Core inflation in the U.S. was lower than expected in September, which is considered a positive outcome for President Donald Trump. This may influence the Federal Reserve to consider lowering interest rates in their upcoming meeting.
Key Facts
Core inflation refers to the cost of goods and services, excluding food and energy.
Core prices increased by 2.8% in September compared to the previous year.
This inflation rate was lower than the 2.9% recorded in August.
The Federal Reserve pays close attention to core inflation when deciding interest rate changes.
The Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee will meet on December 9 and 10.
Lower inflation could support President Trump’s push for interest rate cuts.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provided the inflation data.
New laws in California taking effect in 2026 include increasing the minimum wage, reducing the cost of insulin, requiring gender-neutral restrooms in schools, and more. These laws also cover areas like cat declawing, car purchase protections, plastic bag bans, and AI regulation. Governor Gavin Newsom signed these bills, which aim to tackle issues such as affordability and transparency.
Key Facts
California will raise the minimum wage from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour in 2026.
Insulin co-pays will be capped at $35 per month for large health insurers.
Public schools must have at least one gender-neutral restroom.
Law enforcement officers will face restrictions on wearing face masks and must show identification.
Declawing cats for nonmedical reasons will be banned.
Consumers can return cars bought from dealers for a full refund within three days.
Single-use plastic bags will be banned, and stores can only provide recycled paper bags.
AI laws will require disclosures for chatbots and safeguards for minors.
Landlords must provide refrigerators and stoves in rental properties.
Sexual assault survivors can file lawsuits for two years starting in 2026, even if the statute of limitations has passed.
President Trump's administration released a new national security strategy. This strategy criticizes European allies and focuses on increasing U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. It emphasizes America First policies.
Key Facts
The strategy criticizes European countries' migration and free speech policies.
The document hints at doubts about the reliability of European allies.
It is part of Trump's "America First" approach, which prioritizes U.S. interests.
The strategy suggests reducing involvement in overseas conflicts.
It aims to strengthen U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere.
The release of this document may cause tension with European allies.
U.S. immigration courts have a backlog of nearly 3.7 million cases, causing long wait times for immigrants and asylum seekers. President Trump's administration has reduced the number of immigration judges, while USCIS faces record high pending applications. Six states, including Florida and Texas, hold a large portion of these unresolved cases.
Key Facts
The U.S. has around 3,687,750 active cases in immigration courts.
Nearly 1,961,655 of these are asylum applications.
The average wait for a case decision is about 636 days.
Florida, Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have the largest backlogs.
Miami’s immigration court has a backlog of 311,291 cases.
The number of immigration judges decreased from about 700 early in the year to less than 600.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a record 11.3 million pending applications.
Recent legislative efforts seek to change who can be appointed as temporary judges.
Brian Cole, a 30-year-old from Virginia, was arrested for planting pipe bombs during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The Justice Department says Cole faces charges related to explosives and attempts to cause damage. Authorities used surveillance footage and phone records to identify him.
Key Facts
Brian Cole is from Woodbridge, Virginia, about 36 miles from Washington, DC.
He worked for a bail bondsman in northern Virginia.
Cole is charged with transporting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and trying to destroy property using explosives and fire.
Pipe bombs were found near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC.
Both IEDs were deactivated by authorities before they could explode.
Cole's motive remains unknown.
Surveillance footage and cellphone records helped identify Cole.
The FBI linked Cole to purchases of bomb components using bank and credit card records.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has created a "GOP Retirement Watch" bingo card listing Republican Congress members they think might leave office. House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing internal issues as several Republicans consider exiting, which could affect the GOP's control in Congress. Representative Nancy Mace, who is on the bingo card, denied she plans to leave and criticized Congress’s current pace.
Key Facts
The Democratic Committee released a bingo card featuring Republicans they believe may retire, including Speaker Mike Johnson.
The card lists 16 Republicans, including Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Several Republicans have announced plans to exit Congress, raising concerns about losing their majority in upcoming elections.
Nancy Mace has denied plans to retire, despite expressing dissatisfaction with how Congress is operating.
Criticism of Speaker Johnson includes handling of legislative sessions and keeping members out during a government shutdown.
Some Republicans are trying to bypass Johnson through discharge petitions to push issues forward.
Representative Elise Stefanik criticized Johnson's leadership and said he might not be elected Speaker if voted on again today.
Johnson encouraged Republicans to address concerns directly with him rather than publicly.
Vice President JD Vance addressed rumors about his marriage after his wife, Usha Vance, was seen without her wedding ring. He stated that their marriage remains strong despite public attention.
Key Facts
JD Vance is the Vice President of the United States.
His wife, Usha Vance, was recently seen without her wedding ring.
There were speculative rumors on social media about their marriage.
JD Vance told NBC News that their relationship is strong.
Vance mentioned that being in the White House brings both good and challenging aspects.
Updates to the story are expected as it is still developing.
President Donald Trump changed the lead architect for a large, new White House ballroom project. The plan for this $300 million ballroom has led to controversy because it involves demolishing part of the historic East Wing without standard heritage reviews. Critics include lawmakers, historians, and preservation groups.
Key Facts
President Trump appointed Shalom Baranes as the new lead architect for the White House ballroom project.
The project is worth $300 million and aims to add a large 90,000-square-foot ballroom to the White House.
The construction involves demolishing the East Wing, a historic part of the White House.
President Trump used an exemption to bypass the National Historic Preservation Act's typical review.
Critics include Democratic lawmakers, conservationists, and architectural preservation groups.
The ballroom project aims to almost double the size of the White House.
Shalom Baranes has experience working on significant government buildings in Washington, D.C.
President Trump dismissed all members of the federal Commission of Fine Arts, responsible for reviewing the project.
A student at the University of Oklahoma received a zero grade on an essay about transgender rights, sparking a debate. The student claimed discrimination, while the instructor said the essay lacked supporting evidence. The issue gained attention online, leading to discussions on whether the grading was fair.
Key Facts
A University of Oklahoma student got a zero on an essay about transgender rights.
The student called the belief in multiple genders "demonic."
The student filed a complaint, claiming the grade was due to her religious beliefs.
The instructor who gave the grade is on leave after the essay went viral.
The instructor criticized the essay for lack of evidence and poor arguments.
A local organization posted the essay and instructor's comments online, increasing attention.
The student's mother, an attorney, supported her daughter publicly.
The essay accounted for three percent of the student's final grade.
Congress is looking at two new plans to give financial benefits to American workers. One plan would make big companies share profits with employees, while the other encourages stock distribution to lower-paid workers. These proposals aim to help reduce income inequality and boost worker earnings.
Key Facts
A new law called the Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act of 2025 proposes that large companies share profits with employees, offering at least 5% of annual net income as cash benefits.
The act targets companies earning more than $25 million annually and plans to benefit about 65.4 million workers.
Companies that do not follow this plan may lose tax deductions for executive pay.
The SHARE Plan Act, a separate bipartisan proposal, encourages companies to give stock to lower-paid employees by offering a corporate tax rate cut.
For the SHARE Plan, companies must give at least 5% of their stock to the lowest-paid 80% of employees to qualify for tax benefits.
The SHARE Plan aims to distribute up to $4 trillion in stock to nearly 40 million workers, exempting these employees from income tax on the received stock.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Texas to use a new congressional map that benefits Republicans for the upcoming elections. This decision affects several Democratic lawmakers in Texas, who may face tougher challenges in their districts. The changes come amid broader national discussions on redistricting and political power.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court has paused a lower court decision that blocked Texas's new congressional map.
President Trump supported the map, which is seen to aid Republicans in maintaining their congressional majority.
The new map adds five districts that are more likely to vote Republican.
Texas currently has 25 Republican-held congressional seats out of 38 total.
Key Democrats affected include Greg Casar, whose district is moving geographically, and Julie Johnson, whose district becomes more Republican-favored.
Changes are also affecting Lloyd Doggett, Mark Veasey, Al Green, Henry Cuellar, and Vincent Gonzalez.
The new map may increase challenges for Democrats like Cuellar and Gonzalez in their reelection efforts.
A Harvard visiting professor named Carlos Portugal Gouvea was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his visa was revoked. The arrest followed an incident where he fired a BB gun near a synagogue in Brookline, Massachusetts. The U.S. State Department revoked his visa, and Gouvea has agreed to leave the United States voluntarily.
Key Facts
Carlos Portugal Gouvea is a Brazilian professor who was teaching at Harvard Law School.
He fired a BB gun near Temple Beth Zion in Brookline, Massachusetts, on October 1.
Gouvea was initially charged with vandalism and three misdemeanors.
He accepted a plea deal, resulting in three charges being dismissed and six months of pretrial probation.
The U.S. State Department revoked his J-1 visa after the incident.
Gouvea agreed to leave the United States voluntarily instead of facing deportation.
Temple Beth Zion reported that the shooting did not seem to be motivated by antisemitism.
Immigration agents detained a mother and her 7-year-old son at the U.S.-Canada border after finding that the mother's green card appeared fake. The mother and son were then sent to Texas for a legal hearing, and the local Vermont community is trying to support them.
Key Facts
A mother and her son were stopped at the U.S.-Canada border with a "fraudulent" green card, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The incident happened on November 27, 2025, after they were refused entry into Canada.
The mother, son, and an adult male companion were sent back to the U.S. for further investigation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is holding the mother and son in Texas until their court date.
The boy's school in Vermont, JFK Elementary School, is aware of the situation and is working to help the family.
The local community is assisting with legal representation and staying in contact with the mother and son.
The incident occurred after the family reportedly made a wrong turn while traveling out of state for a family visit.
The FBI arrested Brian Cole Jr., a Virginia bail bondsman, for placing pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committee headquarters just before the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. His arrest ended years of conspiracy theories about the incident, as evidence collected in 2021 and 2022 helped identify him. People previously accused law enforcement of covering up the real story, but the arrest proves the thorough work done by investigators.
Key Facts
The FBI arrested Brian Cole Jr. for planting bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.
The incident happened the night before the Capitol riot, which tried to stop the 2020 election certification.
Evidence that identified Cole was gathered between 2021 and 2022.
The arrest counters conspiracy theories claiming FBI involvement in the January 6 events.
The FBI used credit card records, subpoenas, and phone data to identify Cole.
Brian Cole Jr. is linked to "extremist" beliefs, but his exact motives remain unclear.
False claims about another person being the bomber were debunked, as video evidence cleared her of involvement.
Public figures spread misinformation, demanding proof or apologies for their statements after the arrest.
President Donald Trump faced challenges during his term due to his efforts to replace experienced government workers with less experienced loyalists. This led to several poorly executed policies and legal mishaps. Key initiatives, such as tariffs and legal charges, failed due to oversight and competence issues.
Key Facts
President Trump wanted to remove experienced officials, called the "Deep State," from government agencies.
He replaced these officials with loyal supporters, who often lacked the necessary skills.
This led to poorly planned economic policies, such as tariffs that caused problems and had to be reversed.
Legal cases Trump wanted to pursue failed because unqualified appointees mishandled them.
There were efforts to speed up infrastructure projects by bypassing usual reviews, causing more delays.
Attempts to reallocate government resources and change agency structures resulted in confusion and failure.
Anti-diversity orders were so badly written that they ended up causing legal issues instead of achieving their goals.
A recent poll shows that a larger number of voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 do not want him to run for a third term compared to those who do. The U.S. Constitution limits presidents to two terms, making a third term impossible. Trump's approval ratings have been declining according to several polls.
Key Facts
A poll by The Economist/YouGov found 45% of Trump voters do not want him to run for a third term, while 43% do.
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits any president to two terms.
A broader poll of U.S. adults showed 39% approval for Trump's job, while 58% disapproved.
Trump's net approval is at a low, with some polls showing it at -19 percentage points.
A different poll by I&I/TIPP shows a slightly better net approval at -3 percentage points.
President Trump indicated he might not run again and mentioned potential successors like JD Vance and Marco Rubio.
The FBI has arrested Brian Cole Jr., a 30-year-old resident of Virginia, for allegedly planting bombs outside the Republican and Democratic National Committees in January 2021. The arrest is significant because federal investigators had been searching for the suspect for almost five years. He faces charges related to transporting and planting explosive devices.
Key Facts
Brian Cole Jr., 30, was arrested at his home in Woodbridge, Virginia.
He is accused of placing bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters on January 5, 2021.
The bombs did not explode.
Cole has been charged with transporting an explosive with the intent to harm or intimidate.
The FBI used bank records, phone records, and video footage to identify Cole.
Neighbors describe him as a quiet individual who often kept to himself.
Cole's height and gait may be critical evidence linking him to the crime.
The Trump administration prioritized this investigation, leading to Cole’s arrest.
The Minnesota Senate race showcases a major competition between two Democrats, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Representative Angie Craig, reflecting broader divisions within the Democratic Party. Flanagan represents the progressive side, focusing on small donations, while Craig represents moderates, accepting larger corporate donations to challenge Republican opponents.
Key Facts
The Minnesota Senate race highlights a split in the Democratic Party between progressives and moderates.
Peggy Flanagan is running as a progressive candidate, emphasizing small-dollar donations.
Angie Craig is running as a moderate and has raised more money through corporate donations.
The race shows broader debates on campaign finance, including the impact of the Citizens United ruling.
Minnesota has historically voted Democratic in presidential elections, but state control is currently divided.
Craig argues she can appeal to a broad range of voters, citing her success in a previously Republican-held district.
Flanagan believes her approach is bolder and necessary for the party's future direction.
Authorities in San Diego found human remains at a home where Dwight Rhone, a person of interest in the case and already charged with a separate murder, once lived. Rhone's family is divided in their opinions about his character, with his brother describing him negatively, while his niece defends him. The investigation might connect to unsolved cases and involves multiple law enforcement agencies.
Key Facts
Human remains were discovered at a home in San Diego's Southcrest neighborhood.
Dwight Rhone, who previously lived there, is a person of interest in the investigation.
Rhone is already in custody for charges related to a separate murder from 2023.
His brother labeled him as having a troubled past, including drug issues and criminal activity.
His niece, however, described him as a supportive figure in her life.
A multiagency investigation is underway, including local, state, and federal law enforcement.
The case could potentially link to other cold cases and unsolved deaths.
Rhone's next court hearing related to the separate murder charge is scheduled for December.
A federal grand jury decided not to bring new charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. This decision follows an earlier rejection by a judge of related charges, which involved a case linked to President Donald Trump. Prosecutors are considering trying to bring another indictment against James.
Key Facts
A federal grand jury declined to recharge New York Attorney General Letitia James.
An earlier case against James was dismissed by a judge because of an illegally appointed prosecutor.
President Trump had previously vowed action against James after her office filed a fraud case against him.
James described the charges as politically motivated.
Federal prosecutors might still seek to present a new indictment.
Trump was ordered to pay $450 million for a separate fraud case, which an appeals court later dismissed.
James is one of several high-profile figures opposing Trump who faced federal charges recently.
Similar cases against James Comey and John Bolton have also faced legal challenges and dismissals.
