More Epstein files released overnight; Trump unveils new Navy battleships

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More Epstein files released overnight; Trump unveils new Navy battleships

The Justice Department released its largest batch of Epstein files to date overnight. This collection includes tens of new documents, emails, photos and videos that are now publicly available.

Plus, President Donald Trump is rolling out plans for the “Golden Fleet,” a new generation of massive American battleships he said will be the most powerful ever built.

And a major shift in the weight-loss drug boom. The FDA has approved the first GLP-1 pill for obesity, with no injections required.

These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

DOJ releases 11,000 more Epstein files overnight

The Justice Department released tens of thousands of additional Jeffrey Epstein files, dramatically expanding the public trove of records under a new transparency law.

The release came early Tuesday morning, with more than 11,000 new files uploaded to the Justice Department’s online repository. The files include court records, FBI and DOJ documents, emails, photographs, video and investigative material tied to Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

USA - DECEMBER 20: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - âTHE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT / HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Jeffrey Epstein and US President Donald Trump are seen on the images released by the US Department of State. The US Justice Department released thousands of records Friday related to the sex trafficking investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The release came on the last day of the 30 days allowed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act -- legislation forcing the Justice Department action to release all documents related to the probe. (Photo by US Justice Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
US Justice Department/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Justice Department stated that the files are being released gradually because of their large volume and the need to redact information to safeguard survivors.

This latest batch appears to be the largest release to date. It includes material related to Epstein’s time in federal custody, records from earlier investigations and internal communications reviewed by prosecutors.

The department stated that additional releases are forthcoming.

The rollout has already sparked backlash from lawmakers and survivors who say the disclosures remain incomplete. Now, the pressure on Capitol Hill seems to be escalating. 

Schumer escalates Epstein fight, Senate targets DOJ over files release

Late Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer escalated the fight over the Epstein files, introducing a resolution to force legal action against the Trump Justice Department, accusing it of breaking the law by releasing heavily redacted Epstein records instead of the full files Congress ordered.

In a statement posted on X, he wrote, “The law Congress passed is crystal clear: release the Epstein files in full so Americans can see the truth. Instead, the Trump Department of Justice dumped redactions and withheld the evidence — that breaks the law.”

The Justice Department missed a Friday deadline set by Congress, releasing thousands of pages but acknowledging it would not meet the requirement to disclose everything at once.

Schumer’s move comes a day after bipartisan lawmakers — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. — floated a contempt action against Attorney General Pam Bondi, adding pressure from both chambers.

The Justice Department has insisted it’s complying with the law and said redactions are necessary to protect victims.

Trump responded to the Epstein controversy while taking questions at Mar-a-Lago on Monday evening, calling it a distraction: “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican party has.” 

Schumer called the rollout a cover-up and said the Senate now has a duty to act. The resolution is expected to be considered when lawmakers return in January 2026.

Trump unveils ‘Golden Fleet’ with new battleships amid Venezuela standoff

Trump has unveiled a dramatic expansion of U.S. naval power, announcing plans for a new class of massive warships that would anchor what he’s calling the Navy’s “Golden Fleet.”

Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan, Trump said he has approved plans for two ultra-large battleships, with a long-term goal of building as many as 25 ships for the fleet.

TOPSHOT - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks after announcing the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. President Donald Trump on December 22 announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named after himself -- an honor usually reserved for US leaders who have left office.
Two of the Trump-class ships will be built initially but that number could grow substantially in the future, according to the president, who said they will be
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images

“They’ll be 100 times the force, the power,” Trump said. “There’s never been anything like these ships. They’ve been under design consideration for a long time.”

The president said the ships would be the largest battleships ever constructed, featuring heavy naval guns combined with advanced missiles, state-of-the-art defense systems and next-generation technology.

The announcement comes as the administration ramps up military pressure overseas, including stepped-up U.S. and Coast Guard operations in the Caribbean tied to Venezuela.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 22: An artist rendering of the newly announced “Trump-class” battleship is displayed as President Donald Trump announces the new Naval ship class during a statement to the media at his Mar-a-Lago estate on December 22, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump announced the new class of ship will become the centerpiece of his “Golden Fleet” program to rebuild and strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Asked whether that pressure is intended to force President Nicolás Maduro from power, Trump hedged, saying it “probably would” but added that the decision is ultimately Maduro’s. When asked why Maduro should take American threats seriously, the president was direct, warning that if Maduro “plays tough,” it would be the last time.

Trump also confirmed that the U.S. plans to keep nearly two million barrels of oil seized from tankers off the Venezuelan coast, along with the ships themselves, and said he has already spoken with American oil companies about what a post-Maduro future could look like.

Judge blocks renewed deportation, Abrego Garcia allowed to remain free for now

A Maryland judge has blocked the Trump administration from detaining or deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was mistakenly deported to his native El Salvador earlier this year. Abrego Garcia walked out of federal court Monday to cheers from supporters, holding his wife’s hand.

GREENBELT, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 22: Kilmar Abrego Garcia arrives with his wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura and his attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on December 22, 2025 in Greenbelt, Maryland. Abrego Garcia, a longtime Maryland resident who was deported to the high-security CECOT prison in El Salvador, then sent back to the U.S. and released after the court found his detention unlawful, attended a hearing on whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may re-detain him. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alex Wong/Getty Images

A judge extended an order keeping him free on supervised release through at least the end of the year, after sharply questioning the government’s plans. The Trump administration said it still intends to deport him and needs more time to coordinate next steps with Homeland Security.

“So as of right now, Mr. Abrego Garcia is going to return to his home with his wife and his children and his family members in Maryland. And he will be at home through Christmas and the New Year,” said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, Abrego Garcia’s attorney.

The judge ordered the Justice Department to outline exactly what it plans to do next, noting that Abrego Garcia had already been deported once without lawful authority.

“They can’t keep going with this notion that, ‘Well, we might do this, we may do this, and you should let us do it, whatever we want, whenever we want.’ They have to actually come up with a very specific plan and then justify that plan. And that’s what they’ve been ordered to do on Friday,” Abrego Garcia’s attorney said.

Until then, Abrego Garcia remains in Maryland, while his legal fight continues. A federal grand jury has indicted him on human smuggling charges. He has pleaded not guilty. 

FDA approves GLP-1 pill, weight-loss drugs enter new era

A significant breakthrough in the weight-loss medication market: the FDA has approved the first GLP-1 pill for obesity treatment. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, the company behind Wegovy, this drug is scheduled for release in early 2026. It will be accessible via pharmacies and healthcare providers.

Novo Nordisk announced that the daily 1.5-milligram pill will be priced at approximately $149 per month, which is notably lower than many injectable alternatives.

The company has already reached a deal with the Trump administration to offer the pill through Trump Rx, a new platform expected to launch in the new year. The pill contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy — semaglutide — which mimics a hormone in the body that reduces appetite and increases feelings of fullness. 

US President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office during an event about weight-loss drugs at the White House in Washington, DC on November 6, 2025. President Trump announced deals Thursday with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower the prices of some popular weight-loss drugs. Both companies
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Health experts suggest that the pill could unlock access to a new group of patients, particularly those interested in GLP-1 benefits but hesitant about injections. CNBC reported that roughly one in eight adults currently uses a GLP-1 medication for weight management or health conditions such as diabetes.

Analysts project that the weight-loss drug market may hit $100 billion in the next few years. Competition is intensifying quickly, with Eli Lilly, the producer of Zepbound, poised to launch its own GLP-1 weight-loss pill soon.

Massive sinkhole in England traps boats in deep mud following canal collapse

A massive sinkhole opened in a canal in northern England on Monday, swallowing part of the waterway and leaving several boats stuck in thick mud.

Emergency crews responded quickly and declared a major incident. No one was injured, and the vessel was empty when the canal bank collapsed.

Some canal boats — originally used for cargo transport and now often serving as floating homes — were left high and dry and are now being moored and relocated.

The water has been shut off, the area is closed and officials are investigating the cause of the canal’s sudden disappearance.


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Americans want to give back this holiday season. What’s stopping them?

The holiday season often surrounds Americans with calls to give back. From Salvation Army bell ringers on busy street corners to social media clips of local donation drives, opportunities to volunteer or donate are hard to miss.

Humans are inherently generous, and the holiday season naturally stirs those feelings to the surface — a mix of tradition, emotion and the hope of doing something good. 

“One of the ways we feel like we matter is by making a difference in the world — by contributing to the welfare of other people,” said Emiliana Simon-Thomas, UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center science director. “There’s this core motivation to do things that matter, to fuel a sense of meaning and purpose — and that’s really the driver of generosity.”

Yet despite the abundance of donation and volunteering options, many well-intentioned people find themselves stuck. Read the full story now>

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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief

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