Ukraine peace; Abrego Garcia; Indiana redistricting : NPR

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Today's top news

Yesterday, a federal judge released Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration detention. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March due to what Immigration and Customs Enforcement called an “administrative error.” He was eventually returned and placed in US custody. A federal judge ruled that the government failed to produce a lawful order for his expulsion from the United States. The decision comes as lawmakers question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about President Trump's compliance with court orders.

• 🎧 The White House said it would appeal the decision.According to NPR's Jimena Bustillo. Abrego Garcia's lawyers say the decision is an exceptional victory not only for their client, but also for due process. Democrats invited family members of people who were deported or detained because examples of the impact of immigration laws. Noem said she believes immigrants who entered the U.S. under former President Biden pose the greatest threat to national security. Noem's department is reopening cases for refugees admitted under the Biden administration and calling for asylum claims to be processed.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that the Ukrainian people will have to speak out through a referendum for their country to surrender territorywhat the US wants Ukraine to do as part of a peace agreement with Russia. Zelensky and other Europeans are working to offer answers and alternatives to pressure from Trump's efforts to end the war.

• 🎧 Zelensky is participating in the Trump administration's most painful proposals to show that Ukraine is negotiating in good faith.NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports. Up first. Giving up territory became a red line for Ukrainians. Zelensky says he is considering holding elections within the next 90 days or a referendum on giving up parts of eastern Ukraine to help end the war. Ukraine did not hold elections because the country was under martial law due to the Russian invasion. The Constitution prohibits elections during war– says Kakissis. Opinion polls show that most Ukrainians think holding elections now is a terrible idea.

The Indiana Senate yesterday voted 31 to 19 against the redistricting the president has called for. to help Republicans win next year's midterm elections. The defeat occurred in a state where 40 of the 50 members of the Senate are Republicans. This is the first time members of Trump's own party voted against his redistricting campaign. A nationwide effort to flip the midterm elections in favor of the Republican Party has succeeded in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina.

• 🎧 Indiana State Senator Spencer Deery says redistricting for political gain goes against his conservative values.and he will fight to stop the federal government from bullying the state. Other state legislators said they voters didn't want a new map. Ben Thorpe of NPR station WFYI says Republicans appear to have “turned down a couple more seats than Democrats.” Texas helped the GOP pick up perhaps five more seats; Thanks to the efforts of Missouri and North Carolina, one additional seat was created. California Democrats responded by flipping five seats to their side. The question now is whether Republicans in other states will follow Trump's lead on redistricting, Thorpe says.

Life advice

As the new year approaches, you may be thinking about ways to freshen up your home. Interior designer Vern Yip advises unplugging from the internet and finding design inspiration in the real world. In his latest book Texture with color pattern: the basis for making your home your ownhe encourages readers to take a more practical approach to build a room It not only looks good, but also feels good.

• 🏡 Online decorating trends like trim and stick options may look good in photos, but won't match the feel of real-life materials. Consider using a large rug or similar option until you can afford to properly renovate the desired area.
• 🏡Need temporary parts while you save? Try yard sales and consignment stores for used items that may be cheaper and of better quality.
• 🏡 When choosing new colors for the walls, be sure to consider your skin tone. Sometimes light reflecting off certain colors can result in a washed out appearance.

Tips on how to decorate your home without the help of social media, listen to this NPR episode Life Kit. Subscribe to That Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.

Weekend selection

Check that NPR Watching, reading and listening this weekend:

🍿Movies: IN Jay KellyGeorge Clooney plays an aging movie star who travels around Europe while his manager and publicist struggle to manage him. Plus, if you want to go to the theater, watch this review of proposals received This week.

📺TV: Abandoned The Western series follows two steely matriarchs who clash on the American frontier. According to the presenters, this is indeed a frothy late-night series. Pop Culture Happy Hour.

📚Books: As we approach the end of 2025, NPR's Colin Dwyer has compiled some latest noteworthy titles edition this year, including Sea Captain's Wife And The rest of our livesWith.

🎵Music: It's been another great year for mind-blowing creativity in Spanish-language music. Here six artists who caught Alternative Latinoh attention. Find out more about NPR Music covering the best music of 2025.

🍽️ Food: If you're looking to expand your palate or are looking for a great gift for a foodie, here's selection of 10 cookbooks from 2025.

❓ Quiz: At 10/11 it feels like Christmas has come early. Now it's yours turn to test your knowledge from this week.

3 things you need to know before your trip

1. The Walt Disney Company has entered into a three-year license agreement with OpenAI to bring Disney characters and images into Sora, allowing you to create and share videos.
2. British archaeologists claim to have discovered the earliest evidence of people lighting fires anywhere in the world. Discovery suggests early humans created fire more than 350,000 years ago than was previously known.
3. The day after Jillian Cline was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had one day left to decide on a new health insurance plan. She contacted her company's human resources department and informed Alex McKee of the situation. McKee not only took care of everything, but also supported her beyond the insurance logistics. Kline says her unsung hero helped her understand the meaning of true kindness.

This newsletter has been edited Suzanne Nuyen.