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Today’s Rundown:
- FBI PROBES SIX DEMOCRATS OVER ‘ILLEGAL ORDERS’ VIDEO: The FBI has opened an inquiry into six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a video telling U.S. troops and intelligence officers to “refuse illegal orders.” The group, all military veterans, says they were simply reminding service members of their existing duty under the law and the Constitution. The lawmakers say the FBI’s counterterrorism division contacted Congress’ sergeants-at-arms to arrange interviews, which they argue is a political overreach by the Trump administration. Critics on the right have accused them of encouraging insubordination and even “sedition,” though the video did not mention any specific order. The unusual investigation highlights how deeply partisan battles have now reached into the military and law enforcement.
- PLANNED PARENTHOOD SHOOTING SUSPECT ROBERT DEAR DIES IN CUSTODY: Robert Lewis Dear Jr., the man charged in the deadly 2015 shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has died in federal custody at age 67. Prison officials say he died at a federal medical center in Springfield, Missouri, and early information points to natural causes. Dear had been diagnosed with a delusional disorder and was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, which stalled both state and federal prosecutions for nearly a decade. He had called himself a “warrior for the babies” and was accused of killing three people and injuring nine others in an hours-long standoff. Families of the victims say they are frustrated that a full trial and verdict will now never happen.
- FDA APPROVES ITVISMA, NEW GENE THERAPY FOR SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve), a new gene therapy for people age 2 and older with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) caused by a confirmed SMN1 gene mutation. SMA is a rare, inherited disease that weakens muscles and can be fatal; it is the leading genetic cause of infant death. Itvisma is given directly into the fluid around the spinal cord and is designed to deliver a working copy of the SMN1 gene to nerve cells that control movement. This therapy expands on Novartis’ earlier SMA treatment Zolgensma, which is only approved for children under 2. The list price is about $2.59 million for a one-time treatment, raising ongoing questions about access and insurance coverage, but patient groups say it offers new hope for older children and adults.
- WASHINGTON TESLA CRASH LAWSUIT BLAMES DESIGN FOR DEADLY FIRE: A new lawsuit says design flaws in a Tesla Model 3 caused a 2023 crash in Tacoma, Washington, that killed passenger Wendy Dennis and badly injured her husband, Jeff. The suit claims the car suddenly accelerated out of control, left the road, hit a utility pole and burst into flames. It also argues that Tesla’s “flush” door handles and electronic latches jammed after the crash, making it hard for bystanders to pull the couple from the burning car. The family alleges Tesla knew about problems with sudden acceleration and door designs but did not fix them or warn drivers. Tesla has not commented in detail on this specific case but has previously defended its safety record in other lawsuits.
- LONG-DORMANT ETHIOPIAN VOLCANO ERUPTS, ASH CROSSES RED SEA: The Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in at least 10,000–12,000 years, according to scientists. The blast sent ash plumes up to about 9 miles (14 km) into the sky, with clouds drifting across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman. Villages in Ethiopia’s Afar region were coated in ash, affecting drinking water, livestock, and air quality, and prompting mobile medical teams to help residents. The ash also disrupted air travel, forcing airlines like Air India and Akasa Air to cancel or reroute flights as the plume briefly passed over parts of Pakistan and India before moving on. Geologists say the event shows how active and unpredictable the volcanic rift zone in this remote area can be, even when a volcano has been quiet for thousands of years.
- MISSING VIRGINIA COACH NOW WANTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES: Police say Travis Turner, the missing head football coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is now wanted on three felony charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators issued the arrest warrants after reviewing electronic evidence that was collected during an earlier inquiry. Turner vanished on November 21, just before officers arrived at his home, and a large manhunt has been underway ever since. His disappearance came during his team’s undefeated season, adding to the shock in the community. School officials have placed him on administrative leave, and his family has urged him to come home safely. Authorities say anyone who sees Turner should not approach him and should contact police immediately.
- GUNS N’ ROSES PLAN 2026 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AND NEW MUSIC: Guns N’ Roses have announced a 20-city North American tour for summer 2026, marking another major run for the reunited lineup featuring Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan. The stadium and arena shows will follow spring dates in South America and Europe. The band is also releasing two new songs, “Nothin” and “Atlas,” on December 2, adding fresh material to their setlists for the first time in years. Early press materials say the tour will mix classic hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle” with the new tracks. The announcement continues the group’s long comeback run that began with their “Not in This Lifetime…” reunion tour in 2016.
- JULIANNE HOUGH JOINS RYAN SEACREST AS NEW YEAR’S EVE CO-HOST: Julianne Hough will co-host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026, reuniting with her ex-boyfriend on live TV. Seacrest will once again lead the broadcast from New York City’s Times Square, with singer Rita Ora as his on-air partner there. Hough will co-host from Las Vegas alongside retired NFL star Rob Gronkowski, while Chance the Rapper hosts segments from Chicago. The show remains ABC’s big year-end special and will feature performances and countdowns across several U.S. time zones. The pairing is drawing extra attention because of Hough and Seacrest’s past relationship, but both are framing the reunion as a fun, professional collaboration.
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