President Donald Trump announced a deal to access over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, aiming to increase U.S. oil reserves and lower gas prices. Experts say it will take years of investment and development before this oil can help reduce gas prices for American drivers.
Key Facts
The deal involves Venezuelan oil fields with over 65 billion barrels of oil reserves.
Venezuela’s oil reserves total about 303 billion barrels, roughly 17% of the world’s supply.
The U.S. would control about 55% of output from the new Venezuelan oil venture.
The Venezuelan government granted a private company a 100-year concession for these oil fields.
Energy analyst Patrick De Haan says it will take years and billions of dollars to develop this oil.
Global refining capacity may limit how much benefit increased oil production can bring.
President Trump said the deal would cost no money to American taxpayers.
The agreement involves U.S. government officials and Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
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Milo Yiannopoulos, a British media figure, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Orleans for overstaying his visa and was deported back to the UK. He had a final deportation order after missing a court hearing and was known for his far-right views and previous support of President Trump.
Key Facts
Yiannopoulos legally entered the US in May 2019 but overstayed his visa.
ICE arrested him at New Orleans airport on Thursday and deported him Friday.
He missed his immigration court hearing and was ordered removed on July 22.
Yiannopoulos is known for far-right views and had worked with rapper Ye’s 2024 White House campaign.
He formerly worked at Breitbart News and interned for Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
He was banned from Twitter in 2016 for racist and sexist posts; his account was reinstated in 2022.
Yiannopoulos had called for strict immigration checkpoints and supported ICE’s deportation efforts.
He was reportedly deported during President Trump’s second term, which includes an active immigration enforcement policy.
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President Donald Trump announced a deal giving the United States access to large oil reserves in Venezuela. The deal involves a new private company formed with U.S. and Venezuelan partners to develop 17 oil fields, with the U.S. receiving a majority share and rights to buy oil at cost. This move follows the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier in the year.
Key Facts
The deal grants the U.S. access to Venezuela’s vast oil fields for 100 years through a newly formed private company.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez said the deal could attract $100 billion in investment and generate over $209 billion in taxes.
The agreement includes 17 oil fields with an estimated 65 billion barrels of oil reserves.
The U.S. will hold a 55% effective share in the new company and rights to buy oil at cost for its strategic reserves and military use.
No official text of the agreement has been released yet.
The deal was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Delcy Rodríguez.
Experts say Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure means oil production increases and lower U.S. gas prices will not happen quickly.
The deal comes after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in a raid and brought him to New York on drug trafficking charges.
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Milo Yiannopoulos, a British far-right commentator linked to President Donald Trump and Kanye West, was deported from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after overstaying his legal entry. He was arrested at a Louisiana airport and removed following a judge’s order after he failed to attend an immigration hearing.
Key Facts
Milo Yiannopoulos entered the U.S. legally on May 14, 2019, through New York City.
He overstayed his allowed time and violated immigration laws.
ICE arrested him at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana.
An immigration judge issued a final removal order on July 22 after Yiannopoulos did not appear for a hearing.
Yiannopoulos has publicly supported ICE and immigration enforcement, including deportations.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that the current administration is enforcing stricter policies to prevent undocumented immigrants from flying within the U.S.
The spokesperson for DHS emphasized that the agency reversed previous policies to restrict travel by illegal immigrants under President Trump’s direction.
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Democrat Tom Begich has ended his campaign for Alaska governor, leaving Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as the main Democratic candidate against Republican opponents. Begich said it made sense to unite behind one candidate to have a better chance of winning in the November election.
Key Facts
Tom Begich, a Democrat, suspended his Alaska governor campaign on Friday.
Begich urged his supporters to back fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system and a jungle primary, where the top four candidates advance regardless of party.
In the August primary, Begich got about 20.8% of votes; Kreiss-Tomkins had 22%.
Two Republicans, Bernadette Wilson and Dave Bronson, also advanced to the general election.
Begich cited high campaign costs and overlapping Democratic priorities as reasons to drop out.
The race is generally seen as favoring Republicans but polling shows it could be competitive.
Begich had raised over $1.3 million, mostly from Alaska donors.
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The Artemis II astronauts who flew around the moon in April received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Donald Trump. The ceremony also included the announcement of a new US space academy and highlighted plans for future moon and Mars missions.
Key Facts
Artemis II had three Americans and one Canadian fly around the moon, setting a new distance record.
President Trump awarded them the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest space award.
The ceremony took place at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston with NASA officials present.
Trump announced plans for a US space academy for the space force, NASA, and commercial space companies.
Artemis II used NASA’s new Orion capsule and the Space Launch System rocket on their mission.
Future missions include Artemis III docking rehearsal in Earth orbit and a possible moon landing by Artemis IV near the lunar south pole by 2028.
NASA aims to build a moon base near the lunar south pole to use frozen water for fuel and drinking water.
NASA officials said a “second space race” has started, with China also showing interest in the lunar south pole region.
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The Trump administration is considering a land exchange deal that would allow a private company to build a short road to its property near Yosemite National Park. This proposal has caused concern among environmental groups and some lawmakers because it could set a precedent for private development close to public park lands.
Key Facts
The proposed deal involves Kingsbarn Realty Capital's 83-acre Hazel Green property near Yosemite’s western border.
The plan includes building a road less than half a mile long connecting the property to the park's road network.
The land exchange is allowed under federal law and would not reduce the overall size of Yosemite National Park.
Environmental groups and some Democratic lawmakers oppose the project due to concerns about setting a precedent for private development near parks.
The Department of the Interior denies any secret political pressure or predetermined outcome related to the deal.
Any land exchange would follow federal laws, including environmental reviews and public input before final approval.
Former Yosemite superintendent Don Neubacher said the proposal is likely illegal and could harm local wildlife like Pacific fishers and great gray owls.
California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla oppose the plan, emphasizing Yosemite’s importance as a natural treasure.
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President Donald Trump plans to make the Republican Party’s midterm campaign partly focused on himself. Some members of the GOP think this approach could be risky for the party.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to focus the midterm election campaign partly on his own image.
He is doing more than just supporting Republican candidates in the usual way on the campaign trail.
Some Republican leaders are worried that focusing too much on Trump could hurt the party’s chances.
This strategy is different from typical midterm campaigns that highlight local candidates.
The plan comes ahead of the 2024 election, in which Trump is the sitting president.
The campaign approach might affect voter opinions and turnout in key races.
The issue shows divisions within the GOP about the best way to win elections.
The information comes from a report published by The Atlantic.
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James Cleverly has quit his position in the Conservative Party’s shadow cabinet to run for Mayor of London. He will leave his current role immediately and plans to present his campaign to party members at the upcoming Conservative party conference.
Key Facts
James Cleverly was a member of the Conservative Party’s shadow cabinet.
He has held important roles before, including home secretary and foreign secretary.
Cleverly also served as shadow minister for housing, communities, and local government.
He has resigned immediately to focus on his mayoral campaign.
The Conservative party conference is in October, where Cleverly will speak to party members.
The current London mayor, Sadiq Khan, is in his third term but has not said if he will run again in 2028.
The mayoral election is scheduled for May 2028.
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Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly has resigned from his role in the shadow cabinet to run for mayor of London. He wants to focus fully on the mayoral race, which will take place in 2028.
Key Facts
Sir James Cleverly is a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP).
He held the position of shadow housing secretary before resigning.
He informed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch about his resignation.
Cleverly wants to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor.
The next London mayor election is scheduled for 2028.
Current mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has not yet decided if he will run again.
Cleverly says London needs more than just an administrator as mayor.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras due to privacy concerns and misuse by some police officers. These cameras are widely used in Texas counties, especially in large cities, but many local governments are canceling their contracts with the company.
Key Facts
Governor Greg Abbott directed Texas state agencies to halt funding for Flock Safety cameras.
Flock Safety provides automated license plate reader cameras used by police to track vehicles.
Texas state agencies have spent at least $30 million on Flock cameras over the past three years.
Most Flock camera funding now comes from the federal government, not the state.
The technology helps law enforcement find stolen cars, solve crimes, and locate missing persons.
Texas has over 13,500 license plate reader cameras spread across 218 counties.
Harris County (Houston area) has the most cameras, with 3,546 units, followed by Dallas and Tarrant counties.
Abbott cited privacy concerns and a recent incident where a police officer misused Flock cameras to spy on a former girlfriend.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott instructed all state agencies to stop funding for Flock cameras, which are roadside surveillance cameras. This order responds to increasing worries about the possible misuse of these cameras.
Key Facts
Governor Greg Abbott is from the Republican Party.
He ordered a stop to funding for Flock cameras by all Texas state agencies.
The decision was communicated on a Thursday evening.
The move comes amid nationwide concerns about misuse of roadside camera networks.
The Texas Tribune was preparing to publish an investigation related to these cameras.
Flock cameras are used for surveillance along roadways.
This action is part of Texas state policy decisions.
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Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate for the Michigan Senate seat, claimed in a fundraising email that he saw Osama bin Laden’s dead body with his own eyes after the 2011 raid that killed bin Laden. However, Rogers was not at the raid site or the White House situation room; he was in Washington, D.C., and only saw a photograph of bin Laden’s body.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers served as a US Army officer, FBI special agent, and was chair of the House Intelligence Committee in 2011.
Osama bin Laden was killed in a US military raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 1, 2011.
Rogers was not physically present at the raid or the White House during the operation.
He received a phone call from CIA Director Leon Panetta informing him about the raid.
Rogers saw a photograph of bin Laden’s dead body but did not witness it in person.
Rogers’ campaign has used language that suggests a closer personal involvement in the raid than is accurate.
His Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has condemned the 9/11 attacks and is falsely claimed by Rogers to have said America deserved 9/11.
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker made a controversial statement about 9/11 years before endorsing El-Sayed and later apologized.
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Inflation remains high in the United States as the conflict in Iran reaches six months and tariffs set by President Donald Trump continue. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said the central bank might need to take action if prices do not stop rising.
Key Facts
Inflation in the U.S. is still at a high level.
The war involving Iran has lasted for six months.
President Trump’s tariffs on Canada are causing higher prices in both countries.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh warns the central bank may respond if inflation does not improve.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, which can raise costs for consumers.
The combination of the Iran war and tariffs affects the economy and prices.
The Federal Reserve is responsible for managing the U.S. economy and inflation.
The article highlights concerns about ongoing inflation pressures in the U.S. economy.
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Philadelphia police are investigating an officer who left a man lying in the street before the man was hit and killed by a car. Surveillance video shows the officer talked to the man, then left without helping him, and the man was later struck by a car that fled the scene.
Key Facts
A 48-year-old man was hit and killed early Thursday morning on Rising Sun Avenue in Philadelphia.
Police found out about the crash hours later when the medical examiner called for information.
Video shows the man walking unsteadily in a bike lane before a police officer stopped to talk to him.
The officer left the man lying on the street without giving medical help or starting an investigation.
The man was hit by a green 2023-26 Kia Sportage, which fled the scene eastbound on Tabor Avenue.
Two witnesses moved the man out of the road and called 911, but he died at the hospital.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative duty and is under investigation.
Police are asking the public to help find the driver and the car involved in the hit-and-run.
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Inflation in the United States remains high, with a key measure showing prices 3.7% higher than a year ago in July. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said interest rates may need to increase to reduce inflation, while Americans’ confidence in the economy fell to its lowest point in seven months.
Key Facts
The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 3.7% in July compared to the previous year, unchanged from June.
Inflation has increased since February 2026, when the rate was 2.9%, and remains above the Fed’s 2% target.
The PCE index differs from the consumer price index (CPI) by giving less weight to rental costs, which have been decreasing recently.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh spoke at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, indicating inflation is still too high.
Warsh suggested the Fed might raise interest rates in the near future to help reduce inflation.
The Federal Reserve will meet next on September 15-16 to discuss monetary policy.
Consumer confidence dropped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July, the lowest in seven months.
Higher gasoline prices above $4 per gallon, partly due to conflict involving Iran, have affected Americans’ economic outlook.
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A White House teleprompter operator named Gabriel Perez placed online bets on speeches by President Donald Trump. A federal agency ordered him to pay $172,000, which includes returning his betting profits and additional penalties.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez worked as a teleprompter operator at the White House.
He placed bets online predicting the content of President Trump’s speeches.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) investigated this activity.
The CFTC ordered Perez to pay back $107,539.02 in profits from the bets.
He must pay a total of $172,000, including civil penalties.
The ruling was announced by the CFTC on a Friday.
The case involves illegal trading related to government information.
Perez’s actions violated federal rules against betting on official government speech.
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The FBI has changed its hiring policy and will no longer automatically reject applicants who have had sexual encounters with sex workers. Instead, each case will be reviewed more carefully, although certain situations, like recent or repeated encounters, can still lead to disqualification.
Key Facts
The FBI removed a strict ban on applicants who have had sex with sex workers.
Applicants with recent encounters (within 10 years), multiple encounters (three or more), or encounters while in trusted jobs may still be rejected.
The new policy considers context, such as legality of the conduct or if the applicant was younger or a victim of abuse.
The FBI said criminal sexual acts are still disqualifying.
The change follows other relaxed rules, such as allowing applicants with past marijuana use.
Some current and former officials worry that lowered hiring standards may be due to a shortage of applicants.
The FBI wants to maintain high standards despite the policy change.
Past incidents involved FBI agents accused of engaging with sex workers abroad.
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The article discusses complaints from liberal groups about the Supreme Court's use of the "shadow docket," which is a way the court quickly decides cases without full hearings. It explains the term "forum shopping," where lawyers choose courts they think will give favorable decisions.
Key Facts
The "shadow docket" refers to fast decisions by the Supreme Court without full arguments.
Some liberals criticize how the Supreme Court uses this process.
"Forum shopping" means picking a court thought to be more likely to rule in your favor.
The article looks at why complaints about the shadow docket may not fully account for legal strategies like forum shopping.
Judge Talwani is mentioned in relation to these legal discussions.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating among voters aged 18 to 34 has dropped to a record low of minus 44, according to recent polling. This decline came one year after the younger voters had helped boost his overall support in the 2024 election.
Key Facts
Trump’s net approval among 18- to 34-year-olds fell from minus 30 in July to minus 44 in August 2026.
His approval rating with young voters dropped 51 points since January 2025, when it was at plus 7.
Overall, Trump’s net approval improved slightly from minus 23 in July to minus 19 in August 2026.
In August 2026, only 28% of young voters approved of Trump’s job, while 72% disapproved.
In the 2024 election, voters aged 18 to 29 supported Vice President Kamala Harris by a small margin of four points over Trump.
Young men preferred Trump by 56% to 42%, while young women preferred Harris by 58% to 41% in 2024.
Economic concerns were the top issue for 40% of young voters and influenced their voting choices.
The polling was conducted by Echelon Insights and AP VoteCast, surveying over 1,000 and 120,000 registered voters respectively, with standard margins of error.
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