Extra, Extra

Grand Children: “Fertility rates in the U.S. have never been lower. Could $1,000 ‘Trump accounts’ for newborns, plus Tuesday’s announcement of an additional $250 for some children 10 and under, convince Americans to have more kids?” WSJ (Gift Article): Can ‘Trump Accounts’ for Babies Change the Economics of Having a Family? (Probably not, but it’s not the first time they’ve tried to pay for sex…)

+ Peace Talks Sabre Rattling: “The peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and a U.S. delegation led by President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff stretched on for five hours on Tuesday, but ended without a breakthrough.” (Shocker).

+ Crossing the Aisle: “President Donald Trump pardoned Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife in a federal bribery and conspiracy case on Wednesday, citing what he called a ‘weaponized’ justice system.”

+ Settimana delle Infrastrutture: “It is 64 days until the first hockey game of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and the main hockey arena is still under construction … Even if construction is completed, the ice surface—usually significantly larger for international play than in the NHL—will be smaller than NHL rinks.” What’s Going On With The Olympic Hockey Arena?

+ Bunny Ears: “The holiday season is here, and with it, a present for fans of end of year data and marketing: Spotify Wrapped is here! And Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has been named its most-played artist for a fourth time, dethroning Taylor Swift.”

+ Mad Menace: The ‘Mad Men’ 4K Stream on HBO Max Had So Many Problems (Not All of Which Involved a Barf Machine). It sounds like someone uploaded the wrong files.

+ Landscape Orientation: Need an escape? Here are the Winners of the 2025 International Landscape Photographer of the Year.