World Welcomes In New Year; U.S. Sanctions Venezuelan Oil Tankers | NTD Good Morning (Jan. 1)

Welcome and Happy New Year. NTD Good Morning starts now. Here are today's top stories. From Times Square to the streets of London, Madrid and Rio, millions around the world ring in the New Year with spectacle and tradition. How the world welcomed the New Year as the US nears a historic milestone. And as the nation rings in the New Year, the Washington Monument in DC lights up for America's upcoming 250th birthday. President Trump rings in the New Year at Mar-a-Lago. But the president said his resolution is for 2026. New York City officially has a new mayor. Zoran Mamdani swore in at a historic Manhattan subway station. The Trump administration keeps pressure on Nicolas Maduro's regime in Venezuela. It sanctions four more oil tankers and hits yet another alleged drug boat. Now we take a look at some of the greatest moments in sports from 2025. Highlights that could go down in sports history. This is NTD Good Morning. Live from our global headquarters in New York City, here are Stefania Cox and Kerry Dunst. Good morning and thank you for joining us today. I'm Paul Graney in for Stef and Kerry. Today is Thursday, January 1st and this is NTD Good Morning. Today's top story. From Times Square to the streets of London, Madrid and Rio, millions around the world rang in 2026 with spectacle, tradition and reflection. Here's a look at how the world welcomed the new year with the US marking a historic milestone. New York City rang in 2026 with a famed Times Square ball drop. Crowds bundled up against the chilly temperatures as the ball, covered in more than 5,000 crystals, descended down a pole. The revelers were treated to a surprise as the ball was relit in red, white and blue before rising again to mark the start of the United States' 250th year. It was a significant moment for many among the thousands who were there to witness it. I think it's awesome. We both serve the country so it's special to us as veterans so it's cool to be here. Our country is strong and it's amazing that we've been here for 250 years and we're hopeful to be here for another 250 years going forward. Happy to be American, proud to be here, proud to welcome people from all over the world. Across the Atlantic, five hours earlier, London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed in 2026 along thousands of merrymakers by the River Thames. Khan said the city had been working on the celebration for months. With more than 12,000 fireworks as well as lights and animation, spectators watched as the iconic London Eye took center stage. For me, it's one of my dreams to look at the celebration because of the building and the fair work together. So it's really exciting. We just do it here. And yes, I just achieved one of my dreams. I'm so excited of that. And in Madrid, Spain, a unique tradition to ring in the new year as the clock struck 12 on the Real Casa de Correos, the headquarters of Madrid's regional government, revelers ate one grape for every chime of the bell. Compare that to the more than 2 million partygoers who gather at Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana Beach. An estimated 15,000 people squeezed into the square. It's amazing. It's the first time I came. It's beautiful. I can't describe it. It's very emotional. Rio's New Year's Eve celebration has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the biggest New Year's Eve celebration in the world. And as the nation rings in 2026, the Washington Monument in D.C. is putting on a light show as part of its celebration for America's upcoming 250th birthday. Here's a look. As the nation prepares to enter 2026, the Washington Monument in D.C. took on a different look to honor the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Glowing with images, the obelisk turns into a canvas through a large-scale projection displaying the trajectory of our nation's development, both past and present. I wish we have more people here watching this. This is amazing. They put up some great work. Just seeing a projection that high, that's amazing. The show was presented by Freedom 250, a nonpartisan group launched by President Trump. It features five chapters of America's development. Discovery, the Revolutionary War, Westward Expansion, the Industrial Revolution, and Modern Day and the Future of Our Nation. They have George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, all of our founding fathers up there that we're so proud of, and I think it's just so exciting to have somebody in the White House that loves America, that wants to celebrate America, and I think we're behind them. Spectators reflecting on the paths America has traveled. We came from a squalor little nation. We were settlers, and now we're here, pioneering the greatest country in the world, so I think it's amazing. From a world perspective, it's pretty young, but for here, it's pretty cool and pretty exciting. To be this young, to be this powerful, and to be such a world influence is pretty awesome. The New Year's Eve production on the Washington Monument is just a prelude to what's coming in 2026. The Trump administration is leading multiple events throughout the year to celebrate America's founding. I think it's bringing back a sense of national pride. We went through a couple of decades where people were ashamed and they wanted to be sad. Now we're at this point where we want to be prideful about America and what it stands for, what it's done, what we're going to do. So it's 250 years of celebration, but it's like 250 years looking forward, what comes next for our country. The installation is set to last from December 31st to January 5th, and it will be free and open to the public at the National Mall. And President Trump, meanwhile, welcomed the New Year at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. He shared his New Year's resolution with reporters. Mr. President, do you have a New Year's resolution? I have. You can come in if you'd like. Trump also vowed last night to get to the bottom of an alleged welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota. And he presided over a charity auction, bringing in more than $2.5 million for a painting of Jesus. Several administration officials also joined the celebration, including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro. And President Trump has made restoring faith a cornerstone of his second term, from establishing a White House Faith Council to taking action to protect persecuted Christians abroad. NTD's Washington correspondent Mari Otsu takes a closer look. My life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again. Six months after an assassin's bullet almost took his life, President Trump returned to the White House with a bold mission to restore faith to the heart of American life. He created a White House Faith Office and Religious Liberty Commission to safeguard religious freedom. My mom realized that this man had actually altered their original plan to stop me from wearing a mask that said Jesus loves me. This goal is violating my rights. And on the same day as the national prayer breakfast, he signed an order to counter what he called anti-Christian bias. Let's bring God back into our lives. The president opened his first cabinet meeting in prayer. Blessed is a nation whose God is the Lord. Father, thank you for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America. And launched the America Praise Initiative, urging weekly prayer. So as we chart our course toward the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to one nation under God. That vision of bringing God back into American life found one of its fiercest advocates and conservative activist, Charlie Kirk. And let's just say thank you, God, for giving us Donald Trump and giving our country back. Ladies and gentlemen, you're about to witness history, the 45th and 47th president of the United States. Who President Trump credits with helping secure his return to the White House by getting the youth vote. When Kirk was tragically assassinated in September, President Trump called his murder an attack on our entire nation. September 10th, 2025, our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal. He's a martyr now for American freedom. Posthumously awarding him the Medal of Freedom. He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America. He loved this country. Meanwhile, President Trump extended his vow overseas to protect religious liberty worldwide. On Christmas day, he ordered airstrikes against ISIS in Nigeria for their brutal attacks on Christians, an issue that rapper Nicki Minaj had highlighted just days earlier during a surprise appearance at AmFest. While they're in church, people are being kidnapped, people are being killed, brutalized, all because of their religion. And that should spark outrage in the great America. I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president, but he's given so many people hope that there's a chance to beat the bad guys. And as we welcome the new year, the White House's presidential Christmas message reads, we pray for an outpouring of God's abiding love, divine mercy, and everlasting peace upon our country and the entire world. Reporting by Mario Tzu, NTD News. President Trump is delaying a planned tariff hike on imported furniture and cabinets, keeping current duties in place while trade talks continue. Now, the delay comes under a proclamation tied to national security concerns over foreign wood product imports. The tariff increase, originally set for January 2026, is now pushed back one year. The current tariff of 25%, though, will remain in effect. The White House says predatory foreign government subsidies on imported lumber and predatory trade practices undermine the competitiveness of the American wood products industry. And Venezuela has been the focus of some recent US government actions. The Trump administration yesterday imposed sanctions on four firms operating in Venezuela's oil sector. NTD's Daniel Monaghan has more on the move, which also designated four additional oil tankers as blocked property. The US accuses the ships of being part of a shadow fleet serving President Nicolas Maduro's government. The Treasury Department says Maduro's regime increasingly depends on the shadow fleet to evade sanctions and raise cash for its narco-terrorist operations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessin said, President Trump has been clear. We will not allow the illegitimate Maduro regime to profit from exporting oil while it floods the United States with deadly drugs. The Treasury Department says it will continue to implement President Trump's campaign of pressure on Maduro's regime. US forces have seized two oil tankers off Venezuela's coast and are pursuing another. The government has also conducted a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Yesterday, Joint Task Force Southern Spear killed five people in a lethal strike on two vessels. It says were operated by designated terrorist organizations. The move was carried out at the direction of War Secretary Pete Hegseth. The government says the vessels were traveling along no narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking. Such strikes on alleged drug boats have killed at least 110 people since early September. Republican Senator Rand Paul has criticized the Trump administration for blowing up boats of what he described as unarmed people suspected of being drug dealers. President Trump announced earlier this month a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country. He also demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago. The actions are part of the Trump administration's months-long pressure campaign on Maduro, who is widely viewed as a dictator, presiding over an authoritarian regime marked by rigged elections, systemic corruption, and widespread human rights abuses. Under Maduro, Venezuela has plunged into economic collapse and repression. According to the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, more than 20,000 people have been subjected to extrajudicial killings during Maduro's rule. Daniel Monahan, NTD News. And as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, the leaders of both nations delivered New Year's addresses. President Zelensky and President Trump both spoke about an end to the nearly four-year war, but in very different ways. Zelensky said a peace agreement for Ukraine is 90% ready following a series of discussions with U.S. and European partners. He said Ukraine wanted the war to end, but not at any cost. He added he would not sign a, quote, weak peace agreement that would only prolong the war. Meanwhile, President Putin used his annual televised New Year's address to rally his troops fighting in Ukraine. He paid tribute to his forces in the front line, calling them heroes. And despite progress in peace negotiations, Putin reaffirmed his belief in Russia's eventual victory. Ukrainians in Kiev say they wish for peace in the new year, but for now, the fighting continues. NTD's international correspondent, Aryan Pasdar, has more. Two days after an alleged attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow is now releasing video footage for the first time. According to the Kremlin, Ukraine launched over 90 drones at Putin's residence on Monday overnight. After international calls for evidence to back up the claim, Russia released this video on Wednesday, showing one drone in a dark forest. Neither the location nor the date of the video could be independently verified. Zelensky denies the claims of an attack, saying Russia is lying to undermine the peace process, which had been developing fast before the alleged attack. Also on Wednesday, President Trump shared a New York Post article which states that the drone strike likely never happened. A day earlier, the U.S. ambassador to NATO also cast doubt on the accusation that Ukraine attacked Putin's residence. He said it's unclear whether the attack actually happened. The ambassador added that he wants to see U.S. intelligence on the incident. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues working on a possible peace deal, speaking with Ukrainian and European officials. Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff says they focused on how to move the discussions forward in a practical way on behalf of President Trump's peace process. Meanwhile in Kiev, snow is falling on New Year's Eve, as Ukrainians wish for peace in 2026. On the eve of the holidays, we want to believe in something good, so we have to look for meaning. Some say they're placing their hopes in Ukraine's military and in relatives defending the country. My dad defends me, so I believe in peace and that everyone will return home. Kiev holds a special cemetery for fighters killed during the war in Ukraine. Some people are spending New Year's Eve with their fallen loved ones. For dad, these were special holidays. He always wanted to spend time with us, so it's very important for us to come here to remember dad. Her mother says she hopes peace can return to Ukraine, which is what her husband was fighting for to end the war. Arian Pasdar, NTD News. It's heartbreaking. And several dozen people are presumed dead and more than 100 injured after a fire engulfed a bar at a Swiss ski resort in Kranz, Montana, Switzerland. Police have not yet confirmed the exact number of deaths caused by the fire, but most people who were injured have severe burns and were sent to the hospital, filling its intensive care unit. The blaze started at 1.30 this morning local time at a bar in the Swiss Alps called Le Constellation. The area is known as a high-end resort that attracts a lot of tourists. It's not yet determined what caused the fire, but authorities are ruling out the possibility it was a planned attack. And still to come this morning, President Trump says he'll be withdrawing National Guard troops from multiple cities in the U.S. A look at what's behind the changes. And New York City officially has a new mayor. Zoran Mamdani is sworn in at a historic Manhattan subway station. Welcome back. I'm Paul Graney. Zoran Mamdani is officially the mayor of New York City. The Democratic Socialist took the oath of office at an historic decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. I... Zoran Kwame Mamdani... Do solemnly swear... That I will support the Constitution of the United States... The Constitution of the state of New York... And the charter of the city of New York... Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America's biggest city. He placed his hand on a Koran as he took this oath. Mamdani described the moment as an honor and the privilege of a lifetime. The ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, and he'll be sworn in again by Senator Bernie Sanders at City Hall today at 1pm, followed by a public block party on a stretch of Broadway known as the Canyon of Heroes. And in a statement on Truth Social yesterday, President Trump said he'll be withdrawing National Guard troops from multiple cities in America who were there to improve security. Trump said the National Guard will be removed from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. He added that crime has been, quote, But he left the door open to sending federal forces in a, quote, If crime begins again, that is. The president also criticized local leaders who have opposed his deployment of troops to the cities. Trump's policy came after a U.S. Supreme Court decision which ruled that Trump could not deploy National Guard troops to protect federal immigration agents. And as the federal probe continues in Minnesota over fraud allegations, Republicans in Capitol Hill are moving ahead with their own investigation. Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, is calling on Governor Tim Walz and state lawmakers to testify in public. Two hearings are already on the books. The first is with Minnesota state lawmakers on January 7th. The second, with Governor Tim Walz and his attorney general on February 10th. It's unclear whether they will appear or not. Chairman Comer emphasized, quote, Governor Walz is pushing back on claims he's turned a blind eye to the fraud, writing on X, We've spent years cracking down on fraud, referring to cases of law enforcement shutting down and auditing high-risk programs, etc. The statement is posted along with an op-ed in the Minnesota Star Tribune outlining steps his administration has taken so far. But after the latest round of fraud allegations, calls are mounting for deporting and denaturalizing Somali fraudsters. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said, And help is on the way for American farmers. The Department of Agriculture has announced the next phase of its Farmer Bridge Assistance Program. That program will consist of $11 billion in one-time payments, and $1 billion will go toward specialty crops and sugar. President Trump unveiled the aid package in early December. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rawlins says, Farmers were hit by months of strain from the fallout of the U.S.-China trade war with Beijing earlier in the year, ceasing buying American soybeans in favor of crops from South America and other markets. By November, Trump said China had agreed to increase its volume of American soybean imports weeks after his administration negotiated a three-year deal with Beijing. And the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to regulate dozens of uses of five chemicals used to make plastic products. The agency determined they pose unreasonable risks to workers and the environment. The chemicals, called tolates, are used to make plastic more flexible. The agency said its conclusions are based on gold-standard science, peer review, and clear findings of unreasonable risk in certain workplace and environmental settings. Administrator Lise Elden says the agency will work directly with stakeholders to deliver targeted science-based projections. The EPA emphasized that it found no unreasonable risk to consumers and the general public, but the agency said it also measured cumulative exposure to the chemicals and took steps to ensure infants and young children were not at risk. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called it a huge win for the Make America Healthy Again movement, praising Elden for calling for what he called honest science. And as we kick off the new year, we take a look back at how President Trump's second term has reshaped U.S. policy at home and abroad with our Washington correspondent Jack Bradley taking us through some of the highlights. Over the past year, President Trump and his administration have delivered on many of the promises he made when returning to office, reshaping U.S. policy at home and abroad through an America First agenda. On January 20th, Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, becoming just the second president in American history to serve nonconsecutive terms. Within hours of taking office, he signed a series of executive orders with his top priority securing the southern border. We inherited the worst border anywhere in the world, and we quickly turned it into the strongest border in the history of our country. He declared a national emergency, fast-tracked deportations, and moved to restrict birthright citizenship. We have deployed active-duty U.S. military and National Guard troops to the border to assist in repelling the invasion. It was really an invasion. The first bill Trump signed into law was the Lake and Riley Act, named after a Georgia nursing student killed by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant linked to the trendy Aragua terrorist gang. Today's signings bring us one step closer to eradicating the scourge of migrant crime in our communities once and for all. Since the law was passed, more than 17,500 criminal illegal immigrants have been arrested and detained under the law. At the same time, fentanyl trafficking at the southern border is down 50% compared to the same period last year. These are Homeland Security stats showing historic enforcement records. More than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. in just 250 days, including an estimated 1.9 million self-deportations and more than 622,000 formal removals. We have sent a strong message to criminal illegal aliens that we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you. President Trump also designated multiple foreign gangs as terrorist organizations to rapidly detain and deport members. He authorized strikes on drug trafficking vessels departing Venezuela and bound for the U.S., with land operations now being prepared. So much of the drugs, 25%, 30% would come in through the seas. Right now we have, I would say, none coming in through the seas. We are certainly looking at land now because we've got the sea very well under control. Domestically, Trump designated Antifa as a terrorist organization, citing years of violent unrest, intimidation, and attacks on law enforcement. It should be clear to all Americans that we have a very serious left-wing terror threat in our country, radicals associated with the domestic terror group Antifa. On the economic front, the Trump administration has brought in record tariff revenues, renegotiated trade agreements, and secured trillions of dollars in domestic and foreign investment commitments. Which means jobs, wage increases, growth, factory openings, and far greater national security. Trump also launched the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, tasking Elon Musk with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. DOGE reports federal cuts totaling more than $214 billion, though some estimates remain under review. In July, Congress passed and Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, funding key priorities including immigration enforcement, no tax on tips, and no tax on overtime, to name just a few. And internationally, President Trump pursued diplomacy through transaction, using tariffs, trade, and economic leverage to broker peace deals. Using that strategy, he brought multiple armed conflicts to an end, including between India and Pakistan, Cambodia and Thailand, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. His most high-profile achievement, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, leading to the return of nearly all Israeli hostages. In June, Trump ordered Operation Midnight Hammer, precision strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Pentagon officials say the operation caused extremely severe damage and significantly delayed Iran's nuclear weapons program. The strikes were a spectacular military success. Trump also actively worked toward a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, and his team has conducted extensive negotiations, developing a 20-point peace plan. He says both sides are nearing closer to an agreement. Our meeting was excellent. We covered, somebody would say, 95%. I don't know what percent, but we have made a lot of progress. Trump also pushed NATO allies to increase defense spending, approved a record $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, and intensified pressure on China. Tariffs on Chinese goods remain at 47.5%, part of a broader strategy to economically decouple. China has since suspended rare earth export controls and resumed major U.S. agricultural purchases. From border security and economic growth to global diplomacy and military deterrence, President Trump's second term has reshaped U.S. policy at home and abroad. Some world leaders have gone so far as to call him the most deserving candidate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Reporting by Jack Bradley, NTD News. It's been a big year, and still to come, thousands gather in a sacred space in Tokyo to offer New Year's prayers. We'll give you a glimpse. And Shenzhen Performing Arts was greeted by fans as they landed in Britain as part of their UK leg of their 2026 world tour, celebrating 20 years since their 2006 debut. Welcome back, I'm Paul Graney. As temperatures in Florida dip, the state's manatee population is finding ways to stay warm. These Florida manatees were spotted huddling together when the mercury dropped in Citrus County on New Year's Eve. Hundreds of manatees were spotted taking refuge at Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River. The temperature in the area was 35 degrees yesterday. Southwest Florida water management officials say a project that repaired the eroded shoreline improved water quality and restored the manatee habitat back in 2023, making it a great spot for the mammals to stay warm in the winter. And in Japan, the New Year is a major holiday. Many residents visit sacred sites to pray. Some of them shared what they hope for in the year ahead. Take a look. The weather is amazing today, isn't it? So I prayed with a really refreshed feeling, hoping that I can spend this year safely and happily. I live in Tokyo, but honestly, I haven't done a formal shrine visit on New Year's Day for such a long time. So I'm really glad I came today. Rather than making a request when I prayed, it's more like I came here for this. Last year, my family was able to live happily and healthily, so this year I want to work hard and stay healthy too. I came here not so much as to ask for something, but to report that and express my determination. Thousands made a visit to Tokyo's iconic Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day to offer prayers for the new year. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shokun. The two are honored for modernizing Japan, allowing it to emerge as a major global power within just a few decades. Meiji Shrine has been visited by numerous high-profile officials, including former President George W. Bush. And Shen Yun Performing Arts was greeted by fans of the Classical Chinese Dance Company as they landed in Britain for a 12-city UK tour. NTD is a proud media sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts and our international correspondent Malcolm Hudson has more from London. Shen Yun Performing Arts arrives in the United Kingdom for a 12-city tour where the Classical Chinese Dance Company will portray the grandeur and the spirit of China's 5,000 years of authentic traditional culture. Fans eagerly awaited the performers at the airport, presenting them with flowers as they arrived. MC John Perry said he often hears people say they were deeply impacted by the show. I've heard them say things like, I just feel so uplifted, or I feel like this show changed my life, I feel renewed. I've literally heard people say that. They told me that after seeing the show. And that's not something that just any show can give. Shen Yun's mission is to revive China's genuine traditional culture, a culture nearly lost under communism. It seeks to reconnect people with values such as respecting the heavens and harmony between mankind and nature. Shen Yun is reviving traditional culture in a world that is kind of going towards the modern trends, right? And I would say that the traditional culture and values and deep spirituality portrayed in Shen Yun is helping to connect people back to the divine. The dancers tell legendary stories with the aid of an animated backdrop and handmade costumes, portraying tales from ancient myths to those set in modern-day China. Principal dancer Sunny Zhao said they put a lot of heart into their work. When I'm actually dancing on stage, I try to imagine the whole environment, the dynasty, the time period, and try to picture the whole environment. And also when I'm dancing, just give my whole heart and tell the audience my story. The dramas are accompanied by a live classical orchestra and the show incorporates a solo Erhu performance, a unique two-stringed instrument. Soloist Kai Shi Ma said the Erhu's highly expressive tonal range can convey the richness of China's history. In ancient China, they believed that music united the heavens and earth and man and it resonated with the soul. So when they hear the tone, what actually happens is it resonates deep within them, no matter if they understand or not, because that's just the power of music. It's not really language, you know, it's like language with no barriers, in fact. Shenyun says on its website that it was founded in 2006 by practitioners of Falun Dafa, a meditative Chinese practice. The performers say they are guided by their faith in everything they do. I try to abide by the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance every day and I feel myself becoming a better person and it gives my life purpose, you know, like every day I want to live, you know, the day better than the day before and also try to help the people around me. And also in Shenyun here, we're like, you know, it's a group effort, so everyone's helping each other. It's not about like one person improving, it's about the whole team doing this, you know, fulfilling this mission together. Shenyun begins its UK tour with four performances at the ICC in Birmingham on January 2nd. Malcolm Hudson, NTD News, London. And still to come, we take a look at some of the greatest moments in sports from 2025. Highlights to cuckoo down in sports history. Stay tuned. Welcome back. I'm Paul Grady. Players come and go. Records are broken year after year. But there are some moments in sports this year that will be remembered for a lifetime. And joining us now is the host of the Can We Please Talk podcast, Mike Leon. Mike, happy new year to you. We appreciate you being here with us. Paul, happy new year to you. Thank you for having me. Mike, what would you say was the most memorable moment in sports for you this year? Well, there's a lot to choose from. I mean, we just ended the year a couple weeks ago with Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua down here in Miami where I attended. So it was a great sports moment, and we know about what happened afterwards with Anthony Joshua and the car crash. I hope it was all okay there. But we have some great moments to look at. You know, I'm a Raiders fan, Paul, so I love seeing the Chiefs' dynasty come to an end like it did in the Super Bowl with the Eagles trouncing the Chiefs and now seeing what's happened with the Chiefs post that. And it looks like that dynasty could be over. Maybe we'll see. But the big moment for me as a golfer, you know, Rory McIlroy winning the Masters Tournament this year I think is something that has eluded the athlete for so long. And a lot of people in the golf world that have known Rory and the struggles that he has gone through, you know, we've had so many great moments. But that's one that kind of stood out. But a lot of, you know, we had a great World Series this year between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers. You know, we had a good Stanley Cup again, rematch between the Panthers and the Oilers. So a lot of moments to choose from for sure in 2025. And there's a lot of ones there. How about we go to the baseball. What about Shohei Ohtani's impact last year, Mike? Yeah, I mean, I think Shohei has proven that he is the greatest, you know, baseball player on the planet. He could be one of the best athletes on the planet. And, you know, what he did in the World Series, I want to give Vlad Guerrero Jr. as well some credit because he obviously dominated the postseason. But what he did, Shohei did in that game three, and it's something that I don't think we'll see anybody do ever again. First off, he's already pitching and playing a position player, which you never see in baseball, right? You see sometimes pitchers that tend to be good hitters, but they're not everyday players. And the fact that he is pitching but also playing every day, he's just carrying the sport right now. He's probably the most recognizable person in Major League Baseball. You know, obviously Japan has such a big influence. They played the World Baseball Classic and won it a few years ago. So he is a globally recognized star. And what the Dodgers have done, repeating now as champions, is incredible to see. And they put on a really good show this past October at the Fall Classic. But it's incredible. Even for American baseball, you brought up Japan. To see the Japanese tourists and fans coming to America to watch Shohei was incredible. It is, and you know, it's funny that you say that because, you know, I'm laughing because the Blue Jays played Seattle and you get a large population there obviously because of how far away it is flight-wise from Japan. And obviously he's on the West Coast, so you already have a big Asian audience that's already living on the West Coast because of the ability to go to Japan and to Asia at least quicker than you would, let's say, from a New York. So it's incredible to see what he's done and what he's captivated the sport. And remember, he hasn't been a Dodger for too long. He was playing for the Angels, just not having the same type of playoff success. Now that he's come over to the Dodgers, they've spent a lot of money on their payroll. They've been in the playoffs, obviously, the last three years. They've won the World Series the last two times. So he has gotten a chance for the global audience to see him on a nationally televised platform like Fox and just be able to witness his greatness that we're all living in. I think he's really, actually, to be honest with you, Paul, I think he's one of the most underrated athletes. I don't think he's talked about enough because I don't think baseball, it falls in the top three and it gets dominated by football and basketball. He's a star. He's a star. He had an unfortunate year last year as well. In some ways, I believe his accountant, personal friend of his, it looks like, apparently, he's run off with some money of his, so poor Shohei. Hey, you brought up the golf, Mike, and Rory McIlroy had a big year. You mentioned first time he won the Masters, big moment for him. But also, he was a big part of Europe's victory against the United States over there in Long Island. It was quite the year. Yeah, the Ryder Cup, again, eludes Team USA. I'm a little disappointed in that. But the one thing that I think Team Europe showed from the Ryder Cup this year, Paul, is that they were in sync. And when you play in the Ryder Cup, it's a team game because you're playing matches as a team. In the golf, we call it ham and egg. You have to do something that compliments the other person that's on your team. If I am good on my approach game, then I need my partner to be a good putter. If I'm good off the tee and I'm long off the tee, then I need my partner to have a good short game. Those are the four areas of golf, and I think Team Europe showed that. But for Rory, again, he had already won the other majors, the one that eluded him the most, the one that would etch him in golf lore, which is put him with names like Nicholas and Tiger and things like that, was winning the Masters. It's the most symbolic green jacket in all of sports. It's a sporting event. I, even working in golf, have not attended yet. I'm a little jealous of the people that get to go to Augusta, and every year I try to go. Paul, I can't, but one day I'll leverage my connections to go. But the fact that Rory got to win it, the membership that comes with it, he'll host a dinner next year. So it's great to see Rory win that jacket, at least for me personally. I know he's had his personal struggles and he's gone through a separation with his wife, but it's good to see him win that and get that monkey off his back. Yeah, we've been watching him since he was so young, Mike, and to see him, I watched him give his speech after the Ryder Cup. I felt he's really matured. It was incredible to watch him. Mike, in the hockey, big record broken this year. Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record. What did you make of it? Yeah, you know, Ovi's been in the sport for so long. Obviously, the Capitals winning a Stanley Cup a few years back. And, you know, again, this is another guy we're talking about, Shohei, right? You know, a Japanese athlete coming into the U.S. market and dominating. Hockey, again, doesn't get as much notoriety as somebody I used to formerly work for, MSG Network. So we have all the hockey teams back in New York with the Rangers, Islanders, Devils, and Sabres. I got to see Ovechkin play a lot. And this is a great record. This is something that, I gotta be honest, I didn't think would be broken. But if it was, it would be by one of the guys that you know, whether it be a Sidney Crosby, whether it be Alexander Ovechkin. So it's great to see what Ovi has done. And again, a Russian player that, you know, obviously Russia, Canada, known for their hockey. Here's a guy that has made an illustrious career here in the United States. He's done, you know, a little bit of transcending that U.S. barrier of trying to get notoriety. He's done a, you know, famous SportsCenter commercial where he plays a Russian agent, you know, trying to steal papers. So like, he's done some things like that. And I think for Ovi, you know, after winning the Stanley Cup, everyone saw the photos of him partying and things like that. It's great to see him get this record. A lot of people were in attendance. You know, Wayne Gretzky was in attendance for that game. So, you know, the passing of the torch there. And it's great to see that Ovechkin, at least put hockey on the map temporarily, talking about his record. Mike, there's so much to talk about. I've only got three minutes left. We'll go for quick fire. Luka Doncic at the Lakers. What about that impact? I mean, speaking of transcending the sport, right? That trade happening is one of the craziest things that's ever happened. I mean, it's one of the craziest things that's ever happened in sports. No one knew Luka Doncic was available. Here he is with the Dallas Mavericks. He buys a home. He's been there for seven, eight years. And all of a sudden, his world is upended as he's traded to Los Angeles, one of the biggest markets in the country. And he's partnered with one of the greatest basketball players of all time in LeBron James. They haven't had the success yet. They were the three seed last year. They lost, obviously, in the first round of the playoffs to Minnesota. So we'll see what happens this year. But one of the biggest trades that sent the ripple effect all across sports this past 2025. It's incredible. Looking forward. World Cup. Soccer World Cup. Coming up in the United States next year. Are you looking forward to it? 2026. Mexico, Canada, United States, all hosting for the first time in a long time here on the North American continent. We get set back in June. My wife always knows when her birthday falls right around the first World Cup match, which is June 13th. So it drives her crazy. But it doesn't drive me crazy because we get all of these great matches and expanded tournament this year. So for the people that are coming into this country that are going to be attending all of the games and matches, don't get lost at the airports. Make sure you're there really early with your tickets. Make sure you bought actual tickets from the presenting sponsors. But it's going to be cool to see. I'll be at one of the matches down here when it comes to Miami. And obviously, the final will be up there in Jersey at MetLife Stadium. So it's going to be great to see the World Cup here on North America. Great. I'd love to get to one of those games here at the MetLife. The final is up here in the MetLife. I'm telling people I know. It's just down the road from us. Finally, Olympics coming up in the United States as well. What a year for American sports on the 250th anniversary. Yeah, it's all coming to a head, Paul. Like you just said, Olympics, World Cup, these are all global events. And I love to say this on my show, and I'll bring it here. It's a global sandbox. We all get to play together, but we all get to put our athletes on a stage and compete against each other. And that's where the competition truly should be. We should all be working together. We can get into the politics stuff in our day job, Paul. But it's a global sandbox, and we should be working together. And it's great to see that the Olympics will be unfolding here just in, I think, about six, seven weeks. Yeah, yeah. Sports is universal, Mike. Bring us all together, hopefully. Mike Lee, I'm the host of the Can We Please Talk podcast. Mike, Happy New Year. We appreciate you. Thank you so much. We'll talk soon. Thanks, Paul. Happy New Year, everyone. And that's all we have for today. If you have any feedback on the show, maybe you'd like to see us cover something in particular, send us an email at goodmorning.ntd.com, at ntd.com. It's the first day of the year. Give me a break. We'd love to hear from you. From around the clock, original news coverage, visit us live at ntd.com slash live, or download our NTD app. I'm Paul Graney. On behalf of the entire NTD Good Morning team, we thank you for starting your day with us, and Happy New Year, everyone. See you soon. Happy New Year.