What to know 1,000 days into the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump confirms deportation plan, and the Cowboys suffer 5th straight loss

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NEED TO KNOW

A grim milestone

Today marks 1,000 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Here’s where things stand.

The war's toll: Since beginning in February 2022, hundreds of thousands of soldiers have died on each side, thousands of Ukrainian citizens have died or been wounded and millions of Ukrainians have fled the country as refugees. [Reuters]

Right now: Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory and is still making gains. Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that says the use of Western nonnuclear rockets could trigger a nuclear response. [AP]

What's next: It’s unclear how much President-elect Donald Trump will support Ukraine in peace negotiations when he takes power, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently spoke optimistically that Trump would fulfill his promise to end the war. [CNN]

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

?? Trump’s deportation plans

Trump confirmed in a post on Truth Social that he plans to use “military assets” to mass deport undocumented immigrants. Democrats and immigration advocates have vowed to fight the plan. [ABC News]

?? New car safety features

The NHTSA announced new car safety ratings for four new technologies, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind spot warnings and pedestrian detection, in an effort to boost deployment of these features.

?? Kim meets Optimus

Kim Kardashian tested the new Tesla robot Optimus, running it through exercises like making one half of a heart sign with her. The machine will be in production in 2026 and may cost up to $30,000. [People]

?? A ‘Nonsense’ Christmas

A day after “arresting Domingo,” Sabrina Carpenter debuted the trailer for her Netflix Christmas special, which will feature Chappell Roan and Shania Twain. Watch it. [Hollywood Reporter]

?? A Cowboys catastrophe

The Houston Texans handed the Dallas Cowboys their fifth straight loss in an embarrassing 34-10 blowout. Shortly before the game, a metal fragment fell from the stadium roof, but no one was injured. [Yahoo Sports]

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY

?? New book drops: Cher’s memoir is out. Read an excerpt about Elvis. Also, Keke Palmer’s self-helpy “Master of Me” hit shelves. If you don’t know Keke, get introduced. [CBS News/Los Angeles Times]

?? In basketball, the Cavs look to extend their 15-0 streak against the defending champion Celtics at 7 p.m. ET on TNT. Here’s why the Cavs are so on fire right now. [Yahoo Sports]

?? It’s the semifinals on DWTS. Expect a good soundtrack as the last five couples standing compete to “greedy” and “Dance the Night” at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. [USA Today]

?? Wicked fans: Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked, a special on the making of the movie, airs at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. (That marketing budget really knows no bounds.) [Variety]

?? And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 2004, Indiana Pacers star Metta Sandiford-Artest jumped into the stands to confront a Detroit Pistons fan who had thrown a drink on him, igniting a brawl between fans and players that came to be known as the “Malice at the Palace.” Here’s why former Pacers star Jermaine O’Neal said it was “misunderstood.” [IndyStar]

3 QUESTIONS

...about The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills returns tonight on Bravo. I asked Laura Bradley, who writes the In Reality newsletter on reality TV, about what to look for.

Jessica: Refresh me: Where did we leave off last season?

Laura: The Season 13 reunion was rough. By the end of the season, Kyle was on both Sutton and Dorit’s shit lists, and my favorite moment of the reunion was Garcelle calling Dorit out for “unconscious Karen behavior.” If you have 20 minutes, watch this nice little video recap!

Jessica: What can we expect from the new season?

Laura: It looks like Sutton and Kyle have mended bedazzled fences, but based on the trailer, Dorit and Kyle are a very different story as they heal from their respective separations. Personally, I’m most stoked that the one and only Jennifer Tilly is joining the cast as Sutton’s friend!

Jessica: Bozoma Saint John is joining the cast. What do we know about her?

Laura: I think she could really shake things up. Bozoma was famously Netflix’s first Black C-suite exec, and she claims that boardrooms are even messier than Housewives. We’ll see!

Pop quiz: Can you guess which RHOBH scene made this list of the best Housewives moments of all time?

FEEL-GOOD MOMENT

Meet Margret Chola, aka “Legendary Glamma,” who has gone viral for wearing her fashionista granddaughter’s clothes and posing for photos in her Zambia home. “I feel new and alive in these clothes. … I feel like I can conquer the world,” she said. [BBC News]

Have a wonderful day. See you tomorrow!

?? P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Want a healthy, satisfying breakfast? Cook eggs, and do this one trick to double their protein content. [Today]

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