A notorious jail, new dietary guidelines, cultivating creativity: Catch up on the day’s stories

By Daniel Wine, CNN

👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! New US dietary guidelines flip the food pyramid — putting meat, cheese and vegetables at the top. Some praised the changes, while others worry they put too much emphasis on red meat and dairy products.

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

5 things

1️⃣ ‘It truly is hell’

Ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are getting accustomed to life at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Two things are certain: They will be uncomfortable and kept out of harm’s way.

2️⃣ Frozen funding

As part of its claims of widespread fraud, the Trump administration is halting funding for several programs in five Democrat-led states. The biggest chunk — $7 billion — provides cash assistance and other support to low-income households.

3️⃣ Elusive figure

Fossils unearthed in Morocco from a little-understood period of human evolution could help scientists resolve a long-standing mystery: Who came before us?

4️⃣ Cultivating creativity

Abstract artist Julie Mehretu has earned international acclaim, and her paintings hang in some of the world’s most prestigious art institutions. She’s paving the way for others to follow in her footsteps.

5️⃣ Taylor and Travis

Their engagement created a massive economic and cultural footprint. As Swift and Kelce prepare to marry, a CNN documentary explores celebrity romance and its impact on American life.

Watch this

🐏 ‘I Wool Survive!’: Rams that won’t mate with females are typically sent to slaughter, but a German farmer decided to give them a home. Meet this flock of gay sheep with names including Prince Wooliam and Madonna.

Top headlines

• Walz puts Minnesota National Guard on alert after ICE agent kills woman in Minneapolis
• US seizes Russian-flagged tanker and a second Venezuela-linked ship
• Nick Reiner’s arraignment delayed after high-profile attorney withdraws as counsel

Check this out

✈️ Dicey destination? Tourists are discovering a fascinating place to visit on the edge of Europe — but it’s on a US warning list, and security fears make some people wary.

For CNN subscribers

• America’s affordability problem is an availability problem
• How political violence is already shaping the next Democratic primary
• What happens to the planet if Trump gets his hands on all of Venezuela’s oil?

Quiz time

💼 The number of available jobs in the US just hit its lowest level in more than a year. How many were there?
A. 5.4 million
B. 7.15 million
C. 8.95 million
D. 11.2 million
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.

Thanks for reading

✅ Most popular in yesterday’s newsletter: The former ‘QAnon Shaman’ explains why he no longer supports Trump

🧠 Quiz answer: B. An estimated 7.15 million jobs were available at the end of November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

👋 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 Chris Good.