Good morning.
The number of people detained by immigrants in the US has increased reach an all-time highThis is evidenced by data published by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The data, released every two weeks, shows that as of December 14, 2025, there were more than 68,400 people in ICE custody.
This number of immigrants detained is a new record, breaking the previous record set in early December. In total, the administration arrested more than 328,000 and deported nearly 327,000.
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What are the demographics of the people the administration plans to deport? One of the biggest changes in immigration policy is that immigrants with no criminal record continue to make up the largest group of immigrants detained in the United States, despite the administration's rhetoric that its anti-immigration efforts are focused on the “worst of the worst” criminals. (Undocumentedness is a civil, not criminal, offense in the United States.)
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How do ordinary people resist? While Trump carries out his mass deportation operation, Julia Carrie Wong reports about how residents unite to block raids and distribute food.
Trump complains Epstein files are harming people who 'innocently encountered' him
Donald Trump has broke his silence over the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, complaining that people who “innocently met” the convicted pedophile could have their reputations ruined.
In his first comments since the Justice Department began releasing the material on Friday, the president on Monday expressed sympathy for prominent Democrats who have come under new scrutiny for their ties to Epstein.
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What did Trump say about Clinton? “I like Bill Clinton,” Trump said after his photo was featured prominently in Friday's photo lineup. “I hate to see pictures of him, but that’s what the Democrats are asking for—mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans—so they’re giving my pictures, too.”
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Meanwhile, what's happening on the Hill? Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said yesterday that he would introduce resolution directing the Senate to sue the Justice Department over its incomplete disclosure of files.
Russia, China pledge support for Venezuela as Trump steps up pressure on Maduro
China and Russia have expressed support for Venezuela as he faces a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers while Donald Trump continues to escalate his pressure campaign against the South American country's President Nicolas Maduro.
China's Foreign Ministry said Monday that seizing another country's ships is a serious violation of international law after the U.S. intercepted A China-bound oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday.
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What did Trump say about forcing Maduro to relinquish power? Trump told reporters, “I think it would be smart for him to do that,” before adding, “If he wants to do something, if he plays hard, this will be the last time he can play hard.”
In other news…
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President Donald Trump announced plans The US Navy will build a new generation of warships to be known as the “Trump Class”. The project will begin with the construction of two such battleships and will eventually be expanded to 20–25 new ships.
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A Russian general was killed when an explosive device exploded under his car in Moscow. which Russia called probable murder carried out by Ukrainian special services.
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Prime Ministers of Denmark and Greenland demanded respect beyond your borders after Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the largely self-governing Danish territory, which he has repeatedly said should be under US control.
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A coalition of Democratic-led states filed the lawsuit. lawsuit yesterday sought to block the Donald Trump administration from protecting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaustating that the administration's actions violate the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
Statistics of the day: Larry Ellison said it has agreed to a $40.4 billion personal guarantee for Paramount's takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery.
On Monday, tech billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of tech giant Oracle, who is worth about $250 billion, said he had agreed personally supported $40.4 billion in equity financing for Paramount Skydance's fight for control of Warner Bros Discovery. Last week, however, WBD called on shareholders to reject a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Ellison-controlled Paramount, favoring a sale to Netflix after completing an $82.7 billion deal.
Culture pick: The Night Manager is coming back soon – and it's even more interesting
After a decade of absence, Tom Hiddleston goes undercover again as Jonathan Pine, and this time he gets into an explosive, sexually dynamic threesome. The series is co-produced by Amazon and takes the first two episodes to Egypt, Barcelona, Miami and Medellin. “I always hoped that I could return to this role,” says Hiddleston.
Don't miss this: Bethlehem celebrates Christmas again for the first time in three years – podcast
This December, Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank turned on its Christmas lights for the first time in three years. There have been no Christmas celebrations in the city since the start of the Gaza war, which health officials say has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. Pastor Munter Isaac tells Today in Focus about the return of Christmas to his hometown.
…or this: Best of Long Reads 2025
Check it out during the holidays top 20 pieces I read it from the Guardian a long time ago. Such as Sophie Pinkham about the enigmatic writer who foresaw Putin's Russia and then became a symbol of its moral decay. Or Atul Dev about life in the sinking country of Tuvalu. Or Mark O'ConnellDetailed profile of MrBeast, “The Mozart of the Attention Economy.”
Climate Check: One Dead in California Floods as State Braces for Brutal Week of Christmas Storms
One person died after getting stuck in his car during severe flooding, authorities in Redding, California, said. Residents across the state preparing for a week of severe storms They are forecast to bring heavy rainfall and flooding throughout the holiday weekend. Southern California could face its worst Christmas storm in years, following Los Angeles' wettest November in decades.
Latest: Fairer laws passed, polluting factories shut down, charges dropped against innocent people – how our US records have changed in 2025
It's been a year of impressive reporting for Guardian US. For example, following the Guardian report, the Trump administration was sued by 50 leading organizations for failing to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. And there was a Major League Soccer executive who was placed on administrative leave after an investigation into allegations of sexist, racist and homophobic behavior. And Israel was banned from using Microsoft software to conduct mass surveillance of Palestinians following the report. More details here.
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