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Nova Newsletter
December 26, 2025
☕ Good morning and Merry Christmas! 1,773 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Christmas Storm Floods Southern California
A car sits buried in mud after flooding Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in Wrightwood, California. Wally Skalij/AP
Heavy rainfall flooded highways and forced evacuations across Southern California on Christmas, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency.
Takeaways
Flooding and mudslides hit Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, stranding drivers and damaging homes.
State of emergency covers six counties, activating emergency response for atmospheric rivers, wind and rain.
150,000 customers lost power as flash flood and wind advisories remained in effect.
Floodwaters submerged sections of Interstate 5, while mud and debris blocked roads across Southern California. Emergency crews conducted door-to-door evacuations and rescues, including motorists trapped in rising water.
San Bernardino County opened evacuation shelters and deployed more than 120 personnel as mudslides hit mountain communities like Wrightwood. Officials warned saturated soil and gusts up to 55 mph could topple trees and worsen travel.
The National Weather Service says rain will ease but residual flooding and landslide risks could persist into the weekend. Read More
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2. Russian Drone Barrage Hits Ukraine on Christmas
Russia launched a major overnight drone attack across Ukraine into Christmas morning, killing civilians and knocking out power in multiple regions, Ukrainian officials said.
Takeaways
131 Russian drones launched, with 106 intercepted, Ukraine’s air force said.
At least 3 people killed, dozens injured across Odesa, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.
Energy and port infrastructure targeted, triggering nationwide power restrictions.
Russian drones struck 15 locations, hitting ports, industrial sites, homes and energy facilities as air raid warnings continued Thursday morning. Officials said 22 drones broke through defenses.
In Odesa, authorities reported damage to port and industrial infrastructure and one confirmed death. In Kharkiv, emergency services said one person was killed and 14 injured over 24 hours.
In Chernihiv, a drone hit a high-rise apartment building, killing two people, according to regional officials. Ukraine’s power operator Ukrenergo reported outages across five regions.
Russia also reported Ukrainian drone attacks, including near Moscow, with airports briefly restricted. Read More
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3. Kennedy Center Jazz Tradition Canceled After Renaming
Workers adjust the name of the “John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" on December 19, in Washington, DC. Heather Diehl/Getty Images
The longtime host of the Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve jazz concert canceled the annual show after the board voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
Takeaways
Christmas Eve Jazz Jam canceled after signage bearing President Donald Trump’s name was installed.
Backlash intensifies over the board’s authority to rename a congressionally designated memorial.
Legal challenge filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio trustee.
Jazz musician Chuck Redd, who has led the holiday concert since 2006, said he canceled the performance after seeing the name change enacted last week. He called the decision deeply saddening after decades performing at the venue.
The Kennedy Center board approved the renaming vote days earlier, quickly updating its website and exterior signage. The move drew criticism from lawmakers, patrons and members of the Kennedy family.
Trump, elected chair by a newly reconstituted board, has pushed to reshape the institution’s leadership, funding and identity during his second term. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Mario Tama/Getty Images, FILE
A Powerball ticket sold in Arkansas won a $1.817 billion jackpot in the Christmas Eve drawing, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winner can choose $834.9 million in cash before taxes or the full amount paid over 30 years. The odds were 1 in more than 292 million. Read More
The FDA recalled about 83,800 bags of frozen raw shrimp imported from Indonesia over possible cesium-137 contamination. The shrimp was sold under Market 32 and Waterfront Bistro brands across more than a dozen states in summer 2025. No illnesses have been reported, but consumers are urged to return or discard the product. Read More
Turkish authorities detained 115 suspected Islamic State members in Istanbul over alleged plans to attack Christmas and New Year events, targeting non-Muslims. Raids at 124 locations seized weapons and documents, with officials still searching for 22 suspects. Prosecutors say the group was linked to IS operatives abroad. Read More
North Korea released images of what it claims is its first nuclear-powered submarine, showing Kim Jong Un inspecting the 8,700-ton vessel at a construction site near Pyongyang. State media says the submarine matches the size of US Virginia-class attack subs and could be launched within two years. Analysts warn the move escalates regional tensions as South Korea also pursues nuclear-powered submarines. Read More
Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics on Christmas in Vatican City to reject indifference toward suffering in Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and among migrants. Speaking to about 26,000 people, he called for peace through humility and dialogue. It marked his first Christmas address as pope and a return to multilingual greetings. Read More
Former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse revealed he has metastatic, stage-four pancreatic cancer, calling it a "death sentence" in a social media post. The 53-year-old, who voted to impeach Trump in 2021, said he plans to fight the illness while reflecting on hope during the Advent season. Sasse has three children and previously led the University of Florida before stepping down in 2024. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Administration Revives Wage Garnishment for Defaulted Student Loans
Seth Wenig/AP/File
The Trump administration will begin garnishing wages of student loan borrowers in default nationwide starting in January, the Education Department said this week.
Takeaways
Collections restart escalates: Wage garnishment resumes after months of renewed federal debt collection, targeting borrowers 270 days or more behind on payments.
Scale could be massive: More than 5 million borrowers are already in default, with nearly 4 million more delinquent as of April.
Automatic enforcement power: Administrative wage garnishment allows the government to order private employers to withhold pay without court approval.
Safety nets shrinking: Borrowers in default lose access to deferment, forbearance, and repayment plan choices.
Policy shift accelerates pressure: Critics warn the move prioritizes enforcement over affordability during a period of high household costs.
The Education Department says the first notices will reach about 1,000 borrowers in early January, with enforcement expanding monthly. Wage garnishment follows the earlier restart of the Treasury Offset Program, which seizes tax refunds and federal benefits to repay defaulted loans.
Advocacy groups argue the timing compounds financial strain. “This Administration is seizing borrowers’ wages instead of defending affordable payments,” said Persis Yu of Protect Borrowers, pointing to rising living costs and reduced repayment flexibility.
The policy arrives alongside sweeping changes to federal student aid. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” capped graduate and parent borrowing, eliminated certain deferments, and narrowed repayment options. Earlier this month, the administration also moved to end the SAVE repayment plan, affecting nearly 8 million borrowers if approved in court.
For borrowers already in default, options are limited. The Education Department urges contact with its Default Resolution Group, while bankruptcy remains a last resort for those facing severe hardship.
The bigger picture is clear: student loan policy has shifted decisively from relief to enforcement, with millions now exposed to direct hits on their paychecks. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Seeks Early Prison Release on Appeal
Reuters/Jane Rosenberg
Sean "Diddy" Combs has asked the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction or order immediate release from prison, citing improper sentencing.
Takeaways
Combs was sentenced to 50 months for two prostitution-related convictions, acquitted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
His attorneys argue the sentence is unlawful and draconian, claiming the judge considered acquitted conduct and ignored new guidelines.
Prosecutors had sought 11 years, while Combs sought a brief term or time served.
The rapper faces multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, exploitation, and abuse of power.
Combs’ filing calls the sentence unconstitutional and asks the court to resentence him or overturn the conviction entirely. His attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued the punishment was a “perversion of justice.”
Combs previously apologized in court to his accusers and maintains he never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone, according to his representatives. Read More
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6. Rob and Michele Reiner Death Certificates Reveal New Details
Death certificates confirm Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner died from multiple stab wounds within minutes of each other.
Takeaways
The couple’s deaths on Dec. 14 were ruled homicides by the L.A. County Medical Examiner.
Both were cremated, according to official documents obtained by ABC News.
Their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Family announced a memorial service at a later date.
The Reiners were found stabbed in their Brentwood home, prompting a police investigation that led to Nick Reiner’s arrest in Exposition Park. Authorities have not released a motive.
Bottom line: Official documents provide a stark confirmation of the swift, violent nature of the deaths as the investigation continues. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day – December 26
Frisbee Patent, 1967 – Wham-O Manufacturing is granted a U.S. patent for the saucer-shaped flying disc, laying the foundation for recreational disc sports including disc golf and popularizing a cultural icon of outdoor play.
Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004 – A 9.3 magnitude earthquake triggers a massive tsunami that devastates coastal regions across South and Southeast Asia, killing approximately 230,000 people and leaving millions displaced.
Israel Airstrikes in Yemen, 2024 – Israeli strikes target Houthi positions in Yemen, narrowly missing WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Sanaa during the attack, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
9. Poll
Do you support the federal government restarting wage garnishments for student loan borrowers in default?
Life Hack of the day
🔴🎄 Wrap Ornaments in Egg Cartons
Worried about fragile ornaments breaking during storage? Use egg cartons to keep them safe. Each cup cradles an ornament securely, preventing bumps and cracks. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to protect your holiday decorations year after year.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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