President Trump signed an order to start closing the Department of Education, but Congress has to approve it fully. While waiting for Congress, the Department is making changes to the education system to match conservative ideas.
Key Facts
In March, President Trump signed an executive order to start shutting down the Department of Education.
Closing the Department completely requires an act of Congress.
The Department is making changes to primary and secondary education.
These changes reflect a conservative approach to education.
John Yang discussed the topic with investigative reporter Jennifer Smith Richards from ProPublica.
President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself dressed as a king and pouring a brown liquid on protesters. This video was shared on the same day as "No Kings" rallies, where millions across the United States protested against the president's agenda. The demonstrations involved peaceful gatherings in all 50 states to reject the concentration of power.
Key Facts
President Trump shared an AI-made video showing him as a king dumping a brown substance on protesters.
The video was posted during "No Kings" rallies, with nearly seven million people participating across all 50 states.
Over 2,700 peaceful protests were held to oppose President Trump's policies.
The video had a watermark from an account named "@XERIAS_X."
Trump also reshared another fake video of himself placing a crowd on his head and holding a sword, with Democratic leaders bowing.
The official White House account shared images of Trump and Vice President Vance in crowns, while Democratic leaders wore sombreros.
Latino rights groups have criticized the use of sombreros in these images as promoting harmful stereotypes.
Leading Republicans described the protests as negative but stressed the demonstrations were about ideology, not individuals.
George Santos, a former U.S. Representative from New York, has been released from prison after President Trump commuted his sentence. Santos now plans to focus on prison reform, aiming to make prisons more humane. He described the prison system as broken and shared his experiences while incarcerated.
Key Facts
George Santos was released from prison after President Trump commuted his seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft.
Santos wants to dedicate his efforts to prison reform and shared his plans in an interview.
He served 84 days in prison and wrote about his experiences and the conditions there.
Santos described the prison conditions as poor, with issues like mold, broken air conditioning, and inadequate facilities.
Santos was removed from Congress in 2023 after an ethics investigation.
He does not plan to run for political office again for at least ten years.
Santos claims to have spoken to President Trump about his plans for prison reform.
The Bureau of Prisons did not comment due to a government shutdown.
The FBI is looking into a potential threat to Air Force One after finding an elevated hunting stand near its landing zone in West Palm Beach. No one has been detained, and it's unclear why the stand was there. The FBI is gathering evidence and working with the Department of Justice on the investigation.
Key Facts
The FBI discovered an elevated hunting stand near Air Force One's landing zone in West Palm Beach.
The location allows direct sight of the landing zone.
No individuals were found or arrested at the site.
It's not clear what the purpose of the hunting stand is or when it was built.
The FBI is leading the investigation and collecting evidence from the scene.
The FBI is collaborating with the Department of Justice to manage legal matters.
The White House was contacted for comments on the situation.
The story is developing, with further updates expected.
State emergency management officials are facing problems due to reduced federal disaster funding. New rules and legal issues have delayed grants needed for emergency preparedness. These delays are making it hard for states to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.
Key Facts
Federal grants for emergency management are facing cuts and delays.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has new rules affecting federal emergency funds.
A judge said the federal government added illegal conditions to FEMA grants related to immigration enforcement.
FEMA grants for states are being reviewed, affecting funding for Democrat-led areas.
A $320 million FEMA grant was frozen due to new population counting rules.
The Homeland Security Grant Program saw funding changes, with some states losing up to 79% of their funds.
FEMA shortened the spending period for grants from three years to one year.
Court orders have challenged some of these funding changes, impacting local emergency preparedness plans.
President Trump stated that the U.S. economy will have difficulties if the Supreme Court cancels most of the tariffs he introduced this year. These tariffs have been challenged in court, and a decision is expected soon. Trump argues that the tariffs are important for the country's revenue and international negotiations.
Key Facts
President Trump warned that the U.S. economy would struggle if the Supreme Court removes most tariffs imposed this year.
The tariffs were applied using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act from the 1970s.
The Court of International Trade ruled that President Trump did not have the authority to impose these tariffs.
An appellate court upheld the ruling against Trump's authority on these tariffs.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on this issue in early November.
Economists predict that 70% of the tariffs could be removed if the court sides against Trump.
Trump mentioned the tariffs have played a role in ending several international conflicts.
The case was brought to court by V.O.S. Selections, a wine importer from New York.
President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentence of George Santos, a former New York representative, who faced federal charges. Santos, expelled from the House of Representatives, compared Trump's critics to those who would criticize a pardon for Jesus. Santos plans to focus on prison reform and expressed gratitude for Trump's intervention.
Key Facts
President Trump commuted George Santos' sentence, leading to his release from prison.
Santos faced 23 federal charges, including fraud and making false statements.
He was expelled from the House of Representatives.
Santos compared criticism of his commutation to a hypothetical pardon of Jesus by Trump.
Former President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son was mentioned by Santos.
Santos spent 41 days in isolation before learning of his release.
Santos said he would focus on prison reform and accountability after his release.
President Trump praised Santos for his loyalty to the Republican Party.
President Trump commuted the seven-year prison sentence of George Santos, who was in prison for wire fraud and identity theft. Santos expressed surprise at the commutation, which drew criticism from many, including some Republicans. Santos was expelled from Congress in 2023 and now says he does not plan to return to politics soon.
Key Facts
President Trump commuted George Santos' seven-year sentence.
Santos found out about the commutation from a news broadcast in prison.
Trump praised Santos for always voting Republican and claimed he was mistreated.
Santos was expelled from Congress in 2023 and served less than three months in prison.
Santos had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft but avoided trial.
Critics argue the commutation is an act of rewarding a political ally.
Santos does not plan to run for political office for at least the next ten years.
Vice President JD Vance celebrated the 250th anniversary of the US Marine Corps with a live artillery demonstration at Camp Pendleton, California. The event featured military displays but drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom due to safety concerns related to closing a section of a major highway. Vance praised the Marines and criticized certain military policies and a government shutdown.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance marked the 250th anniversary of the US Marine Corps with an event in Southern California.
The event at Camp Pendleton included a live artillery demonstration involving various military equipment.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the event for causing highway closures due to safety concerns.
The artillery demonstration was the largest in the continental US in a decade, according to the Marines.
Newsom expressed concerns about dangers and distractions for drivers from the event.
Vance, a former Marine, highlighted his military service during the event.
Vance's speech included criticism of Democrats and certain military policies.
Vance conveyed a message of support from President Donald Trump to the Marines.
In 2025, several changes have occurred in U.S. travel rules. These changes include airlines not having to provide mandatory compensation for controllable delays and new policies on baggage fees and enforcement by different airlines.
Key Facts
In September 2025, the plan requiring airlines to compensate passengers for controllable flight delays was dropped by the Trump administration.
The Department of Transportation had proposed airlines provide compensation for delays due to issues they can control, but the proposal was withdrawn.
Airlines are responsible for setting their own compensation policies, which vary.
American Airlines removed bag sizers to help speed up boarding; gate agents now decide if a bag needs to be checked.
Southwest Airlines ended its "Bags Fly Free" policy, introducing fees for checked bags from May 28, 2025.
Passengers with a Southwest credit card or A-List status still get one free checked bag.
Spirit Airlines is offering two free checked bags, but only for some passengers.
New York’s House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not yet endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City. Mamdani recently won the Democratic primary but still seeks endorsements from key Democratic figures. The mayoral race now includes former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as an independent.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries has not endorsed Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor yet.
Jeffries plans to discuss the election with Mamdani before early voting begins.
Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary against Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Andrew Cuomo is running as an independent in the mayoral race.
Mamdani has a lead over Cuomo, with some polls showing up to a 24-point advantage.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed Mamdani and supports his focus on affordability.
Mamdani aims to address affordability and has spoken with Jewish leaders about antisemitism concerns.
President Donald Trump has focused on prosecuting some of his critics. John Bolton, a former national security adviser and Trump critic, faces serious federal charges for allegedly mishandling classified information. Experts say the case against Bolton may be stronger than those against other Trump critics.
Key Facts
President Trump pressured the Justice Department to investigate several of his critics.
John Bolton, a former national security adviser, is criminally indicted on charges related to handling classified information.
Bolton was accused of putting national security at risk by sharing classified documents improperly.
The charges claim Bolton's documents were stored insecurely and included top secret information.
A hacker allegedly accessed Bolton's account and sent a threat about leaking documents.
Bolton pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of mishandling classified information.
There is debate about whether Bolton's case is part of a pattern of politically motivated prosecutions.
Experts say Bolton's case might be stronger legally than similar cases due to the evidence presented.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed a report claiming that the U.S. Coast Guard bought private jets for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The DHS stated that the jets were purchased for general use by Coast Guard staff, not exclusively for Noem. This issue raised questions about federal spending during a government shutdown.
Key Facts
The DHS bought two Gulfstream G700 jets for $172 million for Coast Guard use.
DHS claims the jets are needed for safety and mission readiness, providing secure communication and long-range mobility.
The New York Times reported that the jets were bought for Secretary Kristi Noem, which DHS denied.
Some Democrats criticized the purchase as prioritizing comfort over Coast Guard readiness.
DHS publicly called the New York Times story misleading and defended the purchase as essential for emergency response.
The government shutdown has put scrutiny on federal spending decisions.
The Coast Guard's current aircraft need upgrades for reliable communication and mobility.
The New York Times has not yet responded to DHS's criticism of their report.
A shooting at Oklahoma State University (OSU) injured three people, including a student, early on Sunday morning. The OSU Police Department has stated that there is no ongoing threat on campus. The authorities are investigating the incident and are asking for any additional information from the public.
Key Facts
Three people, including one student, were wounded in a shooting at OSU.
The shooting occurred early Sunday morning at the Carreker East residence hall.
Attendees of a large off-campus party had returned to the residence hall before the incident.
There is no ongoing threat to the campus, according to OSU Police.
Victims were taken to hospitals in Oklahoma City and Tulsa for treatment.
No information about a suspect or motive is available yet.
The police are actively investigating and have asked for public assistance.
OSU has reinforced security and communication protocols following the incident.
An Illinois hospital arranged for two young sisters to have surgery on the same day. This allowed the siblings to support each other during their recovery period. The parents appreciated the compassionate approach, and the sisters have recovered well.
Key Facts
Two sisters, Nora and Lily, needed surgeries for different health issues.
Nora needed ear tubes and an adenoidectomy due to hearing loss.
Lily required a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for sleep apnea and breathing problems.
The hospital suggested scheduling the surgeries on the same day so they could recover together.
The sisters, who are very close, supported each other during the recovery.
Their mother shared a video of their experience on TikTok, which has been viewed over 845,000 times.
Both girls have fully recovered and are back to their usual activities.
Police in Philadelphia found human remains while looking for a missing woman named Kada Scott. The remains were discovered in a shallow grave behind an abandoned school and are believed to belong to Scott, though they have not been formally identified.
Key Facts
The remains were found in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kada Scott is the missing woman the police are looking for.
Police discovered the remains after an anonymous tip.
The remains were located in a wooded area near an abandoned middle school.
The remains are estimated to be about a week old.
The Philadelphia Police Department believes the remains could be Scott's but have not confirmed this.
Protests called "No Kings" took place across the United States, drawing large crowds in several cities. The demonstrations were aimed at President Trump and his administration.
Key Facts
The protests happened across multiple cities in the United States.
They were called "No Kings" protests.
The events took place on a Sunday.
Cities involved included Boise, Baltimore, San Diego, and St. Louis.
The protests were against President Trump and his administration.
The "No Kings" protests took place across the United States, with more people participating this time. These protests were aimed at opposing President Donald Trump and his administration.
Key Facts
The "No Kings" protests happened nationwide in the U.S.
More people attended these protests compared to the previous ones.
Protests occurred in various cities like Boise, Baltimore, San Diego, and St. Louis.
The demonstrations were specifically against President Donald Trump and his administration.
The protests are a recurring event, now in their second iteration.
Large protests occurred across all 50 U.S. states against President Donald Trump's policies. People expressed concerns about his immigration stance and attacks on institutions. Organizers claimed that about seven million participated in these "No Kings" rallies.
Key Facts
Protests happened in all 50 U.S. states, including both large cities and smaller communities.
Organizers reported approximately seven million protestors attended nationwide.
Key issues raised included calls to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and criticism of Trump's approach to media and immigration.
Demonstrations featured colorful signs and chants about protecting democracy.
In Los Angeles, a giant balloon depicted President Trump in a diaper.
New York saw over 100,000 participants at a major protest; Washington, DC, had between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
President Trump reacted by sharing AI-generated videos on his social media.
Senator Bernie Sanders spoke against the concentration of power in Trump's administration.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to deport Roman Surovtsev, an immigrant who has lived in the U.S. since he was a child. ICE attempted to send him to Ukraine, a country that does not recognize him as a citizen. Surovtsev's wife has hired lawyers to help fight the detention and deportation.
Key Facts
Roman Surovtsev came to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union as a refugee at age four.
His green card was revoked after he pled guilty to carjacking and burglary in California.
ICE attempted to deport him to Ukraine and Russia, but neither country recognizes him as a citizen.
Surovtsev regularly checked in with ICE, leading to his detention in August.
ICE aims to meet a one-million-person annual deportation target.
His case is being heard in court, with his lawyers arguing that his re-detention is unconstitutional.
Ukraine does not possess documentation to prove Surovtsev's citizenship.
His lawyers assert there is little chance of deportation in the near future due to documentation issues.
