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Summary

The NYPD released unmasked photos of the suspect in the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 4.

Surveillance footage traced the suspect’s movements before and after the crime, including his escape on an e-bike.

Investigators uncovered cryptic words on shell casings at the scene and recovered items possibly containing DNA evidence.

Authorities are using facial recognition and offering a $10,000 reward for tips. NYC Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the attack was premeditated and involved a silencer. Motive remains unknown.

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Summary

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a premeditated attack outside the New York Hilton Midtown before speaking at an investor conference.

The gunman, still at large, fired multiple times, leaving shell casings marked with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.”

Authorities suggest Thompson was targeted but remain unclear on the motive. His wife confirmed prior threats against him.

Analysts speculate a possible vendetta tied to his company. The case raises questions about executive security, as Thompson lacked personal protection despite known risks.

Summary

Reddit’s r/medicine moderators deleted a thread where doctors and users harshly criticized murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Comments, including satirical rejections of insurance claims for gunshot wounds, targeted UHC’s reputation for denying care to boost profits.

Despite the removal, similar discussions continue, with medical professionals condemning UHC’s business practices under Thompson’s leadership, which a Senate report recently criticized for denying post-acute care.

Thompson, shot in what appears to be a targeted attack, led a company notorious for its high claim denial rates, fueling ongoing debates about corporate ethics in healthcare.

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> The Alsayed brothers lost their mother in the first bombing. They thought the White House could help save the survivors.

Summary

Trump announced plans to block Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, drawing backlash from many steelworkers who previously supported him.

While some, including United Steelworkers president David McCall, oppose the deal over concerns about job security and unfulfilled promises, others fear blocking it could harm the struggling U.S. steel industry.

Trump’s stance has been criticized as a “gut punch” by union leaders like Jason Zugai, who had expected him to support the deal after the election.

Critics argue Trump has offered no alternative plan to invest in U.S. steel plants if the deal is blocked.

The District of Columbia sued Amazon on Wednesday, alleging the company secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods while still charging millions of dollars for a membership that promises the benefit.

The complaint filed in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership, which costs consumers $139 per year or $14.99 per month for fast deliveries — including one-day, two-day and same-day shipments — along with other enhancements.

In mid-2022, the lawsuit alleges, the Seattle-based online retailer imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on two low-income ZIP codes in the district — 20019 and 20020 — and began relying exclusively on third-party delivery services such as UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, rather than its own delivery systems.

> Bookings spiked by 1,200 percent post-election, and IUD signups more than octupled.

Summary

The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has drawn attention due to the phrase “deny, defend, depose” reportedly written on the shooter’s ammunition, echoing criticism of insurer practices like “delay, deny, defend.”

UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest U.S. health insurers, has faced scrutiny over claim denials and delays, including a Senate report highlighting issues with Medicare Advantage prior authorizations.

The killing has sparked public outrage and dark humor on social media, reflecting widespread frustration with health insurers, which many blame for rising healthcare costs and access barriers.

> U.S. fourth graders saw their math scores drop steeply between 2019 and 2023 on a key international test even as more than a dozen other countries saw their scores improve. Scores dropped even more steeply for American eighth graders, a grade where only three countries saw increases.

> Jerry Qualls had a heart attack in 2022 and was rushed by ambulance to Holston Valley Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for a week and kept alive by a ventilator and blood pump, according to his medical records.

Summary

Childhood lead exposure from leaded gasoline caused 151 million additional psychiatric illnesses in the U.S. between 1940 and 2015, according to new research.

Peak exposure occurred for Generation X (1966–1986 births) due to widespread use of leaded gasoline before its 1996 ban.

The study links lead exposure to higher rates of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and altered personality traits, including increased neuroticism and reduced conscientiousness.

Lead pollution also caused a collective loss of 824 million IQ points in Americans.

• New role will help reshape U.S. policy on digital currency Early evangelist for cryptocurrency Move comes after bitcoin soared above $100,000 for first time

Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he was appointing former PayPal Chief Operating Officer David Sacks as his "White House A.I. & Crypto Czar," another step towards overhauling U.S. policy.

"He will work on a legal framework so the Crypto industry has the clarity it has been asking for, and can thrive in the U.S.," Trump said in a post on his social-media site Truth Social, without saying whether "czar" was an official title.

The crypto czar and other officials in Trump's incoming administration such as the chairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission are expected to reshape U.S. policy on digital currency along with a newly created crypto advisory council.

Trump's tech backers generally want to see minimal regulation around artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, saying Washington would throttle growing innovative sectors with excessive rules.

Summary

Syracuse City Court Judge Felicia Pitts Davis refused to officiate a same-sex wedding, citing religious beliefs.

Another judge, Mary Anne Doherty, performed the ceremony.

Pitts Davis’ actions, considered discriminatory under New York judicial ethics and the Marriage Equality Act, are under review by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct

Police are searching for two masked suspects after a synagogue was set on fire in southeastern Australia early Friday in an attack condemned by the prime minister as an act of antisemitism.

Summary

The Heritage Foundation, a key architect of Project 2025, is spending $1 million to pressure Republican senators into confirming Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense, despite concerns over his views on women in combat and allegations of misconduct.

Project 2025, a conservative blueprint tied to Donald Trump’s incoming administration, aims to reshape the federal government by reclassifying jobs to ease firings and curtailing agencies.

Heritage President Kevin Roberts framed Trump’s second term as pivotal for advancing conservative priorities, aligning with groups like the America First Policy Institute.

Debate over Hegseth highlights tensions within the GOP.

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he has chosen former Senator David Perdue to be ambassador to China, tapping a former politician with business experience to help steer relations riven by deep mistrust and trade tensions.

"He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China's leaders," Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, 2025, has said he will impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing does more to stop the trafficking of the highly addictive narcotic fentanyl.

He also threatened tariffs in excess of 60% on Chinese goods while on the campaign trail.

Perdue, a Republican from Georgia who served in the Senate from 2015-2021, previously lived in Hong Kong during a 40-year career as a business executive.

Matt Gaetz may be done with the House of Representatives, but his former colleagues aren’t through with him yet.

Lawmakers on Thursday are expected to decide the fate of the long-awaited House ethics report into sexual misconduct allegations against Gaetz, with many pressing for its release even though the Florida Republican has left Congress and withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Gaetz denies the allegations.

The bipartisan committee planned to vote in the afternoon on whether to make public the findings of their yearslong inquiry. If they decide against that disclosure, Democrats are poised to force votes on the House floor requiring the committee to publish the full report.

Summary

Under Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter) has become a hub for white supremacist content due to reduced moderation.

A Texas Observer investigation identified four neo-Nazi account operators, tied to Texas, New Hampshire, and Virginia, whose content has amassed 500,000 followers and millions of views.

Despite sharing antisemitic and pro-Nazi rhetoric, some accounts received responses from Musk and benefited from ad revenue and verification.

Public figures, including politicians, follow these accounts. Employers and the Navy are investigating the individuals, raising questions about accountability and platform policies.

Summary

The Satanic Temple will launch a religious program, HAIL (Hellion Academy of Independent Learning), at Edgewood Elementary in Marysville, Ohio, offering an alternative to the evangelical LifeWise program.

LifeWise, part of a growing "release time" religious instruction trend, removes students weekly for Christian teachings.

Critics argue it alienates non-Christian students and raises concerns about religious pluralism in schools.

The Satanic Temple's HAIL program emphasizes empathy, pluralism, and critical thinking in its program, removing students monthly.

Summary

Following Missouri voters’ narrow approval of a constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights, GOP lawmakers are moving to undermine it.

Proposed measures include enshrining “personhood” at conception, tying abortion restrictions to bans on gender-affirming care, and adding barriers to constitutional amendments by requiring majorities in rural districts.

Critics say these efforts defy voter will and could complicate other reproductive technologies like IVF.

Meanwhile, legal challenges to Missouri’s near-total abortion ban are ongoing, with Planned Parenthood seeking to resume services in key cities.

The Republican push reflects broader conservative strategies to counter progressive ballot initiatives.

Sizeable earthquake just off the coast.