Vaccine changes, distracted teens, 2026 movie preview: Catch up on the day’s stories

By Daniel Wine

👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! Elon Musk’s up-and-down year wrapped with one final stumble. Tesla posted its second consecutive sales decline, losing its long‑held electric vehicle crown to a company the billionaire once mocked.

Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day.

5 things

1️⃣ Childhood vaccines

In a major shift, the Department of Health and Human Services will recommend fewer vaccines for most American children. Experts worry it could lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases.

2️⃣ Alito’s aggravation

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has a remarkable record of transforming his old dissenting opinions into the new majority view and setting the direction of the law. Yet the more he wins, the testier he gets.

3️⃣ Distracted teens

Most schools have policies restricting phone use, but students are finding ways to evade the rules. Research shows they’re spending a significant chunk of the school day on their devices.

4️⃣ Right on time

Airlines have to juggle staffing challenges and unpredictable weather to keep their flights running on schedule. A new report highlights which ones excel in terms of punctuality.

5️⃣ Superheroes and sequels

From “The Odyssey” to “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” CNN’s entertainment team put together a 2026 movie preview. Grab some popcorn and see what’s in store.

Watch this

🪂 Tangled up: A paratrooper got caught in the field goal netting before the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, but walked away unscathed.

Top headlines

• Defiant Maduro pleads not guilty as Trump threatens other countries
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won’t seek third term as fraud scandal churns
• Pentagon moves to cut Sen. Mark Kelly’s military retirement pay as punishment over ‘illegal orders’ video

Check this out

👗 Winter’s sexiest outfit: Once reserved for the privacy of one’s home, intimate apparel is now stepping into everyday wardrobes — at least if celebrities have anything to say about it. Take a look.

For CNN subscribers

• 3 keystone habits that can transform your health in 2026 — and make everything easier
• An aversion to alcohol is moving the global party scene in an unexpected direction
• How the ‘four families’ of global cyber scams were brought to heel

Quiz time

🏈 Which two teams earned the top seeds and a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs?
A. Patriots and Eagles
B. Broncos and Seahawks
C. Bills and Bears
D. Jaguars and 49ers
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.

Thanks for reading

✅ Most popular in Friday’s newsletter: Discovery of ancient bee nests in fossils points to a never-before-seen behavior

🧠 Quiz answer: B. The Denver Broncos clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the Seattle Seahawks claimed the top spot for the NFC. See who else made the cut.

👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.

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Today’s edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN’s Kimberly Richardson and Jordan D. Brown.