Friday Mini-Report — Dec. 5, 2025: Strikes, Court Showdowns, Inflation and Big Tech Fines

Friday's Mini-Report — Dec. 5, 2025

Today's quick roundup highlights major U.S. and international developments, from a lethal counter‑narcotics strike in the eastern Pacific to consequential legal fights before the Supreme Court and notable economic and tech headlines.

Deadly Strike in the Eastern Pacific

U.S. Southern Command said the Defense Department, acting at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, carried out another 'lethal kinetic strike' on a vessel in the eastern Pacific that killed four men. Officials described the action as the 22nd such strike the administration has reported against boats alleged to be carrying drugs in recent months.

Letitia James Case Update

A federal grand jury declined to reindict New York Attorney General Letitia James on mortgage fraud charges, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. The decision leaves the case unresolved but represents a setback for prosecutors.

Supreme Court Sides With Texas on Map Challenge

The Supreme Court sided with Texas in an emergency appeal brought by civil rights groups challenging a congressional map backed by former President Donald Trump. Critics say the map was drawn to advantage Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterms.

High Court Agrees to Review Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court also agreed to hear the administration's challenge to birthright citizenship. A ruling in the government's favor could overturn the longstanding interpretation that grants automatic U.S. citizenship to people born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents' immigration status.

Inflation: Fed's Preferred Gauge Rises 2.8% YoY

The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, rose 2.8% in September from a year earlier. The PCE tracks consumer spending on goods and services, covers roughly two-thirds of national spending, and is a key indicator for monetary policy decisions.

Appeals Court Rules on Federal Agency Removals

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled 2-1 that the president may remove members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) at will. The decision reverses lower-court rulings that had limited the executive's ability to fire members of those panels.

Epstein and Maxwell Grand Jury Transcripts Ordered Released

A federal judge in Florida ordered the release of grand jury transcripts related to the sex‑trafficking cases of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, ruling that a recent federal law requiring disclosure of records related to those cases overrides the longstanding rule barring grand‑jury disclosures.

EU Fines X About €130M for Digital Services Act Violations

The European Union fined Elon Musk's social platform X approximately €130 million (about $140 million) for breaches of the Digital Services Act, a set of rules governing transparency and content moderation on large tech platforms.

Coast Guard Helicopter Will Stay in Oregon

After public outcry and a temporary restraining order by a federal judge, the administration reversed plans to remove a U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter from a fishing and crabbing community in Oregon. Lawmakers and residents had warned the change would reduce local search-and-rescue capabilities.

Meta Scales Back Metaverse Spending

Meta Platforms is planning cuts to its metaverse-related operations. Reality Labs, the division that includes the metaverse work, has posted more than $77 billion in operating losses since 2020, prompting the company to pare back investment.

Have a safe weekend.

Originally published on MS NOW.