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Political surprises are reshaping the nation's biggest cities, while major decisions in Washington and California are raising questions about the limits of government power. Meanwhile, a familiar name in the auto industry is taking a dramatic turn, and scientists are uncovering surprising clues about the natural world. We're also examining why buying a first home is becoming increasingly difficult for Americans.

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City Council member Nithya Raman, a democratic socialist who entered the race as a long shot, defeated Mayor Karen Bass in Los Angeles, and Bass conceded on Thursday. Raman's win means the country's two largest cities will both be led by democratic socialists, joining New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Raman, an urban planner and Indian immigrant, ran on cutting homelessness, building more housing and protecting residents from immigration enforcement. Bass faced intense fallout over her absence during the 2025 wildfires that killed dozens. Raman said the two had agreed to a smooth transition and that her priority is earning public trust.

A federal judge blocked construction of President Trump's 250-foot arch for 14 days, less than two hours after a planning commission packed with his allies approved it 8-4 on Thursday. Judge Tanya Chutkan sided with Washington, D.C., and Virginia, which argue the construction would cause major disruptions and that the arch is unlawful without congressional approval.

The administration had said work could begin the same day and run 20 hours a day for two to three years. Also Thursday, Trump signed a proclamation declaring the Oval Office and Cabinet Room a national monument, though it does not stop future presidents from redecorating.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted the death sentences of all 548 people on the state's death row to life without parole, saying "the state cannot morally kill them." The move is largely symbolic because California has not executed anyone since 2006, though experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs.

Meanwhile, Indiana, Florida and Alabama each executed a man on Thursday, marking the second US triple execution day this year after none from 2010 until August. It was Indiana's first execution this year, while Florida's was its 19th, matching the state record it set in 2025.

Pope Leo XIV begins a three-nation tour of Latin America in Uruguay, three weeks after lung cancer surgery that had put the longest trip of his papacy in doubt.

A Kenyan court is sentencing doomsday cult leader Paul Mackenzie, convicted of murdering 191 people, all but one of them children, as prosecutors seek the death penalty.

A Tanzanian court cleared opposition leader Tundu Lissu of treason but found him guilty of incitement in a case that fueled deadly unrest around last year's elections.

A police officer near Denver was killed and three others were wounded in a gunfight with a suspect who was trying to board a bus and was killed.

President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday declaring the Oval Office a national monument, along with the Cabinet Room, though the designation would not stop future presidents from changing them.

Voters in Washington and Colorado approved measures banning transgender athletes from school sports, with Washington's Measure 638 winning over 56% and Colorado's Proposition 134 taking 52% of the vote.

Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production in Texas next year to make room for its self-driving Cybercab as Elon Musk's angular pickup has struggled with disappointing sales.

Cloudflare shares jumped 18% after the company reported third-quarter revenue up 39% to $782.5 million and gave a fourth-quarter forecast above what Wall Street expected.

Lockheed Martin's missiles revenue jumped 24% in the third quarter, as defense earnings show conventional weapons still drive growth even while drones and AI reshape modern warfare.

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A neutrino telescope sunk 1.5 miles under the Mediterranean found no sign that a core rule of Einstein's relativity breaks down with only a fraction of it built.

Brain scans may flag Alzheimer's risk years before symptoms as Stanford researchers used AI to sort healthy seniors into SuperAger-like and Alzheimer-like groups based on brain wiring.

Octopuses squeeze through tiny gaps with a sequence of arm and body moves that changes as the opening gets tighter in research that could guide robots.

The Jacksonville Jaguars rolled past Baltimore 33-10 Thursday night for their fourth win by 23-plus points this season, a historic trend that could carry them to SoFi Stadium in February.

No. 5 Michigan beat No. 2 UConn 77-66 as Te'Yala Delfosse scored a career-high 22 to end the Huskies' streak of 39 straight regular-season wins.

Stephen Curry scored 29 points with six 3-pointers as Golden State beat Miami 120-100 for its sixth straight win since opening the season with three losses.

LSU scored 40 straight points in one quarter as the No. 9 Lady Tigers routed Texas Southern 131-22 for the largest margin of victory in program history.

The Weeknd's After Hours Till Dawn tour became the top-grossing tour by a male solo artist after it ended Thursday with over $1.3 billion in ticket sales.

Next year's Met Gala will celebrate everyday clothing under a theme about how designers transform jeans and T-shirts after John Galliano withdrew as its planned honoree.

Rocky returns to theaters Friday for its 50th anniversary, bringing back the Best Picture winner that Sylvester Stallone wrote for himself and held out to star in.

What it is: A new report found that the share of homebuyers purchasing for the first time sits at a near-record low of 22% as a housing shortage and high prices keep many people out of the market. The ones who are buying are older and wealthier than in the past, and 1 in 10 paid all cash, the highest share since the data began in 2003.

The detail: The median age of first-time buyers is 40, a record high. It was 38 for those who took out a mortgage and 54 for those who paid cash. Cash buyers were more likely to use an inheritance (28%) or money from selling an inherited property (21%). For first-time buyers overall, personal savings was the biggest source of down payments, and more people tapped assets like a 401(k), stocks or cryptocurrency than got help from family or friends.

Why it matters: The gap is widening between people saving on their own who are priced out and those who get a transfer of family wealth. One broker said high mortgage rates are also driving all-cash bids, and another said about three of every 10 offers on a home in his market may be all cash.

What to watch: The share of first-time buyers using an inheritance is likely to grow as baby boomers reach their 80s and beyond. That could make family wealth an even bigger factor in who gets to buy a first home.

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A Vermont couple issued no-trespass orders to 23 neighbors in a nearly five-year fight over a 900-foot grass runway they want to use for small planes.

Scientists found an amoeba in California hot springs that can divide in water as hot as 145 degrees to set a heat record for complex cells.

An Indiana orchestra is letting fans vote on whether it plays the Can-Can or the William Tell Overture at a Classical Jukebox concert that also has Star Wars music.

Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president (1860) · Herbert Hoover wins the presidency (1928) · The UN General Assembly condemns South Africa's apartheid policies (1962) · Ronald Reagan wins reelection by carrying 49 states (1984) · Australians vote against becoming a republic (1999) · Barack Obama wins a second term (2012)

"We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land." — Herbert Hoover accepting the Republican nomination months before his 1928 win (1928)

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—The Five Minute Daily Team