The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, announced plans to keep military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea. He emphasized a focus on targeting boats involved in illegal drug trade operations.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
He announced continued military action against certain boats in the Caribbean Sea.
The targets are described as "narcoboats," which carry illegal drugs.
Hegseth aims to combat narcoterrorism through these strikes.
The statement implies an ongoing military campaign in the region.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and assault related to a shooting in Washington, DC. The shooting involved two members of the National Guard, resulting in one death and one injury. A judge ordered that Lakanwal be held without bond.
Key Facts
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and assault.
Lakanwal appeared in court via video from a hospital bed after being shot in the incident.
The shooting resulted in the death of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom.
24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was wounded in the shooting.
The judge ordered Lakanwal to be held without bond due to the severity of the charges.
Lakanwal previously served in a CIA-trained unit in Afghanistan.
Reports suggest that Lakanwal became isolated after being evacuated from Afghanistan.
Representative Elise Stefanik and House Speaker Mike Johnson are having a public disagreement over a part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Stefanik claims Johnson blocked a provision that would require the FBI to inform Congress about any counterintelligence investigations into federal candidates. This disagreement highlights tensions within the Republican Party as they try to pass important legislation.
Key Facts
Elise Stefanik alleges Mike Johnson blocked an FBI-related provision from the National Defense Authorization Act.
The provision would require the FBI to notify Congress when opening investigations into federal candidates.
Stefanik believes these investigations can be politically motivated, referencing past probes into Trump.
She threatens to oppose the bill, which could jeopardize its passage with Johnson's slim majority.
Johnson denies involvement and states that the issue was not prominent until Stefanik's public comments.
Johnson supports the provision but claims it was removed due to lack of agreement among key lawmakers.
A GOP staffer claims Johnson was responsible for pulling the provision, despite Democratic opposition.
The House is expected to vote on the defense measure soon.
The Department of Homeland Security plans to focus on Minnesota, particularly targeting visa fraud among the Somali community. This is part of a broader immigration crackdown directed by President Trump. The operation follows recent investigations into visa fraud in the state.
Key Facts
The Department of Homeland Security is turning attention to Minnesota for immigration enforcement.
Minnesota has a large Somali community, which has been a focus for President Trump.
Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned targeting visa fraud in Minnesota.
An operation called "Operation Twin Shield" has already investigated 1,000 cases, finding suspected fraud in 275.
New efforts will increase immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
President Trump has expressed a desire to end temporary protective status for Somalis.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the immigration crackdown, suggesting it targets immigrants indiscriminately.
A special election is taking place in Tennessee's 7th congressional district, a typically Republican area. The election is unexpectedly close, with Republican candidate Matt Van Epps and Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn competing to fill the seat left by Republican Mark Green. This race has drawn national attention and funding due to its potential impact on the balance of power in the US House of Representatives.
Key Facts
Tennessee's 7th congressional district is usually Republican but is witnessing a close race.
The election is to replace Mark Green, who resigned to work in the private sector.
Republican Matt Van Epps is endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Democrat Aftyn Behn is backed by progressive figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Al Gore.
Republicans currently have a narrow majority in the US House of Representatives.
Polls show Van Epps with 48% support and Behn with 46%, with 5% undecided.
Both Democratic and Republican groups have invested heavily in this race.
The results could affect the Republican majority in the House.
The Trump administration is planning an immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Additionally, Michael Dell promised to donate $6.25 billion to the Trump administration for children's investment accounts. Pope Leo has concluded his first international trip as a pontiff.
Key Facts
The immigration operation will focus on undocumented Somali immigrants located in Minnesota.
The operation is being organized by the Trump administration.
Michael Dell pledged a $6.25 billion donation to the Trump administration.
The donated funds are intended for investment accounts for children.
Pope Leo has completed his first trip abroad as a pontiff.
More four-year colleges are starting to offer two-year degrees to help students who might not usually attend college. This approach aims to support students who are the first in their families to attend college and come from low-income backgrounds.
Key Facts
About 25% of college students are first-generation and from low-income families.
Boston College has introduced a two-year associate's degree program called Messina College.
Messina College's program is fully residential, meaning students live on-campus.
The program provides various support to make college more accessible for these students.
John Yang visited Boston College as part of a series called "Rethinking College."
An elementary school in Providence, Rhode Island, is trying to improve its image by having young students work as journalists. The school aims to address issues of low test scores and communication challenges with bilingual families.
Key Facts
Providence, Rhode Island's public schools have faced problems with low test scores.
The schools also have issues with old and deteriorating buildings.
There are ongoing challenges in communicating with families who speak multiple languages.
An elementary school in the city is using student journalists to change how people see the school.
This effort is part of an arts and culture series called CANVAS.
President Donald Trump announced that all documents, including pardons and commutations, signed by the autopen during Joe Biden’s presidency are no longer valid. He posted on Truth Social that these documents are considered null and void.
Key Facts
President Trump made a statement about documents signed by an autopen during Joe Biden's presidency.
He said that all such documents, including pardons and commutations, are "terminated."
Trump shared this message on a social media platform called Truth Social.
An autopen is a device used to sign documents automatically.
This decision affects legal documents signed during Biden’s term.
The announcement could change how executive documents are recognized if signed by an autopen.
A second snowstorm is predicted to hit parts of the U.S. Northeast and mid-Atlantic within days of a previous storm. The new storm is expected to bring less snow than the first, with only light snowfall anticipated. However, the associated weather could still impact travel in affected areas.
Key Facts
Seven states, including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, may see a second snowstorm.
The first storm dropped up to 12 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast.
Hundreds of schools closed due to the first storm, and travel was disrupted.
The second storm is expected to bring lighter snow, about 3 inches or less.
AccuWeather predicts mixed weather, including snow, ice, and rain.
National Weather Service has issued advisories in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and up through Maine.
The storm could affect major travel cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
The interaction of cold air and the storm will determine snow accumulation areas.
The Trump administration stopped immigration processing for people from 19 countries that had been affected by a travel ban. This pause includes applications for green cards and citizenship. The move follows a recent incident involving violence by an Afghan immigrant in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted green card and citizenship applications from 19 countries under a travel ban.
Countries affected include Venezuela, Haiti, Iran, Afghanistan, and 15 other nations.
President Trump had announced plans to pause immigration from these countries following a violent incident involving an Afghan immigrant.
Between fiscal years 2021 and early 2024, about 720,000 green cards were given to people from these countries.
An immigration attorney in Texas reported that interviews for applicants from these countries have been canceled without explanation.
The Trump administration criticized previous immigration policies, mentioning misuse of refugee pathways during high migration periods.
President Donald Trump's administration announced it might stop SNAP food aid for people in Democratic-led states unless those states provide information about aid recipients. The administration wants this data to reduce fraud, but some states are suing to block this requirement, arguing privacy concerns.
Key Facts
President Trump's administration will withhold SNAP aid from Democratic-controlled states if they don't provide recipient data.
The requested data includes names and immigration status of people receiving SNAP benefits.
Democratic states have sued to prevent sharing this data, citing privacy issues.
A judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked the administration from collecting this information.
The administration argues the data is necessary to identify fraud within the program.
About 42 million Americans rely on SNAP to purchase groceries.
Some states have provided data showing instances of deceased individuals receiving SNAP benefits.
A proposed bill from Republican Senator Bernie Moreno aims to end dual citizenship in the U.S. If the bill becomes law, people with dual citizenship, including celebrities and political figures, would need to choose between their U.S. citizenship and their foreign citizenship. The proposal may face legal challenges due to existing constitutional protections for dual citizenship.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno has proposed a bill called the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025.
The bill seeks to eliminate dual citizenship in the United States.
If passed, individuals with dual citizenship would have to renounce foreign citizenship or U.S. citizenship within one year.
First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, who hold dual U.S.-Slovenian citizenship, are among those affected.
Several celebrities also have dual citizenship, including Tom Hanks, Ryan Reynolds, and Salma Hayek.
The U.S. Constitution and past court cases like Afroyim v. Rusk protect the right to dual citizenship, suggesting the bill might face legal challenges.
Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and the publisher of Franklin the Turtle are criticizing the Trump administration for using their work in social media posts. Carpenter's song was featured in a video about immigration raids, and an altered image of Franklin the Turtle was used in a post about drug traffickers.
Key Facts
Sabrina Carpenter is a pop singer whose music was used by the Trump administration.
Her song “Juno” appeared in a video about U.S. Immigration raids.
Carpenter publicly opposed the use of her song, calling it inappropriate.
The publisher of Franklin the Turtle is Kids Can Press.
Kids Can Press disapproved of an altered image showing Franklin with a weapon.
The altered image was posted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The post suggested Franklin was targeting drug traffickers.
This year, mass killings in the U.S. reached their lowest point since 2006. The decrease aligns with a general drop in violent crime across the country. Most mass killings continue to involve guns, with many occurring in or around homes.
Key Facts
Mass killings in the U.S. are at their lowest in 2025 since records began in 2006.
A mass killing is defined as an event where four or more people are killed intentionally in 24 hours, excluding the attacker.
The highest number of mass killings was 46 in 2019; in 2025, there have been 17 incidents so far.
Most mass killings (79%) involve firearms.
Data shows about 67% of mass killings happen in or near people's homes.
Mass shootings also decreased, recording 381 incidents in 2025 compared to 503 in 2024.
Gun violence remains a significant issue, with many initiatives targeting its reduction.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about the Social Security Administration's (SSA) plan to cut field office visits by half in 2026. The SSA aims to use more technology to provide services, although this has led to worries about how it might negatively impact those who prefer or need in-person help. The administration, under President Trump, emphasizes a digital shift to improve efficiency and service.
Key Facts
The SSA plans to reduce field office visits from over 31 million to about 15 million by 2026.
Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano wants to improve efficiency by using more technology.
The SSA is not planning to eliminate field offices entirely.
Staffing at SSA offices has decreased by 2,000 people nationwide.
In July, the SSA transferred 1,000 field office employees to its national phone team.
The shift to online services is aimed at newer generations more familiar with digital systems.
Concerns have been raised that reducing staff and office visits might harm those who depend on in-person support.
Senator Warren has expressed strong opposition to the proposed changes, advocating for continued access to earned benefits.
President Donald Trump's administration warned certain states that they might lose federal funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if they do not share detailed recipient data. The primary conflict is with states led by Democrats, who are refusing due to concerns over privacy and legality. The administration argues that this measure is to reduce fraud in the program.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is demanding states share detailed data about SNAP recipients.
If the states do not comply, they risk losing federal administrative SNAP funding.
SNAP is a program that helps around 42 million Americans with low or no income buy groceries.
Twenty-one Democrat-led states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, are resisting the new data-sharing rules.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a team analyzing data to prevent welfare fraud.
Twenty-eight states have complied with the data-sharing requirement.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the federal government’s move, noting significant cuts to SNAP funding.
President Donald Trump mentioned that his administration is looking into a new retirement program inspired by Australia’s retirement savings system. This program is still in the exploration phase, and specific details have not been provided. The announcement was made during a White House event where a significant donation was pledged to aid children's savings.
Key Facts
President Trump discussed the idea of a new retirement savings program.
The program takes inspiration from Australia’s retirement system.
Australia’s system involves employers contributing a portion of workers' earnings to retirement funds.
Trump mentioned the idea in the context of addressing U.S. birthrate policies.
The announcement was made at a White House event.
Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion for a children's savings initiative.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, aiming to extend the Hospital at Home program until 2030. This program allows hospitals to provide at-home care to Medicare patients, which was first introduced in 2020. The bill received support from both political parties and now awaits action in the Senate.
Key Facts
The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act extends the Hospital at Home program for five more years.
The program originally started in 2020 to let hospitals offer care at home for Medicare patients.
Over 400 hospitals in 39 states participated, focusing on elderly patients and those with certain health conditions.
The program reduced mortality rates and hospital admissions while increasing patient satisfaction.
The bill requires CMS to study the program's impact on quality of life, costs, services, and patient demographics.
The American Hospital Association supports the bill, highlighting benefits like lower costs and safer patient care.
The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is having a special election, which is the sixth such election in the House this year. The election has caught attention for multiple reasons, and live results are being tracked.
Key Facts
Tennessee's 7th Congressional District is holding a special election.
This is the sixth special election in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023.
The special election is generating significant interest.
Live results of the election are being monitored.
Special elections often fill vacant seats between regular election cycles.
