Chief Justice Roberts opened 2025 warning about threats to judicial independence, as the Mar-a-Lago documents case transferred to Florida prosecutors. By mid-morning, Ukraine halted Russian gas transit to Europe, marking a shift in energy politics.
The day pivoted at 11 AM when a vehicle rammed into New Year's crowds on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Initial reports of one death evolved to 15 casualties by evening. The FBI identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US-born military veteran, after he died in a police firefight. An ISIS flag was discovered in his vehicle, along with explosives. By nightfall, the FBI launched a manhunt for additional suspects, reporting three men and one woman planting IEDs around the city. The Sugar Bowl was postponed 24 hours.
A Tesla Cybertruck explosion at Trump's Las Vegas hotel, killing one, emerged as a separate security concern by evening.