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The Short List

Mon Dec 8 2025

Phaedra Trethan | National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Welcome to the new week! I'm Phaedra Trethan, contemplating " the empirical weird." 🤔 👽 🛸

In Monday's news:

•	Netflix thought it won the bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount Skydance says, "Not so fast."
•	Is relief for America's farmers on the way?
•	The Golden Globe nominations were announced. Who got a nod — and who got snubbed?

But first: Ever wonder what happened with all those drone sightings over the East Coast last year? So do we.

Paramount to Netflix: Not so fast

💻 💰 📺 Where will Warner Bros. Discovery land? On Friday, it looked like Netflix won the weeks-long bidding war against Paramount Skydance and Comcast, netting Warner Bros. Discovery in a $72 billion deal for WBD's television, film and streaming, which also includes HBO and DC Comics.

But Paramount may have pressed pause: On Monday, the communications giant launched a $108.4 billion attempt to nab Netflix . Either way, it looks like at least one media juggernaut will get even bigger.

•	Watch: More on Paramount's bid.
•	President Trump weighed in on the deal.
•	What the WBD deal means for consumers and viewers.
•	The deals have a lot of critics. Why they oppose the acquisition.

The Netflix-Warner-Bros. deal could put many new titles on the Netflix streaming platform.

Mike Blake, REUTERS

Federal relief for farmers?

America's farmers, battered by tariffs, inflation and trade disputes, may get some relief. On Monday, President Trump unveiled a $12 billion aid package creating a new Farmer Bridge Assistance program that will give some farmers one-time payments.

•	The Supreme Court seems primed to expand presidential power even more.
•	Trump and one of his former allies traded insults and accusations this weekend.
•	Did President Trump commit the same "mortgage fraud" as he alleged his political enemies did?

Real quick

•	Several former FBI agents are suing the agency for wrongful termination. Why they say they were fired.
•	Thefts at self-checkouts are increasing. What are people stealing, and why?
•	The Supreme Court declined to weigh in on a Texas case involving books removed from library shelves.
•	A National Guard member is "slowly recovering" after a Nov. 26 shooting that killed a fellow soldier.

Golden Globe nominations announced

It's our annual early reminder that we need to stop scrolling and watch more prestige entertainment. The Golden Globe nominations are out and there are already some clear favorites. Here's a rundown.

•	Of course, there were some notable snubs.
•	The Globes will have a podcast category for the first time. Who didn't make the cut.
•	One movie was nominated before it was even released.
•	An acting icon will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Globes' highest honor.

40_Comedy Actor - LEONARDO DI CAPRIO_.jpeg

Actor in a comedy or musical: Leonardo DiCaprio, "One Battle After Another"

Warner Bros. Pictures

👋🏼 ☘️ 🏈 An Irish goodbye

Notre Dame's announcement over the weekend that it would end its season, opting out of bowl games after being left out of the College Football Playoff bracket , is still reverberating through the sport.

•	Hello, playa: Who did get in.
•	Reaction was swift.
•	What the bracket looks like: Are there too many underdogs in this pack?
•	Could the decision come back to bite the Fighting Irish?

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman (middle) leads the team onto the field to play Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium.

Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images

A break from the news

•	If you haven't gotten your Christmas tree yet (guilty!), we have a handy guide to help you choose the right one. 🌲
•	It's not the start of a joke: A seal pup wanders into a pub. Let's hope it ends better for him than the drunk raccoon. (OK, maybe it was the start of a joke.) 🍻 🦭
•	Yeah, yeah, football, blah blah blah. We're watching the MLB Winter Meetings here. ⚾️ 👀 ⚾️

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 what you'd do with $875 million. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.