| |
| Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 23, and it seems the hype about Timothée Chalamet’s latest movie, “Marty Supreme,” is justified — read our critic’s review here. Now let’s catch up.  | A new batch of Epstein files includes many mentions of President Donald Trump. | | | This photo released by the Justice Department shows a desk with a drawer open and photographs, documented in 2019, during a search of Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York. (Justice Department/AP) | - Key details: The files, released yesterday, include notes from an assistant U.S. attorney about the number of times Trump flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane. See more findings here.
- What it means: The files show prosecutors were aware of ties Epstein had with Trump. The president has not been accused of being involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.
| |
 | Trump unveiled a new class of Navy battleship named after himself. | | |
|  | Thousands of internal chat messages show how ICE creates its viral videos. | | | Click this graphic to see more of the internal chat messages. (Washington Post illustration; ICEGov/X) | - Since Trump returned to office: ICE’s public affairs arm has transformed into an influencer-style machine, churning out videos of immigration raids and confrontations.
- Inside the operation: Messages seen by The Post reveal how the ICE team has worked closely with the White House. They also show officials mocking immigrants in crass terms.
| |
 | A Black lawmaker accused JD Vance of using “racist tropes” against her. | | |
 | Giving up on home ownership could be changing young Americans’ lives. | | |
 | A majority of teens are talking to AI companions — many parents have no idea. | - The numbers: One report found 72% of teens have used AI companions. Some have brought up inappropriate or dangerous topics to teens, according to online safety groups.
- One disturbing case: A mother found sexual messages on her daughter’s phone and thought they were from a predator. A detective told her the texts came from a chatbot.
- Worried about your child’s safety? Find 10 ways to protect them online here.
| |
 | London got at least one new Banksy mural for Christmas. | | | The artwork is on the side of a building in London's Bayswater district, near Kensington Palace. (Stefan Rousseau/AP) | - What it shows: Two children in winter clothes, lying on what appears to be a tin roof and pointing up toward the sky, as if they are stargazing.
- We know Banksy did this one: It was confirmed on the artist’s Instagram account. But Banksy hasn’t mentioned a second mural that appeared in the city.
Before you go … will your state get record warmth or snow this Christmas? Find out here. If you’re staying cozy by the fire: This is how to build a better blaze. One more good read: Inside the Fed’s quiet fight to protect its independence. We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you’ve seen in The 7? Send them here. We’ll find the right person to answer them and share responses i
| |