The U.S. Department of Education shared a photo on social media to celebrate American history, but the image actually shows British suffragettes from the early 1900s. The photo was used in a post about America's 250th anniversary but was identified by Encyclopaedia Britannica as part of British history.
Key Facts
The Department of Education posted a black-and-white photo on Facebook with the message "American history is worth learning."
The photo shows British suffragettes holding signs advocating for women's right to vote in London around 1912.
Encyclopaedia Britannica labeled the photo as British history, not American.
The Facebook post included "Celebrate America's 250th," referring to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
The suffrage movements in Britain and the U.S. were separate and progressed at different times, with Britain giving some women voting rights in 1918 and equal rights by 1928, while the U.S. passed the 19th Amendment in 1920.
A historian pointed out the error publicly after the post was shared.
The Department of Education had not corrected or removed the post or responded publicly by the time of reporting.
America250 is a government campaign to highlight key people, events, and movements in U.S. history during the anniversary year.
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Graham Platner has dropped out of the Maine U.S. Senate race, opening the door for Troy Jackson to run. Jackson is a longtime union member and former state legislator with deep ties to Maine’s working-class communities and labor movement.
Key Facts
Graham Platner exited the Maine Senate race, creating a vacancy.
Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger and union member from northern Maine.
Jackson has served in state government since 2002 and won elections even in conservative areas.
He led union efforts, including a logging blockade in 1998 against Canadian workers taking Maine jobs.
Jackson supports progressive economic policies focused on working-class people.
About 36% of Mainers have a college degree, lower than the U.S. average, making working-class issues important in the state.
The Maine AFL-CIO labor federation strongly supports Jackson and actively mobilizes union voters.
Jackson’s experience and message may help Democrats compete against incumbent Senator Susan Collins.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, ended his campaign after a woman accused him of sexual assault, which he denies. In a final video, Platner blamed political opponents and the media for his downfall while maintaining his innocence.
Key Facts
Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign in Maine due to serious sexual assault allegations.
The main accuser stated Platner forced her to have sex while she told him to stop; Platner denies this claim.
Platner’s campaign began less than a year before with a video showing him doing outdoor work in Maine.
His exit video was recorded outside his home with aides present and showed him blaming "establishment Democrats" and the media.
Platner’s parting statement accused political forces of acting quickly against him without full investigations.
Additional women also accused Platner of troubling behavior.
Platner’s video resembled a grievance tone seen in other political controversies, but he did not use extreme language like calling the media "the enemy."
Platner attempted to present himself as an outsider hurt by powerful political interests.
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Graham Platner, a candidate for U.S. Senate from Maine, was accused of rape by a woman who said the attack happened in 2021. After the accusation came out, Platner denied it but suspended his campaign amid other past controversies. President Donald Trump defended Platner, questioning whether to believe the accuser.
Key Facts
Graham Platner was accused of rape by Jenny Racicot, who said the incident happened in 2021.
Racicot’s claims were supported by emails, interviews, and messages reviewed by Politico.
Platner denied the accusation, calling it false, but paused his Senate campaign.
Platner’s campaign had multiple scandals, including controversial personal behavior and a Nazi-style tattoo.
The tattoo is a Totenkopf, a military skull symbol, which Platner claims he did not understand.
Many prominent Democrats called for Platner to quit the race after the accusation.
President Trump defended Platner, suggesting that people sometimes lie about such accusations.
Platner’s history includes troubling internet posts and questionable judgment.
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Andy Burnham wants to change how power is shared in the UK by moving decision-making away from London to other parts of the country. This plan is part of a bigger idea called devolution, which means giving more control to local governments outside the capital.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham aims to move power from Westminster and Whitehall to places across the UK.
The plan focuses on spreading government control more evenly outside London.
Devolution means giving local areas more authority to make their own decisions.
Details about Burnham’s specific plans have not been fully announced.
The BBC podcast episode discusses the challenges and possibilities of this plan.
Ant Breach from the Centre for Cities joined the discussion to talk about policy and research related to devolution.
The podcast is hosted by Adam Fleming and released daily by BBC News.
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Democrats face difficulties in winning control of the U.S. Senate due to problems in key states like Maine and Michigan. The sudden collapse of a Democratic candidate’s campaign in Maine has made it hard for the party to find a strong challenger against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Key Facts
Democrats aim to regain control of the U.S. Senate.
Maine and Michigan are important states for this goal.
In Maine, Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate, dropped out of the race.
This happened less than four months before the election.
The Democratic Party is looking for a new candidate to oppose Senator Susan Collins from the Republican Party.
These events have made it harder for Democrats to compete in these battleground states.
Winning these seats is crucial for control of the Senate.
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The article explains how the Democratic Party’s views have changed since the 1990s, especially regarding economic policy. It describes a shift from moderate ideas under President Bill Clinton to more left-leaning ideas today, including stronger support for socialism.
Key Facts
In the 1990s, under President Clinton, Democrats supported welfare reform, Wall Street deregulation, and balanced budgets.
Clinton said "the era of big government is over" in 1996, showing a move toward smaller government.
Today, many Democrats have a positive view of socialism, with 66% favoring it according to a recent Gallup poll.
Some current Democratic leaders openly support socialism or communism, such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
New York City’s Zohran Mamdani supports collectivism and city-owned grocery stores.
The article argues socialism clashes with human nature and basic moral principles.
Republicans are debating what issues to emphasize in upcoming elections, including inflation, crime, and immigration.
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Many well-known conservative figures are attending the court hearing for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. The hearing is focused on whether there is enough evidence to send the suspect to trial for murder. The case has drawn national attention and sparked conspiracy theories online.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is accused of murdering Charlie Kirk in September 2023.
The preliminary hearing is taking place in Provo, Utah, this week.
Supporters attending include Donald Trump Jr., Senator Mike Lee, and other conservative influencers.
Prosecutors want Robinson tried for aggravated murder, which could lead to the death penalty.
Robinson’s roommate testified that Robinson admitted to the shooting and acted strangely afterward.
Text messages show Robinson said he was the shooter and discussed retrieving his gun.
Many false conspiracy theories about the case have spread on social media.
Kirk’s family wants more evidence to be made public but has had little success so far.
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A recent AP-NORC poll shows many Jewish adults in the United States feel less safe than before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Around 30% of Jewish adults or their household members have faced harassment, assault, or property damage due to their Jewish identity in the past year.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed U.S. Jewish adults about their feelings of safety and experiences with antisemitism.
About 60% say prejudice against Jewish people is a very serious problem in the U.S.
Nearly 40% have experienced physical attacks, verbal abuse, online harassment, or vandalism because they are Jewish.
Around 60% feel less safe than before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Strong emotional ties to Israel and identifying as religiously Jewish raise feelings of threat.
About one-third feel safe as Jewish people in the U.S., while one-third feel unsafe.
Some Jewish adults now avoid visible signs of being Jewish, like wearing a kippah, due to fear.
There are growing divisions in how Jewish people view antisemitism and Israel-related protests.
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This article invites readers to test their knowledge of the week’s major news stories through a quiz. It mentions a political event featuring Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and Senator Bernie Sanders in Maine.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.
He spoke at an event hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders.
The event took place in Orono, Maine, on May 24, 2026.
The article is published by The Associated Press.
It offers a weekly quiz about important news stories.
Readers can access the quiz through various online platforms.
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The Trump administration has proposed raising fees and increasing scrutiny for applying for U.S. citizenship. These changes may make it harder and more expensive for green card holders to become U.S. citizens, causing some to delay applying.
Key Facts
The Department of Homeland Security wants to raise the fee for the main citizenship application (Form N-400) from $760 to $1,330.
The proposal removes reduced fees and fee waivers for many applicants but keeps exemptions for current and former military members.
Increasing fees may especially impact lower-income applicants, making citizenship harder to afford.
Some green card holders rushed to apply before fee and rule changes took effect, causing a temporary spike in applications.
Experts say the changes could either cause more people to apply quickly or to delay applying.
Confusion about fee waivers may stop some eligible low-income applicants from filing.
The administration is also focusing more on denaturalization, which means canceling citizenship for those who obtained it through fraud or other issues.
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President Donald Trump and his team have been warning about the dangers of socialism and communism in the U.S. at public events. At the same time, his administration has taken part in government actions seen by some as controlling parts of the economy, such as owning stakes in companies and promoting lower gas prices through a new network of gas stations.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke against socialism and communism at events on July 3 and July 4, calling communism a threat that must be stopped.
Despite these warnings, his administration has acquired stakes in about 24 companies since January 2025, including in chipmakers, rare-earth, and steel industries.
The government holds a “golden share” in U.S. Steel, giving it veto power over important company decisions.
The White House helped launch the “Freedom Fuel” network, with 25 gas stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey selling discounted gasoline at $3.47 per gallon.
President Trump publicly encouraged lower gas prices and ordered a Justice Department investigation into oil companies for possible price gouging.
Critics say these actions show government intervention in the economy, which conflicts with Trump’s warnings against socialism.
The White House denies providing funding or subsidies to Freedom Fuel stations and says the stations are reducing their profits to offer lower prices.
The Freedom Fuel Network LLC is a private company, recently established, not officially connected to the government.
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A study from Yale found that deaths caused by U.S. law enforcement more than doubled for adults and quadrupled for children from 2003 to 2024. Most of these deaths involved firearms, and Black and Hispanic males faced higher risks than White Americans.
Key Facts
The study analyzed 11,775 deaths involving law enforcement from 2003 to 2024.
Adult deaths rose from 363 in 2003 to 809 in 2024; child deaths under 18 increased from 8 to 37 annually.
Firearms caused over 87% of these deaths, with more than 10,300 gun-related fatalities.
Non-Hispanic Black males, especially aged 18 to 29, had the highest death rates in the study.
Black and Hispanic Americans had consistently higher risks of law enforcement-related deaths compared to White Americans.
Death rates for children remained stable before 2015 but rose steadily from 2015 to 2024.
A former law enforcement lawyer noted the study does not clarify if deaths were legally justified.
Researchers emphasize the need for better national tracking and measures to reduce firearm-related deaths caused by law enforcement.
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Governors in Ohio and Iowa have ordered flags to fly at half-staff to honor recent deaths connected to public service. These include a police officer killed in the line of duty in Ohio, longtime public officials in Ohio, and a military pilot who died in a crash in Iowa.
Key Facts
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered flags at half-staff in Wayne County for Sgt. Scott Ries, a police officer shot and killed on duty.
Ries was killed responding to a gunfire report where officers were attacked; the suspect was found dead.
Flags were also lowered in Summit County, Ohio, for Kenneth R. Cox, a former state senator and government official who died at 97.
In Hamilton County, Ohio, flags honored Simon “Si” Leis Jr., a longtime prosecutor, judge, and sheriff who died at 92.
On July 10, various parts of Ohio simultaneously honored a line-of-duty police death, a longtime lawmaker, and a veteran law enforcement leader.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags lowered statewide from July 10 to 17 for U.S. Air Force Maj. Brad Hovey.
Maj. Hovey died in a B-52 bomber crash during a test flight in California on June 15; he was an Iowa native and father.
The bomber was on a development test related to modernization of an aging aircraft fleet when it crashed, killing all eight crew members.
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Theodore Gillibrand, son of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, raised $30 million to start a derivatives company focused on perpetual futures, a type of financial product linked to cryptocurrency markets. Senator Gillibrand says she has no involvement in her son's business and supports his independence while continuing her work on digital asset regulations.
Key Facts
Theodore Gillibrand raised $30 million for American Perpetuals Exchange Corporation (APEC), valued at $300 million.
APEC focuses on perpetual futures, which are financial contracts that do not expire and are linked to U.S. stocks and indexes.
Perpetual futures are popular in cryptocurrency exchanges, but APEC aims to operate under U.S. financial regulations.
Senator Gillibrand is a leading advocate for regulating digital assets and helped create laws on stablecoins and digital market structures.
No criminal or ethics investigations have been reported related to Senator Gillibrand or her son’s company.
Critics have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest due to Senator Gillibrand’s political position and the involvement of investors who donated to her campaigns.
Theodore Gillibrand previously interned at crypto firms Andreessen Horowitz and Paradigm.
APEC’s investors include notable figures such as Ripple’s co-founder Chris Larsen and hedge fund manager John Griffin.
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The owner of a Minnesota daycare, Fahima Mahamud, admitted to committing fraud by falsely claiming payments for meals and childcare assistance. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges related to federal programs.
Key Facts
Fahima Mahamud was the CEO of Future Leaders Early Learning in Minneapolis.
She admitted to wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Future Leaders received over $850,000 from the Feeding Our Future program between January and July 2021.
Mahamud claimed to provide tens of thousands of meals to children but only served a small portion.
She also submitted claims for more than $4.6 million from the Child Care Assistance Program from 2022 to 2025 without properly collecting co-payments.
The Feeding Our Future program is a federal initiative to provide meals to children.
Sentencing for Mahamud has not yet been set.
This case follows the sentencing of Aimee Bock, who led a related fraud scheme and received a 41-year prison sentence.
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Israeli intelligence shared information with the United States about a recent specific plan by Iran to kill President Donald Trump. This intelligence may explain why President Trump changed planes after the NATO summit in Turkey, as a security precaution amid rising US-Iran tensions.
Key Facts
Israel provided new intelligence about a specific plot by Iran to assassinate President Donald Trump.
The plot is considered fresh and different from earlier threats.
President Trump changed planes after the NATO summit in Turkey, reportedly due to security concerns.
The US Secret Service requested the plane switch as a safety measure.
Iran has long threatened President Trump since he ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
President Trump acknowledged he is targeted by Iran and claimed to be on multiple assassination lists.
Rising military actions and tensions between the US and Iran accompany these assassination threats.
The report comes amid renewed US strikes against Iran and warnings of a potential larger conflict.
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Charlie Kirk, a political influencer who helped engage young voters for the Republican Party, died recently. Hearings are underway to decide if Tyler Robinson will face murder charges for Kirk’s death, while Republicans debate how to carry on Kirk’s political influence in upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was influential in encouraging young people to vote Republican.
Tyler Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk; hearings are deciding if there is enough evidence for a murder trial.
Some far-right figures spread conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death.
Kirk’s political endorsements are being used in Republican campaign ads for the midterm elections.
Young voters who supported President Donald Trump because of issues like cost of living and anti-war views are now less supportive of the current administration.
The Republican Party faces challenges in keeping the voters who were energized by Kirk.
The outcome may affect how young voters choose in future elections.
The story shows tensions within the Republican Party over Kirk’s legacy.
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Ann Widdecombe, a British politician who served as a Conservative MP and later as a Brexit Party MEP, has died at age 78. She was known for her long political career, support for Brexit, and television appearances on shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.
Key Facts
Ann Widdecombe died at the age of 78.
She was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidstone, Kent, for 23 years.
Widdecombe served as a Home Office and employment minister under Prime Minister John Major from 1994 to 1997.
She strongly supported the UK leaving the European Union and was elected as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament in 2019.
Widdecombe was also involved with Reform UK as a spokeswoman.
She appeared on the TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother, gaining public attention outside politics.
Her career was influenced by her Christian values and dedication to public service.
She remained active in politics even after leaving Parliament 16 years ago.
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A group of retired judges is traveling through the Rust Belt to talk about the importance of judicial independence and to warn Americans that trust in the court system is declining. Their tour comes as President Donald Trump and his administration have frequently questioned the fairness of the courts, raising concerns about the rule of law in the country.
Key Facts
Retired judges are on a four-day tour across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to support judicial independence.
They warn that America’s trust in courts and democracy has fallen in recent years.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly challenged the fairness of courts and criticized judges publicly.
The judges’ tour aims to remind people that laws, not individuals, should guide the country.
Federal judges usually avoid public commentary but are speaking out more due to attacks and threats.
Some judges have received death threats and harsh messages amid rising tensions.
Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly warned that criticizing judges personally is harmful and must stop.
The tour’s last stop will be at a library in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
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