Governor Gavin Newsom of California has changed his position and now supports taxpayer-funded paid pregnancy leave for public school and community college teachers. This new plan would offer up to 14 weeks of paid leave starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year, after many years of vetoing similar measures.
Key Facts
The proposal is included in Newsom's May budget revision.
It would provide up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 and community college employees.
Newsom opposed or vetoed similar paid leave bills during most of his time as governor.
Previous efforts to expand paid leave for teachers failed partly due to concerns over costs and budget priorities.
The new plan is estimated to cost around $220 million annually.
The state now has enough discretionary education funding to support the paid leave.
The bill includes leave for pregnancy, miscarriage, and termination of pregnancy (which covers elective abortions).
The proposal still needs approval from the state legislature as part of budget negotiations.
Women now make up nearly 50% of the California Legislature, which influenced the shift in support.
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President Donald Trump's Department of Justice announced a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund aimed at providing compensation for people who claim they were unfairly targeted by previous government actions. Some lawmakers and two police officers from the January 6 Capitol riot have challenged the fund, arguing it is illegal and could support violent groups.
Key Facts
The DOJ announced a $1.776 billion fund called the Anti-Weaponization Fund to address claims of "lawfare" or unfair legal attacks.
The fund will be managed by a five-member commission, four appointed by the attorney general, with power to issue apologies and money payments.
The fund is part of a settlement where President Trump dropped a lawsuit against the IRS related to leaked tax returns.
Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrat Jamie Raskin are among lawmakers challenging the fund.
Two police officers who were at the January 6 Capitol riot filed a lawsuit to block the fund, citing risks that it could help groups like the Proud Boys.
The officers argue the fund rewards violence and stops prosecution of past attacks.
The DOJ says previous administrations used law enforcement unfairly against conservatives, and this fund aims to correct those wrongs.
The legal and political debate raises questions about executive power and use of taxpayer money.
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A $72 billion funding deal for ICE and Border Patrol is delayed after Republican senators opposed President Donald Trump's $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund." The disagreement caused Senate and House votes to be postponed, putting the funding package in uncertainty.
Key Facts
The funding deal includes $72 billion for ICE and Border Patrol agencies.
President Trump proposed a $1.776 billion fund to prevent weapons misuse, called the "anti-weaponization fund."
Several Republican senators opposed this fund, disrupting the budget agreement.
Senators met with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for two hours but left without voting.
The House canceled its planned votes due to the Senate delay.
Senator Lisa Murkowski described the fund proposal as unexpected and disruptive.
Senator Ron Johnson called the situation a "galactic blunder."
Senator Bill Cassidy expressed doubts about the fund and recently lost his GOP primary amid President Trump's political actions.
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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) released a detailed report reviewing their 2024 election campaign. The report criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for ignoring rural voters and not strongly challenging President Donald Trump. The DNC chair delayed the report’s release but apologized for the hold-up.
Key Facts
The DNC’s report is 192 pages long and reviews the 2024 presidential campaign.
It says Kamala Harris did not focus enough on rural America.
The report claims Harris did not attack President Trump strongly enough.
Ken Martin, the DNC chair, delayed releasing the report for months.
Martin faced pressure from Democrats who were unhappy with the delay.
He said the report was withheld because it was "not ready for primetime."
Martin apologized for how he handled the delay in releasing the report.
The report avoids discussing some controversial parts of the campaign.
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The Trump administration has changed federal student aid rules to let Pell Grants pay for short-term job training programs, not just college degrees. This change aims to help more Americans get quick, affordable training for jobs with good pay.
Key Facts
Pell Grants are federal financial aid for low-income students.
Previously, Pell Grants mainly covered two- and four-year college degrees.
Starting July 1, Pell Grants can be used for short-term programs as short as 8 weeks.
Eligible programs focus on high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs like welding, coding, healthcare, and technical fields.
Programs must show strong job placement rates and lead to recognized certificates or career paths.
This change helps people who want faster job training, including workers changing careers or recent high school graduates.
The goal is to reduce student debt and prepare people for the workforce more quickly.
The Department of Education and the Labor Department support this plan as a way to align funding with career-focused education.
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A recent poll shows that nearly 75% of Democratic voters now oppose U.S. military aid to Israel, a significant increase from three years ago. Many Democrats feel their party supports Israel too much, and most also oppose a potential U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Key Facts
Almost three-quarters of Democratic voters oppose U.S. military aid to Israel.
This opposition rose from 45% three years ago to nearly 75% now.
About half of Democrats say their party is too supportive of Israel.
95% of Democratic voters oppose a U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
60% of Democrats sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis; just 15% feel the opposite.
Younger Democrats (ages 18-49) are more likely to have an unfavorable view of Israel than older voters.
Democratic leaders like House Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer still strongly support Israel.
President Donald Trump is a close ally of Israel and has supported military action against Iran.
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Soubhiye Zeiter, a woman who lost her home due to war, decided to help by baking bread for her community. She began by baking 200 loaves daily and increased her effort to 3,000 loaves each day to support those affected by the conflict.
Key Facts
Soubhiye Zeiter is a displaced woman from Lebanon.
She vowed to help feed people affected by war after losing her home.
She initially baked 200 mana’eesh (a type of bread) daily.
Her baking efforts grew to 3,000 loaves of bread each day.
The bread supports the local community impacted by war.
Soubhiye’s work is focused on providing food in a difficult time caused by conflict.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Department of Justice’s new $1.776 billion fund, called the “anti-weaponization” fund. The fund is designed to help people who feel the government treated them unfairly by paying to settle their claims. Some lawmakers from both political parties have criticized this fund.
Key Facts
The fund is called the “anti-weaponization” fund.
It has a budget of $1.776 billion.
The purpose is to help people who claim the government wrongly targeted them.
The fund assists by paying money to settle these claims.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche supports and defends the fund.
Lawmakers from both parties have expressed criticism of the fund.
The fund is managed by the Department of Justice.
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Some Democrats are unhappy with how the Democratic National Committee (DNC) managed a report analyzing why the party lost the 2024 presidential election. The DNC chair first wanted to keep the report private but later released it after pressure from party members.
Key Facts
The report is called an "autopsy" because it looks at what went wrong in the 2024 election.
Democratic Party leaders showed frustration about how the DNC handled this report.
Ken Martin is the current chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Martin originally planned to keep the report secret.
After criticism, Martin released the report on a Thursday.
David Hogg, a former DNC vice chair, was among those pushing for the report to be public.
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Hotels in U.S. cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup are seeing fewer bookings than expected a few weeks before the tournament begins. Factors like visa problems, less international travel, and high ticket prices are causing lower hotel demand, even though over 5 million tickets have been sold.
Key Facts
Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 of the 104 World Cup games from June 11 to July 19, with the rest in Canada and Mexico.
Almost 80% of hotel owners say bookings are below what they first expected.
Kansas City reports 85-90% of hotels have booking numbers lower than a usual June or July.
Houston and Seattle also show weaker booking rates, between 65% and 75% below expectations.
Visa issues and global political concerns are keeping many international travelers from visiting.
Some cities like Atlanta are doing better and expect more bookings soon.
Vancouver and Toronto in Canada are experiencing similar hotel booking challenges.
Experts expect stadiums will be full but say the U.S. and FIFA need to make travel easier for visitors.
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A recent U.S. Drought Monitor map shows large parts of the country facing severe to extreme drought conditions, especially in the West, Plains, South, and Southeast regions. The drought is linked to record warm temperatures in the last year, with expert forecasts predicting drought will continue or worsen in many areas through the summer.
Key Facts
The U.S. Drought Monitor uses five levels to rate drought severity, with “exceptional” (D4) as the worst.
Parts of Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas are facing “exceptional” drought.
“Extreme” drought (D3) affects many states including Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The last 12 months were the warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., with April being the third warmest on record.
More than 40% of the lower 48 states suffer from severe to exceptional drought, with the Southeast at its largest extent of drought ever recorded.
The Climate Prediction Center forecasts continued drought in northern and western areas, with possible improvement in the southern Four Corners region due to monsoons.
Rainfall may improve conditions in parts of Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, Florida, the coastal Southeast, and the Northeast.
The interior Southeast and south-central Plains will likely keep experiencing drought, while new drought conditions may develop in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
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Gas prices in the United States have risen sharply to record levels amid ongoing conflict with Iran. Many Americans are concerned about the lasting impact of this overseas conflict on their economy and daily expenses.
Key Facts
Gas prices have reached historic highs in the U.S.
The price increase is linked to continued military conflict involving Iran.
The conflict was initially expected to last less than six weeks.
Many Americans are feeling the economic effects of the conflict.
The situation is causing worry about how long higher costs will continue.
The conflict is happening far from the U.S., but it is impacting domestic prices.
The economic fallout includes higher expenses for fuel and possibly other goods.
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Police on the Italian island of Stromboli stopped a party where Mick Jagger and cast members of a film were celebrating because music is banned on Wednesdays. The party was stopped after local residents complained, and the group accepted the order despite some confusion.
Key Facts
Mick Jagger was celebrating the end of filming for "Three Incestuous Sisters" on Stromboli.
Music is banned on Wednesdays on the island, leading police to stop the party.
Other actors at the party included Josh O’Connor, Jessie Buckley, Saoirse Ronan, Dakota Johnson, and Isabella Rossellini.
The music was played quietly from a small speaker, yet the party was stopped shortly before midnight.
Residents complained about the music, prompting police action.
The mayor of Lipari, the municipality including Stromboli, enforces the music ban.
A local tourism leader said the party stoppage showed a lack of support for the island’s tourism and economic benefits.
Jagger and the cast left Stromboli the next day, some by private helicopter.
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Activist Zee Cohen-Sanchez plans to release a documentary claiming waste and fraud within Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative youth group. TPUSA has grown significantly after the death of its founder, Charlie Kirk, with increased donations and new chapters.
Key Facts
Zee Cohen-Sanchez is a liberal activist and founder of National Ground Game, a Democratic youth group.
She says her documentary will reveal alleged waste, fraud, and abuse at Turning Point USA.
Cohen-Sanchez aims to counter TPUSA’s influence on college campuses through voter registration and engagement.
TPUSA’s founder, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated on a college campus in September 2024.
After Kirk’s death, TPUSA quickly received over 32,000 requests to start new campus chapters.
The organization also gained many new followers and doubled its faith network within a month.
Fundraisers raised millions for the Kirk family, with donation options up to $10,000 available on TPUSA’s website.
TPUSA has not yet released full financial reports detailing how much money it raised after Kirk’s death.
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Senior civil servants in the UK government will receive bonuses for the first time as part of a new system to reward top performers. Most civil servants will get a 3.5% pay rise, while senior staff will get a 2.5% raise plus potential bonuses based on performance.
Key Facts
Senior civil servants will be eligible for bonuses for exceptional work, a new change in pay policy.
Most civil servants will receive a 3.5% pay increase this year.
Senior staff get a base raise of 2.5%, with 1% reserved for bonuses for the highest performers.
The bonus system aims to reward “doers, not talkers,” focusing on results rather than words.
The pay rise and bonuses are part of efforts to improve motivation and performance in the civil service.
The union for senior civil servants supports the changes but says pay progression for most other civil servants still needs improvement.
The government rejected a full 3.5% raise for senior staff to keep funds for bonuses.
The reform is part of wider government plans to save money and increase efficiency by 2030.
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Tennessee stopped the execution of death row inmate Tony Carruthers after officials spent an hour trying to find a vein to deliver lethal drugs. Carruthers showed signs of pain during the process, and the execution was called off.
Key Facts
The execution of Tony Carruthers in Tennessee was canceled.
Officials had trouble finding a vein to inject lethal drugs for about one hour.
Carruthers was seen wincing and groaning, indicating pain.
The information comes from Carruthers’ attorney, who witnessed the event.
Tennessee’s corrections department did not respond to requests for comment.
The case involves capital punishment in the state of Tennessee.
This news story is still developing and may have updates later.
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The US Supreme Court rejected Alabama’s request to challenge a ruling that Joseph Clifton Smith, a man on death row, is intellectually disabled and cannot be executed under the Constitution. The Court dismissed the case without a full review, leaving in place the lower court’s decision that blocked Smith’s execution.
Key Facts
Joseph Clifton Smith was convicted of a 1997 murder and is on death row in Alabama.
The lower court found Smith intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty under the US Constitution.
The Supreme Court dismissed Alabama’s petition to review the case without a full decision on the merits.
The main legal question involved how to interpret multiple IQ scores around the cutoff for intellectual disability.
Alabama’s rule bars executing people with an IQ of 70 or below and significant daily living skill deficits before age 18.
Smith’s IQ scores ranged from 72 to 78, with some uncertainty that could lower one score to 69.
Evidence included school records labeling Smith with mild intellectual disability and proof of difficulties in daily life skills.
The Supreme Court’s 2002 ruling states executing intellectually disabled people violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel punishment.
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Senate Republicans have stopped plans to vote on a budget package that would fund immigration enforcement with about $70 billion through 2029. This decision comes after strong disagreements within their group over President Donald Trump's idea to create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate his supporters.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans had planned to vote on a budget reconciliation package this week.
The package would provide around $70 billion to support immigration enforcement up to 2029.
There is a fierce disagreement among Senate Republicans about the package.
The dispute centers on President Trump's proposal for a $1.8 billion compensation fund.
The compensation fund would be for MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters.
Due to the disagreement, Senate Republicans cancelled the planned vote.
The issue reflects divisions within the Republican Party over budget priorities and Trump-related spending.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is testifying before a House committee about President Trump’s budget request for 2027. This comes as airline prices are rising due to a shortage of jet fuel linked to the conflict involving Iran.
Key Facts
Sean Duffy is the Transportation Secretary.
He is speaking to a House Appropriations Committee panel.
The discussion focuses on President Trump’s 2027 budget request.
The budget request includes $26.6 billion for the Department of Transportation.
Airline prices are increasing because of a jet fuel shortage.
The fuel shortage is connected to the war involving Iran.
The White House is also planning for Federal Aviation Administration funding as part of the budget.
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The Metropolitan Police wants to spend £50 million on Palantir’s AI technology to help analyze large amounts of digital evidence amid budget cuts and staff losses. This has sparked debate about using AI in public services, with concerns over privacy, trust, and reliance on controversial US tech firms.
Key Facts
The Metropolitan Police faces a £125 million funding shortfall and plans to cut 1,150 jobs.
Palantir’s AI systems would sift through intelligence reports, emails, phone records, and other crime data.
AI is seen as a possible substitute for some human police work and a growing part of national security.
Other UK police forces like Bedfordshire and Leicestershire also use Palantir technology.
The Home Office supports faster and broader AI adoption in policing.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked the Palantir contract citing procurement and ethical concerns.
Palantir is controversial due to ties with US government agencies and statements by its leaders.
Police unions worry about privacy and surveillance issues with Palantir’s AI monitoring their own staff.
British firms are not currently able to offer the full range of AI tools that Palantir provides.
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