WWL First News with Tommy Tucker

Where do things stand with Russia, Ukraine, and what the US is doing? How has the Trump administration handled things in 2025?

We break it all down with Brian Taylor, director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. His most recent book is “Russian Politics: A Very Short Introduction.”

We’ll check in Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Mike Strain, Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, as they get the Louisiana float ready for the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena.

The Pontchartrain Conversancy recently got federal funding to address aquatic litter.

Kristi Trail, executive director of Pontchartrain Conservancy, gives us the details.

Bank On It, financial insights you can count on with Jason Shields, the COO of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Tommy and WWL.com columnist Jeff Palermo recap LSU's 38-35 loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl and go over some of the Tigers' losses to the portal

* Do you make sure your kids are always occupied? We’ll talk with Margaret Murray, a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, about how boredom can actually be good for children.

* How did medieval peasants celebrate the holidays? Were they having more fun than we do? We'll talk to Bobbi Sutherland, a professor of history

* We talk Saints/Titans with the Voice of the Saints, Mike Hoss. Who’s been the biggest surprise for the Black and Gold?

* We take our weekly deep dive into crime and policing in the New Orleans area with former NOPD chief Ronal Serpas. What goes into securing the city for the holidays and big events around New Year’s

* We’ll continue to look back on 2025 and look ahead to 2026, and we’ll talk with Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple about how things have gone

* We’ll spend some time with Councilmember Freddie King about the abandoned DeGaulle Manor in Algiers, French Quarter security, and more

How did medieval peasants celebrate the holidays? Were they having more fun than we do? We'll talk to Bobbi Sutherland, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Dayton

Americans are feeling particularly gloomy as we approach the end of the year. We'll break down the new survey with LSU political scientist Robert Hogan.