Nova Newsletter
November 21, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,690 words for you today - 8 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Ex-Olympian Accused of Ordering Murder of Federal Witness
In this Feb. 14, 2002, file photo, Ryan Wedding of Canada competes in the qualifying round of the men's parallel giant slalom snowboarding event Tony Marshall/Empics via PA Images via Getty Images, FILE
Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is facing new U.S. charges accusing him of ordering the killing of a witness set to testify in his federal drug-trafficking case.
Takeaways
DOJ calls Wedding the largest cocaine distributor in Canada and leader of a transnational criminal enterprise.
Prosecutors say he ordered a Colombia restaurant hit that killed a key witness in January.
His lawyer is among 19 people charged, and the U.S. raised its reward for Wedding to 15 million dollars.
Wedding remains at large and is believed to be protected by the Sinaloa Cartel.
Officials say Wedding collaborated with cartel operatives to move tons of cocaine into Los Angeles before shipping it across North America. He allegedly believed killing the witness would collapse his 2024 federal case.
Ten defendants were arrested Tuesday, while four, including Wedding, are still wanted.
Authorities say his capture is now a top international priority. Read More
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2. Ex-Hill Aide Charged in Staged Assault Plot
A former congressional staffer in New Jersey has been charged with staging her own violent attack, prosecutors said.
Takeaways
Natalie Greene faces conspiracy and false statement charges tied to a fabricated assault
Prosecutors say she paid $500 to have dozens of cuts carved into her body.
A co-conspirator allegedly called 911 claiming three men targeted Greene over her political work.
Greene was found bound with zip ties and marked with political messages.
Investigators say Greene hired a body modification artist to inflict the injuries before the staged scene.
Agents recovered zip ties matching those used on her at the site and found related searches on her co-conspirator’s phone.
Greene once worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew, whose office said she is no longer employed and needs care.
Greene faces up to 10 years in prison as the case moves forward. Read More
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3. Fired FBI Veteran Sues Over Pride Flag Removal
David Maltinsky holding a Pride flag. He is suing the FBI over his termination. CBS News
A longtime FBI employee claims he was unlawfully fired for displaying a Pride flag at his desk, according to a new federal lawsuit.
Takeaways
David Maltinsky, a 16-year employee, alleges the FBI violated his First Amendment rights.
He says he was dismissed weeks before becoming an agent.
A letter signed by Director Kash Patel cited “inappropriate political signage.”
Maltinsky says the firing created a chilling effect among LGBTQ staff and allies.
Maltinsky displayed a Pride flag he says had been previously approved for federal facilities and flown at the FBI’s Los Angeles complex.
The lawsuit argues his termination stemmed from a Jan. 20, 2025 complaint filed by a colleague.
He was in agent training at Quantico when he was removed from the program.
More than 5,000 DOJ staffers have exited since January, raising questions about internal purges.
The case could test the limits of political expression inside federal agencies. Read More
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Quick Headlines
The High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of insterstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on Oct. 2, 2025. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
NASA released new high-resolution images of 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar comet possibly as large as Manhattan, captured as it passed Mars at up to 153,000 mph, offering scientists unprecedented data on its unusual composition. Read More
Verizon announced it will lay off more than 13,000 U.S. employees and convert 179 stores to franchises as part of a major restructuring under new CEO Dan Schulman to reduce costs and streamline operations. Read More
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that legal migrants may face up to a 20-year wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain under new "earned settlement" rules, with standard waits rising to 10 years and stricter criteria for English, income, and character. Read More
President Donald Trump will meet incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the White House on Friday to discuss public safety, affordability, and economic security after months of election-era clashes and insults. Read More
Florida Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is indicted for allegedly stealing $5 million in FEMA disaster funds, funneling some to her 2021 campaign through her family’s healthcare company, Trinity, with federal prosecutors vowing to pursue justice. Read More
Lawrence Reed, 50, is federally charged with terrorism after allegedly dousing and setting a woman on fire aboard a Chicago Blue Line train, leaving her critically burned as authorities investigate the mass transit attack. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Border Patrol’s Secret Roadway Surveillance Targets Millions of U.S. Drivers
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide through a predictive surveillance program that flags and detains people based on algorithmic travel patterns, according to an AP investigation.
Takeaways
The agency uses covert license plate readers and an algorithm to identify “suspicious” routes and quick turnaround trips far from the border.
Local police conduct “whisper stops”, hiding that federal surveillance triggered the detention.
The program has expanded into a nationwide mass-surveillance network, including data feeds from DEA systems and private vendors.
Legal scholars warn of Fourth Amendment risks, noting courts are grappling with large-scale warrantless tracking.
Under the Trump administration, CBP is set to receive more than $2.7 billion to expand AI driven border surveillance tools.
Border Patrol’s system pulls in data from hidden cameras disguised as roadside equipment, then flags vehicles whose travel patterns deviate from what analysts call “normal patterns of life.” Interviews and documents reveal cameras placed up to 120 miles inside U.S. territory, including metro areas like Detroit, Phoenix and Chicago corridors.
Drivers are frequently stopped for minor infractions, then subjected to searches and questioning without knowing federal agents marked them as suspicious. In one case, a Texas truck driver was arrested for carrying customer cash, only to have charges dropped after months of legal struggle.
Internal chats obtained by AP show Border Patrol and local deputies exchanging real-time surveillance tips, home addresses and social media profiles of U.S. citizens, creating what experts describe as a domestic intelligence pipeline operating outside public scrutiny.
Privacy advocates say the program mirrors dragnet surveillance used by authoritarian governments, arguing it erodes the freedom of movement for ordinary Americans.
The program’s quiet expansion signals a future where predictive policing increasingly shapes who gets stopped on American roads. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Kevin Spacey Says Financial Fallout Left Him Homeless
Kevin Spacey pictured outside Southwark Crown Court in London in July 2023. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Kevin Spacey says he has “no home” after years of legal battles tied to past sexual assault allegations.
Takeaways
Spacey says legal costs since 2017 forced him to lose his house.
He lives in hotels and Airbnbs, following work to stay afloat.
Juries in New York (2022) and London (2023) cleared him of all allegations.
Hollywood studios have not welcomed him back, despite some industry support.
Spacey told The Daily Telegraph his finances have been drained with “very little coming in and everything going out.”
He said all his belongings are now in storage as he waits for a chance to settle again.
The actor’s career collapsed in 2017 after multiple accusations led Netflix to cut him from House of Cards and studios to reshoot his roles.
Spacey says powerful allies want his return, but the industry is waiting for a green light from someone with authority. Read More
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6. Lainey Wilson Dominates 2025 CMA Awards
Lainey Wilson won entertainer of the year at the 2025 CMA Awards in Nashville.
Takeaways
Wilson also won album of the year and female vocalist of the year.
Ella Langley and Riley Green scored single and song of the year for their duet.
Vince Gill received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Zach Top earned new artist of the year.
Wilson hosted, performed and stayed center stage throughout the night. She used her speech to call out critics who “pit women against each other.”
Langley and Green opened strong with wins for their retro hit “You Look Like You Love Me.”
Gill was honored by George Strait and serenaded by Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless.
The night underscored Wilson’s status as the country's most dominant star heading into 2026. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
On This Day — November 21
Piltdown Man Exposed, 1953 – The British Natural History Museum reveals the Piltdown Man skull, long hailed as a missing link in human evolution, is a hoax, shocking the scientific community.
Flight Smoking Ban, 1989 – US President George H. W. Bush signs a law prohibiting smoking on most domestic flights, marking a major public health milestone.
Tesla Cybertruck Launch, 2019 – Elon Musk unveils Tesla’s electric Cybertruck, featuring shatterproof windows that famously break during the live demonstration, generating viral headlines and debate.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🧂📟 Sprinkle Salt on Oven Spills
Spilled something in a hot oven? Sprinkle salt over the mess while it’s still warm. The salt helps absorb grease and prevents the spill from sticking, making it much easier to wipe up once the oven cools. It’s a quick hack to keep cleanup stress-free.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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