Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffimed his firm refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for a painful compromise with Russia as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine.

Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, dont want to give up anything. Thats what we are fighting for," Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp chat late Monday in which he answered reporters' questions.

Do we consider ceding any territories? According to the law we dont have such right. According to Ukraines law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we dont have a moral right either."

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In an interview with Politico released Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump again pressed Zelenskyy to accept the U.S. proposal that Ukraine cede territory to Putin, arguing that Russia retains the upper hand and that Zelenskyys government must play ball.

Zelenskyy met Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome, and is to have talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later in the day. The Vatican said the pope reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.

The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in the war while offering solidarity and assistance to what it calls the martyred people of Ukraine. Leo, who has met three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has called for a ceasefire and urged Moscow in particular to make gestures to promote peace.

On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraines hand amid mounting impatience from Trump.

Facing pressure from Trump

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administrations peace proposal.

A major sticking point in the plan is the suggestion that Kyiv must cede control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have firmly resisted the idea of handing over land.

You know, a lot of people are dying, Trump told Politico, claiming that other unnamed Ukrainian officials agree with the U.S. administration. His people loved the proposal. They really liked it. His lieutenants, his top people, they liked it, but they said he hasnt read it yet.

Russia, Trump reasoned, remains too powerful for Ukraine to continue fighting.

I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that, he said. But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.

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Trump also amplified his calls for Ukraine to hold national elections even though the martial law doesn't allow it. and Zelenskyy, elected in 2019, had his five-year term extended because of the war.

Theyre using war not to hold an election, but, uh, I would think the Ukrainian people would ... should have that choice, Trump said. And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I dont know who would win. But they havent had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where its not a democracy anymore.

Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelenskyy since winning a second term, insisting the war was a waste of U.S. taxpayers money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to end the nearly four-year conflict.

Zelenskyy said Monday that Trump certainly wants to end the war. ... Surely, he has his own vision. We live here, from within we see details and nuances, we perceive everything much deeper, because this is our motherland.

He said the current U.S. peace plan differs from earlier versions in that it now has 20 points, down from 28, after he said some obvious anti-Ukrainian points were removed.

Europeans back Ukraine

Starmer, Macron and Merz strongly backed Kyiv, with the U.K. leader saying Monday that the push for peace was at a critical stage, and stressed the need for a just and lasting ceasefire.

Merz, meanwhile, said he was skeptical about some details in documents released by the U.S. We have to talk about it. Thats why we are here, he said. The coming days could be a decisive time for all of us.

European leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the U.S. to deter Russia from attacking again. Trump has not given explicit guarantees in public.

Zelenskyy and his European allies have repeatedly accused Putin of slow-walking the talks to press ahead with the invasion as his forces are making slow buy steady gains while waves of missiles and drones are pummeling Ukrainian infrastructure.

Both sides exchange aerial strikes

Ukraines Air Force said Russia fired 110 drones of various types across the country last night. They said air defenses neutralized 84 drones, 24 more have struck their targets.

Several regions of Ukraine faced emergency blackouts Tuesday due to Russias prior attacks on energy infrastructure, according to Ukraines national energy operator, Ukrenergo.

Ukraine, in its turn, continued its drone attacks on Russia.

Russian air defenses destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight above various Russian regions and occupied Crimea, Russias Ministry of Defense said Tuesday. In Chuvashia, a region about 900 kilometers (about 560 miles) northeast of the border with Ukraine, the attack damaged residential buildings and injured nine people, local governor Oleg Nikolayev said.

Ukraines Security Service carried out a drone attack on an LPG terminal at the port of Temryuk in Russias Krasnodar region on Dec. 5, according to an official with knowledge of the operation who spoke to The Associated Press.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the strike sparked a large fire at the facility. More than 20 LPG storage tanks were set ablaze and burned for more than three days, he said. The attack also damaged railway tank cars, an intermediate refueling tank, and a loading and unloading rack.

The Federal Reserve faces an unusually contentious meeting this week that will test Chair Jerome Powell's ability to corral the necessary support from fellow policymakers for a third straight interest rate cut.

The Fed's 19-member rate-setting committee is sharply divided over whether to lower borrowing costs again. The divisions have been exacerbated by the convoluted nature of the economy: Inflation remains elevated, which would typically lead the Fed to keep its key rate unchanged, while hiring is weak and the unemployment rate has risen, which often leads to rate cuts.

Some economists expect three Fed officials could vote against the quarter-point cut that Powell is likely to support at the Dec. 9-10 meeting, which would be the most dissenting votes in six years. Just 12 of the 19 members vote on rate decisions. Several of the non-voting officials have also said they oppose another rate cut.

It's just a really tricky time. Perfectly sensible people can reach different answers, said William English, an economist at the Yale School of Management and a former top Fed staff member. And the committee kind of likes to work by consensus, but this is a situation where that consensus is hard to reach.

The debate, which has also been fueled by a lack of official federal data on employment and inflation during the government shutdown, could be a preview of where the Fed is headed after Powell's term as chair ends in May. His successor will be appointed by President Donald Trump and is widely expected to be Kevin Hassett, the top White House economic adviser. Hassett may push for faster cuts than other officials would be willing to support.

English said the potential for greater disagreement could be seen as a sign of healthy debate between different views. The Feds tradition of reaching unanimous or nearly-unanimous decisions has often been criticized as evidence of groupthink. Yet some Fed officials warn that there are downsides to sharp splits. If the committee votes end up as 8-4 or even 7-5, then financial markets could lose confidence in where the central bank is headed next.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller, for example, has said that in the case of a 7-5 vote, if just one official changed their view, it could bring about a significant shift in Fed policy.

For now, however, most economists expect what's called a hawkish cut the Fed will reduce rates, while also signaling that it may stand pat for some time to assess the economy's health. ("Hawks" refer to officials who generally support higher rates to combat inflation, while doves more often support lower rates to boost hiring).

RELATED STORY | What the federal interest rate cut means for you and the US economy

The president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, Jeffrey Schmid, is expected to dissent for a second straight meeting in favor of keeping rates unchanged. He may be joined by St. Louis Fed president Alberto Musalem. Fed governor Stephen Miran, who was hurriedly appointed to the Fed's board by Trump in September, will likely dissent for a third straight meeting in favor of a larger, half-point reduction in the Fed's key rate.

After the Fed's last meeting Oct. 28-29, several policymakers said they would prefer to keep rates unchanged at the December meeting, leading Wall Street investors to briefly downgrade the odds of a third rate cut to less than 30%. But then John Williams, president of the New York Fed, said that this year's uptick in inflation appears to be a temporary blip driven by Trump's tariffs that would likely fade by the middle of 2026.

As a result, I still see room for a further adjustment in the Fed's short-term rate, Williams said. As president of the New York Fed and vice chair of the rate-setting committee, Williams gets to vote on every interest rate decision and is close to Powell. Analysts said it was unlikely Williams would have made such a statement without Powell's support. Investors rapidly lifted the odds of a cut, which now are at 89%, according to CME Fedwatch.

You're seeing the power of the chair, said Nathan Sheets, chief global economist at Citi and also a former top Fed staffer. Members of the committee, my instinct is, are wanting to underscore their support for Powell.

Powell has come under relentless attack from Trump, who just last month said he would love to fire his ass and called Powell this clown.

The Fed is required by Congress to seek low inflation and maximum employment, two goals that are potentially in conflict.

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For now, Powell and many other Fed officials are more concerned about hiring and unemployment rather than inflation. While the official government jobs reports have been delayed, in September the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4%, the third straight increase and the highest in four years.

Payroll provider ADP, meanwhile, reported that in November, its data showed companies shed 32,000 jobs. And many large firms have announced sweeping layoffs.

Worries that the job market could get worse are a key reason a rate cut in December is likely but not necessarily beyond that. Fed officials will have up to three months of backlogged jobs and inflation data to consider when they meet in late January. Those figures could show inflation remains stubbornly high or that hiring has rebounded, which would suggest further cuts aren't needed.

What they may end up agreeing to do is cut rates now, but give some guidance ... that signals that theyre on pause for a while after that, Kathy Bostjancic, chief economist at Nationwide, said.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani posted a video to social media on Sunday explaining immigrants' right to refuse to speak to or comply with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, days after federal agents carried out a raid in Manhattan.

In the video, Mamdani vowed to protect the city's 3 million immigrants, saying, We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.

He explained that people in the U.S. can chose not to speak to federal immigration agents, film them without interfering and refuse their requests to enter private spaces. ICE agents cannot enter spaces like a home, school or private area of a workplace without a judicial warrant signed by a judge, Mamdani said.

ICE is legally allowed to lie to you, but you have the right to remain silent. If youre being detained, you may always ask, Am I free to go? repeatedly until they answer you, said Mamdani, who will be sworn in as mayor on Jan 1.

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His comments came a week after demonstrators gathered as ICE attempted to detain people on Canal Street near New York's Chinatown. A similar immigration sweep in the same neighborhood last October was also met with protests.

New York will always welcome immigrants, and I will fight each and every day to protect, support, and celebrate our immigrant brothers and sisters, Mamdani said in Sunday's video.

Weeks earlier, Mamdani had a surprisingly cordial Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump, whose administration is carrying out federal immigration enforcement operations in several U.S. cities, most recently in New Orleans.

Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a campaign Monday for the U.S. Senate in Texas, bringing a national profile to a race that may be critical to Democrats long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next years midterm elections.

Crockett, one of Congress most outspoken Democrats and a frequent target of GOP attacks, jumped into the race on the final day of qualifying in Texas. She is seeking the Senate seat held by Republican John Cornyn, who is running for reelection in the GOP-dominated state.

Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to wrest control from Republicans next November, when most of the seats up for reelection are in states like Texas that President Donald Trump won last year. Democrats have long hoped to make Texas more competitive after decades of Republican dominance. Cornyn, first elected to the Senate since 2002, is facing the toughest GOP primary of his career against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

Crocketts announcement came hours after former Rep. Colin Allred ended his own campaign for the Democratic nomination in favor of attempting a House comeback bid. She faces a March 3 primary against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, a former teacher with a rising national profile fueled by viral social media posts challenging Republican policies such as private school vouchers and requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Scripps News interview: Gene Simmons talks pushing Congress to ensure artists are paid for songs on the radio

Talarico raised almost $6.3 million in the three weeks after he formally organized his primary campaign committee in September, according its first campaign finance report, and he had nearly $5 million in cash on hand at the end of the month. Crockett raised about $2.7 million for her House campaign fund from July through September and ended the month with $4.6 million in cash on hand.

Crockett also could test Democratic voters appetite for a blunt communicator who is eager to take on Republicans as their party sets out again in pursuit of a statewide victory in Texas for the first time since 1994.

Democrats see their best opportunity to pick up the Texas seat if Paxton wins the Republican nomination because he has been shadowed for much of his career by legal and personal issues. Yet Paxton is popular with Trumps most ardent supporters.

Hunt, who has served two terms representing a Houston-area district, defied GOP leaders by entering the GOP race.

Crockett, a civil rights attorney serving her second House term, built her national profile with a candid style and viral moments on Capitol Hill. Among those who have taken notice is Trump, who has called her a low IQ person. In response, Crockett said she would agree to take an IQ test against the president.

She traded insults with Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who announced last month that she would resign in January, and had heated exchanges with Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

She also mocked Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott who uses a wheelchair as Gov. Hot Wheels. She later said she was referring to Abbotts policy of using planes, trains and automobiles to send thousands of immigrants in Texas illegally to Democratic-led cities.

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Democrats came closest in the past 30 years to winning a statewide contest in 2018, when former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke came within 3 points of ousting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. That was during the midterm election of Trumps first administration, and Democrats believe next years race could be similarly favorable to their party.

Allred lost to Cruz by 8.5 points last year. He is running for the House in a newly drawn district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which he represented in Congress before his Senate bid in 2024.

An internal party battle, Allred said, would prevent the Democratic Party from going into this critical election unified against the danger posed to our communities and our Constitution by Donald Trump and one of his Republican bootlickers.

Allreds new district is part of the new congressional map that Texas lawmakers approved earlier this year as part of Trumps push to redraw House boundaries to Republicans advantage. It includes some areas that Allred represented in Congress from 2019-2025. Most of the district is currently being represented by Rep. Marc Veasey, but he has planned to run in a new, neighboring district.

A former professional football player and civil rights attorney, Allred was among Democrats star recruits for the 2018 midterms. That year, the party gained a net of 40 House seats, including multiple suburban and exurban districts in Texas, and won a House majority that redefined Trumps first presidency.

Besides avoiding a free-for-all Senate primary, Marshall said Allred is helping Democrats cause by becoming a candidate for another office, and he said thats a key for the party to have any shot at flipping the state.

The infrastructure isnt terrible but it clearly needs improvement, he said. Having strong, competitive candidates for every office is part of building that energy and operation. Texas needs strong candidates in House races, for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general every office so that voters are hearing from Democrats everywhere.

Fresh off receiving one of entertainments highest accolades, KISS co-founder Gene Simmons joined Scripps News to talk about his advocacy for legislation that would require U.S. radio stations to pay artists when their songs are played on AM/FM airwaves.

Simmons, who was honored Sunday at the Kennedy Center Honors, spoke about the American Music Fairness Act, a bill he argues would correct what he calls decades of injustice in the industry. Under current U.S. law, artists do not receive performance royalties from traditional radio broadcasts.

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"The artist is not getting anything and that's an injustice that needs bipartisan support," Simmons told Scripps News anchor Maritsa Georgiou.

Simmons will speak with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, urging them to pass the bill.

"This is not just about the past, Elvis and Sinatra, this is about the future, and we need to remind ourselves that America invented, created the music of planet Earth," Simmons asserted. "Rock and roll, blues, jazz, hip hop, country and western."

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The American Music Fairness Act was introduced in January and remains in the House Judiciary Committee, where it has not yet advanced.

The rock legend said he plans to meet with lawmakers from both parties, expressing confidence that the measure could move forward.

"This is about what's fair for America and our stars," Simmon said.

He added that he's confident that Democrats and Republicans will join together to pass the bill.

To see the full interview, including Simmons comments on media bias and an awkward exchange with Scripps News anchor Maritsa Georgiou, watch the full conversation above.

President Donald Trumps former personal attorney, Alina Habba, said Monday she is resigning as the top federal prosecutor for New Jersey, giving up her fight to stay in the job after an appeals court said she had been serving in the post unlawfully.

In a statement posted on social media, Habba assailed the court's ruling as political, but said she was resigning to protect the stability and integrity of her office.

But do not mistake compliance for surrender, she said, adding that the administration would continue its appeal. This decision will not weaken the Justice Department and it will not weaken me.

Habba said she would remain with the Justice Department as a senior advisor to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Habba, 41, was appointed in March to serve a temporary term as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, a powerful post charged with enforcing federal criminal and civil law.

Once a partner in a small New Jersey law firm, Habba was among Trumps most visible legal defenders during the four years he was out of power, representing him in court and frequently appearing on cable TV news as his legal spokesperson.

But she had limited federal court experience, and New Jerseys two Democratic senators indicated they would block her confirmation in the U.S. Senate.

When her term expired in July, a panel of federal judges appointed one of her subordinates to the role instead. But Bondi promptly fired the replacement, blaming Habbas removal on politically minded judges.

RELATED STORY | Court rules former Trump lawyer Alina Habba cant serve as New Jersey's top prosecutor

A lower-court judges finding that Habba was unlawfully serving in the position soon triggered a monthslong legal standoff, prompting confusion and delays within New Jerseys federal court system.

Then, earlier this month, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia disqualified her from serving in the role, writing in their opinion that the citizens of New Jersey and the loyal employees in the U.S. Attorneys Office deserve some clarity and stability.

Habba is one of several Trump administration prosecutors whose appointments have faced challenges.

The Justice Department had vowed to appeal a judges ruling dismissing the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that the prosecutor who filed the charges, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed as interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Its unclear whether the administrations decision to abandon the fight to keep Habba in office may impact other U.S. attorneys whose appointments have been challenged by defense lawyers.

In a statement posted on X on Monday, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused judges of engaging in an unconscionable campaign of bias and hostility against Halligan for questioning why she was still being identified as U.S. attorney on court documents.

Twelve former FBI agents fired after kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington sued Monday to get their jobs back, saying their action had been intended to de-escalate a volatile situation and was not meant as a political gesture.

The agents say in their lawsuit that they were fired in September by Director Kash Patel because they were perceived as not being politically affiliated with President Donald Trump. But they say their decision to take a knee on June 4, 2020, days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, has been misinterpreted as political expression.

The lawsuit says the agents were assigned to patrol the nation's capital during a period of civil unrest prompted by Floyd's death. Lacking protective gear or extensive training in crowd control, the agents became outnumbered by hostile crowds they encountered and decided to kneel to the ground in hopes of defusing the tension, the lawsuit said. The tactic worked, the lawsuit asserts the crowds dispersed, no shots were fired and the agents "saved American lives" that day.

"Plaintiffs were performing their duties as FBI Special Agents, employing reasonable de-escalation to prevent a potentially deadly confrontation with American citizens: a Washington Massacre that could have rivaled the Boston Massacre in 1770," the lawsuit says.

RELATED STORY | 3 fired FBI officials sue Patel, saying he bowed to Trump administration's 'campaign of retribution'

The FBI declined to comment Monday.

The lawsuit in federal court in Washington represents the latest court challenge to a personnel purge that has roiled the FBI, targeting both top-ranking supervisors and line agents, as Patel has worked to reshape the nation's premier law enforcement agency. Besides the kneeling agents, other employees pushed out in recent months have worked on investigations involving Trump or his allies and in one case displayed an LGBTQ+ flag in his workspace.

After photographs emerged of the agents taking a knee, the FBI conducted an internal review, with the then-deputy director determining that the agents had no political motive and should not be punished. The Justice Department inspector general reached a similar conclusion and faulted the department for having put the agents in a precarious situation that day, the lawsuit says.

It was only after Patel took over the bureau in February that the FBI took a different posture.

Multiple kneeling agents were removed from supervisory positions last spring and a fresh disciplinary inquiry was launched that resulted in the agents being interviewed about their actions. That internal process was still pending when the agents in September received terse letters telling them they were being terminated because of "unprofessional conduct and a lack of impartiality in carrying out duties, leading to the political weaponization of government."

"Defendants dismissed Plaintiffs in a partisan effort to retaliate against FBI employees that they perceived to be sympathetic to President Trump's political opponents," the lawsuit states. "And Defendants acted summarily to avoid creating any further administrative record that would reveal their actions as vindictive and unjustified."

The plaintiffs are among 22 agents from different squads across Washington who were deployed to downtown D.C. on June 4, 2020 to demonstrate a visible law enforcement process during a time of protests in the nation's capital and across the country.

The lawsuit asserts that the agents were thrust into a chaotic scene, saying that a crowd recognized them as being from the FBI and "intentionally" pushed toward them, becoming "increasingly agitated" and shouting and gesturing toward them. Some in the crowd began chanting "take a knee," a gesture that at that point was widely recognized as a sign of solidarity with Floyd, who was pinned to the pavement by police with a knee on his neck.

WATCH: FBI Director Kash Patel clashes with Democrats over Epstein files

The agents closest to the crowd were the first to kneel. After the crowd's attention turned to the other agents who remained standing, the other FBI employees followed suit, taking a knee in recognition that it was the "most tactically sound means to prevent violence and to maintain order." The crowd moved on.

"Plaintiffs demonstrated tactical intelligence in choosing between deadly forcethe only force available to them as a practical matter, given their lack of adequate crowd control equipmentand a less-than-lethal response that would save lives and keep order.," the lawsuit says. "The Special Agents selected the option that prevented casualties while maintaining their law enforcement mission. Each Plaintiff kneeled for apolitical tactical reasons to defuse a volatile situation, not as an expressive political act."

In addition to seeking reinstatement, the lawsuit also asks for a court judgment declaring the firings as unconstitutional, backpay and other monetary damages and an expungement of personnel files related to the terminations.

Paul Thomas Andersons One Battle After Another scored a leading nine nominations to the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on Monday, adding to the Oscar favorites momentum and handing Warner Bros. a victory amid Netflix's acquisition deal.

In nominations announced from Beverly Hills, California, One Battle After Another landed nods for its cast Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti and for Andersons screenplay and direction. Its competing in the Globes category for comedy and musicals.

READ THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES

Close on its heels was Joachim Triers Sentimental Value, a Norwegian family drama about a filmmaking family. The Neon releases eight nominations included nods for four of its actors: Stellan Skarsgrd, Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas.

The Globe nominations, a tattered but persistent rite in Hollywood, are coming on the heels of a potentially seismic shift in entertainment. On Friday, Netflix struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $72 billion. If approved, the deal would reshape Hollywood and put one of its most storied movie studios in the hands of the streaming giant.

Warner Bros., Netflix and the Golden Globes

Both companies are prominent in this year's awards season. Along with One Battle After Another, Warner Bros. has Sinners, Ryan Coogler's acclaimed vampire hit. It was nominated for seven awards by the Globes, including box office achievement, best actor for Michael B. Jordan and Coogler for best director.

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Netflix's contenders include Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly (which landed nods for George Clooney and Adam Sandler), Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (five nominations) and the streaming smash hit, KPop Demon Hunters. Arguably the most-watched movie of the year, the three nominations for KPop Demon Hunters included one for cinematic and box office achievement an oddity for Netflix, which typically gives its films only small, limited theatrical runs but found a No. 1 box office weekend in singalong screenings for the animated film.

The two studios led all others in nominations across film and television on Monday. Netflix landed 35 nominations, boosted by its expansive film slate and television nominees like the British limited series Adolescence (five nominations). Warner Bros. had 31 nominations, including 15 from HBO Max for series such as The White Lotus, the lead TV nominee with six.

The proposed deal for Warner Bros. has stoked concern throughout the industry that Netflix might devote one of the most theatrical-focused studios to streaming. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has pledged a theatrical commitment to many Warner releases, but the leading trade group for exhibitors has called the deal an unprecedented threat. On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the market share created by the merger could be a problem, and Paramount said Monday it was mounting a hostile bid for Warner Bros.

Neon shines on a bad day for Wicked: For Good

Yet the studio that triumphed on the movie side of the Globe nominations was Neon. The indie specialty film company has emerged as a dominant force in international releases, winning a string of Palme d'Or awards at the Cannes Film Festival. It earned 21 nominations Monday, including five of the six international film nominees.

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Some of those nominations came at the expense of some high-profile studio films. Wicked: For Good was nominated for five awards, including two nods for its songs and acting nominations for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. But it was overlooked for an award it was presumed to be in contention for: best comedy or musical.

The nominees instead were One Battle After Another, Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia, Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme, Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice (a Neon release) and a pair of Richard Linklater movies in Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.

In the drama category, Chlo Zhao's Hamnet scored six nominations, including nods for its stars, Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. It was nominated for best film, drama, along with Frankenstein and three Neon titles: The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and It Was Just an Accident.

Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, the acclaimed Iranian revenge drama, was nominated for a total of four awards. At different times, Panahi has often been imprisoned, put under house arrest and prohibited from leaving Iran by the Islamic Republic while making films over the past two decades. Earlier this month, while traveling outside of Iran with the film, he was sentenced to a year in prison and a new two-year travel ban.

Podcasters and A-listers mingle

As the Globes continue to transition out of their scandal-plagued past, there's one notable change this year. For the first time, the Globes are giving a best podcast trophy. The inaugural nominees are Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, The Mel Robbins Podcast, SmartLess and NPR's Up First.

Many of those nominees aren't exactly outsiders to Hollywood. But they'll mingle with a wide array of stars that the Globes, long known for packing their red carpet with A-listers, were sure to nominate.

Those include Timothee Chalamet, nominated for his performance in Marty Supreme, Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love), Julia Roberts (After the Hunt), Tessa Thompson (Hedda), Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere), Emma Stone (Bugonia), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon) and the two stars of The Smashing Machine, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

After a series of controversies for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that previously put on the ceremony, the Globes were sold in 2023 to Todd Boehly's Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, a part of Penske Media. A new, larger voting body of more than 300 people now vote on the awards, which moved from NBC to CBS on a shorter, less expensive deal.

Nikki Glaser is returning as host to the Jan. 11 Globes, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. This past January, Glaser won good reviews for her first time emceeing the ceremony. Ratings were essentially unchanged, slightly dipping to 9.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen, from 9.4 million in 2024.

Helen Mirren will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award in a separate prime-time special airing Jan. 8. Sarah Jessica Parker will be honored with the Carol Burnett Award.

A water leak at the Louvre Museum in Paris has damaged up to 400 historical documents in one of the museum's libraries, adding to mounting concerns about the iconic institution's infrastructure.

Most of the damaged items were books in the Egyptian department, according to the BBC, but the museum's deputy administrator reportedly said "no precious books" were affected.

Museum workers are now painstakingly drying the affected materials one page at a time, according to officials.

RELATED STORY | The Louvre urged to speed up security upgrades in audit conducted before the heist

The leak occurred several days ago but did not damage any artwork, museum officials confirmed.

Critics argue the incident highlights the Louvre's desperate need for repairs and security upgrades.

The water damage incident comes nearly two months after thieves stole royal jewelry worth more than $100 million from the museum. While police have made arrests in connection with the jewelry theft, the stolen items remain missing.

Workers at the museum also voted Monday for strikes to protest their work conditions, security issues and the "obstacle course" it is for patrons to visit, according to The Associated Press.

Watch: Suspects arrested after crown jewel heist at Paris Louvre Museum

The National Park Service has removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its list of free admission days, according to the agency's website.

Several days were added, however, including Sept. 17, which is Constitution Day, and June 14, which is Flag Day and President Donald Trump's birthday.

Admission fees have been waived on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for several years.

Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery, was added as a free admission day last year after being recognized as a federal holiday during the Biden administration in 2021.

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The changes are the latest efforts by the Trump administration to remove all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Entrance fees vary from park to park but are typically around $35 per vehicle. The free admission holidays will only apply to U.S. citizens and residents.

The new list of free entry dates:

Presidents Day: Feb. 16 Memorial Day: May 31 Flag Day/President Donald Trumps birthday: June 14 Independence Day weekend: July 35 110th Birthday of the National Park Service: Aug. 25 Constitution Day: Sept. 17 Theodore Roosevelts birthday: Oct. 27 Veterans Day: Nov. 11Watch: What is Juneteenth?

One person has died in California following an outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to wild, foraged mushrooms, state health officials said.

The California Department of Public Health said more than 20 cases have been identified since mid-November, with clusters in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay areas. Several patients, including children, have suffered severe liver damage, and at least one person may require a liver transplant.

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The agency urged the public to avoid foraging entirely during what it called a high-risk season for toxic mushrooms. Officials said death cap mushrooms, among the most dangerous types, can be easily mistaken for safe, edible varieties and cannot be made safe by cooking.

Death cap mushrooms contain potentially deadly toxins that can lead to liver failure," said Dr. Erica Pan, the states public health officer. Because the death cap can easily be mistaken for edible safe mushrooms, we advise the public not to forage for wild mushrooms at all during this high-risk season.

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Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain typically appear within 6 to 24 hours but may briefly improve before severe or fatal liver damage can develop.

Death caps grow widely across the state, particularly near oak and other hardwood trees following fall and winter rains.

Changes that Disney made to a popular program that lets qualifying disabled people skip long lines at its California and Florida theme parks are too restrictive, disabled fans contend in a federal lawsuit and shareholder proposal that seek to expand eligibility.

The battle over who can skip long lines on popular rides because of their disabilities marks the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while cracking down on past abuses. But some Disney fans say the company has gone too far and has no right to determine who is disabled.

"This isn't right. This isn't what Walt and Roy would have wanted," said Shannon Bonadurer, referring to the Disney brothers who founded the entertainment empire. Despite being unable to wait for long periods of time in the heat because she uses an ileostomy bag, Bonadurer was denied a pass for the disability program.

In a statement, Disney said it was committed to providing a great experience to all visitors, particularly those with disabilities who may require special accommodations.

Here's a look at changes to Disney parks' policies for disabled visitors.

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What is the disability program?

The Disability Access Service, or DAS, program allows pass-holders and their immediate family members to make an online reservation for a ride while in the park and then get into an expedited line that typically takes about 10 minutes when they're ready to go on the ride. DAS guests never have to wait in normal standby lines, which on the most popular attractions can be two hours or more.

The DAS program started in 2013 in response to past abuses by disabled "tour guides" who charged money, sometimes hundreds of dollars, to accompany able-bodied guests, enabling such guests to go to the front of lines. Disney says the DAS program needed changing because it had grown fourfold. Before last year's changes, the percentage of guests having DAS passes jumped from around 5% to 20% over the past dozen years "and showed no signs of slowing," the company said in court papers.

Disney parks make other accommodations for disabled visitors, including maps in Braille, a device that helps transfer visitors from wheelchairs to ride seats, quiet break locations and American Sign Language interpreters for some live shows. The parks permit some service animals on rides and allow some disabled guests to leave a line and rejoin their party before boarding a ride.

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Who qualifies now?

Disney narrowed the scope from people with a wider range of disabilities to mostly guests who "due to a developmental disability such as autism or similar" have difficulties waiting in a long line. Under the changes, guests seeking a DAS pass must be interviewed via video chat by a Disney worker and a contracted medical professional who determine if the person is eligible. Visitors found to have lied can be barred from the parks.

Some people with disabilities who have been denied say the new policy is too restrictive. Not only was Bonadurer denied a pass, but so was her 25-year-old son, who is blind and has cerebral palsy and autism.

"They are making a determination about whether you're disabled enough," said Bonadurer, a professional travel adviser from Michigan. "I would love to wait in line with everyone else, and so would my son, since that would mean he has a normal life. But we don't, and unfortunately for us, we need adaptations to how we wait."

Disney says the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't require equal treatment of people with varying disabilities. The company accommodates those visitors who don't meet the new DAS criteria with alternatives, Disney said in court filings responding to a federal lawsuit in California.

"For example, in a crowded movie theater, a person using a wheelchair may be entitled to priority seating even if they arrive shortly before the movie starts, while a deaf person may only be entitled to a seat with closed captioning," the company said.

At Disney's main theme park rival, Universal, disabled visitors can get shorter lines if they have a card issued by an international board that certifies venues for their accessibility.

What's next?

A shareholder proposal submitted on behalf of DAS Defenders, an advocacy group of Disney fans opposed to the DAS changes, calls on the company next year to commission an independent review of its disability policies and publicly release the findings. The shareholder proposal claims the change to the DAS program has contributed to lower park attendance.

Disney's attorneys told the Securities and Exchange Commission in a November letter that it intends to block the proposal ahead of the company's 2026 shareholder meeting, saying it was false and misleading about the reasons for an attendance decline, which the company attributed to hurricanes. The company also argued the shareholder proposal amounts to micromanaging day-to-day operations.

The Trump administration on Monday announced up to $12 billion in economic aid for U.S. farmers as they navigate economic pressures.

The aid is designed to serve as a bridge payment in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs according to the USDA, until investments from President Trumps tax bill reach farmers.

Farmers are an indispensable national asset, part of the backbone of America, President Trump said during a roundtable with administration officials, lawmakers and farmers Monday.

The program will utilize Commodity Credit Corporation funding, but is considered a tariff offset by the administration, according to Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins.

The package includes up to $11 billion through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program for row crop farmers. Up to another $1 billion is expected for those not covered including specialty crops and sugar, but remains in development as Rollins said she hopes to have an announcement soon.

The infusion comes as farmers have navigated challenges in pricing and trade, and advocated for economic relief.

"I would suspect a lot of these dollars are going to go to interest payments and trying to, trying to just hold the farm into place, fight off bankruptcy, fight off farm sales, and keep the ball rolling until next year, said Don McMoran, a fourth generation farmer from Washington State who works on agriculture policy.

Some industry associations welcomed the assistance.

The assistance announced today will make an immediate impact by providing a lifeline for farmers who work to ensure a healthy, safe and abundant food supply, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall stated.

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But as some growers lauded the administration, they also maintained a focus on long term solutions, including through working with Congress.

Across the country, farmers are confronting the combined pressures of disrupted trade, rising input costs, and depressed commodity markets. This relief will provide near-term support for many farmers working hard just to stay afloat, stated National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew in part. Short-term payments, while important, are only a first step. What we truly need are long-term structural fixes that restore viability and stability to family farms and ranches for generations to come. In real-time, we are experiencing the consequences of farm policy that is woefully outdated.

Trump said it depends on where we go on whether it was a final aid package but suggested he would consider taping into tariff revenue for additional aid should farmers need it.

Yeah I am, we're gonna make the farmers so strong, and I'm not even talking about financially, because they just want to be able to produce what they can produce, and we're going to make them so strong that it will be, indeed, a golden age for farmers, Trump said in response to question from Scripps News.

We're constantly talking about what is needed if more is needed, and what that should look like. But we can't lose sight of the long term goal to get off of this never ending hamster wheel of government payouts, and that's really what the goal is for us, Rollins told Scripps News.

While the Trump administration blames inflation, trade and policies under the Biden Administration for economic challenges farmers are facing, others pointed to tariffs.

We're getting squeezed on both sides. We're paying more for our inputs and we're getting paid less for what we sell. You know right now, any estimates are somewhere between 40 and $50 billion that agriculture has lost so far this year, and most of it is due to the trade war., Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmer's Union, told Scripps News.

Democratic lawmakers, who blamed the Presidents tariff policy, criticized the latest measure as falling short of a long term solution.

This assistance will clearly benefit some farmers now, but a one-time payment is not a long-term fix only restoring these markets can do that. While more details are needed, as announced this assistance may fall short for many farmers who have been harmed by the Presidents reckless tariffs, stated Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

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But the administration has contended the trade agenda isnt causing challenges for farmers, but rather the trade deficit, a lack of new reference pricing and cost of inputs.

Originally, this package was going to be solely for those who were harmed by the trade agenda, but instead we pivoted to a much broader farm aid package, a bridge package, because what they are hurting but it actually isn't because of the trade. It's because of the previous administration's policies," Rollins said.

Rollins expects money from this package to move by the end of February and said the payment cap will be around $155,000, noting theyre focused on small family farms.

They're the ones we're really focused on. They're the ones that this money will mean the difference between going bankrupt or being able to plant for next season as they take that paper to their lender to get the loans they need to begin their planting plans, Rollins said.

The announcement leads into a week in which President Trump is also expected to share his broader economic message in Pennsylvania.

Paramount has gone hostile with a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, challenging Netflix, which reached a $72 billion takeover deal with the company just days ago.

Paramount said Monday that it is going straight to Warner Bros. shareholders with a $30 per share in cash offer for the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery, including its Global Networks segment, asking them to reject the deal with Netflix.

That is the same bid that Warner Bros. rejected in favor of the offer from Netflix in a merger that would alter the U.S. entertainment landscape.

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Paramount criticized the Netflix offer, saying it exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash.

Paramount said it had submitted six proposals to Warner Bros. Discovery over a 12 week period.

We believe our offer will create a stronger Hollywood. It is in the best interests of the creative community, consumers and the movie theater industry," Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison said in a statement. "We believe they will benefit from the enhanced competition, higher content spend and theatrical release output, and a greater number of movies in theaters as a result of our proposed transaction,

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On Friday Netflix struck a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the Hollywood giant behind Harry Potter and HBO Max. The cash and stock deal is valued at $27.75 per Warner share, giving it a total enterprise value of $82.7 billion, including debt. The transaction is expected to close in the next 12 to 18 months, after Warner completes its previously announced separation of its cable operations. Not included in the deal are networks such as CNN and Discovery.

But President Donald Trump said Sunday that the deal struck by Netflix to buy Warner Bros. Discovery could be a problem because of the size of the combined market share.

This might be your chance to get your hands on the viral Starbucks "Bearista" cup that has been sold out for weeks.

The company posted an Instagram video on Sunday featuring the cup. The caption said, "Your chance is in the Starbucks app. Tomorrow, 12/8."

There were no other details given about the possible restock.

The bear-shaped cup was added as part of the coffee chain's holiday collection on Nov. 6. It features a glass teddy bear wearing a green Starbucks beanie.

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The 20-ounce cup costs about $30, but they immediately sold out after they were launched.

You can find the cups being resold online for hundreds of dollars.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was meeting the French, German and British leaders in London on Monday as Kyivs European allies try to strengthen Ukraines hand in thorny talks on a U.S.-backed plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to gather with Zelenskyy, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the British leaders 10 Downing St. residence.

Zelenskyy said late Sunday that his talks with European leaders this week in London and Brussels will focus on security, air defense and long-term funding for Ukraines war effort. The leaders are working to ensure that any ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees both from Europe and the U.S. to deter Russia from attacking again.

U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administrations peace proposal.

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Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram that talks had been substantive and that National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov were traveling back to Europe to brief him.

A major sticking point in the proposal is the suggestion that Ukraine must cede control of its eastern Donbas region to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have balked at the idea of handing over land.

Starmer said he wont be putting pressure on Zelenskyy to accept a peace settlement.

The most important thing is to ensure that if there is a cessation of hostilities, and I hope there is, it has to be just and it has to be lasting, which is what we will be focused on this afternoon, he told broadcaster ITV.

In an exchange with reporters on Sunday night, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared frustrated with Zelenskyy, claiming the Ukrainian leader hasnt yet read the proposal.

Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but Im not sure that Zelenskyys fine with it," Trump said before taking part in the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington. "His people love it, but he hasn't read it."

Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Zelenskyy since riding into a second White House term insisting that the war was a waste of U.S. taxpayers money. Trump has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict.

The European talks follow the publication of a new U.S. national security strategy that alarmed European leaders and was welcomed by Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the document, which spells out the administrations core foreign policy interests, was largely in line with Moscows vision.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, Peskov said that the Kremlin welcomed the documents focus on developing constructive relations with Russia.

The nuances that we see in the new concept certainly look appealing to us, he told reporters. It mentions the need for dialogue and building constructive, friendly relations. This cannot but appeal to us, and it absolutely corresponds to our vision. We understand that by eliminating the irritants that currently exist in bilateral relations, a prospect may open for us to truly restore our relations and bring them out of the rather deep crisis.

The document released Friday by the White House said the U.S. wants to improve its relationship with Russia after years of Moscow being treated as a global pariah and that ending the war is a core U.S. interest to reestablish strategic stability with Russia.

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The document also says NATO must not be a perpetually expanding alliance, echoing another complaint of Russias. It was scathing about the migration and free speech policies of longstanding U.S. allies in Europe, suggesting they face the prospect of civilizational erasure due to migration.

Starmers government has declined to comment on the American document, saying it is a matter for the U.S. government.

Aerial attacks continue

Russian forces continued to attack Ukraine Monday as diplomatic efforts continued.

Russian drones struck a residential high-rise in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Okhtyrka overnight, injuring seven people, the head of the regional administration, Oleh Hryhorov, wrote on Telegram. He said that the building suffered extensive damage.

Elsewhere, in the northern city of Chernihiv, a Russian drone injured three people when it exploded outside a residential building, regional head Viacheslav Chaus said. The attack also damaged a kindergarten, domestic gas pipes and cars.

Ukraines Air Force said Monday that Russia fired a total of 149 drones across the country overnight, of which 131 were neutralized and 16 more struck their targets.

Meanwhile, Russian air defenses destroyed 67 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russias Ministry of Defense said Monday. The drones were shot down over 11 Russian regions, it said.

President Donald Trump on Sunday hosted the Kennedy Center Honors and praised Sylvester Stallone, Kiss, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford and George Strait, the slate of honorees he helped choose, as being legendary in so many ways.

Billions and billions of people have watched them over the years, Trump, the first president to command the stage, said to open the show.

The Republican president said the artists, recognized with tribute performances during the show, are among the greatest artists and actors, performers, musicians, singers, songwriters ever to walk the face of the Earth.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has made the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which is named after a Democratic predecessor, a touchstone in a broader attack against what he has lambasted as woke anti-American culture.

Trump said Saturday that he was hosting at the request of a certain television network. He predicted the broadcast scheduled for Dec. 23 on CBS and Paramount+, would have its best ratings ever.

Before Trump, presidents watched the show alongside the honorees. Trump skipped the honors altogether during his first term.

Asked how he got ready for the gig, Trump said as he moved along the red carpet with his wife, first lady Melania Trump, that he didnt really prepare very much.

I have a good memory, so I can remember things, which is very fortunate, the president said. But just, I wanted to just be myself. You have to be yourself."

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, one of several Cabinet secretaries attending the ceremony, said his boss "is so relaxed in front of these cameras, as you know, and so funny, I cant wait for tonight. Lutnick arrived with his wife, a member of the Kennedy Center's board.

Trump appeared on stage three times to open and close the show, and after intermission. He also talked up each artist in prerecorded videos that played before their tributes.

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Trump was both gracious and critical in the comments he delivered from the stage, lavishing the honorees with effusive praise but at times showing a mean streak. After returning from intermission, he said hed toured some of the construction projects he has launched to renovate the performing arts center. And he said it was a fantastic night.

Well, were really having a good time tonight, Trump said. So many people I know in this audience. Some good. Some bad. Some I truly love and respect. Some I just hate.

Since 1978, the honors have recognized stars for their influence on American culture and the arts. Members of this year's class are pop-culture standouts, including Stallone for his Rocky and Rambo movies, Gaynor for her I Will Survive feminist anthem and Kiss for its flashy, cartoonish makeup and onstage displays of smoke and pyrotechnics.

Strait is a leader in the world of country music and Crawford, a Tony Award-winning actor, is best known for starring in Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Trump said persistence is a trait shared by the honorees, several of whom had humble beginnings.

Some of them have had legendary setbacks, setbacks that you have to read in the papers because of their level of fame, he said from the stage. But in the words of Rocky Balboa, they showed us that you keep moving forward, just keep moving forward.

He said many of the politicians, celebrities and others in the audience shared the trait, too.

I know so many of you are persistent, Trump said in his opening. Many of you are miserable, horrible people. You are persistent. You never give up. Sometimes I wish youd give up, but you dont.

The ceremony was expected to be emotional for the members of Kiss. The bands original lead guitarist, Ace Frehley, died in October after he was injured during a fall. During the tribute to Kiss, a lone red guitar that emitted smoke was placed on stage in remembrance of Frehley, who was known for having a smoke bomb in his instrument.

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The program closed with a rousing performance by Cheap Trick of Kiss' Rock and Roll All Nite" that brought the audience to its feet.

Stallone said receiving the honor was like being in the eye of a hurricane.

This is an amazing event, he said on the red carpet. But youre caught up in the middle of it. Its hard to take it in until the next day. ..: but Im incredibly humbled by it.

Crawford also said it was humbling, especially at the end of a career.

Gaynor said it feels like a dream to be honored. "To be recognized in this way is the pinnacle," she said after arriving.

Mike Farris, an award-winning gospel singer who performed for Gaynor, called her a dear friend. She truly did survive, Farris said. "What an iconic song.

Trump has taken over the Kennedy Center

Trump upended decades of bipartisan support for the center by ousting its leadership and stacking the board of trustees with Republican supporters, who elected him chair. He has criticized the centers programming and the buildings appearance and has said, perhaps jokingly, that he would rename it as the Trump Kennedy Center. He secured more than $250 million from Congress for renovations of the building.

Asked Sunday night about a possible renaming, Trump said it would be up to the board. Still, he joked at one point about the Trump Kennedy Center.

Presidents of each political party have at times found themselves face to face with artists of opposing political views. Republican Ronald Reagan was there for honoree Arthur Miller, a playwright who championed liberal causes. Democrat Bill Clinton, who had signed an assault weapons ban into law, marked the honors for Charlton Heston, an actor and gun rights advocate.

During Trumps first term, multiple honorees were openly critical of the president. In 2017, Trumps first year in office, honors recipient and film producer Norman Lear threatened to boycott his own ceremony if Trump attended. Trump stayed away during that entire term.

Trump has said he was deeply involved in choosing the 2025 honorees and turned down some recommendations because they were too woke." He said Sunday that about 50 names were whittled down to five. While Stallone is one of Trump's Hollywood special ambassadors" and has likened Trump to George Washington, the political views of Sunday's other guests are less clear.

Honorees' views about Trump

Strait and Gaynor have said little about their politics, although Federal Election Commission records show that Gaynor has given money to Republican organizations in recent years.

Simmons spoke favorably of Trump when Trump ran for president in 2016. But in 2022, Simmons told Spin magazine that Trump was out for himself and criticized Trump for encouraging conspiracy theories and public expressions of racism.

Fellow Kiss member Paul Stanley denounced Trump's effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden, and said Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were terrorists. But after Trump won in 2024, Stanley urged unity.

If your candidate lost, its time to learn from it, accept it and try to understand why, Stanley wrote on X. "If your candidate won, its time to understand that those who dont share your views also believe they are right and love this country as much as you do.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that a deal struck by Netflix to buy Warner Bros. Discovery could be a problem because of the size of the combined market share.

There's no question about it, Trump said, answering questions about the deal and various other topics as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors.

The Republican president said he will be involved in the decision about whether the federal government should approve the $72 billion deal. If approved by regulators, the merger would put two of the worlds biggest streaming services under the same ownership and join Warners television and motion picture division, including DC Studios, with Netflixs vast library and its production arm.

RELATED STORY | Streaming shake-up: Netflix to absorb Warner Bros. and HBO in $82.7 billion deal

The deal, which could reshape the entertainment industry, has to go through a process and we'll see what happens," Trump said.

Netflix is a great company. Theyve done a phenomenal job. Ted is a fantastic man, he said of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, noting that they met in the Oval Office last week before the deal was announced Dec. 5. "I have a lot of respect for him but its a lot of market share, so well have to see what happens.

Asked if Netflix should be allowed to buy the Hollywood giant behind Harry Potter and HBO Max, the president said, Well that's the question.

They have a very big market share and when they have Warner Bros., you know, that share goes up a lot so, I dont know, he said. "I'll be involved in that decision, too. But they have a very big market share

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Sarandos made no guarantees at their meeting about the merger if it is approved, Trump said, adding that the CEO is a great person who has done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies and other things.

He repeated that a merger would create a big market share for the company.

Theres no question about it. It could be a problem, Trump said.

Tom Hicks, the Texas businessman and philanthropist who owned two Dallas-area professional sports franchises and an English Premier League soccer team, has died. He was 79.

Spokesperson Lisa LeMaster said in statement that Hicks died peacefully Saturday in Dallas surrounded by family.

Hicks owned the NHL's Dallas Stars from 19952011, winning the Stanley Cup in 1999. He also owned baseball's Texas Rangers from 19982010, a period when they won three American West Division titles and made their first World Series appearance just months after the team was sold. In 2007, he acquired a 50% stake in Liverpool.

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Being shoulder to shoulder with him was always about more than ballparks and stadiums, though, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. It was about personal respect, trust and friendship. We shared a lot of miles together, and Ill miss him greatly. My heart goes out to his family.

Hicks co-founded Hicks & Haas in 1984 and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst in 1989, helping reshape private equity and investing strategy.

Tom Hicks was an innovative businessman and a pioneer in private equity, fellow Texas businessman Ross Perot Jr. said in a statement. He combined his commitment to business and sports through his ownership of the Stars and the Rangers.

One of Hicks' most notable moments with the Rangers came 25 years ago at baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, when the team signed Alex Rodriguez, then a 25-year-old All-Star shortstop, to a $252 million, 10-year contract in free agency.

A-Rod's deal at the time was $2 million more than Hicks had paid to buy the entire team only a 2 1/2 years earlier. It also then doubled the previous record for a sports contract, the $126 million, six-year agreement in October 1997 between forward Kevin Garnett and the NBAs Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rodriguez led the American League in homers in all three of his seasons with the Rangers with 156 in that span, but they had an overall record of 216-270. He was traded to the New York Yankees at the start of spring training in 2004.

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The Rangers' first World Series appearance in October 2010 came after the team was bought that August by an ownership group that then included Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. After an initial agreement to buy the team from Hicks at that start of that year, a messy bankruptcy case ensued before the group finally acquired it at auction with a bid valued at $590 million.

The Stars, the NHL franchise that moved from Minnesota before the 1993-94 season, became the league's first champion from the Sun Belt when they raised the Stanley Cup in 1999 after beating Buffalo in Game 6. They made the Stanley Cup Final again the following season, losing a six-game series to New Jersey.

Brett Hull scored the Cup-winning goal for the Stars in 1999. Hicks had signed him to a $17 million, three-year contract in free agency the previous summer after Hull had been an All-Star in seven of his previous 11 seasons with the St. Louis Blues.

Before the 2001-02 season, the Stars moved a few blocks in downtown Dallas, from Reunion Arena to the American Airlines Center where the team still plays. The Stars, too, went into bankruptcy before being acquired by Canadian businessman Tom Gaglardi in 2011.

The Stars in a statement Sunday lauded the team's unprecedented on-ice success under Hicks' ownership.

He also played an instrumental role in the development and planning of the American Airlines Center, along with the grassroots growth of hockey through the creation of numerous StarCenter facilities, the team said. Our franchise would not be in the position we are today without the ownership of Mr. Hicks. His legacy will be honored by our franchise for decades to come.

Hicks served as paratrooper in the Army Reserves and was Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission. He served on the University of Texass Board of Regents from 1994 to 1999.

Hicks is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cinda Cree Hicks, and his six children Thomas Ollis Hicks Jr., Mack Hardin Hicks, John Alexander Hicks, Robert Bradley Hicks, William Cree Hicks and Catherine Forgrave Hicks.

His children released a joint statement, saying:

Of everything he accomplished in his remarkable life, Tom Hickss most cherished title was, Dad. No matter the trials and tribulations he faced in life, he was constant in his generosity and love for his family. He remains a guiding force for our family, and we are deeply honored to continue expanding his legacy. Although we are devastated by this loss, we are profoundly grateful to have been his children.

The Rangers in a statement Sunday described Hicks as a passionate and competitive owner and Texas Rangers fan. The club extends its thoughts and prayers to Mr. Hicks wife Cinda, his six children and his entire family as they mourn a legendary Texas businessman, philanthropist, and sportsman.