
Nova Newsletter
December 5, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,663 words for you today - 8 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. FBI Makes First Arrest in 2021 D.C. Pipe Bomb Case

A still from FBI video footage shows the individual who placed two live pipe bombs near the Republican and DNC headquarters in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021.
Federal agents arrested 30-year-old Brian Cole of Virginia in connection with the pipe bombs planted at the DNC and RNC on Jan. 5, 2021, sources told CBS News.
Takeaways
Cole is expected to face federal charges in Washington on Thursday.
The arrest marks the first major break in a case that stalled for nearly five years.
The devices were viable pipe bombs made with metal pipes, kitchen timers and black powder.
The FBI had offered a $500,000 reward and repeatedly released surveillance footage.
The bombs were discovered on Jan. 6 as police were overwhelmed by the Capitol riot.
Vice President–elect Kamala Harris was evacuated from the DNC when the devices were found.
The FBI says the probe intensified this year with heightened resources and weekly briefings.
The arrest signals the clearest progress yet toward resolving one of Jan. 6’s longest-running mysteries. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
2. Safety Volunteer Charged in Fatal Utah Protest Shooting
Prosecutors charged safety volunteer Matthew Alder with manslaughter in the killing of protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo at a June “No Kings” rally in Salt Lake City.
Takeaways
Alder allegedly fired three shots, striking a man assembling an AR-15 and then fatally hitting Ah Loo.
Prosecutors say the third shot was reckless, fired over a crowd at close range.
The man with the rifle, Arturo Roberto Gamboa, will not face charges.
Ah Loo, known as Afa, was a designer and former “Project Runway” contestant.
Salt Lake County DA Sim Gill said Alder had a right to stop a perceived threat, but his final shot crossed into criminal conduct.
Another safety volunteer at the scene reportedly believed it was too unsafe to fire.
Ah Loo’s widow called the decision to charge Alder “moral and just.”
The case tests the limits of self-defense in armed, high-tension public protests. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
3. US Institute of Peace Renamed After Trump

Getty Images
The State Department rebranded the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington as the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace” ahead of a Rwanda–DRC peace signing scheduled for Thursday.
Takeaways
The president’s name was added to the building in large block letters on Wednesday.
The move comes amid an ongoing legal battle over the administration’s takeover of the congressionally funded institute.
Officials framed the change as honoring Trump’s global diplomacy and push for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Critics say the rebrand adds “insult to injury” after a judge found the takeover illegal, though the ruling is stayed on appeal.
The Trump administration previously attempted to slash USIP staff and budgets, prompting court intervention.
The renamed building sits at the center of a broader wave of Trump-driven rebrandings, including changing the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
The institute’s future remains uncertain as litigation proceeds. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
Quick Headlines

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
Great Lakes Cheese pulled shredded mozzarella and blends sold under dozens of brands in 31 states after metal fragments were found, while Ambriola recalled grated Pecorino Romano over listeria concerns as products with 2026 sell-by dates reached major retailers. Read More
The CDC’s vaccine advisers are set to vote on whether newborns should still get the hepatitis B shot at birth as experts warn delaying the dose could reverse a 99 percent drop in infant infections and raise nationwide risks. Read More
Lauren Graham and Amy Sherman-Palladino will co-author a behind-the-scenes Gilmore Girls book set for fall 2027, offering personal stories and reflections from the show. The untitled project promises never-before-shared details from filming and the 2016 Netflix revival. Read More
Brianna Aguilera, 19, was found dead outside an Austin apartment on Nov. 29 and authorities confirmed she died by suicide after reviewing digital evidence and witness statements. Police said there was no criminal involvement and a deleted suicide note was found on her phone four days prior. Read More
Erika Kirk will discuss life, loss, and political division three months after her husband Charlie Kirk’s assassination in a one-hour CBS town hall airing Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, moderated by Bari Weiss and featuring questions from young evangelicals and political leaders. Read More
US President Donald Trump will host DR Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame in Washington to sign a peace deal aiming to end eastern Congo’s conflict, despite ongoing M23 rebel attacks and disputed troop presence. The region holds $25 trillion in mineral reserves, making US economic interests a key factor. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Over a Third of Trump Voters Say Cost of Living Hits Record High

Pete Marovich/Getty Images
A Politico poll finds that 37 percent of President Trump’s 2024 voters believe the cost of living is the worst they can remember, highlighting mounting economic pressures across the electorate.
Takeaways
37 percent of Trump voters see today’s cost of living as historically high, compared with 53 percent of Harris voters and 46 percent of all Americans.
Concerns about affordability cut across party lines, with over half of voters citing high living costs as a top national issue.
The survey suggests potential GOP messaging challenges, as economic anxieties may influence voter behavior in the 2026 midterms.
Other top concerns include the economy, taxes, healthcare access, and crime, but the cost of living dominates.
The poll, conducted Nov. 14-17 with 2,098 adults, shows little partisan divide: 57 percent of Harris voters and 53 percent of Trump voters rank cost of living among their top three issues. Another 34 percent of Trump voters acknowledge the U.S. cost of living is high but recall worse periods, while 24 percent believe it’s not bad.
Democrats leveraged affordability concerns to outperform in recent elections, while Trump has dismissed cost-of-living debates as a “con job” by the left. The data suggests economic frustration persists among the president’s base, even as it shapes broader national priorities.
Other pressing issues include economic health (32 percent), high taxes (24 percent), and healthcare access (23 percent). Rising living costs remain the central economic grievance driving voter sentiment.
The findings underscore that economic messaging will be a critical battleground for both parties heading into 2026. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
On Our Radar
5. Pantone Names Cloud Dancer Color of the Year 2026

Pantone
Pantone’s Color Institute selected “Cloud Dancer,” a balanced shade of white, as its Color of the Year for 2026.
Takeaways
Cloud Dancer symbolizes serenity, quiet reflection, and new beginnings in a fast-paced world.
The shade balances cool and warm undertones to avoid sterility or harshness.
It reflects trends in fashion and interiors, emphasizing natural fabrics, billowing silhouettes, and materials like wood and stone.
Pantone considers cultural, political, and style trends when naming the Color of the Year, with the name itself influencing perception.
The institute says Cloud Dancer responds to society’s desire for calm and measured consideration. Designers are already incorporating it in fashion shows, album promotions, and interior design projects.
The choice underscores how color continues to shape cultural aesthetics and mood for the year ahead. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
6. Steve Cropper, Booker T. & the M.G.’s Guitarist, Dies at 84
Steve Cropper, guitarist and songwriter for Stax Records’ Booker T. and the M.G.’s, has died at 84 in Nashville, his family confirmed.
Takeaways
Cropper co-wrote soul classics including Green Onions, (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay, and In the Midnight Hour.
Known for soulful, understated guitar work, he helped define Memphis soul music.
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Cropper’s riffs were immortalized in Sam & Dave’s Soul Man, highlighted by Moore’s call “Play it, Steve!”
Cropper worked quietly behind the scenes, favoring collaboration over spotlight while influencing generations of musicians. He continued creating music until shortly before his death following a recent fall.
His legacy cements him as a defining figure in American soul and rhythm guitar history. Read More
Share this story.
Share on Facebook · Tweet this Story · Post to LinkedIn · Email this Story
8. 🎉 This day in history

First gold nugget discovered in California
On This Day — December 5
Gold Discovery Confirmed, 1848 – President James K. Polk publicly verifies that gold has been found in California, sparking the massive Gold Rush of 1849 and reshaping the American West as fortune seekers flood the region.
Einstein Granted U.S. Visa, 1932 – Albert Einstein is approved to enter the United States, a pivotal moment that leads to his permanent relocation and his profound influence on American science and intellectual life.
BTS Tops Twitter, 2017 – Twitter announces that K-pop phenomenon BTS were the most tweeted-about celebrities of the year, showcasing their explosive global fandom and rising cultural impact.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
✍ 🍋 Remove Highlighter Stains with Lemon

Accidentally highlighted the wrong line? Lemon juice can help fade highlighter marks until they’re barely visible. Just dab a cotton swab in fresh lemon juice and gently run it over the bright text. As it dries, the color lightens, leaving the page looking much cleaner.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
Share The Nova: Forward this email!
Let us know how we did on the newsletter today!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!


