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.
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.
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 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.
Melania Trump is set to preside over a United Nations Security Council session on "Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict" in New York, marking the first time a sitting first lady has led a council meeting. The event coincides with the US holding the Security Council’s rotating presidency and aims to highlight education's role in fostering peace. The session will include international representatives and focus on issues such as the return of children taken by Russia from Ukraine. This represents a historic departure from typical Security Council leadership, which is usually conducted by UN ambassadors or senior officials.
Since the cease-fire in Gaza began on October 10, 2025, at least 609 people, including 100 children, have been killed by the Israeli army, according to B'Tselem. Humanitarian groups report severe restrictions on aid supplies, leading to worsened living conditions amid ongoing destruction of infrastructure, including over 1,500 buildings. The article emphasizes that true peace requires accountability and justice for the violence and suffering experienced by civilians.
A secret group of Trump supporters met last year to investigate election fraud, but key members were demoted or sidelined, leading to internal conflicts. The article also reports on upcoming judicial nominations, including Samuel D. Adkisson for a Tennessee federal judgeship and T. Elliot Gaiser for the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, Justice Sonia Sotomayor encouraged Puerto Ricans to take pride in their U.S. citizenship during a speech at the University of Puerto Rico.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's aggressive demands on AI company Anthropic, including threatening to cut ties or invoke the Defense Production Act for unrestricted access to its AI models, have been widely criticized as incoherent and risky. Experts note that Hegseth's ultimatum conflicts with the Pentagon's current relationship with Anthropic, which is under a $200 million contract, and warn that his approach could harm future collaborations with Silicon Valley. The tensions stem from disagreements over the use and ethical restrictions of Anthropic's AI technology, particularly related to its deployment during recent military operations.
The article explores President Trump's cautious stance on potential military action against Iran amid a significant buildup of US naval and air forces in the region, comparable to the Iraq invasion era. It highlights concerns about repeating past strategic miscalculations, including the lack of clear justification and the unpredictable consequences of regime change, which could result in a more radical leadership or instability. Diplomacy remains a possibility through ongoing talks, but even if Iran offers concessions, Trump may prioritize military options due to domestic political considerations and ambitions to leave a historic legacy by potentially removing the Iranian regime.
A group of MAGA activists is working with the White House to persuade President Trump to declare a national emergency over alleged Chinese election interference, which they claim would give him expanded powers to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines. The proposed executive order, based on claims of foreign interference in the 2020 election, has not been legally tested in court, and experts note that the president's authority to directly control election procedures is limited by the Constitution.
