Nova Newsletter
January 20, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,749 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Chicken Recalled in Seven States Over Listeria Risk
Suzanna’s Kitchen recalled nearly 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken sold across seven U.S. states after potential listeria contamination, federal officials said.
Takeaways
The recall affects 10-pound food service cases of cooked grilled chicken breast fillets produced Oct. 14, 2025.
Products were distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ohio.
A third-party lab detected Listeria monocytogenes; no illnesses have been reported.
Recalled items carry USDA establishment number P-1382 and lot code 60104 P1382 287 5 J14.
The USDA said listeria can survive refrigeration and is a leading cause of foodborne illness deaths in the U.S. Consumers and food service operators are urged to discard affected products or consult health providers if concerned.
The recall underscores continued scrutiny of ready-to-eat foods in commercial supply chains. Read More
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2. Gunmen Abduct Dozens During Church Services In Nigeria
Gunmen abducted more than 150 worshippers during coordinated attacks on three churches in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria, local officials said.
Takeaways
At least 168 people remain missing after Sunday attacks during church services and Mass.
The abductions hit three denominations, including Catholic and Evangelical churches.
No group has claimed responsibility as of Monday.
Attacks like this are common in northern Nigeria, where security presence is limited.
A state lawmaker said 177 people were initially missing, with 11 later returning. Police have not issued a public statement.
The region has seen repeated mass kidnappings tied to armed gangs and militant groups operating in rural areas.
The Nigerian government rejects claims that the violence amounts to systematic persecution of Christians, despite growing international scrutiny.
Pressure is mounting on authorities to restore security as kidnappings continue unabated. Read More
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3. DOJ Misses Epstein Files Deadline Amid Lawmaker Backlash
Jeffrey Epstein/Department of Justice
The Justice Department has released only a fraction of its Jeffrey Epstein records, one month after a legal deadline mandated by Congress.
Takeaways
Lawmakers Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna accuse DOJ leaders of withholding documents and over-redacting records.
Khanna called the delay an “obstruction of justice” and pushed for inherent contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi.
DOJ says it has released 12,285 documents, but acknowledges millions of pages remain under review.
Epstein survivors say redactions protect alleged abusers while exposing victim identities.
President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, requiring full release within 30 days. DOJ argues manual review is necessary to protect victims.
The dispute is now headed toward a potential court fight over oversight and compliance. Read More
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Last Time the Market Was This Expensive, Investors Waited 14 Years to Break Even
In 1999, the S&P 500 peaked. Then it took 14 years to gradually recover by 2013.
Today? Goldman Sachs sounds crazy forecasting 3% returns for 2024 to 2034.
But we’re currently seeing the highest price for the S&P 500 compared to earnings since the dot-com boom.
So, maybe that’s why they’re not alone; Vanguard projects about 5%.
In fact, now just about everything seems priced near all time highs. Equities, gold, crypto, etc.
But billionaires have long diversified a slice of their portfolios with one asset class that is poised to rebound.
It’s post war and contemporary art.
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You can invest in shares of artworks featuring Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.
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My subscribers can skip the waitlist.
*Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.
Quick Headlines
Getty Images
Gold hit $4,689 an ounce and silver $94 as investors fled to safe havens after Donald Trump threatened 10 percent tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland, while European stocks fell up to 1.4 percent and the EU weighed €93bn in retaliation. Read More
At least 39 people died and 75 were hospitalized after a Malaga-Madrid train derailed and slammed into a Madrid-Huelva train near Córdoba, Spain, with the rear cars of the first train causing the worst damage. Authorities launched a full mass-casualty response as investigations continue into the unexplained derailment. Read More
An explosion at a hotel in Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw district left multiple people dead and injured, with authorities investigating the cause as smoke and chaos engulfed the street. Officials have not confirmed casualty numbers amid ongoing emergency response efforts. Read More
Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, has been a DEA “priority target” since 2022 with investigations dating back to 2018 linking her to drug trafficking and alleged money laundering in Margarita Island hotels, even as the U.S. has never formally charged her. Trump praised her role in stabilizing Venezuela after Maduro’s capture, raising tensions between past scrutiny and current political alignmen. Read More
President Trump quietly named four new members to the Commission of Fine Arts, including former project architect James McCrery, restoring a quorum to review his proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom. The move follows legal challenges from the National Trust for Historic Preservation over construction begun before federal approval. Read More
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland called Trump’s threatened 10% tariffs over Greenland “unacceptable” and warned they risk a dangerous downward spiral in transatlantic relations, while European troops continue training on the island and leaders prepare to defend sovereignty. EU officials stressed economic and diplomatic retaliation could follow. Read More
Deep Dive
4. New Hampshire Bishop Warns Clergy to Prepare for a New Era of Martyrdom
Candles burn around a poem written by Renee Good during a vigil honoring her on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn., outside the Minnesota State Capitol. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
An Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire says clergy should prepare for possible sacrifice as immigration enforcement escalates nationwide, warning that faith leaders may be called to physically protect the vulnerable.
Takeaways
“New era of martyrdom”: Bishop Rob Hirschfeld urged clergy to finalize wills and personal affairs, framing the moment as a moral turning point.
Catalyst: His remarks followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer on Jan. 7, an incident now central to national debate.
Moral framing: Hirschfeld invoked historic Christian figures who risked or lost their lives resisting state power.
Political backdrop: The comments land amid intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Church response: Episcopal leaders nationwide are calling for nonviolent resistance and protection of immigrants.
Speaking at a vigil honoring Renee Good, Hirschfeld said clergy may soon be required to move beyond statements and instead place their bodies between state power and vulnerable people. He cited Jonathan Daniels, a seminary student killed in 1965 while shielding a civil rights activist, as a model of faith-driven witness.
The Trump administration has defended the ICE officer involved, saying he acted in self-defense, but local officials including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have disputed that account, citing video evidence.
Hirschfeld emphasized that his message was not a call for violence, but a call to abandon fear, including fear of death, in pursuit of moral responsibility. “If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot fear even death itself,” he said.
Other Episcopal leaders echoed the message, urging Christians to shelter immigrants, resist injustice, and respond with love rather than retaliation. The rhetoric signals a growing willingness among faith leaders to confront state policy directly.
What’s next: As immigration enforcement expands, the clash between religious conscience and federal authority is likely to sharpen. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Alleged Keith Urban Girlfriend Denies Living Together Claims
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman / Karley Scott Collins
Karley Scott Collins publicly denied reports that she is living with Keith Urban, pushing back on viral rumors following his 2025 split from Nicole Kidman.
Takeaways
Collins called the cohabitation claims “absolutely ridiculous and untrue” in an Instagram Story.
Rumors surfaced after Urban and Kidman ended their 19-year marriage in September.
Sources deny any infidelity before the separation.
Urban and Kidman recently finalized a custody agreement for their two daughters.
Collins responded directly to a report claiming she and Urban had moved in together, saying the speculation was false. She shared a screenshot of the article and rejected any romantic narrative.
Urban and Kidman finalized their separation earlier this month after reports of private disputes over custody. They ultimately agreed to a shared arrangement, with most days spent with Kidman.
The denial adds fuel to questions about how public narratives are forming around the high-profile split. Read More
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6. Zootropolis 2 Breaks Hollywood Animation Record
Disney’s Zootropolis 2 has become Hollywood’s highest-grossing animated film ever, pulling in $1.7 billion globally.
Takeaways
The sequel overtook Inside Out 2, which earned $1.69 billion in 2024.
It is now the ninth highest-grossing film of all time, animated or live-action.
The film reached $1 billion faster than any other Hollywood animated release.
China’s Ne Zha 2 still holds the global animation crown at $2.2 billion.
Released in November with an estimated $150 million budget, the film capitalized on a Thanksgiving debut and strong international demand.
The sequel reunites Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, introducing a new reptilian character voiced by Ke Huy Quan.
Disney executives credited global fans for the milestone, calling the run an “extraordinary achievement.”
The result reinforces animation’s growing dominance at the global box office. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
British Home Secretary Winston Churchill (right) escorted by High Commissioner Herbert Samuel, in Jerusalem during the British Mandate period. (Photo: Wikimedia)
On This Day – January 20
First U.S. Federal Holiday Honoring Martin Luther King Jr., 1986 – The United States observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday for the first time, honoring the civil rights leader’s legacy and his role in advancing racial equality and nonviolent social change.
IBM PS/2 Technology Cloned, 1988 – Companies announce they can successfully clone IBM’s PS/2 technology, a turning point that accelerates open-architecture personal computing and helps drive the global spread of affordable, standardized PCs.
Barack Obama Inaugurated as President, 2009 – Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the office, while Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 47th vice president, marking a historic moment in American political history.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🥩🥛 Marinate Meats in Yogurt
Want tender, flavorful meat without extra effort? Marinate it in yogurt before cooking. The natural acids and enzymes in yogurt help break down tough proteins, making the meat soft and juicy. It’s an easy, delicious way to elevate your meals naturally.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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