President Donald Trump's administration plans to cut the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget by half. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin testified before a Senate committee to support the budget cuts and defend changes made under his leadership.
Key Facts
The EPA budget proposal calls for reducing funding by 50 percent.
Lee Zeldin is the current EPA Administrator leading the agency.
Zeldin has reduced EPA staff to the lowest numbers in decades.
He canceled major climate change programs.
Zeldin promoted what he called the largest deregulation efforts in U.S. history.
Billions in environmental justice grants from the Biden administration were canceled.
Zeldin criticized Democratic senators during the hearing, questioning their preparation and concern.
The hearing was part of three budget discussions held in the Senate that week.
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California is becoming important in national politics with upcoming elections. The governor's race, control of the U.S. House, and the 2028 presidential election all involve key California figures like Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Key Facts
California has an active race for governor underway.
The outcome affects control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Governor Gavin Newsom is a leading figure in this political scene.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also a key contender.
Both Newsom and Harris may run for president in 2028.
California’s political status impacts all Americans.
The state plays a major role in national politics.
The upcoming elections could shape political power in the U.S.
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Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in court after being charged with threatening President Donald Trump. The charges relate to a social media post with an image of seashells arranged as "86 47," which some interpreted as a threat, although Comey says he opposed violence and removed the post.
Key Facts
James Comey was indicted for making threats against President Donald Trump.
He appeared in court but did not enter a plea.
The charges are two counts: threatening the president's life and transmitting a threat via interstate commerce.
The case is based on a photo Comey posted on Instagram showing seashells arranged as "86 47."
Comey said the post was meant to send a political message and that he removed it after people thought it was violent.
A judge denied the Justice Department's request for release conditions on Comey.
Legal experts say this case is unusual because it involves symbolic speech and may involve First Amendment defenses.
Comey was previously indicted on other charges, but that case was dismissed due to an issue with the prosecutor's appointment.
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A sexual wellness company called OneTaste is asking people close to President Donald Trump to help get pardons for its former CEO Nicole Daedone and former sales head Rachel Cherwitz. Both women were sentenced to over five years in prison for a crime called forced labor conspiracy.
Key Facts
OneTaste is based in San Francisco and focuses on sexual wellness.
The company has been described as a sex cult.
Nicole Daedone was the CEO and founder of OneTaste.
Rachel Cherwitz was the former head of sales at OneTaste.
Both women were sentenced to more than five years in prison.
Their conviction was for forced labor conspiracy, a crime involving using people for work through coercion or threats.
OneTaste is trying to get clemency, which means forgiveness or reduction of their sentences.
They are lobbying, or asking for help, through allies of President Donald Trump.
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Nearly two-thirds of the United States is experiencing drought, affecting more than 150 million people. The drought covers all but two states, with some areas facing the worst drought levels in over a decade.
Key Facts
About 62 percent of the U.S. is currently in drought conditions.
The drought affects more than 150 million people nationwide.
Only Michigan and North Dakota are free from drought conditions.
Some regions, including parts of Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Colorado, and Idaho, face "exceptional" drought, the most severe level.
Texas has multiple counties classified under extreme or exceptional drought.
The percentage of land in moderate drought or worse increased from 51 percent to 52.46 percent in one week.
The U.S. Drought Monitor will update its data again next Thursday.
Drought means there is not enough moisture, which can hurt people, the environment, and the economy.
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The UK government says it will take several years before a ban on new leasehold property sales in England and Wales is fully applied. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook explained that ending leasehold slowly is needed to avoid problems with housing supply and legal issues.
Key Facts
A ban on new leasehold houses was passed in 2024.
The government plans to pass a similar ban on new flats soon.
Leasehold is a system where people buy the right to live in a property for a long time but do not own the land.
Leaseholders have complained about high service charges and property problems.
The government wants to switch from leasehold to commonhold, where owners share control of buildings.
The ban is unlikely to be active before the next UK general election.
The government is consulting on when to officially start the ban to ensure a smooth transition.
Critics say the government is delaying the promised end of leasehold and this causes more housing issues.
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House Republican leaders passed a rule that allows the House to start talking about two important laws: one to renew foreign spy powers and another to set a budget for immigration enforcement. The vote was 216 to 210 and was done along party lines.
Key Facts
The House Republican leaders pushed a rule to enable discussion of two major bills.
One bill renews the country's foreign spy powers under a law called FISA.
The other bill is a budget plan to fund immigration enforcement agencies like ICE.
The rule passed with a vote of 216 in favor and 210 against.
The vote split mainly between Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing.
Clearing this rule is an important step to move these bills forward in the House.
This vote happened on a Wednesday.
The decisions relate to national security and immigration issues.
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Nigel Farage has been reported to the UK parliamentary standards watchdog for not declaring a £5 million gift he received from a donor before becoming an MP. The Conservative party and others say this gift should have been declared according to rules that require MPs to report personal benefits before taking office.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a crypto billionaire based in Thailand.
MPs must declare any personal benefit received in the 12 months before taking office within one month of being elected.
The gift fell within this time frame but was not declared by Farage.
Farage said the gift was a personal, unconditional gift and unrelated to his political decisions.
The Conservative party referred Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner for investigation.
Labour and Liberal Democrat parties also called for a proper investigation into the undeclared gift.
Reform UK, Farage’s party, claims they have followed all relevant rules and that the gift is exempt from declaration.
Farage had initially not planned to run for MP but changed his mind a few weeks after receiving the gift.
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James Comey, former FBI Director, appeared in court after being charged with making threats against President Donald Trump. The case involves a social media post Comey made with numbers that the Justice Department says threatened the president, but Comey says he did not intend it as a real threat.
Key Facts
James Comey was indicted in North Carolina for alleged threats against President Donald Trump.
The case centers on a photo Comey posted showing seashells arranged as "86 47," which the Justice Department says was a threat.
Comey said he thought the numbers were a political message, not a call for violence.
He deleted the post after some people saw it as a threat.
This is Comey’s second indictment; the first involved false statements and obstruction but was dismissed by a judge.
Prosecutors must prove Comey intended the post as a real threat or was reckless about how others might see it.
The case is expected to be difficult for the Justice Department to win.
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Federal prosecutors have asked a court to keep Cole Tomas Allen in custody before his trial, accusing him of planning to kill President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Allen was arrested after trying to enter the event with weapons and faces serious charges that could lead to life in prison.
Key Facts
Cole Tomas Allen allegedly planned for weeks to kill President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Allen was stopped at a Secret Service checkpoint while carrying a shotgun, firearms, and knives.
A Secret Service officer fired shots during the incident but was not injured due to a bulletproof vest.
Prosecutors say Allen also wanted to kill members of Trump’s cabinet.
Allen sent emails before the attack expressing violent motives against President Trump.
He used online names like “coldForce” and was active on gaming and social media platforms.
Allen’s posts became more political after Trump’s 2024 election, including calls to buy guns and reject the election results.
Allen first appeared in federal court recently and hasn’t entered a plea yet.
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James Comey turned himself in to authorities after the Department of Justice charged him for a second time. The new charge relates to a social media post he made last year that the Justice Department said was a threat against President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
James Comey surrendered to authorities in the eastern district of Virginia on Wednesday.
The Department of Justice indicted him again this week, this time in North Carolina.
The charge involves a social media post with seashells arranged as the numbers “86 47.”
The Justice Department says “86 47” is a coded threat against President Donald Trump, who is the 47th president.
“86” is sometimes used to mean getting rid of something.
Comey deleted the post and apologized, saying he didn’t know the numbers could be seen as violent.
He stated he opposes all kinds of violence and removed the post when he realized the meaning.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explained the increasing costs of the U.S. war involving Iran during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Representative Ro Khanna questioned the reported $25 billion cost, suggesting the total expenses might be much higher.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified about the costs of the Iran war.
The Pentagon’s comptroller stated the war cost was about $25 billion.
Representative Ro Khanna challenged this number, believing the actual cost is higher.
The discussion took place during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
The focus was on the financial impact of ongoing U.S. military action related to Iran.
This exchange involved elected U.S. government officials debating military spending.
The hearing occurred on a recent Wednesday.
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The UK housing minister said it is not possible to end the leasehold system immediately but the government plans to make reforms to help leaseholders gain control over their buildings. The proposed changes include making it easier to switch to a system called commonhold, banning new leasehold sales for flats, and limiting ground rent fees.
Key Facts
The minister said ending leasehold outright is “almost certainly impossible” due to legal and practical reasons.
Leasehold means owning the right to live in a property for a set time but not owning the building outright.
Many leaseholders face high service charges they cannot control.
Labour’s 2024 election promise was to end the leasehold system by the next election through gradual reforms.
The draft leasehold bill aims to allow easier conversion to commonhold, where owners jointly manage their buildings.
The bill would ban new leasehold flat sales and cap ground rent at £250 a year.
The minister expects the new commonhold framework to be ready before the Parliament ends in 2029.
Campaign groups call for clearer reform timelines and faster action for leaseholders.
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Billionaire Tom Steyer is running for governor of California, promoting the idea that wealthy people and companies should pay higher taxes. Although he made his fortune in hedge funds that invested in fossil fuels, he now supports strong climate action and limits on corporate influence in politics.
Key Facts
Tom Steyer is a billionaire climate activist with a fortune of about $2.4 billion.
He wants to raise taxes on other billionaires and corporations in California.
Steyer founded a major hedge fund that invested in oil and coal before shifting to climate activism.
He has spent millions supporting laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California.
Steyer is a Democrat and was a presidential candidate in 2019 to replace President Donald Trump.
His campaign spending is much higher than his Democratic rivals, which some see as trying to buy the election.
Business groups oppose him because of his tax and climate positions.
Steyer started NextGen America to encourage young people to vote and support climate policies.
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More than 18,000 people signed a petition asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop reviewing ABC network’s licenses early. This review started after President Donald Trump increased pressure on ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about the First Lady, Melania Trump. Critics say this is political interference with the media.
Key Facts
Over 18,200 people signed the petition within 24 hours.
The petition was started by MoveOn Civic Action.
The FCC began an unscheduled early review of ABC’s station licenses.
The review followed President Trump’s public calls to fire Jimmy Kimmel.
Critics argue the FCC’s action is political retaliation and threatens free speech.
MoveOn says the FCC’s review is a rare move linked to political pressure.
The issue involves concerns about government influence over the media.
Supporters of the petition see this as an attack on the First Amendment rights.
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Defense officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee about the ongoing war with Iran and the Department of Defense’s budget needs. They discussed the $25 billion cost so far and focused on increasing production of important weapons while addressing concerns about the overall strategy toward Iran.
Key Facts
The Iran conflict has cost about $25 billion so far, according to the acting Defense comptroller Jules Hurst.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military leaders testified before the House Armed Services Committee regarding a $1.5 trillion Defense budget request.
Questions centered on boosting production of key munitions like Patriot missiles and others to meet defense needs.
Some Democrats criticized President Trump’s Iran strategy, saying earlier statements about Iran giving up nuclear weapons and control of the Strait of Hormuz have not happened.
Hegseth said negative comments from some Congress members hurt morale during the conflict’s early stage.
President Trump previously estimated the Iran war would last four to six weeks; it has now lasted about two months.
The committee chairman warned that global supplies of ammunition are low and restocking quickly is difficult.
The Defense Department has identified 14 critical types of munitions important for current military efforts.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that ICE officers acted with repeated harshness during a large federal immigration operation in Minnesota. He described the situation as violent and said families suffered, including children being separated from their parents.
Key Facts
Governor Tim Walz spoke about ICE actions in Minnesota.
He said the officers used organized brutality during an immigration operation.
The operation involved federal immigration authorities.
Walz claimed that armed groups caused fear in communities for months.
Families were affected, and children were separated from their parents.
The comments came shortly after a large immigration enforcement event in the state.
The situation raised concerns about law enforcement behavior and family separation.
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Eric Swalwell, a former congressman from California, faces allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. His attorney, Sara Azari, criticized some aspects of the #MeToo movement, saying regret does not equal rape and warning about wrongful accusations. These allegations have contributed to increased scrutiny of sexual misconduct in the U.S. Congress.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress and suspended his campaign for governor amid sexual assault accusations.
Swalwell denies all allegations and calls them false and politically motivated.
His attorney, Sara Azari, said that regret for past actions is not the same as rape.
The #MeToo movement has led to greater awareness and calls for accountability regarding sexual misconduct in Congress.
The House Ethics Committee released a list of 28 investigations into congressional members accused of sexual misconduct over several decades.
Some members of Congress have resigned or chosen not to run for reelection due to misconduct allegations.
Azari expressed concern that some #MeToo claims may be based on regret rather than assault.
The committee emphasizes it takes all sexual misconduct allegations seriously and aims for a safe workplace in Congress.
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The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian anti-abortion group in New Jersey, allowing them to challenge a state subpoena demanding their records. The court decided the group can take their constitutional claims to federal court rather than waiting to argue them only in state court.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made a unanimous decision supporting First Choice Women’s Resource Centers.
First Choice is a Christian anti-abortion group with five locations in New Jersey.
The New Jersey attorney general issued a subpoena seeking donor and doctor information as part of an investigation into possible deceptive practices.
First Choice claims the subpoena violates their First Amendment rights to free speech and free association.
The Supreme Court’s ruling lets First Choice continue their federal lawsuit, which was previously dismissed.
The state inquiry focuses on whether First Choice misled donors and clients about offering abortion services.
A state judge has ordered both sides to negotiate a narrower subpoena while allowing constitutional issues to be debated later.
The case involved legal support from Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative group.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana did not have to create a second majority-Black voting district, deciding that the state's map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Elena Kagan and other liberal justices strongly disagreed, saying this decision weakens protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act.
Key Facts
The case is called Louisiana v. Callais and involves Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Section 2 prohibits voting rules that discriminate based on race or color.
Louisiana had redrawn its election districts after the 2020 Census but included only one majority-Black district.
Courts found the new maps likely violated the Voting Rights Act by not adding a second majority-Black district.
The Supreme Court ruled that creating such a district was not required and labeled the map a racial gerrymander.
Justice Kagan wrote a dissenting opinion warning this decision will weaken minority voting power.
The majority opinion was written by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by conservative justices.
Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said Section 2 should not apply to voting district maps at all.
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