Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,130 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• American prisoner freed in Syria

• Youngest-ever world chess champion

• Whale close up

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Big Story

States Sue Gunmaker Glock

New Jersey and Minnesota have sued Glock, demanding the gunmaker stop selling pistols that can be converted into automatic weapons using devices called "Glock switches."

• The switches, which cost around $20 or can be 3D-printed, enable a Glock to fire up to 1,200 rounds per minute. Critics claim Glock has knowingly profited from these adaptable guns for decades, even though fully automatic weapons have been banned under federal law since the 1930s.

• Attorneys General Matt Platkin (New Jersey) and Keith Ellison (Minnesota) argue Glock could redesign its pistols to prevent illegal conversions but has refused to do so.

• In addition to the lawsuits, 14 mostly-democratic states and the District of Columbia, have formed a coalition to address gun violence by enforcing consumer protection laws. The group seeks to push back against federal inaction and the incoming Trump administration, which they believe sides with the gun industry.

Big Story

Biden’s Pardons

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of over 1,500 people and issued 39 pardons to people convicted of nonviolent crimes.

• It is the biggest single-day act of clemency in US history. Most of those receiving commutations were already serving sentences in home confinement, a policy originally enacted to reduce COVID-19 spread in prisons. (See the full list here)

• Those pardoned included people convicted of nonviolent offenses who have since turned their lives around, such as community leaders, veterans, and students.

• Biden has previously issued clemency for marijuana possession and other nonviolent crimes. Advocates are now urging him to extend clemency to others, including those on federal death row, as his term ends.

• The actions come after Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, for gun and tax crimes despite repeatedly saying he wouldn’t.

Big Story

American Freed in Syria

Syrian rebels who overthrew the Assad regime freed American Travis Timmerman after seven months of imprisonment.

• He described how two men armed with a hammer broke open his cell door, allowing him and other detainees to escape. Timmerman had entered Syria on foot, claiming he was on a pilgrimage, and was arrested shortly after crossing the border.

• Following Assad's fall, Syrian rebels released thousands of prisoners, including men, women, and children, many of whom were held in overcrowded and brutal conditions. Families across Syria are now searching for loved ones, with groups like the White Helmets aiding efforts to locate survivors and uncover secret prison sites.

• The US government is working to bring Timmerman home. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed efforts to repatriate him while also seeking the release of Austin Tice, a journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012.

Quick Stories

U.S. News

• Time Magazine chose President-elect Donald Trump as its 2024 Person of the Year. This is his second selection, with the first coming in 2016 when he won the presidential race for the first time. (More)

• The House passed a bill to expand the federal judiciary by 66 seats despite a veto threat from President Biden. The bill had already passed the Senate. However, Democrats are upset about its post-election introduction, as President-elect Trump will appoint some new judges. (More)

• A watchdog report released Thursday criticized the FBI for not doing enough to gather intelligence before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The report also stated that no undercover FBI employees were present at the scene and none of the bureau's informants had been authorized to take part in the events. (More)

World

• Britain has made its temporary ban on puberty blockers for minors indefinite. The initial ban in May followed a report in April that found the evidence supporting the safety of the treatment was "remarkably weak" and called for further research. (More)

• Israeli airstrikes killed at least 35 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local medics and the Hamas-run Civil Defense authority. Among the victims were 12 guards protecting aid trailers from theft. In another attack near Nuseirat refugee camp, 15 more people were reportedly killed. (More)

• Ontario, Canada, is considering banning American-made alcohol and limiting electricity exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. The move is in response to potential tariffs on Canadian products proposed by President-elect Donald Trump. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.54%, Nasdaq -0.66%, Dow -0.53%). Tech shares couldn’t keep their momentum from earlier in the week, and the Dow saw its 6th straight losing day. (More)

• The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against top distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, accusing it of giving significantly better prices to large retailers like Costco, Kroger, and Total Wine & More compared to smaller independent liquor stores. (More)

• Warner Bros. Discovery shares rose by 15% after it announced a new restructuring plan on Thursday, dividing its operations into separate linear (traditional TV) and streaming units. HBO will be slotted under the streaming unit. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Critics Choice Association announced the first round of nominees for the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards. Conclave and Wicked lead with 11 nominations each. The ceremony is on Sunday, January 12, 2025. (More)

• Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, made history on Thursday as the youngest-ever world chess champion, defeating China's Ding Liren. Gukesh broke the previous record held by Russian grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who won the title at 22 in 1985. (More)

• Colorado Buffaloes’ Travis Hunter is the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Hunter, who plays both offense and defense, earned 26 out of 43 votes. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty placed second with 16 votes, while Arizona State's Cam Skattebo received one vote. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Harvard University is releasing a dataset of nearly 1 million public-domain books to use for training AI tools. The books were scanned as part of the Google Books project and are no longer under copyright. (More)

• YouTube TV is raising its subscription price by 14%, citing higher content costs. The base plan will now cost $82.99 per month, up from $72.99. The change applies immediately for new customers and will take effect for most existing users starting January 13, 2025. (More)

• Childhood flu vaccination rates are down nationwide this season, with only Iowa showing an increase, according to CDC data. As of Nov. 30, 36.6% of kids have received flu shots for the 2024-25 season, a drop from 43.7% at the same time last year. (More)

Extra Credit

🐋 Whale swims up to a photographer for amazing close-ups.

⌨️ Top trending Google searches in 2024.

👰 Couple aged 102 and 100 set record for oldest newlyweds.

🎁 Woman arrested for smuggling drugs as Christmas presents in carry-on.