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Nova Newsletter
February 26, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,620 words for you today - 9-minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Colombia Probes Bullet Holes On American Airlines Jet
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images
Colombian authorities are investigating after apparent bullet holes were found on an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 that flew between Medellín and Miami.
Takeaways:
The aircraft was found with puncture marks on its right-wing aileron after landing in Miami.
No injuries or flight issues were reported during the trip.
The plane was removed from service and flown to Dallas-Fort Worth for detailed inspection.
Colombian authorities said they have opened a probe into how the damage occurred.
Maintenance crews spotted the damage during a routine post-flight inspection in Miami after a round-trip flight that included a stop in Medellín. The puncture was found on a critical control surface but did not affect the aircraft’s operation.
Officials are exploring whether the damage occurred during landing or while the plane was on the ground in Colombia.
The investigation will look into security conditions at stops and any criminal involvement as authorities work to determine the cause. Read More
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2. Trump Weighs Bank Citizenship Verification Order
The Trump administration is considering forcing U.S. banks to verify customers’ citizenship status as part of its immigration crackdown.
Takeaways:
Proposal could come via executive order, sources say.
Banks may be required to collect passports or proof of citizenship.
Industry warns the move would be “unworkable” and unprecedented.
White House calls reports “baseless speculation.”
Officials are weighing whether to require banks to retroactively gather citizenship data from existing customers and collect it from new ones. Current anti money laundering rules require identity and address verification, not citizenship status.
Industry leaders fear the order would pull banks into deportation enforcement. The discussions follow internal turmoil at the Internal Revenue Service over data sharing with immigration authorities, an effort blocked by a federal judge.
Separately, President Donald Trump has targeted banks over alleged “debanking” of conservatives and sued JPMorgan Chase.
The proposal could test the legal limits of executive power and reshape banking compliance nationwide. Read More
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3. Gen Z Embraces ‘Chinamaxxing’ In Cultural Shift
Wang Xin/VCG/Getty Images
Young Americans are embracing “Chinamaxxing,” a viral social media trend romanticizing Chinese culture in a subtle soft power win for Beijing.
Takeaways:
Trend spotlights Chinese aesthetics, tech and wellness rituals.
Reflects growing curiosity about life in cities like Shanghai and Chongqing.
Signals shifting U.S. perceptions amid domestic disillusionment.
Offers a rare cultural bridge despite tensions with China.
Creators post “morning routines” with hot water, traditional exercises and Tang style jackets. Viral clips of neon skylines and high-speed rail reframe China as futuristic and orderly.
The movement follows migration to Xiaohongshu and renewed tourism after Covid restrictions eased. Analysts say it reveals as much about frustration in the U.S. as admiration for China.
Despite criticism over cultural appropriation, the trend underscores Beijing’s expanding cultural reach. Read More
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The Year-End Moves No One’s Watching
Markets don’t wait — and year-end waits even less.
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Quick Headlines
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the U.S. Postal Service cannot be sued for intentionally withholding mail, rejecting a Texas landlord’s racial bias claim after two years of alleged nondelivery. The majority said federal law broadly shields USPS, while dissenters warned it protects malicious conduct. Read More
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces backlash after two officers were hospitalized from snow and ice during a viral Washington Square Park snowball fight, with the Police Benevolent Association calling it an assault. Mamdani declined to support charges, sparking tensions with city law enforcement. Read More
The U.S. and South Korean militaries will hold their annual Freedom Shield exercises from March 9-19 with 18,000 South Korean troops, aiming to strengthen joint defenses amid stalled diplomacy and North Korea’s nuclear threats. North Korea views the drills as provocative while allies stress their defensive nature. Read More
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said “the walls are closing in” on President Trump after the Supreme Court struck down his broad tariffs, warning Canada faces economic pressure and inflation while eyeing U.S. midterms that could further constrain Trump. Ford called Trump’s trade moves unpredictable and risky for global markets. Read More
Dozens of FBI witness interviews, including three linked to a woman who accused President Trump of sexual assault, appear missing from the Department of Justice’s released Epstein files, raising concerns about transparency in the yearslong investigation. Lawmakers and victims say gaps in the 302 reports hinder accountability and understanding of the case. Read More
CDC reports show 21.1% of U.S. children and teens now have obesity, the highest rate ever, while adult obesity may be leveling off at 40.3%. Experts point to GLP-1 medications and public health measures as potential factors for the adult plateau but warn child obesity continues to rise sharply. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump’s Longest State of the Union Tests a Divided Nation
Reuters
President Donald Trump delivered a record 1 hour and 47-minute State of the Union address to Congress, blending economic triumphalism, sharp partisan attacks, and warnings on Iran.
Takeaways
Record-setting length: At 108 minutes, it surpassed Bill Clinton’s modern-era high by nearly 20 minutes.
Economic bravado: Trump called the economy “roaring,” despite persistent voter concerns about affordability.
Tariff defiance: He criticized the Supreme Court after it struck down much of his global tariff plan.
Visible division: Democratic protests and walkouts underscored a widening political gulf months before midterms.
Trump framed his presidency as a dramatic turnaround, claiming the US has the “strongest and most secure border in American history” and the “hottest country on Earth.” The speech leaned heavily into domestic achievements, with only brief but pointed warnings that Iran is pursuing “sinister nuclear ambitions.”
The address unfolded days after the Supreme Court invalidated large portions of Trump’s tariff program, ruling he had exceeded his authority. Four justices attended. Trump labeled the decision “disappointing” and vowed to pursue a 15% global tariff through alternative statutes.
Democratic resistance was immediate. Representative Al Green was escorted out after holding a protest sign. Others heckled from the chamber, while several skipped the speech entirely. In the Democratic response, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger argued Trump is not lowering costs or strengthening security.
The White House staged patriotic flourishes, including honoring Olympic hockey champions and wounded National Guard members, reinforcing a campaign-style atmosphere.
The speech doubled as a governing update and a midterm rallying cry, sharpening contrasts in a country already on edge. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Waymo Expands Robotaxis To 10 U.S. Cities
A Waymo vehicle drives past a No U-Turn sign in San Bruno, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Waymo will launch robotaxi service in four new markets, bringing its footprint to 10 major U.S. metro areas.
Takeaways:
New cities: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando.
Fleet already delivers 400,000 weekly trips across six cities.
Targets 1 million weekly paid trips by end of 2026.
Raised $16B, valuing company at $126B.
Waymo operates via its own app in most markets, except Atlanta and Austin where rides run through Uber. Existing cities include Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and Miami.
Rivals from Tesla and Zoox remain in limited testing. Waymo began inside Google and is owned by Alphabet.
The rollout widens Waymo’s early lead in the race to commercialize driverless rides. Read More
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6. TED’s Audacious Project Raises $1B In Two Days
The The Audacious Project secured $1.03 billion from 35 donor families in 48 hours to fund large scale nonprofit initiatives.
Takeaways:
Funds support multi year, big bet projects across sectors.
Donors commit at least $10M each, often more.
Grantees include Destination: Home and Arc Institute.
Model emphasizes collaborative, high dollar philanthropy.
Housed at TED, the initiative spent over a year vetting finalists and refining pitches. Donors meet in person to decide allocations; an approach backers say accelerates fundraising that typically takes years.
Other recipients include Last Mile Health and The Ocean Cleanup, with some groups receiving second round funding.
The project signals growing appetite among mega donors for pooled capital aimed at systemic change. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
S.W. (Samuel W.) Green. Illustrated Depiction of the Broadway Pneumatic Underground Railroad. 1871. Museum of the City of New York.
On This Day — February 26
NYC Pneumatic Subway, 1870 – A short experimental pneumatic subway line opens in New York City, an early step toward modern underground mass transit systems.
RADAR Demonstrated, 1935 – Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins successfully demonstrate the first practical radar system in England.
First Web Browser, 1991 – The first web browser is introduced, marking a key milestone in making the World Wide Web publicly accessible.
Life Hack of the day
🍓💧 Rinse Berries in Diluted Vinegar Water
Want your berries to last longer without mold? Rinse them in a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts waters. The solution helps kill mold spores and bacteria that cause spoilage. Dry the berries completely before refrigerating to keep them fresh and firm for days.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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