Jan. 6 bombs; Pete Hegseth; Texas redistricting : NPR

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Today's top news

Defense Minister Pete Hegseth came under fire yesterday on two fronts. As lawmakers reviewed video of the deadly September strike on a suspected drug ship in the Caribbean, he was separately accused of using Signal to discuss the U.S. attack on Yemen. At a closed meeting, deputies spoke questions about the second round of strikes on a suspected drug ship that left two survivors dead.

• 🎧 Navy Adm. Frank M. Bradley, who oversaw the operation on the suspected drug ship, defended the second strike. to lawmakers yesterday, NPR's Tom Bowman reports Up first. He justified the action by saying that the survivors were actively talking to their comrades on the radio and trying to salvage drugs from the nearly destroyed boat, which led to the order for a second round of strikes. While Republicans continue to support attacks on suspected drug ships, Democrats are demanding release of the full version of the video for public viewing and hold Hegseth fully responsible.

Yesterday, the FBI said it has arrested a man it believes is responsible for planting pipe bombs near the US Capitol complex on January 6, 2021. A man is suspected of installing the devices. 30-year-old Brian J. Cole Jr.who was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia. According to the arrest warrant issued in his case, he is charged with transporting an explosive device through interstate commerce and attempting malicious destruction by means of an explosive device.

• 🎧 The FBI affidavit provided financial evidence that Cole purchased items that matched those used to make pipe bombs. Authorities discovered this, according to NPR's Ryan Lucas. Cell phone location data showed that on the night of the bombs, the suspect's phone was calling cell phone towers in the area where the pipe bombs were left. Answers to questions about the motives behind homemade bombs: he is expected to appear in court in the coming months. as the Department of Justice is investigating the matter.

Supreme Court allows Texas to use new congressional map this could help the Republican Party gain five more seats in the US House of Representatives. This gives President Trump and the Republican Party a big boost in the ongoing fight against gerrymandering. The court overturned a lower court ruling that found the map was likely to be racially discriminatory.

• 🎧 The conservative majority on the Supreme Court essentially sided with Texas lawmakers.says NPR's Hansi Lo Wang. Lawmakers said their motivation for creating the new districts was not race, but to increase the likelihood of Republicans being elected. Supreme Court the redistricting cases aren't over yetas he still has to rule on a major voting rights case involving Louisiana's congressional map. Depending on how and when the court decides on this case, the Southern states could see another wave of congressional gerrymandering.

Picture show

Evil: For good recently appeared on the big screen, captivating audiences with its music, magical plot and costumes. Costume designer Paul Tazewell's work on the first Wicked the film made him the first black man to win an Academy Award for costume design. He used iconic outfits, including Glinda's shimmering blue-and-purple dress and Elphaba's frayed cloak, to capture women's journeys without words. Check out some costumes he designed the new film. You can also listen to him discuss his journey with textiles in an interview with the publication Fresh airor read the transcript Here.

Weekend selection

Check that NPR Watching, reading and listening this weekend:

🍿Movies: Feeling festive and ready to dive into this year's noteworthy holiday movies? Well you're in luck because Pop Culture Happy Hour there is a perfect guide.

📚Books: Water sports tells the story of a politician's wife in a fictional African country. She is caught between an ambitious husband and her best artist friend, whose unorthodox life and political criticism have put him in the crosshairs of the regime.

🎵Music: The final episode of New Music Friday for 2025 is released today. From Dove Ellis Blizzard in TEED Always with mehere are the main points new music released today and playlist agree with this.

🎭Theatre: This week the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater opened its first season under the direction of Alicia Graf Mackformer soloist of the troupe. The season will feature five world premieres, including Maya Garcia's Jazz Island.

🎮 Games: Everything is taken into account producer Vincent Acovino describes Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as “confusing”. Although he praised the game's sound design and graphics, Acovino criticized the lack of puzzle solving and annoying assistants.

❓ Quiz: I scored nine out of 11 this week, which obviously puts me in the “good” list. Now you let's see if you get on the list too much.

3 things you need to know before your trip

1. Spotify Wrapped openly criticizes them this year “listening age” of users, it depends on what era of music they listen to. Many users find that the calculated age is decades older or younger than their actual age.
2. Pantone has announced the color of 2026. for the first time it's a shade of white. The company says it “serves as a symbol of a calming influence.”
3. Researchers at the Canadian Museum of Nature identified a new species of rhinoceros that once roamed the Canadian Arctic 23 million years ago. This discovery changes the understanding of when many ancient animals dispersed across the continents.

This newsletter has been edited Suzanne Nuyen.