Senator Mark Kelly questioned Army Corps leadership during a Senate hearing about delays in flood control projects in Flagstaff and Winslow, Arizona, which are stalled despite full funding and authorization. Kelly emphasized the urgency of completing the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project and the Winslow Levee Project to mitigate increasing flood risks. Lieutenant General Graham acknowledged the delays and committed to reviewing the projects, citing challenges in project design estimates and promising efforts to improve timely completion.
California and nine other states' financial officers urged President Trump to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that struck down his tariffs, citing concerns over economic uncertainty, state budgeting, and constitutional boundaries. The court's 6-3 decision found that tariffs exceeding congressional authority violate the Constitution, and the officials emphasized the need for stability and proper legislative authority in trade policies. The letter also called for a mechanism to reimburse those affected by tariffs imposed without proper constitutional grounding.
The Supreme Court's decision in *Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump* to strike down expansive tariffs highlights a reinforcement of the separation of powers and limits on executive authority, representing a setback to the trend of increasing statism. However, experts suggest that more measures are needed to restore government’s primary role of safeguarding individual rights and protect economic liberty.
More than 300 Google employees and over 60 OpenAI employees signed an open letter urging their companies to oppose the Pentagon's demand for unrestricted access to Anthropic's AI technology, emphasizing the company's stance against using AI for mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Despite lack of official responses, leaders at Google and OpenAI have shown sympathy for Anthropic’s position, with OpenAI's CEO expressing opposition to government threats and both companies' representatives supporting Anthropic's red lines. The Pentagon has threatened to declare Anthropic a supply chain risk or invoke the Defense Production Act if it does not comply, but Anthropic remains firm in its refusal to support military use of AI for surveillance or autonomous weaponry.
Top Democrats and voting rights experts condemned a draft emergency order supposedly coordinated with anti-voting activists that would allow President Trump to seize control of elections, citing it as unconstitutional and based on false claims of foreign interference. The order, allegedly based on conspiracy theories about China’s interference in the 2020 election, would permit banning mail-in ballots and voting machines, but experts argue it lacks legal authority and undermines state-controlled elections. Many officials, including former officials and advocacy groups, warned that such efforts threaten democratic processes and described the initiative as a power grab aimed at undermining election integrity.
Two social media trolls, known as “ScrubsNYC,” were arrested for a hate crime in Manhattan, involving an incident in which one suspect set a Black woman’s boots on fire during a racially charged confrontation. The suspects, Michael Santiago and Michael James, faced multiple charges including attempted assault, criminal mischief, menacing, and arson. The incident was captured on video, showing racist insults and the boot-burning act, leading to their identification and arrest.
The rivalry between Donald Trump's political strategists, Steve Bannon and Chris LaCivita, has intensified over a contested Republican Senate primary in Texas, with Bannon supporting Ken Paxton and LaCivita backing incumbent Senator John Cornyn. Bannon publicly criticized the involvement of the Trump team in the race, while tensions also relate to past controversies involving Bannon’s communications with Jeffrey Epstein. The internal conflict highlights broader tensions within the MAGA political circle as they vie for influence ahead of upcoming House and Senate battles.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations, indicating he would wait for further talks before assessing future actions. Tensions remain high as Iran and the U.S. have yet to reach a deal in Geneva, with the U.S. increasing military presence in the region and considering potential strikes, while diplomatic efforts continue through mediators. Several countries are advising their nationals to leave the region due to escalating security concerns and possible military conflict.
A victim from Hilton Head, South Carolina, is at the center of controversy regarding the Justice Department's incomplete release of Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents, which omitted several FBI interview summaries and related files, raising questions about potential selective withholding. The victim’s account includes allegations of sexual assault by Epstein when she was a teenager in the 1980s, and a tip claimed Epstein forced her to perform a sex act on Donald Trump, though law enforcement details remain unclear. The DOJ defended its document release as lawful and sufficient, but critics and members of Congress have criticized the agency for delays and redactions, leading to ongoing investigations.
Hillary Clinton testified for over six hours in a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton described the questioning as repetitive and expressed disappointment that the hearing was not public, criticizing the focus on unrelated topics like UFOs and conspiracy theories. She maintained she had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and clarified her and her husband's involvement with Epstein, with her husband, Bill Clinton, scheduled to testify next. Committee members described the session as productive and indicated that the recordings and transcripts should be made available soon.
Pam Bondi criticized Democrats for not standing during President Trump's tribute to Iryna Zarutska, a murdered Ukrainian refugee, at the State of the Union. Zarutska's mother attended the speech and was emotional as her daughter's story was shared, but Democrats remained seated. Bondi and Trump emphasized the crime and prosecution efforts, with Trump using the moment to call for stricter legislation against repeat offenders.
U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Andy Kim have requested the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to disclose the beneficial owners of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company applying for a national trust bank charter. They highlight concerns over the ownership structure, particularly the reported 49% ownership by entities linked to a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, and emphasize the public's right to know who profits from the firm's activities, which include issuing stablecoins and potentially handling American funds. The senators argue that transparency is essential given the company's connections to the Trump family and the potential for conflicts of interest.
