By Celine Kiara Agard
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
UMG, SONY, and Warner Strike Licensing Deals with New AI Music Platform Klay
Los Angeles-based music technology company KLAY Vision Inc. has secured AI licensing agreements with major music companies, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, along with their publishing arms. These deals allow KLAY to develop its AI music platform, powered by its Large Music Model trained entirely on licensed music, to create immersive, interactive listening experiences while protecting the rights of artists and songwriters. The company has been working with the music industry for over a year to establish a comprehensive licensing framework and aims to expand it to independent labels and creators, creating a scalable foundation for AI-driven music. KLAY’s leadership team, with experience from Sony Music, Google DeepMind, and Spotify, emphasizes ethical use of generative AI, while industry executives praised the agreements for supporting artist rights and fostering innovation in the digital music ecosystem.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/umg-sony-and-warner-strike-licensing-deals-with-new-ai-music-platform-klay/
Apple TV Series ‘The Hunt’ Is Pulled Amid Accusations of Plagiarism
Apple TV has postponed the French-language series The Hunt just days before its scheduled December 3 debut after accusations that its creator, Cédric Anger, plagiarized key plot elements from the 1973 thriller Shoot by Douglas Fairbairn, originally translated into French as La Traque. The series’ production company, Gaumont, confirmed the delay and said it is reviewing the production to address intellectual property concerns. Reports indicate Anger did not inform Apple TV that the show was an adaptation, raising questions about the originality of the series.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/arts/television/apple-tv-the-hunt-plagiarism.html
Arts
Four More Arrested in Connection with Louvre Heist
French authorities arrested two men and two women from the Paris region in connection with last month’s daring Louvre heist, in which burglars disguised as construction workers stole nine jewels valued at over $100 million. The suspects have not yet been questioned, and the reasons for their arrests will remain confidential until the end of their custody. The arrests mark a second phase in the investigation, following the earlier charging of four other individuals with criminal conspiracy and theft by an organized gang, some of whom were directly involved in the theft. The stolen jewelry has still not been recovered.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/world/europe/four-new-arrests-louvre-heist.html
Aftershocks of an Art Crime Reverberate in Japan
The Tokushima Modern Art Museum in Japan recently confirmed that an early Cubist painting it had acquired over 25 years ago, along with at least three other works in Japan, were forgeries by the notorious German forger Wolfgang Beltracchi, who was convicted in 2011 for faking masterworks by more than 100 artists. Beltracchi specialized in creating “original fakes,” new works in the styles of deceased artists, and his forgeries have circulated widely, fooling collectors and museums alike. The Tokushima museum, after forensic verification, refunded the painting’s purchase price but later displayed it again to spark discussion on authenticity, value, and the art market. Japanese museums have used these discoveries as teachable moments, allowing visitors to explore how art is authenticated and judged, transforming what could have been a scandal into public curiosity and reflection on the intersection of artistry, deception, and historical context.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/world/asia/japan-art-forgeries.html?searchResultPosition=1
Sports
Reese Brantmeier, College tennis star behind prize money lawsuit, wins NCAA championship
Reese Brantmeier won the NCAA women’s tennis singles championship just as she continues leading a major lawsuit against the NCAA’s restrictive prize-money rules. The UNC senior — one of college tennis’s most high-profile players — argues that it is unfair that athletes can earn large NIL deals while tennis players must forfeit professional prize money above $10,000 to maintain eligibility. Her suit, now certified as a class action that may include up to 12,000 players, challenges this long-standing rule. Her victory comes amid growing scrutiny of NCAA policies.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6832961/2025/11/24/college-tennis-ncaa-championship-results/
Why Tyler Skaggs’ iPad could trigger millions in punitive damages against Angels
In the wrongful death civil trial over Tyler Skaggs’ death, the Skaggs family is seeking punitive damages against the Angels, centering in part on an iPad that Skaggs used to line up drugs before ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill provided by ex-Angels communications director Eric Kay. The family argues that the iPad was physically damaged by the substance and has not been returned by the DEA, forming a basis under California law for punitive damages tied to property damage. While the Angels dispute that the iPad itself was harmed and deny liability, the court has allowed the issue to go to the jury. The trial also includes broader arguments about the team’s conduct, with the Skaggs’ attorneys asserting punitive damages are needed to punish and deter the Angels, while the team maintains that no management personnel acted with malice. The jury will ultimately decide both the iPad’s role and the appropriateness of any punitive damages.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6835372/2025/11/25/tyler-skaggs-angels-ipad-punitive-damages/
Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 160: Why Texas's Pushback On The CSC Participation Agreement Signals the Beginning of the End
The College Sports Commission’s (CSC) University Participation Agreement, designed to consolidate power over major conference schools, has encountered swift and forceful opposition, particularly from Texas. Texas Tech University’s general counsel, Eric Bentley, identified 16 provisions that make the agreement legally problematic, while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned that several clauses—such as debt obligations without notice, mandatory binding arbitration, and penalties for state-initiated legal actions—likely violate state law and constitutional limits. These objections expose fundamental conflicts between the CSC’s attempt at centralized governance and the legal constraints of public universities, raising fiduciary and enforcement concerns. While Texas has publicly challenged the agreement, other states remain silent, leaving questions about the broader viability of the CSC framework and whether it can be reconciled with fifty distinct state legal regimes. The consensus among experts is that the agreement, in its current form, is effectively dead, although its replacement remains uncertain.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/newsletter-image-likeness-vol-160-why-texass-pushback-darren-heitner-s8bte/
Enhanced Games Lawsuit Canned
A Manhattan federal judge dismissed the Enhanced Games’ $800 million antitrust lawsuit against World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Aquatics, and USA Swimming, ruling that the organizers failed to show that the defendants had monopolized elite international swimming competitions. The Enhanced Games, a controversial tournament that allows performance-enhancing drug use, argued that a World Aquatics bylaw unfairly blocked its athletes, but the court found the rule only applied to events hosted by World Aquatics and did not cover the entire market. Despite legal setbacks and strong opposition from WADA and the International Olympic Committee over health and fairness concerns, the tournament—backed by entrepreneur Aron D’Souza and partners including Donald Trump Jr.—plans to debut in Las Vegas in May 2026, offering cash prizes for world records in swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting.
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1155865/enhanced-games-lawsuit-canned
Media/Technology
Trump Orders Construction of A.I. Platform to use Troves of Government Data for Research
President Trump signed an executive order launching the Genesis Mission, a federal initiative directing the Department of Energy’s national laboratories to build an advanced A.I. platform using the government’s vast scientific datasets. The project will use existing supercomputers — with future expansion planned — to create A.I. systems that can automate experiments, generate predictive models, and accelerate research in fields like protein folding and fusion energy. Major tech and chip companies, including Nvidia, AMD, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Dell, have already agreed to help build facilities in national labs, though sensitive data will be withheld for security reasons. The administration says the effort will drastically shorten scientific discovery timelines and reflects Trump’s broader push to promote A.I. development by reducing regulatory barriers and strengthening U.S. competitiveness against China.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/politics/trump-ai-executive-order.html
N.Y. Law Could Set Stage for A.I. Regulation’s Next ‘Big Battleground’.
New York has become the first state to regulate personalized or algorithmic pricing, enacting a law that requires retailers using artificial intelligence to set prices based on consumers’ personal data to disclose it with a warning: “THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA.” The law aims to protect shoppers from being overcharged based on their purchase history or online behavior, a practice critics call surveillance pricing. While consumer advocates hail it as a crucial step in regulating A.I.-driven commerce, businesses, and industry groups argue it is overly broad, confusing, and may hinder loyalty programs or targeted discounts. The law survived an early federal court challenge and is expected to influence similar legislation in other states, highlighting the growing national effort to regulate how companies leverage personal data for pricing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/nyregion/personalized-surveillance-pricing-ai-new-york.html
Prosecutor Used Flawed A.I. to keep a Man in Jail, His Lawyers Say
In Nevada County, California, prosecutors from District Attorney Jesse Wilson’s office have been accused of filing court briefs containing significant errors consistent with A.I.-generated content, including misquoting legal texts, misidentifying case law, and misinterpreting statutes. The controversy emerged after Kyle Kjoller, held without bail on gun charges, challenged a flawed brief in his case, prompting scrutiny of three other similarly erroneous filings. While Wilson acknowledged some mistakes and claimed only one brief involved A.I., Kjoller’s lawyers and 22 legal scholars warned that unchecked use of A.I. in prosecution threatens due process and could lead to wrongful convictions. The case highlights the ethical and legal risks of relying on generative A.I. in criminal proceedings, though courts have so far denied sanctions against the prosecutors.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/prosecutor-artificial-intelligence-errors-lawyers-california.html
RealPage Agrees to Settle Federal Rent-Collusion Case
The Justice Department reached a settlement with RealPage, a real estate software company accused of enabling landlords to collude and raise rents above free-market levels using its algorithm. The lawsuit alleged that landlords shared confidential rent and occupancy data with RealPage, which then suggested higher rents based on that information. Under the proposed settlement, which requires federal court approval, RealPage’s software can no longer use nonpublic data from other landlords to inform pricing, ensuring competing companies make independent decisions. While the company denied wrongdoing, the case highlights growing scrutiny of algorithmic tools in housing and broader antitrust concerns, though several states that joined the original lawsuit were not part of the settlement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/technology/realpage-doj-settlement.html
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
David Sacks, the Trump administration’s A.I. and crypto czar, has leveraged his dual role in government and Silicon Valley to shape policies that benefit both the U.S. tech industry and many of his own investments. As a special government employee, Sacks helped draft the A.I. Action Plan and advocated for legislation like the GENIUS Act, while maintaining hundreds of stakes in A.I. and crypto companies, including some directly positioned to profit from his policy initiatives. He facilitated high-level White House access for tech executives, promoted chip exports that could boost companies like Nvidia, and elevated his “All-In” podcast and associated conferences, blending his public service with personal business interests. While ethics waivers were granted and the White House emphasized compliance, critics argue his intertwined private and public roles reflect significant conflicts of interest, raising questions about the administration’s tech policymaking priorities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/technology/david-sacks-white-house-profits.html
General News
Supreme Court Defers Ruling on Trump’s Effort to Oust Copyright Official
The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, to remain in her role after Trump ordered her removal in May, deferring a decision until related cases testing the president’s authority to fire independent regulators are resolved. The Court’s order departs from previous rulings allowing Trump to immediately remove agency leaders during ongoing litigation. Perlmutter’s legal team argued that her role is part of the legislative branch within the Library of Congress, not an executive agency, and therefore outside the president’s removal power. The case raises broader questions about the limits of presidential authority over independent regulators and the separation of powers, with Trump’s administration contending that the appeals court improperly interfered with executive authority.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-copyright-official.html
Judge Dismisses Cases Against Comey and James, Finding Trump Prosecutor Was Unlawfully Appointed
A federal judge dismissed the criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, ruling that the special prosecutor Trump handpicked to bring the cases, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie found that the Justice Department improperly installed two successive interim U.S. attorneys—Halligan and her predecessor—violating laws meant to prevent presidents from bypassing Senate confirmation by repeatedly inserting loyalists into powerful prosecutorial roles. Halligan, who had no prosecutorial experience and acted against the advice of career attorneys, single-handedly secured the indictments against two of Trump’s political adversaries. The dismissal, issued without prejudice, allows the government to potentially refile charges, although legal obstacles such as the statute of limitations may block renewed efforts. The ruling is widely viewed as a major rebuke of Trump’s attempts to weaponize the Justice Department, with legal experts expecting further appeals and broader challenges to similar controversial appointments across other U.S. attorney offices.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/nyregion/james-comey-case-dismissed.html
The Pentagon opens an inquiry into Senator Mark Kelly over what Hegseth calls a ‘seditious’ video.
The Pentagon announced that it is investigating Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and Arizona Democrat, over “serious allegations of misconduct” after he appeared in a video reminding U.S. troops that they must refuse illegal orders — a message that angered the president, who called for the lawmakers involved to be punished or even executed. The move marks an extraordinary and politically charged use of military justice against a sitting senator, part of a broader pattern of Trump administration efforts to target perceived opponents. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Kelly and the other veterans in the video of encouraging insubordination, although legal experts note their statements accurately reflect military law and are likely protected by the Constitution. Kelly, who has received death threats since Trump’s comments, denounced the investigation as an attempt to silence oversight.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/24/us/trump-news#mark-kelly-pentagon-investigation
Times Analysis Finds Errors in Trump’s Supreme Court Filing That Calls for National Guard in Chicago.
A New York Times investigation found that the Trump administration misrepresented events in Chicago on Oct. 4 to justify deploying National Guard troops, claiming that local police were slow to assist federal agents and protesters were violent. The Times analyzed police radio logs and videos showing that officers responded within minutes to a shooting involving Border Patrol agents and a subsequent car crash, contradicting the administration’s assertion that police delayed for over an hour or refused to act. The filing also exaggerated the protesters’ aggression; footage indicated they were largely peaceful for the first two hours, with tensions escalating only after a forceful federal response. The administration’s errors centered on misdated radio calls and overstated threats, raising questions about the credibility of declarations used to appeal to the Supreme Court for troop deployment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/trump-supreme-court-national-guard-chicago-errors.html
The U.S. again asks a New York court to release Epstein grand jury materials.
Attorney General Pam Bondi asked two Manhattan federal judges to unseal grand jury materials from the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell investigations, citing a new law signed by Trump—the Epstein Files Transparency Act—which directs the Justice Department to release its investigative records. The request marks a renewed push after similar efforts were rejected this summer on grounds of grand jury secrecy. Bondi argued that Congress intended the new law to override traditional secrecy protections, except for information that could expose victims or jeopardize investigations. Judge Paul Engelmayer has ordered Maxwell and Epstein’s victims to submit their positions on the request, noting that the government had not addressed victims’ rights. The filings, also signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, come as Bondi tasks Clayton’s office with probing Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats and seeks expedited rulings to meet the law’s 30-day release requirement.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11/24/us/trump-news#epstein-grand-jury-materials-release-requested
Intelligence on U.S. Military’s Boat Strikes is Limited
Since early September, the U.S. military has carried out strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing more than 80 people in an effort to disrupt drug trafficking. However, officials acknowledge that they do not know the identities of those being killed, and the strikes often target low-level couriers rather than cartel leaders, raising concerns about civilian casualties and moral and strategic consequences. Critics argue that these attacks ignore lessons from counterterrorism operations, which emphasized gathering intelligence and capturing individuals to dismantle networks, and warn that indiscriminate strikes could provoke blowback. While the Trump administration asserts confidence that drugs are the real target, lawmakers and experts contend that the approach risks killing innocents, destroying intelligence opportunities, and potentially constituting extrajudicial killings.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/us/politics/us-military-boat-strikes.html
Trump Announces Pardon for Honduran Ex-President Convicted in Drug Case
Trump announced a full pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in Manhattan in 2024 of conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S., receiving millions in bribes, and collaborating with drug traffickers, and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Hernández, who governed Honduras from 2014 to 2022 amid corruption scandals and allegations of election fraud, was extradited to the U.S. in 2022 to face drug-trafficking and weapons charges. The pardon shocked U.S. authorities and drew criticism from law enforcement officials, who warned that it undermines international anti-drug efforts. The move also intersects with Honduran politics, as Trump endorsed Hernández’s National Party successor, Nasry “Tito” Asfura, ahead of Sunday’s presidential election, sparking concerns that the pardon could influence the vote and fuel political controversy in Honduras.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/world/americas/trump-pardon-honduras-hernandez.html
Trump Vows Crackdown on Immigration and Orders More Troops to D.C. After Shooting
After a shooting near the White House that injured two National Guard members, Trump called the attack an “act of terror” and labeled the Afghan suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an “animal,” using the incident to push for stricter immigration measures and increased mass deportations of Afghan nationals. Trump ordered 500 additional troops to Washington, citing the shooting as evidence of national security threats, while U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services paused immigration applications from Afghan nationals, including Special Immigrant Visa applicants. The shooting has intensified debates over the president’s domestic use of the National Guard, which a federal judge recently ruled may be unlawful, and raised concerns about the militarization of U.S. cities and the politicization of security measures.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/us/politics/trump-national-guard-dc-shooting.html
Trump Pauses All Asylum Applications and Halts Visas for Afghans
Following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington by an Afghan asylum seeker, the U.S. government paused all asylum decisions and halted visa issuance for Afghans, including those in the Special Immigrant Visa program for individuals who aided U.S. forces. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department cited security concerns, with officials emphasizing that all applicants must now undergo maximum vetting. The move effectively closes the last legal entry route for Afghans outside the United States and comes amid broader reviews of green cards and asylum applications from countries affected by Trump-era travel bans. Critics warn the actions violate federal law and court orders, while the administration frames the restrictions as necessary for national security.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/us/politics/trump-affirmative-asylum.html
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S.
In recent weeks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun arresting foreign-born spouses of American citizens during routine green card interviews, charging them with visa violations that could lead to deportation. Couples who had followed all legal steps—including submitting paperwork, passing medical exams, and receiving work authorization—found themselves ambushed and handcuffed immediately after interviews, leaving U.S. spouses and children in distress. Lawyers and experts note that such detentions are unprecedented, as Congress allows spouses to adjust status even if visas have expired, and the arrests appear aimed at pressuring families to abandon cases. The policy shift comes amid broader Trump administration efforts to accelerate deportations, though some detained spouses have successfully secured release and green cards through legal action.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/us/trump-green-card-interview-arrests.html
The Suspected D.C. Shooter Was in a ‘Zero Unit’ in Afghanistan. Here’s What to Know.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in a shooting of two National Guard members, was formerly part of a C.I.A.-backed Afghan paramilitary unit known as the Zero Units, which conducted night raids and clandestine missions during the U.S. war in Afghanistan. These units, originally called Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams, became part of Afghan intelligence by the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 and played a key role in securing U.S. and NATO bases during the Taliban’s takeover, with many members later evacuated to the U.S., including Lakanwal, who received asylum. Trained, equipped, and largely overseen by the C.I.A., the units operated outside normal military chains of command and gained a reputation for brutality, with documented cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations, though the C.I.A. denies these allegations. Many former members resettled in the U.S., attempting to rebuild civilian lives amid fear and scrutiny.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/27/us/dc-shooting-suspect-afghanistan-cia-unit.html
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms
The Trump administration has embarked on an unprecedented strategy of acquiring minority ownership stakes in private companies it deems vital to national security — committing over $10 billion in the past six months to firms in semiconductors, minerals, steel, and nuclear energy. Framed as an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on China and rebuild strategic supply chains, the deals grant the government equity, warrants, or veto power in at least nine companies, though many of these firms face financial challenges. Supporters argue that the intervention is necessary to counter China’s market dominance, but critics warn the opaque, fast-moving process risks favoritism, poor vetting, market distortion, and the loss of taxpayer money. The approach marks a sharp break from traditional free-market Republican ideology and has raised concerns that the administration is pursuing ad hoc deals without a coherent long-term strategy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/politics/trump-intel-steel-minerals-china.html
Justice Dept. Whistleblower Joins Legal Group Battling the Trump Administration
Former Justice Department lawyer Erez Reuveni — who previously defended Trump administration immigration policies — has joined Democracy Forward, a legal advocacy group now suing to block those same policies, saying the country is at a “make-or-break moment” for the rule of law. Reuveni was fired earlier this year after refusing to sign filings he said misled courts and after raising concerns about efforts to ignore judicial orders during the rapid deportation of migrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. He has since filed a whistle-blower complaint alleging misconduct by senior officials, including Emil Bove III, who denied the claims during congressional testimony. Democracy Forward’s leadership says Reuveni’s insider knowledge strengthens its legal challenges, while administration officials dismiss him as a disgruntled ex-employee.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/politics/erez-reuveni-democracy-forward.html
Consumer Bureau’s Bank Examiners Criticize New ‘Humility Pledge’
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, under acting director and White House budget chief Russell Vought, announced that examiners will now be required to recite a “humility pledge” promising limited review scopes and collaborative conduct before beginning bank examinations—a move critics say weakens essential oversight. In a notice, the agency described its own supervision arm as a “weaponized” and “thuggish” operation under the prior Biden-appointed director, but the bureau’s staff union blasted the pledge as “creepy,” “disrespectful,” and unprofessional. The pledge is largely symbolic for now, as Vought has frozen almost all CFPB operations, barred new examinations, and declined to request Federal Reserve funding, leaving the agency warning that it may run out of operating cash early next year. The change is part of broader Trump administration efforts to exert more control over independent financial regulators and reduce stringent oversight of Wall Street, despite past CFPB exams uncovering major consumer abuses and securing substantial restitution.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/business/consumer-bureau-humility-pledge.html
How the Coast Guard Revised Its Policy on Swastikas, Nooses, and Bullying
After issuing a new directive that downgraded swastikas and nooses from “symbols of hatred” to merely “potentially divisive” and removed “gender identity” and “political affiliation” from its protected categories, the Coast Guard faced intense backlash for appearing to relax its stance on hate symbols and harassment. The policy changes — scheduled to take effect Dec. 15 — created confusion, especially because they suggested such symbols might be permissible in private settings and erased the term “hate incident” from official policy. Following criticism from civil rights groups and public outcry, Coast Guard leadership and the Department of Homeland Security clarified that hateful and divisive symbols remain fully prohibited, both publicly and privately, and that bullying and hazing are not tolerated. The rationale behind several changes remains unclear, although the removal of gender identity protections aligns with Trump administration directives banning “gender ideology” from federal agencies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/coast-guard-hate-policy.html
School Groups Sue to Stop Dismantling of the Education Department
A coalition of educators, school districts, unions, and a disability advocacy group sued the Trump administration, challenging Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s plan to shift key Education Department functions to other federal agencies. The lawsuit argues that congressional appropriations law requires the department to manage its programs directly and that McMahon lacks authority to transfer responsibilities, including $28 billion for K-12 education and $3 billion for postsecondary programs, to the Labor Department, Health and Human Services, Interior, and State Departments. Critics contend the changes complicate education administration, disperse services, and undermine the stated goal of empowering states, while the administration maintains it has authority under the Economy Act. The complaint updates a continuing Massachusetts lawsuit, originally filed to block attempts to effectively dismantle the department, now including the Arc of the United States, a disability rights group, to address disability rights concerns.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/us/politics/school-coalition-lawsuit-education-department.html
E.P.A. Delays Requirements to Cut Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas
The Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration announced a delay—and potential repeal—of a Biden-era rule requiring oil and gas companies to limit methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for a significant portion of global warming. Originally set to begin this year, the compliance deadline has been pushed to January 2027, a move estimated to allow an additional 3.8 million tons of methane into the atmosphere. The administration framed the delay as a relief to the industry, saving $750 million in compliance costs, while critics warn it endangers public health, undermines progress on climate goals, and accelerates U.S. contributions to global warming. The regulation had mandated companies to repair leaks and curb venting, and although some industry players support the delay, experts emphasize that reducing methane remains one of the fastest ways to mitigate climate change.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/climate/epa-delays-methane-oil-gas.html
NASA Rover Makes a Shocking Discovery: Lightning on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured the first clear audio evidence of electrical discharges—“mini-lightning”—in Mars’s atmosphere. Unlike Earth’s dramatic lightning, these tiny shocks, generated during dust devils, are more like static zaps caused by charged dust particles rubbing together. The discovery, reported in Nature, was made by analyzing the sound recorded by Perseverance’s microphone, which detected both the radio emissions and the brief pop of the discharge. Although harmless to humans, these micro-lightning events could affect electronics and spacesuits, offering valuable insight for designing future Mars missions. The findings also corroborate earlier, controversial observations of Martian electrical activity from 2009, providing stronger evidence that the Red Planet experiences atmospheric electricity during dust storms.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/science/mars-lightning-nasa.html
Inside Trump’s Push to Make the White House Ballroom as Big as Possible
Trump is personally overseeing an ambitious White House renovation project, including a massive new ballroom, which has caused tension with contractors and led his architect, James McCrery, to step back from day-to-day involvement. Originally envisioned as a 500-seat addition, the project has expanded to a space larger than the West Wing, with Trump bypassing traditional permitting, zoning, and bidding processes, and pressuring contractors on costs. He has also reshaped advisory boards, installed his former lawyer to approve plans, and pursued extravagant design features, including gold moldings and marble floors. While supporters praise his vision of classical architecture, critics warn the project’s scale and unilateral approach risk overwhelming the historic White House and raising logistical and aesthetic challenges, though Trump frames himself as the ultimate designer guiding every decision.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/politics/trump-white-house-ballroom.html
Trump Moves Toward Labeling Parts of Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorists
Trump signed an executive order taking preliminary steps to designate parts of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as foreign terrorist organizations, potentially enabling broad travel and financial sanctions. The order did not impose immediate penalties, but directed cabinet officials to report and “take all appropriate action” against specific chapters, citing ties to Hamas and Hezbollah and violent rhetoric following the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict. Targeting specific chapters appears aimed at sidestepping legal and diplomatic concerns associated with designating the entire loosely organized movement. If implemented, the designations would freeze U.S. assets, criminalize material support, and bar Americans from dealings with the groups, though the scope and timing remain unclear. The order drew criticism from right-wing figures who argued it did not go far enough, while some U.S. allies like Qatar and Turkey may oppose the move due to their support for the Brotherhood.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/politics/trump-muslim-brotherhood-terrorists.html
As Ukraine Sets ‘Red Lines,’ a U.S. Peace Plan is Slimmed Down
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators concluded two days of talks in Geneva with a pared-down peace framework aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, though major disagreements remain unresolved. The revised proposal omits some of the most controversial elements of an earlier U.S.-drafted, Russia-leaning 28-point plan that had called for Ukraine to cede territory, limit its military, and abandon NATO aspirations — terms Kyiv and European allies strongly rejected. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s non-negotiable “red lines,” including territorial integrity, military autonomy, and alliance freedom, while acknowledging the country is at a “critical moment.” U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, described progress but noted key issues involving NATO and the E.U. were set aside for later talks. As European leaders voiced ongoing concerns and Russia claimed it had received no formal updates, the path forward remains uncertain, with intensive negotiations expected to continue in the coming days.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/world/europe/ukraine-zelensky-rubio-russia-peace-plan.html
In Firing His No. 2, Zelensky Loses Both a Negotiator and an Enforcer
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s dismissal of his longtime chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, amid a corruption investigation marks a major shift in Ukraine’s wartime politics, removing a central political enforcer and the country’s lead peace negotiator. Yermak, who had amassed broad behind-the-scenes power by sidelining rivals and controlling government appointments and media influence, played a key role in negotiating to soften a peace proposal with the U.S. that included concessions to Russia. While Zelensky emphasized that peace talks would continue under Rustem Umerov, Yermak’s exit raises questions about maintaining internal discipline, managing political rivalries, and overseeing Ukraine’s complex military and diplomatic strategies. Anticorruption activists welcomed the move as a victory for civil society, though analysts warn it could weaken Zelensky’s political control at a critical moment in the war.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/world/europe/zelensky-yermak-ukraine.html
Italy Passes a Femicide Law, Seeking to Prevent Violence Against Women
Italy’s lower house of Parliament has unanimously passed a law defining femicide as a distinct crime, punishable by life in prison, to address the murders of women motivated by misogyny, control, or discrimination. The law, largely symbolic, aims to raise awareness of gender-based violence and better track such crimes, with more than half of the 73 women killed in the first nine months of 2025 dying at the hands of current or former partners. The legislation, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, also applies when women are killed for seeking independence from relationships. While campaigners praised the law as a strong societal statement, they argue that deeper cultural change is needed, including better education on gender issues, law enforcement training, and measures to reduce gender inequality, warning that legal definitions may be too vague for consistent application in court.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/world/europe/italy-femicide-violence-women.html
Death Toll Rises to 128 in Hong High-Rise Fire
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades at the Wang Fuk Court high-rise complex has risen to 128, with around 200 residents still unaccounted for and more than 70 hospitalized. The blaze, which began during ongoing renovations, spread rapidly due to flammable construction netting and polystyrene window coverings, and firefighters faced extreme heat and obstructed access while battling flames. Authorities have arrested multiple construction workers, consultants, and company directors over suspected manslaughter and gross negligence, while DNA testing is being used to identify victims. The fire has left roughly 500 residents homeless, prompting temporary shelters, financial aid, and calls for safety inspections, including a potential shift from bamboo to fire-resistant scaffolding. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of government oversight and building safety practices ahead of upcoming local elections.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/world/asia/hong-kong-fire.html