DECEMBER 7, 2025
- Supreme Court to Rule on Trump's Birthright Citizenship Directive: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging President Trump's executive order restricting birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizen or non-permanent resident parents, potentially altering the 14th Amendment's interpretation amid ongoing immigration debates.
- FBI Arrests Suspect in Jan. 6 Bomb Plot: The FBI has apprehended an individual linked to a previously undisclosed bomb plot targeting the Capitol on January 6, 2021, heightening concerns over lingering domestic threats as investigations continue.
- Fears Rise Over Expanded ICE Crackdowns: Reports highlight growing anxiety among immigrant communities due to intensified ICE operations under the Trump administration, including mass deportations and raids, with critics warning of humanitarian impacts.
- Puerto Rico Faces Island-Wide Power Outage: A massive blackout has plunged the entire island into darkness, exacerbating infrastructure woes and prompting federal aid discussions.
- Trump's Approval Rating Dips Amid Economic Concerns: President Trump's job approval has fallen to a net -14 points, driven by public frustration over inflation and tariffs, marking the first notable slide since his inauguration.
- Democrats Signal Strong Midterm Momentum: Recent special elections and polls indicate Democrats could flip the House in 2026, fueled by backlash against GOP policies on immigration and the economy.
- Pentagon Probe into Hegseth's Signal Leak: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces scrutiny for potentially compromising classified strike plans on Yemen via the Signal app, raising national security alarms.
- California Sues Over Trump Tariffs: Governor Newsom has filed the first state lawsuit against federal tariffs, citing economic harm to the tech and agriculture sectors.
- Russia Launches Massive Assault on Ukraine: Overnight missile and drone strikes hit key infrastructure, killing dozens and escalating tensions as U.S. aid talks stall.
- Sudan Conflict Intensifies with RSF Attack: Paramilitary forces bombed a military base, killing over 50 in the latest flare-up of the two-year civil war.
- Gaza Ceasefire on Brink as Phase One Ends: Mediators report stalled talks amid hostage disputes, with Qatar urging renewed U.S. pressure for extension.
- Deadly Nightclub Fire in Goa, India: A gas cylinder explosion killed 23 staff members, prompting safety probes into tourism venues.
- DOE Launches "History Rocks!" Tour: Secretary Linda McMahon kicked off a national initiative to promote patriotic education ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary, visiting schools to highlight American independence.
- AI Workgroup Formed for Public Schools: California convenes experts to integrate AI ethically into K-12 curricula, focusing on literacy and equity amid rapid tech adoption.
- Tribal Colleges Brace for Oversight Shift: Proposed moves to the Interior Department could disrupt funding and programs, raising alarms over cultural preservation.
- Universal Meals Linked to Lower BP in Students: A new study shows free school lunches reduce hypertension risks, bolstering calls to expand access nationwide.
- Fed Eyes December Rate Cut Amid Soft Jobs Data: ADP reports a surprise 32,000 job losses in November, boosting odds of a 25-basis-point reduction to ease recession fears.
- Consumer Sentiment Ticks Up but Inflation Lingers: University of Michigan index rises slightly, though high prices and labor worries persist, per latest survey.
- China's Investment Slumps 1.7% in 10 Months: Fixed-asset spending hits pandemic lows, signaling broader slowdown despite export gains.
- OECD Forecasts Modest Global Growth: 2025 GDP at 3.2%, easing to 2.9% in 2026 amid trade barriers and fiscal strains.
- OpenAI Releases GPT-5.1 Updates: New "Instant" and "Thinking" modes enhance real-time reasoning and multimodal capabilities, available now in ChatGPT.
- EU Probes Meta Over DSA Breaches: Regulators cite transparency failures in content moderation, potentially fining the platform under the Digital Services Act.
- Niobium Raises $23M for Encrypted Silicon: The startup's secure hardware aims to protect AI data flows, amid rising cyber threats to cloud infrastructure.
- China Launches "Embodied Intelligence" Major: Seven universities introduce robotics-AI degrees to build talent for humanoid and industrial bots.
- CDC Panel Drops Universal Hepatitis B Birth Dose: RFK Jr.-appointed advisors vote to delay newborn vaccinations, sparking backlash from experts over infection risks.
- Faulty Glucose Sensors Linked to 7 Deaths: FDA warns of Abbott device malfunctions causing 736 injuries, urging immediate replacements for diabetics.
- Polyphenol-Rich Diets Boost Heart Health: Study links tea, berries, and nuts to lower cardiovascular risks, recommending daily intake for long-term benefits.
- FGF19 Hormone Emerges as Obesity Target: New research shows it activates fat-burning in the brain, paving way for non-surgical weight loss therapies.
- FIFA Announces 2026 World Cup Schedule: MetLife Stadium hosts the July 19 final; full 104-match slate revealed, with top teams seeded to avoid early clashes.
- Lakshya Sen Wins Australian Open Badminton: The Indian star defeats Japan's Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 for his first title of 2025.
- Tulane Claims AAC Football Crown: Green Wave beats North Texas to bolster College Football Playoff hopes in a thriller.
- Verstappen on Pole for Abu Dhabi GP: Max edges Lando Norris in F1 season finale, setting up a title-deciding showdown under the lights.
Big Education Ape: PRESS START TO GRIFT: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CABINET OF CHAOS PLAYS AMERICA LIKE A BROKEN XBOX https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/press-start-to-grift-trump.html
### Key Points
- Linda McMahon's "History Rocks!" tour is criticized for promoting Christian nationalist propaganda in public schools, whitewashing history, and undermining democracy.
- Organizations like Turning Point USA, PragerU, and Hillsdale College play key roles in advancing right-wing, revisionist education agendas, focusing on Christian values and dismissing structural racism and inequality.
- Critics argue these efforts threaten the separation of church and state and seek to indoctrinate children into far-right ideologies.
- New Jersey educators and parents oppose McMahon's visit, emphasizing the importance of teaching honest, inclusive history and resisting political and ideological indoctrination.
- The movement to transform public education into a right-wing propaganda tool is part of a larger, well-funded campaign with significant political and financial backing.
- The article calls for resistance through community action, support for educators, and political engagement to protect democratic, evidence-based education.
Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POST DECEMBER 5, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01468509600.html
A Crucial Lesson I Learned as a Young Teacher https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/you-cannot-tell-wisdom-to-novice-teachers/ via @CubanLarry
### Key Points
- Larry Cuban stresses the importance of taking initiative for students’ benefit, even if it means asking for forgiveness later.
- Teachers act as gatekeepers of their classrooms, exercising autonomy over content and teaching methods despite external constraints.
- Cuban recounts his resourceful efforts to gather materials for his students, highlighting the challenges of teaching in under-resourced urban schools.
- Navigating authority structures and organizational dynamics is a skill that takes years of experience to develop.
- Cuban suggests that new teachers or short-term educators might struggle to grasp this lesson without significant experience.
glen brown: Ten News Items from The Contrarian https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/12/ten-news-items-from-contrarian.html
### Key Points
- The article critiques Donald Trump’s alleged misuse of legal systems to target political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Judge Hannah Dugan, and several prominent political figures.
- It highlights accusations of selective and vindictive prosecutions against individuals such as former FBI Director James Comey, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, and union leader David Huerta.
- The piece discusses broader societal and systemic issues, such as social justice, pensions, education reform, and environmental crises, as recurring themes in the blog.
- It provides updates on various legal proceedings, including cases involving John Bolton, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, John Brennan, and others, emphasizing claims of political bias and retaliatory motives.
- The blog reflects on the writer’s philosophy of resisting oppression and embracing isolation as a noble aspect of the writer’s vocation, drawing from figures like Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus.
Poem: someone died today https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/12/06/poem-someone-died-today/ via @plthomasEdD
### Key Points
- The poem "someone died today" reflects on mortality, fear, love, and living meaningfully.
- The poet explores intimate moments in relationships and the longing to overcome the fear of death by cherishing the present.
- The blog includes references to educational reform, social justice, and critical media literacy.
- The article lists archived posts and recurring themes such as equity, literature, and societal issues like racism and poverty.
- The blog features works on Paulo Freire, Howard Zinn, and other influential thinkers, as well as topics like the "Science of Reading."
- The author highlights the importance of reading, writing, and critical thinking as tools for societal change.
Chicago Torture Justice Memorial–HELP!!! | Bill Ayers https://billayers.org/2025/12/06/chicago-torture-justice-memorial-help/
### Key Points
- The Chicago Torture Justice Memorial Foundation (CTJMF) is working to fund and build a historic memorial honoring survivors of police torture and the reparations movement, aiming to break ground in 2026.
- The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate has approved transferring four land plots to CTJMF for the memorial project.
- CTJMF is running a fundraising campaign to meet a $25,000 match challenge by the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation by the end of 2025, encouraging collective donations from supporters.
- Donors are encouraged to contribute any amount, no matter how small, and can include specific names in donation notes for tracking.
- A donation link for the campaign is provided: https://givebutter.com/jXJVfs.
Why I read obits. This one tells a tale of guns, drugs, and CIA intrigues in Latin America. MICHAEL KLONSKY https://klonsky.substack.com/p/why-i-read-obits
### Key Points
- Eugene Hasenfus, a former Marine and CIA contractor, became widely known in 1986 after his gunrunning plane was shot down in Nicaragua during a covert CIA mission, sparking the Iran-Contra affair.
- The mission aimed to supply arms to the Contras, a right-wing rebel group opposing Nicaragua’s Sandinista government, and was linked to drug trafficking operations to fund the war.
- Hasenfus was captured and sentenced to 30 years in prison but was later released in an act of goodwill by Nicaragua’s government.
- The Iran-Contra scandal exposed U.S. involvement in covert operations, drug trafficking, and misuse of funds, leading to criminal charges against 14 Reagan administration officials, some of whom were later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush.
- The article draws parallels between past U.S./CIA covert activities in Latin America and similar tactics used in modern foreign policy under recent administrations, highlighting the ongoing use of secrecy, deniability, and narrative control.
- The author reflects on how historical events like the Iran-Contra affair continue to influence current U.S. foreign policy strategies in regions like Haiti, Venezuela, and Cuba.
CURMUDGUCATION: Reverse Centaurs, AI, and the Classroom https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/12/reverse-centaurs-ai-and-classroom.html
### Key Points
- Cory Doctorow introduces "reverse centaurs," where humans are controlled by machines, exemplified by Amazon delivery drivers monitored by AI systems.
- AI is marketed as a labor disruptor, promising efficiency but often requiring humans to oversee AI's mistakes, creating "accountability sinks."
- In education, AI-driven models, such as charter schools relying on screens, aim to cut costs by replacing teachers with low-cost guides, who act as accountability sinks.
- Teachers are promised empowerment through AI tools, but in reality, they may end up checking AI's unreliable outputs, reducing their autonomy.
- Public schools face pressure to adopt AI, despite its inability to perform teaching tasks effectively, raising concerns about whether AI serves teachers or vice versa.
- AI-generated materials cannot be copyrighted, emphasizing their lack of human originality.
Power Targeting the Vulnerable by Carl Petersen https://www.changethelausd.com/power_targeting_the_vulnerable
### Key Points
- The author reflects on the rise of a cult of personality around Donald Trump and the denial of his controversial actions by his supporters.
- Trump’s administration targeted vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities, by attempting to cut funding for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), threatening their access to necessary educational services.
- The administration also disrupted SNAP benefits during government shutdowns, leaving millions of families in poverty without food assistance, and used these programs as leverage in political negotiations.
- The article highlights how cruelty in policy decisions leads to societal harm and emphasizes the need for change driven by survival.
