{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftodays-news.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Ftodays-news-december-16-17-2025-MZK6dWNA","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Today's News, December 16-17, 2025","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/01f7d4b2-716c-43f9-8a03-c96056c76782/139bffb9-6b7a-4317-9def-0a6ca1883834/wwop-todays-20news-20cover.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/05e36dbe-f221-4806-96be-63bf99488edb\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Today&apos;s News, December 16-17, 2025\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"Political investigations and power struggles are intensifying, with Trump asserting a hard-line agenda through military, legal, and enforcement moves at home and abroad, while voter-data lawsuits expand, Democratic approval sinks, and election reshuffling opens new political opportunities. Economically, Musk-led ventures and emerging tech like quantum computing continue to surge as EV enthusiasm cools, states push back on corporate surveillance, and companies reinvest in skilled labor. Internationally, energy transitions show minimal payoff despite massive spending, terror networks deepen ties, governments stumble over EV failures, and Trump escalates confrontation with foreign media. In culture, sports franchises face financial strain around star talent, medical authorities are challenged over youth transition policies, and the update closes on a rare global positive with the rescue of tens of thousands of animals from illegal captivity."}