Health Insurance CEO Assassinated In NYC

Good Thursday morning. Here is an astounding compilation of the most unlikely things that have ever happened. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

• California: School shooting

• France: Government toppled

• House: Last call

• AT&T: Landline plan

• FIFA: Tournament draw

... and more

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Top Tips

1) In cold blood

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was murdered yesterday in New York City, sparking a massive manhunt.

• What happened: Brian Thompson, 50, was shot by a masked gunman outside a Midtown hotel around 6:45 a.m. The assassin appeared to have a silencer on his handgun and fired three shots before fleeing. A woman was on the sidewalk during the incident, but she was unharmed. Thompson was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.

• Lying in wait: New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the murder was "a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack." Thompson was in town for a conference and the gunman was waiting outside his hotel. The entire incident was captured on camera; security experts speculated the gunman's equipment and techniques suggested he was a sophisticated assassin.

• On the run: The gunman ran down an alley and then eventually got on a Citi Bike e-bike and entered Central Park at 6:48 a.m. Cops said the bike had a GPS tracker. Police also released a photo of the gunman taken from cameras inside a nearby Starbucks before the shooting; the man was masked, but the top half of his face is visible.

• Next steps: Police have offered a $10K reward for information and were reportedly working to identify the eyewitness seen on the footage. Thompson's wife told media outlets she was aware of threats against her husband, but he did not have corporate security. Thompson was also reportedly being investigated by the Department of Justice for insider trading. UnitedHealthcare's parent company, United HealthGroup, is the nation's largest health insurer by market share.

2) A landmark case

The Supreme Court appears set to uphold a controversial Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care.

• The news: Justices heard oral arguments yesterday in U.S. v. Skrmetti. The Biden Administration and the families of three transgender teenagers are asking the high court to strike down Tennessee's law prohibiting medical treatment for minors seeking to live as or identify with a gender identity inconsistent with their sex at birth. It was the first time the Supreme Court has taken on a state law curtailing transgender rights.

• The readout: At least five of the court's six conservative justices seemed skeptical of the government's case. Chief Justice John Roberts said medical issues are typically left to state lawmakers while Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the law is not a ban, but an age restriction. The liberal justices seemed to agree with the government's claim the law violates the constitutional right to equal protection.

• Big picture: Twenty-six states have passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors. The ruling in the case will likely have a significant impact on medical access for transgender minors nationwide and also trickle down into other intense cultural debates like participation in sports. The high court previously allowed Idaho's similar law to stand, but did not rule on its constitutionality.

3) Still hanging on

Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon has survived for at least one more day.

• What happened: The embattled ex-Fox News host was on Capitol Hill meeting with the Republican Senators. He vowed he would not drop out and insisted President-elect Donald Trump still supports him to be Secretary of Defense despite numerous allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual impropriety and mismanagement in past jobs.

• On the offense: Hegseth has reportedly pledged he would not drink if appointed and attacked the media in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. His mother sat for an interview with his former network and defended her son after an email she sent accusing him of mistreating women was leaked.

• Big picture: Hegseth is expected back on the Hill this week and next. While he said he would "fight like hell" for the nomination, the Trump team is reportedly planning a potential exit strategy. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former Navy officer, has emerged as an alternative candidate. Hegseth can only lose four GOP votes if no Democrats support him; there is strong doubt he has a path.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

• Two children were injured in a shooting at a California school north of Sacramento. The alleged gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and reportedly had no ties to the school; the victims' conditions were not disclosed (More)

• An estimate said the U.S. spent over $150B on illegal immigration this year. The project comes from the Department of Government Efficiency, the supposed Trump Admininstration waste-cutting project helmed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (More)

• Winter weather is expected to impact the Eastern part of the U.S. Some areas could see as much as two feet of snow; dangerous snow squalls and low temperatures are also expected (More)

World News

• France's government was toppled after a successful National Assembly non-confidence vote against Prime Minister Michel Barnier. South Korea's parliament has begun impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol following his failed martial law decree, but his party could vote it down (More | More)

• A Canadian man was seriously hurt while defending his wife from a polar bear attack. The incident occurred in Fort Severn First Nation, a northern Ontario town located near Hudson Bay; the man's injuries are not life-threatening (More)

• Russia said it sees "no grounds for negotiations yet" to end its war with Ukraine. The Czech Republic's top diplomat said the Kremlin is likely behind as many as 100 suspicious incidents in Europe believed to be hybrid warfare and sabotage acts (More | More)

Political News

• Democrat Adam Gray has flipped California's 13th Congressional District, defeating Republican Rep. John Duarte. The GOP is projected to have a narrow 217-215 majority in the House to start 2025 (More)

• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will leave the Democratic Party and mount an independent Michigan gubernatorial campaign in 2026. Current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited; Duggan cited voter fatigue with the major political parties for his move (More)

• Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming is planning a GOP primary challenge to Sen. Bill Cassidy in 2026. The incumbent voted to convict President-elect Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial; Fleming is a former House member (More)

Business & Markets

• Major indexes closed higher yesterday. All posted record closes to wrap up trading as the Dow Jones cracked the 45K point threshold (Dow +0.69%, Nasdaq +1.30%, S&P 500 +0.61%).

• AT&T said it will eliminate traditional landline phone service in almost all service areas by 2029. The telecommunications giant said its copper wire infrastructure is antiquated and costly, but critics argue traditional phone service remains critical to remote areas and underprivileged customers (More)

• Washington D.C. is suing Amazon, alleging it secretly excluded two city zip codes from expedited Prime deliveries. The e-commerce giant denied claims its business practices have been deceptive or discriminatory (More)

Entertainment & Sports

• FIFA will conduct the 2025 Club World Cup draw today. The 32-team tournament of the world's best professional soccer teams will be played in the U.S. next summer (More)

• The USGA and LPGA updated its gender policy. Transgender golfers who transitioned after going through male puberty will no longer be permitted to compete in women's events or seek tour membership (More)

• Anora and I Saw The Glow each received six Independent Spirit Awards nominations. The event, which has consolidated gender-neutral acting honors, is sometimes an Academy Awards bellwether (More)

Quick Hitters

• Fun Stuff: El Arroyo, a Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin, is famous for two reasons. It serves delicious food and its marquee sign is hilarious.

• History Lesson: Art forgeries have managed to fool even the most sophisticated experts and museums. Here is a look back at some of the most infamous incidents ever.

• Go Deep: There are multitudes of animals whose sentience status remains unknown. Some scientists argue we should be giving far more thought to how we treat creatures who may feel and think just like us.

• Take Note: Is there a preferred way to sleep? This is what experts say about back sleeping and side sleeping. 

• Life Hack: A professional housekeeper offers her insights and thoughts on what cleaning supplies you should buy and which ones can be skipped.

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Looking Ahead …

Chi-Chi's is making a comeback. Hormel Foods, which owns the defunct Mexican restaurant chain's trademark, will allow it to be used to reopen locations 20 years after it closed its doors.

Question of the Day

Yesterday’s results:

Have you ever flown a drone?

• No (83%)

• Yes (17%)