President Trump is being sued by nonprofit news groups over his social media platform Truth Social’s new “Truth API,” which sells early access to posts for up to $100,000 a month. The lawsuit claims this practice gives paying customers an unfair advantage by receiving important government information first, which may influence financial markets.
Key Facts
Truth Social sells early access to posts from President Trump and other top users through the “Truth API.”
Customers, mainly high-frequency trading firms, pay up to $100,000 a month for this priority access.
The lawsuit alleges President Trump is profiting by selling government information before the public can see it.
The nonprofit groups filing the suit are The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
The lawsuit argues this practice violates the U.S. Constitution by denying equal access to official government news.
Truth Social plans to block other ways to access deleted or edited posts, making the paid API the only option.
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Trump Media & Technology Group reported $1.7 million in revenue and a $238.1 million net loss in the second quarter but expects the API to increase cash flow.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nick Reiner has been indicted on first-degree murder charges for killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, in their Brentwood home. He has pleaded not guilty and faces possible death penalty if convicted, but no trial date has been set yet.
Key Facts
Nick Reiner, 32, was indicted for first-degree murder of his parents.
Rob Reiner was a well-known director and actor; Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer.
The murders happened in December at their Brentwood home.
Prosecutors say Reiner stabbed his parents and then fled the scene.
Reiner was arrested soon after and held without bail.
He faces two counts of murder with a special charge called "lying in wait," meaning he waited to attack.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If found guilty, he could face the death penalty, but prosecutors have not decided if they will seek it.
The Reiner family is publicly grieving, with their son Jake describing the loss as very hard and shocking.
No trial date has been set yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of the month to focus on her family, President Donald Trump announced. She will continue advising the president and remain an important voice in the Republican Party.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary at the end of this month.
President Trump announced her departure on Truth Social and praised her work since 2018.
Leavitt will stay as a top outside advisor to President Trump and influential in the Republican Party.
She took maternity leave after the birth of her second child in May and returned briefly in July.
Leavitt started working for Trump as an intern during his first term and rose to press secretary by 2025.
She previously ran for Congress in New Hampshire but lost in the 2022 midterm election.
Her style as press secretary was known for being direct and sometimes confrontational with reporters.
Several senior Trump officials have left or been fired since the start of his second term in 2025.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Department of Justice arrested Heidi Beirich, the former chief financial officer (CFO) of the Southern Poverty Law Center, on charges of fraud. She faces accusations including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering related to managing payments to informants within hate groups.
Key Facts
Heidi Beirich was the CFO of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
She was arrested in California on August 12, 2026.
She is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
The charges involve her handling of donor payments to informants inside hate groups.
One informant she paid was in a romantic relationship with her, and they shared a bank account.
The indictment was recently unsealed by the Department of Justice.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit known for tracking hate groups.
This case is currently developing, with more updates expected.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An Arkansas state trooper named Moisses Arellano was caught on video punching 18-year-old Alisa Hackett during a traffic stop on August 1. Hackett has filed a federal lawsuit, and the officer admitted to using a closed fist after she refused to roll onto her stomach.
Key Facts
The incident happened during a traffic stop near Manila, Arkansas, for speeding 71 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Trooper Arellano asked Hackett to put her hands on her car trunk and then tried to handcuff her.
Hackett asked the trooper what she had done, and he told her not to resist.
Arellano forced Hackett to the ground and punched her in the face according to the video and his report.
The trooper used a Taser’s laser but did not fire it.
Hackett was charged with five offenses including improper display of hazards.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump is representing Hackett and called for an explanation from the state police.
The video and the trooper’s use-of-force report confirm the use of a closed fist punch after Hackett refused to roll onto her stomach.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump's White House ballroom renovation is becoming more expensive, now expected to cost about $600 million, with about half paid by taxpayers. The project includes a large underground bunker with security features like bomb shelters and medical facilities, designed to protect the president and replace an older emergency center.
Key Facts
The ballroom renovation costs have increased from an initial $200 million to around $600 million.
About half of the renovation cost comes from taxpayer money.
The project includes a military-grade underground bunker, about six stories deep and around 22,000 square feet.
The bunker has features like a drone-proof roof, bomb shelters, medical rooms, and special air vents for protection.
The bunker will replace the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a secure shelter used since World War II.
The project is currently under legal review because a federal court ruled that congressional approval is needed.
Additional planned spending includes $300 million for helipad, visitor center, and Rose Garden changes.
President Trump plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the court ruling on the project’s approval.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her job at the end of the month to spend more time with her children and family. President Donald Trump said he respects her decision and plans to keep her as a key adviser outside the White House.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary at the end of August 2026.
President Donald Trump called her one of his most trusted aides.
Leavitt chose to leave to focus on her young children and family.
She will become a top outside adviser to President Trump and an influential voice in the Republican Party.
Leavitt became the youngest White House press secretary when she took the job last year.
She has two children, a two-year-old son and a baby girl born in May 2026.
Leavitt described her time as press secretary as both an honor and a challenging experience.
President Trump expressed support and respect for her decision on social media.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Karoline Leavitt will leave her job as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her young children. President Donald Trump announced she will become one of his top outside advisors and remain active in the Republican Party.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt has been White House press secretary since the start of President Trump’s second term.
She had her second child, a baby girl, in May and recently returned to work after maternity leave.
Leavitt decided to leave the press secretary role to focus more on being a mother.
President Trump said she will continue working as a top outside advisor to him.
The next White House press secretary has not been announced yet.
Leavitt praised her time in the role and her commitment to the MAGA movement and Republican Party.
President Trump thanked her for her work and called her one of the best press secretaries in history.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Karoline Leavitt will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced. She plans to spend more time with her family and will become one of the president’s top outside advisors.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary at the end of August.
President Trump announced her departure on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Leavitt recently returned from maternity leave after having a daughter named Viviana in May.
She said she wants to focus more on being a mom to her two young children.
President Trump said Leavitt will continue to advise him outside the White House.
Leavitt said the job’s demands made it hard to balance work and family.
She described her decision to leave as “bittersweet” and mentioned starting a new chapter in her life.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is the youngest person ever to hold the position, will leave her role at the end of the month to spend more time with her young children. President Donald Trump announced she will continue as an outside advisor and important voice in the Republican Party.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in history at 28 years old.
She has been serving as press secretary under President Donald Trump.
Leavitt recently returned from a brief leave after the birth of her second child in May.
She has two young children—a newborn daughter and a two-year-old son.
Leavitt decided to leave the job because she felt she could not balance being the best mom and the demands of the press secretary role.
President Trump said he respects her decision and called her one of his most trusted aides.
She will become a top outside advisor and active voice in the Republican Party.
The White House has not announced who will replace her as press secretary.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Heidi Beirich, a former executive at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), has been charged with fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Prosecutors say the SPLC misled donors by claiming to fight hate groups but instead used money to support violent extremist activities.
Key Facts
Heidi Beirich is charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege the SPLC sent money to informants in hate groups for violent activities.
Beirich allegedly shared bank accounts and funds with an informant she had a relationship with.
The SPLC faces 11 counts of fraud and conspiracy related to this scheme.
The SPLC has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Investigation began in 2018 and expanded under different U.S. Attorneys General.
No tax charges were filed, and the former SPLC CFO has not been charged.
Beirich’s arraignment is scheduled for August 19, 2024.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month. She plans to spend more time with her family but will continue working as an outside advisor.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary.
The departure will take effect at the end of the month.
President Trump shared the news on Truth Social.
Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her children and family.
She will take on a new position as an outside advisor.
Trump described Leavitt as an important voice in the Republican Party.
She will help the party prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
The announcement is part of ongoing changes in the White House staff.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, will leave her position at the end of the month. She decided to step down to focus on her family.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt serves as the White House press secretary.
President Trump made the announcement on TruthSocial.
Leavitt will step down at the end of this month.
Her reason for leaving is to focus on her family.
The change affects the White House communications team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her job at the end of the month. She is stepping down to spend more time with her young children and family.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
She will leave her role at the end of August 2026.
President Trump shared the news on social media.
Leavitt is leaving to focus on her family and children.
The announcement was made publicly on August 12, 2026.
Leavitt gave a briefing at the White House on July 23, 2026.
The story is still developing with possible updates later.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Justice Department charged 11 people in connection with a marriage fraud scheme. The scheme allegedly helped Chinese nationals gain permanent U.S. residency through fake marriages over about ten years.
Key Facts
The Justice Department announced the charges on a Wednesday.
The case involves 11 individuals accused of participating in marriage fraud.
The scheme lasted for roughly ten years and involved millions of dollars.
The fraud helped Chinese nationals obtain permanent residence in the United States.
The indictments were filed in the Southern District of New York.
Federal prosecutors described the plot as extensive and organized.
The scheme centered on sham, or fake, marriages to bypass immigration rules.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Palestinian students, faculty, and alumni have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University. They claim the university created a hostile environment and unfairly disciplined them after the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed on Monday in New York County court.
Four students and one faculty member are the plaintiffs.
They accuse Columbia University of discrimination against Palestinian members.
The alleged discrimination followed the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The lawsuit claims the university targeted Palestinians with disciplinary actions.
The plaintiffs say the school created a hostile atmosphere on campus.
This legal action involves students, faculty, and alumni connected to Columbia University.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the "anti-weaponization" fund he had proposed before and then canceled will not be restarted. He made this clear during a press conference about new indictments involving fake marriage schemes.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche proposed an "anti-weaponization" fund but later canceled it.
Blanche said the fund is now "dead" and will not be brought back.
The comment came during a Department of Justice press conference.
The DOJ announced indictments of 11 people accused of using fake marriages to break the law.
Blanche responded directly to questions about the fund’s future during this event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. government is using hundreds of drones to help find and stop the spread of flesh-eating screwworm infestations in animals in South Texas and New Mexico. These drones use thermal cameras to spot sick animals early, supporting efforts to control this parasite that can seriously harm livestock and wildlife.
Key Facts
The New World Screwworm is a parasite larva that eats living flesh and can cause severe injury or death in animals and humans.
Since June, about 200 drones from the Department of Homeland Security and the USDA have flown over areas in Texas and New Mexico to look for screwworm signs.
The USDA has conducted over 1,000 drone flights and checked more than 22,000 animals.
As of August 12, there were 45 confirmed cases of screwworm infestation, mostly in cattle and sheep, but also in dogs and a goat.
The main drone used is the Skydio X10, equipped with thermal cameras that detect warm spots from animal fevers caused by infections.
Early morning flights make it easier for drones to spot animals against cooler ground.
The USDA is researching AI to help analyze drone images for wounds and abnormal animal behavior.
Besides drones, the USDA uses stationary cameras and fly traps, though fly traps have not detected screwworm flies yet.
The main method to stop screwworm spread is releasing sterile male flies, which reduces the wild fly population; this method had previously eliminated screwworms from the U.S. but the flies returned in 2022.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
