The Bulletin

• China reacts to Carter's death: The Chinese government on Monday paid tribute to former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, praising him for being the "promoter and decision-maker" in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Read more about Chinese President Xi Jinping's condolences.

• Bird flu update: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed it is monitoring for a number of red flags that suggest bird flu could become the world's next pandemic. Here's what to know.

• National Day of Mourning: President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Monday declaring January 9 a national day of mourning for the late President Jimmy Carter. Learn more.

• Greece to launch internet curb app: In an effort to curb excessive internet use among young people, Greece announced plans to launch a government-operated app designed to enhance parental oversight of mobile devices in 2025. Find out more details.

• Weather warnings: Winter weather advisories were in places for five U.S. states from the National Weather Service early Tuesday, with up to 14 inches of snow forecast in some parts of the country. Updates for the latest forecasts.

• In the ongoing war in Ukraine, a fire has broken out at a Russian oil depot deep behind the frontline in Kursk, according to the Kyiv Independent. The oil depot in Yartsevo in Russia's Smolensk region caught on fire on December 31 after a drone attack overnight.

The rundown: From puberty blockers to TikTok, online porn and ghost guns, major Supreme Court decisions are expected in 2025 that could have a massive influence on American culture. Here are some of the major opinions that are likely to be delivered before next summer.

Why it matters: Key cases include challenges to transgender healthcare laws, with Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming treatments for minors facing scrutiny. Decisions on ghost guns address untraceable firearms regulations, while the legality of Texas' porn site age verification law raises First Amendment questions. TikTok's future is at stake as the Supreme Court reviews Congress' mandate for parent company ByteDance to sell the platform due to security concerns. Donald Trump's ongoing legal battles may also bring new precedents regarding presidential immunity.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trust in US Courts Plummets to Record Low, Gallup Poll Reveals

TL/DR: Nothing on the court's schedule ignites the kind of heated public debate generated by U.S. v Skrmetti, a case about medical care for transgender teens.

What happens now? It is not on the Supreme Court docket, but the court will often take important cases on short notice, especially if it involves the presidency.

Deeper reading Supreme Court Rulings That Could Change America in 2025

The rundown: President-elect Donald Trump's endorsement of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson appears to have done little to convince some of Johnson's staunchest Republican critics on Monday. Here's what to know.

Why it matters: Johnson, whose continued role as speaker is up for a vote after the new House is sworn in on Friday, recently faced heavy criticism from some of his GOP colleagues over a federal funding fight that nearly triggered a government shutdown just days before Christmas. Trump praised Johnson as "a good, hard working, religious man" while endorsing his continued speakership in the closely divided House. Several Republican House members who previously announced their opposition to Johnson continuing quickly weighed in on the endorsement but seemed less than convinced, with some comparing him to former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who was also endorsed by Trump but has since become a figure reviled by the president-elect and many other MAGA Republicans.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Trump Throws Mike Johnson a Lifeline

TL/DR: "Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man," he added. "He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement."

What happens now? As Republicans are expected to have a slim 219 to 215 seat majority when the House convenes on Friday, only a small number of defections could kill Johnson's bid to continue as speaker. If a majority does not elect him speaker, the House will be forced to continue voting until a new speaker is chosen.

Deeper reading Republicans Skeptical of Mike Johnson React to Trump Endorsement

The rundown: A recent poll found that a majority of college students believe that Luigi Mangione should be sentenced to time in prison if convicted. Here's what else it reveals.

Why it matters: Mangione has gained support in some corners of the internet, including a fundraiser for his legal defense fund that has raised over $200,000. If Mangione is found guilty—according to a poll conducted by College Pulse and shared with Newsweek—32 percent of survey participants said he should be sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole; 14 percent chose life imprisonment without the chance of parole; 26 percent preferred a fixed-term prison sentence; and 2 percent believed he should get the death penalty. The remaining respondents chose "other" or "no opinion."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will Luigi Mangione's Terrorism Charge Hold Up? Legal Analysts Weigh In

TL/DR: The poll collected responses from over 1,000 college students. All respondents had heard about the shooting, with differing levels of familiarity.

What happens now? Mangione is being held without bail in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. His next federal court appearance is set for January 18 and he's due back in state court on February 21.

Deeper reading Should Luigi Mangione Go to Prison If Convicted? What New Poll Says

The rundown: The start of 2025 is likely to see Russia maintain battlefield momentum in its invasion of Ukraine amid concerns about what the new year will mean for continued American aid for Kyiv. Read more about the stakes and challenges ahead.

Why it matters: Putin's full-scale invasion will enter its fourth year on February 24, a grim anniversary in the war that has destroyed Ukraine's cities, killed thousands of civilians and soldiers and upended the security situation in Europe. Trump's transition team has been working on a plan to broker talks between Kyiv and Moscow and the president-elect hinted that both sides will have to compromise. However, Russia's defense minister, Andrei Belousov, said on December 16 that the four Ukrainian regions Putin claims to have annexed— Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk, would be fully under Moscow's control in 2025.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will There Be a Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal in 2025?

TL/DR: Donald Trump enters the White House on January 20 with anticipation building over whether he can make good on his pledge to end the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What happens now? Zelensky told the French newspaper that the incoming U.S. administration would not have access to the full military and diplomatic intelligence until after Trump's inauguration. Trump takes office in the first month of 2025 but whether by the year's close he can proclaim himself as the dealmaker who helped end the war depends on many factors.

Deeper reading Will Ukraine War End in 2025?

The rundown: Florida has seen the biggest year-over-year surge in stale inventory in the entire nation in November, according to a new report by real estate brokerage Redfin, as new properties flooded the market at a time when few seemed to be interested in buying them. Here's why the housing market is cooling despite its pandemic-era growth.

Why it matters: The Sunshine State, together with Texas, now has the highest share of homes sitting idle in the market for over 60 days without going under contract, Redfin wrote. The recent rise in stale listings is yet another sign that the once-booming Florida housing market is now facing a likely downturn as inventory piles up at a time when demand is dwindling. The surge in stale listings in Florida is closely linked to the fact that the state has built more new homes than any other state in the country in the past few years, with the exception of Texas. Miami leads with 63.8 percent of homes sitting unsold for over 30 days, while Tampa saw the highest year-over-year increase in unsold inventory at 12.3 percent.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Florida Housing Market Faces 2025 Struggles

TL/DR: There are new homes on the market—and with less inbound migration, historically high home prices and mortgage rates, an increasing number of them are remaining unsold.

What happens now? Tricky times are ahead for the Florida housing market. Several experts told Newsweek that prices are likely to fall in the Sunshine State next year as a result of the growth in inventory and active listings.

Deeper reading Florida Faces Pileup of Unsold Homes