Nova Newsletter
January 21, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,842 words for you today - 10 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Fourth Shark Attack Hits New South Wales Coast
(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
A 39-year-old surfer suffered minor injuries after a shark bite at Point Plomer, New South Wales, marking the fourth shark attack in three days along Australia’s east coast.
Takeaways
Beaches across northern NSW and Sydney are closed for at least 48 hours.
Recent heavy rainfall has made waters murky, raising bull shark attack risk.
Two earlier attacks left one man and a 12-year-old boy critically injured.
Officials said the shark struck the surfer’s board around 9 a.m., likely preventing more serious injuries. He reached shore with help from locals and was later discharged from hospital.
Sydney authorities deployed electronic drumlines to detect large sharks and urged residents to avoid ocean swimming.
Surf Life Saving NSW warned conditions are “conducive to bull shark activity,” advising swimmers to use pools instead.
The cluster of attacks is intensifying scrutiny of shark safety measures during extreme weather periods. Read More
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2. DOJ Probes Protest Disruption At Minnesota Church
The Justice Department is investigating after anti-ICE protesters disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where one pastor is an ICE field director.
Takeaways
Federal authorities are reviewing possible violations of the FACE Act, which protects access to places of worship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said any violations of federal law will be prosecuted.
Local police are also investigating the incident as potential disorderly conduct.
About 30 to 40 protesters entered the church during services, according to St. Paul police. Video shared by Black Lives Matter Minnesota shows protesters confronting the congregation over the ICE role of pastor David Easterwood, who was not present.
The group later moved outside before officers arrived. No arrests have been announced.
The protest comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE operations in Minnesota, including a newly filed ACLU class-action lawsuit alleging unlawful enforcement practices.
The investigation could set new boundaries on protest activity inside religious spaces. Read More
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3. Israel Demolishes UN Refugee Agency Sites In Jerusalem
Israeli bulldozers demolish a UNRWA compound, belonging to the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees, in east Jerusalem Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Israeli forces demolished and raided United Nations facilities tied to Palestinian refugees in east Jerusalem on Tuesday, escalating a crackdown on UNRWA.
Takeaways
Bulldozers leveled UNRWA offices in Sheikh Jarrah and tear gas hit a refugee vocational school in Qalandia.
Israel says the action enforces a new law banning UNRWA, rejecting claims of international law violations.
UN officials warn humanitarian operations are at risk, including schools and health clinics.
UNRWA leaders said police and demolition crews arrived early, confiscated equipment, and removed private security guards. Staff had already vacated the headquarters due to safety concerns.
At the Qalandia vocational center, over 300 young refugees receive job training. Palestinian officials reported injuries, including a 15-year-old hit by a rubber bullet.
Israeli leaders celebrated the demolition, while UNRWA and the U.N. denied longstanding Israeli allegations of militant ties.
The move deepens tensions over humanitarian access and international protections in east Jerusalem. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Oscar Chuberre/AFP/Getty Images
Forecasters say the sun triggered a level four solar radiation storm, the strongest in over 20 years, disrupting GPS for aircraft and lighting up skies across Europe with vivid auroras. The event followed an X-class solar flare and raised short-term risks for satellites, astronauts, and polar flights, though widespread outages were avoided. Read More
Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, was found dead last week at the Fort Bliss detention center in El Paso, Texas, apparently by suicide, two days after receiving a final order for removal, while federal authorities continue investigating. The facility recently saw another detainee die under disputed circumstances during a restraint attempt. Read More
Cardinals Blase Cupich, Robert McElroy, and Joseph Tobin urged the Trump administration to pursue a morally guided foreign policy, warning military actions in Venezuela, Greenland threats, and foreign aid cuts risk global suffering. They emphasized diplomacy, human dignity, and the common good over narrow national interests in a rare public critique Read More
A year into Trump’s second term, European leaders are moving to reduce reliance on U.S. military support after threats over Greenland, wavering commitment to Ukraine, and global tariff actions. The EU is boosting its own defense capabilities, funding arms production, and reinforcing sovereignty, signaling a shift toward greater strategic autonomy from Washington. Read More
Sean McDermott was fired after nine seasons in Buffalo, following a 33-30 OT playoff loss. While he turned the Bills into consistent contenders, the team never reached the Super Bowl. GM Brandon Beane, now president of football operations, will lead the search for a new coach to boost QB Josh Allen’s offense. McDermott finished 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs. Read More
Netflix is revising its $72 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, making it an all-cash transaction valued at $27.75 per share. The move simplifies the deal, offers more certainty to Warner Bros. shareholders, and speeds up the path to a vote, amid ongoing competition from Paramount Skydance. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Judge Refuses to Block New DHS Policy Limiting Congress Members’ Access to ICE Facilities
(AP Photo/Adam Gray)
A federal judge declined to block the Trump administration’s new rule requiring members of Congress to give a week’s notice before visiting ICE detention centers, raising fresh concerns about oversight amid heightened immigration enforcement.
Takeaways
Seven-day notice reinstated: DHS now requires members of Congress to notify a week in advance for facility visits, a policy tied to oversight of ICE operations.
Court ruling procedural: Judge Jia Cobb said the plaintiffs used the wrong “procedural vehicle,” leaving the policy in place temporarily.
Trigger event: The case arose after Minnesota representatives were blocked from a facility following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer.
Congressional oversight at stake: Lawyers argue the policy obstructs urgent inspections tied to funding negotiations for DHS and ICE.
Legal limbo: Cobb emphasized she did not rule on legality, only that the procedural approach was incorrect.
The Trump administration’s Jan. 8 memorandum reinstates the seven-day notice after a previous court order temporarily blocked such a requirement in December 2025. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem signed the policy quietly the day after Good’s death.
Plaintiffs, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig, argued the policy hinders real-time oversight of detention conditions and violates laws barring use of federal funds to block Congress. Justice Department attorneys countered that legislators’ concerns were speculative.
Democracy Forward lawyers warned that access is urgent due to upcoming DHS and ICE budget negotiations and vowed to pursue all legal avenues. Twelve other Democrats have joined a broader challenge, citing the nationwide surge in immigration enforcement.
The ruling leaves oversight constrained while Congress grapples with funding and accountability questions in ICE facilities under Trump’s administration. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Nicki Minaj Spars With Don Lemon Over ICE Protest
Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Caylo Seals/Getty
Nicki Minaj publicly attacked journalist Don Lemon after his coverage of an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Takeaways
Minaj used explicit language on X to condemn Lemon’s reporting on the church protest.
Lemon fired back, accusing Minaj of ignorance and bigotry in multiple interviews.
The clash adds to Minaj’s growing political controversy tied to ICE and conservative figures.
Minaj reacted to Lemon’s livestream from Cities Church, where protesters objected to a pastor who also serves as acting director of ICE’s St. Paul Field Office. Her posts accused Lemon of targeting Christianity and demanded legal consequences.
Lemon responded through TMZ and TMZ Live, telling Minaj to “sit down” and dismissing her criticism as uninformed. He also criticized her language as offensive.
The dispute follows Minaj’s recent praise of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, intensifying scrutiny of her political stances. Read More
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6. Sundance Prepares Park City Farewell And Redford Tribute
The Sundance Film Festival opens its final Park City edition this week, marking a transition after founder Robert Redford’s death and ahead of a 2027 move to Boulder, Colorado.
Takeaways
This is Sundance’s last year in Park City, ending four decades in the Utah mountain town.
The festival also honors founder Robert Redford, who died in September.
Star power remains strong, with Natalie Portman, Charli XCX, Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe attending.
Legacy films and restorations anchor the program alongside new discoveries.
Organizers are spotlighting Redford’s impact with restored classics like Little Miss Sunshine and screenings of his 1969 film Downhill Racer. Tributes are expected throughout the 10-day festival.
Despite the transition, Sundance’s role as a launchpad for independent filmmakers remains intact, with alumni like Chloé Zhao and Ryan Coogler shaping its legacy.
The real test comes next year as Sundance redefines itself in a new home. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack featuring the Bee Gees
On This Day – January 21
Bee Gees Dominate the Charts with Saturday Night Fever, 1978 – The Bee Gees’ soundtrack album Saturday Night Fever reaches number one on the charts, where it stays for an extraordinary 24 weeks. The album became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time and defines the sound and cultural impact of the disco era.
Obama Proposes the Volcker Rule, 2010 – President Barack Obama proposes the Volcker Rule, named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, to limit risky trading activities by U.S. banks. The proposal aims to prevent excessive speculation and reduce the likelihood of future financial crises following the 2008 recession.
Worldwide Women’s March Protests, 2017 – More than 2 million people take part in the Women’s March worldwide to protest President Donald Trump’s inauguration and policies. An estimated 500,000 demonstrators gather in Washington, D.C., making it one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history and a major moment in modern grassroots activism.
9. Poll
Do you agree that members of Congress should have to give a week’s notice before visiting ICE detention centers?
Life Hack of the day
🍎🌿Keep Apples Away from Leafy Greens
Want your leafy greens to last longer? Keep them stored away from apples. Apples release ethylene gas, which can cause greens to wilt and spoil faster. Separating them in the fridge helps your produce stay fresh and crisp longer.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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