Bayer is appealing to the US Supreme Court to limit Roundup litigation by citing support from President Trump and US regulators, including an EPA letter stating glyphosate does not warrant a cancer warning. The company argues that federal law preempts state failure-to-warn claims and highlights an executive order emphasizing glyphosate's importance to agriculture. Bayer has paid over $11 billion in settlements related to lawsuits claiming its glyphosate-based herbicides cause cancer. The Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for April 27.
FBI Director Kash Patel ordered the removal of at least 10 employees involved in the investigation of President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, amid an internal review related to subpoenaing communication records of individuals including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The investigation is part of broader scrutiny into FBI actions during the Trump documents probe, which led to criminal charges against Trump and others. Patel also publicly criticized the FBI for secretly subpoenaing his and Wiles' phone records during the investigation.
Bill and Hillary Clinton are preparing to testify in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, amid efforts by Republicans and some Democrats to hold them in contempt for refusing to cooperate. The investigation revisits past scandals and personal ties to Epstein, with the Clintons employing their usual strategic defense, including public statements and refutations. Despite longstanding support, some Democratic lawmakers have shifted allegiance, and former President Trump has expressed concern over the investigation. The Clintons continue to deny wrongdoing while facing intensified political and media scrutiny.
Dozens of FBI witness interview records from Jeffrey Epstein's investigation, including three related to a woman who accused Epstein of abusing her starting at age 13 and also alleged sexual assault by Donald Trump, are missing from the publicly released files. The Department of Justice denies deleting any records, stating that unshared documents are duplicates, privileged, or part of ongoing investigations. Some missing records are believed to pertain to a victim’s allegations against Trump, which include claims of sexual assault during the 1980s, but the full documentation remains largely redacted or unavailable. Victims and lawmakers have expressed concerns about transparency and the completeness of the released records.
According to CNN, dozens of FBI witness interviews related to Jeffrey Epstein's case are missing from the files released by the Department of Justice, including three interviews involving a woman who accused Epstein of sexual abuse and also alleged that President Trump assaulted her. The DOJ maintains that no records have been deleted and attributes missing documents to duplicates, privileges, or ongoing investigations. Critics and victims have expressed concerns that the missing files hinder transparency and accountability regarding Epstein's investigation.
During the State of the Union address, Rep. Ilhan Omar and President Trump exchanged tense remarks, with Omar accusing Trump of lying about fraud and yelling "You're killing Americans" at him. Trump criticized immigration policies and discussed alleged fraud in Minnesota, which Omar and other Democrats opposed, leading to interruptions and protests. Omar's guest, Aliya Rahman, was reportedly arrested during the event for standing up, and some Democrats held signs condemning immigration enforcement actions.
Students at IC Imagine Public Charter School participated in a walkout to protest immigration enforcement operations, joining a broader trend of student-led protests across western North Carolina and the United States. These demonstrations have been partly in response to deadly incidents involving federal immigration agents and have prompted various school districts to address their policies on student protests. School districts like Buncombe County and Asheville City Schools emphasize student safety but have yet to clarify specific protest policies.
President Donald Trump has not provided a clear or coherent explanation for recent U.S. military buildup and heightened tensions with Iran, despite claims that Iran's nuclear program was destroyed months earlier. Trump and his administration have offered vague justifications for potential military action, with little substance or detailed reasoning. During his State of the Union address, Trump briefly mentioned Iran, reiterating claims that the U.S. had "obliterated" Iran’s nuclear weapons program, but did not clarify the rationale behind escalating military threats.
President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in history, lasting 107 minutes from the U.S. Capitol, with Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivering the Democratic response. The speech included guests such as Jeffrey Epstein survivors, while over two dozen Democrats boycotted or held counter-programming events. Notably, Rep. Al Green was escorted out after displaying a provocative sign, and the U.S. men's hockey team received a standing ovation during the event.
Following a surge in December and January, the number of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota has significantly decreased, with fewer than 1,000 remaining out of over 4,000 deployed during Operation Metro Surge. The operation, described as the largest immigration enforcement effort in U.S. history, resulted in about 4,000 arrests but also caused widespread fear and incidents of violence. Most agents have now left Minnesota, with additional departures scheduled, and the operation was conducted without local law enforcement assistance.
Homeland Security told election officials that it will not send ICE agents to polling places during the midterm elections, describing such claims as misinformation. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold expressed skepticism about assurances that ICE would not be involved and highlighted concerns over federal officials' reluctance to affirm states' constitutional oversight of elections. The call, conducted amid tensions between state and federal authorities, also addressed broader issues such as election security and federal involvement in voter data management.
The Daily Show humorously credited Kristi Noem for providing the Trump administration with a "sex scandal involving consenting adults" due to reports of her affair with aide Corey Lewandowski and their travel on taxpayer-funded planes. Host Desi Lydic joked about the situation, including Lewandowski allegedly firing a pilot over a forgotten blanket, and criticized broader political issues while also mocking other figures like JD Vance. The segment used satire to highlight personal and political controversies involving Noem and others.
