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Nova Newsletter
January 6, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,711 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Denmark On Edge As Trump Revives Greenland Push
Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Images
Denmark is in crisis mode after President Donald Trump renewed calls for U.S. control of Greenland, citing national security concerns following the U.S. strike in Venezuela.
Takeaways
Trump said the U.S. “needs Greenland,” reigniting a long-running and controversial proposal.
Denmark and Greenland leaders sharply rejected the remarks, calling them unacceptable and disrespectful.
Analysts warn the issue poses a serious risk to NATO unity and transatlantic stability.
Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory with strategic Arctic positioning and rich mineral resources. Denmark oversees its defense and notes that existing U.S. access is already guaranteed through NATO and bilateral agreements.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged Washington to stop threatening a close ally, while Greenland’s leader said the territory is not for sale.
The dispute underscores rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic and growing unease among U.S. allies. Read More
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2. Fraud Scandal Ends Walz’s Re-Election Bid in Minnesota
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday he will not seek a third term, ending his re-election campaign as a massive welfare fraud scandal engulfs the state.
Takeaways
Walz said the controversy makes it harder to focus on governing and combating fraud.
Federal prosecutors say the scheme could total $1 billion to $9 billion, the largest COVID-era fraud case.
Republicans, led by Donald Trump, intensified attacks as the scandal drew national attention.
Walz launched his third-term bid in September but reversed course after months of criticism over oversight failures tied to fraudulent food, housing, daycare, and Medicaid programs.
More than 90 people have been charged, with prosecutors alleging stolen funds paid for luxury cars, real estate, jewelry, and overseas travel. Walz ordered audits and halted some payments, while acknowledging accountability.
The decision reshapes Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race and hands Republicans fresh momentum heading into November. Read More
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3. New Redesigned U.S. Coins Mark 250th Birthday
The U.S. Mint has proposed issuing a commemorative coin featuring President Trump. That would be a break from tradition in the U.S., which has generally resisted putting living presidents on money. U.S. Mint
The U.S. Mint began circulating redesigned coins Monday to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, spotlighting early American history while sidelining several modern civil rights figures.
Takeaways
New quarters feature pilgrims, the Revolutionary War, and early presidents like Washington and Jefferson.
Proposed designs honoring Frederick Douglass, Ruby Bridges, and women’s suffrage were dropped.
The Mint is considering a Trump $1 coin, an unprecedented move for a sitting president.
The commemorative series was authorized by Congress in 2021 and developed through public outreach and advisory committees. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent overruled several recommendations from the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Critics argue the final designs narrow the nation’s story and break with long-standing democratic norms. Nine Democratic senators have urged Treasury officials to reject the Trump coin, warning against a “cult of personality.”
The coin rollout signals how America’s semiquincentennial will frame its past and its politics. Read More
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Quick Headlines
Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Image
Cuba says 32 of its citizens died during the U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, calling the strikes a “criminal act of aggression.” The Cubans were part of Cuba’s armed forces and interior ministry, and the raid followed a U.S. military buildup and oil blockade in the region. Read More
President Donald Trump vetoed two bipartisan bills, blocking a Colorado pipeline project and expansion of Florida’s Miccosukee Tribal land, citing cost and immigration concerns. The vetoes mark his first of the term and drew bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers urging Congress to override them. Read More
Elon Musk’s Starlink is providing free satellite internet in Venezuela through Feb. 3 after U.S. airstrikes and Maduro’s arrest, bypassing local outages in Caracas. The service adds credits to active and inactive accounts amid political upheaval and power disruptions in multiple states. Read More
Auschwitz survivor and Anne Frank’s stepsister Eva Schloss has died in London at 96, leaving a legacy as a tireless Holocaust educator. She co-founded the Anne Frank Trust UK and spent decades speaking worldwide to combat hatred and prejudice. Read More
Philadelphia-area families face extended Caribbean stays after flight cancellations linked to the U.S. Venezuela operation, with some missing work and school commitments. Airlines added 5,000 seats and extra flights, but travelers say uncertainty and delays continue to disrupt plans. Read More
Scores of American and European tourists are trapped on Yemen’s Socotra Island after a state of emergency closed all ports amid regional conflict, leaving flights canceled and limited consular support. Some travelers may need to take boats to Oman to return home as the situation remains uncertain. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Maduro Faces US Narco-Terrorism Trial After Shock Capture
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores attend a year-end salutation to military forces in La Guaira, Venezuela December 28, 2025. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is set to appear in a Manhattan federal court after US forces captured him in Caracas, triggering global backlash and legal scrutiny.
Takeaways
US prosecutors accuse Maduro of running a state-sponsored cocaine trafficking network tied to terrorist groups and major drug cartels.
The case marks Washington’s most aggressive Latin America intervention in decades, reviving debates over sovereignty and international law.
Maduro faces decades to life in prison if convicted on narco-terrorism and weapons charges.
Legal experts warn the prosecution must prove direct involvement, not just command responsibility.
The UN Security Council will meet as Russia and China condemn the US raid.
Maduro, 63, and his wife Cilia Flores remain jailed in Brooklyn ahead of a noon court appearance before Judge Alvin Hellerstein. It is unclear whether either has secured legal counsel or will enter pleas.
Prosecutors allege Maduro personally oversaw a decades-long cocaine pipeline into the United States, partnering with groups including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, Colombia’s FARC, and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. A newly unsealed indictment accuses him of using the military, presidential facilities, and diplomatic cover to move drugs.
The Justice Department says Maduro sold diplomatic passports to traffickers, protected shipments with armed forces, and ordered kidnappings and killings to enforce debts. Charges include narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
Maduro was first indicted in 2020, but his capture now escalates a case long viewed as symbolic. Analysts note prosecutors must demonstrate he directed operations, not merely presided over a corrupt system.
The arrest follows a monthslong pressure campaign by President Trump, including oil seizures and strikes on suspected drug vessels. The UN chief warned the raid sets a dangerous precedent.
What happens next could redefine how far the US is willing to go to enforce global drug and sanctions policy. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Jimmy Kimmel Thanks 'Donald Jennifer Trump' at Critics Choice
Jimmy Kimmel at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 4. Kevin Winter/Getty
Jimmy Kimmel credited President Donald J. Trump, jokingly misnaming him, during his Critics Choice Award acceptance for best talk show host Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Takeaways
Kimmel called out Trump for "all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day" while accepting the award.
ABC previously suspended Kimmel in September after controversial comments on conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s death.
The host teased his return to air Monday, promising more commentary on recent events and Trump-related jokes.
Kimmel also highlighted the importance of free speech, thanking writers, actors, and union members who supported his show amid controversies. He quipped that the award should have been the "FIFA World Peace Prize" Trump reportedly received.
The remarks underscore Kimmel’s continued mix of satire and political commentary as he heads back to late-night television. Read More
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6. Mickey Rourke Launches GoFundMe to Cover Back Rent
Actor Mickey Rourke turned to fans to raise over $59,000 in back rent to avoid eviction from his Los Angeles home.
Takeaways
Rourke’s GoFundMe launched Sunday with his permission and had raised nearly $40,000 by nightfall.
Funds aim to provide stability and space for the actor to get back on his feet.
Rourke rose to fame in the 1980s, left acting for professional boxing, and earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for 2008’s The Wrestler.
The crowdfunding campaign highlights the actor’s financial struggles despite a decades-long Hollywood career. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
The original Morse telegraph machine, as developed by Samuel Morse
On This Day — January 6
Telegraph Demonstrated, 1838 – Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail showcase their telegraph machine in New Jersey, laying the groundwork for long-distance electronic communication that would transform business and society.
Continental Drift Proposed, 1912 – Geophysicist Alfred Wegener presents his theory of continental drift in Frankfurt, challenging established geology and sparking decades of debate over the movement of Earth’s continents.
Henry Hudson Memorial, 1938 – A bronze statue honoring explorer Henry Hudson is unveiled in the Bronx, New York, commemorating his role in early American exploration and river navigation.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🥄 🫚 Peel Ginger with a Spoon
Ginger can be tricky to peel with all its bumps and irregularities.But peeling ginger doesn’t have to be a hassle. Rather than using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, reach for the spoon. Scrape it against the skin and it'll come right off, following every contour and minimizing waste.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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