☕ Mangione returns to court

Good morning!

Much of the eastern part of the country is bracing for their first blast of snow and ice, with residents of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and New England all awaiting the first dump of the season. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• The White House defended US Admiral Frank Bradley's decision to conduct multiple strikes on a Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel on September 2, saying he had Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's authorization. The Washington Post reported a second strike was ordered to kill two survivors and comply with Hegseth's order that everyone be killed, though President Donald Trump said Sunday he would not have wanted a second strike. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the strikes were conducted in "self defense" in international waters and complied with armed conflict laws. Critics have questioned the legality of the strikes, with experts noting international law prohibits attacks on incapacitated combatants.

• The death toll from catastrophic floods and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand has grown to at least 1,300, with more than 800 missing. Days of heavy monsoon rains inundated vast areas, leaving thousands stranded on rooftops and in trees awaiting rescue. The death toll includes 712 people in Indonesia, 410 in Sri Lanka and 181 in Thailand, according to authorities on Tuesday. Emergency crews continue racing to reach survivors and recover bodies.

• Megan Thee Stallion has won her defamation case against blogger Milagro Gramz, who falsely accused the rapper of lying about being shot by Tory Lanez in 2020. A federal jury in Florida ruled Tuesday that Gramz defamed and harassed the 30-year-old rapper, awarding her $59,000 in damages. Stallion testified in November that Gramz's comments affected her mental health and music career, saying she felt life wasn't worth living at one point. The rapper filed the lawsuit in October 2024, accusing Gramz of "churning out falsehoods" and stating "it's time to hold bloggers accountable" for harassment and misinformation.

• The Prada Group has completed its 1.25 billion euro ($1.45 billion) acquisition of Milan fashion house Versace after receiving all regulatory clearances. Prada announced Tuesday that the deal puts Versace under the same ownership as Prada and youth-focused brand Miu Miu. Prada heir Lorenzo Bertelli will serve as Versace's executive chairman while maintaining his roles as group marketing director and sustainability chief. The acquisition is expected to revive Versace's fortunes after weak post-pandemic performance under previous owner Capri Holdings.

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Costco is suing the Trump administration for a full refund of tariff costs, in a lawsuit that could reshape U.S. trade policy.

The retail giant filed the motion over Thanksgiving weekend, joining several other companies challenging the legal basis of President Trump's sweeping tariff regime. The case hinges on whether Trump had the authority to impose tariffs under a law designed for national emergencies. Here's what you need to know.

Background

In April, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. The law gives presidents extraordinary control over economic levers during emergencies or economic attacks.

The White House said it invoked the powers "to address the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit that is driven by the absence of reciprocity."

Legal experts say using IEEPA for tariffs in this way is unprecedented. The law has typically been reserved for responses to hostile foreign governments or immediate threats to national security.

The lawsuit

Costco, the country's third-largest retailer, is asking courts to order a full refund of tariffs it has paid since April - when Trump first imposed reciprocal tariffs on most countries. The company hasn't disclosed the exact amount, but estimates suggest U.S. businesses have collectively paid around $90 billion in tariffs under the policy.

Other companies have filed similar suits, including cosmetics giant Revlon, eyeglass maker EssilorLuxottica, and motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki.

The Supreme Court to weigh in

Two lower courts have already ruled against Trump, finding he lacked sufficient cause to invoke IEEPA's presidential powers. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case on an accelerated schedule but has kept the tariffs in place while it reviews the matter.

If the Supreme Court rules the tariffs were illegal, companies like Costco could receive refunds totaling billions of dollars.

I’ve got 2 minutes

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, are fighting to exclude key evidence that could determine whether he faces the death penalty.

Pre-trial hearings began Monday in a case that has drawn national attention to frustrations with the U.S. healthcare system. The outcome could significantly impact prosecutors' ability to prove Mangione possessed a murder weapon and had a motive.

Background

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside a Manhattan hotel in early December as he headed to an investor conference. Following a five-day search, police arrested Mangione in Pennsylvania.

Police say Mangione was carrying a gun and silencer consistent with the murder weapon, plus a handwritten note criticizing healthcare companies for "putting profits above care." Investigators described the note as showing "ill will toward corporate America."

Charges

Mangione is being prosecuted under both state and federal law—a relatively rare move that reflects the severity and interstate nature of the alleged crime.

New York state prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder and related offenses. Federal prosecutors added charges of using a firearm in a murder and interstate stalking, because Mangione allegedly crossed state lines to plan and commit the killing.

Federal prosecutors have said they're seeking the death penalty.

The evidence

Mangione's defense team argues that prosecutors obtained crucial evidence illegally, which would make it inadmissible at trial.

The contested evidence includes statements Mangione made to police immediately after his arrest—including giving a fake name and fake ID. Defense lawyers say these statements were made before police read him his Miranda rights, which protect against self-incrimination.

The defense is also seeking to exclude items found in Mangione's backpack: a 3D-printed handgun and a notebook containing writings that prosecutors say point to motive. Mangione's lawyers argue the backpack was searched illegally.

Prosecutors are expected to cite exceptions to constitutional protections against illegal searches to keep the evidence in the case.

What’s next?

The pre-trial hearing is expected to last several days, with Mangione's team calling multiple witnesses. No trial date has been set for either the state or federal case.

If the judge excludes the evidence, prosecutors would lose key proof of both possession and motive—potentially undermining their entire case. If the evidence is admitted, Mangione could face the death penalty if convicted on federal charges.

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