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Redaction-Gate: US Justice Department Under Fire for Removing Trump Image from Epstein Files (Financial Times)
Donald Trump’s administration faced new criticism of its handling of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after the Justice Department removed 16 files, including an image of the president, from a trove of information released on Friday.
The images deleted on Saturday without explanation included a document showing one of Epstein’s desks in which two photographs of Trump were visible, according to the Financial Times.
The questions around the images that were posted and then deleted come as the Trump administration has already faced criticism for heavily redacting thousands of documents related to Epstein on Friday. The long-awaited disclosure was mandated by a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump last month.
Trump has not only faced criticism from Democrats but also some Republicans, including parts of his own MAGA base, who want full transparency when it comes to Epstein.
Tensions Rise: US Still in Pursuit of Third Oil Tanker in Venezuela Blockade (Bloomberg)
The US is still in pursuit of a third oil tanker near Venezuela, according to a US official, as President Donald Trump intensifies an oil blockade on Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The Bella 1 tanker, a Panamanian-flagged vessel sanctioned by the US, was en route to Venezuela to load, said a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. The attempted interdiction follows the boarding of the Centuries supertanker early Saturday and the
Skipper on Dec. 10.
A US official said the tanker being pursued Sunday is flying under a false flag and under a judicial seizure order. Earlier, people familiar with the matter said the Bella 1 had already been boarded.
Saturday’s boarding was notable because the ship hadn’t appeared on the public US sanctions list. The Centuries tanker was flying a Panamanian flag, Bloomberg reported earlier, while a Chinese company holds title to the oil.
In South Africa: 9 Killed in Mass Shooting at Tavern Near Johannesburg (New York Times)
Gunmen opened fire at a bar near Johannesburg on Sunday, killing nine people, the police said. The episode adds to the growing list of mass shootings in South Africa, many of which have been linked to organized crime.
Nearly a dozen assailants drove up to the tavern in two vehicles around 1 a.m. and then sprayed it with gunfire, Capt. Tintswalo Sibeko of the South African police said in a statement. Ten people were also injured in the attack, she said.
The authorities have not identified suspects or determined a motive for the attack, and a manhunt is underway. The shooting took place at the KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, a township around 30 miles west of Johannesburg, the police said.
Australian Tribute: Thousands of Surfers and Swimmers at Bondi Beach Form Heart in Tribute to Victims of Mass Shooting at Hanukkah Event (People)
This Weekend in Florida: US, Ukraine Held ‘Constructive’ Talks in Miami, Witkoff Says (Bloomberg)
US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump administration officials held “productive and constructive” meetings with Ukrainian and European counterparts in Florida as part of ongoing efforts to end the war.
The talks included US President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov and other European security advisers, Witkoff said in a post on X. Topics discussed included further developing the existing 20-point plan, a US security guarantee framework and the economic development plan for Ukraine, he said.
US-UK Talks: Starmer
and Trump Discuss Ukraine, Gaza and New UK Ambassador (Bloomberg)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine and Gaza during a pre-Christmas phone call on Sunday, according to Downing Street in London.
Starmer also updated Trump on the choice of a new British ambassador to Washington, Christian Turner, after Peter Mandelson was fired in September over his relationship with the late disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer’s efforts to keep Trump close are being tested by tariffs on British steel, a stalled agreement on technology cooperation and Trump’s decision to sue the British Broadcasting Corp. for at least $10 billion over a misleading edit in a documentary last year. The BBC has apologized but says it plans to fight the case.
California Blackout: San Francisco Crippled by Widespread Power Outages on Busy Holiday Shopping Weekend (Bloomberg)
San Francisco got most of its power back after the city was hit by a widespread outage Saturday that left thousands of homes and businesses in the dark, closing stores and disrupting transit during the busy holiday shopping period. The outages caused widespread disruption on local transit systems and traffic lights.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company said in a statement on X that its crew restored about 90,000 customers by 9 p.m. Saturday, with the remaining 40,000 expected to get power back overnight.
A series of outages began in the morning in the western part of the city and spread throughout the day, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. An afternoon fire inside a PG&E substation was responsible for at least part of the outages, the paper wrote, citing local fire officials.
NY Shake-Up: Trump Endorses Blakeman for New York Governor After Stefanik Drops Out (Bloomberg)
President Trump endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for New York governor a day after Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, another long-time ally of the president, dropped out of the race.
Stefanik, 41, was widely expected to be the Republican nominee until Blakeman entered the race against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Her decision to drop the bid and also not seek reelection to Congress was unexpected, but she faced an uphill battle: The lawmaker trailed Hochul by 19 percentage points in a Siena Research Institute poll released earlier this week.
Media Eruption:
CBS
Pulls ‘60 Minutes’ Segment on Trump Deportations to El Salvador At Last Minute (Axios)
CBS News pulled the broadcast of a "60 Minutes" segment scheduled to air last night on the Trump administration's deportation of migrants to an El Salvador prison with little public notice - and after it had been promoted on social media.
The decision marks an early and consequential test of Bari Weiss' tenure as the network's editor-in-chief, a position she started in October.
🔊 Now Streaming! Dive into the latest Daily Read Podcast for deeper context and smart analysis on today’s headlines. Available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Box Office High: Disney’s ‘Avatar 3’ Hits Theaters With $88 Million Opening (Bloomberg)
Walt Disney Co.’s Avatar: Fire and Ash was the highest-grossing film at the box office this weekend with $88 million worth of movie tickets sold in the US and Canada.
Holiday Guide: 90 Last-Minute Gifts on Sale That Will Arrive by Christmas (New York Magazine)
Book Gifting: Expert‑Recommended Reads for Every Type of Reader — From Spy Dramas to Sports Biographies (New York Times)
Two Weeks Left: A Christmas Carol Shines at the PAC-NYC This Holiday Season (PAC-NYC)
There are only two weeks left to experience A Christmas Carol at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC‑NYC) in downtown Manhattan, featuring Michael Cerveris in a standout performance as Scrooge.
Tony Award–winning playwright Jack Thorne and director Matthew Warchus bring a fresh, enchanting vision to Dickens’ timeless classic. Filled with merriment, festive treats, and holiday warmth, this immersive production surrounds the audience with the action and invites everyone into the shared spirit of the season.
On stage for a limited time, through Sunday, Jan. 4. Get tickets here.
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