French manufacturing output rose 2.1% year-on-year in December, down from 2.20% in the previous month.

1. Trump warns Iranian Supreme Leader to be “very worried” – In an interview Wednesday, Trump warned that Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei should be “very worried” given escalating tensions with the United States. 2. Federal Reserve “theoretically” independent; will not appoint chairman to candidate who expresses willingness to raise interest rates —Trump said Wednesday that his nominee for Federal Reserve chairman would not be appointed if he had expressed a willingness to raise interest rates. Trump stated that the Federal Reserve is theoretically an independent institution, but implied that it should follow his guidance. 3. Approximately 700 immigration enforcement officers to be withdrawn from Minnesota — Tom Homan, the U.S. border official, said the Trump administration will immediately withdraw approximately 700 federal immigration enforcement officers from Minnesota. Trump later stated that this order came directly from him. 4. Says administration is bad at “public relations” – Trump said his administration is doing an “extraordinary job,” but not good enough in public relations. He stated, "We haven't heavily publicized the excellent work we've done." 5. Reiterating the Mysterious "Disruptor" That May Not Exist —In an interview, Trump again claimed that a mysterious "disruptor" was key to the successful capture of Maduro in Venezuela last month. Senior U.S. officials previously revealed that Trump may have confused several tools into a non-existent weapon. 6. Building a "Washington Arch of Triumph" Taller Than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris —In an interview on Wednesday, Trump stated that the government plans to build an arch in Washington, D.C., slightly taller than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Trump announced last year his intention to build a giant triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. 7. Vance vs. Rubio: Who's More Likely to Succeed as President? Trump Refuses to Take Sides —In an interview on Wednesday, Trump was asked who was more likely to succeed him, Vance or Rubio. Trump refused to reveal who he thought should lead the campaign, citing stylistic differences between them. 8. Trump plans to launch drug pricing website TrumpRx on Thursday – According to CNN, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Trump is expected to launch a new direct-to-consumer prescription drug platform, TrumpRx, on Thursday.

According to the Wall Street Journal: Spotify (SPOT.N) is about to launch a physical book.