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| Good morning. It’s Friday, Dec. 19, and we have a sudden urge to try coffee omakase — an elaborate coffee experience that is all the rage in Tokyo. Now let’s get to the news.  | The gunman in the Brown University shooting was found dead, authorities said. | - What happened? The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot, officials said last night. The discovery ended a five-day search following a campus shooting that left two students dead.
- A connected case: The gunman, identified as 48-year-old Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was also behind Monday’s killing of an MIT professor, officials said. His motive is unclear.
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 | The Kennedy Center board voted to rename the institution the “Trump Kennedy Center.” | - Immediate backlash: Kennedy family members blasted the move as illegal. But the change is already reflected in a new logo on the storied D.C. arts institution’s website — take a look.
- A fight for MAGA’s future: Turning Point’s first national conference since the killing of founder Charlie Kirk is underway. His widow, Erika, endorsed JD Vance for president in 2028.
- One more thing: These tech moguls see the midterms as a path to long-term power.
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 | President Donald Trump’s pardons have wiped out payments to defrauded victims. | | |
 | The Coast Guard abruptly deleted its swastika entry from a new policy manual. | - The change: Language that downgraded swastikas and nooses to “potentially divisive” has been removed. The document now shows a big black bar obscuring the relevant chapter.
- More military news: Trump said this week that a $1,776 “warrior dividend” bonus to service members would be funded by revenue from his import tariffs — that was incorrect.
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 | Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a marathon year-end news conference. | - Why it matters: It is a rare direct engagement with the public. Citizens can call in to quiz Putin — polls show they want answers on Russia’s economy and the war against Ukraine.
- In Ukraine: Russian weapons filled with components from companies based in the U.S. and other Western nations are killing and maiming civilians, including this 8-year-old boy.
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 | Feeling a sense of wonder every day can improve your health. | | | Post columnist Dana Milbank took a trip to the National Gallery of Art in D.C. to unlock a sense of wonder. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) | - How we know: New research measured people’s responses while viewing art. Their stress hormone levels dropped 22% on average and inflammation markers dropped even more.
- Try it out for yourself: The Post published flash cards from the National Gallery of Art that pair artwork with prompts for finding awe. Take a look here and see how you feel.
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 | The rare sight of a mother polar bear adopting a cub was captured on camera. | - An unusual discovery: Researchers in Canada came across a polar bear mother with one cub in the spring. By fall, she had adopted a second and they were seen exploring together.
- Why did it happen? It’s unclear. But one research scientist said that female polar bear adults are “really good moms” whose instincts kick in when they come across a lone cub.
Before you go … could this be the best movie of the year? Read our critic’s glowing review of “The Secret Agent” here. Plus: Why the star of “Avatar” is surprisingly anonymous. One more good read: The race to protect New York’s subway from extreme rainfall. We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you’ve seen in The 7? Send them here. We’ll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition. And finally … take a game break: | |
Jamie Ross and 
