The NewsWorthy

Host: Erica Mandy
Episode: Biggest NYE Celebrations, New Laws in 2026 & Betty Boop Goes Public
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Overview

This fast-paced “news made fast, fair and fun” episode, hosted by Erica Mandy, covers a wide range of timely topics as 2025 comes to a close. Key stories include the biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations across the U.S., security preparations and weather impacts, major state and federal policy changes set for January 1st, high-profile news stories, classic pop culture entering the public domain, and some eye-popping compensation details for tech employees. As always, Mandy delivers quick-hitting news with a blend of concise analysis and friendly tone, appealing to listeners looking for a well-balanced daily news fix.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New Year’s Eve Celebrations Across the U.S.

• Major Events:

  • Times Square, NYC hosts the most iconic celebration with millions expected ([00:33]).
    • For the first time, the ball will drop twice—a second time at 12:04 a.m. with a patriotic design to kick off America’s upcoming 250th birthday.
    • “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” features stars like Diana Ross, 50 Cent, Demi Lovato, Post Malone, Mariah Carey, Pitbull, and more, with performances nationwide.
  • Nashville throws a large country bash with stars like Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban ([01:01]).
  • Other top destinations: Orlando, Seattle, Los Angeles (per WalletHub).

• Security:

  • Heavy police presence in New York City: uniformed/plainclothes officers, dogs, drones, helicopters, boats ([01:26]).
  • New Orleans deploys the National Guard following last year’s attack on Bourbon Street. No credible threats reported so far.

• Weather:

  • Clear, dry weather for most of the U.S., but “especially cold from the upper Midwest to the Northeast to as far south as Tampa, Florida.”
  • Snow possible in cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia; Great Lakes may get “feet of snow”; rain expected in some southwestern states ([02:08]).

2. Government and Policy Changes

Childcare Funding Freeze in Minnesota

• Federal Action:

  • “The Trump administration is now freezing all childcare funding for Minnesota…in response to a fraud investigation we told you about earlier this week.” ([02:41])
  • Audit called for. Other states will face tighter requirements for federal aid.

• Political Reaction:

  • Governor Tim Walz accuses President Trump of “politicizing the issue to defund government programs that help people in his state.”
  • Nationally, states will need “justification and receipt or photo evidence before any money is sent” for child and family programs.

Healthcare Cost Changes (Effective January 1)

• For Medicare Beneficiaries:
  • First government-negotiated drug prices take effect, lowering out-of-pocket costs for the ten costliest drugs by “more than 50% on average.” ([03:21])
• For ACA Recipients:
  • Expiry of subsidies means “some people could pay up to 113% more…when combined with insurers’ rate increases.”
  • Congress or states might step in with new measures.
• Medicaid Expansion:
  • Ten states still not expanding Medicaid, leading to a "coverage gap." Sweeping changes, including work requirements, are planned for 2026.

New State Laws in 2026

• AI & Tech Regulation:
  • Illinois bans AI in hiring; California sets chatbot rules for suicide prevention; Texas launches an AI Ethics Council ([04:33]).
• Kids & Social Media:
  • Virginia: social media platforms must limit users under 16 to max one hour/day.
• Immigration:
  • Texas: sheriffs must cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
  • California: bans face coverings for all law enforcement, including federal agents ([05:01]).
• Healthcare Choices:
  • NY, IL, DE: new “aid in dying” laws.
  • NH: bans hormone therapy and puberty blockers for minors.
• Labor & DUI:
  • 20+ states increase minimum wage; Washington State hits $17/hour, a national first.
  • Utah: DUI drivers’ licenses will be “striped red with the label ‘no Alcohol Sale’” ([05:44]).

3. Political and Notable People News

• NYC Political Change:

  • Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani becomes NYC mayor, swearing in tonight ([06:02]).
    • Plans: focus on “affordability”—universal childcare, free buses, rent freeze.
    • “Critics say New York City is about to be less friendly to businesses, but Mamdani insists he'll be leading New Yorkers into a new era of opportunity.”
    • Progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to attend the public ceremony.

• Tatiana Schlossberg’s Passing:

  • JFK’s granddaughter, environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, dies at 35 of aggressive blood cancer ([06:53]).
    • She criticized family member Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in her final essay for policies “she said could hurt patients like her.”
    • Remembered as “a woman who loved her life and fought like hell to try to save it.”

• NFL Scandal:

  • Patriots’ Stefon Diggs faces felony charges for alleged assault of his private chef ([08:00]).
    • Diggs denies. Girlfriend Cardi B asks fans to “calm down about her relationship,” but makes no comment on the charges.

4. Sports Highlights

• College Football Playoff Quarterfinals:

  • Cotton Bowl: Miami vs. Ohio State
  • Orange Bowl (Jan 1): Oregon vs. Texas Tech
  • Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Indiana
  • Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Georgia ([08:51])
  • “Some quarterfinal game tickets actually going for less than first-round home games at school campuses.”

• NHL Winter Classic:

  • Florida Panthers vs. New York Rangers in Miami ([09:25])
  • “NHL says fans can expect at least a few flakes of snow…manufactured, since actual temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 50s.”

5. Pop Culture & Public Domain

• Copyright Expirations:
  • “Copyright on thousands of creations from 1930 will expire at midnight.” ([09:57])
  • Characters entering public domain: original Betty Boop, Disney’s Pluto, first four Nancy Drew mysteries, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Little Engine That Could,” songs like “Georgia on My Mind.”
  • “This change opens it up for adaptations to be used by anyone, even schools with limited budgets…a Betty Boop horror movie is already in the works.”
  • Digitization and preservation efforts for old films and music planned.

6. Work Wednesday Feature: OpenAI’s Eye-Popping Pay

• Pay at OpenAI:
  • “OpenAI gives stock-based compensation that adds up to about $1.5 million per employee on average.” ([11:08])
    • “More than seven times higher than the stock-based pay Google offered before it went public in 2004.”
    • “OpenAI’s top researchers and engineers…some of the richest employees in Silicon Valley.”
    • Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg offering “pay packages worth hundreds of millions of dollars…and in some rare cases, a billion dollars to top execs and researchers at rival companies, including OpenAI.”
    • More than 20 OpenAI staffers left for Meta this year.
    • “Company leaders say it’s not just about money, but mission.” OpenAI remains confident in its leadership on AI development.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Times Square’s Ball Drop:

  • “For the first time ever, the Times Square ball will be dropped a second time around 12:04am with a patriotic design meant to kick off celebrations for America's upcoming 250th birthday.” (Erica Mandy, [00:38])

• On Healthcare Changes:

  • “Out of pocket costs are estimated to fall by more than 50% on average [for Medicare’s ten costliest drugs].” (Erica Mandy, [03:28])
  • “Some people could pay up to 113% more on average when combined with insurers’ rate increases.” (Erica Mandy, [03:50])

• On Public Domain Additions:

  • “This change opens it up for adaptations to be used by anyone, even schools with limited budgets, and they’ll be able to create all different types of things with them.” (Erica Mandy, [10:29])
  • “In fact, a Betty Boop horror movie is already in the works.” (Erica Mandy, [10:38])

• On OpenAI Compensation:

  • “OpenAI gives stock-based compensation that adds up to about $1.5 million per employee on average…more than any other tech startup in recent history.” (Erica Mandy, [11:17])
  • “But company leaders say it's not just about money, but mission.” (Erica Mandy, [11:53])

Timestamps for Main Segments

• 00:00–02:33 – New Year’s Eve preview: events, security, weather
• 02:34–03:21 – Childcare funding freeze in Minnesota; federal response
• 03:22–04:25 – Healthcare/insurance changes (Medicare, ACA, Medicaid)
• 04:26–06:01 – State law changes: AI, social media, immigration, minimum wage, DUI
• 06:02–06:51 – Zohran Mamdani becomes NYC mayor
• 06:52–08:00 – Tatiana Schlossberg’s passing
• 08:01–08:50 – NFL player Stefon Diggs’ criminal charges; Cardi B reacts
• 08:51–09:24 – College football playoff quarterfinals; ticket pricing
• 09:25–09:51 – NHL Winter Classic in Miami
• 09:52–11:01 – Public domain additions and their significance
• 11:02–12:27 – Work Wednesday: OpenAI, Meta, tech employee compensation

Summary

Erica Mandy efficiently delivers a round-up of the day’s most important stories, helping listeners prep for 2026 with need-to-know news ranging from celebratory to somber. New Year’s Eve festivities headline the podcast, complemented by major legislative changes, notable political and cultural moments, and even tech sector intrigue. The show remains true to its ethos—fast, fair, and fun—making national news accessible and engaging for busy listeners.