Manufacturing in the U.S. just accelerated to its best year since 2004 Katia Dmitrieva in Bloomberg Markets Bloomberg Markets reports that "U.S. manufacturing expanded in December at the fastest pace in three months, as gains in orders and production capped the strongest year for factories since 2004," according to data from the Institute for Supply Management. The acceleration is fueled by "more domestic business investment, improving global economies and steady spending by American households," Katia Dmitrieva writes. Timothy Fiore, ISM's manufacturing survey committee chairman, explained that the poll was taken before tax reform passed in December— and its passage will provide companies with even greater incentives to invest. Click here to read more. ------------ Stephen Moore writes in Newsmax that after one year in office, President Donald J. Trump "keeps defying his critics." While some on the left bemoaned the President's potential impact on the economy, Moore says that "since the day Donald Trump was elected . . . the Dow Jones industrial average has risen by some 35 percent, making the last 14 months one of the greatest bull market runs in history." ------------ In Real Clear Politics, David Ignatius argues that President Trump is right to tell Iran that the world is watching. "Think of the Iranian uprising as a bottom-up revolt by people who feel they've been ignored by a corrupt elite," writes Ignatius. The issues in Iran are different than in America, he says, "but you sense a resonance." ------------ Fox News reports that Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan says California "better hold on tight" after Gov. Jerry Brown allowed a sanctuary state law to take effect recently. "If politicians don't protect their communities then ICE will," Homan said. ------------ In The Hill, Jeff Green writes that President Trump's executive order to improve access to America's metals and minerals—which the President signed last month—will bolster our national security. The move "will assure the United States has access to these materials for use in every major defense system," Green writes.