‘It’s Just Us’: The Firefighter, His Son and a Treacherous Choice

For two decades, Luis Martinez has fought wildfires for the U.S. government. Now he’s facing down cancer, debt and the threat of separation from his 11-year-old.

The New York Times

Over 91% of Clients in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Reach Undetectable Status

New data confirm Ryan White’s success—undetectable equals untransmittable (and healthier)—but GOP leaders want to slash these HIV funds.

Poz

Waymo suspends service amid widespread blackout-related disruption

The widespread havoc shows the vulnerability of a city when fleets of autonomous vehicles are responsible for an increasing percentage of its traffic patterns, as in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Standard

At least 16 files have disappeared from the DOJ webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein

At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public.

AP News

ICE agents question travelers leaving the US via Nogales ports

Venturing into customs officers’ turf, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been posted at three Nogales ports of entry for much of the past two weeks, questioning some and at times checking immigration documents as travelers try to leave the U.S., locals say.

Tucson.com

Mike Lee backs off change that advocates called a ‘green light’ to sell national parks

Lee, a Republican, had proposed removing part of a spending bill requiring that national park lands be maintained as federal lands. The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks shot back, saying the move could “green-light the selling off, transferring and giving away of national parks.” 

Utah News Dispatch

The US Gained 64,000 Jobs In November but Lost 105,000 in October; Unemployment Rate at 4.6%

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% last month, highest since 2021.

The November job gains were higher than the 40,000 economists had forecast. The October job losses were caused by a 162,000 drop in federal workers, many of whom resigned at the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30 under pressure from billionaire Elon Musk’s purge of U.S. government payrolls.

Mississippi Free Press

H-1B workers flew to India to renew U.S. visas. Now they’re stuck.

H-1B holders who returned to India this month to renew their visas had consular appointments canceled, stranding them far from their homes and jobs, lawyers said.

The Washington Post

How I reported on immigration as a daughter of immigrants

Life experiences shape personal opinions that journalists set aside as they seek facts. But those experiences also help them connect with people with similar backgrounds.

Chicago Sun-Times

Police in Many “Sanctuary Cities” Have Repeatedly Collaborated With ICE

Police face allegations of violating laws meant to protect immigrants from DC to Oregon to Colorado and beyond.

Truthout

How Mayor Mamdani Can Revive NYC’s Most Important Climate Law

New York City’s signature climate law needs someone to actually enforce it. Here’s how incoming Mayor Mamdani can hit the ground running.

Hellgate

Young People Are More Likely to Have Encountered a Mass Shooting — And Another After That

The Brown University shooting underscored that a growing number of young people have been forced to endure more than one traumatic shooting.

The Trace

Protest outside Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s mansion calls for better treatment of Chicano political prisoner Xinachtli

Xinachtli, a Chicano Indigenous activist imprisoned for over two decades, did not receive proper health care after a bad fall in the shower, activists say

Prism

Everyone Knows Jasmine Crockett. Could That Be a Good Thing?

Her critics would prefer a lesser-known candidate who can concoct a bipartisan pitch. But the Dallas congresswoman believes she’s starting “on second or third base.”

Texas Observer

When Muslims save lives, the Islamophobia machine looks the other way

The far-right response to a Muslim’s heroism in the Bondi Beach attack shows how Islamophobia depends on distortion and dehumanization.

Religion News Service

Cartagena’s iconic horse carriages give way to electric buggies

The move has angered horse cart owners and traditionalists, pitting them against animal rights activists and local officials who say there should be no place for horse carts in a city that wants to portray itself as a global destination.

NPR

Inside the Trump Administration’s Man-Made Hunger Crisis

“The one who’s not hungry cannot understand the beastly pain of hunger,” Pajevic said, “and what a person is willing to do just to tame that beastly pain.”

ProPublica

Trump Seeks Control of Latin America

Trump issued his own corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, attempting to exercise dominion over Latin America

Decolonized Journalism

The most frightening moment in ‘Nuremberg’

With one phrase, the new film about historical events becomes hyper-relevant to our times.

Religion News Service

U.N. Human Rights Watchdogs Blast Columbia for Using Immigration Status to Suppress Students’ Pro-Palestine Speech

The U.N. experts wrote blistering letters to five American universities about their crackdowns on Gaza protests.

The Intercept

Russia says talks on US peace plan for Ukraine ‘are proceeding constructively’

Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Sunday that diplomatic efforts were “moving forward quite quickly, and our team in Florida has been working with the American side.” This came after Ukraine’s chief negotiator said Friday his delegation had completed separate meetings in the United States with American and European partners.

The Baltimore Banner

Governments welcomed data centers. Now they’re grappling with the fallout

The boom in AI data centers is colliding with weak power grids, soaring energy demand, and growing local pushback.

Rest of World

Children Are Dying of Cold Exposure as Winter Hits Gaza

Israel has continued to restrict the entry of tents, tarps, and blankets into Gaza amid the bone-chilling rains.

Truthout

Australia’s under 16 social media ban under microscope at home and abroad

The much anticipated teen social media ban began in Australia on 10 December 2025. Its introduction was popular a year ago when legislation passed parliament but has also been controversial with many Aussies. Many question whether it will work and possible harmful unintended consequences.

Global Voices

In the shadow of U.S. export controls, China rallies its own chip industry

Zhang said that overall, the friction with the United States over technology is a good thing for China’s chip industry. “Chinese chips will be able to compete in the world. No problem,” he said.

NPR