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Transferring colleges isn't giving up, it's choosing what works. At Beacon College, more than 30% of students began their journey somewhere else, then found a community designed for neurodivergent learners to aim higher and succeed. With small class sizes, wraparound support and integrated career preparation, students build their future with confidence. Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, an accredited institution uniquely serving students who learn differently and recognized on the Forbes Accessibility 100 list. Learn more at beaconcollege. Edu Transfer.
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A rivalry is emerging inside the Republican Party. We figured out the top jobs that can be done from home, and video games might actually be good for you. That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post, I'm Christina Quinn, in for Hannah jewel. It's Monday, December 22nd. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Number one, Ted Cruz is weighing another presidential run, setting up a potential clash with JD Vance. The future of the Republican Party is up for grabs in the 2028 primary, and some possible contenders are starting to emerge. One is Cruz. The Post reported this morning that the senator from Texas is weighing a second presidential bid he first ran in 2016. A second run would be politically risky for Cruz, and it would put him on a path to collide with Vice President J.D. vance. Many Republicans expect Vance to enter the 2028 race, and friction is already evident behind the scenes. According to our reports, Cruz has privately criticized the vice president to Republican donors. The emerging rivalry shows how much the party has changed under Trump's leadership since Cruz arrived in the Senate in 2013. After rising to prominence as a rebel against the establishment, Cruz is now a vocal champion of some longtime orthodox positions. And a new generation of conservatives is rising with a different vision. Two lawmakers said they will seek to find Pam Bondi in contempt over the Epstein files. That's number two. Over the weekend, the Justice Department released more than 100,000 documents related to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but some have been heavily redacted, and the Justice Department has said it will take weeks to redact and release the remaining files. Two lawmakers don't accept that they are Representatives Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, and Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican. They said they will seek to find Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress for not releasing more documents related to Epstein. Speaking yesterday, Massie said that a contempt motion would be the most expeditious way to get justice for Epstein's victims. Number three. More than 1200 current and former federal workers told the Post about their tumultuous year. Since Trump returned to office, the White House has carried out a once unthinkable transformation of the nation's sprawling bureaucracy. Missions have shifted or shattered. Entire agencies were deleted. Nearly 300,000 employees were forced out of the federal workforce. The administration froze or shut off billions of dollars in scientific research and gutted offices and programs devoted to civil rights and diversity. It rewrote the federal hiring system to reward loyalty to the president and installed ICE agents in hundreds of new offices across the country. The Post put together a fascinating account of what happened inside the US government in 2025, based on hundreds of interviews. Find it in our newsletter today. Just follow the show notes. The US Is pursuing another tanker off Venezuela's coast. That's number four. This month, US Forces intercepted two tankers in waters off Venezuela. It's part of an effort to heighten pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, who the administration wants to force from office. Yesterday, a US Official said the Coast Guard pursued a third tanker off Venezuela. This came after Trump last week ordered a total and complete blockade on all oil tankers under sanctions entering or leaving Venezuela. The blockade could impact the country's already struggling economy, which heavily depends on overseas oil sales. Number5A post analysis shows surprising shifts in who is most likely to work at home. Your chances of hybrid work, that is Some hours in the office, with some at home, decline as you age. But interestingly, fully remote work is most likely to be done by older workers and workers with disabilities. That's according to post analysis of a long running Census Bureau survey. In fact, older workers, especially those who have hit retirement age, are the most likely of any group to be working from home. That's mainly because of people working part time in their retirement. And these fully remote, older workers are much more likely to have advanced degrees. People's remote work options change as they age too. If you're in your 20s and 30s, for example, your best bet at remote work involves software development. And for Anyone around age 40 or older, the highest probability of remote work goes to the managers, a category that includes many self employed workers and small business owners. Find out more about how remote work is shifting in our newsletter. The link is in our show Notes. Stormy weather could impact your holiday travel plans. That's number six. If you're planning to travel along the west coast this week, you may be faced with some less than ideal weather. Unfortunately, storms are set to deliver floods in California and the Pacific Northwest. On the flip side, however, many parts of the country will be warm. The desert Southwest will be warmest compared to usual. And in the south and central United States, it will feel more like spring than winter in the days around Christmas. You can find more details on the daily forecast in your neck of the woods in our newsletter. And at number seven Playing Video Games Could Help Slow Down Brain Aging Turns out that video games may not be all bad. A 2025 study found that experienced gamers brains looked an estimated four years younger. And if you're not a gamer, it's not too late. One study showed that just three to four weeks with 30 hours playing a game that involved strategizing in real time could slow brain aging for non gamers. There are some caveats though. One expert recommended playing games in moderation and trying new games. In fact, when he recommends online games to his older patients, he suggests they pick up a new game once they start getting good. So if you get tired of Christmas movies over the holidays, perhaps you could get a gamer in your life to teach you how to play. All right, you're all caught up. I'm Christina Quinn and while I have your attention, you should listen to the latest season of my podcast. Try this. We discuss the science of altruism and giving and how you can work that part of your brain like a muscle. Alright, that's it for today. We'll meet you back here tomorrow.
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Think about why you listen to podcasts. It's like having a friend who makes you think or can help you wind down right? Well, the Washington Post has a lot of people you can turn to at any hour. You can read the most important and interesting stories. We can help you cook something delicious, give you advice on a tricky friendship. Rave about a movie or book that you shouldn't miss. When you become a Washington Post subscriber, do you have a companion for whatever part of your day needs it most? Get it all for just $4 every four weeks. That's for an entire year. After that, it's just $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. Go to washingtonpost.com subscribe that's washingtonpost.com subscribe.
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Most colleges accommodate students who learn differently, but Beacon College was built entirely for them. That's why Beacon was named to The Forbes Accessibility 100, a global list of organizations and advancing access across all industries. Beacon is the only institution of higher education recognized for creating a fully designed learning environment for neurodivergent students. To earn four year degrees and launch meaningful futures. Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida enrolling now for transfer students and first time freshmen, visit BeaconCollege Eduardo.