Top 5 US news stories
December 31 2025
Sharp Surge in Influenza Hospitalizations Fuels Fears of Harsh Winter Outbreak
Sanctioned Tanker Paints Russian Flag on Hull While Fleeing U.S. Coast Guard Interception
Trump Administration Halts Minnesota Child-Care Funding Citing Years of Fraud Schemes
OpenAI Sets Record by Paying Employees Average $1.5 Million in Stock Compensation
Ukraine Faces Challenge Maintaining 800,000-Strong Military After War with Russia Ends
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Sharp Surge in Influenza Hospitalizations Fuels Fears of Harsh Winter Outbreak
Influenza cases have risen sharply this season, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations, and 3,100 deaths, including eight children, as of late December. The figures represent a significant jump from the previous week, when the CDC recorded approximately 4.6 million cases, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths. Clinical laboratories reported roughly 25% of flu samples testing positive in the week ending December 20, up from about 15% the prior week. Health officials warn the data suggests a particularly harsh flu season ahead, with concerns that troublesome viral variants could drive death tolls significantly higher than typical years.
WSJ
Sanctioned Tanker Paints Russian Flag on Hull While Fleeing U.S. Coast Guard Interception
An oil tanker fleeing U.S. forces in the Atlantic Ocean recently painted a Russian flag on its hull and claimed Russian status in an apparent attempt to evade capture, according to two American officials. The vessel, Bella 1, has been under U.S. sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian oil that federal authorities say finances terrorism. The Coast Guard attempted to intercept the ship on December 21 in the Caribbean Sea as it sailed toward Venezuela to collect oil, placing it within President Trump's quasi-blockade of the Venezuelan government's economic lifeline. The crew painted the Russian flag during their escape and now asserts Russian protection, officials briefed on the sensitive operation confirmed.
NYT
Trump Administration Halts Minnesota Child-Care Funding Citing Years of Fraud Schemes
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is freezing federal child-care funding to Minnesota following allegations of yearslong fraud schemes within the state's social services system. Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill of the Department of Health and Human Services stated the federal government has "turned off the money spigot" and is imposing additional national requirements for child-care payments issued through the Administration for Children and Families, which provides Minnesota approximately $185 million annually. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the move, accusing President Trump of politicizing fraud investigations to justify cutting federal assistance programs, while acknowledging the state has spent years addressing fraud issues. The action represents a significant escalation in federal oversight of state child welfare programs.
WSJ
OpenAI Sets Record by Paying Employees Average $1.5 Million in Stock Compensation
OpenAI is providing employees with stock-based compensation averaging $1.5 million per person across its roughly 4,000-member workforce, according to financial data shown to investors. The compensation level exceeds any major tech startup in recent history, reaching more than seven times the stock-based pay Google disclosed in 2003 before its 2004 initial public offering. A Wall Street Journal analysis of data compiled by Equilar found OpenAI's average employee compensation is approximately 34 times higher than the average among 18 other large tech companies in the year before they went public, based on a review of major technology IPOs over the past 25 years.
WSJ
Ukraine Faces Challenge Maintaining 800,000-Strong Military After War with Russia Ends
Ukraine will emerge from its war with Russia commanding a military larger and more combat-experienced than any European nation's forces, but faces significant challenges sustaining 800,000 troops and extensive equipment stockpiles once fighting concludes. European Union leaders recently pledged 90 billion euros in loans to address an immediate cash shortage and support Ukraine's continued resistance as leaders in Kyiv and Moscow compete for President Trump's attention regarding potential peace terms. Defense analysts suggest Ukraine will likely rely more heavily on reserve forces and cost-effective weapons like drones rather than expensive systems such as jet fighters, while prioritizing spending on air defense and long-range missiles. The country also aims to develop domestic weapons production capabilities to reduce dependence on the hodgepodge of donated Western equipment currently in use. Conscripted soldiers are expected to seek demobilization and funding limitations constrain the government's ability to maintain active personnel.
WSJ
December 31 2019: Wuhan government confirms dozens of cases of virus later ID’d as COVID-19
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Sources
- https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/cdc-flu-cases-influenza-data-737a79c8?mod=hp_lead_pos11
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/us/politics/oil-tanker-venezuela-us-russia-bella-1.html
- https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-administration-freezes-child-care-funding-to-minnesota-amid-fraud-probes-c8e72e78?mod=hp_lead_pos10
- https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/openai-is-paying-employees-more-than-any-major-tech-startup-in-history-23472527?mod=hp_lead_pos2
- https://www.wsj.com/world/ukraine-military-size-russia-war-1f04969b?mod=hp_lead_pos8
