Defense Secretary Hegseth Faces Scrutiny Over Strikes and Messaging

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Highlights of the Day

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth found himself under intense scrutiny yesterday. The focus was on two incidents: one involving video footage of September’s deadly strikes on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, and another concerning his use of Signal to discuss a U.S. attack on Yemen. During a closed session, lawmakers examined issues surrounding the second strike on the drug boat, which resulted in two survivors’ deaths.

• 🎧 Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley justified the second strike on the alleged drug boat to lawmakers, NPR’s Tom Bowman reports on Up First. Bradley stated that the strike was necessary as the survivors were using radios to communicate with accomplices and attempting to recover drugs from the damaged vessel. The action is supported by Republicans, while Democrats seek the public release of the full video and hold Hegseth accountable.

The FBI has apprehended an individual suspected of placing pipe bombs near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The suspect, 30-year-old Brian J. Cole Jr., was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia. He faces charges of transporting explosive devices across state lines and attempted malicious destruction by explosive means, as per the arrest warrant.

• 🎧 The FBI affidavit revealed financial records linking Cole to purchases of items used in the pipe bombs, according to NPR’s Ryan Lucas. Cellphone data showed that Cole’s phone was active in the vicinity where the bombs were found. The motives behind the pipe bomb placement are expected to be clarified in court as the Justice Department proceeds with the case.

The Supreme Court has given Texas the green light to implement a new congressional map, potentially allowing Republicans to gain five additional U.S. House seats. This decision marks a win for President Trump and the GOP in the gerrymandering dispute. The ruling overturns a lower court’s decision that initially found possible racial discrimination.

• 🎧 The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sided with Texas state lawmakers, NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang reports. The lawmakers argued that their redistricting efforts were politically driven rather than racially motivated. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on a significant voting rights case involving Louisiana’s congressional map, which could lead to more redistricting in Southern states.

Featured Highlights

Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked: For Good. Lara Cornell/Giles Keyte/Universal Pictureshide caption

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Lara Cornell/Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Wicked: For Good recently hit theaters, enchanting audiences with its melodies, enchanting tale, and transformative costumes. Costume designer Paul Tazewell, notable for being the first Black man to win an Academy Award in this category, crafted iconic outfits like Glinda’s shimmering blue and lavender gown and Elphaba’s rugged trench coat to narrate the characters’ journeys without words. Explore his costume designs for the film. Listen to his conversation about his textile journey on Fresh Air, or read the interview here.

Weekend Recommendations

Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack with members of the Company Andrew Eccleshide caption

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Andrew Eccles

Explore what NPR suggests for your weekend entertainment:

🍿 Movies: For those in the holiday spirit, Pop Culture Happy Hour offers an ideal guide to this season’s standout holiday films.

📚 Books: The Aquatics unfolds in a fictional African nation, detailing the life of a politician’s wife caught between her husband’s ambitions and her best friend’s unconventional and politically charged lifestyle.

🎵 Music: Today features the last 2025 edition of New Music Friday. Highlights include Dove Ellis’ Blizzard and TEED’s Always With Me. Discover more new releases and a playlist.

🎭 Theater: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has commenced its inaugural season under Alicia Graf Mack, a former principal dancer. The season features five world premieres, including Maija García’s Jazz Island.

🎮 Gaming: All Things Considered producer Vincent Acovino describes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as “baffling,” praising its sound design and visuals but critiquing the lack of puzzles and frustrating sidekick characters.

❓ Quiz: Achieving nine out of 11 on this week’s quiz places me on the “nice list.” See if you qualify by taking the quiz here.

Things to Know Before You Leave

Spotify Wrapped is telling users their “listening age” this year, based on what era of music they listened to more than their peers. Spotifyhide caption

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Spotify

1. This year, Spotify Wrapped is candidly revealing users’ “listening age,” a calculation reflecting the era of music they favor, which may differ significantly from their actual age.
2. Pantone has unveiled the 2026 Color of the Year, selecting a shade of white for the first time, described as a “symbol of calming influence.”
3. Researchers at the Canadian Museum of Nature have discovered a new species of rhino that roamed Canada’s High Arctic 23 million years ago, shedding new light on the timeline of ancient animal migrations across continents.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.