Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Looking at America's nuclear defense risks

A five-part series dives into the U.S.'s nuclear arsenal, the possibility of attack and potential risks of an attack. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Tue Jan 6 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello, Tuesday! I'm Phaedra Trethan. I've never eaten a McRib and have no plans to do so. 🍔

In Tuesday's news:

A five-part USA TODAY project looks at America's nuclear triad. Part 1: What a strike on nuclear silos might mean for communities across the fallout zone.
Many holiday season travelers found themselves confused by what REAL IDs can and cannot do.
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans has an autoimmune disease. What that means.

But first: Do you do Dry January? (Every month is dry for this tea-totaler.) 🚫

Looking at America's nuclear triad

No one wants to think about it. But millions of people would be affected in the case of a strike against the United States' 450 aging underground missile silos across the Great Plains and Mountain West. Taxpayers are set to pay $140 billion to upgrade these missile fields.

U.S. nuclear strategy revolves around the "triad," the military's methods for delivering a nuclear strike through the air, sea and land. But some say the land leg isn't as strong as other countries' and those underground silos are vulnerable to attack, while others believe land-based nuclear missiles could prove catastrophic. The first part of our five-part series looks at the nuclear triad — and the risks it poses to millions of people.

Part 2: Are nuclear silos a liability or an asset?
Part 3: The budget blowout for nuclear missiles.
Part 4: What the experts say.
Part 5: How USA TODAY mapped potential consequences of a nuclear strike.

Nuclear Sponge - Strategy.jpg

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Illustration by Alan Nguyen

✈️ REAL ID, real confusion

More than 45 million travelers were screened by the TSA over the holidays. A lot of those travelers learned the hard way that there are limitations to what a REAL ID is — and what it isn't.

Can you travel without a REAL ID? Yes, but it'll cost you. 💸

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A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 26, 2025.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Real quick

President Trump said he'll think about Greenland... later.
ICE agents are descending on Minnesota in what's being called the "largest immigration operation ever."
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is no more after federal funding cuts. 📺 📻 🖥️
Jury selection got underway in the trial of a former police officer for his response to a mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

When the body attacks itself

Imagine waking up feeling drained, being tired all the time, enduring aches and pains that make ordinary tasks difficult or impossible, making everyday life feel painful and exhausting. For about 1 in 10 Americans suffering from autoimmune diseases, that's their reality.

But these conditions are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, and their symptoms are often misunderstood. So what are autoimmune diseases? What causes them? And why do they afflict so many Americans? Here's an explainer.

🥇 ⛸️ The greatest US skating team ever?

Could Team USA's 2026 figure skating squad be the best team ever? Columnist Christine Brennan says the three men and three women who will go to Milan, Italy later this winter could bring home more gold than any U.S. figure skating team ever has.

How skaters Alysa Liu and Amber Glenn forged a friendship on ice.
Jason Brown is hoping the third time is a charm at the Milano Olympics.
Where and how to watch the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Figure Skating Isu World Figure Skating Championships

Alysa Liu competes in Womens Free Skating during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships at TD Garden.

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

A break from the news

Smidgen has a new home after 451 days in an Atlanta animal shelter. Welcome home, buddy! 🐶 ❤️
Ranking the Super Bowl contenders, from no problem to no shot. 🏈
Just because they're furry doesn't mean dogs don't feel the cold. How to protect your pet. 🐶

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your Super Bowl picks. Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Director Rob Reiner attends the photocall of "This Is Spinal Tap" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Majestic Beach on May 18, 2022, in Cannes, France.

Nick Reiner, the son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, is set to be arraigned in Los Angeles court.

Revelers wait for the ball drop at New Year's Eve in Times Square, on Dec. 31, 2015.
 

Why are people nostalgic for 2016? Psychologists explain.

It's 2026. But some young people are still reminiscing about 2016, defined jointly by pop culture moments and key points in history.

The platform at the Daly City Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station pictured on April 8, 2020, in Daly City, Calif.
 

Bay Area voters will decide in 2026 whether to support transit systems

Later this year, Bay Area voters will consider whether they approve of a regional tax to support BART and other Bay Area transit systems.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends a press conference at Miraflores Palace in Caracas February 21, 2014.
 

Anonymous trader makes over $400,000 betting on Maduro's capture

An anonymous Polymarket trader placed a roughly $32,000 bet before Nicolás Maduro's ousting and netted over $400,000.

Jimmy Kimmel hosts "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
 

Kimmel mocks Trump for 'lowest-rated Kennedy Center Honors telecast'

Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air and scrambling to catch up on all the "crazy stuff" President Donald Trump did while he was gone.

President Donald Trump gestures as he makes an impression of a transgender weightlifter during his address to House Republicans at their annual issues conference retreat at the Kennedy Center, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2026.
 

Trump defends mimicry, dancing when wife calls moves 'unpresidential'

Trump confided to House Republicans that first lady Melania Trump discouraged him from mimicking others during speeches or dancing as 'unpresidential'

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 15: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) speaks before Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. With early voting starting today in Georgia both Trump and Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris are campaigning in the Atlanta region this week as polls show a tight race. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty   Images)
 

Marjorie Taylor Greene leaves politics. Who could step up in Georgia?

Marjorie Taylor Greene completed her last day in the House of Representatives on Monday, leaving her seat now open in Georgia. What's next?

The astronauts of Artemis II (from left) Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch leave crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
 

1st US moon mission in decades with astronauts could be 1 month away

Four astronauts are about to become the first humans to venture near the moon in more than half a century since NASA's iconic Apollo era ended.

Then-NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps walks off the stage following the state of the sport press conference in the media center at Phoenix Raceway on Oct. 31, 2025.
 

NASCAR commissioner steps down after antitrust trial, fiery texts

NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns one month after an antitrust lawsuit and trial revealed him making disparaging remarks about a team owner.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs onto the field before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium.
 

Who are the best quarterbacks in the playoffs? Power ranking all 14

NFL quarterback power rankings are down to 14 playoff contenders in the wild-card round. Here's how they stack up.

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Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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