New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss federal investment in housing, presenting visual proposals including a project with 12,000 units. Mamdani also used a mock-up of a front page similar to a 1975 newspaper to illustrate the impact of federal support or neglect on the city, garnering a positive response from Trump. Additionally, Mamdani raised concerns about the detention of a student, Elmina Aghayeva, which led to her release shortly after the meeting. The meeting, unannounced in advance, followed their previous November discussion focused on housing and urban development issues.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met unannounced with President Donald Trump in Washington, where he proposed a housing project of approximately 12,000 units, describing the meeting as productive and expressing enthusiasm for building more housing. Mamdani presented a mock-up of front pages to symbolize the scale of the project and discussed the imminent release of Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva, whom Mamdani urged the president to help free. The meeting follows recent positive comments from Trump about Mamdani and reflects a diplomatic relationship despite earlier political tensions.
A group of over 3,900 medical professionals from 49 states has sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, urging the immediate release of children detained in immigration facilities across the U.S. They emphasize that children face significant health risks due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate conditions, and call for transparency and adherence to pediatric medical guidelines. The pediatricians also highlight the unique physiological needs of children and advocate for increased accountability from government officials.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are advocating for former President Trump to be deposed regarding Epstein ties, citing a precedent set by Bill Clinton's deposition. Rep. Robert Garcia emphasized the importance of Trump answering questions from survivors, while Republican Chair James Comer argued that Trump's status as a sitting president prevents such deposition.
Senators Durbin, Padilla, and Kelly criticized DHS for arresting 261 DACA recipients and removing 86 between January and November 2025, expressing concern over wrongful targeting and lack of transparency. They criticized the previous administration’s characterization of some DACA recipients with criminal histories and called for more detailed information from DHS on the basis for these arrests. The senators emphasized the social, emotional, and economic harm caused by these actions and advocated for protecting Dreamers and pursuing a pathway to citizenship.
Following the Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean called on the Treasury Department to issue refunds for the $134 billion collected from American families and businesses, asserting the tariffs were illegal and unconstitutional.
The article reports that former President Donald Trump and his administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have targeted Sen. Mark Kelly for his criticism of the military's duty to disobey illegal orders, viewing it as a threat to their influence. Trump labeled Kelly’s speech as "sedition" and sought to censure him, while efforts continue to reduce Kelly's retirement rank and challenge his free speech rights, reflecting an attempt to politicize the military and suppress dissent. Experts suggest these actions aim to undermine constitutional protections for service members and entrench loyalty to political leadership.
The Supreme Court ruling on tariffs has led to over 900 legal challenges, with claims for refunds increasing after judges ruled against the Trump administration.
Soybean farmers are preparing for another challenging year despite a Supreme Court ruling that struck down some of President Trump's tariffs, which had heavily impacted the industry during the trade war with China. While the ruling was praised by farmers, they note that government aid of $12 billion is insufficient to cover their losses, which averaged $109 per acre last year. Farmers and industry groups continue to advocate for better trade deals and stronger safety net measures in the upcoming farm bill, as tariffs and market uncertainties persist.
Influencer Nick Shirley, previously supported for promoting false allegations of fraud against Minnesota’s Somali community, faced backlash after endorsing an antisemitic video from influencer Tyler Oliveira. While some in the MAGA movement criticized Shirley and acknowledged the problematic nature of his actions, others, including Oliveira and Nick Fuentes, attacked conservatives for objecting. The controversy has highlighted tensions within the conservative movement regarding tolerance of antisemitism, with some critics warning that such bigotry is increasingly hard to contain.
The US bank regulator indicated it would consider a request from Democratic senators to review the application of World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by Donald Trump's family, for a national trust bank charter. Democrats expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest and requested access to unredacted documents, citing connections to Trump's sons and significant UAE investment, while the regulator emphasized its commitment to a fair, transparent process. The White House has denied any conflicts of interest related to the Trump family's crypto involvement.
A WIRED report has revealed that Garrett Wade, a 27-year-old Trump administration staffer and rapid response social media manager, is linked to the anonymous X account Johnny MAGA, which has over 280,000 followers and regularly posts pro-Trump content. Wade's association with the account has raised concerns about transparency and the influence of anonymous influencers within the government, though neither Wade nor the account has publicly confirmed the connection. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
