The 7 from The Washington Post

Subscribe for US$1 a week. Billed as US$4/four weeks for the first year, then US$7/four weeks. Pricing subject to change. Cancel anytime. (WB: 131-3333 INTL) →

PUBLISHED BY

READ ONLINE

Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell">

By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Dec. 17, and a George Washington portrait that helped inspire the $1 bill’s design will soon go up for auction — take a look. Now let’s get to the news.

President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of some oil tankers to and from Venezuela.

A major escalation: The move could devastate Venezuela’s struggling economy. In a Truth Social Post, Trump also declared Venezuela’s government a foreign terrorist organization.
Also yesterday: Trump added 20 countries to a list whose citizens face a full or partial travel ban on entering the U.S., including Nigeria, Tonga and Zimbabwe — find the full list here.

Read this story

Trump defended his White House chief of staff over her candid interviews.

Susie Wiles described Trump as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” according to Vanity Fair. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)

What’s going on? Susie Wiles insulted several administration officials in 11 interviews with a Vanity Fair writer. However, Trump yesterday praised her and attacked the magazine.
Another dispute: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) said yesterday the “dam is breaking” in terms of Trump’s support among Republicans. She recently had a split with Trump.
A new Trump quirk: He can’t stop thanking you “for your attention to this matter.”

Read this story

Nick Reiner was charged with murder in the killing of his parents.

Rob Reiner, wife Michele Singer Reiner and son Nick Reiner at a 2013 event in Los Angeles, where the couple lived. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

The details: Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder after his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead Sunday.
On Saturday night: Nick and Rob Reiner — who made a heartbreaking movie together in 2015 — were reportedly heard arguing at a holiday party hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Read this story

The accused gunman in the Bondi Beach shooting was charged with 59 offenses.

What to know: Naveed Akram, 24, is alleged to have attacked people at a Hanukkah festival Sunday with his father, who was killed by police. Akram faces 15 charges of murder.
The latest: The first victims were buried in Sydney. As Jewish Australians mourn, criticism is mounting of the government’s failure to prevent the deadly antisemitic assault.

Read this story

Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer messaged about Wordle minutes before the shooting.

To many who knew him, Tyler Robinson appeared to hold unremarkable political opinions, and the 22-year-old told some he was no fan of either major party. (Illustration by The Washington Post)

How we know: The Post interviewed 21 people who knew Tyler Robinson, and examined hundreds of messages he exchanged online to learn about his life and beliefs.
What we found: Less than an hour before he allegedly shot Kirk, Robinson bragged about his Wordle score to a friend. See what else his trail of interactions reveal here.

Read this story

Virtually every person in the U.S. has plastic chemicals in their blood and urine.

The Washington Post used a comprehensive database of 16,000 chemicals linked to plastic materials to see how people interact with chemicals in their everyday lives. (Timo Lenzen/For The Washington Post)

Like what? PFAS, phthalates, BPA and flame retardants — all linked to serious health problems. Food packaging and cooking tools are two major sources of exposure.
What you can do: Avoid heating food in plastic, limit ultra-processed foods and follow these other tips. If you love ordering takeout, there are ways to cut out most plastic.

Read this story

Building muscle could help you have a younger, healthier brain.

In a new study: Middle-aged men and women with more muscle mass tended to have younger-looking brains than those with less muscle. This suggests resistance training can support brain health.
Want to get started? Doing these six simple training exercises once a week will make you stronger. And this podcast episode tells you how to build muscle for a longer life.