2 weeks Ago
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year is “polarization” — a word that has been used incessantly to describe the fraught state of American politics. Earlier this month, the Oxford Dictionary announced that “brain rot” was its word of the year, while the Cambridge Dictionary declared “manifest” its lead word of 2024. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day .
1. Syria civil war The long rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is over after rebels swept into the capital of Damascus on Sunday. Assad and his family are known for a brutal dictatorship , which since 2011 has been devastated by a civil war that turned it into a breeding ground for the extremist group ISIS while sparking a refugee crisis that saw millions displaced from their homes.
Assad’s removal was celebrated by Syrians as the ousted leader fled to Russia . President Joe Biden vowed to support the region amid a moment of instability. The US military said it struck more than 75 ISIS targets in the country on Sunday to prevent the terrorist group from taking advantage of the situation there.
2. CEO shooter manhunt The NYPD is working with law enforcement agencies in several states to locate a still-unidentified suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. While authorities say they believe the gunman has long left New York City after the shooting on Wednesday, they feel confident he will be captured .
Meanwhile, photos of the suspect have been circulated to airports and border patrol stations along the Mexican and Canadian borders in the hope he won’t slip out of the country. The FBI is offering up to $50,000 of reward money for information leading to his arrest and conviction. The NYPD has added another $10,000.
3. Trump transition President-elect Donald Trump previewed a sweeping agenda for his second term in an interview with NBC News that aired Sunday. Trump vowed to pursue pardons for January 6 defendants and raised the possibility that some of his political opponents could face jail time.
He outlined how his administration will prioritize mass deportations but said he’s open to working with Democrats to preserve the legal status of “Dreamers” — an often-used term for immigrants who were brought to the US as children. Trump also doubled down on his campaign promise to end birthright citizenship , which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, and suggested he may attempt to overturn the right through executive action. “We have to end it.
We’re the only country that has it,” he falsely said. As CNN has reported, about three dozen countries provide automatic citizenship to people born on their soil. 4.
TikTok ban TikTok recently lost its bid to strike down a law that could result in the platform being banned in the US starting on January 19, 2025 . A US appeals court on Friday upheld the law that requires TikTok to be sold off from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban, dealing a major blow to the social media platform that’s used by more than 170 million Americans. Under the law, app stores could face major fines if they continue to host TikTok following the deadline if it’s not sold.
TikTok indicated that it plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. The ban could be delayed or avoided with support from President-elect Donald Trump after he takes office. President Joe Biden could also technically grant a one-time, 90-day extension of the deadline, although he has not indicated that he will do so.
5. Notre Dame reopens Notre Dame, the treasured cathedral in Paris that went up in flames in 2019, officially reopened on Saturday. French officials held a ceremony featuring dozens of world leaders to celebrate finishing the five-year project to restore the landmark.
Attendees included Donald Trump, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Britain’s Prince William. Trump and Zelensky met with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the event as Trump has cast doubts on continued US aid to Kyiv . Meanwhile, investigators have not yet identified the direct cause of the massive fire at Notre Dame in April 2019, though many believe the blaze was ignited by accident.
Moving forward, masses will be regularly open to the public but may require reservations in advance. BREAKFAST BROWSE Remembering all your passwords is hard. Let’s make it easier In the latest podcast episode of “Terms of Service” with CNN Tech Writer Clare Duffy , a cybersecurity expert shares the safest way to Ctrl your passwords and protect yourself from hackers.
Juan Soto agrees to historic deal with the New York Mets Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a historic 15-year and $765 million deal , according to multiple reports. The contract is reportedly not only the biggest in MLB history but in all professional sports. Parents are up against the ‘mother lode’ of holiday stress From high gift expectations to countless festive events, it’s common for parents to feel stress around the holidays.
Here are tips to make the season more manageable . Considering moving out of the US in 2025? Moving abroad is a big decision that requires extensive research and planning. Check out the best countries for American expats , according to CNN Travel.
Rapper Jay-Z denies sexual assault allegations A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000 has amended her lawsuit to include allegations that she was also assaulted by Jay-Z at the same party. Jay-Z called the allegations “heinous.” TODAY’S NUMBER 16 That’s how many Pearl Harbor survivors are believed to be alive.
On Saturday, thousands of people gathered on the shores of Pearl Harbor to mark the 83rd anniversary of the bombing in 1941. A ceremony was held to honor service members who lived through the Great Depression and fought in World War II. TODAY’S QUOTE “You have created such a space of joy and togetherness and love.
” — Taylor Swift , thanking her fans after performing the final concert of the Eras Tour on Sunday in Vancouver. The official figures of how much money the tour grossed have not been released but it’s been estimated that it will make over $2 billion, making it the highest-grossing tour in history. The current record-holder is Elton John, whose Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour grossed over $900 million.
TODAY’S WEATHER Check your local forecast here>>> AND FINALLY ...
CNN announces the 2024 Hero of the Year Stephen Knight, whose nonprofit provides foster care for dogs while their owners focus on addiction recovery, was selected as the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year! See the moment he was awarded on Sunday..
