President Trump has nominated Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer and key ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the new U.S. Surgeon General, replacing Dr. Janette Nesheiwat.
Who is Dr. Means? She’s a Stanford-educated physician who co-founded the healthtech company Levels and co-authored the book Good Energy with her brother, Calley Means, who is a White House adviser.
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Dr. Means and her brother have been vocal advocates for Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement.
What Trump is saying: The President announced the move on Truth Social, writing:
“Casey has impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”
What happened to Dr. Nesheiwat? Her nomination has faced intense scrutiny from Trump supporters due to her past support for masking and vaccinating children during the COVID pandemic
Zoom out: Notably, Nesheiwat is the sister-in-law of recently-ousted National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Big picture: Dr. Casey Means’s nomination signals that President Trump is bullish on the MAHA movement.
❓WHAT HAPPENED:China launched three Long March rockets into space within 19 hours, setting a new record for launch cadence.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and China’s space agency.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The launches occurred on Tuesday, with the rockets lifting off from China.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The launch mission was a complete success,” the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation stated.
🎯IMPACT: The record-breaking launches highlight China’s ambition to become a space superpower, with plans to expand its orbital infrastructure.
IN FULL
China has broken a record for launch cadence by successfully launching three Long March rockets into space within 19 hours on Tuesday. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by SpaceX, which launched three Falcon rockets in 20 hours and 3 minutes in March 2024.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the success of the mission, stating, “The launch mission was a complete success.” The launches bring China’s total orbital launches this year to 83, a significant step in the country’s bid to expand its space capabilities.
One of the launches delivered Internet satellites into low-Earth orbit to join the Guowang constellation, which now has over 100 operational satellites. The other two launches involved classified satellites intended for military use. State-owned China SatNet plans to grow the Guowang constellation to 13,000 satellites, comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink network, which currently operates nearly 9,000 satellites.
China’s space ambitions extend beyond satellite launches. The country has established its own space station, Tiangong, following its exclusion from the International Space Station (ISS) due to U.S. national security concerns. Tiangong hosted its first crew in 2021 and continues to operate, with three astronauts currently on board. Last month, an uncrewed spacecraft was launched to the station as part of a rescue mission following damage to a prior craft that left one group of astronauts stranded on the station.
SpaceX retains the record for the most orbital launches in a single year, having already surpassed its 2022 record of 134 launches. The company aims to reach 178 launches by the end of 2025.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinstated Times New Roman as the standard typeface for official communications, replacing Calibri, which was introduced under the former Biden regime.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Lucas de Groot, the designer of Calibri.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The change went into effect on Wednesday, December 10, across the U.S. State Department.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Serif typefaces remain the standard in courts, legislatures, and across federal agencies where the permanence and authority of the written record are paramount.” – State Department spokesman.
🎯IMPACT: The move is part of a broader effort to eliminate “wasteful” diversity measures and restore traditional standards in federal agencies.
IN FULL
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed the U.S. State Department to revert to Times New Roman as its official typeface, reversing the 2023 decision by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken to adopt Calibri. A cable sent to U.S. diplomats stated that the shift was intended “to restore decorum and professionalism to the Department’s written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program.” The decision aligns with the broader effort by the Trump administration to eliminate what it characterizes as “woke” and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” initiatives across the federal government.
Calibri’s designer, Dutch typographer Lucas de Groot, expressed mixed reactions to the news. “The decision to abandon Calibri on the grounds of it being a so-called ‘wasteful diversity font’ is both hilarious and regrettable,” he said. De Groot noted that Calibri was created for legibility on digital displays and became Microsoft Office’s default font in 2007 because of its clarity at smaller sizes.
A State Department spokesman defended the return to the serif typeface, saying, “Serif typefaces remain the standard in courts, legislatures, and across federal agencies where the permanence and authority of the written record are paramount.” Times New Roman had been the Department’s standard from 2004 until Blinken’s transition to Calibri in 2023.
The move comes as the Trump administration accelerates a series of high-profile reversals of DEI-related policies. Earlier this year, the administration removed members of the advisory boards for the nation’s military service academies, arguing that the institutions had been steered by “woke” ideology and needed to be realigned with traditional military values. In another action, senior Pentagon officials imposed a deadline for transgender personnel to leave the armed forces, part of a broader rollback of woke military regulations. The administration has also sought to restrict federal agencies from using “woke AI,” issuing directives aimed at preventing contractors from deploying artificial intelligence systems perceived as ideologically influenced.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: An earthquake struck off Aomori Prefecture, Japan, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue its first-ever “megaquake” advisory.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Japanese authorities, including the Meteorological Agency, municipalities, and residents across seven prefectures.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The initial earthquake occurred on Monday, December 9, 2025, off the eastern shore of Aomori Prefecture, with several aftershocks, including a magnitude-5.7 quake on Wednesday. The megaquake advisory remains in effect until December 16.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on the instruction from the prime minister, we are mobilising all resources for assessing the damage, conducting search-and-rescue operations and implementing emergency disaster relief measures under the policy of prioritising human life.” – Minoru Kihara, Chief Cabinet Secretary
🎯IMPACT: 51 people were injured, with seven suffering severe injuries. Authorities are urging preparedness, with no significant infrastructure damage reported.
IN FULL
Japan has been struck by a new 5.7-magnitude earthquake just days after the country was rocked by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture. The larger quake, occurring on Monday, prompted Japan’s Meteorological Agency to issue its first-ever special advisory warning of the potential for a “megaquake” registering a magnitude eight or higher—along with tsunami risks along its coastline. Notably, the advisory remains in effect until December 16.
According to Japan‘s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Monday’s quake resulted in injuries for 51 people, with an additional seven sustaining severe injuries. He stated, “Based on the instruction from the prime minister, we are mobilizing all resources for assessing the damage, conducting search-and-rescue operations, and implementing emergency disaster relief measures under the policy of prioritizing human life.”
Approximately 800 homes lost power, and Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended in parts of the region. Power was mostly restored by Tuesday morning, according to Tohoku Electric Power Co. About 480 residents sought shelter at Hachinohe Air Base, and 18 defense helicopters were deployed for damage assessment. Some 200 passengers were stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido due to structural damage in a terminal building. The Nuclear Regulation Authority reported a 450-liter water spill at the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant, but confirmed that no safety concerns were raised.
Municipalities across seven prefectures—including Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, and Chiba—have ramped up emergency preparedness. Measures include checking relief supplies, testing communication systems, and urging residents to prepare emergency kits and stay vigilant. Authorities also recommend sleeping in day clothes and in the same room as vulnerable family members to ensure swift evacuation if necessary.
It remains unclear how much damage was caused by the latest, albeit weaker, earthquake—or if there were any fatalities.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. military seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a potential escalation of tensions in the region.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. military, and Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Off the coast of Venezuela, reported on Wednesday.
🎯IMPACT: The move further isolates Venezuela’s oil industry amid President Trump’s push for Maduro to abdicate.
IN FULL
The U.S. Navy has intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a potential escalation with the country’s Marxist dictator, Nicolás Maduro. President Donald J. Trump, amid overseeing an unprecedented buildup of U.S. warships in the Caribbean and military strikes on cartel drug boats, has repeatedly urged the Venezuelan autocrat to abdicate in recent weeks.
Importantly, the oil tanker’s seizure will likely further complicate Venezuela’s ability to export oil, with other vessel owners becoming increasingly reluctant to carry cargo from the country. China is the predominant purchaser of Venezuelan oil, though it is mostly sold through illicit middlemen at a steep discount due to the risk of incurring U.S. sanctions.
On Tuesday, President Trump declared that Maduro’s “days are numbered” as the leader of Venezuela. However, when pressed on whether U.S. troops could be sent to Venezuela, he declined to provide a definitive answer, stating, “I don’t comment on that” and “I wouldn’t say that one way or the other.” Late last month, Trump suggested the U.S. could “very soon” target Venezuelan drug traffickers on land and declared that the country’s airspace should be considered “closed.”
Since September, the U.S. military has carried out kinetic strikes against cartel drug boats operating in the Caribbean and along the Pacific coast of South and Central America. The strikes follow the Trump administration’s designation of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and the Cartel de los Soles as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), with Maduro being accused of leading the latter. At this time, the strikes have resulted in the deaths of over 80 suspected drug traffickers.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to cease deploying the California National Guard in Los Angeles, returning control to Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, the Trump administration, California officials, and the California National Guard.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Wednesday, December 10, in San Francisco, with California National Guard deployments also occurring in Los Angeles and other cities, such as Portland, Oregon.
💬KEY QUOTE: “In response to Plaintiffs’ motion to enjoin this conduct, Defendants take the position that, after a valid initial federalization, all subsequent re-federalizations are completely, and forever, unreviewable by the courts. Defendants’ position is contrary to law. Accordingly, the Court ENJOINS Defendants’ federalization of California National Guard troops.” — Judge Breyer
🎯IMPACT: The decision, which is temporarily on hold, could limit future federal control over state National Guard units without state approval.
IN FULL
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom (D), effectively ending its deployment in Los Angeles. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer—a Clinton appointee and brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer—in San Francisco, granted a preliminary injunction sought by Gov. Newsom, who argued the Trump administration cannot continuously use the state’s National Guard troops for immigration enforcement actions without his office’s approval.
“The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one,” Judge Breyer wrote. ” Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly. What’s more, Defendants have sent California Guardsmen into other states, effectively creating a national police force made up of state troops.”
“In response to Plaintiffs’ motion to enjoin this conduct, Defendants take the position that, after a valid initial federalization, all subsequent re-federalizations are completely, and forever, unreviewable by the courts. Defendants’ position is contrary to law. Accordingly, the Court ENJOINS Defendants’ federalization of California National Guard troops,” the federal judge concluded—though he stayed his order from taking effect until next Monday.
The Newsom administration contended that the safety situation facing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal officers in Los Angeles has changed since violent anti-ICE riots erupted in the city this past June. While initially over 4,000 National Guard troops were deployed to the city, that number had fallen to about 100 in October. Notably, California officials also objected to the Trump administration’s decision to move California National Guard members to cities in other states where rioters have attacked federal property, like Portland, Oregon.
Judge Breyer previously ruled the Trump administration’s National Guard deployment in Los Angeles was unlawful in September. An even earlier ruling attempting to stop the initial deployment in June was set aside by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, marking the third consecutive rate cut this year.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Reserve and its policymakers.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The rate cut was announced on Wednesday, bringing the federal funds rate to its lowest level in over three years.
💬KEY QUOTE: “In support of its goals and in light of the shift in the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3-1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.” — Federal Reserve
🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to spur hiring and economic growth by lowering borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.
IN FULL
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve‘s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced a reduction in its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points. This adjustment lowers the federal funds rate to a range of 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent, marking the lowest level in over three years. It is the third consecutive rate cut since September, with a total reduction of 0.75 percentage points this year.
“In support of its goals and in light of the shift in the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point to 3-1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks,” the December FOMC meeting statement reads, adding: “The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective.”
The FOMC members appear to be especially concerned about indications of a slowing labor market and a potential decline in consumer demand. Notably, the committee members in favor of the 0.25 percent cut were Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, FOMC vice chairman John C. Williams, Michael S. Barr, Michelle W. Bowman, Susan M. Collins, Lisa D. Cook, Philip N. Jefferson, Alberto G. Musalem, and Christopher J. Waller. Meanwhile, dissenters included Stephen I. Miran—appointed to the central bank’s board of governors by President Donald J. Trump—who favored a 0.5 percent cut, as well as Austan D. Goolsbee and Jeffrey R. Schmid, who favored no reduction in the benchmark interest rate.
This rate cut brings the federal funds rate to its lowest point since early November 2022, when the central bank had aggressively raised rates to combat inflation caused by the former Biden government.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused staff at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during the arrest of an illegal immigrant student who is also a registered sex offender.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: DHS, ICE agents, Augsburg University staff and students, and Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, the illegal immigrant in question.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on the campus of Augsburg University in Minneapolis on December 6.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Our officers informed them that federal law supersedes any University policy and that if campus security would not stop blocking the law enforcement vehicle from exiting, they would be obstructing justice.” – DHS statement
🎯IMPACT: The incident underscores ongoing efforts by far-left activists and ideologues aimed at thwarting federal immigration enforcement actions to protect dangerous, criminal illegal immigrants.
IN FULL
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accusing staff members at a private college in Minneapolis, Minnesota, of attempting to interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the process of arresting a student who is an illegal immigrant and registered sex offender. According to DHS, agents were successful in detaining Jesus Saucedo-Portillo—who also has a prior DUI conviction—despite the attempted intervention by Augsburg University employees and campus security.
“On December 6, ICE officers arrested Jesus Saucedo-Portillo, a criminal illegal alien while he was getting into his vehicle. He is a registered sex offender and has a previous arrest for driving while intoxicated. A university Administrator and campus security attempted to obstruct the arrest,” DHS stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), continuing: “Our officers told the school Administrator and campus security that ICE had a warrant for the illegal alien’s arrest.”
Despite the warrant, DHS states that the Augsburg University administrator “told ICE officers they were violating university policies.” At this point, ICE officers “informed them that federal law supersedes any University policy and that if campus security would not stop blocking the law enforcement vehicle from exiting, they would be obstructing justice.”
The university administrator proceeded to order campus security to block the ICE vehicle, according to DHS. “Our officers followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to clear the area and successfully arrested this criminal illegal alien,” the agency said.
Following the incident, Augsburg University President Paul Pribbenow, speaking with Minnesota Public Radio, defended his staff’s actions. Pribbenow claimed the ICE agents did not present a warrant and that the arrest of Saucedo-Portillo was “illegal.” In addition, he alleged the ICE agents drew their weapons on staff and students who were present at the scene. According to Pribbenow, the students alerted school security, which subsequently “set off a protocol for when ICE is on campus.”
“We’re proud of [students] for the fact that they did that, despite the kind of hectic and traumatic nature of the event itself,” Pribbenow said.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new hijab with a magnetic quick-release system designed for female Muslim police officers has been developed and put into production in Britain.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Leicestershire Police, researchers at De Montfort University, and officers including Student Officer PC Seher Nas and Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Developed over three years in collaboration with Leicestershire Police and De Montfort University in Britain.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Now, being [one of the first people] to actually wear it, I feel proud and empowered as a Muslim woman.” – PC Seher Nas
🎯IMPACT: The hijab design is being issued as part of personal protective equipment and has garnered interest from other police forces, National Health Service (NHS) trusts, and the private sector.
IN FULL
A new magnetic “quick-release” hijab has been specially engineered for Britain’s growing number of female Muslim police officers, allowing the garment to instantly detach if grabbed during arrests, so that it cannot be used to choke the wearer while still preserving “modesty.”
Developed over three years by De Montfort University in collaboration with Leicestershire Police, the design is now being rolled out as official protective equipment. Student officer PC Seher Nas said: “Now, being [one of the first people] to actually wear it, I feel proud and empowered as a Muslim woman.”
Project leader Detective Sergeant Yassin Desai, founder of the force’s Association of Muslim Police, noted: “The bottom part was able to detach and the officer was able to keep her dignity.”
Multiple police forces, National Health Service (NHS) trusts, ambulance services, and private firms have already inquired about adopting the garment. However, what is framed as a progressive accommodation quietly illustrates how far mass migration and state-sponsored multiculturalism have reshaped everyday British life: public institutions now find themselves redesigning standard uniforms and spending years of research to make Islamic religious attire compatible with the realities of modern street policing.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States has deployed three naval vessels, including two aircraft carriers equipped with F-35 stealth fighter jets, across the Western Pacific amid China’s growing maritime activity.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Navy, China, Japan, and Vietnam.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The Western Pacific and South China Sea, with operations ongoing as of this week.
🎯IMPACT: The U.S. aims to counter China’s growing sea power and ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
IN FULL
The U.S. Navy has acknowledged the deployment of two aircraft carriers—capable of launching F-35 stealth fighters—and an amphibious assault ship in the Western Pacific. Official photographs of the USS Abraham Lincoln describe the aircraft carrier as currently conducting “routine operations” in the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of operations. However, its presence—along with the USS George Washington aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli—at sea in the Pacific is seen as a possible counter to the recent expansion of Chinese naval activity in the region.
Late last week, a sizable Chinese naval flotilla entered Pacific waters, with Australian military officials detecting the vessels “approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau.” While the Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego in late November, its deployment appears to be in response to a Chinese naval buildup that has been ongoing for several months.
Meanwhile, the George Washington is currently continuing operations in the Philippine Sea. Previously, the aircraft carrier had briefly sailed to Guam before returning to its area of operation. The George Washington is expected to soon return to port in Japan for routine maintenance, with the Abraham Lincoln likely to replace it in the Philippines and South China Seas.
Joining the aircraft carriers is the USS Tripoli, currently carrying a contingent of F-35B jets. The amphibious assault ship and the cruiser USS Robert Smalls are presently at port in Da Nang, Vietnam, as part of a celebration of the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations.
The sudden uptick in U.S. Navy activity is likely part of the Pentagon’s ongoing efforts to maintain a strong naval presence in the region as a deterrent to any possible Chinese aggression against American allies. Notably, the U.S. 7th Fleet, responsible for maritime operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, boasts 50 to 70 vessels, 150 aircraft, and over 27,000 personnel. It is currently the largest forward-deployed fleet in the U.S. Navy.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to contact the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to mediate their escalating border conflict.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, and their respective militaries.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The rally occurred in Pennsylvania on December 9, 2025, as the border clashes intensified earlier this week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries.’ We’re making peace through strength,” Trump said during the rally.
🎯IMPACT: Heavy fighting has displaced over half a million people, with at least a dozen fatalities reported along the Thailand-Cambodia border.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump told supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night that he plans to personally call the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia in an attempt to halt the renewed border war between the two Southeast Asian nations. “Who else could say, ‘I’m going to make a phone call and stop a war of two very powerful countries.’ We’re making peace through strength,” Trump said.
Heavy fighting has erupted along the countries’ roughly 500-mile border. Clashes have left at least a dozen people dead and forced more than half a million residents from their homes. Reports from the region indicate that Cambodian forces have launched rocket attacks from populated residential areas, while Thailand’s Royal Army has pushed into Cambodian territory using infantry vehicles. Video emerging from the front line shows intense exchanges involving artillery and precision-guided rockets, suggesting the conflict is rapidly escalating.
The renewed hostilities follow the collapse of a Trump-brokered ceasefire signed in October. That deal required both sides to pull back heavy weapons, release detainees, and allow third-party observers, but it unraveled after a landmine explosion injured several Thai soldiers. Thai officials accused Cambodia of planting new mines, an allegation the Cambodians denied.
The crisis comes as Trump promotes a series of international peace efforts. In Washington earlier this month, Rwanda and Congo signed the Washington Accords at the Trump Peace Institute, agreeing to a ceasefire, joint security measures, and economic cooperation. Trump has also touted negotiations that led to agreements between Israel and Hamas this past autumn. He is also pressing Ukraine to reach a peace agreement with Russia by Christmas Day.
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