In Chicago, 18 people were shot and 2 killed over the Christmas weekend. Meanwhile, a concealed carry permit holder managed to stop an armed robbery, preventing further violence. These incidents highlighted the ongoing issue of crime in the city.

On CNN, Father Edward Beck received backlash for connecting the Christmas story to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Critics accused him of distorting history and having a political agenda. The controversy arose from his comparison of Jesus' birth as a Palestinian Jew to the struggles faced by Palestinians today.

Former President Donald Trump used his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize President Joe Biden, Obamacare, and his Republican rivals during the holiday season. Trump expressed support for those who wanted to "Make America Great Again," attacked former President Barack Obama, and made false claims about the 2020 presidential election. He questioned the media's reporting and highlighted his strong support among Republicans.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced criticism for her social media post equating Jesus with Palestinians and condemning Israel without mentioning Hamas or their hostages. She referred to the right-wing occupation of Bethlehem, which led to the cancellation of Christmas festivities. Ocasio-Cortez previously called for de-escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, condemning attacks from both sides. Bethlehem's decision to forgo celebrations in solidarity with Gaza drew controversy among Christians.

In Thailand, the navy rescue teams continued their search for a missing British woman and a cook after their diving boat sank off the Surin Islands. Despite three days of searching, there were no signs of the two women. Authorities expanded the search area, suspecting that they may have been swept as far as 60 miles away from the sinking point.

These events, ranging from crime in Chicago to political controversies and a search and rescue operation in Thailand, captured attention during the Christmas period.

The Digest, 12/25/2023 @1230PM, CDT

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