Nova Newsletter
December 16, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,755 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. FBI Arrests Suspects in New Year’s Eve Bomb Plot
A break in the weather offers a clear view north along Avalon Boulevard in South Los Angeles on Nov. 9, 2022, after a record-setting storm swept through the region. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The FBI arrested four alleged members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group accused of planning coordinated New Year’s Eve bombings across Los Angeles, federal authorities said.
Takeaways
Suspects self-identified as members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front (TILF), an anti -government extremist group.
The group allegedly planned to use improvised explosive devices at five locations in Los Angeles.
All four were arrested in Lucerne Valley and charged with conspiracy and possession of a destructive device.
Federal officials say the suspects were preparing to test explosives when they were taken into custody. The FBI described the plot as a credible terrorist threat disrupted before execution.
Authorities also arrested a fifth individual in New Orleans tied to TILF and accused of planning a separate attack. Officials said the group also discussed targeting ICE agents and vehicles.
The arrests underscore heightened concern over domestic extremist threats tied to global conflicts. Read More
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2. iRobot Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Roomba maker iRobot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will be taken private through a court-supervised restructuring, the company said Sunday.
Takeaways
iRobot says no disruption is expected to devices, apps, or customer support.
The company will be acquired by , its primary contract manufacturer.
The filing follows years of competition, layoffs, and a failed Amazon deal.
The Bedford, Massachusetts-based company, founded more than 30 years ago, struggled after Amazon abandoned its $1.7 billion acquisition in 2024, citing regulatory resistance from the EU.
Under the plan, Shenzhen PICEA Robotics Co., Ltd. will acquire iRobot. Picea has built and sold over 20 million robotic vacuums globally.
CEO Gary Cohen said the deal will strengthen iRobot’s financial position and ensure continuity for consumers and partners.
iRobot expects to exit Chapter 11 by February. Shares fell nearly 70% in premarket trading.
The move marks a major reset for one of the most recognizable names in consumer robotics. Read More
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3. Brian Walshe Convicted of Wife’s Murder
Brian Walshe watches security footage from at a HomeGoods store that was shown during his murder trial. Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe/AP
A Massachusetts jury found Brian Walshe guilty of first-degree murder Monday in the 2023 killing of his wife, Ana Walshe, in Dedham.
Takeaways
The verdict carries a mandatory life sentence without parole under Massachusetts law.
Jurors concluded the killing was deliberately premeditated, the state’s most serious homicide finding.
Walshe also faces additional prison time for misleading police and illegally disposing of a body.
Prosecutors said Walshe killed Ana inside their Cohasset home on New Year’s Day 2023, while their three young children were present, then dismembered and disposed of her remains in nearby dumpsters.
The jury deliberated for about six hours after an eight-day trial with roughly 50 prosecution witnesses. The defense presented no evidence, and Walshe did not testify.
A blood-soaked rug, later cut up and discarded, became a focal point linking the crime scene to evidence recovered from a dumpster.
Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, closing one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched murder trials. Read More
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Quick Headlines
STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images
The Powerball jackpot climbed to $1.1 billion ahead of Monday’s drawing, making it the 12th-largest lottery prize in U.S. history after 42 straight drawings without a winner, with a $503.4 million cash option before taxes. Odds remain steep at 1 in 292.2 million just 10 days before Christmas. Read More
Comet 3I/Atlas, a stray visitor from another star, made its closest approach to Earth at 167 million miles while fading from view, offering a final chance for astronomers before it speeds toward interstellar space and won’t return until the 2030s. Read More
Twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will return to China in late January, leaving Japan panda-free for the first time in five decades amid worsening diplomatic ties and no immediate replacement in sight. Read More
Pope Leo XIV denounced the antisemitic violence that killed 15 at Sydney’s Bondi Beach Hanukkah event and prayed for peace while thanking donors for Vatican Christmas decorations symbolizing life and hope. Read More
Merriam-Webster chose “slop” as its 2025 word of the year, reflecting the rise of low-quality AI-generated digital content and online misinformation, with searches spiking as people seek authenticity. Read More
A federal jury in Chicago awarded $28 million to the family of U.N. consultant Shikha Garg, who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, with total compensation reaching $35.8 million including a pre-trial deal and interest. The verdict marks the first civil trial linked to the disaster that killed all 157 onboard. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Administration Cancels Citizenship Ceremonies for Immigrants from 19 Countries
AFP via Getty Images
Several immigrants in the U.S. were forced to delay or lose their path to citizenship after the Trump administration abruptly cancelled naturalization ceremonies, citing national security concerns following a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Takeaways
Immigrants from 19 countries, mostly Muslim-majority or African nations, have had their citizenship ceremonies and immigration processing halted indefinitely
The move affects legal permanent residents who have already passed extensive vetting, leaving families in a state of uncertainty.
Critics argue the administration is using the National Guard shooting as a pretext for a broader crackdown on immigrants and asylum seekers.
Some affected immigrants, like Sanam from Iran and Jorge from Venezuela, have followed all legal steps but are now caught in administrative limbo.
The policy may deepen fear and anxiety in immigrant communities, while legal challenges and advocacy groups call for clearer guidelines.
Sanam, an Iranian immigrant in Oregon, was set to take her oath on December 3 but received no explanation until later, when she learned it was linked to her country of origin. “It just feels like our life is kind of in this limbo state,” she said.
USCIS defends the decision as a measure to safeguard national security and protect American lives, citing the November 26 shooting as justification for sweeping changes. Experts and advocates, however, warn that it unfairly generalizes law-abiding residents alongside individuals who may pose genuine risks.
Jorge, a Venezuelan immigrant and permanent resident since 2017, said he agrees with stricter reviews but objects to the blanket halts. “I just want those of us who have followed every rule to be able to move forward,” he said.
The pause disrupts lives across the immigration spectrum, leaving people to navigate months or years of uncertainty, with limited recourse and growing fear about future policy shifts. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer Found Stabbed to Death
Rob Reiner and Wife Michele Singer
Director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer were discovered dead in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home Sunday, authorities and family confirmed. No suspect has been identified, and no one is in custody.
Takeaways
The couple, ages 78 and 68, were stabbed to death; the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation.
Firefighters responded to a medical aid call at 3:38 p.m.; the property belongs to Reiner.
Reiner, son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, directed hits including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and This Is Spinal Tap.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass called the deaths a devastating loss to California and American culture.
Neighbors reported prominent actors Billy Crystal and Larry David visited the home Sunday evening. The Reiners are survived by three children.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities asking anyone with information to come forward. Read More
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6. Paramount’s Landman Mocks ‘The View’ as Trump-Bashing Show
Paramount+ drama Landman lampooned ABC’s The View in its fifth episode, calling it a program of “pissed-off millionaires” complaining about Trump, men, and millionaires.
Takeaways
The satire appeared in season 2, episode 5, titled “The Pirate Dinner.”
Billy Bob Thornton’s character Tommy Norris suggested his father watch the talk show, describing it as angry and hypocritical.
The show follows the billionaire Norris family in West Texas and often targets political and cultural debates.
Thornton’s character compared the show’s humor to “fart in church” funny, emphasizing irreverence over traditional comedy. Landman has previously gone viral for criticizing renewable energy and mocking liberal ideology.
ABC and The View have not responded to requests for comment on the parody.
The episode reflects a trend of TV dramas using satire to comment on media and politics. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Christian Dior
On This Day — December 16
Christian Dior Fashion House Founded, 1946 – French designer Christian Dior, backed by textile magnate Marcel Boussac, launches the House of Dior in Paris, soon revolutionizing postwar fashion with the iconic “New Look.”
Truman Declares National Emergency, 1950 – President Harry Truman proclaims a U.S. state of emergency citing “Communist imperialism,” expanding executive powers as the Korean War escalates and Cold War tensions harden.
ISIS Leader Bounty Raised, 2016 – The U.S. State Department raises the reward for information leading to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to $25 million, underscoring the global hunt for the militant group’s chief.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🔋⚡ Bounce Batteries to See if They're Good or Bad
Wondering if the battery is still good? Try the bounce test. Drop the battery upright from a few inches onto a hard surface. A fresh battery usually lands with a dull thud, while a dead one tends to bounce and fall over, a quick way to check when you’re in a pinch.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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