An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Trump’s rant against Somali migrants; the loneliest Americans; blocking the sun; and more

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By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

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Good morning. It's Wednesday, Dec. 3, and we hope this raccoon who passed out after ransacking a liquor store isn't feeling too rough. Now let's get to the human news.

President Donald Trump paused immigration applications from 19 nations.

Which ones? They include Afghanistan, Haiti and Somalia — find the list here. Officials cited last week's shooting of two National Guard members, allegedly by an Afghan national.
Also yesterday: Trump ended a Cabinet meeting (at which he appeared to doze off) with a rant against Somalis. And a White House video of ICE arrests angered Sabrina Carpenter.
One more thing: Data-mining company Palantir is playing a key role for ICE.

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Pete Hegseth distanced himself from a lethal attack on alleged drug smugglers.

How? The defense secretary said hours passed before he learned a strike he authorized in September required an additional attack to kill two survivors. He cited "the fog of war."
Related news: The Pentagon press secretary lashed out at The Post yesterday at a briefing for pro-Trump media. The Post published a report Friday on Hegseth's boat strike order.

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Republican Matt Van Epps won a closer-than-expected special election in Tennessee.

The result in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District preserves Republicans' 219-213 advantage in the U.S. House. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Why it matters: It was a much-needed victory for Republicans after losses in November. But it also underlined the party's vulnerability to Democratic attacks over the cost of living.
Two looming issues: Trump officials plan to block SNAP management funds for Democratic-run states. And some households face spiking health insurance costs next year.

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Federal vaccine advisers are planning a big change to the childhood shot schedule.

The details: Advisers picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are set to vote on ending the practice of vaccinating all newborns for hepatitis B, among other changes.
Meanwhile: A new study found that a common vaccine meant to ward off shingles may be doing something extraordinary — it might actually slow down dementia.
And a Post exclusive: The rollout of a new medical records system for veterans is beset by glitches and dangerous errors.

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Low-temperature records from the 1800s will likely get broken this week.

Parts of the U.S. and Canada will be among the coldest places compared to average on the planet over the next 10 days. Data source: ECMWFERA5. (Ben Noll/The Washington Post)

It's chilly out there: About 50 locations from eastern Nebraska to Maine are forecast to see record lows for this time of year in the coming days.
Why? A sudden warming event disturbed the polar vortex miles above the North Pole, sending freezing air south. Meanwhile, heavy snow is sweeping the East.

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Americans are getting lonelier, new research shows.

In particular: An increasing number of middle-aged and older adults — especially those in their 40s and 50s — are among the loneliest people, according to the report.
Digging deeper: See which parts of the U.S. are loneliest on these maps.
Feeling isolated? Getting out into nature and green space could help, experts say.

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Some companies want to block the sun to cool the planet.

Companies are sparking debate about the role private firms should play in tinkering with the global climate. (Illustration by Laura Padilla Castellanos/The Washington Post; iStock)

No, this isn't "The Simpsons": Start-ups are attempting "solar geoengineering" to fight climate change. One method involves releasing sunlight-blocking sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.
It's controversial: Critics say profit-seeking companies have no business developing technologies that could affect the whole planet — possibly with unintended consequences.

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Before you go … artists keep releasing multiple versions of the same album: Here's an explanation. Love audiobooks? They might be cheaper this holiday season.

One more fascinating read: How billionaire George Soros changed criminal justice in America.

A note from The Post's food critic: Why I'm bringing star ratings back to restaurant reviews.

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 an upcoming weekend edition.

And finally … take a game break: