MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 7, 2025
- Supreme Court to Rule on Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order: The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to President Trump's executive directive restricting birthright citizenship for children of non-citizens or non-permanent residents, potentially upending the 14th Amendment's interpretation amid ongoing immigration debates.
- Scrutiny Over U.S. Military Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats: Congress is investigating a series of lethal U.S. strikes in the Pacific, including one that killed survivors of an initial attack, raising questions about legality and totaling 87 deaths in 22 operations labeled as anti-cartel actions.
- DOJ Ends LGBTQ-Specific Inspections in Detention Centers: A Justice Department memo directs inspectors to stop using standards protecting LGBTQ and intersex inmates from sexual violence in prisons, sparking concerns over safety and civil rights.
- Architect Frank Gehry Dies at 96: Renowned architect Frank Gehry, known for iconic designs like the Guggenheim Bilbao, passed away on December 5, leaving a legacy in modern architecture.
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Flags across the U.S. and North Carolina are ordered to be flown at half-staff to observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, marking the 84th anniversary of the attack.
Hallmark-Disney Partnership: Hallmark Channel and Walt Disney World announce their first-ever joint holiday movie, "Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True," to be filmed at the Orlando resort for a 2026 release.
Cartel Boat Strikes Defense: The U.S. Secretary of War defended recent military strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug cartels, stating President Trump has the authority to take such action "as he sees fit" to protect the nation.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Deadline: Today marks the open enrollment deadline for older adults to decide between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, with industry groups praising the latter while critics warn of potential risks.
- Trump's National Security Strategy Emphasizes "America First" Globally: The administration's new strategy prioritizes U.S. military presence in the Western Hemisphere to combat migration and drugs, while criticizing European allies for "political censorship" and narrowing focus to profit over democracy promotion.
- Congressional Backlash on Drug Boat Strikes and Signal Use: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces criticism over strikes killing alleged cartel members and his use of the Signal app for sensitive discussions, with calls for video release and accountability.
- Trump-Musk Feud Escalates with "America Party" Launch: Elon Musk announced a new political party opposing Trump's tax cuts due to debt concerns, prompting Trump to quip about deporting him; Tesla shares dropped sharply.
- Special Election in Tennessee's 7th District Underway: Voters head to polls for a key House seat, with implications for Republican majorities amid Trump's agenda push.
Supreme Court to Test Presidential Power: The Supreme Court is set to hear a major case, Trump v. Slaughter, which challenges the President's power to fire a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner without cause, potentially dismantling protections for independent agencies.
Trump Official Visits India Amid Tariff Tensions: A senior Trump administration official, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, begins a five-day visit to India to advance strategic and economic ties, following a recent strain caused by the U.S. imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods.
Major K-12 Program Transfers in Downsizing: An ongoing Trump administration effort to downsize the Department of Education continues, with most K-12 programs and over $20 billion in annual funding transferring to the Department of Labor.
- Russia Launches Major Missile Barrage on Ukraine: Following U.S. talks, Russia fired missiles and drones overnight, killing at least one; U.S. envoys met Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss Trump's peace plan.
- Arab Leaders Push for Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two: Amid ongoing strikes killing Palestinians, leaders call for advancing the Israel-Hamas truce, including international security forces and Hamas disarmament, which remains unagreed.
- China-Russia Joint Anti-Missile Drills Conclude: The third round of exercises on Russian soil highlights deepening military ties, as China's economy faces investment declines and slower growth.
- Deadly Nightclub Fire in Goa, India Kills 25: A blaze in a popular venue prompted investigations and compensation; it's the latest in a series of global nightclub tragedies over the past decade.
Cyclone Ditwah Devastation in Sri Lanka: The death toll in Sri Lanka from the fury of Cyclone Ditwah has soared to 627, with several hundred people still reported missing.
Gaza Ceasefire at "Critical Moment": The Qatari prime minister stated that the Gaza ceasefire is at a critical moment as the initial phase of the agreement is winding down.
Russia Unleashes Massive Attack on Ukraine: Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine as ongoing talks continue in an effort to end the conflict.
India-Russia Agreements: Pacts were signed at the recent India-Russia Annual Summit focusing on the mobility of the Indian workforce and maritime cooperation, expected to boost jobs and infrastructure.
- Fears for Special Education's Future Under Trump: Marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark IDEA law, advocates worry as the administration shifts funding to block grants and moves oversight to the Interior Department, potentially disrupting services for millions.
- Trump Shakes Up Federal-University Research Pact: Budget cuts and policy changes have upended the 80-year government-university research partnership, prompting experts to rethink collaborations amid ideological shifts.
- Congress Pulls College Sports Reform Bill: Bipartisan opposition halted a major overhaul of NCAA athletics due to unreadiness, delaying revenue-sharing and athlete rights changes.
- AI Use Surges Among College Students: Surveys show increased reliance on AI tools for academics, raising questions on ethics and preparation in higher education.
Ed-Tech Company Settles FTC Data Breach Case: Illuminate Education reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over a 2021 data breach that exposed the personal information of 10 million students.
The FTC alleged the company knew of security vulnerabilities a year prior to the breach. IDEA at 50: The landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) marks its 50th anniversary, prompting discussions on its impact, innovations for students with and without disabilities, and how teacher shortages continue to hinder progress in special education.
School Closures in Austin, Texas: Austin Independent School District (AISD) is moving forward with the closure of 10 schools, mostly elementary, due to enrollment challenges, which is projected to save the Texas district $21.5 million.
- Fed Rate Cut Expectations Boost Markets: Traders price a near-90% chance of a December cut amid cooling labor data, with ADP reporting a surprise 32,000 job drop in November; stocks rose on optimism.
- Global Growth Resilient but Fragile, per OECD: World GDP is projected to ease to 2.9% in 2026 before rebounding, supported by AI investments but threatened by trade barriers and fiscal strains.
- U.S. Consumer Sentiment Improves Slightly: Early December surveys show a modest uptick, though high prices and labor worries persist; retail spending holds amid holiday caution.
- China's Investment and Retail Slow: Fixed-asset investment fell 1.7% in the first 10 months, with property down 14.7%, signaling broader economic challenges despite trade gains.
FOMC Rate Cut Expected: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is scheduled to meet this week, with analysts widely expecting a cut of 25 basis points to the interest rate.
Global Growth Slowdown Forecast: The latest World Economic Outlook reports a projected slowdown in global growth for 2025, with risks remaining tilted to the downside, despite an upward revision in the U.S. growth forecast.
Volkswagen Group Investment: Volkswagen Group announced plans to invest $186 billion (€160 billion) through 2030, with a focus on Germany and Europe, as the automaker faces a major crisis in key markets like China and the U.S.
UBS Job Cuts Report: Swiss paper SonntagsBlick reports that UBS may cut an additional 10,000 jobs by 2027.
- At Least 80 New Tech Unicorns Emerge in 2025: AI-driven startups like Genspark ($1.25B valuation) and Lila ($1.3B) lead the surge, fueled by investor frenzy in automation and biotech.
- ASML Leads €1.7B Investment in Mistral AI: The Dutch chip giant becomes Mistral's largest shareholder to bolster Europe's AI sovereignty, reducing reliance on U.S. and Chinese tech.
- Global Shortage Hits AI Memory Chips: Demand from data centers strains high-bandwidth memory supplies, pushing 24/7 production as GPU clusters expand.
- Apple, Google Warn on Cyber Threats: New notifications alert users worldwide to state-sponsored hacks, amid rising surveillance concerns in India.
China-Linked Cyberattacks on Government & IT: U.S. and Canadian cybersecurity agencies issued a joint advisory warning that hackers linked to China used "Brickstorm" malware to penetrate and maintain long-term access to unnamed government and information technology entities.
Samsung Integrates Galaxy S25 Ultra in Sports Broadcast:
Samsung is integrating its Galaxy S25 Ultra technology into the SLS Super Crown World Championship in São Paulo, Brazil, to capture multi-view, cinematic footage and offer an immersive viewing experience of the skateboarding competition. AI Curriculum Discussion: Experts are emphasizing the crucial need to integrate learning about Artificial Intelligence into school curricula, focusing on ensuring students understand how the technology works, not just how to use it.
- CDC Panel Drops Hepatitis B Vaccine at Birth Recommendation: The RFK Jr.-appointed group votes to delay the universal newborn dose, reversing decades of guidance despite expert warnings on infection risks.
- Norovirus Cases Surge Across U.S.: CDC data shows positivity rates doubling to 14%, with holiday gatherings blamed; raw turkey handling tips issued for safety.
- FGF19 Hormone Shows Promise for Obesity Treatment: It activates brain fat-burning and reduces inflammation, potentially revolutionizing therapies when paired with sympathetic nervous system activity.
- Polyphenol-Rich Foods Linked to Heart Health: Tea, coffee, berries, and nuts may slow cardiovascular aging, per new studies emphasizing long-term dietary benefits.
Medicare Advantage Debate: The open enrollment deadline is today, prompting a national debate on the use of Medicare Advantage plans, with critics arguing the plans are risky while industry groups claim they offer better care at lower costs.
Whooping Cough Surge: Schools are grappling with a notable increase in Whooping Cough (pertussis) cases, with 2025 numbers preliminary suggesting a significant rise over the previous year, particularly in states like Texas.
Obesity and Anti-Aging Research: Recent scientific findings include the discovery of a natural hormone, FGF19, that triggers a "hidden fat burning switch" in the brain, offering a potential path for obesity treatments.
Separately, a next-generation cancer drug tested in yeast was found to extend lifespan and slow aging.
- FIFA Reveals Full 2026 World Cup Schedule: The final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 kicks off at 3 p.m. ET; U.S. opens vs. Paraguay in LA on June 12, with 104 matches across 16 cities.
- India Wins ODI Series vs. South Africa 2-1: Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 116 and centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli sealed a nine-wicket chase in Visakhapatnam.
- Australia Takes 2-0 Ashes Lead with Brisbane Thrashing: Mitchell Starc's all-round dominance (18 series wickets) powered an eight-wicket win over England in the pink-ball Test.
- Tulane Wins American Athletic Title, Eyes CFP: A victory over North Texas strengthens playoff hopes; conference realignments shake up postseason picture.
Indiana Secures Top CFP Seed: In an upset victory, No. 2 Indiana beat No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 to win the Big Ten championship, securing the school's first Big Ten title in nearly half a century and locking up the likely No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff (CFP).
Texas Tech Wins Big 12 Title: No. 5 Texas Tech defeated No. 11 BYU 34-7 to win the Big 12 Conference championship and secure a likely first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
The Ashes 2nd Test: Australia stormed to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes test, taking a 2-0 series lead over England after a pace blitz on day four.
NFL Playoff Outlook & Coaching Carousel: Analysis begins on which usual suspects are facing long odds to make the NFL playoffs and the early rumblings of the NFL coaching carousel.
