The Actual News

Key Facts:

• Zohran Mamdani is a 33-year-old state assemblymember and democratic socialist.
• Mamdani led the New York City mayoral primary with 44% of the votes.
• Former Governor Andrew Cuomo received 36% of the votes and conceded the race.
• Mamdani declared victory with 93% of precincts reporting, although final results depend on ranked-choice voting redistributions.
• Ranked-choice voting involves redistributing losing candidates' ballots to voters' second-choice preferences until one candidate surpasses 50%.
• Mamdani would be New York City's first Muslim mayor and the youngest in over 100 years if elected.
• He was born in Uganda and became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
• Mamdani was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 and has engaged young and first-time voters with his campaign.

Key Facts:

• A ceasefire between Israel and Iran started on Tuesday and has continued into Wednesday.
• U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that talks between the U.S. and Iran are expected next week.
• Trump stated that U.S. strikes had destroyed Iran's nuclear program, though Iran continues its nuclear efforts.
• U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed communications between the U.S. and Iran, but Iran has not confirmed talks.
• Iran's parliament is fast-tracking a proposal to stop cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi requested to resume inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities.
• French President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope for renewed discussions with Iran based on the 2015 nuclear deal.
• The U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, aiming to set back Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Key Facts:

• People in Kenya protested on the anniversary of last year's antigovernment demonstrations.
• Last year, at least 60 people died during protests over taxes and economic issues.
• On June 25 of last year, thousands stormed the Parliament in Kenya.
• Families of victims and activists called for peaceful marches to remember the events.
• Some protesters suggested occupying State House, the home of President William Ruto.
• Police closed main roads and used barriers to protect government buildings.
• Protests were mostly peaceful, though some violence and tear gas were reported.
• Anger has increased recently due to police actions, including a teacher's death in custody.

Key Facts:

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia is from El Salvador.
• He was mistakenly deported and returned to the U.S. in June 2023.
• Abrego Garcia faces charges of human smuggling.
• A judge ordered his release from jail, but he will be taken into immigration custody.
• Federal prosecutors are appealing the judge's decision to release him.
• He cannot be deported to El Salvador due to safety risks, but another country might accept him.
• Abrego Garcia has lived in Maryland for over ten years with his wife and three children.
• His charges come from a 2022 traffic stop involving nine passengers.

Key Facts:

• Susan Monarez is President Trump's nominee to lead the CDC.
• Monarez's confirmation hearing is being held by the Senate health committee.
• The hearing coincides with a meeting of the CDC's vaccine advisory panel.
• The CDC has been without a confirmed leader for several months.
• Monarez has a background in law and has worked in science-related government roles.
• Trump's previous nominee for CDC director was withdrawn in March.

Key Facts:

• Emil Bove is being considered for a judge position on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
• A whistleblower, Erez Reuveni, claims he was fired after objecting to disobeying court orders.
• Reuveni alleges Bove suggested ignoring a potential court block on deportations.
• Bove is a former lawyer who defended Donald Trump in criminal cases.
• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called the allegations against Bove false.
• Bove faces accusations related to the dismissal of a corruption case involving New York City's Mayor.
• Several Justice Department officials resigned after Bove's actions related to the corruption case.

Key Facts:

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed will wait to see how the economy changes before lowering interest rates.
• President Trump has called for immediate cuts to these interest rates, but Powell disagrees with this approach.
• Powell testified before a Senate committee, where he explained the Fed's current position.
• Powell mentioned that tariffs could increase inflation, but the exact impact is still uncertain.
• The Fed's purpose is to control inflation and support employment, and it is not directly influenced by external pressure.
• Powell noted that any change in interest rates would depend on economic indicators such as inflation and unemployment.
• The Fed's committee recently agreed to keep interest rates stable for now, although future cuts are possible depending on the economy's evolution.
• Powell emphasized that the Fed's decisions are made for the benefit of the American economy, without distractions from political pressures.

Key Facts:

• A federal judge is involved in a case about the Trump administration trying to dismantle Voice of America.
• The judge has demanded the government provide more information on their compliance with his order.
• Over 600 employees received layoff notices from VOA and the oversight agency.
• The plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration has not followed the judge’s order to restore VOA's operations.
• Approximately 85% of VOA's workforce, or about 1,400 people, have lost their jobs since March.
• Most VOA employees have been on administrative leave since March, limiting their broadcasts and social media presence.
• The administration has been criticized for not having a clear plan for VOA’s future operations.
• Voice of America started by broadcasting to Nazi Germany about American democracy and now provides news worldwide in many languages.

Key Facts:

• Vietnam will stop using the death penalty for eight specific crimes.
• Crimes no longer eligible for the death penalty include bribery, embezzlement, and espionage.
• People already sentenced to death for these crimes will have their sentences changed to life imprisonment.
• The change will begin next month.
• The death penalty will still apply to 10 other crimes, like murder and terrorism.
• The topic of removing the death penalty for drug trafficking was highly debated.
• Vietnam keeps data on capital punishment confidential, meaning it's unclear how many are on death row.
• Vietnam stopped using firing squads for executions in 2011, switching to lethal injections.

Key Facts:

• Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary.
• Mamdani received 43.5% of the vote compared to Andrew Cuomo's 36.4%.
• Mamdani saw strong voter support in Queens, Brooklyn, and much of Manhattan.
• The primary election uses ranked-choice voting, and non-first-choice votes still need counting.
• Mamdani is a self-described democratic socialist, similar to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
• Mamdani may become the first Muslim and first mayor of Asian heritage in New York City.
• He was born in Uganda to Indian heritage parents and immigrated to the US as a child.
• Mamdani faced criticism during his campaign for his support of the Palestinian cause.
• He proposed creating a Department of Community Safety and increasing anti-hate crime funding.

Key Facts:

• The program provides financial support and education benefits to families of deceased or disabled police and firefighters.
• Many families are waiting over five years for their claims to be processed.
• Nearly 900 claims have been pending for more than one year.
• The Government Accountability Office reported problems with the program's management since 2009.
• DOJ officials are working on recommendations to improve the program's claim system.
• The DOJ confirmed receipt of Grassley's letter but did not comment further.
• Senator Grassley wants updates within two weeks about efforts to improve the program.
• A Texas widow, Lisa Afolayan, has waited 16 years for benefits after her husband died in service.

Key Facts:

• Zohran Mamdani declared victory in the Democratic primary for New York City's mayor.
• Andrew Cuomo, a former governor, conceded the race to Mamdani.
• The outcome will still be finalized through ranked choice voting.
• Mamdani is a 33-year-old democratic socialist who focuses on cost of living issues.
• Mamdani has served in the New York State Assembly since 2021.
• If elected, Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor.
• Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa will compete in the general election.
• Ranked choice voting lets voters rank candidates in order of preference, which affects the final count if no one gets more than 50% initially.

Key Facts:

• Virgil Abloh was a fashion designer with a background in engineering and architecture.
• He became the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton.
• Abloh was known for mixing streetwear with luxury fashion.
• He founded the high-end clothing brands Off-White and Pyrex Vision.
• He originally gained popularity while working for rapper Kanye West.
• Abloh passed away at age 41 in 2021 from a rare cancer called cardiac angiosarcoma.
• Pharrell Williams took over his role at Louis Vuitton in 2023.

Key Facts:

• Emil Bove is nominated to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
• The Third Circuit includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands.
• Bove has worked as a federal prosecutor and as a lawyer for Donald Trump.
• As a Justice Department official, he helped remove prosecutors and FBI agents investigating Trump.
• Critics have raised concerns about Bove's temperament and decision-making.
• Bove's confirmation hearing will happen before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• A whistleblower alleged Bove intended to defy court orders related to deportation cases.
• The White House supports Bove, citing his legal abilities and alignment with Trump's goals.

Key Facts:

• U.S. national security officials are concerned about an increased threat inside the country.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued this warning.
• The concern is linked to recent U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.
• There is fear that Iran might seek to retaliate.
• The warning is about potential threats on U.S. soil.
• The DHS uses the term "heightened threat environment" to describe the situation.

Key Facts:

Key Facts:

• The discussion involved Sayed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian negotiator.
• The focus was on the U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear program.
• Mousavian provided insights on how these strikes have affected Iran.
• The conversation also touched on the chances of future diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran.
• The interview was conducted by A Martínez from NPR.

Key Facts:

• PEPFAR is a U.S. government program aimed at combating AIDS.
• The program has been one of the most cost-effective ways to save lives.
• There are funding cuts to PEPFAR that started under the Trump Administration.
• These cuts are affecting clinics in countries such as Eswatini and Lesotho.
• Journalists traveled to these areas to report on the impact of these funding cuts.
• The article includes related episodes discussing cuts to USAID, another aid program.
• PEPFAR's effectiveness and the challenges it faces are important topics of discussion in global health.

Key Facts:

• The NPR episode focused on the lives of transgender people of color and their experiences over the years.
• The podcast was produced by Jess Kung and edited by Leah Donnella and Dalia Mortada.
• B.A. Parker co-hosted the show, and Kwesi Lee was the sound engineer.
• The episode included an interview with Caro De Robertis about their book, "So Many Stars."
• The book covers the oral history of people identifying as trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and Two-Spirit, focusing on people of color.
• Trans people have been advocating for their rights and dignity for many generations.
• The podcast is available on platforms like the NPR App, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Key Facts:

• Andrew Cuomo conceded to Zohran Mamdani in the mayoral primary in New York City.
• Zohran Mamdani is a state assemblyman and a democratic socialist.
• Cuomo tried to make a political comeback after resigning as governor in 2021 following a sexual harassment scandal.
• Mamdani is 33 years old.
• If Mamdani wins the general election, he will become the first Muslim and Indian American mayor of New York City.