Monday morning news: December 22, 2025

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Brown University shooting suspect » President Trump is suspending the lottery green card program after a Portuguese national who entered the U.S. through that program carried out multiple fatal shootings.

Authorities say Portuguese national Claudio Manuel Neves Valente this month killed two students and injured nine others at Rhode Island’s Brown University, and separately shot an MIT professor.

State Dept deputy spokesman Thomas Pigott:

PIGOTT:  When we see something like this happen, we need to make sure that we react appropriately, and part of that is examining the visa procedures in place. And while we're examining those procedures, we need to pause that program

Police found the suspected shooter dead in a New Hampshire storage unit after a days-long manhunt.

The motive is still unknown.

Epstein files » The Department of Justice is defending the partial release of the so-called Epstein files.

 Friday was a congressionally mandated deadline for the DOJ to release case files tied to the late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But so far, the department has only released a fraction.

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin told CNN’s State of the Union:

RASKIN:  It's all about covering up things that for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn't want to go public.

But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche fired back telling NBC's Meet the press that it takes time to redact information that could identify Epstein's victims.

BLANCHE: The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that. To protect victims. So the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently don't want us to protect victims.

The files released so far have included photographs of famous people who spent time with Epstein in the years before he came under suspicion,

Another sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela » The U.S. Coast Guard is tracking another oil tanker in the Caribbean that officials say is helping Venezuela dodge American sanctions. A U.S. official says the ship is part of a so-called shadow fleet used to move sanctioned oil and is sailing under a false flag.

The pursuit comes days after the U.S. seized two other tankers linked to Venezuela.

The Trump administration says the moves are meant to pressure Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and protect U.S. economic and security interests.

South African shooting » Authorities report that nine people have died and at least 10 others are injured after a shooting at a South African pub.

Provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana:

KEKENA:  Three people were shot and killed there, 10 were injured. And in that process, two other people tried to run away.

He said they were also shot and killed at the scene. Kekena added that several others who were shot later succumbed to their injuries.

The incident occurred early Sunday in Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg.

Police say about 12 suspects in multiple vehicles opened fire at the KwaNoxolo tavern and continued shooting as they fled.

Authorities were conducting a manhunt last night for the suspects.

Australia mass shooting vigil » Meantime, in Australia, week after 15 people were fatally shot at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia … thousands of people gathered for the "Light Over Darkness" vigil on Sunday.

David Ossip is President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies.

OSSIP:  To those who are injured, some of whom are here in the audience tonight, and many others who are watching online, we are praying for you and for your complete and swift recovery.

He declared that the Australian Jewish community won't be broken by the terror attack.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns also addressed the survivors and loved ones of those killed:

 MINNS: We grieve with you and with humility I acknowledge that the government's highest duty is to protect its citizens, and we did not do that one week ago.

A father and son are accused of carrying out the terror attack. The father was fatally shot while the son was critically wounded. They reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS prior to the attack.

North Carolina crash update » Federal investigators are trying to determine why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others crashed in North Carolina.

The Cessna C550 apparently had a mechanical issue after takeoff, and pilots turned the plane around and tried to land it again. NTSB investigator Michale Graham:

GRAHAM:   The NTSB is aware of one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft to a family member that read, and I quote, emergency landing.

Graham said multiple indicators suggest the plane was stable on approach:

GRAHAM:  Configured for landing with the landing lights on, but the aircraft was coming in low. That information is consistent with the debris field. Our team continues to survey.

The jet hit light poles and trees before erupting into flames Thursday, killing everyone on board.

Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder but have not identified the lead pilot.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the Supreme Court wrestles with the Constitutional powers of the presidency. Plus, the Monday Moneybeat with David Bahnsen.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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