National Headlines

National News 04/10/25

Bondi May Not Testify in Epstein Files Hearing

(WaPo) Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not testify before the House about the Epstein Files. That’s according to the Department of Justice. But House Republicans signaled she may not be off the hook just yet. According to The Washington Post, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted last month to subpoena Bondi, after several Republican members joined Democrats in airing frustration over the Justice Department’s handling of the congressionally mandated release of millions of pages of material from its Epstein files. The committee had scheduled Bondi’s appearance for April 14th; but Bondi was fired last week; some suspect to protect her from testifying; and the committee received a letter saying she would not show. One official said if Bondi defies the subpoena, contempt charges would be filed in Congress, “because the survivors deserve justice.”

National News 04/09/26

Ceasefire Collapses as Israel Attacks Lebanon

(Undated) Israel on Wednesday launched more than 100 airstrikes on Lebanon in ten minutes, killing at least 300 and wounding hundreds of others. In response to the Israeli strikes, Iran again shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, the ceasefire mediator, says Lebanon was absolutely included in Tuesday’s deal, but U.S. President Donald Trump is denying that, claiming a joint US-Iran venture to charge tolls on those shipping through the Strait; a claim about which no one else seems aware. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance remains in Hungary, pushing pro-Putin talking points on behalf of that country’s far-right dictator ahead of Hungary’s elections, an election the current regime seems poised to lose . And back at home, according to the Meidas Touch, the Department of Justice is working to block former Attorney General Pam Bondi’s deposition before the House Oversight Committee on the Epstein files.

American Journalist Freed

(AP) An American journalist kidnapped in Iraq on March 31st has been released. The Associated Press reports Shelly Kittleson was freed Tuesday; that’s according to an Iraqi official who had direct knowledge of the situation. Kittleson was released on condition that she “must leave the country immediately” upon her release. The 49-yo Kittleson, a freelance journalist, had lived abroad for years, using Rome as a base for a time and building a respected journalism career across the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq. As a freelancer, she often worked on a shoestring and without the protections afforded by large news organizations to their staff.

Trump’s Threats Spark Fears of Nuclear War

(US) Calls for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment, used to remove a sitting President who is no longer capable of leading, grew louder this week after Trump on Tuesday used his social media posts to threaten the “annihilation” of Iran. The President warned “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” sparking fears of nuclear weapons being used if Iran did not meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The UN Security Council said the statement was a clear threat of war crimes. Shortly before Tuesday’s deadline, Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, pausing that threat. That ceasefire broken Wednesday as Israel again attacked Lebanon and Iran then closed the Strait. Democrats and even some Republican lawmakers, including Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, expressed concern the rhetoric went too far, with public outcry calling the President “bloodthirsty”, “unhinged”, and incapable of leading the country.

National News 04/08/26

US Strikes Iran’s Main Oil Export Hub

(Iran) The United States military Tuesday morning launched air strikes against Iran’s Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. Sources say the U.S. struck more than 50 targets on the island. It’s the second time the U.S. has attacked the island since the US and Israel invaded Iran on February 28th. President Trump appeared to back off from an earlier threat to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges unless the country opened the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, although he said nothing was off the table. Intentional strikes on such civilian infrastructure would constitute a war crime and violate international law, according to a spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Moon Crater Dedicated to Astronaut’s Late Wife

(NASA) As the crew of Artemis II began sending never-before-seen pictures of the dark side of the moon, along with stunning pictures of the giant blue marble we call home, a heart-rending scenario was unfolding between the ship and NASA. The New York Times reports The Artemis II astronauts requested that an unnamed crater on the moon be dedicated to Carroll Wiseman, the wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman. Carroll passed away of cancer in 2020 at the age of 46, leaving behind Reid and two daughters. A pediatric nurse practitioner, Carroll refused to let Reid give up his dream of becoming an astronaut when she was diagnosed – in spite of his insistence on doing so. Carroll Crater straddles the boundary between the moon’s near and far sides and can at times be seen from earth as a bright spot on the moon.

National News 04/07/26

Iran Rejects Latest Ceasefire Proposal

(AP) Iran on Monday rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, saying it wants a permanent end to the war, even as Israel attacked a major gas field and following President Trump’s seemingly unhinged ultimatum for opening the Strait of Hormuz. Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Cairo, told the Associated Press he no longer trusts the Trump Administration after the US bombed the Islamic Republic twice during previous rounds of talks. Although a regional official who was involved said talks had not collapsed, Trump stepped up his threats against Iran, telling a press conference, “The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” referring to his Tuesday deadline.

Artemis II Surpasses Distance Record

(AP) Artemis II yesterday surpassed Apollo 13’s distance record, enjoying magnificent views of the moon’s far side, never before witnessed. The six-hour flyby is the highlight of NASA’s first return to the moon since the Apollo era. Less than an hour before kicking off the fly-around, the four-member crew surpassed the distance record of 248,655 miles set by Apollo 13 in 1970 … and kept going, hurtling farther out to a new distance record for humanity. Mission Control expects Artemis II to beat the old record by more than 4,100 miles. The plan is for the mission to return home, splashing down in the Pacific on April 10th.

Supreme Court Sides with Bannon in January 6th Conviction

(Washington, DC) The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared a path for Steve Bannon’s effort to dismiss his conviction for defying a congressional subpoena related to the January 6th, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, spent four months in prison in 2024 after a jury found him guilty on two misdemeanor counts of Contempt of Congress. The Washington Post reports the high court sent the case back to an appeals court for reconsideration in light of a motion to dismiss filed by the Justice Department in February.

National News 04/06/26

Downed Airman Rescued

(NYT) An Air Force Officer shot down in the war has been rescued. The New York Times reports the officer, whose fighter jet was shot down in Iran, spent a day deep in Iranian territory with just a pistol for protection before US Special Ops forces extracted him in a massive operation involving hundreds of special troops, including members of Navy SEAL Team 6. The White House said there were no US casualties in the rescue mission. The two crew members of the downed F-15E Strike Eagle had ejected from the cockpit on Friday, with the jet’s pilot quickly rescued; but its weapons systems officer wasn’t immediately located. A senior US military official described the mission to rescue the airman as one of the most challenging and complex, especially considering the terrain, the airman’s injuries, and Iranian forces rushing to the location.

Artemis II

(AP) The Artemis II astronauts are already champions of a fresh new era of lunar exploration. Now, the Associated Press writes, it’s time to set a new distance record. Launched last week, the journey is humanity’s first trip to the moon since 1972, with three Americans and a Canadian taking on the mission and chasing after Apollo 13’s maximum range from Earth. If successful, they’ll be our planet’s farthest emissaries as they swing around the moon without stopping today before hightailing it back home for a splashdown in the Pacific on Friday. Today’s roughly six hour lunar fly-by promises views of the moon’s far side, and a total solar eclipse as the moon blocks the sun and exposes a shimmering corona. Godspeed, crews, as you reach a critical point in your journey today – we’ll be watching excitedly.

National News 04/03/26

Pam Bondi Out as Attorney General

(Washington, DC) Pam Bondi is out as U.S. Attorney General. The President on Thursday wrote on his Truth Social platform Bondi would be “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector”, though he gave no specifics. Sources say Trump had been frustrated with Bondi in several areas, including her handling of the Epstein files and that she had not done enough to investigate or prosecute his political enemies. Bondi will be replaced, at least temporarily, by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Hegseth Asks Top Army Official to Step Down

(AP) In his Wednesday night address, President Trump said US forces will keep hitting Iran “very hard” in the next two or three weeks and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages”, even while touting the success of US operations there. Trump insisted all of Washington’s objectives have so far been met or exceeded, although it continues to be unclear what those were. Stocks dropped during the President’s speech, indicating a lack of confidence, and oil prices remained elevated at over $108 per barrel. On Thursday, 40 countries, led by France, began talks on how to open the Strait of Hormuz. The US was not invited. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in the middle of a war, has fired the Army’s top uniformed officer, General Randy George. CBS was first to report the ouster, the latest of more than a dozen firings of top generals and admirals by Hegseth since he took office last year.

National News 04/02/26

Judge Blocks Trump’s Order on Pulling PBS Funding

(Undated) A federal judge this week ruled that President Trump’s executive order barring the federal funding of NPR and PBS violated the First Amendment. The judge ruled the order, signed last May, was unlawful because it instructed federal agencies to refrain from funding NPR and PBS because the president believed their news coverage had a liberal viewpoint. According to The New York Times, the ruling will have minimal effect on the federal funding of public media, because Congress voted to claw back roughly $500M in annual funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes federal money to the nonprofits. But the ruling could have implications for future money Congress decides to allocate to public media.

Trump Attends Birthright Citizenship Hearing

(Washington, DC) The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments on the constitutionality of President Trump’s effort to ban birthright citizenship. The Washington Post reports the justices questioned the attorneys about the definition of “domicile” – meaning a person’s fixed and permanent home, which serves as their legal, tax, and voting home, as central to the government’s argument that only children of immigrants who are domiciled in the United States should receive birthright citizenship. In a show of the President’s concern, Trump attended the hearing, the first time a sitting President is known to have done so. The Supreme Court appeared poised to uphold the legal principle, in place since the 14th Amendment in 1866-68, that almost everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen, with arguments concluding after the Solicitor General made his rebuttal.

American Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq

(Baghdad) Even as Trump prepared to address the nation on the Iran war, an American journalist this week was kidnapped in Baghdad. Shelly Kittleson has reported extensively from the Middle East as a freelance contributor to Politico, the BBC and others. Based in Rome, she travels frequently to the Middle East. Kittleson was on assignment for Al-Monitor when she was kidnapped. Security forces have reportedly arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle used in the crime and were tracking alleged accomplices in hopes of recovering Kittleson safely.

National News 04/01/26

Trump Shares Images of Presidential Library

(Miami) President Trump this week shared the first images of his planned presidential library in downtown Miami. A short video posted Monday night depicts a skyscraper that appears to be some 50 stories tall and filled with reconstructions of parts of the White House, military vehicles and at least two gold statues of Trump. According to The Washington Post, the video on Trump’s Truth Social platform shows a gleaming glass and gold structure that would dwarf nearby buildings, topped by a red-white-and-blue spire. The facility would be in contrast to the privately funded Obama Presidential Center which is set to open in Chicago in June and which is designed to inspire community action with a library, archives, and a community forum focused on educating and empowering visitors.

Iran Strikes Oil Tanker as Gas Prices Reach $4 a Gallon in U.S.

(Dubai) Authorities in Dubai yesterday morning said they “contained” a Kuwaiti oil tanker after it came under attack from Iran. Officials told the Associated Press there was no oil leakage and no injuries after an Iranian drone hit the tanker in Dubai waters. U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, as fuel prices continue to soar worldwide. President Trump on Tuesday continued to express frustration with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the U.S. war effort, which they say has no clear endgame and about which they weren’t consulted. Trump’s rants come after months of bashing once close allies and inflicting tariffs and other economic hardships on them.

National News 03/31/26

Trump Threatens Iran’s Infrastructure

(Washington, DC) President Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war with Tehran is not reached “shortly”. According to the Associated Press, the latest threat also mentions Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, which Trump suggested U.S. troops could seize in an interview with the Financial Times published early yesterday.

Death Toll Rises in Iran

(Iran) The death toll from the war with Iran has risen to more than 1900 people in Iran, and over 1200 in Lebanon, including three UN peacekeepers. The Associated Press reports Israel said over the weekend it targeted and killed three Lebanese journalists in an airstrike. Israel invaded southern Lebanon to push out Iran-backed Hezbollah militants who have fired rockets and drones across the border in a campaign Israeli officials suggest could become a prolonged occupation. On the ground, the conflict is showing no sign of letting up, with the US. and Israel launching a new wave of strikes on Iran yesterday. Also on Monday, Tehran struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE intercepted attacks by Iranian missiles. Sources say Iran’s pressure on its Gulf neighbors could heighten uncertainty about any ceasefire talks.

National News 03/30/26

Congress Goes on Two Week Recess

(Washington, DC) TSA workers should once again be receiving paychecks today, but other federal workers will continue to go without as Congress goes on a two-week recess and the partial government shutdown continues. House Republicans on Friday moved to extend the six-week shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, snubbing a bipartisan Senate bill that would have funded the vast majority of DHS agencies through September and moving ahead with a plan of their own that stands little chance of becoming law. According to Politico, the agency shutdown is now the longest funding lapse in US history.

Iran Warns Against US Sending Ground Troops

(AP) A top Iranian official Sunday warned the United States against a ground invasion, saying its troops would be “set on fire” as regional diplomats met in Pakistan in hopes of opening direct talks and ending the month-long war. The Associated Press reports Iran’s parliament speaker said forces were awaiting the arrival of US troops to set them on fire and dismissed the talks as a cover, after some 2500 US Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in the Middle East. Iraqi residents say they are living in fear their homes might be targeted and described relentless airstrikes as Iranians continue crossing into Iraq and urge the U.S. to end the war.

National News 03/27/26

Trump Continues to Insist Ceasefire in Works

(AP) President Trump again issued a warning to Tehran on social media, this time telling Iranian leaders to “get serious soon” on negotiating a deal to end the war. Yesterday’s post comes a day after Trump said a deal to end the war was near, although Tehran adamantly dismissed his 15 point ceasefire plan and accused Trump of lying in order to manipulate the market. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports the United States was preparing for the arrival of thousands of troops that could be used on the ground in Iran, though Trump has repeatedly denied the possibility of using ground troops.

Pressure Mounts to fund DHS

(Washington) Congress is under pressure to fund the Department of Homeland Security ahead of Monday’s spring recess. The Associated Press reports the Transportation Safety Administration may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on. The shutdown has taken a toll on TSA workers, with almost 500 quitting altogether, according to DHS. ICE officers Thursday continued patrolling major airports, including LaGuardia, which continues to register the most flight delays and cancellations among US airports – more than 300 in 24 hours as of Thursday, according to the tracking website Flight Aware. U.S. Coast Guard members are also among those going without paychecks.

National News 03/26/26

Minnesota Sues Trump Administration

(AP) Minnesota officials this week filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, demanding access to evidence they say they need in order to independently investigate three shootings by federal officers that included the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. According to the Associated Press, the Justice Department in January said it was opening a federal civil rights investigation into Pretti’s killing, but claimed a similar federal probe wasn’t warranted in the case of Good. The lawsuit claims the federal government reneged on its promise to cooperate with state investigators. Attorneys for Minnesota say a lack of confidence in the federal government’s review of the incidents makes the state’s independent investigations into the shootings especially important.

.National News 03/25/26

Delta Suspends Flight Perks for Members of Congress Amid TSA Concerns

(Undated) Get in line like everyone else … Delta Air Lines says it is suspending perks for members of Congress as TSA employees continue working without pay and as airport security lines grow at airports nationwide amid the partial government shutdown. The decision follows unanimous approval of a proposal to end the preferential treatment lawmakers receive at airports, including allowing them to skip the line at security checkpoints. .

WalMart Heiress Calls for ICE to Release Detainees

(Forbes) WalMart heiress Christy Walton appears to be behind a full page ad published in Sunday’s New York Times calling for the release of detainees without criminal records being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Forbes reports the ad reprints the text of the Fourth Amendment, which protects Americans against unlawful searches and seizures and requires probable cause for warrants. The ad also references a Cato Institute study finding 73% of people held in ICE custody since last October had no criminal conviction. Walton, a vocal opponent of the Trump Administration, last year placed a full page ad promoting the No Kings protests, noting her views were solely her own.

SAVE America Act/Government Shut Down

(NBC) Sources familiar with negotiations between the White House and Congress yesterday told NBC News Senate Republicans believe they’ve found a path to reopening the Department of Homeland Security, helping to put an end to the partial government shutdown. The path involves funding all of DHS with the exception of Immigration Enforcement and deportation operations under ICE. Once DHS is functioning again, Republicans would use a filibuster-proof process to fund the rest of ICE and pass limited portions of the so-called SAVE Act, an election bill that would disenfranchise thousands of voters but that is a top priority of the President. Opponents say the SAVE Act would fix a problem that doesn’t exist, largely because non-citizen voting is already illegal. The conservative think tank “The Heritage Foundation”, found only 65 convictions of non-citizens voting in federal elections voting in federal elections since 2000, out of one point four BILLION votes cast.

Citizens of Twin Cities Receive JFK Profiles in Courage

(Mnpl-St. Paul) The people of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul are 2026 recipients of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. The people are recognized for peacefully resisting federal immigration enforcement, creating rapid-response networks and protesting to protect neighbors and immigrant communities during a major federal enforcement surge. It’s widely held that the Trump Administration hoped to provoke riots, allowing them to declare martial law. Thanks to the courage and steadfastness of citizens of the Twin Cities, that didn’t happen. The award honors acts of political and moral courage. It’s the first time a community, rather than a specific individual, was recognized for a collective act of resistance.

National News 03/24/26

Trump Claims Iran Wants to Make a Deal

(Dubai) President Trump on Monday said the U.S. was talking with a “respected” Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. According to the Associated Press,, Trump refused to name the Iranian leader who was supposedly talking with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Trump also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk attacks on its power plants, saying the country had five additional days. The President’s turnaround and the possibility of bringing an end to the war, now in week four, drove down oil prices and gave stocks a jot. Iran denied any talks have been held, with the Iranian parliament speaker posting on X, “…fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.”

Pilots Killed in LaGuardia Crash

(AP) Two pilots were killed late Sunday when an Air Canada jet carrying more than 70 passengers collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The Associated Press reports the impact severed the cockpit and hurled a flight attendant, still secured to her seat, away from the crash. She survived. The fire truck was crossing the tarmac just before midnight after being given permission to check on another plane. Before the collision, sources say an air traffic controller can be heard frantically telling the fire truck to stop. The controller later appeared to blame himself, saying “We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.”

National News 03/23/26

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller Dies

(Washington, DC) Robert Mueller has died. The 81 yo former head of the FBI brought politically explosive indictments as a special counsel examining Russia’s attack on the 2016 presidential election, then concluded he could neither absolve nor accuse Trump of a crime. Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2021. The NY Times reports Trump remained unforgiving of Mueller’s investigation, posting Saturday on Truth Social, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.” Mueller was a liberal Republican who became FBI Director just a week before the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Strait of Hormuz Standoff

(Iran) President Trump yesterday warned that the U.S. would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless it fully opened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Tehran responded with a threat of its own, saying it would answer any such strike with attacks on US and Israeli energy and infrastructure in the region. Global pressure is mounting to open the Strait through which 20% of the world’s oil supply is transported. In other major developments, the Associated Press reports Iran targeted the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, suggesting Tehran’s missile capability has a farther reach than previously thought. The death toll from the war is now at more than 1500 dead in Iran and more than a thousand in Lebanon. Thirteen US military members have died, as well as a number of civilians, while millions have been displaced in Iran and Lebanon. The State Department on Sunday warned of airspace closures that could disrupt travel and that the war is continuing to cause safety concerns for Americans across the globe.

ICE Agents Assigned to Airports to Aid TSA Workers

(The Hill) In national news, begin looking for ICE agents at airports starting today. Border czar Tom Homan on Sunday said officers won’t be directly involved in security measures, but that there are certain parts of security TSA is doing that they can be moved from and put in the more specialized jobs, such as looking at X-ray machines. TSA agents are working without pay as the partial government shutdown drags on, leading to many staying home, and resulting in long lines and backups at airports across the country.

National News 03/20/26

Pentagon Seeks Additional $200B for Iran War

(AP) The Pentagon is seeking an additional $200B for the Iran War. The Associated Press reports the amount is sure to raise eyebrows in Congress, which must approve such an appropriation. The extraordinarily high number comes on top of extra funding for the Defense Department approved last year in President Trump’s so-called “Big Tax Cuts” bill. Lawmakers have not authorized the war, and Congress is showing growing unease with the military operation’s lack of direction and as the nation’s debt has now surged past a record $39 Trillion dollars.

Democratic Lawmakers Storm Out of Epstein Briefing

(AP) Democratic lawmakers this week stormed out of a closed-door briefing on the Epstein files by Justice Department leaders, saying they will push to force Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions under oath about the case that continues to plague the Trump Administration, in spite of the distraction of the Iran War. Bondi defended her handling of the Epstein files, saying Justice Department officials are proud of their work. That’s in spite of the fact that no high officials whose names appear in the files up to a million times have even been investigated.

National News 03/19/26

United States Only Nation to Not Reaffirm Women’s Rights

(Undated) For the first time in 70 years, the United Nations broke from consensus for the global reaffirmation of women’s rights. Thirty-seven nations voted in favor, one voted against. Not some theocracy guided by Shari’a law. No, the one dissenting country was the United States of America, which broke from the UN because of language that included diversity, equity, and inclusion, spoke of the effects of climate change on women, and recognized the reproductive health rights of women and girls. The move by the US under the Trump administration underscores the rollback of reproductive rights, defunding of international programs that address gender equity and violence, and domestic policy shifts that seek to erase DEI initiatives here in the United States and further isolates the country from human rights, especially for women and girls.

February Price Spikes

(AP) U.S. wholesale prices came in hotter than expected in February, driven partly by a sharp increase in food costs. The Labor Department on Wednesday reported the inflation index rose point seven percent from January and three-point-four percent from February 2025. According to the Associated Press, the year over year increase was the most in the past twelve months. The cost hikes were bigger than economists had forecast and occurred before the U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran pushed energy prices sharply higher.

Cuba Restores Power After Blackout

(Cuba) The country of Cuba was without power for nearly 30 hours this week due to a nationwide blackout blamed partly on a United States move to choke off the island’s fuel supply. Reuters reports as of Wednesday, the country had reconnected its power grid and brought back online its largest oil-fired power plant. Officials said power shortages could continue because not enough electricity is being generated. President Trump cut off oil sales to Cuba and threatened to take over the Communist-run island saying this week he could do anything he wanted with the country. Grid failures are not uncommon in Cuba, and the country has yet to confirm what caused Monday’s islandwide grid failure.

National News 03/18/27

President Fumes at Lack of Support from Allies

(Washington, DC) President Trump on Tuesday fumed in a post, “We do not need the help of anyone” to break Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz. The tantrum comes after allies, most of whom Trump has repeatedly bashed, name-called, and hit with tariffs, turned a deaf ear to his call for support in securing the strait through which 20% of the world’s oil flows. Analysts say it’s extremely dangerous for vessels to pass through the Strait as the US-Israeli war continues against Iran. Many insurance companies have pulled their support of vessels carrying oil through the Strait, even though Iran has promised safe passage to all but America’s allies.

National Counterterrorism Chief Resigns

(AP) The Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, announced on Tuesday he is resigning. Kent said he, “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump Administration’s war in Iran. The Associated Press reports on social media, Kent added that Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. A special forces combat veteran with ties to right-wing extremists, Kent was considered as much of a loyalist as Trump could have in the government’s top counterterrorism post.

National News 03/17/26

Iran Still Has Cards to Play in Middle East

(Washington) While the United States and Israel crippled Iranian forces in two weeks of war, the Washington Post reports Tehran still holds a formidable card or two – the ability to disrupt oil flows and a uranium stockpile. A hardened regime remains in power, much to Trump’s dismay, and that regime is roiling global oil markets by choking off the vital shipping lane that allows oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf. Such factors pose a major challenge to Trump’s ability to end the war as he faces increasing pressure from his own party and little support from one-time allies.

World Leaders Call for De-Escalation in MidEast War

(ABC) Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom yesterday issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes. The nations condemned attacks on civilians and called for immediate de-escalation, as well as “meaningful engagement … to negotiate a sustainable political solution.” According to ABC News, more than 200 US troops have now been wounded since the conflict began on February 28th, including ten seriously.

FCC Chief Threatens Broadcasters

(WaPo) In yet another affront to free speech and factual news reporting, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr this week issued a warning to broadcasters, criticizing their coverage of the Iran war and warning them to “correct course” or lose their licenses. Carr is a Trump appointee who tends to toe the line when the President speaks. Trump on Sunday used his social media platform to accuse media organizations of being “corrupt and highly unpatriotic”, saying they get billions of dollars of free American airwaves that they use to perpetuate lies.

TSA Agents Quit Amid Partial Shutdown

(CNN) As the partial government shutdown drags on, some 300 TSA agents on Sunday quit their jobs, the number of TSA “callouts” doubling from before the shutdown. CNN reports agents have already missed a partial and a full payment. The move exacerbates already serious disruptions at airports across the country. Sources say a major sticking point is funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Safety Administration, with some members of Congress pushing back against strongarm and illegal tactics used in President Trump’s immigration crackdown.

National News 03/16/26

Trump’s Calls for Help Go Unheeded

(Washington, DC) President Donald Trump’s appeals to China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others to send warships to keep open the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in little response, as oil prices continue to surge during the war with Iran. Iran has said the Strait is open to all except the U.S. and its allies. One fifth of the world’s oil flows through the narrow waterway, which is controlled by Iran. Meanwhile, as gas prices soar and a partial government shutdown drags on, the global aviation system faces a perfect storm of disruptions, with domestic travelers arriving at hubs to massive slow downs and long lines due to the TSA crisis. Wait times of up to three hours were reported at airports in New Orleans and other locations.

National News 03/12/26

Iran’s Ship Attacks Worsen Economic Concerns

(AP) Iran Wednesday attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region, as global energy concerns mount and countries began tapping oil reserves. In a 13-nothing vote, the UN Security Council demanded Iran halt “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbors. Meanwhile, oil prices on Wednesday surged, as the market reacted to a significant supply shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US/Israeli war with Iran.

Pentagon Blocks Photographers from Hegseth’s Briefings on Iran War

(AP) In a move it has failed to explain,the Pentagon has not permitted photographers to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s last two briefings on the war in Iran. The Defense Department under Hegseth has had a contentious relationship with the news media assigned to cover him, with most mainstream news organizations last year leaving their desks at the Pentagon rather than accept new Trump administration rules that stifled their rights as a free press that is required by the Constitution.

Death Valley Experiences Superbloom

(DV National Park) Looking for a place to get away to a breath of spring? How about Death Valley National Park in California? While the name seems to contradict what’s happening there, the park has come alive with a rare, once in a decade “superbloom”, where millions of wildflowers burst into full color all at once. Park rangers say millions of seeds may lie buried in the park’s soils for years, gearing up for a massive outburst. When weather conditions are just right, as they have been this year, they all begin to sprout at the same time, spreading across the dull brown desert in waves of brilliant color. Low elevation displays are beginning to happen this month and are expected to dress up mid elevations beginning in mid-April and higher elevations early May to mid-July.

National News 03/11/26

Trump Draws Ire for Wearing Baseball Cap at Dignified Transfer

(Dover, DE) President Trump continues to face blowback for wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with gold USA letters during a dignified transfer ceremony for soldiers killed in the war with Iran. Critics included some members of the GOP, who derided his opting not to remove the cap as the remains of the first six service members killed in the war were carried off an Air Force plane. Americans also criticized Fox News for airing footage that inaccurately showed Trump hatless.

Punch the Monkey Not Alone in Bonding with Stuffed Toy

(Japan) You’ve no doubt seen footage of little Punch the monkey who was rejected by his mom at a zoo in Japan. For days, Punch was recorded dragging around and clinging to a stuffed orangutan as he struggled to make friends. He’s since bonded with another adult female and is learning to make friends his own age, as well. The Washington Post reports tiny Punch isn’t alone in finding comfort in a stuffed substitute. Lizzy, a chimpanzee at a sanctuary in Georgia, bonded with a small Grinch doll. The first fellow Henry the Penguin met after hatching was a stuffed likeness named Tom, and Kaikai, a 9-month old African elephant, found comfort in an inflated tire that she flips over and over and uses as a pillow when she sleeps. We’re guessing there are a few humans out there who still have favorite toys and blankets, as well.

Iran War Update

(Washington, DC) The Pentagon now says about 140 U.S. troops have been wounded in the Iran war as of Tuesday, eight severely. Yesterday, Iran launched new attacks on Israel and Gulf countries, keeping up pressure on the Middle East. The Associated Press reports the war has killed more than 1200 people in Iran, close to 400 in Lebanon, and eleven in Israel. The United Arab Emirates Defense Ministry reported two more deaths there after nine drones hit the country. Drone attacks were also reported in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. President Trump on Monday sent contradictory messages, telling Republican lawmakers the war was likely to be a “short excursion”, but threatening in a social media post just hours later that the U.S. would dramatically increase attacks if Iran tried to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major avenue for the transport of oil that has virtually been cut off since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th.

National News 03/10/26

Iran Names New Leader

(Iran) Iran has named Mojtaba (MOCH-tah-BAH) Khamenei its new Supreme Leader, following the death of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after a US strike on the country. Fox News reports President Trump is “not happy” with Iran’s selection. The war with Iran has sent global oil prices skyrocketing past $100 a barrel as the regime has cut off shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, American citizens across the Middle East continue to face roadblocks in leaving the region. The U.S. State Department says it has established a Crisis Intake Form for US citizens in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

Trump Administration Asks for European Support

(WaPo) After spending the past year dismissing Europeans as pathetic and irrelevant, the Washington Post reports the Trump Administration is now asking Europe to get behind him as he wages war alongside Israel in order to force regime change in the Middle East. European leaders initially distanced themselves from the attack on Iran, but are now, of necessity, ramping up their response, as the crisis spreads across the world. The Administration wants access to strategic European air bases and is rebuking countries who refuse unflinching support. The continent’s leaders say they are wary of speaking against a leader whose sensitivity to any criticism often leads to petty backlash, but that they are legitimately concerned about a conflict that could bring untold ramifications to their doorstep in a war that has little, if any upside for Europe.

G-7 Leaders Decide to Hold Off on Tapping Oil Reserves

(WaPo) The conflict in Iran continues to push oil prices toward $4 a gallon, shaking global stock markets in the process. On Monday, the Washington Post reports G7 leaders opted to hold off on tapping emergency oil reserves, but signaled they may soon release that crude into the marketplace. The move appeared to help calm stock markets, which by Monday afternoon had recovered some of their early losses. World leaders are growing increasingly concerned that oil prices will continue to climb, triggering broader inflation at a time many U.S. consumers are already concerned about affordability.

National News 03/09/26

Plaque Honoring Police Officers Finally Hung at Capitol

(ABC News) Visitors to the Capitol will now have a visible reminder of the violent attack on the building that occurred on January 6th, 2021. ABC News reports just steps from the Capitol’s West Front, where the worst of the fighting occurred, workers have quietly installed a plaque honoring the officers who defended the capitol that day, three years after it was required by law to be erected. The Senate voted unanimously in January to install it after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had delayed putting it up.

Iran Vows to Not Bow to Pressure from U.S. and Israel

(AP) Israel has struck southern Lebanon, Beirut and an oil storage facility in Tehran, as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate. Iran hit a desalination plant in Bahrain after a US airstrike damaged an Iranian desalination plant, saying, “the U.S. set this precedent, not Iran.” The Associated Press reports such infrastructure is critical for drinking water supplies in the parched deserts of the Gulf. Back in the United States, prices at the pump rose 14% in a week, up from less than $3 a gallon to an average $3.41 per gallon last week, as supplies of crude oil coming from the Persian Gulf are suddenly nil, cutting the world off from about one-fifth of its oil supply. Meanwhile, Russia has responded with words of indignation, but no visible action to support its Middle Eastern ally. Experts warn the Iran War will play into Moscow’s hands by boosting its oil revenues and eroding Western support for Ukraine.

U.S. Sub Sinks Iranian Warship Off Sri Lanka

(Sri Lanka) The United States further expanded the Iranian War when a US submarine last week torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Reuters reports the attack killed at least 87 sailors in international waters historically considered safe. Sources say the ship was heading back to Iran from a port in eastern India. The Iranian vessel had taken part in a naval exercise organized by India in the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate survivors. The U.S. was not involved in the recovery efforts.

Seventh Service Member Dies/Iran Selects New Supreme Leader

(Iran) A seventh U.S. service member has died in the war with Iran. The Washington Post reports the service member, who was not identified, was seriously wounded during the first weekend of US-Israeli strikes across the region. Nine other service members have been seriously wounded across the region. In Iran, officials say they have chosen the next supreme leader to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed February 28th in the US-Israeli strikes. A senior Iranian official made the announcement Sunday but did not name the new leader.

National News 03/06/26

Trump Administration Replaces Noem as DHS

(Washington, DC) The Trump Administration yesterday announced it was replacing embattled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In her place, Trump nominated Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mulling. Noem faced a grilling this week on Capitol Hill, challenged with tough questions from Democrats as well as members of the GOP. According to the Associated Press, Trump said he will make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas”, a new security initiative he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.

States Sue Over New Global Tariffs Imposed by Trump

(AP) More than 20 states challenged President Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. The Associated Press reports the Democratic Attorneys General and Governors in the lawsuit argue Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world. The suit comes a day after a judge ruled that companies who paid tariffs under Trump’s old framework should get refunds. The White House claims the President is acting within his power.

Trump Says He Wants to Be Involved in Determining Iran’s New Government

(UAE) After initially proclaiming the people of Iran should be solely responsible for choosing their new government, President Trump on Thursday said he should be involved in choosing Iran’s next Supreme Leader. The Associated Press reports the comments came as the US and Israel hammered the country for a sixth straight day, with Iran keeping up its retaliation on bases and countries around the region. The war has escalated each day, affecting an additional fourteen countries across the Middle East and beyond.

National News 03/05/26

FBI Director Guts Intelligence Before Iran Attack

(Washington, DC) Just days before the US launched its military operation in Iran, FBI Director Kash Patel gutted the counterintelligence unit tasked with monitoring threats from Iran. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, they were ousted for one simple reason – their involvement in the investigation of Trump’s alleged retention of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. As a result, intelligence experts say Patel hamstrung the DC-based counterintelligence unit that handles cases ranging from mishandling of classified documents to tracking foreign spies on US soil, adding to concern inside the Justice Department that counterterrorism investigations in the way of military operation in Iran could be hampered by a mass exodus of national security experts.

Americans Struggle to Leave Middle East

(Middle East) US citizens traveling and working in the Middle East say it’s been mayhem trying to get back home in light of the Trump Administration’s stirring of tensions there. While the Administration Monday urged US citizens to leave more than a dozen countries, it initially provided no support or avenue for them to do so. Many say they found American embassies at a loss, with embassies in Beirut, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jerusalem closing, at least temporarily. Only after citizens expressed incredulity at the Administration’s laissez faire, did it take action. On Tuesday, the State Department said it was facilitating charter flights from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. The BBC reports some 9K Americans have successfully managed to return to the US from the region, some paying exorbitant fees to be transported across borders to safety and flights out.

Spain Denies US Permission to Use Its Military Bases

(Guardian) Spain has denied US permission to use jointly operated bases in its attacks against Iran, with Madrid stepping up its criticism of the “unjustified and dangerous military intervention.” The Guardian reports Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, explicitly condemned the US and Israel’s “unilateral military action” against Iran, warning it is contributing to “a more hostile and uncertain international order,” making the world less stable. Spain also condemned the retaliatory attacks by Iran on Gulf states. Britain also initially refused to allow use of its bases, but on Sunday relented, amid Iran’s counterattacks. Trump threatened to cut off trade with Spain as a form of punishment, telling Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings with Spain,” adding, “We could use their bases if we wanted to – nobody is going to tell us not to use it, but we don’t have to.”

National News 03/04/26

Hiring Surge Forces Cuts to ICE Agents Training

(WaPo) Concerns about the quality of training for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents have mounted for months. Records obtained by The Washington Post show the program dramatically cut its basic training program amid a hiring spree meant to speed up the Trump Administration’s deportation efforts. While a former ICE instructor testifying during a congressional hearing last week denied any reduction in the amount or quality of training provided ICE recruits, the previously undisclosed records corroborate a whistleblower’s accounts that ICE last year removed about 240 hours from its basic training program, or more than 40% of instructional time.

Confidential Database Reveals Trump’s Efforts to Rewrite History at National Parks and Monuments

(WaPo) A confidential database accessed by The Washington Post reveals items targeted for review in order to whitewash American history in the country’s National Parks. Among displays flagged, an entire exhibit on the brutal murder of Black teen Emmit Till in Mississippi. At Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia, a document describing an abolitionist’s murder by a mob is being scrutinized to determine whether it might “denigrate the murderers”. The signs and materials are among several hundred flagged at hundreds of National Park locations since last summer, in response to the Trump Administration’s orders to scrub sites of “partisan ideology”, descriptions that “disparage” Americans, or materials that stray from a focus on the nation’s “beauty, abundance, or grandeur.” Closer to home, signs located on Cadillac Mountain and near the Great Meadow wetland, detailing the impacts of climate change on Acadia National Park were removed in late 2025, prompting criticism from conservation and other groups.

War Powers Resolution

(Washington, DC) A group of Democrats on Tuesday, including Maine Congressman Jared Golden, introduced a new War Powers Resolution to uphold Congress’s constitutional authority while ensuring the US can continue to defend service members, embassies, and allies from Iranian aggression. The new resolution instructs the President to end US military action in Iran within thirty days unless Congress authorizes further use of military force. The Portland Press Herald reports Maine Independent Senator Angus King has indicated he would likely support the original resolution, which required immediate withdrawal of US forces, while Republican Senator Susan Collins has not yet commented on her position. The Trump Administration and Israel continue to pound Iran, as Iranian forces retaliate with strikes on several countries in the Middle East, and American officials warn U.S. citizens to be prepared for retaliation both at home and abroad. Trump attacked Iran without Congressional approval as required by the US Constitution, prompting the upcoming vote on the War Powers Resolution.

National News 03/03/26

Officials Reportedly Leave Immigrant to Die

(Buffalo) Tensions continue to rise over the treatment of immigrants by Border Patrol and ICE agents. The Washington Post reports last month, a 56 year old refugee was found dead near an arena in downtown Buffalo, New York, after federal agents dropped him off after picking him up from the county jail, where charges against him were resolved by a misdemeanor plea. Relatives spent days searching for 56 yo Nurul Amin Shah Alam, who spoke little English and who was partially blind and in poor health. US CBP agents dropped the man outside a coffee shop that was reportedly closed to find his way home on a bitter cold evening. His body was found days later about five miles away. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan demanded answers, calling the agents’ actions “dereliction of duty”.

LWV Opposes Administration’s Efforts to Nationalize Voting

(Undated) The League of Women Voters says claims that non-citizens participate in federal elections are “wildly overdramatized and false”. They say it is already illegal for non-citizens to register to vote AND cast a ballot in state and federal elections across the country. In 2016, the Brennan Center for Justice found that across 42 jurisdictions with high immigrant populations, there were only 30 cases of suspected noncitizens voting out of more than 23 MILLION votes cast – or one one-thousandth of a percent. Opponents say the Trump Administration’s efforts to pass the SAVE Act and claims of the need to nationalize elections are desperate efforts that would disenfranchise thousands of voters as the country heads toward the mid-terms.

US Pledges to Send More Troops

(Washington, DC) The US-Israeli attack on Iran and wide-scale Iranian reprisals expanded Monday, with the United States pledging to send more troops to the region. The Washington Post reports the Administration expects more US troop casualties. A fourth service member died Monday, following the weekend attack, which is reported to have killed Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. About 150 students were also killed at an Iranian girls’ school. While President Trump claims his goal is regime change, the President has offered no plan for what comes next. Democrats are demanding an immediate vote to restrain the Administration’s actions, which were made without the approval of Congress.

National News 03/02/26

Trump Orders Strike on Iran

(Washington, DC) The United States and Israel on Saturday launched a major attack on Iran. President Trump called on the Iranian people to “rise up and take control” of their government and the Islamic leadership that has controlled the country since 1979. The attack reportedly killed leader Ayatollah Ali Khameniei and triggered retaliatory strikes on other countries in the region. A girls’ elementary school in Iran was hit in the attack, killing at least 100 and injuring scores more, according to the Associated Press. Three US servicemen died, and five others were seriously wounded. The attack apparently took place without Congressional authorization, sparking further outcry about Trump’s continued overreaching of authority. Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the power to declare war.

Emergency Crews Dispatched to Detention Center

(NBC) Since mid-September, emergency crews have been dispatched to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas at least eleven times to treat children in medical distress. NBC News obtained EMS call logs and 9-1-1 audio that provided a glimpse into what happens when children fall seriously ill inside the centers, sparking a flashpoint in the national immigration debate. Those who have visited the centers describe deplorable conditions, with people packed into small cells too tightly to lie down and given only aluminum blankets. More than one person has compared them to concentration camps.

Epstein Files, Election Control Continue to Concern Americans

(Undated) In spite of the attacks on Iran, concerned citizens and Democrats aren’t shying away from continuing to push for transparency regarding Trump’s involvement in the Epstein files. Robert Garcia, a top Democrat on the committee investigating Epstein, has accused the Justice Department of whithholding files containing allegations of sexual abuse of a minor made against President Trump, whose name is mentioned literally at least a million times, according to a committee who used a search function to determine that. Trump continues to push for executive power over elections ahead of the midterms, amidst growing dissatisfaction of his handling of the economy, immigration enforcement, and the alienation of foreign allies, and his dramatically sinking poll numbers.

Government Cuts Ties with Anthropic

(Washington, DC) It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but in a very real showdown, AI company Anthropic refused to allow the U.S. Government under President Trump to use its technology in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of U.S. citizens. A deal with Anthropic would have allowed the administration to attack countries without human safeguards and would have provided the government with a real Big Brother view of our lives. Anthropic refused … and refused to back down, so Trump announced all federal government agencies must cease using the company’s A I tools. Open AI late Friday signed a deal with the Pentagon for its AI tools to be used in the military’s classified systems, reportedly with guardrails similar to those requested by Anthropic.

National News 02/27/26

Hilary Clinton Testifies in Epstein Case

(Washington) Former Secretary Hilary Clinton headed into closed door testimony in the Epstein case Thursday, but not before issuing a memo slamming the members of the committee for refusing to allow her to testify publicly. In her statement, Clinton said she did not recall ever encountering Epstein, never flew on his plane or visited his island, homes, or offices, adding, “Like every decent person, I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes.” She also made clear her disgust that the committee has made little effort to call the people who show up most prominently in the Epstein files, adding she has spent her life advocating for women and girls and working to stop such abuses. The deposition was paused yesterday after a photo from inside the room was leaked.

Florida Fourth Grader Receives Encouragement from Classmates

(Florida) A fourth grade class in Florida is celebrating an amazing act of kindness and support – especially a classmate named Sophia. ABC News reports Sophia wasn’t feeling very good about herself and told her teacher she just didn’t feel very smart. So after school that day Mrs. Miller asked a student named Ashton what they should do. The next day when Sophia was out of the room, they covered her desk and chair with dozens of sticky notes, with hand-written messages like, “You’re a Star”, “You slay!”, and “You’re crazy awesome!” Sophia was all tears, and all smiles, as was the rest of the class. The video of the incident has since gone viral, with one person in Texas reaching out to say he wants to buy the class pizzas and drinks to celebrate. Good people, doing great things for each other.

National News 02/26/26

New Hampshire’s Governor Says “No” to Detention Center

(New Hampshire) Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte announced this week New Hampshire would not be the site of a planned Department of Homeland Security facility to house immigrants. In a social media post, Ayotte said she had had “productive discussions” with Secretary Kristi Noem during a recent trip to Washington. The Governor originally appeared to be in favor of the project, but New Hampshire residents pushed back strongly with phone calls and by lining roads and holding posters in protest of what many have come to call detention centers, some even comparing them to concentration camps.

Trump Makes False and Misleading Claims in SOTU

(AP) The Associated Press reports in Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address, the President presented a frequently distorted account of reality in the country. Trump claimed his Presidency was a “turnaround for the ages” and cited a myriad of achievements that they say don’t pass scrutiny – including on inflation, immigration, tariffs, and matters of war and peace. On the economy, Trump claimed he inherited a nation in crisis with a stagnant economy. But while facts show voters were unhappy with the economy in 2024, it was far from stagnant. The GDP rose 2.8% in 2024 after adjusting for inflation – a stronger pace of growth than the $2.2% achieved last year during the start of Trump’s second term. He also claimed incomes were rising, but after-tax incomes rose just 0.9% last year, down from 2.2% in Biden’s last year in office.

National News 02/25/26

Trump Pushes for Intervention in Iran

(WaPo) In spite of warnings from top aides and generals, the Trump Administration has rapidly built up the US military presence near Iran. The Washington Post reports the buildup includes more than 150 planes. General Dan Caine, in a meeting with the President last week, said an operation in Iran would face challenges, including a depleted munitions stockpile and a lack of support from allies, along with greater danger for U.S. troops. In direct contradiction to Caine’s warnings, Trump then posted on his social media that it was “100% incorrect” that the General was against the US going to war with Iran and added, “it is his opinion that it will be something easily won.”

National News 02/24/26

Great Britain Continues to Hold Accused Accountable

(ABC) While the United States has yet to hold anyone related to the Epstein files accountable. The United Kingdom has now arrested a former Prince and a former ambassador to the United States. Former Prince Andrew, stripped of his title last year, was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct while in public office. ABC News reports on Monday, Lord Peter Mandelson was arrested on the same charge. Police did not name Mandelson, but he was seen on video being escorted from his home. Police said only that a 72 yo man was taken to a London police station for an interview.

Dozens Die in Attempt to Capture Mexican Cartel Leader

(AP) More than 70 people died as Mexican authorities Sunday attempted to capture the notorious leader of a prominent drug cartel known for trafficking fentanyl, meth, and cocaine to the United States. The Associated Press reports the leader known as “El Mencho” died, along with suspected cartel members and 25 members of the Mexican National Guard who were killed in six separate attacks. Several Mexican states canceled school on Monday, and officials warned citizens to stay inside as new threats of violence loomed as a result.

National News 02/23/26

Olympic Gold

(USA) Team USA closed out the Winter Olympics in Milan golden. Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams brought home gold. Alyssa Liu stunned with her effortless figure skating routine, and Mikaela Shiffrin won the slalom title a full 1.5 seconds ahead of the competition. The XXV Winter Games featured 116 events in eight sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering. Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Kloeboe made history by winning gold in all six cross country ski events. And Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Brazil in the men’s giant slalom. The United States brought home more medals than in any previous winter games, 33 … 12 gold, 12 silver, and nine bronze. Norway topped the list with 41 medals. The Netherlands captured third place with 20 medals.

DHS Reverses TSA Pre-check Decision

(ABC) The Department of Homeland Security has abruptly reversed a decision to temporarily suspend the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck and Global Entry programs due to what they described as a lapse in funding. DHS Secretary Kristy Noem announced the temporary suspension Sunday morning, but quickly reversed it, saying airports could continue with the program as long as staffing was available.

National News 02/20/26

Former Prince Andrew Arrested

(Britain) Britain’s former Prince Andrew was arrested Thursday morning. The Associated Press reports King Charles III’s brother was taken into custody on suspicion of committing misconduct while in public office, presumably related to the Epstein files. Andrew was stripped of his titles last year because of the matter, but has long denied any wrongdoing. King Charles responded with a statement saying, “the law must take its course” and promised the full support and cooperation of the royal family.

Schools Cut Ties with Diversity Organizations

(WaPo) Bowing to threats from the Trump Administration, the Washington Post reports at least 31 schools have signed agreements to end links with organizations that “restrict participation based on race.” The Administration objected to, among others, the PhD Project, a program that helps people of color pursue doctorate degrees. The move by schools follows last March’s US Department of Education probe into 45 universities that partnered with such groups. Among those caving to the pressure – the California State University system, Clemson University, and the University of Kentucky. More than a dozen of the schools investigated are private, which means they are exempt from public records laws. Some of those schools, such as the University of North Texas system, have fought to keep their records secret from the federal government.

U.S. Considers Building Alternative to World Health Organization

(WaPo) After pulling out of the World Health Organization last year, the US Department of Health and Human Services has proposed creation of an expensive replacement. Recreating systems the United States once accessed as part of the W H O would mean spending two billion dollars a year – many times what it cost to have the same service under the global organization, which provides global disease surveillance and outbreak functions the US once helped build, according to three administration officials briefed on the proposal. In cutting ties with the World Health Organization, President Trump accused them of demanding “unfairly onerous payments”; but the alternative being proposed by his administration is about three times what the U.S. contributed annually to the U.N. health agency.

National News 02/19/26

Backcountry Skiers Killed in Avalanche

(Northern California) The bodies of eight backcountry skiers near Lake Tahoe have been found following an avalanche, the nation’s deadliest in nearly half a century. The Associated Press reports authorities said the skiers had little time to react. Six of the skiers that were on a guided tour were rescued hours after the avalanche, which hit Tuesday morning during a three-day trek in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. The victims included three guides and ranged in ages from 30 to 55.

National News in Depth 02/18/26

Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked an interview with Texas Democrats over FCC concerns. The Washington Post reports the condemnation comes before Colbert’s “Late Show” goes off the air in May, a decision the network previously called a “purely financial decision”. Colbert Monday rebuked his own network, claiming attorneys for parent company Paramount Skydance prohibited him from airing an interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate, over concerns it would violate the FCC’s equal time rule. The studio audience “booed” the network’s decision.

Defense secretary Pete Hegseth has forced the ouster of a senior Army spokesman. It’s the latest in a series of internal clashes in which Hegseth has moved to push out officers who worked for retired General Mark A. Milley, a target of President Trump. Hegseth ordered the firing of Colonel David Butler during a discussion last week at the Pentagon. Officials familiar with the matter say Hegseth’s department is sitting on a list of about three dozen promotion-eligible Army officers that should have been sent to the White House for approval months ago.

Release of the latest Epstein files has brought a wave of resignations and investigations; if not in the U.S., at least overseas. The Washington Post reports the massive trove, totaling more than 3 million documents, has led to resignations and criminal inquiries throughout the world, particularly across Europe. Observers say the contrast is striking. NPR reports that while the White House continues to turn a blind eye on the number of times Trump’s name appears in the files, European royals, government officials, politicians and others are losing jobs and titles over their connection to the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

The Trump Administration is reportedly recruiting thousands of local officers to aid in its immigration efforts. But some states are saying “no”, in light of the deadly tactics used by ICE and CBP agents. In Maryland, the Associated Press reports, Democratic Governor Wes Moore signed a bill into law Tuesday that prohibits immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government. Ten states, all led by Democrats, now have statewide policies prohibiting law enforcement officers from cooperating in one of the primary programs Trump is using to carry out an agenda of mass deportations. Most of those arrested are hard workers and here legally, a direct contradiction to the Administration’s claim of going after “the worst of the worst” – undocumented immigrants with criminal records, such as gang members and those accused of violent crimes.

National News in Depth 02/13/25

House Passes Resolution to Rescind Tariffs on Canada

(Washington, DC) The GOP-led House this week passed a resolution to rescind President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, delivering a strong message to the Administration about Trump’s trade policy. ABC News reports six Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in order to help pass the measure. The vote is largely symbolic, as it will still need to be approved by the Senate and then Trump, who is unlikely to sign it into law. But observers say it’s another sign of growing dissent among Republicans over Trump’s economic and other policies.

Defiant Bondi Testifies

(Washington, DC) Attorney General Pam Bondi remained defiant in a heated hearing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Bondi faced questions on multiple issues, but the most tense exchanges came amid questions about the Epstein files. The Hill reports at least eleven of Epstein’s victims were at the hearing, all of whom raised their hands when asked for those who had not yet met with the Department of Justice. One lawmaker alleged the President’s name appears in the Epstein files more than Harry Potter’s name appears in that seven-book series. Democrats and Republicans alike also pressed Bondi on the magnitude of investigations into Trump foes, calling it a “vendetta factory”.

House Passes SAVE America Act

(Washington, DC) The House this week passed the SAVE America Act, a Trump-backed election bill that would overhaul federal election laws by imposing new voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. The legislation could disenfranchise tens of thousands of legal voters, mainly women, who tend to vote Democrat or Independent. The 32-page legislation would require states to obtain documentary proof-of-citizenship in person, such as an American passport or birth certificate, in order for persons to vote in a federal election. Research shows voting by noncitizens is already illegal and extremely rare. The Republican’s push to change voting rules ahead of the midterm elections is raising red flags, particularly after Trump proposed nationalizing US elections, taking the Constitutional right to run elections away from individual states.

Minnesota Siege Ends

(Minneapolis) President Trump’s Border Czar, Tom Homan, on Thursday declared an end to Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. The devastating raids by masked and heavily armed agents of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents disrupted the economy, caused widespread fear, and prompted schools, churches, and government officials to educate citizens about their rights. In spite of the murders by agents of two American citizens, protestors remained peaceful, helping their neighbors with grocery runs, transporting children to school, and home visits, denying Trump’s White House an opportunity to declare martial law and potential further takeover of Minneapolis. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz immediately thanked the citizens of his state for their dedication and ongoing support of one another.

Federal Judge Orders Return of Deported Venezuelan Migrants

(ABC News) A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of the Venezuelan migrants who were deported last year to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison in violation of a court order. ABC News reports U.S. District Judge James Boasberg criticized the Administration’s refusal to offer remedies for the deportees, calling out the “flagrancy” of the government’s due-process violations. The order requires the government to provide “boarding letters” and cover the financial cost of air travel for the Venezuelans currently in third world countries who wish to return to the United States.

Monks’ Walk Ends

(Washington, DC) The 109-day, 2300 mile journey of the Walk for Peace has come to an end. The group of monks journeyed from various parts of the country, accompanied by Aloka the Peace Dog, to Washington, DC, spreading a message of peace, love, and kindness. In spite of often freezing temperatures and inclement weather, the monks journeyed on, spreading a sense of humility and compassion and inspiring countless people – some of whom joined them along the way. Thousands joined the monks on their final walk from George Washington University to the Lincoln Memorial, with one member noting, “The walk does not end here. It continues every time you choose kindness.”

National News 02/12/26

Grand Jury Refuses DOJ Attempts to Punish Democratic Lawmakers

(Undated) Watching the rise of potentially dangerous actions by the Trump Administration, Senator Mark Kelly, who served 25 years in the U.S. Navy, and five other Democratic lawmakers last year recorded a video, advising U.S. service members they could lawfully refuse orders that violate the Constitution. As a result, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initiated an investigation into Kelly and sought punishment Kelly said was politically-motivated and violated his First Amendment rights. On Tuesday, a Grand Jury forcefully rejected the administration’s bid to label their dissent as a criminal act warranting prosecution. The NY Times reports the rejection was a remarkable rebuke, suggesting ordinary citizens (who made up the Grand Jury), did not believe the lawmakers had committed any crimes.

Georgia Election Records Seizure

(Undated) Also this week … court documents were unsealed showing the FBI relied on debunked claims to obtain a warrant to seize 2020 voting records from Fulton County, Georgia. The FBI, under the direction of Trump appointee Kash Patel, told a federal judge it is investigating whether any “deficiencies” in Georgia officials’ handling of the 2020 election were intentional. It’s widely reported Trump pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in a phone call to “find 11,780 votes” and overturn 2020 U.S. election results in which he was defeated by Joe Biden, a demand Raffensperger flatly refused.

Canada School Shooting

(BC, Canada) At least nine people died and more than two dozen were injured at a school and a nearby residence in British Columbia Tuesday. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the shootings. About 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, police received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Upon entering, authorities found six people dead; a seventh died on the way to a hospital. A person believed to be the shooter was also found dead of what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot. In a likely connected incident, The Washington Post reports two more victims were found dead in a nearby home. Police are revealing few other details as they continue to look for a motive. Tumbler Ridge is a small school of about 160 students grades 7 to 12, located a little over 400 miles north of Vancouver, close to the border with Alberta.

FAA Grounds Flights

(Undated) The FAA on Wednesday reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport, just hours after announcing a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights in and out of the airport. The agency at first gave no explanation, then said the closure was to address a cartel drone incursion. The Associated Press said Mexican cartels have long used drones to traffic drugs and wage war with rival cartels and authorities, a practice which began in 2010 and that has continued to expand.

Investigations Reveal Serious Crimes by Members of ICE

(Undated) Recent investigations have identified at least two dozen IE employees and contractors who have been charged with crimes since 2020, involving patterns of corruption, sexual abuse and violence. Nine were charged within the last year, coinciding with a rapid agency expansion to 22K employees. In one example, an ICE deportation officer in Houston was indicted last year for allegedly accepting bribes to remove detention orders on people targeted for deportation. In Washington, a supervisor was sentenced to prison after using his government vehicle and badge to meet someone he believed to be a 13 yo girl. and a former official at a Texas contract facility was sentenced this month for slamming a detainee into a wall.

National News 02/11/26

Federal Judges Scrambling to Address Immigration Lawsuits

(AP) Federal judges across the country are scrambling to address a flood of lawsuits from immigrants who have been illegally locked up under the Trump Administration’s mass deportation campaign. The Associated Press reports under previous administrations, people with no criminal record could generally request a bond hearing before an immigration judge while their cases made their way through immigration court. Trump’s White House reversed the policy in favor of mandatory detention. Immigrants by the thousands have reportedly been turning to federal courts by using habeas corpus petitions. A panel of judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to deny bond hearings is consistent with the constitution and with federal immigration law.

Ghislaine Maxwell Appeals to Trump for Clemency

(AP) Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from House lawmakers in a deposition this week, but indicated that if President Trump ended her prison sentence, she was willing to testify that neither he nor former President Bill Clinton had done anything wrong in their connections with Epstein. The Associated Press reports Maxwell has come under new scrutiny as lawmakers try to investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years.

Other Countries, Regions Actively Review Epstein Files

(Undated) While U.S. officials quickly issued a “case closed”, seeming to turn a blind eye on victims of Jeffrey Epstein, other countries and international bodies are actively reviewing and acting upon newly released files. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a special team of prosecutors, police, and security services are checking the files for potential Polish victims and any links to Russian security services. In the United Kingdom, there are renewed calls for Prince Andrew to cooperate with authorities, and former Labor Politician Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords following revelations in the documents. Other countries reviewing the files include Norway, France, Latvia, and Slovakia. The newly released documents have also triggered scrutiny over potential links in other regions, including the Middle East and Africa.

National News 02/10/26

Halftime Show Draws Record Number of Viewers

(California) Early numbers indicate the Bad Bunny-headlined Super Bowl Halftime Show was the most-watched halftime performance of all time, with more than 135 million tuning in …. compared to just over 6 million who watched Turning Point USA’s show featuring Kid Rock. The Puerto-Rican born icon largely avoided politics and focused on joy, as he danced across sugar cane fields, brought on Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, signed as a witness to a real wedding performed at the event, and named South America’s countries, as a call to unite the American spirit. The Seahawks took home the Super Bowl trophy, holding the Patriots scoreless up until the final quarter and clinching a 29-13 win.

Olympics Update 02/09/26

(Milan, Italy) A weekend Winter Olympics update now from Milan, Italy. American Skier Breezy Johnson secured the gold medal in the women’s downhill, edging out Germany. Not so fortunate for 41 yo skiing legend Lindsey Vonn. Attempting a return just days after an ACL rupture, Vonn suffered a major crash during the women’s downhill. Today’s medal events include the women’s 1,000M speed skating, finals for the Luge, Women’s Singles, and Women’s Freestyle skiing. In Curling Mixed Doubles, round robin matches continue with USA taking on Italy.

National News 02/09/26

Backlash for Obama Post

(Washington, DC) The Trump Administration was quick with excuses and explanations after the President appeared to have posted a racist video about the Obamas on his Truth Social account. GOP Representative Mike Lawler of New York was one of the first to criticize Trump over the post, which the White House at first said was “taken out of context”, then claimed was posted by a “staffer”. Meanwhile, just two countries were “booed” at the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Milan – the Israeli Olympic delegation and U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, although the American delegation brought cheers. Several U.S. athletes spoke out, saying they felt the need to put distance between the country they represent and the ongoing atrocities in Minneapolis, the growing number of unregulated detention centers, and threats to other countries by the current administration.

Epstein Files Conflict

(AP) The FBI under Trump appointee Kash Patel claims its search of the Epstein files found little evidence Epstein led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men. According to the Associated Press, U.S. authorities claim that’s why they ultimately decided to close the investigation without additional charges. However, Mark Stephens, a specialist in international and human rights law at Howard Kennedy in London, says, “Epstein collected powerful people the way others collect frequent flyer points.” Independent media outlets and now other countries continue to review the files that contain millions of pages, many redacted by the DOJ before being released, citing victims’ privacy. Attorneys for the victims called the redactions, “the single most egregious violation of victim privacy in one day in U.S. history.”

Minneapolis Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

(MN) The rumors are true. The city of Minneapolis was officially nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, likely a first for an entire city. The city was nominated by the editors of The Nation, a progressive magazine. In a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, The Nation cited calls by elected officials, clergy, and labor leaders to respond to “these horrific developments” – referring to the murder of American citizens and the terrorizing of protestors and immigrants who are here legally by masked, armed federal agents – with nonviolent protests, as a guaranteed First Amendment right. They also noted the mutual care and support shown by residents to neighbors who have been targeted because of their language or skin color. The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner will be announced in early October in Oslo, Norway and presented December 10th on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

National News 02/06/26

Winter Olympics Kick Off with Opening Ceremony

(Milan) It’s a big weekend for sports. The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kick off with today’s Opening Ceremony, although some early events – curling, women’s hockey, snowboarding, and figure skating – all began ahead of time. The Parade of Nations will air at 2 p.m. Eastern with coverage through NBC, and also streamed through Peacock and NBC Olympics dot com. A schedule of events can be found by Googling Olympics Schedule 2026.

Super Bowl Weekend

(Santa Clara, CA) Grab the pretzels, pizza and beer and don your red, white and blue for the New England Patriots or your navy and green for the Seattle Seahawks. It’s Super Bowl Sunday, with the teams going helmet to helmet in Santa Clara, California’s Levi Stadium, beginning at 6:30 Eastern. The Seahawks are seeking their second Super Bowl title in their fourth appearance in Super Bowl 60. The Patriots will go for a record seventh title while extending their record number of appearances to 12.

Catherine O’Hara’s Rare Genetic Condition

(Undated) Fans were stunned last week at the death of 71 yo Catherine O’Hara, famous for her roles as the mom in “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek”. While doctors won’t confirm a rare genetic condition as the cause of her death, they have revealed she was born with dextrocardia with situs inversus, a condition she only learned of after she became an adult. Dextrocardia is a condition in which the heart and other organs are flipped – appearing as mirror images, with the heart and stomach on the right, liver on the left, and so forth. The condition only shows up in 1 in 10K people. While an exact cause of death has not been determined, cardiologists say it can be benign but also can include a congenital heart defect.

National News 02/04/26

Detention Centers Raise Alarm Bells

(Undated) Historians and others continue to raise alarm bells about large detention centers run by the Trump Administration, even as DHS continues to buy up large industrial warehouses in multiple states. Heather Cox Richardson, known for her normally measured and cautious approach, says in this case – the neon lights are flashing. She recalls when the New York Times first wrote about Hitler’s concentration camps, they were touted as “clean, with no complaints”, then wondered at Americans’ naivete. It’s well documented there is no medical care in the current detention facilities, people have died, and the Department of Homeland Security has refused any type of Congressional oversight – which is required by law. And concerns continue to grow about people disappearing after being moved from facility to facility until they can literally not be found.

Minneapolis Remains Under Siege by ICE

(MN) Despite a shuffling of leadership and a promise of change, Minneapolis remains under siege by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents. At least three thousand agents remain in Minnesota, despite the mostly cosmetic removal of Greg Bovino, who was replaced by border czar Tom Homan following the murder of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti. Sources say a parallel operation has targeted close to 6K refugees in the state, who were previously granted legal status by the federal government, for potential “fraud”. A federal judge last week issued an injunction to block the refugee arrests in Minnesota, but the current government is developing a history of ignoring such rulings, along with the Constitutional rights of legal immigrants and even American citizens.

Trump Calls for “Nationalizing Voting”

(Washington, DC) President Trump is calling on Republican lawmakers to nationalize voting – hijacking a power explicitly granted to states in the U.S. Constitution. The President continues to falsely allege the 2020 election was stolen, in spite of myriad investigations that have turned up no evidence to support such claims. The Washington Post reports the demand follows the confiscation of federally protected ballots and other materials from a Georgia warehouse, with Trump indicating “some interesting things” would come out of the seizure. On January 2nd, 2021 Trump infamously pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,781 votes” in order to overturn the election results, a move Raffensperger refused. Trump later denied making the call, which was recorded and was used as evidence in a trial in which he was indicted in Fulton County on charges that included racketeering and fraud. Senate Republican leader John Thune says he does not favor federalizing elections.

Clintons Agree to Testivy

(Washington, DC) In a reverse course, Former President Bill Clinton and Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have agreed to testify before the House in the Epstein investigation. The Clintons previously denied having any cause to testify, but were facing a vote of contempt of Congress after failing to appear for previously scheduled depositions.

House Passes Spending Bill, Avoiding Long Shut-Down

(Washington, DC) In National News, the House on Tuesday passed a significant spending package, aimed at ending a partial government shutdown. The legislation sets a new deadline for funding the Department of Homeland Security in just two weeks, raising concerns about future fiscal stability. Experts say the temporary nature of the funding and omission of certain GOP priorities reflect ongoing tensions within the party.

National News 02/03/26

Trump’s Approval Ratings Continue to Slide

(Undated) President Trump’s public approval ratings continued to slide to their lowest point in January. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found just 39% of respondents approved of the crackdown by ICE agents – 53% disapproved. A Fox News poll found 59% of voters think ICE is too aggressive. That’s up 10 points from July.

Neil Young Gifts Greenland with Song

(Undated) Artist Neil Young is gifting Greenland free access to his entire music catalog for a year. The activist songwriter penned, “I hope my music and music films will ease some of the unwarranted stress and threats you are experiencing from our unpopular and hopefully temporary government.” Young recently removed access to his music from Amazon Music streaming services in a rebuff to founder Jeff Bezos, who has supported President Trump.

Kennedy Center to Close

(Washington, DC) President Trump has announced the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will close for approximately two years, beginning this July. Trump claims the closure is for a complete reconstruction and rebranding. In his first days in office, many of the center’s board and staff left or were fired after Trump set himself up as chair. He then added his name to the building. As a result, The Washington National Opera left the institution, multiple artists have declined to perform there, and attendance has been miserably lacking.

Epstein Files Released

(BBC) The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released millions of new files relating to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein – six weeks after a deadline signed into law that mandated all Epstein-related documents be shared with the public. The documents contain references to President Donald Trump and other powerful figures. While some of those references appear benign, sources say others include newly disclosed but as yet unverified sexual assault claims against Trump compiled last year by the FBI. It’s widely reported the material was heavily redacted before its release.

Evidence of Crime at Home of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

(Tucson) Authorities are calling the Arizona home of missing 84 yo Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, a “crime scene”. The elder Guthrie was last seen at her home around 9:30 Saturday night. A family member reported her missing around Noon Sunday. A search is underway by ground and by air. Authorities say Guthrie has physical limitations but a sharp mind. Evidence reportedly points to her not leaving the home of her own accord.

National News 02/02/26

Federal Judge Orders Release of 5-Year Old

(Minnesota) A federal judge ordered the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from immigration custody. The pair was detained in the family’s driveway in Minnesota last week. Liam was then reportedly used as “bait” by ICE agents to try to gain entry into the family home before he and his father were taken into custody and transported to a detention facility in Texas. NPR reports Liam’s health was deteriorating in the detention center, and he and his father are now back home in Minnesota, although their immigration case, they say, is far from over.

Trump Proposes Building 250-Foot Tall Arch

(Washington, DC) From slapping his name on the Kennedy Center, to tearing down the East Wing of the White House, to destroying the iconic rose garden, President Trump is intent on leaving his mark on the nation’s capital. His latest proposal is a 250-foot tall arch that would dwarf the 100 foot tall Lincoln Memorial. The Washington Post reports the so-called Independence Arch would transform a small plot of land between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery into a garish new monument that architectural experts say would obstruct pedestrian views and distort the intent of the surrounding memorials.

Trump Administration Buying Up Warehouses

(WaPo) In a move that is rattling locals and Americans as a whole, the Trump Administration is moving to acquire large industrial buildings in at least eight states to serve as mass detention centers. The Washington Post reports the Department of Homeland Security bought two this month, in Maryland and Arizona. One in Roxbury, New Jersey draws groundwater from a small town that uses nearly all its daily limit. Another proposed site, a warehouse in Oklahoma City, would hold up to 1500 people and sits less than a mile from an elementary school. As specific sites have surfaced in news reports, people in communities affected have taken steps to block the projects. The City Council in Kansas City, Missouri passed a five year ban on all new non-municipal detention facilities after ICE was seen inspecting buildings there.

Government Shutdown

(Washington, DC) The second government shutdown of President Trump’s second term began early Saturday. The Washington Post reports lawmakers missed a midnight deadline to approve six new spending bills. Without funding, the IRS will shutter just days into tax season. But experts expect this shutdown to be brief and have limited effects. The House is expected to take up a measure today to reopen agencies, although Congress still has a fight ahead over new restrictions on immigration enforcement.

FBI Arrests Journalist Don Lemon

(CNN) The FBI last week arrested former CNN journalist Don Lemon, raising profound questions about Freedom of the Press and the First Amendment. Lemon was taken into custody after covering a demonstration at a church where one of the pastors serves as an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement official . A chief judge of the Minnesota Federal District Court found there was “no evidence” of any criminal behavior, and Lemon was released without Bond over the charge that he and others violated federal law.

Democrats Flip State Senate District in Texas

(Texas) In an upset, Democrats flipped a state Senate district in Texas that President Trump won by double digits, narrowing a U.S. House majority in a pair of Saturday special election runoffs with national implications. Democrat Christian Menefee won the special election runoff for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, and Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024.

National News 01/30/26

Trump Officials Order Removal of More Signage from National Parks

(Washington, DC) Trump officials this week ordered the removal of more signs in more National Parks. The signs to be taken down educate people on climate change, environmental protection, and the mistreatment of Native Americans, but the administration calls their removal “an order to restore sanity to American history”. Parks affected include the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, Big Bend, Zion and a dozen other National Parks. The order follows the removal of an exhibit at Independence National Historical Park that focused on George Washington’s ownership of black slaves.

Nipah Virus

(India) Some airports in Asia are on alert after confirmed cases in West Bengal of Nipah virus. The Washington Post reports South Asia sees outbreaks nearly every year. There is no cure for the virus, which has a mortality rate of between 40 and 70 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; although there is reportedly low global awareness of the outbreak. So far, no cases have been reported beyond India.

In National News headlines

Authorities have arrested 55 yo Anthony Kazmierczak after he allegedly used a syringe to spray U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, with an unknown liquid as she spoke at a meeting, calling on ICE to be abolished and for Secretary Kristi Noem to either resign or face impeachment.
President Trump is facing a rare Republican backlash as more details come to light about the murder of ICU Nurse Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Patrol agents. Evidence points to fatal shots being fired by two federal agents, with no mention of Pretti brandishing a weapon, according to an initial government review.
And some European lawmakers are calling for a boycott of this summer’s World Cup, questioning the fitness of the U.S. under President Trump to host the iconic soccer tournament.

Activists Call for General Strike

(Undated) Activists are calling for a nationwide general strike today to protest DHS and ICE raids. Organizers say they want to hit the Trump administration where it hurts most in the wallet. Participants are asked to stay away from work and school and to not purchase anything Friday, creating an economic blackout. Among those participating here in Maine, The Norumbega in Camden, which says it employs immigrants who perform difficult tasks and work inconvenient weekly shifts.

National News 01/29/26

(AP) In National News headlines, the Associated Press reports a partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely, as Democrats demand major changes to ICE.

– While the President signaled interest in easing tensions there, Minneapolis residents say they see little change on the streets.

– And more “No Kings” protests are planned for March 28th as outrage grows following the murders of two American citizens by ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.

(AP) President Trump continues to insist the 2020 election was stolen, despite all evidence to the contrary. Trump said yesterday “people will soon be prosecuted” for what he claims they did in that election. Exhaustive bipartisan investigations have concluded Biden won by a large margin and have turned up no evidence of fraud that would have in any way changed the results. In related action, the FBI on Wednesday executed a search warrant at the Fulton County elections office near Atlanta. The warrant follows a Department of Justice lawsuit against Fulton County courts over election documents. The Associated Press reports Georgia has long been a central target for Trump’s false claims about the 2020 elections.

National News 01/28/26

Federal Agents Begin Leaving Minneapolis

(MN) Federal Agents began leaving Minneapolis yesterday after President Trump spoke by phone this week with Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Frey posted on X, “The President agreed the present situation can’t continue.” The move follows the murder of 37 yo Alex Pretti, a VA nurse who was attempting to help a woman shoved by Customs and Border Patrol Agents. While multiple videos show Pretti was holding only his phone Saturday when he was wrestled to the ground and shot in the back multiple times, the Trump Administration immediately placed blame on the victim, an accusation Minnesota’s attorney general called “flat-out insane”. On Tuesday, CBP Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who has been accused of approving the brutal tactics, was demoted as Border Patrol commander and pulled from Minneapolis, replaced by White House Border Czar, Tom Homan.

Calls Mount for Removal of Noem, Miller

(USA) Calls for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller continue to mount following the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis this month. On Tuesday, Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who supported Noem’s confirmation, called for her to be “immediately fired.” Both Noem and Miller have been quick to brand both victims as “domestic terrorists”, although extensive video evidence shows that to be patently false in both incidents. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt this week attempted to distance the President from Noem’s rhetoric, saying Trump wanted the investigation to “play out”. Local authorities have been barred from both investigations, casting doubt on their validity and on any potential prosecution of the agents involved in either murder.

Pretti Shooting Renews Gun Debate

(Undated) Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent has renewed debate over the Second Amendment and concealed carry laws, but not in typical fashion. This time, the roles are reversed. While ABC News reports the right to bear arms has been a Republican rallying cry for decades, Trump Administration officials said Pretti, who had a conceal and carry license, did not have the right to be armed near a protest. Multiple videos show at no time did Pretti pull or threaten agents with his gun. FBI Director Kash Patel declared people cannot bring a loaded firearm to any sort of protest. But critics point out the hypocrisy in Trump’s support of Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two men who tried to take his gun during protests in Wisconsin. Some January 6th rioters also were armed, and Republicans supported a Missouri couple who aimed their firearms at protesters following George Floyd’s murder.

National News 01/27/26

Bondi Attempts “Deal” with Minnesota

(Washington, DC) Attorney General Pam Bondi Saturday attempted what some Minnesota officials are calling a bribe in exchange for pulling ICE and CBP officials out of that state. Bondi said Minnesota should take three actions – turn over all of Minnesota’s records on Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Service programs, repeal the sanctuary policies that limit state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration probes, and allow the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to access state voter rolls. The demands come just hours after federal immigration officers shot and killed a man in Minneapolis that multiple videos show was simply attempting to help a woman who had been shoved by officers. Constitutional experts call the demands an attempt at extortion and a major assault on Minnesota’s sovereignty.

President Trump Sends Homan to Minnesota

(Washington, DC) President Trump on Monday announced he is sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota, amid outrage over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents. ABC News reports Homan will be managing ICE operations there and coordinating with those investigating alleged fraud in the state. The move bypasses the normal chain of command where Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino have been overseeing ICE operations. Trump said Homan would now report directly to him.

Republican Drops Bid for Governor of Minnesota

(Minneapolis) A Minneapolis attorney has dropped his bid for Minnesota Governor. The Washington Post reports Republican Chris Madel said he was ending his campaign because of the national GOP’s “retribution” on his state, describing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations there as “an unmitigated disaster.” In a video posted to his campaign’s social media channels, Madel said, “I cannot support the national Republicans’ stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.” Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison on Sunday called the Trump Administration’s version of the killing of 37 yo Alex Pretti “flat out insane”. The Administration accused Pretti of domestic terrorism, a view directly contradicted by multiple cell phone videos of his encounter with CBP agents.

National News 01/26/27

Federal Agents Murder Second American Citizen

(Minneapolis) Federal agents murdered a second American citizen in less than a month on Saturday – this time by Customs and Border Patrol Agents. Immediately after the incident, the Trump Administration declared the victim, 37 yo Alex Petti, an ICU nurse, had attacked the agents and said the agents were acting “defensively”. Multiple videos taken by bystanders show that to be untrue. Those videos show Petti was helping a woman who had been shoved to the ground by the agents when he was pepper sprayed. He then raised his hand, which held only his cell phone, and was thrown to the ground by at least seven CBP agents, one of whom pulled a gun from the back of Petti’s waistband and left. It was then a first shot was heard, followed by at least nine shots to Petti’s back. Petti had a conceal and carry license, but at no point had his hand on his gun. As in the murder of Renee Good on January 7th, federal officials have barred local and state authorities from the crime scene and from access to evidence from the investigation, despite court orders to the contrary.

Governor Walz Calls for Fair Investigation

(MN) Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held a press conference Saturday following the murder of an observer – the second such killing in that state this month. Walz said he had seen multiple videos of the murder of 37 yo Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, who was shot multiple times in the back by Border Patrol agents, calling it “sickening”,and refuting the federal government’s claim that agents acted defensively. Walz demanded the state have oversight into the killing, saying the federal government could not be trusted. Major General Shawn Manke of the State National Guard said troops have been on standby in Minnesota for a week and the Guard is now collaborating with Hennepin County and will also provide more security at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. Videos show Guard units wearing reflective vests to distinguish themselves, distributing donuts, hot chocolate and coffee to protesters, in contrast to the violence shown by some federal agents.

Trump Withdraws Invitation to Carney, Threatens 100% Tariffs to Canada

(WaPo) Canada’s Mark Carney drew a standing ovation in Davos last week for an address in which he said the US International order was “over”. But the words caused U.S. President Donald Trump to retaliate with threats, including a threat to impose 100 percent tariffs on all Canadian goods if the country “makes a deal with China”. That follows a claim by Trump just the week before that Prime Minister Mark Carney striking a trade deal with Beijing was “good and what he should be doing.” Trump also withdrew his invitation to Canada to join his “Board of Peace”, an organization no other democratic country so far has even offered to join.

National News 01/21/26

EU Leaders to Meet in Response to Trump’s Threats to Take Greenland

(ABC News) The leaders of all 27 European Union nations planned to come together this week for what countries are calling an “extraordinary meeting” in response to US President Donald Trump’s escalating pressure campaign to take Greenland. ABC News reports the leaders are mobilizing after Trump on Saturday announced a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods sent to the US from eight NATO nations, including Denmark, France, Germany, and the U.K. Sources say European leaders have reconfirmed their strong commitment to international law, Arctic security through NATO, and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland in the face of Trump’s continued effort to take control of the Arctic island.

National News 01/20/26

European Countries Blast Trump for Tariff Threats

(Greenland) The eight European countries targeted by President Donald Trump for a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland Sunday blasted that move. The joint statement, issued less than 24 hours after Trump’s threat by some of the United States’s closest allies, signaled a possible turning point in tensions over Greenland’s sovereignty and security. The unusually strong statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland warns the President’s threats “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”

President Trump Attempts to Form “Board of Peace”

(Washington, DC) President Donald Trump is attempting to form what he is calling an international “Board of Peace”. The administration wants invited nations to pay a billion dollars to remain on the board. That’s according to reports citing a draft charter for the proposed group. Trump would serve as the group’s inaugural chair and choose which countries to invite. The board is an international body that was endorsed by the UN Security Council last November. It was established to oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in 2025. Russia, Belarus, and Thailand on Monday were the latest to be asked to join.

Trump Texts Norway Leader Regarding Nobel Prize

(Washington, DC) President Trump this weekend sent a letter to the leader of Norway, saying because that country failed to award him a Nobel Peace Prize, he “no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States…” The letter went on to claim Denmark could not protect Greenland from Russia and China, and questioned why the Arctic country had “right of ownership.” Trump ended the letter with an unfounded boast that he has done more for NATO than any other person since its founding and that now, NATO should do something for the US, adding the world is not secure unless the US has complete and total control of Greenland.

National News 01/19/26

Nobel Prize Transfer Attempt Backfires

(Undated) Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado last week attempted to give her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump. But the effort to curry Trump’s favor sparked immediate reaction from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which confirmed a prize cannot be transferred to another person. Machado’s actions were in response to the Trump Administration’s illegal invasion of Venezuela, in which the U.S. arrested President Nicholas Maduro, and transferred him to the United States for trial. The endeavor by Machado to transfer her award has prompted numerous memes on social media, including an AI generated photo of a young ballplayer transferring his Little League trophy to the President.

European Countries Continue to Send Troops to Greenland

(Greenland) Troops from multiple European countries, including France, Germany, the U.K., Sweden, and others have begun sending symbolic numbers of troops to Greenland in response to President Donald Trump’s ongoing resolution to take control of the country, an independent territory ruled by Denmark. The Associated Press reports the troop movements were intended to portray unity among Europeans and send a signal to Trump that an American takeover of Greenland would be a violation of the NATO Treaty. They counter Trump’s claims of the need for national security by saying the organization is highly capable of safeguarding the security of the Arctic region from Russian and Chinese interest.

National News 01/16/25

Trump Threatens to Send Troops to Minneapolis

(Washington, DC) President Trump yesterday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and send US military forces to Minneapolis if state officials fail to stop protests against increasingly violent operations by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Axios reports every modern use of the Insurrection Act has come at either a Governor’s request or in order to expand civil rights protections over state objections. In contrast, Trump is threatening to “flip that script” and send troops to crush peaceful protests protected under the First Amendment. If enacted, the Insurrection Act would allow the President to effectively bypass court rulings and tap authority scholars warn is over broad and ripe for misuse.

Go Fund Me Accounts Raise Thousands for Fired Ford Worker

(Michigan) Fired Ford Motor Company employee TJ Sabula has asked people to stop sending money. The UAW member was suspended after he shouted “pedophile protector” at President Trump while the President was touring the plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Trump responded with expletives and a crude gesture. Sabula, who said he would do nothing differently, was subsequently fired; but fundraising efforts garnered more than $800K in just two days. Some 34,000 people contributed to the two Go Fund Me pages.

Washington Post Journalist’s Home Raided

(AP) The Virginia home of a Washington Post journalist was raided this week, her two laptops, phone, and other electronic devices seized. A warrant for the raid was said to be connected to an investigation of a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified materials. The Associated Press reports the Trump Administration could not have picked a more compelling target. Hannah Natanson is known at the Post for her reporting of the President’s changes to the federal workforce. It’s believed the raid was another attempt to deter probing reporting of government action. Natanson said she would not be intimidated. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said yesterday it has asked the U.S. District Court in Virginia to unseal the affidavit justifying the search of Natanson’s home.

Greenland Talks/Senate Votes Not to Limit War Powers

(WaPo) Danish and U.S officials met yesterday to discuss tensions surrounding President Trump’s ongoing insistence on taking Greenland. Danes failed to dissuade the President from his threats and rhetoric. Denmark’s leader again warned that any use of force by Washington to seize Greenland would render the postwar NATO alliance defunct. Remarks by Trump and his top aides have set off alarm bells across European capitals, prompting some of their most forceful responses to date. Also yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill aiming to limit Trump’s war powers and the taking of further military action in Venezuela. Two Republicans withdrew their support for the bill under intense pressure from the President, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

National News 01/14/26

Justice Department Investigation to Focus on ICE Agent as Victim

(CBS) Mass resignations have begun as CBS reports the Justice Department now says it will treat the investigation into the murder of 37 yo Renee Good as an assault on a federal officer, in which Ross, as opposed to Good, is seen as the victim of a crime. Career prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section had offered to drop all their work to help investigate the shooting, but were told there would be no criminal civil rights investigation. At least six career prosecutors, most of whom are supervisors, say they will be leaving their jobs, at least in part as a result of that decision. Video footage from last Wednesday shows Ross fired three rounds at the car as Good began to drive away and also appears to show the officers did not take immediate emergency steps to see Good receive emergency medical care. A separate video from the scene shows officers preventing a man who claimed to be a doctor from moving toward the critically injured woman.

Congress Agrees to Fund Voice of America

(Washington, DC) Bucking the wishes of President Donald Trump, lawmakers from both parties and houses of Congress have agreed to provide more than $650M in funding for Voice of America’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an international broadcaster. The funding is part of a bipartisan spending bill negotiated by House and Senate appropriators. The Washington Post reports the package must still get House and Senate approval before heading to Trump’s desk. VOA was set up in 1942 in order to combat Nazi propaganda. Last March, the President signed an Executive Order calling for dismantlement of the government agency which also funds nonprofit groups including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.

Clinton Fails to Show for Epstein Deposition

(Washington, DC) Former President Bill Clinton was threatened with contempt on Tuesday after he declined to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door deposition related to its investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a letter, Clinton said a subpoena issued by the committee was “invalid and legally unenforceable”. According to the Washington Post, neither Clinton nor his wife, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who was also called but will not appear, has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, although the former President acknowledged he took four trips on Epstein’s airplane and has appeared in Epstein-related photographs released by Congress and the Justice Department.

Powell Investigation Sparks Backlash

(Washington, DC) An update on some federal investigations. The Trump Administration’s investigation against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has sparked backlash, with at least three key Senate Republicans warning the probe threatens the rule of law. This week, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging he is being unlawfully punished by being demoted for a video in which Kelly reminded troops they can refuse illegal orders. And Minnesota is suing federal immigration authorities. The state alleges the decision to surge agents into the area is politically motivated and violates the U.S. Constitution.

National News 01/13/26

Iranian Massacre Feared Amidst Regime Change

(WaPo) The Center for Human Rights in Iran said it has received eyewitness accounts and credible reports that hundreds of protesters were killed in Iran amid a blackout there. The Washington Post reports national security officials with the Trump Administration were preparing to meet on potential responses, including a range of military options. Tehran has issued a formal warning that it will retaliate if the U.S. proceeds with military strikes.

Trump Administration Plans to Send More Federal Officers to Minnesota

(Minneapolis) Escalating already heightened tensions, the Trump Administration has vowed to send more federal officers to Minneapolis. Protests continued through the weekend after the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37 yo mother of three, after she was surrounded by heavily armed and masked ICE officers. The Washington Post reports Minneapolis’s mayor is aggressively countering Trump officials. Across the country, a loose-knit but increasingly organized network of activists is tracking arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem continued to insist Good was responsible for her own death, while protesters insist on an investigation that includes local law enforcement. The FBI has taken over that investigation and continues to block Minnesota officials from evidence and from participating in an inquiry.

Venezuela/Greenland

(Undated). President Trump is expected to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado this week. The meeting follows his recent claim that the U.S. now has “de facto control” over

Venezuela’s oil exports. Meanwhile, the White House continues to push for a deal to acquire Greenland. On Monday, European leaders and the EU reportedly discussed “emergency membership” for the island to block U.S. annexation efforts.

Proposed Interest Rate Cap

(Washington , DC). In a move that has rattled Wall Street, the administration has proposed a one-year, 10% cap on credit card interest rates to combat inflation, leading to a “Sell America” sentiment in the stock market. The proposal faces skepticism from banks and analysts who warn it could reduce credit access for lower-income borrowers, decrease perks, and drive users to riskier lenders, potentially requiring legislation to enact. While similar bills exist, the proposal’s path to implementation is unclear, with many doubting its chances of passing.

Muhammed Ali Commemorative Stamp

(Undated) Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The United States Postal Service Monday officially announced that Muhammad Ali will be honored with two new commemorative postage stamps, celebrating Ali as a boxer and activist. Nicknamed “The Greatest”, Ali is considered by many the greatest boxer of all time. The stamps will be available beginning January 15th in Ali’s hometown, Louisville, Kentucky.

National News 01/12/26

Senate Votes to Display January 6th Plaque

(Washington, DC) House Republicans refused to display a plaque honoring those who defended the capitol against the January 6th, 2021 riot, including multiple police departments, the FBI, and then-Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. But the Senate on Thursday approved a measure to install the plaque, which will remain in the Senate until a permanent location is identified on the west front of the Capitol. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had argued the project was “not implementable”, while the Justice Department maintained the plaque does not comply with the law because it lists Departments which responded, and not the individual officers. The resolution does not need to be approved by the House.

Republicans Vote to Restore ACA Subsidies

(Washington, DC) Seventeen Republicans on Thursday joined Democrats in passing legislation that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years. The 230-196 vote followed Wednesday’s procedural vote, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in moving the proposal forward. The lone South Florida Republican to join Democrats, Maria Elvira Salazar wrote on X, “I know firsthand how many families in my district depend on this assistance … this isn’t partisan, it’s human.” While sources say the measure is destined to die in the Senate, it’s hoped the move by House Republicans could lay the groundwork for a bipartisan agreement. Congressional leaders continue to hear from constituents angry over skyrocketing healthcare costs since the tax credits expired on January 1st.

Thousands Take to Streets to Protest Killing of Renee Good

(Minneapolis) Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Austin … in cities and towns nationwide, thousands turned out Saturday to protest the killing of an American citizen by masked, heavily armed ICE agents. The Washington Post reports Minneapolis, where thousands protested, largely peacefully, is grappling with how to respond after the FBI revoked the city’s access to the case file, scene evidence, and witness interviews in the killing of 37 yo poet, Renee Good. Moments before the shooting, Good is seen on shooter Jonathan Ross’s bodycam video calmly telling him, “I’m not angry with you, dude.” She then attempts to drive away, Ross shouting and pulling at her door, then firing three shots, leaving Good to bleed out as he calmly walks away, muttering an expletive about the mother of three. It’s unclear what next steps will be in the case, but one observer said, “They know it’s murder, and they’re trying to cover it up,” adding, “There’s strength in numbers. There’s more of us than them”.

Smithsonian Removes Trump Impeachment Text

(Washington, DC) The National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian in DC has removed a swath of text that mentioned President Donald Trump’s two impeachments and the January 6, 2021 insurrection as it swapped out a prominent photo of him this week. The new photo replaces one accompanied by a caption recounting Trump’s first term and his reelection, that read in part, “Impeached twice on charges of abuse of power and incitement of insurrection after supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021..” Trump was acquitted in both trials by the Senate.

Grateful Dead Founder, Guitarist Dies

(WaPo) Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir has died. Weir was also a vocalist and founding member of the group who co-wrote some of its best known songs, including “Sugar Magnolia” and “Playing in the Band”. Weir was diagnosed with cancer in July. He was 78.

National News 01/09/26

GoFundMe Raises Hundreds of Thousands for Family of Woman Killed in Minneapolis

(Minneapolis) A GoFundMe supporting the family of Renee Nicole Good, the 37 yo wife and mother gunned down by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Wednesday, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. ABC 6 News in Rochester, Minnesota, reports Good was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado. Her record appears to show nothing involving law enforcement beyond a traffic ticket. Good’s ex-husband said she was not known as an activist, but had dropped her six year old at school and was driving home when she and her wife encountered the group of heavily armed ICE agents, who videos show attempted to forcefully open her vehicle door as she turned to go the other way. He described his ex-wife as a “devoted Christian who took part in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger” and who hosted a podcast with her second husband, who died in 2023.

Senate Advances Bill to Block Further Military Action in Venezuela

(WaPo) The U.S. Senate yesterday advanced a bill to block further military action in Venezuela, following the stunning raid by U.S. forces to capture that country’s President, Nicolas Maduro, and bring him to trial in the United States. The Washington Post reports the bill is largely symbolic, but foreshadows a rare assertion of Congress’s role in using lethal force. The vote was 52-47, with five Republicans joining all Democrats. The timing for a final vote was not immediately clear. The measure would mark the first time in the current administration Congress has voted to constrain the President’s expansive use of the military in conducting foreign policy.

White House Announces Withdrawal from International Bodies

(WaPo) In a move that will no doubt further isolate the United States, the Trump Administration has announced it will withdraw from dozens of international organizations. According to the Washington Post, the US plans to withdraw from 66 bodies, entities associated with everything from climate change to migration policies, 31 of which are associated with the United Nations. In a statement, the White House said all funding to the organizations would be withdrawn because they “operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.”

National News 01/08/26

CPB Board Votes to Dissolve Organization

(Undated) In a blow to public media, leaders of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting this week voted to dissolve the organization. The private nonprofit previously funneled federal funding to PBS, NPR, and hundreds of other public television and radio stations across the country. The move follows a decision by Congress last summer to cut more than a billion dollars from the CPB, federal funding that made up about 12% of the annual budget of Maine’s public broadcasting network. Critics see it as another step in the slippery slide down the slope of censorship and control over the media.

Denmark in “Full Crisis Mode” Over Greenland

(Denmark) President Trump’s continued assertions that the United States needs Greenland for “national security purposes” has Denmark’s leaders in full crisis mode. Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense, has condemned the President’s ongoing rhetoric, particularly following what many see as an illegal invasion of oil-rich Venezuela by the U.S. and Trump’s refusal to rule out military action in acquiring mineral-rich Greenland. Denmark’s Prime Minister warned yesterday any actions against Greenland by the US would challenge NATO and international principles and that attacking another NATO country would end alliances. NATO, of course, created after WWII to guarantee the freedom and security of its members. Article 5 of the treaty states “an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.”

Trump Warns Republicans, “I Could Be Impeached”

(Washington, DC) With high stakes elections looming, President Donald Trump this week warned Republicans they must win the 2026 Congressional midterms or else he will get impeached by Democrats. The Associated Press reports ahead of the November elections, which could stall his agenda and expose him to congressional investigations, Trump prodded allies who narrowly control the House to put aside their differences and push his policies on gender, healthcare, and government control to an American electorate angry about the rising cost of living.

ICE Agent Fatally Shoots Woman in Minneapolis

(Minneapolis) An Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Wednesday shot and killed a 37 yo woman during operations in Minneapolis. ABC News reports the victim was a U.S. citizen who was an observer and who Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chavez said was “watching out for our immigrant neighbors”. ICE agents allege the woman was attempting to run over law enforcement officers and that the officer fired defensively, but video posted on social media appears to show the woman attempting to drive away as agents opened fire. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the incident an “act of defensive terrorism.” But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged citizens to remain calm and not to give the Administration an excuse to send in troops. He also told ICE to “…get the [expletive] out of Minneapolis,” adding “We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some sort of safety, and you are doing the opposite.”

National News 01/07/26

Trump Administration Overhauls Childhood Vaccine Schedule

(Washington, DC) Effective immediately, the US CDC will no longer recommend every child be immunized for rotavirus, influenza, Hepatitis A and other diseases. According to the Washington Post, officials claim the new guidance aligns with other countries. But many experts warn the changes are built on faulty assumptions and will endanger children. Vaccines that are still routinely recommended include MMR, Polio, Chicken Pox, Dtap, Tdap, HIb, PCV, and HPV.

Hegseth Launches Proceedings Against Senator Mark Kelly

(Washington, DC) In a move sure to trigger lawsuits and already angering proponents of free speech, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched administrative proceedings against Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. Hegseth is targeting the former astronaut over a video posted by Kelly in November, reminding U.S. troops they are within their rights in disobeying illegal orders, a move sources say infuriated the President. Hegseth is reportedly seeking to demote Kelly’s military status and cut his pension. Kelly was quick to fire back, comparing his family’s generations of military service to the President’s five deferrals because of bone spurs. Kelly asserted he would not be intimidated and said, “Hegseth and Trump don’t get to decide what Americans … get to say about their government.” A former Army attorney said of Hegseth’s actions the message was loud and clear – toe the line or we can ruin your life.

Noem Moves to Cut FEMA Workforce

(Washington, DC) Even as disasters grow more frequent and wreak more extensive damage, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said she wants to reduce staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, by half. Emails seen by The Washington Post detail potential reductions to thousands of disaster response and recovery roles, with terminations likely to come in waves. Cuts began New Year’s Eve, with the elimination of 65 staffers from the agency’s largest workforce known as CORE … staffers who are among the first on the ground after a disaster and who often remain for years to help communities recover.

National News 01/05/26

Venezuela Takeover

(Undated) In an unprecedented move, the United States on Saturday conducted what’s being called a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela, taking President Nicolas Maduro and his wife captive and accusing them of narco-terrorism. The invasion followed dozens of attacks against what President Trump called the country’s “drug-smuggling” boats. Leaders in the U.S. and around the world were quick to condemn the attack, with one calling it “a blatant, illegal, and criminal act with no legal basis.” Congress, which has broad authority to authorize or prohibit the President’s war powers, has so far done neither, with members expected to address the issue this week. Trump has gone so far as to say the US will now “run” the South American country, while tapping its vast oil reserves. Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC, holds one of the largest oil reserves in the world, and many question why other dictators, such as Putin, have been given a pass. Still others accused the President of creating a distraction from the Epstein files, exorbitant increases in healthcare costs, and growing economic concerns here at home.

Mamdani Sworn in as Mayor of New York City

(NYC) It was a striking scene Thursday as Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim and self-declared Democratic Socialist, was sworn in as Mayor of New York City by a Jewish Progressive, Bernie Sanders. Mamdani is the first South Asian person and first Muslim to serve as Mayor and the first to use the Quran at his swearing in. The 34-yo is also the youngest mayor in more than a century. In his inauguration speech, Mamdani promised to deliver an agenda of “safety, affordability and abundance – where government looks and lives like the people it represents.” Among challenges the new mayor will face – finding funds to fulfill his ambitious agenda and opposition from President Trump, who’s been outspoken in portraying Mamdani a “communist”.

Department of Homeland Security Pauses Immigration Applications for 20 More Countries

(Undated) The Department of Homeland Security is pausing immigration applications from an additional 20 countries. The decision follows an expansion of travel restrictions that went into effect on Jauary 1. The new list includes mostly African countries, including Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Thirty nine countries are now under full or partial travel bans to the United States. In a memo, the Administration defended the pause, saying the excluded countries have “high overstay rates, significant fraud, or both.”

Obituary

Tatiana Schlossberg

(Undated) Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of John F. Kennedy and daughter of Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg passed away this week at the age of 35. Schlossberg was a journalist who chronicled the changing climate. Last month, she published a deeply personal essay in the New Yorker, revealing her cancer diagnosis and criticizing her cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., calling him an “embarrassment”. Schlossberg’s cancer was discovered in May 2024 while she was in the hospital giving birth to her second child. Schlossberg was just 35 and is survived by her parents, husband and two young children.

National News 01/02/26

Homeland Security Seeks to Fast Track Demolition of Historic Buildings

(WaPo) The East Wing of the White House could be just the first casualty of the Trump Administration. The Washington Post reports the Department of Homeland Security is seeking to fast-track demolition of more than a dozen historic buildings at the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus. Officials say the buildings present a danger and security risks, but threats of demolition have prompted opposition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and others. The campus is the site of the nation’s first federally operated psychiatric hospital and has been redeveloped, primarily to consolidate headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Fire at Swiss Alps Ski Resort Leaves Dozens Dead, Injured

(Switzerland) Several dozen people are presumed dead and more than 100 people were injured during a fire that broke out at a ski resort in Switzerland early on New Year’s Day. Local police said the incident happened about 1:30 a.m. at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, SW Switzerland. Swiss officials say the blaze spread quickly. They continue to look for a cause but have ruled out an attack. The upscale resort offers views of the Matterhorn and is popular with young people who come to the area for skiing and other winter sports.

National News 12/29/25

FEMA’s Lack of Response a Hardship for Victims of Helene

(NC) Over 800 storm victims battered by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina more than a year ago say they have applied for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The Washington Post reports so far, not a single approval has come through. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein calls the paralysis “absolutely unacceptable” and is pushing for answers.

Zelenskyy/Trump Meet

(Washington, DC) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was to meet with President Donald Trump yesterday in Florida for further talks on ending the nearly four-year war begun when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, hoping to seize territory. The President shared on social media that he had a “very productive phone call with … Putin” prior to the meeting with Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy was expected to discuss security guarantees. A broad coalition of European countries, now called the Berlin team, is now part of the ongoing talks. Russia on Saturday bombarded Kyiv with missiles and drones. Following the attack, Canada pledged an additional 2.5B in economic aid for Ukraine.

Trump Approves Strikes Against Nigeria

(AP) President Donald Trump on Christmas Eve announced the U.S. had launched a “powerful and deadly” strike against forces of the Islamic State group in Nigeria. The President has spent weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the targeting of Christians.

Brigette Bardot Dies

(AP) Brigette Bardot, the 1960’s French sex symbol turned militant animal rights activist, has died. The Associated Press reports Bardot died Sunday at her home in southern France. She was 91. Bardot became an international celebrity as a sexualized teen bride in the 1956 movie “And God Created Woman”. Directed by then-husband Roger Vadim, it triggered a scandal with scenes of the long-legged beauty dancing on tables unclothed.

National News 12/24/25

Clinton Calls for Release of Epstein Files

(Washington, DC) A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton is accusing the Department of Justice of using the selective release of Epstein documents to imply wrongdoing where there is none. Angel Urena challenged the department to immediately release any remaining materials mentioning or showing Bill Clinton. In a written statement, Urena said, “The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton.” Clinton himself has called for release of all the files to avoid “insinuation”, saying he has nothing to hide.

U.S. Economy Grows at Strong Rate

(AP) The U.S. economy showed a surprisingly strong growth rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years. The Associated Press reports the growth was driven by consumers, who continue to spend in the face of ongoing inflation. A number of economists believe the growth spurt may be short-lived, with the federal shutdown dragging down the economy in the fourth quarter and a growing number of Americans fatigued by stubbornly high inflation. A survey published Tuesday by the Conference Board showed consumer confidence slumped close to levels not seen since the US rolled out broad tariffs on its trading partners in April.

Trump Administration Seeks to Void Asylum Claims

(Washington, DC) The Trump Administration has mounted a nationwide campaign to void the asylum claims of thousands of immigrants by arguing they can be deported to countries that are not their own. That’s according to internal government data obtained by CBS News. The effort targets asylum seekers with pending cases in immigration courts across the U.S. – courts that are not part of the judicial branch but are run by the Justice Department, with lawyers from ICE representing the government in the proceedings.

National News 12/23/25

Weiss Abruptly Pulls Expose on Trump Deportations

(CBS) CBS News has abruptly pulled an investigative segment on the Trump administration’s deportation of Venezuelan migrants, set to air on “60 minutes”. The piece focused on the prisoners being sent to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. The Washington Post reports the decision came directly from the network’s conservative editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, who defended her decision, saying the details of horrific abuse had been reported on by others two months earlier. The segment’s production team had requested comment from the White House, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security, but the administration declined to grant the journalists an interview. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi called the administration’s refusal “a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story.”

Trump Administration Begins Recalling Career Diplomats

(AP) The Trump Administration this week began recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorships and other senior embassy posts, as it moves to reshape the U.S. diplomatic posture abroad with personnel deemed fully supportive of the President’s “America First” priorities. State Department officials confirmed the removals to the Associated Press, stating the positions were “a personal representation of the president.” The diplomats, all of whom were installed under the Biden Administration, were informed their tenures would end in January.

National News 12/22/25

NORAD to Track Santa Again This Year

(ABC) For the 70th consecutive year, people of all ages will be able to monitor Santa’s progress Christmas Eve, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado, otherwise known as NORAD. ABC News reports more than a thousand volunteers will be taking calls to 877-HI-NORAD from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain Standard Time on the 24th. Santa seekers will also, for the first time this year, be able to place a call through the program’s website, which organizers say will be easier for those outside North America. Don’t forget to leave out the milk and cookies.

President Trump Announces Lower Prescription Prices

(Washington, DC) President Trump on Friday announced nine drugmakers have signed on to lower the cost of their prescription drugs in the U.S. The Associated Press reports companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, and Novartis, have agreed to reign in Medicaid drug prices to match what they charge in other countries. As part of the deal, new drugs made by those companies will also be charged at the so-called “most favored nation” rates.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Housing Limits

(PPH) A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to halt changes to a grant program that could leave thousands across the country homeless. The Portland Press Herald reports U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy ruled on a lawsuit filed by 20 States Attorneys General, including Maine’s Aaron Frey, that challenged the Trump Administration’s proposed limits on support for long-term housing.

12/19/25 National News

Brown University Killer Found Dead

(Providence, RI) Authorities say the Brown University shooter who killed two and left nine others wounded last Saturday has been found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They say the body of the Portuguese national, 48 yo Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was found in a storage facility in New Hampshire. He’s also suspected of murdering an MIT professor in Brookline, Massachusetts days after the Brown shooting. Although Neves Valente was enrolled at Brown in 2000, he had no current affiliation with the University. A motive for the killings remains unclear.

US Announces Massive Arms Sales to Taiwan

(AP) The Trump Administration Thursday announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan. The package, valued at more than $10B, further strained relationships with China. The State Department said the package includes medium-range missiles, howitzers, and drones, drawing an angry response from the Chinese government, which claims Taiwan as a province, though it has not ruled the country since 1949. If approved by Congress, it would be the largest ever U.S. weapons package to Taiwan.

Partisan Plaques

(Washington, DC) President Trump has added plaques to his newly-installed Presidential Walk of Fame, with messages he claims were written by him “to highlight Presidents good, bad and somewhere in between.” The plaques include references to “sleepy Joe Biden, the worst President in history” and refers to Biden’s “severe mental decline” and “the Biden Crime Family” under a picture of an autopen. Beneath Presidential portraits, Barack Obama is described as “the most divisive President in history”. A plaque placed by a portrait of Ronald Reagan claims he was a fan of the young Donald Trump.

12/18/25 National News

Chief of Staff Faces Criticism of Interview with Vanity Fair

(Washington, DC) President Trump is defending his White House Chief of Staff after she gave candid interviews to Vanity Fair that included less than flattering descriptions of those in power in the nation’s capitol. Among other commets, Susie Wiles told the magazine the President has “an alcoholic’s personality”, Spokesperson Pam Bondi “whiffed” on the Epstein files, and Vice President J.D. Vance’s pro-Trump makeover was politically motivated. Wiles reportedly gave eleven on-the-record interviews that were published Tuesday. She defended her words, saying they were taken out of context. Trump called the interviewer “misguided”, but Vanity Fair backed the articles, saying the conversations with Wiles were “on the record”.

Reiner Killings

(Undated) Nick Reiner, the 32 yo son of slain director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, appeared in court yesterday, but did not enter a plea. He’s charged with two counts of first degree murder in the stabbing death of his parents. Reiner’s attorney told the court it was “too early” for a plea and that he and the prosecution had agreed to delay the arraignment, now set for January 7th.

Republicans Break with Speaker Mike Johnson on ACA Vote

(AP) Four centrist Republicans yesterday broke with Speaker Mike Johnson and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on a proposed three-year extension of ACA tax credits. The credits lower health insurance costs for millions of Americans. The Associated Press reports the stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed forward a healthcare bill that failed to address the soaring monthly premiums millions will face when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace expire at the end of this year. Three Republicans from Pennsylvania, along with Mike Lawler of New York, pushed the number of signatures to 218, the number needed to force a floor vote on their bill.

12/17/25

National News

Trump Ignites Fury with Post Following Reiner Murders

(Washington, DC) President Trump this week ignited a firestorm when, less than a day after acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife were found murdered in their Los Angeles home, he hinted the icon was killed because he was critical of Trump. In part, a post on his Truth Social page read, “Rob Reiner … has passed away … reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME,” adding “He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump…” Pushback was swift, including from Republicans like Thomas Massie of Kentucky who called the rant “inappropriate and disrespectful discourse about a man who was just brutally murdered.”

Brown University Shooter Remains at Large

(Providence, RI) The Brown University shooter who killed two and wounded nine others Saturday remains at large. Officials had initially taken into custody a “person of interest”, but later determined he was not involved. New pictures and video released by authorities shows a person in dark clothes and a mask near the scene of the shooting. Classes and exams at the University have been canceled for the remainder of the semester, and security has been tightened on campus and across Providence. The FBI is offering a $50K reward for information leading to an arrest.

National News 12/16/25

Authorities Arrest Reiners’ Son in Connection with Homicide

(Los Angeles) Authorities have arrested 32 yo Nick Reiner, son of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, in connection with the murder of his parents. The couple was found slain Sunday afternoon in their Los Angeles home. The suspect was taken into custody late Sunday and booked early Monday morning. He’s being held in the Los Angeles County Jail on $4M bond. Nick Reiner once told news sources he was homeless in Maine, New Jersey, and Texas and spent nights on the street as he battled addiction. Celebrities,including former President Barack Obama, Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Stephen King and others have expressed shock and sadness at the tragic loss.

Person of Interest in Brown University Shooting Released

(Providence) The search for a gunman in the Brown University shooting continued for a third day yesterday. Authorities told the Washington Post a person of interest was released early Monday morning. Two students were killed and nine others injured, one of whom remains in critical condition. The gunman entered the engineering building on Saturday during the second day of final exam week, shooting students during an exam review session. The University has heightened security on campus and has canceled all classes for the remainder of the semester.

Father and Son Suspected in Bondi Beach Attack

(Australia) Authorities in Australia say a father and son are responsible for killing 15 people and wounding at least 40 others in a shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at a popular beach in Sydney on Sunday. One of the shooters, the father, was killed in the attack; his 24 yo son was hospitalized . He’s expected to be charged in what sources are describing as a terrorist attack aimed at the Jewish population.

National News 12/15/25

“Person of Interest” Detained in Brown University Shooting

(Rhode Island) Authorities in Rhode Island Sunday say they have taken into custody a suspect they’re calling a “person of interest” in the December 13th shooting at Brown University that left two people dead and nine wounded. A gunman opened fire inside a campus engineering building Saturday before fleeing toward downtown Providence, setting off a massive manhunt. No names have been released, but University President Christina Paxson told the Washington Post all the victims are students. One remained in critical condition, while the others were in stable condition as of yesterday afternoon.

Indiana Republicans Take Bold Stand Against Gerrymandering

(AP)) Members of both political parties are applauding Indiana Republican legislators for standing firm against the President’s push toward gerrymandering. Indiana adopted new U.S. House districts four years ago, opting for maps considered “fair” in reflecting the state’s communities. Recently, Governor Mike Braun, under pressure from President Trump, tried to redraw the lines to help Republicans gain more power. The new map would have helped the heavily conservative state win all nine congressional seats. But Indiana State Senators rejected it. One source called the attempt to redraw districts to benefit one party “a fundamental undermining of a key democratic condition.”

Hanukkah Shooting in Australia

(Sydney, Aus) A child is one of at least 16 people killed in an attack by gunmen in Australia over the weekend. The Associated Press reports hundreds had gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah when two gunmen opened fire. Besides those killed, at least 38 people were wounded in the terrorist attack authorities say targeted the Jewish community. It is the deadliest shooting in nearly three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.

Rob Reiner and Wife Slain in Los Angeles Home

(Los Angeles) Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, were found slain yesterday afternoon in their home in Los Angeles. Authorities are calling it a robbery/homicide. On Monday, police arrested the 32-year-old son of the filmmaker, Nick Reiner, in connection with the case.

National News 12/12/25

Time Names 2025 Person of the Year

(Undated) Time Magazine has named its 2025 Person of the Year, the architects of Artificial Intelligence, or AI. OpenAI’s ChatGPT at launch was the fastest-growing consumer app of all time and has now surpassed 800 million weekly users. A key figure is Jensen Huang, CEO of Nividia, the world’s most valuable company and the company that holds a near-monopoly on the advanced chips powering the AI boom. And while AI is transforming the planet in positive ways, researchers have found it can also scheme, deceive, and blackmail, leaving us all with mixed emotions about a technological future that seems unstoppable and that has turned what was once science fiction into everyday reality.

Senate Rejects Extension of Affordable Care Act Tax Credits

(Washington, DC) Look for a steep increase in healthcare costs next year. The Senate yesterday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, virtually guaranteeing a steep rise in premiums for millions of Americans. The Republican-controlled Senate rejected a Democratic bill that would have extended subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts. Republicans argue the plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The Affordable Care Act was President Barack Obama’s signature law passed along party lines in 2010 to expand access to insurance coverage.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Flies From Bangor to Oslo for Nobel Prize

(Bangor) Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been in hiding, arrived in Oslo Thursday, where her daughter received the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Machado credited President Trump with weakening the current regime and told reporters she would return to Venezuela when security conditions were right. According to the Associated Press, the plane on which Machado arrived flew to Oslo from Bangor.

National News 12/11/25

EPA Removes References to Human-Caused Climate Change

(WaPo) The Environmental Protection Agency has removed references to human-caused climate change from its website. The Washington Post reports the EPA has tweaked pages to focus on the “natural processes” driving climate change and wiped other pages from the internet. An example is a clear statement from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that stated, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.” That statement now deleted. Climate scientist Daniel Swain called it one of the more dramatic scrubbings seen so far in the climate space, noting not only have pages been removed, but replaced with inaccurate information. Swain called it “a deliberate effort to misinform”.

Miami Elects First Democratic Mayor in Decades

(Miami, FL/WaPo) A pivotal win for Democrats this week. Miami, Florida elected its first Democratic mayor in almost 30 years. Former County Commissioner Eileen Higgins’ win capped a strong election year for Dems, who have taken advantage of backlash against the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. The Washington Post reports the administration’s move to eliminate bond hearings for immigrants facing deportation has resulted in an explosion of legal challenges claiming the policy violates due process.

Trump Proposes Asking Foreign Visitors for Social Media History

(CBS News) The Trump Administration is proposing a request for visitors from several dozen nations that enjoy visa-free travel to the U.S. to submit additional personal information before entering the country, including five years of their social media history. CBS News reports a notice this week from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the proposal. The list of 42 countries in the visa waiver program includes European nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as other allies around the world, including Australia, Israel, and Japan.