Today's Headlines: U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela
Vance Refuses to Take Sides in G.O.P. Fight Over Bigotry
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

December 22, 2025, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela

The latest vessel to be targeted by the United States in its pressure campaign on Venezuela was sending distress signals as it headed northeast from the Caribbean into the Atlantic.

Vance Refuses to Take Sides in G.O.P. Fight Over Bigotry

The vice president’s plea for a big-tent coalition at an annual conservative gathering belied the cracks in his party over antisemitism, racism and conspiracy theories.

A Life Rooted in Activism and Listening to Others

Michele Singer Reiner was the guiding force in the lives of her family, stressing the need to help and respect one another.

World

Land Grab: Israel’s Escalating Campaign for Control of the West Bank

Israeli seizure of Palestinian lands in the West Bank, often brutally, has accelerated, raising doubts about the prospects of a peaceful solution to the conflict.

As U.S. Guns Pour Into Canada, the Bodies Pile Up

The proliferation of illegal firearms from the United States has fueled a spike in gun violence in Canada, where most guns used in crimes are smuggled across the border.

First the Louvre, Now the Presidential Palace: New Theft Rattles France

In what prosecutors say was an inside job, copper pots, porcelain and Baccarat Champagne glasses were stolen from the inventory of the Élysée Palace.

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U.S.

Immigration Crackdown Creates Fault Lines Among Baptists

An increasingly loud contingent supports the Trump administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

Waymo Suspended Service in San Francisco After Its Cars Stalled During Power Outage

The self-driving cars came to a halt at intersections when the power outage knocked out traffic signals, causing tie-ups but no accidents or injuries.

At Least 1 Killed as Heavy Rains Bring Floods to Northern California

Floodwaters swept Shasta County on Sunday, killing at least one person. Forecasters warned that Central California would receive heavy rain later in the week.

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Politics

Russia Dismisses Reports of Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks

Proposals that emerged in recent negotiations with the United States were “rather unconstructive,” a Kremlin official said on Sunday.

Blanche Says Mentions of Trump in Epstein Files Won’t Be Removed

In an interview with NBC, the No. 2 official at the Justice Department denied that officials were protecting the president from what has been disclosed.

Trump Takes America’s ‘Imperial Presidency’ to a New Level

In his first year back in the White House, President Trump has greatly expanded executive power while embracing the trappings of royalty in ways not seen in the modern era.

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Business

‘60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political.’

Sharyn Alfonsi, a “60 Minutes” correspondent, criticized the network’s decision to remove her reporting from Sunday’s edition of the show.

How Many Toys Will Parents Buy for Their Kids This Christmas?

Ynon Kreiz, the chief executive of Mattel, believes consumers squeezed by tariffs and inflation will cut back on other things before they skimp on Barbies and Hot Wheels.

Long-Haul Trucking Was a Refuge for Sikh Immigrants. Until Now.

Two high-profile crashes and a Trump administration crackdown have brought worry, and wariness, to the community.

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New York

Mamdani Inauguration to Usher in ‘New Era’ With Broadway Block Party

Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City’s new mayor on Jan. 1, alongside a party spanning seven blocks that will accommodate 40,000 spectators, his transition team said.

Man Is Arrested in Bow-and-Arrow Killing After Overnight Standoff

The man was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon in Kearny, N.J., hours after a fire broke out in the building in which he was hiding.

How New York Keeps Its Unfiltered Water Safe: Spending Millions on Land

The city has bought more than 125,000 acres of land to provide a buffer around water reservoirs. It’s much cheaper than spending billions on filtration systems, officials say.

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Arts

Bowen Yang Sings His Swan Song on ‘S.N.L.’

Hosted by Ariana Grande and featuring Cher as its musical guest, the show had plenty of holiday tunes and a satirical greeting from President Trump.

‘Orwellian Climate of Fear’: How China Cracks Down on Critics in the U.S.

The Chinese government once focused on political dissidents and exiled activists. Now, federal officials say, it is targeting artists in the United States whose creative protests test its tolerance.

Review: A ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ Musical Is a Psychedelic Parable

At Greenwich House Theater, Greta Gertler Gold and Hilary Bell’s stage adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s novel hovers between reverie and reality.

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Food

Here Are Six Holiday Feasts for You

Pernil, prime rib roast and lemon butter salmon with dill anchor generous (but completely doable) holiday dinner menus.

Behind the Curtain of Luxury Room Service at the Plaza Hotel

This is the busiest season for Syed Rahmani