Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,137 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Guantanamo Bay transfers

• Squirrels observed hunting for the first time

• How to sleep on a plane

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Big Story

Social Security Fairness Act

The Senate has approved a motion to proceed with the Social Security Fairness Act, moving it closer to a final vote.

• If approved, the act will repeal policies that reduce Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million retirees, including teachers, police officers, firefighters, and postal workers.

• The act seeks to repeal two long-standing policies: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules reduce Social Security payments for retirees with pensions from non-Social Security-covered jobs and limit benefits for their spouses and survivors. (See WEP/GPO explainer here)

• The bill has bipartisan support, but some lawmakers are hesitant because of its cost and concerns about further straining the Social Security trust fund. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation would add $195 billion to the federal deficit over the next decade.

• The bill needs Senate approval before the current congressional session ends; otherwise, it must be reintroduced next year.

Big Story

Guantanamo Bay Transfers

The US transferred two Malaysian men from Guantanamo Bay to Malaysia after they admitted guilt in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

• The men were connected to Encep Nurjaman, a leader of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya, an al-Qaida affiliate. They agreed to testify against Nurjaman, who remains in Guantanamo, awaiting trial for his role in the Bali attack and other plots.

• Now, 27 detainees remain at Guantanamo. The prison once held hundreds of men during the US “war on terror.” Now, only two are serving sentences, while others face legal delays due to past torture and logistical challenges.

• On Tuesday, another detainee, Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu from Kenya, was released after 17 years without charge. This leaves 15 detainees uncharged but awaiting release, while the US seeks stable countries to accept them.

Big Story

Bird Flu Hospitalization

A person in Louisiana was hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1 bird flu after being exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.

• This is the first severe bird flu case tied to backyard birds in the US and the first hospitalization from the virus. Since April, 61 cases of bird flu have been reported in humans across the country.

• The infection is linked to the D1.1 genotype, also found in human cases in Canada and Washington state. The case in Canada raised concerns because virologists believed the variation could potentially make human-to-human transmission easier, though no spread occurred. The D1.1 genotype differs from the B3.13 genotype, which has been linked to dairy cows, sporadic human cases, and poultry outbreaks in the US.

• The CDC stated there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the risk to public health from H5N1 remains low. However, the case highlights the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of bird flu in backyard and commercial animal operations.

Quick Stories

US News

• The US Senate voted 85-14 in favor of an $895 billion bill setting Pentagon policy, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House passed the bill last week, and it now heads to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law. (More)

• The House Ethics Committee has voted to release its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz. The decision was made in a closed-door meeting. Releasing an ethics report after a member’s resignation is extremely rare. (More)

• Indiana executed Joseph Corcoran, 49, early Wednesday, marking the state’s first execution since 2009. Corcoran was put to death by lethal injection for the 1997 murders of his brother and three other men, including his sister’s fiancé. (More)

World

• China has expanded its nuclear arsenal, increased military pressure on Taiwan, and deepened ties with Russia over the past year, according to a Pentagon report. However, it also revealed that corruption allegations within China’s Central Military Commission are stalling military growth. (More)

• Russia's security service arrested a Uzbek citizen accused of carrying out the bombing that killed a senior general outside his Moscow apartment. According to the FSB, the suspect said Ukraine promised him $100,000 and relocation to an EU country for killing the general. (More)

• Cologne, Germany, is starting a pilot program called the Women's Night Taxi scheme, providing €10 vouchers for taxi rides between 10 pm and 6 am. The initiative is designed to help women get home safely. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -2.95%, Nasdaq -3.65%, Dow -2.58%). The Dow’s 10th-straight losing day was its worst since August and 2nd worst of the year. (More)

• The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday. Chairman Jerome Powell said the Fed plans to cut rates twice in 2025 instead of four times. (More)

• Honda and Nissan have started talks on a potential merger that would create the world's third-largest automaker group. The two Japanese companies hope to compete with global electric vehicle giants like Tesla and China's BYD. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Damian Lillard has secured a lifetime contract extension with Adidas. The deal places Lillard in an exclusive group of NBA players with lifetime shoe sponsorships, including LeBron James and Kevin Durant (both with Nike) and Stephen Curry (with Under Armour). (More)

• Disney removed a transgender storyline from Pixar's upcoming series Win or Lose, set to debut in February. A spokesperson explained that the decision was made because many parents prefer to discuss such topics with their children on their own terms. (More)

• One week after coach Doug Gottlieb called weaker opponents "Nobody U," his Division I Green Bay men's basketball team lost to Division II Michigan Tech, 72-70, on Wednesday. It was the team’s eighth straight defeat. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• OpenAI has introduced a new way to access its chatbot through a phone line: 1-800-CHATGPT. Users can call the US number (1-800-242-8478) or message it on WhatsApp. OpenAI said that callers will receive 15 minutes of free access each month. (More)

• Biologists have observed Californian ground squirrels hunting and eating voles in the wild, marking the species' first recorded instance of predatory behavior. Scientists previously believed squirrels were mainly vegetarian. (More)

• The northern giant hornet, also known as the "murder hornet," has been officially wiped out in the US. The hornets can destroy a honeybee hive in 90 minutes and have painful stings that can sometimes be deadly to humans. (More)

Extra Credit

😴 Experts weigh in on how to sleep on a plane.

🛫 …and Frontier Airlines offers “all you can fly” pass for $299.

🐶 “Muppet” wins UK’s “Ugliest Dog” title.

🥂 The 25 best new things to do in 2025.