Joe Biden, former US President, recently had surgery to remove skin cancer. This procedure, known as Mohs surgery, involves removing skin until no cancer remains. Biden has had other battles with cancer in the past.
Key Facts
Joe Biden, former US President, had skin cancer surgery.
The surgery is called Mohs surgery and removes cancerous skin.
Biden is 82 years old.
In 2023, Biden had a cancerous lesion taken off his chest.
He was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May.
Biden had non-melanoma skin cancers removed before his presidency.
Biden's advocacy against cancer is personal; his son, Beau, died of brain cancer.
President Donald Trump plans to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War to create a more assertive image. The change is expected to be announced through an executive order, but making it permanent requires legislative action.
Key Facts
President Trump intends to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
The name change aims to project a more forceful image for the department.
An executive order is expected to announce this change on Friday.
The Department of Defense was originally called the Department of War before 1947.
The change will only be fully permanent after new laws are passed by Congress.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports the name change, emphasizing a "warrior ethos."
Trump linked the name change to past US military successes.
It is unclear how the name change will be made permanent, with further legal and legislative actions necessary.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is taking legal action against the Trump administration to stop the use of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. He claims that using armed soldiers for policing American citizens is not legal.
Key Facts
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit.
The lawsuit is against the Trump administration.
Schwalb wants to stop National Guard troops from being used in D.C.
He argues that it's unlawful to use soldiers to police citizens.
NPR is asking people to share their questions about renting and homeownership. This information will help NPR create a series of video and audio programs about housing in the United States.
Key Facts
NPR wants people to ask questions about renting and owning homes.
Housing can be a major expense and source of confusion.
NPR's goal is to create educational content on housing.
People can share their questions by leaving contact information.
NPR reporters may contact participants for short video recordings.
President Trump put the Washington, D.C., police under federal control and increased federal law enforcement presence in the city in early August 2025 to reduce crime. Since then, over 1,600 arrests have been made, with many involving immigration-related offenses. The administration has not released detailed information about individuals arrested or their charges despite requests.
Key Facts
President Trump made the decision to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard to address crime in Washington, D.C.
More than 1,669 people have been arrested since the operation started on August 7, 2025.
A significant portion of these arrests are for immigration-related offenses.
The administration has not disclosed names or case details of those arrested.
NPR reviewed court records to find that nearly 1,100 people had their cases processed in Washington, D.C.'s Superior Court.
About 20% of those defendants faced felony charges, while 80% faced lesser charges or had their cases dropped.
Federal prosecutors handle both local and federal crimes in Washington, D.C., unlike other U.S. areas.
The U.S. Attorney's Office has been dropping between 10% and 20% of cases at an early stage.
The article discusses the legal powers and limitations of ICE agents during immigration arrests in the U.S. It highlights how agents are operating under broad authority but also facing legal challenges regarding the methods they use. Some actions by ICE agents have raised concerns among legal experts about exceeding legal boundaries.
Key Facts
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is responsible for immigration enforcement in the U.S.
ICE agents have substantial powers to question, search, and arrest immigrants without a warrant.
The Immigration and Nationality Act requires "reasonable suspicion" for warrantless arrests.
Legal experts are questioning the legality of some tactics used by ICE agents, like racial profiling and questioning based on appearance or location.
A court ruling stated that using race or ethnicity as a sole factor for suspicion violates the Fourth Amendment.
Concerns exist that ICE agents may not be following judicial orders regarding these legal standards.
The debate includes the balance between national security measures and individual rights.
Young Democrats are actively running for Congress, with many challenging existing members of their own party. In contrast, young Republicans are less actively pursuing congressional bids, largely supporting their current party leadership and policies.
Key Facts
Over 20 young Democrats, under age 40, have announced they are running for Congress.
About half of these young Democrats are challenging current members of their own party.
There is only one young Republican currently known to be running for Congress.
Young Republicans generally support the current work of their party.
President Trump remains popular among many young Republicans, though his approval rating has declined recently among this group.
The only young Republican candidate in Congress currently known is Mason Foley in Tennessee's 7th district.
Foley's campaign highlights his age and aims to support President Trump's policies, describing the election as a chance for a "better future."
The Trump administration has given several government officials multiple important roles at the same time. For example, Marco Rubio serves in three different capacities, including Secretary of State. This staffing approach is uncommon among other presidents.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio currently holds three jobs: Secretary of State, acting National Security Adviser, and acting United States Archivist.
Previously, Rubio also served as the acting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
At least twelve officials in the Trump administration hold two or more jobs.
Scott Bessent is both Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner.
Jim O'Neill is Health and Human Services deputy secretary and interim CDC director.
The Trump administration defends this staffing method as promoting communication and efficiency.
Max Stier from the Partnership for Public Service criticizes this approach as ineffective.
This practice involves appointing Senate-confirmed loyalists to multiple roles instead of internal promotions.
A lawyer named Mark S Zuckerberg from Indiana is suing Facebook because the platform mistakenly suspended his account multiple times, thinking he was pretending to be the famous Mark Zuckerberg. The lawyer claims these suspensions have hurt his business and cost him money.
Key Facts
Mark S Zuckerberg is an attorney in Indiana.
He shares the same name as Facebook's founder, Mark E Zuckerberg.
His Facebook account was suspended five times over eight years.
Facebook accused him of pretending to be someone else.
The suspensions reportedly cost him thousands in lost business.
He has been practicing law for 38 years.
He paid $11,000 for advertising on Facebook that was taken down.
Meta, Facebook's parent company, has reinstated his account and apologized for the errors.
The Trump administration is suing Boston and its mayor over sanctuary city laws. The lawsuit claims Boston does not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, which allegedly leads to the release of dangerous criminals.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by the Trump administration against Boston in a U.S. District Court.
The Trump Justice Department claims Boston's sanctuary city laws interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
Similar lawsuits have been filed against other cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Denver.
President Trump signed an executive order targeting sanctuary cities for not complying with his immigration policies.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described Boston as a "worst sanctuary offender."
The Boston Police Department and its commissioner are also named in the lawsuit.
Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu issued a statement defending the city’s policies and criticized the lawsuit as unconstitutional.
Boston intends to defend its laws and uphold the constitutional rights of cities.
Some of the oldest House Democrats are resisting calls for generational change, opting to run for reelection despite primary challenges and concerns about their fitness for office. They argue that seniority and experience are important, pushing back against critics promoting younger leadership. Some Democrats see this situation as a potential distraction in their efforts to regain control of the House.
Key Facts
Some senior House Democrats face primary challengers but are still choosing to run for reelection.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, 88, openly opposes stepping down, emphasizing her seniority.
Rep. John Larson, 77, who had a seizure earlier this year, plans to launch his reelection campaign.
Rep. David Scott, 80, intends to run again despite health concerns and multiple challengers.
Some lawmakers argue that fitness for office should be evaluated individually, not by age.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries highlighted generational change occurring within party leadership.
Critics like David Hogg push for older leaders to pass the leadership torch to younger politicians.
Former President Joe Biden had surgery to remove skin cancer from his forehead. His spokesperson confirmed that he underwent Mohs surgery, which is a method for treating skin cancer, but did not provide further details on his condition.
Key Facts
Biden had skin cancer removed from his forehead through surgery.
The type of surgery used is called Mohs surgery.
Mohs surgery involves removing thin layers of skin to check for cancer.
The process continues until no cancer is found in the skin.
Biden's office previously announced he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
His spokesperson did not give more details on his health after the surgery.
Images of Biden with a head injury were seen over the Labor Day weekend.
Representative Thomas Massie is trying to push a petition to release Jeffrey Epstein records despite losing some Republican support. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans argue that a current investigation will provide more information. The petition needs a few more signatures to move forward but faces challenges from within the party and the White House.
Key Facts
Representative Thomas Massie is leading a petition to release Epstein records.
House Speaker Mike Johnson advises against the petition, supporting an ongoing investigation instead.
Initially, the petition had strong support but is now losing backers among Republicans.
The petition needs 218 signatures to be voted on in the House; it currently has 215.
Some Republicans think the petition is unnecessary due to the current investigation and have withdrawn their support.
The White House is lobbying against the petition, asking Republicans not to sign it.
If the petition succeeds in the House, it would still need Senate approval and the president's signature.
Former President Trump is expected to veto the measure if it reaches his desk.
PBS is cutting 15% of its jobs due to the removal of all federal funding by Congress, which takes effect on October 1. PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger stated that this funding cut means a 21% reduction in revenue for the organization.
Key Facts
PBS will cut about 15% of its workforce due to a federal funding cut.
Thirty-four PBS employees were informed their jobs are being eliminated.
PBS has lost over 100 jobs in total, including previously unfilled positions, due to funding issues.
Federal funding for public broadcasting is being cut by $1.1 billion over two years.
PBS receives about 15% of its yearly funding from federal sources.
NPR plans to reduce its budget by $8 million to help affected public stations.
Public TV and radio stations often get a significant part of their funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The funding changes may seriously affect stations serving rural and Native American communities.
President Trump plans to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. This move aims to bring back a strong military attitude, which the administration refers to as a "warrior ethos." The change would need Congress approval, but the White House is exploring other ways to make it happen.
Key Facts
President Trump intends to change the name of the Defense Department to the Department of War.
The White House confirmed these plans, originally reported by Fox News.
Trump's administration wants to revive a strong military spirit called "warrior ethos."
Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth renamed a Pentagon room to "W.A.R. Room."
Legally, changing the department's name would require Congress to pass new legislation.
Historically, the War Department existed from 1789 until 1947 before becoming part of the Department of Defense in 1949.
The Department of War was initially established to oversee the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
President Donald Trump plans to rebrand the Pentagon, officially known as the Department of Defense, as the Department of War. He will sign an executive order for the new name to be used as a secondary title and for the Defense Secretary to be called the Secretary of War. This change requires congressional approval for a legal name change.
Key Facts
Trump wants the Pentagon to be known as the Department of War.
An executive order will be signed to use this name as a secondary title.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would be called Secretary of War.
The Department of Defense replaced the War Department, which existed until 1947.
Congress needs to approve any legal name change for government departments.
The executive order states "Department of War" conveys a stronger message.
Trump believes the name change reflects America's history of military victories.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison, claiming the utility company's negligence contributed to two major wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The lawsuits involve the Eaton Fire in January and the Fairview Fire in September 2022, which both caused significant damage and loss of life. Federal prosecutors are seeking $40 million in damages due to these incidents.
Key Facts
The U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison for causing two wildfires.
The Eaton Fire in January killed at least 19 people and injured nine firefighters.
The Fairview Fire in September 2022 burned through the San Bernardino National Forest.
Southern California Edison is accused of not maintaining its power lines properly, leading to these fires.
Federal prosecutors are asking for $40 million in damages.
Southern California Edison reported a "fault" in its lines during the Eaton Fire but hasn't confirmed their equipment caused it.
The utility company is working on wildfire prevention by improving its grid and operations.
California has had problems with utility companies causing fires, with PG&E previously pleading guilty to similar charges in a separate incident.
President Donald Trump has suggested sending National Guard troops to Chicago to address what he describes as high crime rates. Although violent crime has decreased according to FBI data, Trump has previously sent the National Guard to Washington DC. It's unclear if he can legally do the same in Chicago.
Key Facts
President Trump suggested deploying National Guard troops to Chicago.
Trump cited concerns over crime as a reason for the potential deployment.
FBI data indicates that the murder rate in Chicago has decreased in recent years.
Trump has already sent National Guard troops to Washington DC.
Legal details on whether Trump can send troops to Chicago are not clear.
The discussion around troop deployment is linked to Trump's previous actions in DC.
President Trump plans to change the name of the Department of Defense back to its earlier name, the Department of War. He intends to do this through an executive order, which will allow Defense Department officials to use the term "war" in their titles.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
Trump plans to sign an executive order for this name change.
The Department was originally called the War Department until 1949.
A White House fact sheet says "Department of War" will be a "secondary title."
Defense Department officials could use titles like Secretary of War.
It is unclear if Congress needs to approve this change.
The original name change to Department of Defense unified military branches under one department.
Changing signs and titles could be expensive; past changes cost up to $39 million for fewer changes.
A federal appeals court decided that Florida does not need to close its Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility, temporarily halting a previous judge's order to dismantle it. The facility had been challenged by environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe over claims it violated environmental laws. The court's latest decision leaves the facility open while further legal reviews occur.
Key Facts
The appeals court ruled against dismantling Florida's Alligator Alcatraz facility, pausing a previous judge's order.
The site, which is used to detain immigrants, was previously an airstrip in the Everglades.
Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe sued, claiming it violated the National Environmental Policy Act.
A U.S. District Judge had initially ruled in favor of the environmental groups.
Florida and federal officials argued the facility had no environmental impact as it was built on an existing airstrip.
The appeals court criticized the previous judge's decision to dismantle the facility as excessive.
The legal process will continue, as Thursday’s ruling only temporarily halts the order to dismantle the facility.
