The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has awarded King County, Washington, its "Ebenezer of the Year Award" for banning employees from displaying religious items in video calls and common areas during the Christmas season. King County, the 13th most populous county in the U.S. and home to the state’s largest city of Seattle, received the Ebenezer Award for implementing "Guidelines for Holiday Decorations." The guidelines prohibit county employees from displaying religious items associated with Christmas and Hanukkah such as Nativity sets and menorahs as well as religious symbols, including the Star of David and the crucifix in their common work areas and virtual workspaces. "Religious employees of King County will likely feel like the ransacked residents of Whoville this Christmas and Hanukkah season. The government has no right to rob its employees of holiday cheer by forcing them to take down their Nativity sets and menorahs, particularly in their own homes," Becket COO and Executive Director Montse Alvarado said in a statement shared with CP. Read more.

The conservative activist group One Million Moms has launched a pressure campaign urging American Girl to discontinue selling the book A Smart Girl's Guide: Body Image. The group is also encouraging people to stop purchasing from American Girl or its parent company, Mattel. One Million Moms highlights how the book seemingly directs girls to organizations that will help them transition if the adults in their lives don't support their decision. The group also accused the doll brand of attempting to "brainwash" girls by promoting the idea of identifying as the opposite sex. As CP previously reported, a section in the book advises girls to talk with a doctor about wearing clothes or using pronouns to resemble the opposite sex. If a girl has not experienced puberty yet, then the book claims a doctor may provide "medicine" to delay bodily changes. This "medicine" is likely puberty-blocking drugs, which the U.S. government has not approved for the purpose that the book describes. In July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about gonadotropin-releasing hormone drugs, stating that they can cause brain swelling and vision loss in children who take them. Read more.

A survey from Rasmussen Reports shows that 47% of likely voters believe President Joe Biden has made the country worse, while 34% believe he's made it better, and 17% believe he has made little to no difference either way. The survey of 900 likely voters, which was conducted in mid-December, also found that 38% of Americans believe that America's best days are ahead, down from 47% who said the same when Rasmussen asked the question in November 2020. Rasmussen also reported an increase in the share of respondents who believe that the U.S.' best days are in the past, with 42% saying they agreed, versus 33% in 2020. Read more.

Dr. Stephen J. Nichols, president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, discusses the life of the real Saint Nicholas, including the persecution he initially faced and how stories about his life continued to spread well after his death. Nichols also explores how the legends surrounding Saint Nicholas subsequently made their way throughout history: "Even Martin Luther would come to play a role in the legend. Luther wanted a Protestant alternative to the Roman Catholic practice of celebrating the Feast of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus). Instead of giving gifts in the name of Santa Claus on December 6, Luther started the tradition of giving gifts in the name of the Christ child, Christkindl, on Christmas Eve. Perhaps in this, we have an argument for Protestant kids everywhere as to why they should be allowed to open at least one present on Christmas Eve." Read more.

Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock reminds believers that Christmas is about remembering the fundamentals of Christianity: Faith, hope, love, and peace. Although it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season, Hancock encourages believers to "make your priority seeking Christ, aligning your life with Him, resting in His strength, offering yourself as a living sacrifice, overflowing in love to serve others and finding joy in the Lord." Read more.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the U.S. Congress Wednesday night as members debated the passage of another spending bill that includes some $45 billion to "support the Ukrainian people, [and] defend global democracy in the wake of Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine." Zelensky said that additional U.S. support is needed to win the war against Russia in the form of "more cannons and shells" and further "financial assistance," telling lawmakers that "your money is not charity" but rather "an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way." So far, U.S. taxpayers have spent more than $67 billion on the war effort in Ukraine following the appropriation of funds by Congress in three separate installments. While many praised Zelensky's remarks, others have criticized U.S. political figures for spending so much on a foreign country as Americans grapple with inflation and other economic concerns. This list from CP highlights five reactions to Zelensky's address, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., calling it "inspiring" and Tulsi Gabbard rejecting the classification of Ukraine as a "thriving democracy," asserting that "when you actually look at what Zelensky's democracy is, you see no freedom of the press" because "he has shut down any media that he does not control, his government does not control." Read more.

"The Chosen" Christmas special is set to air on The CW Network on Friday at 8 p.m. E.T. The episode goes back and forth between Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem and 10 years after the death of Christ, where an older Mary shares the story with Mary Magdalene. The special will also feature a performance of "Joy to the World (Joyful Joyful)" by Phil Wickham on the set featuring Jordan Feliz, Bryan & Katie Torwalt, Maverick City and The Bonner Family. "I’m thrilled The CW is airing this Christmas episode, it’s a great introduction to 'The Chosen' to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. The perspective we show of this story honors the Gospel narrative while also exploring the cultural, historical and personal context that hasn’t been portrayed before," Dallas Jenkins, creator of "The Chosen," said. Read more.