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Today’s top stories
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is optimistic about reaching an agreement between Russia and Ukraine after U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva to discuss President Trump’s 28-point peace plan for Ukraine. The president has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to accept the proposal. European leaders are skeptical — many felt excluded when the plan was drafted and say it needs more development, especially because the plan includes commitments from European governments, including billions for Ukraine’s reconstruction and participation in an emergency response if the deal is violated. The Kremlin has not commented on the Geneva talks; the U.S. is expected to hold separate discussions with Russia.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who rose to prominence as one of Trump’s staunchest defenders, abruptly announced she will resign from Congress effective Jan. 5. Recently she has become one of his sharpest critics, accusing him of abandoning his agenda. From Greene’s perspective, she has remained consistent in her America First views and believes Trump and others have shifted away from those principles. Observers note that Trump’s coalition and approach don’t fit traditional conservatism, which has strained alliances within the MAGA movement.
Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas traded accusations of violating a Gaza ceasefire that has held for just over six weeks. Israel also struck Beirut for the first time since June, killing a Hezbollah commander, raising fears about the stability of the year-long ceasefire with Lebanon. Much of the first phase of the Israel-Hamas agreement is complete; the next step involves establishing an International Stabilization Force in Gaza. Key questions remain about which countries would contribute forces, how they would be trained, and how to maintain the fragile pause amid ongoing allegations of violations.
Cost of living
NPR’s Cost of Living series examines drivers of price increases and how people cope after years of stubborn inflation. Over the past 30 years, average tuition at public and private four-year colleges has roughly doubled after adjusting for inflation. Many students don’t pay full tuition because of financial or merit aid — the reduced amount is called the net price — but even net prices are higher than two decades ago. Major factors behind rising college costs include steep reductions in state funding for public institutions (which pushed colleges to raise tuition), a perception that high price signals prestige (and some families willing to pay full price), and wide variation in prices across institutions and states. Families often learn the true cost only late in the admissions process, making comparisons difficult.
Living better
Living Better, a special series about staying healthy in America, focuses this week on hair loss. By some estimates, half of women experience hair loss at some point. Not all remedies work for every person or every type of hair loss. Key points:
– Hair sheds in staggered cycles, so finding a clump in the drain doesn’t necessarily predict bald spots.
– The most common cause of permanent female hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, which typically thins hair at the top of the head and widens the part.
– If you’re unsure what type of hair loss you have, an in-person exam with a dermatologist is often best, though telehealth options can be useful when wait times are long.
3 things to know before you go
1. Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, revealed in an essay that she has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and that her cancer is terminal.
2. NPR’s Books We Love returns with more than 380 titles selected by staff and critics, covering cookbooks, mysteries, thrillers and more.
3. A homeless advocacy group within the Cincinnati Public School System will help more than 4,000 homeless students and their families by providing a lot where families can sleep in their cars while awaiting housing; the program launches in March 2026. (via WBUR)
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.