Supreme Court weighs Trump’s birthright order, EU fines Musk’s X, Epstein files unsealed...

The Supreme Court has agreed to review the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. This case, which has attracted nationwide attention, will be argued in the spring, with a decision expected by early summer. USA Today and The Guardian note that the order, signed on Trump’s first day of his second term, was immediately challenged and has not taken effect, while The Hill underscores that the dispute adds to a series of major confrontations between the Trump administration and the judiciary this term. The administration is also facing challenges over the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members, a move the high court has already signaled skepticism toward. USA Today The Hill The Guardian bostonglobe.com CNBC

A federal judge in Florida has ordered the release of previously secret grand jury transcripts from the 2005–2007 investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, citing a new federal law that overrides traditional secrecy protections. As reported by The Guardian, USA Today, and BBC News, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed last month by President Trump, mandates the release of unclassified records relating to Epstein’s criminal cases. The Justice Department has until December 19 to comply, raising expectations about new revelations in the long-running scandal. Wall Street Journal (politics) The Guardian USA Today BBC News

An ongoing wave of congressional redistricting, largely driven by President Trump’s push for a more favorable electoral landscape, is unfolding across several US states. According to bostonglobe.com and The Hill, Republican-led legislatures have redrawn House maps to boost GOP prospects, with Democrats countering in key states. Notably, the new maps have led to a net gain of three likely Republican seats, but litigation continues in multiple jurisdictions. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold Texas’s new map has prompted longtime Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett to announce his retirement, further highlighting the political stakes. bostonglobe.com The Hill The Hill

US authorities have arrested a suspect accused of planting pipe bombs near the Democratic and Republican National Committee offices on the eve of the January 6 Capitol riot. Al Jazeera reports the arrest comes after years of investigation, while The Hill details the suspect’s four-hour interview with the FBI and initial court appearance, underscoring the ongoing legal fallout from the events surrounding January 6. Al Jazeera (english) The Hill

President Trump’s National Security Strategy, as outlined by Al Jazeera, USA Today, and The Hill, signals a significant realignment in US foreign policy. The document emphasizes reduced prioritization of the Middle East, a greater military presence in the Western Hemisphere, tougher border security, and a call for Europe to avoid “civilizational erasure” and remain a reliable ally. Analysts note the strategy also positions the US to work more closely with aligned countries aiming to “restore their former greatness,” while balancing trade and culture war issues with Europe. Al Jazeera (english) USA Today The Hill

President Trump’s close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino is drawing scrutiny within the world’s football establishment, as detailed in Politico Europe. Infantino’s overt courtship of Trump—including creating a FIFA Peace Prize and accommodating the US president at high-profile events—has led to internal dissent and accusations of undermining FIFA’s political neutrality. The dynamic is further complicated by Trump’s immigration and travel ban policies affecting World Cup-bound teams and fans, and the US pushback against European efforts to ban Israel from international soccer. Politico Europe

The European Union has levied a landmark €120 million ($140 million) fine against Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) for violating the Digital Services Act’s transparency requirements, as reported by Al Jazeera and Politico Europe. The move, the first of its kind under the new law, has triggered sharp criticism from US officials, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio accusing the EU of unfairly targeting American tech companies. Politico and The Guardian highlight that further investigations into other large platforms are imminent, potentially intensifying transatlantic digital regulatory tensions. Al Jazeera (english) Politico Europe Politico Europe

A church outside Chicago has displayed a provocative Nativity scene featuring baby Jesus in zip ties and immigration agents depicted as Roman soldiers, intended as a statement against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and family separation practices. USA Today reports that the church aims to draw attention to the plight of migrants and detainees, though federal authorities deny some of the depicted abuses. The installation has sparked local and national debate on the intersection of faith, protest, and immigration policy. USA Today

Hungary has blocked a proposal to issue eurobonds to support Ukraine, eliminating an alternative to the EU’s controversial plan to use frozen Russian assets for a €165 billion loan to Kyiv. Politico Europe details how Belgium, which holds most of the frozen funds, remains reluctant unless broader EU guarantees are provided, despite Germany’s offer of a partial backstop. The deadlock intensifies pressure ahead of an upcoming EU summit, with the risk that Ukraine’s defense and budget support could soon run dry if no solution is reached. Politico Europe

Germany’s ruling coalition, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has passed a contentious pension package after overcoming an internal conservative rebellion, reports Politico Europe. The deal required concessions to younger lawmakers concerned about benefit sustainability and was ultimately aided by abstentions from the far-left Die Linke party. However, Merz faces further challenges in enacting deeper pension reforms in the coming year to satisfy both his conservative base and center-left coalition partners. Politico Europe