CNN 5 Things Oil Tanker Mystery, Trump Pulls National Guard, Zohran Mamdani’s Inauguration and more
Dec 31, 2025
A mysterious oil tanker flying a Russian flag is pursued by the US near Venezuela, raising eyebrows about geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, a former special counsel's closed-door testimony sheds light on political motives in ongoing investigations. In a significant shift, the National Guard is being withdrawn from key democratic cities. New York City prepares for a fresh leadership change with Zohran Mamdani's unique midnight inauguration. Sadly, the search for a missing teenager in Texas concludes with the identification of a tragic outcome.
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Tanker Claims Russian Protection
- A tanker off Venezuela displayed a crude Russian flag to claim protection and complicate seizure efforts.
- U.S. officials have trailed the ship since Dec. 21 and may abandon seizure plans if legalities grow thorny.
Smith Defends Charging Decisions
- Jack Smith testified that charging decisions were based solely on President Trump's actions, not politics.
- He defended his impartiality amid GOP accusations of weaponizing the justice system.
Guard Withdrawn, Federal Forces Promised
- President Trump announced withdrawal of the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland while hinting at deploying stronger federal forces.
- The move follows a Supreme Court rejection of his request to deploy the Guard to protect ICE agents.