Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Citizenship dreams denied at the last minute

A group of immigrants in Indiana gathered to take their oath of allegiance. But not all of them were allowed to do so. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Wed Dec 10 2025

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 You're halfway through the week! I'm Phaedra Trethan, loving these wildlife photos, especially one fantastic fox. 🦊

In Wednesday's news:

Dozens of people had their U.S. citizenship denied moments before taking the oath.
Miami has a Democratic mayor for the first time in decades. Who she is — and what it might mean for Democrats nationally.
The Fed met to discuss lowering interest rates. What they decided.

But first: The Polar Bear is moving South , good news to any fans (🙋🏻‍♀️) of National League East teams not based in New York. ⚾️ 🐻‍❄️

'Dreams denied at the last minute'

A hundred immigrants who'd completed the long process to become naturalized U.S. citizens came to the Indianapolis Union State for the naturalization ceremony, the final step to becoming Americans. But 38 of them were denied that opportunity.

Federal officials stopped some of the prospective citizens, telling them at the ceremony Tuesday their oaths of allegiance were "canceled" due to a Dec. 2 federal directive denying asylum claims and citizenship applications of people from countries the Trump Administration deems "high risk."

A federal judge blocked President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles.
She was born here. Other family members were not. Her boss has no sympathy as the family grapples with detentions and possible deportations.
A Louisiana store manager told ICE agents to take their business elsewhere.
New travel rules could have people entering the U.S. scrubbing their social media posts.
President Trump is ramping up anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Usa Migration Protest Los Angeles

National Guard troops wear gas masks during protests against federal immigration sweeps in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025.

David Swanson/Reuters

Miami's new mayor

Miami has a new mayor, the first Democrat to lead the South Florida city in decades and the first woman ever. Eileen Higgins won in a runoff , and her election is good news for Democrats even if the Miami mayorship is a non-partisan position.

eileen higgins wins miami mayoral race.jpg

Eileen Higgins wins Miami mayoral runoff, becoming the city's first woman ever and first Democrat elected in nearly 30 years.

Getty Images

Real quick

Some Americans could get $1,500 to cover healthcare expenses. Who might qualify.
A serial rapist known as "the red-headed stranger" is set to be executed in Tennessee.
The U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
President Joe Biden's signature student loan relief program is no more.

💲 💲 💲 Fed cuts rates

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced a quarter-point rate cut to its federal funds rate. The Fed's third straight rate cut is aimed at lowering borrowing costs for consumers. The benchmark rate range is down to 3.5% to 3.75%. The Fed cited moderate economic growth, slower job gains and an unemployment rate that's inching up as reasons for the cut.

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Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell speaks during the George P. Shultz Memorial Lecture Series at Stanford University on December 01, 2025 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Attention: bookworms 🙋🏻‍♀️

One of our 2025 resolutions was to scroll less and read more. Thirteen books and almost 12 months later, we've made progress but now USA TODAY has given us a few more to add to our reading list with the Best Books of 2025.

Sophie Kinsella, author of "Confessions of a Shopaholic," has died at 55 after an illness, her family announced.
Watch: The reading trend that defined 2025.

A break from the news

Ho! Ho! Hello! Santas stepped out all over the world to share some holiday magic. 🎅🏽
Traveling by car over the holidays? Here are the best days to hit the road — and the worst ones. 🚙
Ozzy from Oklahoma just set a world record for his tongue. We should mention that Ozzy is a dog. 🐶

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and any anti-Mets schadenfreude you'd like to share. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

News out of Kentucky

One student was killed and another was critically injured in the shooting at Kentucky State University on Dec. 9, officials said.

The Department of Homeland Security announced a joint task force with the FBI and IRS to target
 

Homeland Security announces New York task force

The Department of Homeland Security announced a joint task force with the FBI and IRS to target "transnational criminal organizations."

BAR HARBOR, MAINE - SEPTEMBER 15: People watch as waves break ashore in Acadia National Park before the possible arrival of Hurricane Lee on September 15, 2023 in Bar Harbor, Maine. Most of Maine is now in a Tropical Storm warning as Lee continues its path up the coastline. Forecasters say it will remain large and dangerous. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
 

Fees for foreign tourists, and no more free MLK Day or Juneteenth at NPS

President Donald Trump has targeted DEI in his second term. Now, the National Park Service is no longer allowing free entrance for MLK Day or Juneteenth.

Plane crashes onto car on I-95
 

Video shows plane crash-landing on top of car on Florida highway

The small aircraft came down squarely atop a Toyota Camry in a remarkable moment caught on camera.

President Donald Trump attends a meeting of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Dec. 2, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
 

Trump demands more water from Mexico under threat of 5% higher tariffs

Trump demanded Mexico provide more water under a 1944 treaty and threatened to hike tariffs 5% if the country doesn't comply.

Demonstrators carry signs in support of the victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell near a press conference held by US representatives outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Sept. 3, 2025.
 

More Epstein materials to be released, judge says

A federal judge has granted a Justice Department request to make public additional grand jury materials in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Tony Dokoupil attends InStyle's 30th birthday celebration at Boom at The Standard Hotel in New York City on Sept. 12, 2024.
 

'CBS Evening News' reveals new anchor to 'win' back trust

"CBS Mornings" host Tony Dokoupil has been named the anchor of "CBS Evening News," the TV news network revealed in a statement.

 

Voice actor on 'Jimmy Neutron' dies

Jeffrey Garcia, best known for voicing Sheen Estevez on "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius," has died at 50.

Egypt's flag is displayed on a screen during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico, at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)
 

Seattle still planning World Cup 'Pride Match' after Egypt, Iran object

What local organizers in Seattle said about plans for a 'Pride Match' at the 2026 World Cup in the face of fierce opposition from Egypt and Iran.

A view of the venue during Times Square New Year's Eve 2025 Celebration on December 31, 2024 in New York City.
 

Who's performing on New Year's Eve this year? Here's the latest

With the Times Square Ball in place, here's an overview of major NYE celebrations across the country and which stars will joining this year's lineup.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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