Today's Headlines: Behind the Seized Venezuelan Tanker, Cuba’s Secret Lifeline
Judge’s Order Complicates Justice Dept. Plans to Again Charge Comey
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

December 13, 2025, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

Behind the Seized Venezuelan Tanker, Cuba’s Secret Lifeline

Firms with ties to Cuba are getting a larger share of Venezuelan oil exports, as the island’s security agents boost President Nicolás Maduro’s defenses.

Judge’s Order Complicates Justice Dept. Plans to Again Charge Comey

Justice Department officials have been considering whether to bring new charges against James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, after a different judge dismissed the original case against him.

Democrats Release Photos Showing Epstein Ties to Powerful Men

The images, released without context by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, revealed little new about the deceased sex offender’s ties to prominent men in politics, entertainment and finance.

World

Behind the Venezuelan Opposition Leader’s Daring Escape to Oslo

An American firm with experience in special operations spirited María Corina Machado, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, out of the country in a secretive land, sea and air operation.

For Rubio the Cuba Hawk, the Road to Havana Runs Through Venezuela

President Trump’s secretary of state and national security adviser has long sought to cripple or topple Cuba’s government, which has close security and economic ties to Venezuela.

Dozens Killed as a Hospital Is Bombed in Brutal Civil War

Jets from the Myanmar military dropped two bombs on the facility in Mrauk-U, in what rebels and witnesses called a deliberate attack on civilians.

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U.S.

Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort

The Transportation Security Administration is providing passenger lists to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to identify and detain travelers subject to deportation orders.

Harvard Replaces Leader of Health Center Said to Have Focused on Palestinians

The center at the university’s public health school was also a focus of the Trump administration after having been examined in a Harvard antisemitism report earlier this year.

In Florida’s Panhandle, a Hearing on School Vaccine Mandates Gets Heated

The hearing was the first concrete step toward repealing some of the state’s vaccine requirements. Rolling back others would require legislative action.

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Politics

For Republicans, Trump’s Hands-Off Approach to Health Care Is a Problem

The prospect of soaring health care costs could exacerbate Americans’ feelings about affordability, an issue that President Trump has tried to downplay. But Democrats plan to keep the issue front and center.

Amid Fractures on the Right, Tucker Carlson Continues His Attacks

On Theo Von’s show this week, Mr. Carlson lashed out at a major supporter of the president, the F.B.I. and “unimpressive, dumb, totally noncreative people” leading the nation.

National Trust Sues to Block Trump’s White House Ballroom Construction

The lawsuit seeks to force President Trump to submit his ballroom plans for public review and input.

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Business

Canadians Rush to Buy Stockpiles of Boycotted U.S. Liquor

Four Canadian provinces are selling off the American liquor they pulled from shelves in protest over President Trump’s tariffs. Some bourbon drinkers are thrilled.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Valued at $800 Billion, as It Prepares to Go Public

A sale of insider shares at $421 a share would make Mr. Musk’s rocket company the most valuable private company in the world, as it readies for a possible initial public offering next year.

Big Businesses Are Cashing In on Trump’s Tax Cuts

Corporate tax revenue has quickly dipped since Republicans passed tax cuts this summer. But economists think these tax breaks might be worth it.

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Technology

Elon Musk Taunts Europe and Tests Willingness to Enforce Online Laws

Backed by White House officials, the tech billionaire has lashed out at the European Union after his social media platform X was fined last week.

Tech Support Scammers Stole $85,000 From Him. His Bank Declined to Refund Him.

A retired lawyer lost the money in a tech support scam, a type of online fraud that is surging. Citibank said it couldn’t recover the funds, which criminals wired from inside his account.

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New York

Transportation Dept. Threatens to Withhold Funds From N.Y. Over Many Noncitizen Licenses

The Trump administration gave New York 30 days to pause issuing all non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, among other demands, or risk losing $73 million in highway funds.

Fraudster’s Victims Are Seething After Trump Commuted His Sentence

David Gentile spent just days in prison for his conviction in what prosecutors described as a $1.6 billion scheme that defrauded thousands of investors.

Everyone Hates SantaCon. He Made a Movie About It.

Seth Porges shows the event in all its raucousness, but he is also sympathetic to its origins.

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Arts

I Think This Poem Is Kind of Into You

Our critic A.O. Scott feels the heat of a wintry lyric by the Nobel laureate Louise Glück.

Tate Museums Are in Choppy Waters. Now, Their Director Is Leaving.

Maria Balshaw, the director of the British museum group that includes Tate Modern and Tate Britain, is stepping down next spring after nine years in the role.

Taylor Swift’s ‘The End of an Era’: 5 Takeaways

The six-part Disney+ series goes behind the scenes of the pop star’s record-breaki