Trump warships; Venezuela; Heritage Foundation : NPR

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Today's top news

President Trump announced yesterday that the US Navy will spend billions of taxpayer dollars on the ship to build a new class of warships. named after him. The news conference at which he announced the plan came days after the Trump-led board of directors voted to add his name to the list. Kennedy Center.

• 🎧 The President said his administration would begin by building two of these new battleships.which he says will have nuclear missile capabilities, reports NPR's Quil Lawrence Up first. He said production would be ramped up to produce more of these ships. The president did not give specific deadlines for either production. During a press conference yesterday, Trump discussed US troops pursuing a third major oil tanker. Administration actions regarding oil tankers remain uncharted territoryand the president did not focus on those details during his speech, Lawrence said.

A federal judge has ruled that the deportation of more than 100 Venezuelans to El Salvador was illegal. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the government violated due process and established that men have the right to the hearing. Earlier this year, the US deported scores of men to a prison in El Salvador after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg's decision came after new CBS News chief Bari Weiss banned the channel from broadcasting. interviews with former prisoners on 60 minutes on the weekend.

• 🎧 Boasberg ordered the administration to return the men to the United States or hold proper hearings abroad.though it's unclear how the government will facilitate this, says NPR's Jimena Bustillo. Although the government will likely appeal the decision, lawyers for Venezuelans are challenging the decision. makes it clear that the government cannot sending people to brutal foreign prisons without due process. The men returned to Venezuela after four months in a Salvadoran prison. They told NPR and other media outlets about the poor food, unsanitary conditions and sexual abuse they suffered while incarcerated.

More than a dozen staffers are leaving the Heritage Foundation, the influential conservative think tank behind Project 2025. The former staffers are joining the group, which was founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. This marks split within the Republican Party because it helps define who should represent a political movement and what it should stand for.

• 🎧 Pence's Advancing American Freedom was a relatively small organization.but he's working to expand his leadership role, says NPR's Sarah McCammon. Group President Tim Chapman says it is working on determine the future of conservatism and hopes to increase support for traditional concepts such as free trade and a less isolationist foreign policy. Meanwhile, the Heritage Foundation remains a large and influential organization.

Life advice

Socializing can make you feel awkward, but avoiding awkwardness may keep you from having fun and making connections this holiday season. Psychologists Ali Mattoo and Fallon Goodman shared tips Life Kit on how to level up your small talk and practice social courage. So, before you skip a social lunch or office party, check this comic showcases their advice.

• 💬 Start building a daily routine of low-stakes communication, such as conversations with a cashier, classmate or colleague.
• 💬 Try setting small goals for yourself, such as talking to one person or asking two questions. You can also create an escape plan and develop an exit strategy to get away if you really need to.
• 💬 Put your phone down. Looking at screens can be a safety behavior that prevents us from connecting with others.

To learn more about how to work with your social anxiety, listen to this NPR episode Life Kit. Subscribe to That Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.

Picture show

After his mother's death, Kevin Maillard wondered, “Where did she go?” He wrote about his confusion in his new children's book: And they move onwhich is illustrated by Rafael Lopez. The book is about a little boy whose grandmother died. The child then wonders where someone is going when they walk next. Perhaps they are watering the herbs in the garden or heading to the market to buy melons. The story begins with muted illustrations in neutral tones. Then, as the little boy begins to remember his grandmother, the colors become brighter and more vibrant. Look how the illustrations in the book use color to tell a story. You can also listen to Maillard and Lopez discuss creative decisions they made or read the transcript here.

3 things you need to know before your trip

1. The ATX-VINyL program brings bedside music face complex diagnoses and treatments. The Texas doctor who created the program says listening to vinyl music helps ease difficult times for families.
2. Kansas lawmakers approved a major tax break package yesterday, helping Kansas City leaders. build a new $3 billion domed stadium in the state and bring the team from Missouri. (by using CRMS)
3. Trump recently began using kei cars, tiny cars popular in Asia that remain rare in the United States. I doubt much will changebecause the vehicles do not meet specific U.S. safety requirements.

This newsletter has been edited Suzanne Nuyen.