony at MacArthur's family estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, Larter and MacArthur havewelcomed two children together— 15-year-old son Theodore and 10-year-old daughter Vivienne. Larter tells PEOPLE that one thing she most admires aboutThe Runaroundsstar is his caring nature toward her and their kids.

"The way that he takes care of our family," Larter answers, of what makes her heart race for her husband.

Larter and MacArthur met on the set of the 2005 movieHomo Erectus. Two years later, the pairgot engagedin December 2007. When the couple said "I do" in 2009, Larter wore a Vera Wang sweetheart neckline, an A-line gown of Chantilly with hand-pieced corded lace appliqué, while MacArthur opted for a Ralph Lauren Black Label peak-lapel tuxedo with a Polo Ralph Lauren bow tie.

Larter and MacArthurbuilt their dream homein Sun Valley, Idaho, afterrelocating there from Los Angeles in 2022.

Speaking toRue Magazinefor a September 2024 cover story, theLegally BlondeandVarsity Bluesalum explained that she and MacArthur "fell in love with the beauty of the mountains and their quiet grandness" as well as the "real sense of community" in the area.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Hayes MacArthur and Ali Larter in November 2024

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

"Most of the time in my life, I feel like I'm going 1,000 miles an hour and these giant rocks chill me out," the actress told the outlet.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

She added, "The mountains have a way of grounding you and slowing you down—especially when you're stuck in traffic because there's a herd of elk blocking the road."

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Why Does the Royal Family Open Their Presents on Christmas Eve and Not Christmas Morning?

December 24, 2025
Samir Hussein/WireImage From left: Prince William, Prince Louis, Prince George, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte attend Christmas morning services at Sandringham Church in Norfolk, England, on Dec. 25, 2024,

Samir Hussein/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

  • The British royal family's tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve comes from their German heritage

  • Prince Harry revealed in his memoir that the royal family prefers exchanging gag gifts over lavish ones

  • Christmas Eve at Sandringham includes tea, snacks and a festive meal, followed by traditional Christmas Day activities

For theBritish royal family,Christmas is rife with tradition— annual holiday luncheons, parties,festive cards with well-wishes, games, formal dinners andvisits to Sandringham House.

One custom that has steadfastly remained for centuries? Opening presents on Christmas Eve.

While many families around the world open gifts on Christmas morning, the royals take their cue from their deep German roots and exchange gifts on Dec. 24. Since 1988, their celebrations have been held at the monarch's country estate in Norfolk,per the royal family's official website.

The presents are laid out on trestle tables, with an exchange occurring at teatime. Then on Christmas Day, the familytakes their walk to attend morning servicesat St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, a church dating back to the 16th century.

Find out why the British royal family keeps up the German holiday practice of opening holiday presents on Christmas Eve, and what it — and other merry celebrations — have to do withQueen Victoria.

What day does the royal family open presents?

Indigo/Getty Images A view of Sandringham House on the Sandringham Estate in King's Lynn, England, in 2011.

Members of the British royal family exchange gifts every Dec. 24 — not on Christmas morning as many families do.

Why do the British royals follow a German holiday tradition?

Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty From left: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince George and Prince Louis attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, on Dec. 25, 2023.

Joe Giddens/PA Images/Getty

AsPrince Harryput it in his 2023 memoir,Spare, exchanging presents on Christmas Eve is "a German tradition that survived the anglicizing of the family surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor."

According toHouse Beautiful, Christmas Eve, or "Heiligabend," is when the holiday is celebrated in Germany.

"Many households spend the day decorating the tree, preparing food for the family and sprucing up the home. As soon as the night draws in, households will gather around the tree," the publication reported. "According to tradition, the 'Christkind' (Christ child) delivers the presents when the children are waiting outside the room. A bell is rung for children to let them know it's time to come into the room, where they find the presents lying under the tree."

The British royal family "is inextricably entwined with Germany,"according toBarron's. King George I, crowned in 1714, was the first German king of Great Britain; he belonged to the House of Hanover. In 1940, Queen Victoria, one of his descendants, married a German prince, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Victoria's German roots also include her mother, Marie Louise Victoria, the Duchess of Kent, and her paternal grandmother.

What do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look like for the royals?

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty King Charles records his Christmas message at the Fitzrovia Chapel in London in 2024.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

The German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve continues to this day.

On Dec. 24, around 4 p.m., tea and snacks are typically served to guests — who arrived earlier in the afternoon — in the White Drawing Room at Sandringham. In the Red Drawing Room, staff have already laid out presents on trestle tables for each family member.

The royal family doesn't exchange expensive, lavish presents; instead, they opt for gag gifts. As Harry describes it inSpare, each royal family member stands before their assigned presents, then collectively tears into the gifts.

"Suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time," he wrote. "A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper."

Later, on Christmas Eve, the royal family gathers for a meal together at Sandringham at 8:30 p.m. The dinner typically involves "something festive, some game, like pheasant or venison, and roasted wintery vegetables, like parsnips," chef Darren McGrady, who worked for the royal family for 15 years, told PEOPLE.

On Christmas morning, the family heads to church service at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate and mingles with the public.

"I have had the giggles many, many times in the service,"Prince Williamsaid of the Christmas Day service on the Apple Fitness+ podcastTime to Walkin December 2021,perThe Mirror. "Luckily, no one's filming it, so you can get away with it. And on Christmas Day, it's fun to have a giggle and enjoy yourself."

After the services, they head back to Sandringham House to enjoy the traditional Christmas lunch of Norfolk turkey. Then, the family gathers to watch the annual Christmas broadcast delivered by the monarch at 3 p.m. U.K. time before adjourning to the Saloon, where jigsaw puzzles are traditionally laid out, or to exercise on Sandringham's 20,000 acres.

When did the royal family change their surname?

Roger Fenton/Roger Fenton/Getty  Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in 1854.

Roger Fenton/Roger Fenton/Getty

Following her marriage, Queen Victoria rechristened the royal family's name from Hanover to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Then in 1917, the royal family adopted its current surname: Windsor. That change occurred during World War I, made "as a result of anti-German feeling,"per the royal family's official website. The name Windsor came from "the castle of the same name."

What Christmas traditions did Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularize?

Peter Nicholls/Getty Royal household staff pose for a photograph next to a decorated Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Nov. 21, 2024.

Peter Nicholls/Getty

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are responsible for many of the royal family's Christmas traditions that continue today, not the least of which ismaking the Christmas tree a popular staple.

According toCountry Living, the first decorated Christmas tree, similar to those popular today, originated in 16th-century Germany. According to the royal website, Queen Charlotte is thought to have introduced the tree to the royal family, but Victoria and Albert popularized it throughout England years later.

In 1948, an etching of them celebrating with their family around the evergreen was published in theIllustrated London News. The idea of trimming Christmas trees and decorating them indoors was then extended to English households.

Bringing the tree into Windsor Castle on Christmas Eve was an annual tradition for Victoria and Albert,per the BBC. The royal family would also exchange gifts that evening,according to the Royal Collection Trust.

Known as both a popular monarch and a trendsetter, Victoria alsopopularized the white wedding dress.

How did the royals celebrate Christmas in 2024?

Samir Hussein/WireImage From left: Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George and Prince William attend Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church in England on Dec. 25, 2024.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

The royal family experienced a difficult year of health struggles in 2024 — bothKing CharlesandKate Middletonwerediagnosed with cancer— but they still came together for The Firm's cherished tradition of celebrating Christmas at Sandringham.

Charles andQueen Camillaled the royal family's annual Christmas walkfor the third year. Theywere joined by Kate, William and their children,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis, who were allcoordinated in shades of green and blue. Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, joined with their children,Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, as didPrincess Anneand her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Anne's children,Zara Tindalland Peter Phillips, also stepped out with their families.

After the service, Kategreeted the members of the publicwho lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of the royal family. She warmly shook hands, accepted armfuls of flowers and knelt to speak with young children. Her kids stood close by William, gathering trinkets and treats from the crowd.

Earlier that month, meeting with families of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment of Picton Barracks in Wiltshire, William shared that he was anticipatingcelebrating with 45 family membersin 2024.

Absent from the festivities werePrincess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie, as they spent the holiday season with their respective in-laws. Harry and his wife,Meghan Markle, were also not in attendance, as theyweren't invited to Christmas at Sandringhamin 2024.

Do Prince Harry and Meghan Markle keep up with the tradition in the U.S.?

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Christmas Day church service at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in King's Lynn, England, on Dec. 25, 2018.

Harry added in his memoir that even after he, Meghan and sonPrince Archie— born in May 2019 — relocated to the U.S. in 2020, they continued to open presents on Christmas Eve. Their daughter,Princess Lilbet,was born in June 2021.

"Keeping to the Windsor family tradition," he wrote.

Though they were celebrating in the U.S. rather than England, fans got a peek into how their year was leading up to the holidays, as Harry and Meghanshared a public holiday cardin December 2024 (they alsosent a private oneto family and friends).

"Every single holiday is a new adventure," MeghantoldMarie Clairein November 2024, adding that she stressed the importance of her kids experiencing the "magic' of traditions like "great recipes that they end up connecting to a formative memory," with one of those traditions including putting out "carrots for the reindeer."

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What Happened to Scott Peterson's Parents? Inside Lee and Jackie Peterson's Lives After Laci Peterson's Murder

December 24, 2025
Al Golub-Pool/Getty; Frederic Larson-Pool/Getty Scott Peterson appears at a hearing in Stanislaus County Superior Court, Jackie Peterson, the mother of Scott Peterson along with Scott's father, Lee Peterson walk to the lobby of the San Mateo Superior County Court House

Al Golub-Pool/Getty; Frederic Larson-Pool/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his wife, Laci Peterson, and unborn son in 2004

  • His parents, Jackie and Lee, stood by their son's side and insisted on his innocence

  • Jackie died in 2013, and Lee died in 2024

It's been over 20 years sinceScott Petersonwas charged with the murder of his wife,Laci Peterson, but his family still maintains his innocence.

On Christmas Eve in 2002, Laci, who was eight months pregnant with her and Scott's first child, was reported missing from their home in Modesto, Calif. Four months later, her remains were discovered in the San Francisco Bay along with the remains of the couple's unborn son, who they had planned to name Conner.

Scott was then arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of his wife and the second-degree murder of his son. It was also revealed that Scott had been having an affair with a woman namedAmber Frey.

Scott's parents, Lee and Jackie Peterson, had seen the couple just four days before Laci's disappearance. "We were all putting our hands on [Laci's] stomach ... Scott was trying to find the baby for us so we could feel it kick," Jackie recalled during aJuly 2004 interviewwithBarbara Walters. She added that Scott and Laci were "ecstatic" about becoming parents.

Lee and Jackie stood by their son throughout the trial, including when Scott was eventually found guilty. They also continued to believe in his innocence until their deaths in 2013 and 2024. Several surviving members of Scott's family are still working to clear his name, and in 2024, his case wastaken on by the Los Angeles Innocence Project.

Here's everything to know about what happened to Scott Peterson's parents after Laci Peterson's death.

Lee and Jackie welcomed Scott in 1972

Michael Maloney-Pool/Getty Jackie and Lee Peterson, Scott Peterson's parents, leave the San Mateo County Courthouse

Michael Maloney-Pool/Getty

Lee and Jackie welcomed Scott, their only child together, on Oct. 24, 1972. The couple wed the year prior and raised Scott in San Diego.

Lee worked for a trucking company before he started his own shipping and packing business, and Jackie owned a clothing boutique in La Jolla called The Put On.

During a 2004 interview withSF Gate, Lee and Jackie described Scott as the "perfect" son growing up, noting how he never got into trouble and loved golfing, fishing and Cub Scouts.

"We'd tell him, 'You're a lucky man.' He never got in a scrape," Lee told the outlet. "He was like Mr. Perfect."

Lee and Jackie had a large blended family

Monica M. Davey-Pool/Getty Jackie Peterson (R), mother of convicted murderer Scott Peterson, and her sister Susan Caudillo leaves for the lunch break from the San Mateo Superior Courthouse

Monica M. Davey-Pool/Getty

In addition to Scott, both Lee and Jackie had children from previous relationships. Lee had three children from his first marriage, daughter Susan and sons Joe and Mark, while Jackie had a son named John.

Jackie also had two children whom she gave up for adoption, who reconnected with the family years later.

During their interview withSF Gate, the couple compared their family dynamic to the Brady Bunch.

Jackie's father was murdered

Dan Honda-Pool/Getty Scott Peterson's mother, Jackie Peterson (R), holds hands with her daughter-in-law, Janey Peterson, as Scott's father, Lee Peterson, walks behind them

Dan Honda-Pool/Getty

When Jackie was just 2 years old, her father, John Latham, was attacked and killed outside of his tire shop in San Diego, perSF Gate.

Shortly after his death, Jackie's mother struggled to care for her and her siblings. Jackie was then sent to what she described as an orphanage when she was 5 years old, where she was raised by Catholic nuns.

Jackie opened up about her traumatic childhood while testifying during the penalty phase of Scott's trial.

Lee and Jackie saw Laci four days before she went missing

Modesto Police Department/ZUMA Press/Shutterstock Laci Peterson and Scott Peterson

Modesto Police Department/ZUMA Press/Shutterstock

During a sit-down interview with Walters in July 2004, Scott's parents revealed that they had seen both him and Laci just days before she went missing, claiming that everything seemed fine between the couple.

Jackie added that Scott was "very excited" about becoming a father, and that he and Laci had tried to get pregnant for three years. She also recalled the moment she found out Laci was missing.

"The phone rang and I answered it. Scott was sobbing on the phone, and all I could hear was 'Laci' and 'Miss,' " Jackie told Walters. "I thought she had miscarried, and my heart just sank ... and then he told me she was missing."

Of their marriage, Jackie claimed: "They backed each other up all the way ... they were totally dedicated to each other."

Lee and Jackie testified during Scott's death penalty sentencing

Monica M. Davey-Pool/Getty Jackie Peterson (C) and Lee Peterson (R), parents of Scott Peterson, arrive at the San Mateo Superior Courthouse for the penalty phase

Monica M. Davey-Pool/Getty

Both Lee and Jackie testified during the penalty phase of Scott's 2004 trial, urging the jury to spare him from the death penalty.

"He's an exceptional young man and he's my son," Jackie said during her testimony, perCBS News. "I know he's not perfect ... but he is genuinely a loving, caring, nurturing, kind, gentle person."

She continued: "I really feel if you were to take Scott away from us — they were like a family, Laci, Conner and Scott — it would be a whole family wiped off the face of the earth."

During his testimony, Lee described Scott as his "best friend" and said he helped bring their family "closer together," according toSF Gate. Scott's half-sister Susan also testified, noting that she was worried about her parents' health.

"I see the pain in their faces every day," she said of Lee and Jackie. "I can't imagine it getting any worse than having him put to death. We're sticking together, we're strong, we're supportive of him 100 percent, but I don't think my parents will make it if he goes."

Scott was ultimately sentenced to death. However, years later, in 2020, the California Supreme Courtoverturned his death sentence, citing significant errors in jury selection during the original trial. He wasresentenced to life in prisonthe following year.

Jackie died in 2013

Ron Lewis-Pool/Getty  Jackie Peterson, mother of Scott Peterson, enters the courthouse for the Scott Peterson double murder trial at the San Mateo County Superior Court

Ron Lewis-Pool/Getty

Jackie died of cancer in 2013. She had been suffering from respiratory issues for several years and used an oxygen tank throughout Scott's trial.

Lee reportedly took Jackie home from the hospital to care for her in her last days.

Lee died in 2024

Justin Sullivan/Getty Lee Peterson, father of convicted murderer Scott Peterson, leaves the San Mateo Superior Court

Justin Sullivan/Getty

On Nov. 9, 2024, Scott's sister-in-law, Janey Peterson, shared on Facebook that Lee had died. "We said our tender goodbyes to my father-in-law last week. Rest in perfect peace, Pops," she wrote alongside aphotoof Lee holding his great-grandson.

Janey, who is married to Scott's older half-brother Joe, has beenactively working to clear Scott's nameand even became an attorney to assist with the case.

"There's evidence that was completely ignored that shows Laci was alive after he left for the day," she said during a 2021 appearance onToday. "But also, there was no evidence that he had anything to do with what happened to Laci."

"We don't have justice," Janey added. "This crime is not solved."

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‘Not a happy Trump supporter’: Cattle ranchers hit by push for lower beef prices

December 24, 2025
'Not a happy Trump supporter': Cattle ranchers hit by push for lower beef prices

CHICAGO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Gary Vetter was 10 years old when he started feeding cattle at his family's farm.

Fifty-five years later, after surviving bouts of extreme weather, changing consumer tastes and global trade disruptions, the Westside, Iowa, farmer faces an unexpected risk from the man he backed for U.S. president: Donald Trump.

Facing intense frustration from voters over rising everyday costs, Trump declared this fall that beef was too expensive and ranchers must lower cattle prices. The price of beef ​was "higher than we want it, but it's going to be coming down soon," Trump said.

Much like the price of eggs during the Biden administration, the cost of beef has become an emblem of the affordability crisis in America. Beef prices hit record ‌highs earlier this year as the cattle herd shrank and consumer demand remained strong.

Trump's comments shocked ranchers, who largely voted for the president. Then his administration announced plans to quadruple low-tariff U.S. imports of beef from Argentina, launched an investigation into meatpackers for price manipulation, and removed duties that Trump imposed over the summer on imports of Brazilian ‌beef.

The series of moves knocked down cattle markets but did not significantly lower the cost of beef at grocery stores, causing ranchers, typically straight shooters, to speak up.

"It would have been nice if Trump hadn't said anything," Vetter said. "I'm still a Trump supporter. I'm just not a happy Trump supporter."

Reuters spoke with a total of eight ranchers who said they still backed Trump, though he hurt prices for their cattle.

Feeder cattle futures dropped by an exchange-imposed maximum that limits how far prices can fall each day and sank by 21% over a little more than a month after reaching a high on October 16. On that day, Trump first said his administration was working to lower beef prices.

CATTLE FARMERS FEEL HEAT

The selloff sliced profits for ranchers, pushed livestock buyers from making purchases, and chased away speculative traders as cattle markets turned increasingly volatile, cattle producers and traders said.

"It's affected the price that we ⁠as ranchers are getting; it's affected what feedlots are getting; but it hasn't done anything that ‌I've seen or heard about yet to impact what the consumers are paying," said Marty Smith, 66, whose family has been ranching in Wacahoota,Florida, for 175 years.

Cattle futures started rising in late November following their steep slide but remain below where they were before Trump's comments. Economists said it would likely take months for retail beef prices to reflect the setback in cattle markets. Impacts on retail prices would also be less dramatic ‍because meatpackers, wholesale distributors and retailers stand between ranchers and consumers and add to costs, they said.

Many cattle ranchers also raise crops, and cattle had been a bright spot for their businesses as grain and soybean prices slumped due to large supplies and Trump's trade policies. Trump unveiled a $12 billion aid package intended mostly for crop growers this month.

Cattle prices had reached record highs throughout 2025 after years of drought dried up grazing lands and forced producers to slash the nation's herd to its smallest size in decades. As a result of the decline, the U.S. for the first time in 2025 lost its spot as the ​world's biggest beef producer to Brazil, according to U.S. government estimates.

Cattle supplies tightened further after the Trump administration halted U.S. imports of Mexican livestock to keep out a flesh-eating parasite.

As tight supplies raised costs for meat processors, Tyson Foods said in November it would permanently shut ‌a major U.S. beef plant, removing a market for cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture this month lowered its estimates for cattle prices through 2026 in part because of the impending closure.

Trump has accused meatpackers such as Tyson of driving up beef prices through manipulation and collusion, and ordered the Justice Department to investigate. Meatpackers said their industry is heavily regulated, and transactions are transparent.

STICKER SHOCK IN THE GROCERY AISLE

The retail cost of ground beef in November climbed to $6.54 per pound from $5.63 per pound a year earlier, up 16%, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For boneless stew meat, retail prices jumped 23% to $9.17 per pound from $7.43 per pound.

Since Trump's comments in mid-October, wholesale prices for select cuts of beef shipped to buyers in large boxes were up 0.5% as of Monday, while wholesale prices for choice boxed beef eased 1%, according to U.S. data.

High prices for a range of goods, including beef, coffee and electricity, have upset consumers and frustrated Trump. A recent Commerce Department report showed annual inflation rose at its fastest pace in nearly 1-1/2 years in September.

Democrats exploited voters' angst about the economy in ⁠recent state and local election victories, campaigning in 2024 on a pledge to lower consumer prices.

"The Trump administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to lowering beef prices, ​with multiple agencies slashing regulations, supporting small processing facilities, and taking other actions to support both ranchers and consumers," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

WHO WILL REBUILD THE ​HERD?

Ranchers felt beef was targeted unfairly because costs were high for a number of goods.

"It's a sock in the gut for all of us," said Dean Meyer, 62, a Rock Rapids, Iowa-based cattle feeder who temporarily paused buying cattle last month due to increased uncertainty and falling prices.

Eight ranchers in rural America said that they still supported Trump because of his stances on immigration and other issues, after voting for him in the last presidential race. But ‍for some of them, Trump's interference in the beef market shook their ⁠confidence in him.

"He's waged war against a group of producers that literally have no real effect on the price of beef in the store," said Todd Hertzog, owner and operator of beef processor Hertzog Meat Company in Butler, Missouri.

A fledgling effort to rebuild the nation's cattle herd, which economists say would eventually help reduce beef prices, is at risk after Trump injected uncertainty into the market over imports, ranchers and economists said.

Falling cattle prices did not help.

Vetter, who buys young cattle to fatten for sale to meatpacker ⁠Cargill, said he paid about $2,500 per head for 450 steers weighing about 500 pounds each around the end of October. By the end of November, the price had dropped by about $300.

At the same time, meatpackers were willing to pay less to buy cattle that Vetter feeds to weigh about 1,650 pounds.

Reached just before Thanksgiving, Vetter said that ‌he was facing potential losses of $250,000 on his recent cattle purchases after prices tumbled.

"The president can do whatever he wants but it's going to be hard to build the cow herd if we don't have some stability," Vetter said. "I'm going ‌to push a pencil really hard before I buy that next set of calves."

(Reporting by Tom Polansek. Editing by Emily Schmall and Michael Learmonth)

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What is Donald Trump's approval rating? See year-end polls

December 24, 2025
What is Donald Trump's approval rating? See year-end polls

PresidentDonald Trumpis nearing the end of 2025 with anapproval ratingunderwater, but slightly better than his lows in November.

With the turn of the new year,voter moodswill be top of mind as the 2026 midterms approach and Republicans hope to hold onto control of Congress. Recent elections and polls have been pointing to a weak spot for Trump: theeconomy and cost of living. But in aprimetime address on Dec. 17, Trump blamed problems with affordability on the Democrats.

Another problem that has plagued Trump in his second term is rearing its head in the final weeks of December. The Department of Justice is in the process of releasing criminal case files onJeffrey Epsteinafter the Dec. 19 deadline put in place by theEpstein Files Transparency Act. A batch released Dec. 23 mentionedTrump numerous times. Here is what to know about his approval rating:

Live updates on Epstein files:Trump named in latest documents

President Donald Trump delivers an address to the Nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 17, 2025. US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 17, 2025. US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 17, 2025. President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Diplomatic Room of the White House on Dec. 17, 2025 in Washington, DC.

See President Trump speak from the White House in primetime

What is Trump's average approval rating?

Averages based onRealClearPoliticsandNew York Timesaggregators show Trump's approval rating is net negative, but appears to have rebounded slightly and begun stabilizing after a sharp drop last month.

As of Jan. 27, 50.5% approved, giving Trump a net positive rating until March 13, when it flipped to net negative with 47.8% approval, compared to 48.5% disapproval,RealClearPolitics graphics show. The approval rating reached a low on April 29 at 45.1% approval, which fell around Trump's 100-day mark. It reached a new low of 42.3% on Nov. 14, as the controversy on Jeffrey Epstein's emails heated up following the end of the government shutdown. The following week, his disapproval also ticked up to a term high of 55.6% on Nov. 21. As of Dec. 23, RealClearPolitics found 43% approve and 53.6% disapprove.

The New York Times aggregator showed Trump's approval fell from 52% approval in January to 44% approval in April, and then mostly held steady for months. According to the Times, Trump's term low is 41% approval, which he first reached on Nov. 12. His disapproval also notched up to 56% on Nov. 19, a high for this term per the aggregator. As of Dec. 23, 42% approve and 54% disapprove, per the Times.

Morning Consult: Voters want Trump to focus on the economy

In aMorning Consult pollconducted Dec. 19-21, Trump had a 45% approval rating. The poll surveyed 2,203 registered U.S. voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. The approval is down one point from the previous week, while the 52% disapproval held steady. Both are worse than the pollster's average since January.

The survey also found that voters were most likely to want Trump to focus on lowering prices, but not as many see Trump as prioritizing those policies.

Gallup: Voters have negative view of other US leadership

A newtwo-week poll from Gallupreleased on Dec. 22 showsTrump's approval rating for the last month of the year is weak, standing at 36%, though it's buoyed by a strong 89% level of support among Republicans. Among independents, his support in the latest Gallup poll is 25%. Democrats' opinions of the president tanked to 3% in the survey. Trump's December approval rating is unchanged from last month's Gallup numbers, when itfell to the lowest of his second term, just barely above his personal low of 34% in January 2021.

The poll also shows that a majority of Americans are unhappy about congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country and do not approve of the country's top leaders in the White House,Supreme Courtand the Federal Reserve.

Thepoll surveyed 1,016 U.S. adultsliving in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

How does PresidentDonald Trump's approval rating compare to past presidents?

A historical analysis byGallup shows Trump's approval ratingsin December of his first years in office − both as the 45th and 47th presidents − are lower than any other modern president at the same time in their administrations. Here is how his December approval compares to other presidents in December of their first year of their terms, according to Gallup:

  • Joe Biden (December 2021) - 43% approve

  • Trump (December 2017) - 36% approve

  • Barack Obama (December 2009) - 50% approve

  • George W. Bush (December 2001) - 86% approve

  • Bill Clinton (December 1993) - 53% approve

  • George H.W. Bush (December 1989) - 71% approve

  • Ronald Reagan (December 1981) - 49% approve

Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her onX (Twitter),BlueskyandTikTok.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump's approval rating? Epstein saga rears head as 2025 ends

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Weight-loss pill approval set to accelerate food industry product overhauls

December 24, 2025
Weight-loss pill approval set to accelerate food industry product overhauls

By Jessica DiNapoli and Waylon Cunningham

NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Packaged food makers and fast-food restaurants may be forced to overhaul more of their products next year as newly approved, appetite-suppressing GLP-1 pills become available in January, analysts say.

More Americans are expected to try the ​drugs as a pill rather than as a shot because the medication will be cheaper and many patients are hesitant to inject themselves.

The U.S. ‌Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk's Wegovy GLP-1 pill on Monday, sending shares of food companies down on Tuesday. Eli Lilly's rival medication is expected to gain approval from regulators next year.

Food ‌companies including Conagra Brands and Nestle are already dealing with shifts in consumer tastes toward higher protein and smaller portions due to the popularity of weight-loss injections, and analysts believe widespread GLP-1 adoption could mean long-term changes in demand.

To cope, businesses are promoting products with more protein, tweaking labeling to say they are GLP-1 friendly and working with large retailers to better market products.

"We are seeing people cut (back) specifically on salty snacks, liquor, soda, drinks, and bakery snacks, and more focused on protein and fiber, so we ⁠expect food companies and also restaurants to cater to ‌this audience that is growing," said JP Frossard, consumer foods analyst at Rabobank.

"We'll see more access to those drugs and a higher addressable market for products that have in mind the needs of the GLP-1 user," he said.

Andrew Rocco, stock strategist at ‍Zacks Investment Research, called Novo's approval "groundbreaking" because the pill would be cheaper than the injectable version of Wegovy and deliver the same weight-loss metrics. "High protein, smaller portions, and functional food innovation will be necessary," he said.

FOOD COMPANIES ARE TAKING NOTE

Some 40% of American adults are obese, U.S. government data shows, and around 12% of adults say they currently take GLP-1 drugs, ​according to a poll published last month by health policy research organization KFF.

Households using GLP-1 medications cut spending at grocery stores by 5.3% and fast-food restaurants ‌by about 8% on average, according to a Cornell Research study published last week that used purchase data collected by Numerator from about 150,000 households.

Those reductions largely faded when households stopped using the medication.

"The decreases we saw will likely show up in a much broader slice of the population" because of weight-loss pills, said Sylvia Hristakeva, one of the study's co-authors. She said the cheaper price and ease of use of pills will also make it likely that people use the medication for longer.

While the Cornell study found modest increases to spending only in a handful of categories like yogurt and fresh fruit, companies are taking note.

Earlier this year, Conagra ⁠started labeling some of its Healthy Choice frozen meals with high protein and fiber as "GLP-1 ​friendly." A spokesperson said those meals are selling faster than rival products making similar claims on ​their packaging. The company plans to introduce new Healthy Choice recipes with the same labeling in May and work with grocers like Walmart and Kroger to market them, the spokesperson said.

French dairy company Danone, which makes Oikos Greek yogurt, said in a statement that ‍it is seeing double-digit growth in its ⁠high-protein offerings, a trend that has accelerated with the adoption of GLP-1 medications.

Nestle, the world's biggest food company, has also introduced new frozen meals that cater specifically to GLP-1 users, called Vital Pursuit. The Swiss company did not respond to a request for comment.

Fast-casual Mexican chain Chipotle on Tuesday added ⁠a "High Protein Menu" that features, among other items, a single cup of chicken or steak.

In recent months, some restaurant chains including Olive Garden have added menu items for smaller, cheaper portions.

Noodles & Company marketing ‌head Stephen Kennedy said such menu additions were about offering guests "options that satisfy without going overboard."

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli and Waylon Cunningham ‌in New York, Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Jamie Freed)

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Jordan Eberle scores on the power play and Kraken hold off struggling Kings 3-2

December 24, 2025
Jordan Eberle scores on the power play and Kraken hold off struggling Kings 3-2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jordan Eberle had a power-play goal, Frederick Gaudreau and Ben Meyers also scored, and the Seattle Kraken held on for a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.

Joey Daccord made 35 saves and Eeli Tolvanen had two assists for the Kraken, who have won three in a row after dropping nine of their previous 10 games in regulation.

Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko scored as the Kings were held to fewer than three goals for the seventh straight game. Pheonix Copley made 25 saves.

Seattle had struggled in the second game of back-to-backs, but reeling Los Angeles was a welcome panacea. Eberle got the Kraken's fifth power-play goal in six games when he beat Copley over the goalie's left shoulder from close range early in the second period.

Gaudreau benefited from a gaffe by Copley, who couldn't catch a fluttering puck after Brian Dumoulin broke up the shot and it trickled between the goalie's legs for a 2-0 lead.

Copley hadn't started in the NHL since Dec. 10, 2023, when he made 23 saves in a 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers, and tore his ACL in practice in January 2024.

Meyers made it 3-0 off the rush before Fiala got Los Angeles on the board with 3:47 left in the second period.

Kuzmenko got LA within 3-2 at 8:45 of the third period on a wraparound.

The Kraken didn't have top defenseman Vince Dunn because of an upper-body injury he sustained in a win at Anaheim on Monday on a hit from Ducks forward Ross Johnston. Forward Berkly Catton was back for Seattle after missing eight games because of an upper-body injury.

Kraken: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.

Kings: Host Anaheim on Saturday.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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