Titan Times-January 2026

titan times titan times Notre Dame High School

Editor-in-Chief

Doug Cube

Staff Writers

Trinity Beckman

Sophie Bou Harb

Sydney Cramer

Marek Crane

Elizabeth de Loera

Brian Garcia

Bristol Gonzalez

Stella Kurzweil

Chau Lai

Priscilla Medina

Madison Mendoza

Jelani Mitchell

Claire Morrow

Logan Rudd

Jacob Solis

Savanah Tran

Luke Webster

Photographers

Adrian Gonzalez

Heidi Hutter

Cartoonists

Jaslene Elizondo Faculty

Moderators

Mrs. Arguelles

The Capture of Nicolas Maduro

By: Jacob Solis StaffWriter,Freshman

In the early morning of January 6th, 2026, the U.S. military successfully carried out Project Absolute Resolve—an operation targeted in Venezuela to capture Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This arrest successfully ended Maduro’s long tenure as Venezuela's “president.”

President Donald Trump announced the operation and confirmed that Maduro was taken from Venezuela and straight to the United States to await his trial. Inside Venezuela, President Trump has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to be interim leader, though her authority is contested. In the meantime, President Trump has temporary control over the countryanditsaffairs.

Mrs. Webster According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the capture was based on Maduro’s long-standing involvement in the continuation of wide-spread drug trafficking and narcoterrosim. The Trump Administration has framed the operation as an enforcement of democracy in an illicit regime.

“It was an operation against a heavily fortified military fortress in the heart of Caracas to bring outlaw dictator Nicolás Maduro to justice," President Trump said while addressing the nation of the capture. Maduro’s government had been widely criticizedforviolating

Venezuela’s suppressing and overseeing Venezuela’s drove millions exile long captured.

Unfortunately broke decades diplomatic fact Trump military forces inside Maduro’s estate without the United Nations (U.N.) approval.

Officials & Critics argue that thismoveraisesserious questions under international law and the U.N. Charter, which usually prohibits the use of military force without the Security Council’s approval.

International scholars note that forcibly removing the head of a country and trying them in another country is extremely unusualandcontroversial.

The response to the capture has been mixed between the world. Some nations in Latin America and elsewhere have condemned the actions of President Trump as a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and dangerous authority for international relations.Otherdiplomatsacross the world have congratulated President Trump and urged diplomaticresolution.

The political situation remains unstable as Venezuelans, regional governments, and global powers all grapple with the implications of U.S. actions. Aswell overthe fights overwho gets control of Venezuela at the endofthe day,orwillVenezuela remain their own country and give power to Vice President Rodríguez. The coming weeks will be important as Maduro's case proceeds in the U.S. District Courts and the Venezuelan government tries to fill the power vacuum left by his removal. The outcome will not only determine Venezuela's political trajectory but may also influence how the international world responds to authoritarian regimesinthefuture.

“the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come” -2 Corinthians 5:17 notredameriverside.org/titantimes

Meet ND’s New Athletic Director

By: Sophie Bou Harb StaffWriter,Junior

As we begin a new year at ND, we welcome Mr Reisbord, our newathleticdirector.Ihadthe opportunity to interview him andhere’swhathehadtoshare!

“What made you come to ND?”

“I was interested in working at a school that supports student athletes.”

“Whatdifferencesdoyouhope to bring to the athletic department?”

“I [would] like to do everything in my power to help student athletes find support both in the classroom and on the field…and supportcoachesaswell.”

“What advice would you give toanathlete?”

“Work as hard in the classroom asyoudointhefield.”

Winter Holy

By: Madison Mendoza StaffWriter,Junior

This year’s Holy War had it all, from teams all across the basketball court, field, mats, pool and even the courtroom the rivalry between Notre Dame and Aquinas continues to live on displaying comradery, sportsmanship and what it truly meanstobeaNotreDameTitan. Even as the teams competed fiercely against one another there was no doubt that a shared essence of faith united them. This sense of unity was further celebrated during Mass, where both Notre Dame and Aquinas students and athletes came hand and hand together in prayer, solidifying everyone’s sense of peace.

Starting with a splash, the girls waterpolo team showcased their skill and team coordination from the get-go. Later that morning soccer took to the fields. Despite the outcomes, both the girls and boys team demonstrated resilience,sportsmanship,and

ImagefromNDHSAthletics

“What sports did you used to do?”

“I used to play football, basketball and baseball when I wasinhighschool.”

“Favoriteathleteofalltime?”

“I dont think I have one, its really hard to pick a favorite… but some are Deion Sanders, Larry Bird, Nolan Ryan, and WalterPayton.”

“What do you think is the biggest upcoming sport at ND?”

“I see that the boys basketball team has promise, the baseball teamaswell.”

“What is your favorite sport, andsportsteam?”

“I love all sports but I dont want to compare them to each other, and the same goes with teams. I do like to watch the Olympics however Im looking forward to seeing speed skating, hockey, and most of all, downhill skiing, all in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.”

what it means to be an athlete through Christ, setting the tone for the rest of the Notre Dame Titanteams.

The wrestling team made their appearance in the gym, followed bythemainevent:thebasketball games.e JV boys basketball team did not fail to deliver and win, as they filled the stands with a collective sense of drive and enthusiasm. The varsity boys basketball team, regardless of tough competition, still managed to embody grit, reflecting their inner strength anddrivetogetthingsdone.The girlsbasketballteamalso

displaying their willingness to never give up despite the highs and lows of competition. Meanwhile, the mock trial team proved that excellence extends beyond the court, showcasing their preparation, collaboration, and sharp intellect in order to execute things professionally yet withgrace.

Altogether, whether it’s from sports or words, all of these efforts ignited the true school spirit of Notre Dame high school, reminding everyone that faith,unityandheartwillalways define what it means to be a Titan.

Recent Games

Boys Basketball

v Patriot 73-57

v Eisenhower 69-71

v. San Gorgonio 85-35

v. Aquinas 52-85

v. Bloomington 94-58

v. Carter 88-72

v Fontana 73-76

v Kaiser 61-59

v Summit 46-68

v. Eisenhower 80-71

v. Carter 77-92

Girls Basketball

v Eisenhower 22-44

v Aquinas 21-46

v. San Gorgonio 56-37

v. Colton 33-41

v. Arroyo Valley 28-43

v. Eisenhower 48-49

v Summit 18-68

v San Gorgonio 74-35

v San Gorgonio 57-25

Boys Soccer

v. Colton 4-2

v Aquinas 1-2

v Eisenhower 2-1

v Rim 2-2

v. San Gorgonio 0-7

v. Colton 3-3

Girls Soccer

v Aquinas 0-10

v Eisenhower 0-8

v Arroyo Valley 0-6

v. Jurupa Hills 0-9

v. Eisenhower 1-5

v. Arroyo Valley 0-6

Girls Water Polo

v Granite Hills 5-0

v. Granite Hills 18-7

v. Aquinas 9-12

v. Fontana 4-9

v Arroyo Valley 9-3

v San Gorgonio 12-11

v Summit 3-16

v. Fontana 3-21

The Patriot Games

By: Savanah Tran StaffWriter,Freshman

remind you of something? Well, on December 19, 2025, it was announced at the White House that it will host a first-of-its kind competition named, “The Patriot Games.” Young athletes from across the country must participate in competition as a celebration of the United State’s 250th anniversary in the fall of 2026. Many people have compared this to the popular dystopian franchise, “The Hunger Games,” where children have to fight to the death and haveittelevisedinarenas.When the president revealed the plans for the Patriot Games from Freedom 250, it was also stated that there is planned construction for a new monument arch in the Capitol. In short, many have mixed reactions such as some having framed the Patriot Games as a celebration of youth sports as a chance to strengthen national pride, and create an American tradition tied to the country’s 250th birthday, while others view parallels to the actual dystopianfictionfranchise.

This event is a four-day athletic event that includes elite high school students from across the country In the arena, two representatives, one young female and one young male, from every state and U.S. Territory will be featured in. It has been stated that the Patriot Games will be overseen by a leadership team that includes health and sports advocates, such as Robert F Kennedy Jr playingaroleastheSecretaryof Health and Human Services. According to the administration and announcement, it was emphasized that this format was toensurethatthereareseparate

divisions for male and female athletes, and will provide for athletes who might not otherwise compete against one anotherinacombinedsetting.

Referring to public reactions— many of them have been separated, reflecting on the current political climate. Some supporters have admired this as a national showcase for school sports, drawing comparisons to youth Olympic festivals and praising its potential to boost college recruiting opportunities. Some critics have quickly said the event is just like “The Hunger Games,” and have been drawing similarities between “one boy and one girl from every district” selection process and the overall dystopian fiction series.

Lookingaheadtowardthefallof 2026, many are wondering how these “Patriot Games” will be able to be played out in real life. Would this be successful enough to start a new tradition for American youth, or will people noticing the “Hunger Games” comparisons and how parallel they are overshadow athletic achievements?

With little knowledge of the Patriot Games, it’s hard to tell if a sporting event can pull off unity and bring people together, especially when the selection process already feels like a political fight between states. In all honesty, we would know and find out only when it happens if it’s successful and remembered as a celebration for American spirit, or just a controversial moment in the history of the country’s250thbirthday

Bad Bunny Lawsuit

By: Pris StaffWriter

Excited about seeing Bad Bunny's halftime performance? Well it looks like things are getting messy. Bad Bunny or should I say Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio has been struck with a $16 million lawsuit over the use of an allegedly unauthorized voice recording. This lawsuit was filed by a woman who claims that he used her voice on two of his songs without her consent. She alleges that her voice appeared in Bad Bunny’s 2018 song “Solo De Mi” and one of his most recent songs “EoO”. In “EoO” she says a catchphrase that Bad bunny has become widely associated with as he frequently plays it at concerts and has used the phrase on his merch.TainalyY Serrano Rivera, the woman that filed the lawsuit, says she records that line in 2018 at the request of Bad Bunny’s longtime producer Roberto J. Rosado. She says she never signed a contract, license orwrittenauthorizationallowing

it to be included in Bad Bunny’s songs. Rivera is asking to be paid $16 million for publicity rights and privacy violations. This case is still pending. Bad Bunny and Rimas Entertainment will appear in court in May, but until then he has got his hands full with his Super Bowl Halftime performance and his appearance at the 68th Grammy awards where he is nominated for6awards.

Golden Globes 2026

The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on January 11, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills and were hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser The night celebrated the best movies and TV shows of the year and included many big wins and memorable moments. The biggest film of the night was One BattleAfterAnother, which won four awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. In the drama category, Hamnet won Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Jessie Buckley won Best Actressforherroleinthefilm.

Someofthemainactingwinners included Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. On the television side, The Pitt won Best Drama Series, The Studio won Best Comedy Series, and Adolescence won Best Limited Series. Overall, the 2026 Golden Globes was a great award show The ceremony had about 8.66 million viewers, showing how popular the event was. With exciting wins and memorable moments, the 2026 Golden Globes was a great way to celebrate the best in film and television.

New Avatar Movie

By: Bristol Gonzalez StaffWriter,Sophomore

There have been many movie series’ that have done outstanding in the box office, especially the hit movie franchise Avatar Now, they finally came out with their third movie that has gotten many great reviews, Avatar: Fire and Ash, starring Sam Worthington as Jake Sully, a Na’vi leader and husband to Neytiri, played by ZoeSaldaña.Thereisalsoanew character introduced, Varang, leader of theAsh People, played by Oona Chaplin. Varang is showntobethemainantagonist, bringing a darker tribe, and fireassociated to the Na’vi. This movie really brings a deeper kind of understanding to the audience, showing the grief brought on by the death of Jake and Neytiri’s oldest son, Neteyman.

As previously stated, Avatar: Fire and Ash has done amazing in the box office, surpassing $1.2billiongloballyinthefirst

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month of coming out. It still continues to lead the box office, asofearlyJanuarythisyear

Many critics are stating that Avatar: Fire and Ash is one of the greatest movies ever made. As one critic has stated, “It’s grand spectacle continues to stoke one-of-a-kind thrills.” Yet many are still wondering what happens at the end of the movie, duetoAvatar:FireandAsh

Book Review

By: Trinity Beckman StaffWriter,Freshman

Doyoubelieveinvampires?Are you intrigued by their myths? Then this book is for you. The Curse He Chose is a very interesting vampire book that connects romance, action, and Catholic beliefs. In fact, this book was written by Sister Allison Regina Gliot. She is part of a group of nuns that use the media to spread the good news of Christ. She is also part Daughters of St. Paul which is an international congregation of religious sisters. This vampire book has awesome reviews and is very popular amongst teenagers.

While reading this book, I found that it can connect to teenagers in the best way The teenage characters in the book go through what we go through sometimes. When reading through the chapters you will findyourselftotallyimmersedin the book, nothing else will be on your mind. The book is very powerful,thereaderscantell

By: Luke Webster StaffWriter,Junior

That feeling of wishing you were a teen in the 90’s, jamming to hip-hop in your car, booming down the street. A feeling of nostalgia for something you’ve neverhad.

being left “open-ended”some may say, with many conflicts leftunanswered.

They continue to be in the processofmakingtheirfourth movie in the Avatar franchise, Avatar: The Tulkun Rider, coming out in 2029. The producers are hoping for it to be as successful as previous movies, with many fans being left on a ‘soft cliffhanger’ from Avatar:FireandAsh.

that Sister Allison wrote the book with the power of God. The book ends with teachings of prayers and gives us insight on howtopraywiththeBible. This book will make you think about your life differently It made a good impact on my faith and will make an impact on yours too. One lesson that is in this book is; you are never alone, you are never too far to be saved by God, and God is always with you. Sometimes the unexpected happens but when it does just remember God is at your side, He will never leave you. That is the main lesson that Igotfromthebook,butthereis

so much more to it that I can’t even put it into words. This book will connect to you in ways that you can not imagine, it has so many emotions in it. I would recommend this book to any teenager I highly recommend The Curse He Chose as the next book you read. Their website is Pauline Books & Media. Pauline Books & Media andAmazon are where youcanpurchasethebook.

Ms. Loyola Student Spotlight

Meet Wendy Uerdingen—one of Notre Dame’s German exchange students this year. She has brought vibrant life to ND through her unhinged humor, and lackadaisical approach to schoolwork. We had the opportunity to interview her, and gauge her opinion on a couple things before she heads back to Germany later this week. Here’s what she had to say:

“What prompted you to study abroad?”

“Cause it’s cool. It’s California baby!”

“What expectations did you haveforCalifornia?”

“Like Hollywood, Los Angeles, Sunshine, Fast Food, Guns, GoodWeather.”

“Favoritefastfoodplaces?”

“I like the vibe at In-n-Out, but I don’t like their menu. But I also really like Taco Bell, and Canesthough.”

“What are you going to miss mostaboutAmerica?”

“Thefreerefills.”

“In October you were elected Junior Homecoming Princess. Howdidthatfeel?”

“It felt weird, like that was way too American for me. It was such a big thing and I didn’t know how to handle it. Like walkinginadressinfrontofthe wholeschool.”

“You said in Mr. Norman’s class that you want to witness a crime. If you had the choice, which one would you want to witnessthemost?”

“Probably a bank robbery…if I knew I wasn’t going to die I’d wanttobeahostage.”

“Whatareyoudoingonceyou getbacktoGermany?”

“Drink alcohol, Eat a real pretzel.”

“Do you recommend this experiencetoanybodyelse?”

“Yes.Totally”

by

I’d like to thank Wendy for giving me the opportunity to interview her, and bid her well as she returns back to Germany. See more of Wendy’s interview on our Instagram: @nd.titan.times.

By: Stella Kurzweil StaffWriter,Freshman

For the month of January the Titan Times has decided to write about Ms. Loyola, who teaches both biology and anatomy. For this article, Ms. Loyola has been interviewed about both her life as a teacher and beyond. Here are some interesting details about her you maynothaveknownbefore:

“How long have you been teaching?”

“Threeandahalfyears.”

“What is your favorite thing aboutbeingateacher?”

“I would say getting to know everybody. You’re forced to step out of your comfort zone and know people…I think that’s reallyfun.”

“What made you choose teaching?”

“I always wanted to be a teacher. And I think its very very important that when you learn something, you don’t just keep it to yourself, and you pass it on to others, so that something can be done with what you learned. This is always something that I’ve wanted to do…and I really hope that what I’ve learned in my life,I’mabletopassiton.”

“What made you want to teachyoursubject(science)?”

“I just love science, and I’m a huge science nerd. I didn’t realize i was, until I realized [science]wasjustawayto

notredameriverside org/titantimes

answer questions, I wanted to give that to other people. So for so long, science was hard and scary, but when I learned that it was just research and a way to answerquestions…Ijustwanted to pass that realization on to other kids who probably felt the sameasme.”

“What made you like science?”

“In high school, I hated bio,I hated science—I hated it all. When I went to college, I took one class, it was an honors bio class, and I fell in love with it. The switch just went so quickly. Originally, I was studying political science, but immediately swapped over to biologysoquickly.”

“Do you enjoy doing the dissectionlabs?”

“No, I don’t enjoy them. I don’t like that we’re hurting animals. I do think it’s educational for thestudents,andthat’swhyIdo it. But, it’s just not fun all around for me—I have to clean itallup,smellitallday.It’sjust a really busy time, but I know the kids get a lot out of it so that’swhyIstilldoit.”

All in all Ms. Loyola is one of Notre Dame’s biology and anatomy teachers and she has a true love for both of these subjects, she is also the overseer of the book club and a valuable partoftheNDcommunity.

Bruno Mars’ Song

By: Logan Rudd StaffWriter,Sophomore

Bruno Mars’s new song “Just Might” has received mixed reactions from fans and critics since its release. While some listeners enjoy the smooth production and catchy rhythm, others have criticized the song for sounding too similar to his previous music. Many people online have said the track feels repetitive and does not show much growth compared to earlier hits in his career Critics argue that Mars is relying on a familiar style instead of experimenting with something new, which has disappointed fans who were expecting a fresh newsound

similarity to past work, some listeners have also commented on the lyrics, calling them simple or unmemorable. These critics feel that the song lacks the emotional depth and strong storytelling that Bruno Mars is known for However, supporters of the song say it was meant to be fun and easy to listen to rather than deep or serious. Overall, the response to “Just Might” shows how divided fans can be when a popular artist releases new music, especially whenexpectationsarehigh.

MTV Shutting Down

By: Chau Lai StaffWriter,Freshman

Music Television, known as MTV, is an American television network that has recently shut down all of their music-based channels. Specifically, the following channels have been shut down in around 10 countries: MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s Club MTV, and MTV Live. The channels have been permanently closed since December 31, 2025, with the last song played on MTV Music being “Video Killed the Radio Star”, which was the first song theyhadbroadcasted,alongwith other goodbye songs. Although it hasn’t been shut down in the U.S, it isn’t clear if they have thought about shutting them down as well. Many are disappointed with the change and sad to lose their childhood, however, many also state that it was bound to happen. Paramount, MTV’s parent company, has been under financial pressure, with needing toreducecostsbyupto$500

Netflix Merger

By: Priscilla Medina StaffWriter,Freshman

If you have not heard, your ‘Netflix and chill’ is about to include superheroes, dragons, and a whole lot of Warner Bros. Netflix is now in a bidding war to buy the Warner Bros. Studio and Streaming. The proposed deal values Warner Bros. Discovery at $27.75 per WBD share. This places the company's equity value at approximately $72 billion, with the total enterprise value of around $82.7 billion. Why does this matter? Well it reflects how streaming platforms are no longer distributing content, but merging entire entertainment studios under one company If Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, it could change what viewers expect from a single streaming platform, shifting toward one platform that has multiple major franchises. This major deal is currently pending, and includes HBO Max. Netflix however was not the only one in the running, Paramount offered tobuythewholeofWarner

million Now, over 44 years since they launched, MTV has begun to pivot from music to pop culture and entertainment shows. While this isn’t the first time Paramount has axed different channels, this is a big changeforeverybodyandshows a new era. A lot of people have mixed feelings around the situation overall, but many are saddened that a big part of their childhoodhasdisappeared.

Bros. Discovery including it's networks and cable properties for $30 a share in cash, such as CNN, which makes a $108 billion deal. Paramount has recently filed a lawsuit against WBD to disclose financial details of the Netflix deal. The lawsuit focuses on how WBD is following its proposed Discovery Global cable television, and network spinoffs. However, Warner Bros. Discovery has initially favored Netflix’s deal and has rejected Paramount's bid, therefore leading to the possibility of Netflix adjusting its offer to be all cash to compete better This is still ongoing and Paramount is actively campaigning to persuade WBD to accept its offer In the next 8-12 months don't be surprised if your Netflix page starts looking more like the Warner Bros universe, remember the bidding and streaming wars aren’t over just yetthey’rejustbeginning.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Editor’s Note

By: Doug Cube Editor-in-Chief,Junior HelloEverybody!

This is officially my first Issue release as Editor-in-Chief of the Titan Times, and I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity I have so much planned for this upcoming volume, and I hope that you guys enjoy reading it, and maybe attending some of our events. I would also just like to thank all of the readers of Titan Times for your patience. I know that this issue took some time to release due to busy schedules, but I am still very happy to have overseen the production of it. This time around, I have introducedacouplenewthings

like assembling a team of artists. If you somehow missed it, our beautiful front cover was digitally created and designed by our inaugural artist: Jaslene Elizondo. We will be featuring more student art in the upcoming issues, so stay tuned forthat.

Lastly, I just want to encourage everybody to follow us on social media, and reach out if you’d like to become involved with our staff, or if you’d just like to show us your support—it means a lot to the staff and myself whenthereadersinteract.

Best, Doug