CNN 5 Things

A strike on another suspected drug trafficking boat in the Pacific is again escalating tensions between US and Venezuela. Five people are dead after a plane crash off the coast of Texas. The FDA has approved a pill version of Wegovy. President Donald Trump made his first public comments on the latest release of the Epstein files. Plus, the Kansas City Chiefs are leaving Kansas City, Missouri.

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President Donald Trump unveiled a new class of Navy battleships. We have the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry. New storms are prompting evacuations in parts of California. We’ll tell you why Barry Manilow rescheduled his upcoming concert dates. Plus, Paramount beefs up its bid for CNN's parent company.

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The US is pursuing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Justice Department’s release of the Epstein files is causing widespread criticism. We explain why the pulling of an episode of “60 minutes” has caused internal turmoil at CBS. Police in Australia say the suspected Bondi Beach gunmen threw bombs into the crowd which did not go off. Plus, another famous institution in Paris has been robbed.

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President Donald Trump’s second term has been norm-busting and extraordinarily consequential, but cracks are starting to form in Trump’s base. As 2025 comes to a close, we take stock of whether his political pull is reaching its limit and how discontent with his policies could shape the midterms. 

For more: Americans have a new thing to worry about: A stuck job market with no quick fix 

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Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

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The Happiness Factory brings holiday cheer to people who need it most. An elementary school in Fort Worth, Texas couldn’t afford their annual Christmas gifts for its students, until TikTok made the magic happen. These sisters live far away from each other, but this holiday tradition brings them back together. This group believes Santa comes in every color. Plus, how many mistletoe-kissing couples does it take to make history?

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The Justice Department just released a massive portion of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. We’ll tell you about the US military’s operation in Syria. Investigators face steep challenges trying to piece together a motive in the Brown University shooting. More pharmaceutical companies are joining President Donald Trump’s push to lower drug prices. Plus, an update on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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There are questions over whether all the files related to Jeffrey Epstein will actually be released tonight. A powerful storm is causing flight delays and knocking out power for millions in the Northeast. We explain how an anonymous reddit post helped track the suspected Brown University shooter. The EU has announced a funding package for Ukraine. Plus, we’ll tell you why President Donald Trump’s “Patriot Games” are being compared to the “The Hunger Games.”

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We begin with news that the Brown University shooting suspect has been found. The US has carried out more strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Pacific Ocean. In a CNN Exclusive, we tell you about some planned changes to vaccines for children in the US. Australia’s prime minister has announced a plan to buy back hundreds of thousands of guns. Plus, the US-based TikTok app is inching closer.

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Breaking News Alert: The social media platform has signed on

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We start with the Trump administration’s health policy changes on care for transgender minors and marijuana. There’s a potential break in the Brown University shooting investigation. We’ll tell you about a plane crash that authorities say killed a NASCAR driver and his family. We’re getting a glimpse of the second batch of photos from Jefferey Epstein’s estate. Plus, a change President Donald Trump frequently joked about came true.

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