Today’s Big Story

Holiday Blues

Are you catching holiday anxiety and stress instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace.

“I'm dreaming … of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know.” But, as I’m sure you know, not everyone’s days are merry and bright during this time of year. If the twinkling lights, jolly music and thoughts of getting dressed up for a party are bumming you out, you could be suffering from a case of the holiday blues, which experts say is not uncommon.

A strained relationship with family, for example, can make this time of year pretty lonely. The holidays are expensive, and financial woes can cause major stress. Anxiety about holiday anything can fuel depression and worsen existing mental health concerns. “A lot of people at certain years can find the holidays to be more challenging than they have experienced in past years,” one psychologist tells the Associated Press. “It’s important to recognize the common humanity that others, too, are struggling.”

The latest research at Academized.com dives into the growing issue of holiday depression, analyzing search trends to identify where it’s felt most acutely and when people seek help the most. For instance, the top states searching for “holiday depression” are Mississippi, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kentucky and Arizona. Searches tent to peak around today and last through December 23, during the height of holiday festivities.

Experts suggest starting out with mini-breaks to fight the holidaze. Taking five or ten minutes throughout the day (even while at work) to unwind and reset will help your energy level. After hours of sitting (especially when it’s dark and cold out), short breaks are effective energy management strategies that can be as simple as stretching, walking up and down stairs, deep breathing, yoga or a five minute mindful meditation.

Remember, your holidays don’t have to be a Hallmark movie. Give yourself permission to do it differently this year, says Dr. Ellen Lee, a San Diego-based psychiatrist. “We have so many goals, so many targets,” she said. “Getting all the gifts, decorating the house perfectly … sometimes it’s helpful to sort of focus on the most important part of it.” She emphasized that it is fine to have a low-key celebration. “I ask people, ‘What’s the best part of the holiday?’” she said, “It’s not usually about the decorations or all these extra things that we all spend a lot of time worrying about.”

15-Year-Old Female Student ID’d As School Shooter

The shooter is dead and a 2nd-grader made the 911 call

Just days before the kids were let out on holiday break, there was a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wisconsin. Police said a student who opened fire, identified as a 15-year-old girl, was also dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was, according to CNN, the 83rd school shooting of 2024—a record year after a significant dip during the pandemic.

Here are some things to know about the shooting in Wisconsin’s capital city: The shooting occurred late Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School. And the police said that a second-grade student called 911 to report the shooting (just let that sink in for a second). Police Chief Shon Barnes said Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, opened fire during a study hall, killing another student and a teacher, and critically wounding six others.

The teenage suspect used a handgun, police said. Authorities are investigating the origin of the firearm and searching Rupnow’s home in the north side of the city, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said. Authorities are investigating a motive and are aware of a document online and are looking into it to learn more. “A document about this shooting is circulating at this time on social media, but we have not verified its authenticity,” police chief Shon Barnes told NBC News.

Judge Rules on Trump’s Immunity

His conviction for falsifying business records shouldn’t be overturned because of the Supreme Court’s ruling

A judge on Monday rejected Donald Trump’s argument that a recent Supreme Court ruling had nullified his criminal case in New York—upholding the former and future president’s felony conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal. The ruling preserves (at least for now) the stain of Trump’s criminal conviction. And if the decision withstands an appeal, Trump will become the first felon to serve as president.

Judge Juan Merchan wrote that the Supreme Court’s ruling that Trump should receive broad immunity for official acts during his time in office did not mean the conviction should be dismissed, ruling that the evidence presented by the Manhattan district attorney’s office was not related to Trump’s official conduct as president. The evidence contested by Trump’s lawyers, the judge wrote, related “entirely to unofficial conduct” and should receive no immunity protections.

According to the Washington Post, Merchan will separately decide whether to sentence Trump before he takes office, after his term or not at all. A higher court could block a sentencing date if one is scheduled. Trump’s sentencing in state court in Manhattan was originally scheduled for Nov. 26, but was postponed indefinitely because of other pending motions related to his upcoming second term in office. He faces up to four years in prison, though most legal analysts say prison time is unlikely for reasons including his lack of a prior criminal record.

The Great Pop Star Realignment

Pop music is messier — for the better — because of these women

This year brought us new albums from some of the biggest artists in the world: Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift all put out music that thrilled fans. And yet some of the most impactful pop music of 2024 came not from Tay or Bey, but from three rising pop stars whose songs took us out to the clubs (Pink Pony and otherwise) and back home to the bedroom. They embraced romantic ugliness and cutting self-reflection—and pushed pop forward.

Of course, we’re talking about artists like Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter. They were seemingly everywhere this year, right? As InsideHook points out, you don’t “get that famous that quickly without tapping into the zeitgeist and resonating with a large swath of people … The popular kids in high schools across America are listening to the same music as the misfits they’re shoving into lockers. Grandparents are doing the “HOT TO GO!” dance at weddings and bar mitzvahs.”

And this year saw Charli, a boundary-pushing yet oft-overlooked pop veteran, finally escape what the New York Times once called “pop’s middle class” with her defiant, sweat-soaked, goopy-green opus, “Brat.” It helps, of course, that these women’s music is exciting and compulsively listenable, Mike Errico, a musician and visiting assistant arts professor at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, who teaches songwriting, tells CNN. “It’s been a while since there’s been a changing of the guards for people at the top.”

Stylish Gift Picks for the Modern Man’s Man

Huckberry has options for rugged dudes and sophisticated gentlemen alike

The guys on your gift list are, no doubt, a challenge to buy for. But here's an insider secret: When you don't know what to get your brother, your dad or a buddy, look to retailers that look and feel like them. When you browse Huckberry's wide range of goods, we bet you see something that reminds you of the man you're shopping for. At once rugged and refined, the adventurous outfitter has everything from well-made apparel and accessories to home goods along with a myriad of EDC items (and some fun grown-up toys) for the guy who lives an active, engaged and fearless life. This year's selection of tried-and-true gifts and gear combines an adventurous spirit with a cozy home life.

Stay humble.