US News

U.S. hiring stalls with just 22,000 jobs added in August

September 05, 2025

U.S. employers added 22,000 jobs in August, which was lower than expected and fewer than in July. The unemployment rate increased to 4.3% and concerns arise regarding economic policies and job market stability. Tariffs and past interest rate hikes may be affecting hiring decisions.

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U.S. employers added 22,000 jobs in August, down from 79,000 in July.
Economists expected about 80,000 new jobs for August.
The unemployment rate increased to 4.3%, the highest since 2021.
Factories cut 12,000 jobs, construction companies lost 7,000 jobs, and the federal government lost 15,000 jobs in August.
Health care and social assistance added nearly 47,000 jobs.
The job market is growing slower than previous years, averaging fewer than 75,000 new jobs a month this year.
Tariffs and interest rate hikes are contributing to hiring uncertainty.
Average hourly earnings rose by 0.3% from July and 3.7% from August 2024.

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PBS NewsHour

Blue states mount vaccine defense against RFK Jr.

September 05, 2025

Some states in the U.S. are taking their own actions to provide COVID-19 vaccines, countering restrictions set by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These states are making plans to ensure vaccine access independently, causing a mix of policies across the country. This variation could lead to public confusion and less effective public health responses.

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Several states, including Massachusetts, California, and New Mexico, are setting their own COVID-19 vaccine policies.
Massachusetts requires insurers to cover vaccines recommended by its health department, not just CDC guidelines.
New Mexico's health department issued an order for vaccine access despite federal restrictions.
States like California, Oregon, and Washington are creating their own vaccine recommendations.
Illinois is considering purchasing COVID-19 vaccines directly from manufacturers to ensure access.
Florida has announced it will end all school vaccine mandates.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) department reminded states to respect vaccine exemptions under the federal program for free vaccines.
Conflicting vaccine policies are similar to divides seen in other areas like abortion and gender-affirming care.

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Axios

Fact checking Robert F Kennedy’s statements to Senate on COVID, vaccines

September 05, 2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., United States Health and Human Services Secretary, faced questions from US senators about his past comments and actions related to COVID-19 vaccines and antidepressants. During the Senate Finance Committee hearing, Kennedy disputed claims from senators and defended his views. The hearing also covered topics like vaccine distribution and the accuracy of COVID-19 death statistics.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee to discuss health management and vaccines.
Kennedy disagreed with senators on statements they attributed to him about COVID-19 vaccines and antidepressants.
Kennedy rejected Senator Mark Warner's statistic that over a million Americans died from COVID-19, citing unreliable data.
According to multiple reports, more than 1 million Americans have died from COVID-19.
Kennedy praised Operation Warp Speed, calling it "genius" for its rapid vaccine development.
Senator Maggie Hassan accused Kennedy of limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines, which he denied.
The FDA restricts the latest COVID-19 vaccines to people over 65 and those 6 months or older with high-risk conditions.
People outside the FDA's specified groups can still receive vaccines but might need to do so "off-label."

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Al Jazeera

Winklevoss twins join the GOP's crypto megadonor set

September 05, 2025

The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler, are significant donors in Republican politics, especially in supporting pro-Trump and pro-cryptocurrency candidates. They have donated millions to various Republican committees and groups, with a focus on making America a global leader in cryptocurrency. The twins have also become influential figures in the crypto industry and have strengthened ties with key political figures, including Donald Trump.

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The Winklevoss twins have donated over $32 million to Republican causes this year.
A large portion, $21 million, went to the newly established Digital Freedom Fund, a super PAC for pro-Trump and pro-crypto candidates.
They have donated more than $2.6 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund and National Republican Congressional Committee.
They contributed $1 million to the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC.
Over $1.6 million was given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Leadership Fund.
The twins have established connections with Donald Trump and other political figures, influencing crypto-related policies.
They played a part in the Rockbridge Network, a group of conservative donors.
They own Gemini, a cryptocurrency platform, and are noted for their involvement in the tech and crypto industries.

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Axios

Democrat who called RFK Jr. a 'charlatan' says U.S. is vulnerable to next pandemic

September 05, 2025

During a Senate hearing, Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for cutting mRNA vaccine research funds. Cantwell warned that these actions leave the U.S. vulnerable to future pandemics. Both Democrats and Republicans questioned Kennedy's decisions regarding vaccine research and CDC changes.

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Senator Maria Cantwell criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Senate hearing.
The hearing discussed President Trump's 2026 health care agenda.
Kennedy faced criticism from both parties for canceling mRNA vaccine research funding.
Kennedy's decisions to change CDC policies, including firing the vaccine advisory panel, were questioned.
Critics worry that questioning vaccine safety research could undermine public health.
Kennedy defended his actions, stating they were necessary to restore the CDC's credibility.
Cantwell expressed concerns that cuts in vaccine research would harm U.S. pandemic preparedness.

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NPR Home

Health Secretary RFK Jr. grilled on vaccines and more during Senate hearing

September 05, 2025

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate, where senators asked him questions about vaccines and other health-related topics. The session lasted nearly three hours and involved both Democratic and Republican senators.

Key Facts:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the current Health Secretary.
He was questioned by senators from both political parties.
The main topic was vaccine access, but other health issues were also discussed.
The Senate hearing lasted almost three hours.
NPR provided coverage and analysis of the hearing.

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NPR Home

Joe Biden undergoes skin cancer surgery

September 05, 2025

Joe Biden, former US President, recently had surgery to remove skin cancer. This procedure, known as Mohs surgery, involves removing skin until no cancer remains. Biden has had other battles with cancer in the past.

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Joe Biden, former US President, had skin cancer surgery.
The surgery is called Mohs surgery and removes cancerous skin.
Biden is 82 years old.
In 2023, Biden had a cancerous lesion taken off his chest.
He was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May.
Biden had non-melanoma skin cancers removed before his presidency.
Biden's advocacy against cancer is personal; his son, Beau, died of brain cancer.

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BBC World

US Department of Defense to be renamed ‘Department of War’: Report

September 05, 2025

President Donald Trump plans to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War to create a more assertive image. The change is expected to be announced through an executive order, but making it permanent requires legislative action.

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President Trump intends to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
The name change aims to project a more forceful image for the department.
An executive order is expected to announce this change on Friday.
The Department of Defense was originally called the Department of War before 1947.
The change will only be fully permanent after new laws are passed by Congress.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports the name change, emphasizing a "warrior ethos."
Trump linked the name change to past US military successes.
It is unclear how the name change will be made permanent, with further legal and legislative actions necessary.

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Al Jazeera

D.C. attorney general sues Trump administration to end National Guard deployment

September 05, 2025

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is taking legal action against the Trump administration to stop the use of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. He claims that using armed soldiers for policing American citizens is not legal.

Key Facts:

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit.
The lawsuit is against the Trump administration.
Schwalb wants to stop National Guard troops from being used in D.C.
He argues that it's unlawful to use soldiers to police citizens.
The lawsuit was reported on September 5, 2025.

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NPR National

Hats on hats: How the Trump administration is loading officials with jobs

September 05, 2025

The Trump administration has given several government officials multiple important roles at the same time. For example, Marco Rubio serves in three different capacities, including Secretary of State. This staffing approach is uncommon among other presidents.

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Marco Rubio currently holds three jobs: Secretary of State, acting National Security Adviser, and acting United States Archivist.
Previously, Rubio also served as the acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
At least twelve officials in the Trump administration hold two or more jobs.
Scott Bessent is both Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner.
Jim O'Neill is Health and Human Services deputy secretary and interim CDC director.
The Trump administration defends this staffing method as promoting communication and efficiency.
Max Stier from the Partnership for Public Service criticizes this approach as ineffective.
This practice involves appointing Senate-confirmed loyalists to multiple roles instead of internal promotions.

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NPR Home

Young Democrats want to unseat their elders. Young Republicans are happy to wait

September 05, 2025

Young Democrats are actively running for Congress, with many challenging existing members of their own party. In contrast, young Republicans are less actively pursuing congressional bids, largely supporting their current party leadership and policies.

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Over 20 young Democrats, under age 40, have announced they are running for Congress.
About half of these young Democrats are challenging current members of their own party.
There is only one young Republican currently known to be running for Congress.
Young Republicans generally support the current work of their party.
President Trump remains popular among many young Republicans, though his approval rating has declined recently among this group.
The only young Republican candidate in Congress currently known is Mason Foley in Tennessee's 7th district.
Foley's campaign highlights his age and aims to support President Trump's policies, describing the election as a chance for a "better future."

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NPR Home

What ICE agents can and cannot legally do during arrests

September 05, 2025

The article discusses the legal powers and limitations of ICE agents during immigration arrests in the U.S. It highlights how agents are operating under broad authority but also facing legal challenges regarding the methods they use. Some actions by ICE agents have raised concerns among legal experts about exceeding legal boundaries.

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ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is responsible for immigration enforcement in the U.S.
ICE agents have substantial powers to question, search, and arrest immigrants without a warrant.
The Immigration and Nationality Act requires "reasonable suspicion" for warrantless arrests.
Legal experts are questioning the legality of some tactics used by ICE agents, like racial profiling and questioning based on appearance or location.
A court ruling stated that using race or ethnicity as a sole factor for suspicion violates the Fourth Amendment.
Concerns exist that ICE agents may not be following judicial orders regarding these legal standards.
The debate includes the balance between national security measures and individual rights.

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NPR Home

Trump's D.C. takeover has led to more arrests. NPR looks at cases of those swept up

September 05, 2025

President Trump put the Washington, D.C., police under federal control and increased federal law enforcement presence in the city in early August 2025 to reduce crime. Since then, over 1,600 arrests have been made, with many involving immigration-related offenses. The administration has not released detailed information about individuals arrested or their charges despite requests.

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President Trump made the decision to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard to address crime in Washington, D.C.
More than 1,669 people have been arrested since the operation started on August 7, 2025.
A significant portion of these arrests are for immigration-related offenses.
The administration has not disclosed names or case details of those arrested.
NPR reviewed court records to find that nearly 1,100 people had their cases processed in Washington, D.C.'s Superior Court.
About 20% of those defendants faced felony charges, while 80% faced lesser charges or had their cases dropped.
Federal prosecutors handle both local and federal crimes in Washington, D.C., unlike other U.S. areas.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has been dropping between 10% and 20% of cases at an early stage.

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NPR Home

Have questions about homeownership or renting? NPR wants to know

September 05, 2025

NPR is asking people to share their questions about renting and homeownership. This information will help NPR create a series of video and audio programs about housing in the United States.

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NPR wants people to ask questions about renting and owning homes.
Housing can be a major expense and source of confusion.
NPR's goal is to create educational content on housing.
People can share their questions by leaving contact information.
NPR reporters may contact participants for short video recordings.

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NPR Home

Mark Zuckerberg - no, not that one - sues Facebook for account shutdowns

September 05, 2025

A lawyer named Mark S Zuckerberg from Indiana is suing Facebook because the platform mistakenly suspended his account multiple times, thinking he was pretending to be the famous Mark Zuckerberg. The lawyer claims these suspensions have hurt his business and cost him money.

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Mark S Zuckerberg is an attorney in Indiana.
He shares the same name as Facebook's founder, Mark E Zuckerberg.
His Facebook account was suspended five times over eight years.
Facebook accused him of pretending to be someone else.
The suspensions reportedly cost him thousands in lost business.
He has been practicing law for 38 years.
He paid $11,000 for advertising on Facebook that was taken down.
Meta, Facebook's parent company, has reinstated his account and apologized for the errors.

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BBC US

"Worst sanctuary offenders": Trump DOJ sues Boston over immigration policies

September 05, 2025

The Trump administration is suing Boston and its mayor over sanctuary city laws. The lawsuit claims Boston does not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, which allegedly leads to the release of dangerous criminals.

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The lawsuit was filed by the Trump administration against Boston in a U.S. District Court.
The Trump Justice Department claims Boston's sanctuary city laws interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
Similar lawsuits have been filed against other cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Denver.
President Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctuary cities for not complying with his immigration policies.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described Boston as a "worst sanctuary offender."
The Boston Police Department and its commissioner are also named in the lawsuit.
Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu issued a statement defending the city’s policies and criticized the lawsuit as unconstitutional.
Boston intends to defend its laws and uphold the constitutional rights of cities.

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Axios

"I am not going to step aside": Democrats' oldest members won't go away without a fight

September 05, 2025

Some of the oldest House Democrats are resisting calls for generational change, opting to run for reelection despite primary challenges and concerns about their fitness for office. They argue that seniority and experience are important, pushing back against critics promoting younger leadership. Some Democrats see this situation as a potential distraction in their efforts to regain control of the House.

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Some senior House Democrats face primary challengers but are still choosing to run for reelection.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, openly opposes stepping down, emphasizing her seniority.
Rep. John Larson, 77, who had a seizure earlier this year, plans to launch his reelection campaign.
Rep. David Scott, 80, intends to run again despite health concerns and multiple challengers.
Some lawmakers argue that fitness for office should be evaluated individually, not by age.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries highlighted generational change occurring within party leadership.
Critics like David Hogg push for older leaders to pass the leadership torch to younger politicians.

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Axios

Biden has surgery to remove skin cancer lesions

September 05, 2025

Former President Joe Biden had surgery to remove skin cancer from his forehead. His spokesperson confirmed that he underwent Mohs surgery, which is a method for treating skin cancer, but did not provide further details on his condition.

Key Facts:

Biden had skin cancer removed from his forehead through surgery.
The type of surgery used is called Mohs surgery.
Mohs surgery involves removing thin layers of skin to check for cancer.
The process continues until no cancer is found in the skin.
Biden's office previously announced he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
His spokesperson did not give more details on his health after the surgery.
Images of Biden with a head injury were seen over the Labor Day weekend.

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Axios

GOP support erodes for Epstein files petition

September 04, 2025

Representative Thomas Massie is trying to push a petition to release Jeffrey Epstein records despite losing some Republican support. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans argue that a current investigation will provide more information. The petition needs a few more signatures to move forward but faces challenges from within the party and the White House.

Key Facts:

Representative Thomas Massie is leading a petition to release Epstein records.
House Speaker Mike Johnson advises against the petition, supporting an ongoing investigation instead.
Initially, the petition had strong support but is now losing backers among Republicans.
The petition needs 218 signatures to be voted on in the House; it currently has 215.
Some Republicans think the petition is unnecessary due to the current investigation and have withdrawn their support.
The White House is lobbying against the petition, asking Republicans not to sign it.
If the petition succeeds in the House, it would still need Senate approval and the president's signature.
Former President Trump is expected to veto the measure if it reaches his desk.

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Axios

PBS cuts 15% of jobs in wake of federal funding cut

September 04, 2025

PBS is cutting 15% of its jobs due to the removal of all federal funding by Congress, which takes effect on October 1. PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger stated that this funding cut means a 21% reduction in revenue for the organization.

Key Facts:

PBS will cut about 15% of its workforce due to a federal funding cut.
Thirty-four PBS employees were informed their jobs are being eliminated.
PBS has lost over 100 jobs in total, including previously unfilled positions, due to funding issues.
Federal funding for public broadcasting is being cut by $1.1 billion over two years.
PBS receives about 15% of its yearly funding from federal sources.
NPR plans to reduce its budget by $8 million to help affected public stations.
Public TV and radio stations often get a significant part of their funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The funding changes may seriously affect stations serving rural and Native American communities.

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NPR Home

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