Meta taps Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board White’s election as a Meta director two weeks before Trump takes office comes as Silicon Valley is courting the incoming administration. Read more on NPR

First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC Health officials in Louisiana say a person there has died after catching bird flu. This marks the first reported death in the U.S. from the virus during the current outbreak. Read more on NPR

CFPB sues Berkshire Hathaway-owned mortgage lender for alleged predatory practices The CFPB says that Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, ignored evidence that borrowers couldn’t afford loans to buy manufactured homes. Read more on NPR

Pentagon agrees to settle historic lawsuit with LGBTQ+ veterans over discharge status The Pentagon has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit involving about 35,000 LGBTQ+ veterans that will help them get benefits like health care and disability. Read more on NPR

32 dolphins have died since an oil spill near southern Russia, experts say A dolphin rescue center said most of the dead dolphins were from the endangered Azov species. Read more on NPR

Adrien Brody dedicates Golden Globes win for ‘The Brutalist’ to his immigrant family The post-war epic was nominated in several categories. Like Brody’s real-life mother, Brody’s character is an immigrant from Hungary who fled conflict. Read more on NPR

Biden makes an 11th-hour move to block coastal oil drilling President Biden has issued an executive order blocking drilling for oil in more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean. It’s the largest such move in history, but is almost guaranteed to be challenged under the incoming Trump administration. Read more on NPR

U.S. transfers 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo to Oman The Biden administration’s move leaves just 15 detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Oman will help resettle the men and provide security monitoring. Read more on NPR

Hamas and Israel are negotiating the release of 34 hostages from Gaza The deal would secure release of a third of the approximately 100 hostages who remain in Gaza, including two dual U.S.-Israeli nationals. In return, Israel would release some Palestinian prisoners. Read more on NPR

Millions of public workers are set to get higher Social Security benefits. Here’s why Public service workers including some teachers, firefighters, police officers may soon see their Social Security payments increase by hundreds of dollars. Read more on NPR