The US State Department under President Donald Trump has canceled over 175,000 visas as part of a large immigration enforcement effort. These visa cancellations mainly involve criminal behavior, visa rule violations, fraud, and threats to national security.
Key Facts
More than 175,000 visas have been revoked under President Trump’s administration.
Visa cancellations are due to crimes like assault, drunk driving, theft, drug offenses, and serious charges such as rape and human trafficking.
The State Department also canceled visas for people involved in fraud and activities threatening national safety.
Over 100 visas were revoked from parents accused of "birth tourism," who come to the US mainly to have children for citizenship.
Some revocations targeted foreign nationals who made violent comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The administration has increased visa screening, including checking social media accounts more strictly.
The State Department says US visas are privileges, not rights, and will continue to cancel visas from those who misuse them.
Human rights groups criticize the tougher social media checks, saying they may harm free speech and unfairly target immigrants.
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A recent survey shows that most Americans want the government to better regulate social media companies. About 61% of people agree with stronger rules, while 27% do not.
Key Facts
61% of survey respondents support more government oversight of social media.
27% oppose additional government oversight.
17% of people were unsure or did not respond.
The survey was conducted by Reuters/Ipsos.
Support for increased oversight comes from both Republican and Democratic voters.
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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is under pressure to fire a federal prosecutor involved in cases against Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon, both convicted of contempt of Congress. This demand comes as Pirro faces scrutiny related to a possible contempt referral against former COVID adviser Anthony Fauci.
Key Facts
Peter Navarro publicly demanded that Jeanine Pirro fire Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb.
John Crabb was involved in prosecuting Navarro and Bannon for defying subpoenas from the January 6 Capitol attack investigation.
Navarro and Bannon have served prison time for contempt of Congress; Navarro’s conviction was recently upheld by a federal appeals court.
Pirro has faced criticism from President Donald Trump over dropping charges in a vandalism case at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Trump appointed Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. in May 2025; she was confirmed by the Senate in August 2025.
The Senate committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking the Fifth Amendment during COVID-19 response investigations.
Republican Senator Rand Paul plans to refer Fauci’s contempt case for possible prosecution.
Trump indicated that Fauci should be scrutinized like Navarro and Bannon, noting their jail sentences.
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President Donald Trump signed an order to reduce the number of vaccines given to children and suggested giving the mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as three separate shots instead of one combined shot. The order reflects the administration’s ongoing claims linking vaccines to autism, despite strong scientific evidence disproving this connection.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an order to limit childhood vaccines.
The order recommends splitting the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots.
The MMR vaccine protects against mumps, measles, and rubella.
Trump said that decades ago, children had fewer vaccines and were healthier.
The administration claims there is a link between vaccines and autism.
Many scientific studies have found no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Public health experts widely consider the vaccine-autism link to be false.
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Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace made statements suggesting that Muslim officials in the US government are a hidden threat. She wrongly claimed that Muslim girls might be forced to wear burqas in schools, leading to a disagreement with a CNN anchor.
Key Facts
Nancy Mace is a Republican member of the US House of Representatives.
She called Muslim US officeholders “Trojan horses,” implying they could be secret threats.
Mace said Muslim girls might be forced to wear burqas to school, which is not true.
These remarks occurred after Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan Democratic Senate primary.
She had a public disagreement with CNN anchor Omar Jimenez about her comments.
Abdul El-Sayed is a Muslim politician and a Democrat.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order that changes the schedule for childhood vaccines. The order recommends separating the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three different shots.
Key Facts
President Trump signed the executive order on August 10, 2026.
The order affects the childhood vaccine schedule in the United States.
It recommends splitting the MMR vaccine into three separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella.
The signing took place in the Oval Office at the White House.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was present during the signing.
The executive order calls for more research and increased flexibility on vaccines.
Details about the order were shared through a White House fact sheet.
The story is still developing and further updates are expected.
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Todd Blanche was sworn in as the U.S. attorney general after a close Senate vote. He has been acting attorney general since April and faces challenges related to the Justice Department’s direction under President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche was confirmed by the Senate in a 50-49 vote.
Blanche served as President Trump’s personal lawyer before becoming attorney general.
He took the oath of office at the White House, administered by a federal appeals court judge.
Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting role since Pam Bondi was fired in April.
Two Republican senators opposed his confirmation due to concerns about politicization of the Justice Department.
Blanche oversaw investigations of Trump’s political opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey.
Blanche defended the Trump administration’s involvement with the Justice Department and said the president has a right to be involved.
Blanche’s nomination moved forward after he agreed to cancel a $1.8 billion fund meant for Trump allies affected by the Justice Department.
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Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children in Massachusetts. Her defense lawyer questioned the psychiatrist who treated her, arguing that the mental health care Clancy received was insufficient and may have worsened her condition before the tragedy.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy stands trial for killing her three young children.
She was treated by psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Tufts through mostly short video appointments.
The defense lawyer questioned the quality and methods of Clancy’s psychiatric care.
Clancy reported side effects and problems with the medications prescribed to her.
The defense suggested the psychiatrist’s care was more focused on paperwork than on meaningful therapy.
Prosecutors say Clancy planned to kill her children to get her husband away from the house.
Clancy is paralyzed after jumping from a second-story window at the family home.
The children’s ages ranged from 8 months to 5 years old.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to change the childhood vaccine schedule and reduce the influence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The order calls for separating the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate shots and recommends giving vaccines at different medical visits.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an order to try to change the CDC’s vaccine recommendations.
The order would break the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots, which is currently not possible in the U.S. because separate vaccines are not licensed yet.
The order recommends giving all vaccines at separate doctor visits, creating more visits for families and doctors.
Only six vaccines would keep full recommendations; others would be limited or require shared clinical decisions with doctors.
The U.S. Attorney General is asked to challenge state vaccine laws that conflict with this order.
President Trump linked vaccines to autism during the announcement, a claim that scientific studies have disproven.
Executive orders guide federal agencies but do not change laws or directly affect public vaccine rules.
Many states have their own vaccine requirements separate from the CDC, and insurance still covers vaccines.
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President Donald Trump is trying again to change the rules on birthright citizenship in the United States. Despite a Supreme Court ruling against his earlier effort, his administration has issued new executive orders aimed at stopping "birth tourism" and narrowing who can become a U.S. citizen at birth.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to limit birthright citizenship, which gives citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.
The Supreme Court rejected his previous attempt to change this rule.
His administration has introduced new executive orders targeting "birth tourism," where people travel to the U.S. to have children for citizenship.
A federal appeals court stopped Trump from building a $400 million ballroom at the White House because he has not gotten Congress's approval.
The news program Americast discussed these issues along with an interview of Hunter Biden and topics about President Joe Biden.
The broadcast featured Sarah Smith, Justin Webb, and Marianna Spring as hosts, with Matt Chorley leading the discussion.
Listeners were invited to join the conversation via social media and messaging platforms.
The episode is part of the BBC's Americast podcast series focusing on U.S. news and politics.
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Senators Adam Schiff and Amy Klobuchar introduced a new bill called the Water Cyber Shield Act. The bill aims to protect water systems from cyberattacks by providing more money to improve cybersecurity.
Key Facts
The bill is called the Water Cyber Shield Act.
It was introduced by Democratic Senators Adam Schiff from California and Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota.
The bill focuses on protecting water infrastructure from cyberattacks.
It proposes increasing the annual funding for water system cybersecurity by $300 million.
This money would come from the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds.
The goal is to help states improve their defenses against cyber threats on water systems.
The bill was unveiled on a Monday (specific date not provided).
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Todd Blanche, who was President Trump’s personal attorney, was officially sworn in as attorney general on Monday. He is the second person to serve as attorney general during President Trump’s current term. A video of the ceremony was shared by Trump’s aide Margo Martin.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche was sworn in as attorney general on Monday.
He had previously worked as President Trump’s personal attorney.
Blanche is the second attorney general in President Trump’s current administration.
The swearing-in took place in the Oval Office.
Margo Martin, an aide to President Trump, posted a video of the event.
The Senate confirmed Blanche before the swearing-in.
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President Donald Trump has renewed a 90-day waiver of the Jones Act, a law that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on American ships. This waiver aims to help lower gasoline and fuel prices by allowing non-American ships to transport fuel between U.S. ports temporarily.
Key Facts
The Jones Act is a law over 100 years old that requires shipping between U.S. ports to use American ships.
President Trump has granted another 90-day waiver for this law.
This waiver allows non-American ships to transport fuel between U.S. ports.
The goal is to help reduce gasoline and other fuel prices.
The waiver includes some limits to the extent of the relaxation.
The decision was announced by the White House.
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President Donald Trump will sign an executive order to change childhood vaccine guidelines, recommending that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine be given as three separate shots in different visits. Health experts warn that spreading out vaccines this way could increase the risk of children catching preventable diseases before completing all doses.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to sign an order promoting spaced-out childhood vaccinations.
The order suggests separating the combined MMR vaccine into three individual shots.
Separate MMR vaccines are not currently available in the United States.
Public health experts warn that delaying vaccine doses raises infection risks for children.
Vaccination requirements for schoolchildren are determined by individual states, not the federal government.
Trump has pushed for more autism research, despite scientific studies showing no link between vaccines and autism.
The U.S. is dealing with a measles outbreak as schools begin the year.
The federal government continues research and safety checks on vaccine schedules and combinations.
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President Donald Trump extended a 90-day waiver allowing foreign ships to carry energy and fertilizer products between U.S. ports. The waiver helps keep fuel and agricultural supplies moving amid ongoing disruptions affecting oil shipping routes in the Middle East.
Key Facts
The waiver applies to foreign ships transporting oil, fertilizers, and other fossil fuel products between U.S. ports.
President Trump first issued this Jones Act waiver on March 17, 2026.
The latest extension begins on August 17, 2026, and lasts 90 days.
The waiver aims to reduce price pressures caused by the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Unlike before, the Pentagon will coordinate with the Maritime Administration on which voyages qualify for the exemption.
The waiver only covers energy cargo and agriculture-related commodities like fertilizers and soybean oil.
A White House official said the waiver helps the military and key industries keep access to vital resources.
The waiver has increased deliveries of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel within the U.S.
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Todd Blanche has officially become the US attorney general after being confirmed by the Senate. He previously worked as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and was acting attorney general since April.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche was sworn in as US attorney general at a White House ceremony on Monday.
Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April.
The Senate confirmed his appointment by a close vote of 50-49.
The Senate is controlled by the Republican Party.
All Democratic senators voted against his confirmation.
Blanche worked as President Donald Trump’s personal attorney before this role.
He now leads the Department of Justice.
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July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded in the United States, with temperatures averaging 3.3°F (1.8°C) above the 20th-century average. This extreme heat was caused by multiple heatwaves and worsened by human-driven climate change, while wildfires and smoke affected large parts of the country.
Key Facts
July 2024 set the highest monthly average temperature in U.S. records going back to 1895.
Temperatures were 3.3°F (1.8°C) higher than the 20th-century average for the contiguous U.S.
The country experienced three heat domes in July, which trapped very hot air over different regions.
Wyoming recorded its hottest July ever, with temperatures 5.1°F (2.8°C) above normal.
Large wildfires burned in Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, spreading smoke over many areas.
Human-caused climate change, driven by burning coal, oil, and gas, played a significant role in these extreme weather events.
Many Americans reported higher electricity bills, disrupted travel, and limitations on outdoor activities due to the heat.
President Donald Trump has promoted fossil fuel production and rejected climate science.
A strong El Niño event is expected to push global temperatures even higher in the coming year.
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Todd Blanche was sworn in as the United States attorney general after the Senate confirmed him by a narrow vote. He had been serving as acting attorney general since April and was formally nominated by President Donald Trump in June.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche took the oath of office as attorney general at the White House, administered by Judge Emil Bove.
Blanche was confirmed by the Senate with a 50-49 vote after a long session just before the August recess.
Some Republicans initially opposed Blanche due to concerns about a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund at the Justice Department.
Blanche rescinded the order that established the fund, which eased opposition from key Republican senators.
Senator Bill Cassidy’s support was decisive for Blanche’s confirmation, despite opposition from Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.
Blanche was part of President Trump’s legal defense team during Trump’s 2023 indictment and was nominated by Trump after winning the 2024 election.
Blanche has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School and experience as a federal prosecutor in New York.
Prior to joining the Justice Department, Blanche worked at several law firms and started his own firm in 2023.
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A clinic in Upper Manhattan, New York City, lets people use hard drugs inside its building under supervision. Supporters say this approach helps prevent overdose deaths and reduces drug use on the streets, while critics worry it attracts drug users and dealers, making the neighborhood feel unsafe.
Key Facts
The clinic is located in Upper Manhattan, New York City.
It allows people to inject hard drugs using clean needles inside the building.
Staff supervise to help reduce the chance of overdoses and infections.
Supporters believe the clinic lowers overdose deaths and street drug use.
Critics say the clinic draws drug users and dealers to the area.
Some local residents feel the neighborhood has become less safe since the clinic opened.
The site uses cubicles for privacy and safety during drug use.
Such clinics are part of a harm reduction strategy in public health.
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A boat capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor on August 8, 2026, killing a 27-year-old mother and her 5-month-old baby. The boat operator, Manuel Hernandez, was taken into federal custody and will appear in court as authorities investigate whether the boat was illegally operating.
Key Facts
The boat capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor on August 8, 2026.
Two people died: Sara Sanchez (27 years old) and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia.
There were 14 people on the boat; 12 survived with minor injuries.
The boat operator, Manuel Hernandez, 46, was initially arrested on state charges including reckless endangerment.
Hernandez is now in federal custody and will appear in federal court in the Southern District of New York.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service is leading the investigation.
Authorities are checking if the boat was operating as an illegal charter.
Sara Sanchez’s husband survived and their 6-year-old son was not on the boat.
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