Mario Nawfal

OCTOPUSES: SMARTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE TURKEY, MAYBE YOUR DOG Octopuses aren’t just sea weirdos—they’re ocean geniuses. With 500M neurons, 300M in their arms, they solve problems, use tools, and can even wait for better snacks like they’re in some underwater Marshmallow Test. California and Washington banned octopus farming in 2024, because these “alien” brains might deserve better treatment than most farm animals. Meanwhile, Spain’s planned octopus farm is sparking global outrage. Are octopuses smarter than turkeys or just better escape artists? Either way, their intelligence is making us rethink who gets a spot in the animal welfare club. Source: Popular Science

🚨 12-HOUR NEWS RECAP 🇺🇸 Trump came out swinging after Judge Merchan scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 10, calling it a “Rigged Charade” and slamming the “illegal gag order” meant to hide Merchan’s “disqualifying and illegal conflicts.” 🇺🇸 In the House, Rep. Mike Johnson secured reelection as Speaker on the second round of voting. The GOP drama? Par for the course, but Johnson’s back in the seat. 🇺🇸 Biden’s decision to give the Medal of Freedom to George Soros has critics in an uproar. The billionaire’s funding of soft-on-crime DAs and anti-Israel protests isn’t sitting well with the right—or parts of the left. 🇺🇸 America begins a solemn farewell to Jimmy Carter, as his remains start their final journey from Plains, Georgia. The tributes are a rare sign of unity in today’s divided politics. 🇨🇳 A fire tore through Liguang Market in Zhangjiakou, northwest of Beijing, killing 8 people and injuring 15. The tragedy marks a devastating start to the new year. 🇨🇳 The FBI issued a red flag to lawmakers, warning of a Chinese disinformation campaign alleging U.S. Congress members are bribed by Taiwan to pass pro-Taiwan policies. Beijing’s game of distraction and division continues. 🇩🇪 In Berlin, AfD leader Alice Weidel ripped into police for failing to arrest an “Arab influencer” who launched fireworks into a child’s bedroom. Her verdict? “Berlin has surrendered to migrant violence.” 🇺🇸 In Brooklyn, 71-year-old Grandma Linda Rosa became a subway legend when 4 teens tried to rob her. After taking a punch to the face, Rosa grabbed 2 attackers by the hair and slammed them to the ground. The internet crowned her a legend. 🇬🇧 Nigel Farage is coming for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of lying about Reform UK and declaring her seat a key target in the next election. The Farage vs. Tories feud is heating up. 🇺🇸 Ice-T had a fiery showdown with a New Jersey cop over expired plates. Pulled over near the DMV, he claimed he was on his way to fix the issue, but the cop wasn’t having it, threatening to tow his Porsche. Ice-T? Not cool with it.

🇺🇸SPACE COAST IN ACTION: NASA AND SPACEX HARD AT WORK As NASA teams gear up on ML-2, SpaceX quietly rolled a Falcon 9 booster and payload fairing past the @NASASpaceflight cams. The Space Coast truly never sleeps!

🚨🇺🇸IAN CARROLL ON THE LAS VEGAS CYBERTRUCK BOMBING: DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE “If evidence starts pointing toward a war with China, Iran, or Russia, it’s probably a setup by the deep state.” t.co/LIvuMwzROi

LONELINESS > SCREEN TIME: WHY COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN’T SLEEP Turns out, it’s not TikTok keeping college students awake—it’s loneliness. A study from Oregon State University found 63% of lonely students suffered from insomnia, nearly double the sleeplessness of their less lonely peers. For non-lonely students, screen time only became a problem after a whopping 8-10 hours daily—which, honestly, is impressive dedication to doomscrolling. Researchers suggest colleges invest in mental health resources and activities to help students feel less like extras in a zombie movie. Source: OPB

🚨SOUTH KOREAN INVESTIGATORS PUSH FOR IMPEACHED YOON'S ARREST Investigators have urged acting President Choi Sang-mok to order security forces to enforce an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Security personnel blocked prosecutors from arresting Yoon during a 6-hour standoff yesterday. The warrant stems from Yoon’s controversial December 3 martial law declaration, marking the first arrest warrant issued for a sitting president in South Korea. Police have summoned the presidential security chief for questioning next week, further escalating tensions. Source: Newsmax

🚨TRUMP ALLIES RAISE $200 MILLION FOR INAUGURATION, LIBRARY, AND PACs This record-breaking effort includes $150 million collected by the Trump Inaugural Committee, surpassing the $107 million raised for his 2017 inauguration. Major contributions have come from corporations such as Pfizer, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI, as well as cryptocurrency firms like Ripple, which committed $5 million, and Robinhood, which donated $2 million. Donors contributing $1 million or more will receive exclusive access to high-profile events, including formal dinners and black-tie balls with Trump and Vance. Lobbyist David Tamasi described the corporate donations as a "time-honored D.C. tradition," signaling a pragmatic approach to working with the incoming administration. Source: Newsmax

🚨WASHINGTON POST CARTOONIST QUITS OVER SPIKED BEZOS/TRUMP CARTOON Ann Telnaes, a Washington Post cartoonist, has resigned after the paper rejected her cartoon depicting Jeff Bezos groveling to Trump. Telnaes accused the Post of suppressing her work for targeting its billionaire owner. Editorial Page Editor David Shipley defended the decision, claiming it aimed to avoid redundancy, not stifle critique. The cartoon portrayed Bezos, other tech moguls, and Disney characters offering money to Trump, following Bezos' public support and a $1M inauguration donation. Source: NYT

🚨🇺🇸 HOW A DECORATED ARMY VETERAN PLEDGED ALLEGIANCE TO ISIS BEFORE DEADLY ATTACK Shamsud-Din Jabbar, an Army veteran and Deloitte employee, shocked loved ones by secretly joining ISIS before his deadly New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans. In chilling videos filmed during his drive to the city, Jabbar declared, “I joined ISIS earlier this year,” and spoke of a “war between believers and disbelievers.” Jabbar’s radicalization began with growing isolation in a Houston-area Muslim community, where he withdrew from worship and immersed himself in conservative teachings. Investigators found extremist recordings he posted online, criticizing modern music and linking it to “the voice of Satan.” Carrying an ISIS flag, he used a rented truck to kill 14 on Bourbon Street before being fatally shot by police. Source: NYT

🚨🇻🇪 VENEZUELA’S OPPOSITION LEADER GONZÁLEZ MEETS URUGUAY’S PRESIDENT This afternoon, Edmundo González met with Luis Lacalle Pou and was warmly greeted by the Venezuelan community in Montevideo. t.co/uv3JXS1Yh4

🚨🇺🇸NYC DOCTORS STRIKE COULD HIT 4 PUBLIC HOSPITALS — AND PATIENTS HARD Over 1,000 doctors at NYC public hospitals are ready to walk off the job on Jan. 13, fed up with burnout, bad staffing, and stalled pay talks. The potential strike targets Queens Hospital, Jacobi Medical, North Central Bronx, and South Brooklyn Health — all serving the city’s most vulnerable communities. Mayor Eric Adams urged the Doctors Council SEIU union and private employers Mount Sinai and PAGNY to delay the strike and resume negotiations. Adams: “A strike of physicians at 4 public safety net hospitals in 3 boroughs poses substantial risks to the health and safety of the city's patients and communities. There is never a good time for any disruption to these and other services, and I am especially concerned about that possibility as we confront freezing temperatures and winter respiratory illnesses.” With flu, Covid, and freezing temps, timing couldn’t be worse. The City Council’s meeting today to try and stop the chaos. Sources: Gothamist

🚨🇺🇸TESLA'S UPGRADED MODEL Y "JUNIPER" SPOTTED IN PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA The refreshed Model Y has been sighted again in Palo Alto! New images confirm front turn signals are now integrated into the light bar. Source: @TeslaNewswire t.co/KBchsj5RHH

🇺🇸FROM ‘INCREDIBLE’ TO UNTHINKABLE: DIVORCE TURNS DEADLY Jennifer Sheffield called her ex-husband “incredible” in a video about their divorce. 2 weeks later, he shot her, then himself. Tragically, their child was home during this horror. Source: @CollinRugg

🚨🇺🇸UPDATE: GAS LEAK IN SAN FRANCISCO PROMPTS EVACUATIONS An active gas leak at 47th and Balboa has forced evacuations on 47th and 48th Avenues between Balboa and Cabrillo Streets. About 15 people have been temporarily evacuated. A Muni bus is serving as a shelter at 48th and Balboa for those displaced. No injuries have been reported. Sources: SF Fire Department

🚨🇺🇸JIMMY CARTER’S FUNERAL PROCESSION MOVES THROUGH GEORGIA The funeral procession for former US President Jimmy Carter departed Plains, Georgia, earlier today, stopping briefly at the Georgia State Capitol before continuing to the Carter Center in Atlanta. Source: C-Span t.co/IHwPAnb9kD

🚨🇺🇸JETBLUE FINED $2 MILLION FOR CHRONIC FLIGHT DELAYS JetBlue Airways has been fined $2 million by the Department of Transportation for repeated delays on flights chronically late by 30 minutes or more at least half the time. This marks the first penalty of its kind. The airline said it has invested heavily to address delays, including those caused by air-traffic control issues, but emphasized customer responsibility to track flight times. The fine comes amid stricter oversight under the Biden administration, with potential policy shifts expected under the incoming Trump administration. Source: Travel Pulse

🚨🇺🇸BROOKLYN, NYC RESTAURANT SHOOTING LEAVES 3 INJURED Gunfire erupted at El Nuevo Tipico Restaurant in Cypress Hills around 1 a.m. after an argument escalated. A 38-year-old man was shot in the hand, a 27-year-old woman was hit twice in the leg, and a 37-year-old man was grazed in the abdomen. All victims are in stable condition. The suspect, last seen in a gray hat and black pants, fled on Fulton Street. Sources: WABC

🇺🇸WALL STREET’S CLIMATE PLEDGES MELT: BIG BANKS EXIT NET-ZERO ALLIANCE Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, and Bank of America are out of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, saying “thanks, but no thanks” to its carbon-cutting goals. The reason? Political heat and a focus on keeping clients happy. Critics say the alliance was more talk than action anyway, as fossil-fuel financing actually increased since 2021. Now, activists are calling for stricter rules, claiming banks won’t cut emissions unless they’re forced. The question is: Who’s really going to hold Wall Street accountable? Sources: Bloomberg

MARS: HUMANITY’S NEXT FRONTIER – WHY ELON IS SKIPPING THE MOON Elon has declared the Moon a 'distraction,' redirecting focus toward Mars as humanity’s ultimate destination. One strategy hinges on achieving megaton-scale mass to orbit per year—millions of tons of infrastructure and resources critical for a self-sustaining Martian colony. For Elon, this isn’t about revisiting milestones; it’s about securing humanity’s future. While others romanticize lunar missions, Elon envisions a bold leap forward. Mars represents resilience, expansion, and survival—a vision that redefines what’s possible in space exploration. The Moon is history; Mars is the next chapter.

🚨🇺🇸DALLAS SHOPPING CENTER FIRE KILLS HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS A fire at Plaza Latina shopping center in Dallas claimed the lives of 579 animals, mostly small birds, due to smoke inhalation. Despite firefighters’ efforts, chickens, hamsters, 2 dogs, and 2 cats also perished. The 2-alarm blaze required 45 firefighters to extinguish, severely damaging the structure and causing part of the roof to collapse. No people were injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Source: AP News

🚨🇺🇸GEORGE SANTOS SEEKS SENTENCING DELAY IN FEDERAL FRAUD CASE Former Congressman George Santos has requested a 6-month delay for his sentencing, currently set for February 7, 2025, citing plans to generate funds to cover nearly $600,000 in restitution and forfeiture. Santos, who pleaded guilty to federal fraud, campaign finance violations, and embezzlement, aims to use income from his new podcast, Pants on Fire with George Santos, to make "meaningful progress" on his financial obligations. Prosecutors oppose the delay. Santos faces a potential 75-87 months in prison, including a mandatory 2-year term for aggravated identity theft. Source: ABC News

🚨🇺🇸WINTER STORM ALERT: VIRGINIA DECLARES EMERGENCY AHEAD OF SNOWY CHAOS A monster winter storm is rolling in this weekend, set to dump snow and ice from Kansas to the East Coast. Virginia’s not taking any chances—Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared an emergency and told everyone to rethink those Sunday travel plans. Baltimore and Philly could see 6+ inches, D.C. might be sliding into a messy Monday, and even Florida’s bracing for freezing temps. Oh, and the South gets thunderstorms and possible tornadoes for good measure. Stay safe out there—it’s about to get real frosty. Sources: ABC News

🚨🇺🇸GAS LEAK PROMPTS EVACUATIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO A gas line was accidentally struck at 47th Avenue and Balboa Street around 11:24 a.m., causing evacuations in the area. Police and firefighters are going door-to-door to ensure residents leave safely. No injuries have been reported so far. Sources: NBC Bay Area, SF Fire Department

🚨🇮🇹BREAKING: ITALY'S MELONI EN ROUTE TO MAR-A-LAGO TO MEET TRUMP While the agenda remains secret, discussions may include the case of journalist Cecilia Sala, detained in Iran, and other global issues. This surprise visit strengthens ties as Meloni reiterates her support for U.S.-Italy collaboration. Source: Corriere

🇺🇸 A FINAL SALUTE TO PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER President Carter’s motorcade made a stop at his childhood home in Plains, GA. The National Park Service honored the 39th President with a salute and rang the historic farm bell 39 times in his memory. Source: CSPAN

🚨🇺🇸STARLINK MINI LAUNCHES ACROSS THE US: HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IN A BACKPACK Starlink Mini, the portable satellite dish providing high-speed internet, is now available across the U.S. Weighing under 15 pounds and costing $599, the dish connects up to 128 devices with download speeds of 30-100 Mbps. Powered by USB batteries, it’s designed for digital nomads and van-lifers, withstanding snow, rain, and harsh winds. Plans range from $50 to $165/month, ideal for rural homes or on-the-go connectivity. Source: CNET, @Starlink

CREEPY ROBOT TODDLER MIMICS HUMAN EXPRESSIONS—AND YOUR NIGHTMARES Scientists in Japan made a robot toddler that mimics human emotions using “waveforms” for movements like blinking and yawning. The result? Its face is more fluid—but still firmly in the uncanny valley. While it’s an improvement over stiff, preprogrammed bots, let’s be real: its darting, off-focus eyes don’t scream “human.” They scream “demonic porcelain doll.” Want lifelike robots? Maybe skip the creepy baby prototype next time. Source: Popular Science

🚨ELON: REPLIES TO X POSTS WILL START APPEARING IN THE MAIN TIMELINE @cstanley : "Should replies be more visible if it is good content? Should they just be treated like a regular post?" Elon: "We should show banger replies in the main timeline." Source: X t.co/189qKqfTZU

🚨🇺🇸LEGACY MEDIA GOES SOFT ON CRIME: DELETING THE PAST TO "PROTECT" CRIMINALS Some US newspapers like The Oregonian and Cleveland . com are now scrubbing old crime stories to give offenders a "clean slate," prioritizing criminal privacy over public accountability. This trend, backed by editors citing "compassion" and Google funding, undermines journalism’s core purpose: truth and transparency. Legacy media now picks who gets forgotten while victims remain silenced and society stays uninformed. Instead of confronting crime or holding the justice system accountable, the media is erasing inconvenient truths. If accountability is sacrificed to cater to narratives, who’s really being served? Certainly not justice. Source: The Guardian

🚨🇺🇸SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY SHUTDOWN OVER BOMB THREAT BY JORDANIAN NATIONAL Ahmad Alhendi, 28, from Oak Lawn, IL, caused a 4-hour highway closure on I-85 in South Carolina after claiming he had a “small bomb” in his truck during a traffic stop. No explosives were found, but the scare halted traffic for thousands. Globe Transportation, his employer, has stayed silent. Alhendi faces charges including making a false bomb threat, remains in custody on a $20,238 bond and awaits a 2026 immigration hearing for overstaying his visa. Why the long wait? No one knows. Sources: USA Today