5 key updates on Dec. 4: Immigration, Epstein images, Boat accidents, Vaccination progress, Matthew Perry

A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot safely ejected from a jet before it crashed in California on Wednesday. Footage of the incident shows the plane engulfed in flames as it hit a dry lakebed.

The Trump administrations immigration enforcement has expanded to Minnesota and Louisiana. Officials say the operations target the most dangerous criminals, but local authorities report many individuals without criminal records have been detained. Sources indicate Somali immigrants in Minnesota are being specifically targeted following President Trumps recent disparaging remarks about the community. In Louisiana, the Department of Homeland Security plans to make at least 5,000 arrests.

House Democrats released new photos and videos from Jeffrey Epsteins private island, offering a glimpse into locations tied to decades of abuse. Images show bedrooms, a dentist-like chair, and a room with masks on the walls. One photo captures a study with a blackboard marked with words like power, deception, plots, and political. The release follows a law signed by President Trump requiring the Justice Department to disclose all Epstein-related documents, which are expected soon.

Admiral Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command and former Navy SEAL, will brief Congress on a controversial double-tap strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean last September. Critics question the legality of the second strike that reportedly killed survivors, raising potential concerns of war crimes or unlawful killings if orders were confirmed.

Former health officials are raising alarms about changes to U.S. vaccine policy under the Trump administration. Two open lettersfrom former FDA commissioners and ex-CDC leaderswarn that guidance led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his advisory panel threatens public health. The warnings precede a key CDC meeting where Kennedys committee may significantly alter the childhood vaccine schedule, potentially delaying the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns by weeks or years.

In Los Angeles, Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 2 years in prison for selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actors fatal overdose. Plasencia admitted exploiting Perry, knowing the actor struggled with addiction. Court filings reveal Plasencia referred to Perry as a moron who could be manipulated for profit. He is the first of five defendants connected to Perrys death to be sentenced.

Author: Connor Blake