Good Morning! Today’s edition is 913 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• X location feature flub

• Jimmy Cliff passes

• Why music makes us tap our feet

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Big Stories

US Designates Venezuelan Officials Terrorists

• The US officially designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, arguing President Nicolás Maduro leads it and drives cocaine trafficking into the US and Europe. Venezuela calls the claim a pretext for regime change.

• Unlike traditional cartels, the Soles refers to a diffuse network of military, police, and government officials accused of profiting from drug smuggling, illegal mining, and fuel trafficking.

• The US has conducted at least 21 strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats since September, killing dozens without providing evidence. Over 10,000 troops and the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier are now in the region.

X Location Feature Fallout

• A surprise update on X began showing the country or region where accounts are based, revealing that many high-engagement political accounts claiming to be American are actually located overseas.

• Users quickly found mismatched or misleading locations, including on journalists’ profiles, prompting X to warn that travel and temporary IP changes can distort results. Viral claims that the Department of Homeland Security was listed in Israel spread widely but were denied by both DHS and X.

• X briefly disabled the feature, then restored it globally with fewer details and promises of major accuracy improvements. Some government accounts now show no location at all, while X says incorrect data will be updated over time on a delayed schedule to protect privacy.

EPA Approves PFAS Pesticides

• The EPA approved two new pesticides containing PFAS 'forever chemicals' this month and announced plans for four more. The pesticides will be used on vegetables, including lettuce, broccoli, and potatoes, despite PFAS being linked to cancer, birth defects, and other health problems.

• An estimated 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides are sprayed on California cropland annually, with 22 million to 35 million pounds used each year nationally. States, including Maine and Minnesota, have banned PFAS pesticides.

• Scientists warn that the newly approved compounds are highly mobile in the environment and difficult to filter. Some break down into TFA, a PFAS found in drinking water and food that's linked to liver damage. The EPA is also relaxing PFAS reporting requirements and weakening drinking water standards for these chemicals.

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Quick Stories

US News

• Trump shelved a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies after fellow Republicans objected, leaving 22 million Americans facing doubled insurance premiums when the subsidies expire in December. (More)

• A federal judge dismissed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday, ruling the prosecutor who indicted them was unlawfully appointed. (More)

• The Pentagon said Monday it's investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for possible military law violations after he appeared in a video telling troops they can refuse illegal orders. (More)

World

• Germany's Christmas markets opened Monday with tighter security after deadly attacks in recent years, including a car-ramming last year that killed six people at a Magdeburg market. (More)

• Malaysia will block children under 16 from social media next year, joining Australia and Denmark in protecting kids from online dangers like cyberbullying and scams. (More)

• Australian Senator Pauline Hanson wore a burqa into Parliament on Monday after lawmakers rejected her bill banning them, drawing accusations of racism and disrespect from colleagues across parties. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed higher on Monday (S&P +1.55%, Nasdaq +2.69%, Dow +0.44%). Alphabet’s surge boosted a market rebound to begin Thanksgiving week. (More)

• Novo Nordisk shares dropped 10% Monday to a four-year low after the company said a trial testing whether Ozempic's ingredient could slow Alzheimer's disease progression failed to meet its goal. (More)

• Amazon will spend up to $50 billion building data centers for government AI work starting in 2026. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has a low-grade shoulder sprain but no serious damage after leaving Sunday's loss with his arm in a sling. (More)

• Purdue stayed at No. 1 in the AP college basketball poll Monday, while Arizona jumped to No. 2 after beating ranked UConn, continuing its rise from a preseason No. 13 ranking. (More)

• Jamaican reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, who helped spread reggae worldwide with hits like "Many Rivers to Cross" and the film "The Harder They Come," died Monday at 81 from pneumonia after a seizure. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• NASA is planning to save a space telescope by sending up a robotic spacecraft next June to grab the falling observatory and boost it back into orbit. (More)

• Two companies recently demonstrated remote robotic stroke treatment across long distances, offering hope that rural patients could receive life-saving care from expert surgeons within hours. (More)

• People with more muscle and less deep belly fat have younger-looking brains, new research shows, highlighting how body composition may protect against Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. (More)

Extra Credit

Why music makes us tap our feet.

A history of Friendsgiving.

Snowy owls draw crowds in Chicago.

A new scam is leaving voicemails saying you owe $1,000.