Trump says Tesla attacks could be considered domestic terrorism
Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles have been vandalized and set on fire across multiple states. President Donald Trump stated he may classify these acts as domestic terrorism.
Authorities have made arrests in connection to some Tesla attacks, including individuals accused of arson and using explosives against dealerships.
Tesla stock continues to decline, experiencing its longest losing streak since 2010. Its market value has lost $800 billion since mid-December 2024.
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President Donald Trump weighed in on the recent vandalization and attacks against Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles across the U.S. in recent weeks. The president said he may designate those responsible as domestic terrorists.
“I will do that. I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them. We catch anyone doing it, they’re harming a great American company. You know, I’ve stood up for the NFL, I’ve stood up for a lot of American companies. You do it to Tesla, you do it to any company, we’re gonna catch you, and you’re gonna go through hell.”
President Donald Trump
Trump stands with Musk amid Tesla’s struggles
On Tuesday, March 11, Trump stood alongside CEO Elon Musk in front of a lineup of Tesla vehicles at the White House. During the event, Trump purchased a vehicle from Musk as a public display of support for the electric vehicle company, which has seen its stock drop 48% this year.
Musk has been advising Trump on scaling back government operations through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It’s an initiative that has led to widespread layoffs across federal agencies.
The job cuts have sparked protests outside Musk’s facilities, with some demonstrations escalating into vandalism and arson.
Massachusetts: Multiple Cybertrucks were spray-painted, and their tires were slashed overnight on Tuesday, March 11, according to Dedham Police Department.
Seattle: Four Tesla electric vehicles were set on fire Sunday night, March 9, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
South Carolina: A Tesla charging station was defaced with spray paint and attacked with Molotov cocktails on Friday, March 7, according to the North Charleston Police Department.
These are just a few of the most recent attacks, however, reports of vandalism against Musk’s company are widespread nationwide.
Arrests made in connection to some attacks
Authorities began making arrests in connection to these incidents.
In Portland, police said surveillance footage captured a suspect throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership, igniting fires. In a separate incident, the same suspect allegedly fired multiple rounds into the dealership, according to a report from KPTV FOX 12.
Another arrest occurred in Colorado late February. According to local CBS affiliate KKTV, authorities accused the suspect of spray-painting vehicles and signage before throwing explosives at multiple cars.
When asked whether those responsible could actually face domestic terrorism charges, Trump spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Hill:
“The ongoing and heinous acts of violence against Tesla by radical leftist activists are nothing short of domestic terror. President Trump has been clear: These attacks, or any other attack intended to intimidate or coerce our government or its people, will not stand in President Trump’s America.”
Harrison Fields, Trump Administration Spokesperson
Following Trump’s purchase at the White House, Musk posted on X.
“In support of the policies of President Donald Trump and to demonstrate our confidence in the future of the United States, Tesla commits to doubling vehicle production in the U.S. within two years!” Musk wrote.
Trump wants to end EV tax credits as Musk’s Tesla benefits from them
The Biden-era EV tax credit that President Donald Trump wants to eliminate is benefiting Tesla. The automaker, led by Elon Musk — a special government employee within the Trump administration –– announced that its Cybertruck qualifies for the $7,500 federal incentive.
While Trump’s transition team had planned to eliminate the credit and his administration issued an executive order against EV subsidies, the federal incentive remains in place since congressional action is required to revoke it.
As a result, the Cybertruck’s price is reduced to $72,490 from its unsubsidized price of $79,990, and significantly lower than its pre-October 2024 base price of $100,000.
The same Biden-era electric vehicle (EV) policies that President Donald Trump wants to roll back are currently benefiting one of his administration’s most recognizable figures: Tesla CEO and special government employee Elon Musk. This week, Tesla revealed that its Cybertruck now qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
Trump wants the EV tax credit gone, so what’s stopping him?
Before Trump took office, his transition team was reportedly intent on scrapping the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Upon assuming the presidency, Trump issued an executive order aimed at “the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies.”
However, despite Trump’s efforts, the federal tax credit can only be revoked through congressional action. Therefore, it remains in place for automakers, including Tesla, to bring down the cost of their vehicles.
How much cheaper does it make Tesla’s Cybertruck?
For consumers, this means a reduction in the Cybertruck’s cost. The vehicle now starts at $72,490, compared to its unsubsidized price of $79,990. Additionally, it is a notable reduction from its pre-October 2024 base price of $100,000.
What happens next?
Musk has previously stated that Tesla does not need the federal tax credit to be profitable and has expressed support for its elimination, suggesting that removing the subsidy could ultimately help his company.
Auto industry experts believe the long-term benefits Musk is referring to would come as a result of the challenges that competitors who depend on the credit to grow their businesses would face.
Elon Musk donates Cybertrucks for Wi-Fi and power as wildfires ravage LA
As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is stepping in to support recovery efforts with a donation of Cybertrucks. Musk has outfitted the electric trucks with his company’s Starlink satellite internet service, allowing the vehicles to broadcast Wi-Fi to first responders in areas affected by the fires.
In addition to providing internet connectivity, the Cybertrucks are stocked with candy, fruit and water for emergency teams and displaced residents.
Tesla confirmed that eight Cybertrucks are currently stationed near active wildfire zones. Three are in Altadena, two in Pasadena and another three near Malibu.
Musk took to X to apologize to customers waiting for their Cybertruck deliveries, explaining that some vehicles had been rerouted to serve as mobile base stations. These trucks are helping fuel Starlink satellite communications, while power outages persist in fire-stricken areas.
Apologies to those expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California over the next few days.
We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity.
According to Tesla’s website, the Cybertrucks are designed to function similarly to generators, capable of powering a home for up to three days. While many have praised Musk’s efforts, the donation has also sparked controversy. Some critics accuse the billionaire of using the situation to promote his vehicle line.
Musk also reshared an AI-generated video on X, claiming that his donation is helping save thousands of lives in Los Angeles.
The ongoing wildfires have been intensified by strong winds, as firefighters work tirelessly to contain three major blazes. The Palisades and Eaton Fires are the largest, having claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Dozens of acres remain scorched, though the Hurst Fire is nearly 100% contained.
Musk has pledged to send more Cybertrucks to affected areas across the county, with a new one expected by the end of the week.
Wildfires force thousands to evacuate Southern California
Three massive wildfires are burning out of control in Southern California, putting thousands of homes at risk. And President-elect Donald Trump shares his plans to acquire Greenland, the Panama Canal and bring Canada as the 51st state. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.
Southern California wildfires force thousands to evacuate
Three separate wildfires are burning in the Los Angeles, California, area, and there is no end in sight, as strong winds are fueling the flames. The most extreme of the three is the Palisades Fire, which spans nearly 3,000 acres and has already forced 30,000 residents to evacuate.
Cities surrounding Pacific Palisades, including Malibu, issued evacuation orders. Officials there told all residents to prepare to leave their homes, whether they were under evacuation orders or not since the inferno was moving so quickly.
All hands are on deck to fight the #PalisadesFire in Southern California. California is deeply grateful for the brave firefighters & first responders battling the blaze.
We will continue to mobilize resources and support local communities as they respond to this severe weather. pic.twitter.com/JZrYy85e4z
The neighboring city of Santa Monica also issued an evacuation order for the northern part of the city. It also closed the area to the public, warning of an immediate threat to life.
As thousands of firefighters continue to battle the flames, authorities work to find the fire’s cause.
A second wildfire, dubbed the Eaton Fire, burns near Pasadena. A city spokeswoman said it has “created its own firestorm” with flying embers igniting at least a dozen other spot fires.
So far, the Eaton Fire has consumed about 1,000 acres. It engulfed homes and forced more than 100 people to evacuate from a nursing home — some in wheelchairs and on gurneys. A federal disaster declaration is now in effect for the Eaton Fire.
Crews are also battling the Hurst Fire about 100 acres in the San Fernando Valley, which is in the northern part of Los Angeles County. The Hurst Fire also prompted evacuation orders.
The Los Angeles County canceled schools in 19 districts Wednesday, Jan. 8. Plus, more than 200,000 people are without access to power, either because of the powerful Santa Ana winds or because a utility provider turned off electricity to prevent additional fires.
The forecast called for the winds to continue for days, producing gusts that could top 100 miles per hour in the mountains and foothills.
Biden administration asks federal appeals court to block 9/11 plea deals
The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court to block a plea agreement for accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The controversial deal would spare Mohammed from the death penalty for his role in planning the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.
The deadly attack rocked the U.S. and began the war on terrorism.
In court filings Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Justice Department argued the government would be irreparably harmed if the guilty pleas were accepted for Mohammed and two co-defendants in the 9/11 attacks.
It said the government would be denied a chance for a public trial and the opportunity to “seek capital punishment against three men charged with a heinous act of mass murder that caused the death of thousands of people and shocked the nation and the world.”
The Defense Department negotiated and approved the plea deal but later revoked it.
However, attorneys for the defendants argued the deal was already legally in effect and that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who began the administration’s efforts to throw it out, acted too late.
Mohammed is set to enter his guilty plea on Friday, Jan. 10, if the appeal is not granted. His co-defendants, accused of lesser roles in 9/11, are due to enter theirs next week.
Harris, Johnson deliver eulogies for President Jimmy Carter
The 39th president died last week at the age of 100.
Carter’s body had been lying in repose since Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta before being transported Tuesday morning to Washington D.C.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson each delivered a eulogy during Tuesday’s ceremony
“We all know that his care for humanity didn’t stop at building homes,” Johnson said. “In the face of illness, President Jimmy Carter brought lifesaving medicine. In the face of conflict, he brokered peace. In the face of discrimination, he reminded us that we are all made in the image of God. If you were to ask him why he did it all, he would likely point to his faith.”
Harris highlighted Carter’s faith. She said, “James Earl Carter, Jr. loved our country. He lived his faith. He served the people. And he left the world better than he found it.”
Carter’s body will lie in state through Thursday morning, Jan. 9, and then be taken to the National Cathedral for a state funeral. Biden is expected to deliver a eulogy.
Trump suggests using military, economic force to expand America
In a wide-ranging press conference from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump touched on a bunch of topics, including a $20 billion foreign investment to build data centers in the U.S. He also talked about his plans to revoke Biden’s recent ban on offshore oil and natural gas drilling as well as expansion strategies for the United States.
Trump reiterated his goals of acquiring the Panama Canal, which has been under Panama’s sole control since 1999, and Greenland, a territory of Denmark.
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is leading an American delegation currently in Greenland, though the country’s prime minister said he is there as “a private individual.”
The Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen responded to Trump’s remarks Tuesday, saying Greenland was not for sale.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede reiterated this point, saying “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. Our future and fight for independence is our business.”
A reporter asked the president-elect if he can assure that he would not use any military force to take control of either the Panama Canal or Greenland.
“I can’t assure you, you’re talking about Panama and Greenland,” Trump replied. “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two but, I can say this we need them for economic security. The Panama Canal was built for a military. I’m not going to commit to that now.”
In response to those remarks, the prime minister of Denmark called the United States its country’s “closest ally” and did not believe the U.S. would use any force to secure Greenland. Panama’s foreign minister repeated earlier comments from the country’s president that the sovereignty of the Panama Canal is not negotiable.
“[I’d use] economic force because Canada and the United States — that would really be something,” he said. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. It would also be much better for national security. Don’t forget, we basically protect Canada.”
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued his response in a post on X saying, “There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”The president-elect also spoke of one more geographical goal of his in the upcoming term: to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, saying it “has a beautiful ring to it.”
Not long after his remarks, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said she directed her staff to begin drafting legislation for the name change.
Police: Former soldier used AI to plan Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion attack
New details are emerging about the man who blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. Las Vegas police said Tuesday the attacker used generative AI, including ChatGPT to plan the attack.
An investigation into former soldier Matthew Livelsberger, 37, found his search history on ChatGPT included questions about firearms and explosives. Straight Arrow News reporter Lauren Taylor has more details on the investigation into the Cybertruck explosion.
Girl Scout cookie season begins, 2 flavors discontinued
Girl Scout cookie season has arrived. The annual tradition is meant to teach young girls about entrepreneurial skills through selling boxes of cookies.
Almost everyone has a favorite, of course, but if yours is Girl Scout S’mores or Toast-Yay! Cookies — bad news. The Girl Scouts plan to retire those two flavors later this year.
The organization said discontinuing those two flavors may lead to something new and delicious.
Musk aids Vegas police, says Cybertruck contained explosion at Trump Tower
Las Vegas authorities said they still have no clear motive for why an Army soldier drove a Cybertruck in front of the Trump Tower in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, intending to kill himself and set off an explosion. Law enforcement is still searching for answers, while Tesla CEO Elon Musk has taken a central role in the investigation. Musk reportedly sent a team to Las Vegas to assist investigators in extracting data and video from the remains of the Cybertruck.
The Las Vegas sheriff has praised Musk’s assistance, noting that the truck contained “a tremendous number of cameras” and that Musk provided authorities with footage from Tesla’s charging stations.
The sheriff said the footage is already helping investigators track the movements of Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger, who traveled from Colorado to the Las Vegas Strip over several days.
While Musk is providing evidence to officials in Las Vegas, he is also weighing in on an online debate: Why did the explosion cause minimal damage?
On X, Musk said, “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards. Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”
The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.
In another post, Musk boasted about the Cybertruck’s durability, sharing a conservative activist’s comment that called the incident a “Cybertruck ad campaign” and adding, “I’m pretty sure we could get it running again too.”
While some suggest the Cybertruck’s strength contained the explosion, others point to Livelsberger’s extensive military background, claiming he had the expertise to create a more lethal blast.
The Washington Post reports that investigators have primarily found evidence of fireworks and fuel, with a car analyst telling the paper he doesn’t believe Musk’s claims.
“You didn’t really have an explosion as much as you had a bonfire,” Karl Brauer, Iseecars.com executive analyst, told the Post. “I’m not at all convinced that the Cybertruck being so strong is the reason it blew upward.”
Kenneth Cooper, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives San Francisco division, seemed to agree.
“The level of sophistication is not what we would expect from an individual with this type of military experience,” Cooper said.
Fellow Green Berets, including Livelsberger, have a “sophisticated understanding of explosives and how bombs work,” according to group chats reviewed by The New York Times. Some of his comrades speculated that Livelsberger may have struggled with mental illness.
Family members of Livelsberger have suggested he wouldn’t have wanted to cause damage to the Trump Hotel, as he was a staunch Trump supporter, according to sources who spoke to The Independent and The Daily Beast. The New York Post reports that Livelsberger’s wife left him days before the attack.
As investigators work to find concrete answers, speculation continues over the motive behind the New Year’s Day explosion.
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
The FBI unveils more information about the man who drove a truck into a New Orleans crowd on New Year’s Day, killing more than a dozen. And multiple reports indicate President Joe Biden could make a big decision on the proposed takeover of U.S. Steel. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
South Korean investigators suspend efforts to detain impeached president after standoff
After an hours-long standoff, South Korean investigators suspended efforts to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The standoff between South Korea’s anti-corruption agency and the presidential security service lasted nearly six hours at Yoon’s presidential residence Friday, Jan. 3.
The agency called off its agents due to concerns for their safety after the presidential security service and Yoon’s supporters blocked them from entering Yoon’s residence.
Yoon, a former prosecutor, defied investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks in connection with the short-lived period of martial law he imposed at the beginning of December.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s detention Tuesday, Dec. 31, but enforcing it is complicated. Yoon’s lawyers, who filed a challenge to the warrant Thursday, Jan. 2, said it could not be implemented at his residence due to a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge.
The anti-corruption agency said it would discuss the next steps but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon. The warrant for his detention is valid for one week.
New Orleans attack investigation continues as city hosts Sugar Bowl
The FBI now believes the suspect in a deadly New Orleans truck attack on New Year’s Day likely acted alone. The agency said Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1, after driving into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter.
The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror,” and said Jabbar was “100 percent inspired” by the radical Islamic terror group ISIS.
The FBI concluded this after conducting hundreds of interviews, reviewing phone calls, social media accounts and electronic devices connected to the suspect.
Investigators said there appears to be no “definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas at this time.
Law enforcement investigating the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas identified the man who carried out the attack as Matthew Alan Livelsberger on Thursday, Jan. 2.
Livelsberger was an active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret. He was reportedly on leave at the time of the attack.
Authorities identified Livelsberger’s burned body by matching his tattoos.
Back in New Orleans, life started to return to normal Thursday as the city hosted the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome. Plus, visitors were once again allowed back into the French Quarter.
Notre Dame went head-to-head with the Georgia Bulldogs and came out on top. With Notre Dame’s victory, the college football playoff semifinals are now set.
The Fighting Irish will face Penn State in the Orange Bowl next Thursday, Jan. 9. Texas will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.
The two winners will play in the National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 20. It will be the first championship game since the NCAA went to a 12-team playoff format.
2 dead, 19 hurt after small plane crashes into California building
Two people are dead and 19 more injured after a small plane crashed into a furniture manufacturing building in southern California on Thursday.
The people who died were believed to have been on the plane while those injured were among the 200 or so people inside the building. Paramedics transported 11 people to the hospital and treated eight others at the scene.
The crash occurred about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport. Investigators are working to learn what led up to the incident.
Biden to block Nippon Steel’s bid to take over US Steel: Reports
President Joe Biden decided to block Nippon Steel’s bid to purchase U.S. Steel due to national security risks, according to multiple reports. Biden is expected to announce his decision as early as Friday, reports said.
Senior advisers warned Biden that the U.S. rejecting the Japanese corporation’s $14.9 billion offer could damage relations between the two countries.
Biden’s decision comes after the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment could not conclude the risks of Nippon’s offer, leaving the decision up to the White House.
While U.S. Steel shareholders backed the takeover, the proposed deal faced opposition from union members and politicians.
President-elect Donald Trump, who a group of American steelworkers backed during his campaign, also vowed to block the deal when he takes office later this month.
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel indicated they would take legal action if the federal government blocked the deal.
119th Congress begins Friday with GOP taking control of House and Senate
The 119th Congress starts Friday with Republicans in full control of the House and Senate for the first time since 2019. The new term, which lasts two years, begins when House members are sworn in.
Despite narrowly hanging on to the GOP majority 219-215, Rep. Mike Johnson’s speakership hangs in the balance. At least one Republican said he would not back Johnson and others expressed concerns about his leadership.
Johnson received a major boost this week when Trump publicly backed Johnson.
In the Senate, Republicans will officially take the reins after flipping the majority in the November election. The new Senate Majority Leader will be Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
Golden Globes kick off award season this Sunday
Hollywood’s award season officially kicks off Sunday, Jan. 5, with the Golden Globes.
Nominees include Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Angelina Jolie.
Movies looking to win big include “A Complete Unknown,” “Emilia Perez,” “Wicked” and “The Brutalist.”
“The Bear,” “Shogun,” “Nobody Wants This” and “Only Murders in the Building” are among the television series looking to take home trophies.
Comedian Nikki Glaser, who hosted the Tom Brady roast, will lead the award ceremony. This year, the Golden Globes will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Trump connects New Orleans attack to immigrants after false Fox News report
President-elect Donald Trump is being criticized for a statement connecting migrants to the New Orleans truck attack. The statement Trump made on Truth Social is based on a false report from Fox News that the organization had to retract.
At 10:47 a.m. the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 1, Fox reported that the Ford pickup used in the New Orleans attack was driven into the United States from Mexico two days prior. That claim turned out to be false, and Fox later walked the story back.
At 10:48 a.m. President-elect Trump posted on Truth Social, “When I said that the criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in our country, that statement was constantly refuted by Democrats and the Fake News Media, but it turned out to be true. The crime rate in our country is at a level that nobody has ever seen before.”
In addition to correcting its own reporting, Fox had to correct the president-elect.
“Now the former president said criminals coming in, in a statement, meaning into our country. But to be clear, Molly and Brian, the suspect was born in the United States, he served in the United States Army, he was a veteran,” Fox News correspondent David Spunt said.
Fox after reading statement from Trump: The former president said criminals coming in in his statement meaning into our country. To be clear, the suspect was born in the United States. He served in the United States army. He was a veteran. pic.twitter.com/H6OeisOeas
Fox did not fully retract the story, however. It continued to release speculative comments as to whether the truck may have been connected to human smuggling.
“We understand that the truck does have a history of plate readers. It never actually passed through from Mexico into Eagle Pass,” Fox anchor Julie Banderas said. “However, the license plate on this truck has a history of plate readers at the border in patterns, and I’m quoting, that may be suspicious for human smuggling.”
Fox: It never actually passed through from Mexico into Eagle Pass, however the license plate on this truck has a history of plate readers at the border, in patterns and I'm quoting, that may be suspicious for human smuggling. pic.twitter.com/cc6GtqfaDy
When the anchor said that, she left out the fact that the truck was a rental, and there was no evidence to suggest its use in a Texas border city was in any way connected to the attack in New Orleans.
Trump doubled down on the immigrant rhetoric with a post just after midnight on Thursday, Jan. 2.
“This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt,” Trump wrote.
On Wednesday morning, 14 people were killed and more than 30 were injured when the attacker drove a truck down Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The suspect was a U.S. citizen and Army veteran, and posted a video before the attack saying he was inspired by ISIS.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Investigators are learning more about the man who drove a pickup truck into a New Orleans crowd, killing 15 people in what authorities are calling “an act of terrorism.” And authorities are investigating whether an explosion in front of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel was an act of terrorism. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
FBI searches Houston location after New Orleans truck attack
Authorities searched a location in Houston, Texas, in connection with the deadly truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. The FBI said it is believed to be connected to the suspect, who they said killed 15 people and injured dozens more early Wednesday, Jan 1. The agency called the attack “a deliberate act of terror.”
“It did involve a man driving a pickup truck down Bourbon Street at a very fast pace and it was very intentional behavior,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could.”
Police identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, a Texas resident and U.S. Army veteran. Jabbar served in the Army on active and reserve duty, including a 2009 deployment in Afghanistan.
Authorities said Jabbar drove a white Ford pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday. He then opened fire on responding police officers.
Officers shot and killed Jabbar at the scene, police said. Two officers were injured in the shootout.
Investigators discovered an ISIS flag on the rear bumper of the suspect’s truck as well as additional weapons and two improvised explosive devices. Authorities reportedly found and detonated at least one other improvised explosive device in the area.
Jabbar drove around security barriers set to deter vehicles from entering the area, police said. Kirkpatrick said the suspect drove onto the sidewalk, striking several victims.
According to the city, the barriers were under construction as New Orleans prepares to host the Super Bowl in February.
President Joe Biden held a press conference following the attack from Camp David. He said the FBI informed him it was looking at social media videos posted by the suspect just hours before the attack, indicating it was inspired by ISIS.
“To all the families of those who were killed, to all those who were injured, to all the people of New Orleans who are grieving today, I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you,” Biden said. “The law enforcement and intelligence community are continuing to look for any connections, associations or coconspirators. We have nothing additional to report at this time. The investigation is continuing to be active, and no one should jump to conclusions.”
Biden said the FBI does not believe Jabbar acted alone, and he has directed the U.S. intelligence community to work “intensively” to complete their investigation.
Jabbar’s brother told the New York Times that Jabbar converted to Islam at a young age but that this act was not religion-based but radicalization.
The president also said authorities were looking into any possible connection with an explosion outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Vehicles in both incidents were rented from the platform Turo, which allows car owners to rent out their vehicles.
The deadly attack in New Orleans led to the postponement of the Sugar Bowl at the Superdome less than a mile from Bourbon Street. That game will now be played Thursday, Jan. 2.
The FBI will hold a briefing Thursday with the House and Senate oversight committees on the New Orleans attack.
Victims of New Orleans truck attack begin to be identified
Kareem Badawi was a recent graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. The school said Badawi was attending the University of Alabama.
Reggie Hunter, 37, was a father of two and worked as a warehouse manager.
Former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech was also killed. The 27-year-old moved to New York to work for a capital markets firm.
Ni’kyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, was set to attend college, where she planned to major in nursing.
Nicole Perez, 27, was a mother who worked as a store manager.
These are only a few of the names of the more than a dozen victims killed in the attack. More information about the victims is expected in the coming days.
Fireworks, gas canisters used to fuel Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion
Authorities in Nevada are working to figure out if the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was an act of terrorism. They say the driver, who died in the explosion, used fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel connected to a detonation system to set it off.
Seven people who were nearby when the blast went off were injured.
Investigators said the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado and arrived in Vegas about one hour before the explosion. Law enforcement officials have not identified the suspect because the person was badly burned in the explosion, but they have identified the person who rented it.
They said the suspect drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling up to the Trump Hotel. The truck exploded seconds later.
Investigators are also working to figure out if this incident was related to the terror attack in New Orleans.
Power restored to nearly all of Puerto Rico after massive blackout
Power is mostly restored to homes and buildings across Puerto Rico after a massive blackout left the U.S. territory in the dark on New Year’s Eve. However, that might not be the end of it for some.
Luma Energy, the company that provides electricity to Puerto Rico, warned that more temporary outages could happen as it works to restore full power. The company said this could take up to two days.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the outage, but Luma Energy said a preliminary review indicated a failure in an underground electric line.
This is just the latest incident to highlight an ongoing problem with Puerto Rico’s power grid. In August, half of all the territory’s utility customers lost power during Hurricane Ernesto. It took more than a week to get it back.
Arctic air to bring a freezing start to 2025 in much of the US
Get ready to bundle up. Arctic weather will take over the warmer-than-usual temperatures that kicked off 2025 for a large part of the U.S.
Over the next couple of days, the coldest air of the season will move into the eastern part of the U.S., dropping temperatures to nearly 30 degrees below average in some areas.
While the bitterly cold air already started to move in, the worst of it is expected to hit next week.
🎆 As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, above normal warmth across the eastern half of the U.S. will be quickly replaced by a series of Arctic outbreaks… with the coldest air of the season set to take hold through next week. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/N046deYUpa
Forecasters said after the first wave of cold, two more rounds of arctic air will move in from Canada, setting up parts of the U.S. for a long-lasting run of freezing temperatures.
Notre Dame and Georgia to face off in postponed Sugar Bowl
The college football season provided lots of New Year’s excitement. Texas won in a double-overtime thriller, Ohio State routed Oregon and the top four contenders for the championship will be set after Notre Dame and Georgia face off in the Sugar Bowl Thursday afternoon.
The winner of the Sugar Bowl will move on to the Orange Bowl to face Penn State. The Nittany Lions defeated Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl 31-14 on New Year’s Eve.
Texas and Ohio State will face off in the Cotton Bowl after Texas edged Arizona State in double overtime at the Peach Bowl Wednesday and Ohio State shocked the nation with its thumping top-seeded, undefeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
The semifinal games are now the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. They will be played next week and determine who will go head-to-head for the College Football National Championship.
Tesla Cybertruck fire at Trump Hotel appears to be act of terror: Musk
One person died and seven others were injured when a Tesla Cybertruck caught fire at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday, Jan. 1. According to Elon Musk, the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the truck, nothing was wrong with the vehicle itself.
Musk said the fire appeared to be an act of terrorism, although the Las Vegas Metro Police Department said it had a lot to figure out before releasing more information to the public. A law enforcement source told The Associated Press they had not ruled out terrorism.
We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.
Police said they are looking for secondary devices but added there did not appear to be any further threat to the community.
“We believe everything is safe now,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.
The deceased individual was found inside the vehicle and the sheriff said they could not determine if they were male or female. The injuries to the seven others were described as minor.
A Tesla Cybertruck is shown after it caught fire and exploded outside the lobby of President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel, on January 1, 2025, in Las Vegas. Source: Getty Images.
A video taken from inside the hotel lobby showed flames going through the truck’s windows. Firework-like sounds could be heard as objects whizzed and popped in the air.
Tesla’s Cybertruck explosion at the entrance to Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was not a coincidence. Tesla’s are very safe and don’t just explode❗️❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/SWVlUETD5D
The Cybertruck was rented on the rental app Turo, the same app used by the attacker in New Orleans.
At least 15 people were killed and 35 were injured Wednesday morning after a man drove a rented Ford pickup truck down Canal and Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter. The FBI said it’s investigating the incident as an act of terrorism and confirmed the suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen, is dead.
Eric Trump, son of the President-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, thanked the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response to the fire. He said the safety of guests and staff is their top priority.
Tesla recalls nearly 700,000 vehicles due tire pressure warning issue
Tesla, the auto manufacturer, is now recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles due to an issue with its low tire pressure warning system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday, Dec. 19, the recall involves certain 2024 Cybertrucks, 2017-2025 Model 3 vehicles, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.
The agency notes, the issue involves the tire pressure monitoring system failing to alert drivers of low tire pressure. Driving with under-inflated tires is known to increase the risk of crashes.
Tesla announced it is deploying a free software update to fix the issue. The letters to owners of impacted vehicles are expected to be mailed out by Feb. 15, 2025.
Additionally, in February of this year, the automaker recalled 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because some warning lights on the driver’s dashboard were too small.
