WashingTone

Federal Judge Blocks Kennedy Center Board From Restoring Trump’s Name

A federal judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center board cannot add President Donald Trump’s name to the building or surrounding grounds, finding that Congress holds authority over changes to the institution’s statutory name.

Bernie Sanders and Greg Casar Propose Ban on Artificial Superintelligence

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar have announced legislation that would permanently prohibit artificial superintelligence and temporarily pause some advanced artificial intelligence development until federal safety rul...

Senate Fails to Advance CLARITY Act After Cryptocurrency Regulation Vote

The Senate voted 50-49 in favor of advancing the CLARITY Act but fell short of the 60 votes required, with Democratic opposition focused partly on whether the legislation contained adequate safeguards against conflicts of interest involv...

Pentagon Rules Out Troops at Polls as DHS Says No Polling-Place Operations Are Planned

US military leaders say they have no plans to deploy federal troops or federalized National Guard personnel to polling sites during the midterm elections, while Homeland Security says immigration agents are not planning operations target...

Pentagon Casualty Count Faces Scrutiny as Hegseth Denies Report of Additional Iran War Deaths

The Washington Post reported, citing unnamed US officials, that at least 22 service members have died during the Iran conflict, four more than listed in the Pentagon’s public database; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the report false.

Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Mail-Ballot Restrictions Ahead of Midterms

The US Supreme Court declined to revive new mail-voting restrictions sought by President Donald Trump’s administration for the November elections, leaving existing state procedures in place after lower courts challenged the federal gover...

Kennedy Center Closure for Renovations Deepens Dispute Over Trump Naming Push

The Kennedy Center’s main building is closing for renovations as a continuing legal dispute over efforts to add President Donald Trump’s name to the Washington performing arts institution remains unresolved.

Trump Administration Begins New Border Wall Construction in West Texas

The Trump administration has started installing border barriers in the Big Bend region as immigration enforcement intensifies, while authorities have separately moved against an alleged birth-tourism business serving primarily Chinese cl...

Russian Businessman’s Funding of Donald Trump Jr. Wedding Events Draws Congressional Scrutiny

Umar Kremlev financed portions of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations in the Bahamas, prompting congressional scrutiny over the financial relationship between the president’s son and the Russian businessman.

Antitrust Lawsuit Accuses OpenAI, Google, Anthropic and SpaceXAI of Colluding to Slow AI Development

A federal lawsuit alleges that major artificial-intelligence companies illegally coordinated efforts to slow AI development, raising a new antitrust challenge over cooperation between leading technology groups on safety.

White House Says All 50 States Will Benefit From Lower Medicaid Drug Prices

The Trump administration announced a federal Medicaid pricing initiative intended to reduce the cost of covered prescription drugs, with all 50 states applying to participate in the programme.

US Justice Department Ends Enforcement of Handgun Sales Ban for Adults Aged 18 to 20

The Justice Department said federal restrictions preventing licensed dealers from selling handguns to otherwise law-abiding adults aged 18 to 20 cannot be criminally enforced under its interpretation of the Second Amendment.

California Strengthens Election Protections Ahead of US Midterms

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation strengthening vote-by-mail safeguards and creating felony penalties for unauthorised seizures of ballots, election records and voting technology.

Stephen Miller Leads Push to Accelerate Removal of Unaccompanied Migrant Children

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller is directing a multi-agency effort to speed the removal of unaccompanied migrant children as the Trump administration expands its immigration enforcement policies.

US House Recesses Early, Leaving Pete Hegseth Impeachment Resolution Without a Vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home ahead of the midterm campaign period, leaving Republican Representative Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Iran war without a floor vote.

Trump Announces Federal ‘AI Force’ and Plans to Appoint Artificial Intelligence Czar

President Donald Trump said his administration will create an Artificial Intelligence Force and appoint an AI czar to oversee the technology, though few details have been released about the new structure.

Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico Journalists From White House Grounds

Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied entry to the White House after President Donald Trump announced a ban on the three organisations, drawing condemnation from news outlets and press-freedom groups.

United States Announces Greenland Security Agreement With Denmark

President Donald Trump announced a new security arrangement with Denmark over Greenland that would expand the US military role in the Arctic while leaving Danish sovereignty over the territory unchanged.

US Congress Passes Russia-Iran Sanctions Package With Up to 100% Tariff Authority

Congress approved legislation expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran and authorising tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy, potentially affecting large importers including China and India.

UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

United Nations Security Council members condemned continuing Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure as renewed strikes heighten concerns over regional security and shipping routes through the Red Sea...

Sam Altman to Brief UN Security Council on Artificial Intelligence and Global Security

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman is scheduled to address the United Nations Security Council on artificial intelligence, with his remarks expected to focus on international coordination and shared safety standards for increasingly capab...

U.S. and Mexico Push Forward With Trade Talks Amid Tariff Disputes

Officials from the United States and Mexico are working toward a bilateral trade agreement addressing tariffs, manufacturing rules and market access as both governments seek greater certainty for closely integrated cross-border supply ch...

Drone Strikes Cooling Tower at Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency said a drone struck a cooling tower at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, though the reactor continued operating and radiation levels remained within normal limits, underscoring continuing risks around ...

Russia Places Nestlé, Auchan and Other Western Businesses Under State-Controlled Management

President Vladimir Putin signed decrees transferring Russian operations belonging to Nestlé, Auchan and other Western-linked companies to temporary management as Moscow continues retaliatory measures against businesses from countries sup...

U.S. Approves $2.68 Billion Air-Defense Upgrade Package for Ukraine

The U.S. State Department approved a potential $2.68 billion Foreign Military Sale covering air-defense upgrades, missiles, radar systems and related support for Ukraine, with the package proceeding through the congressional review process.

Trump Administration Moves to Accelerate Removal of Migrant Children

White House adviser Stephen Miller is leading an interagency effort to speed the removal of undocumented migrant children from the United States, setting up further legal and political disputes over the administration’s immigration enfor...

Trump Signs Stopgap Funding Law Keeping U.S. Government Open Through December 11

President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution extending federal agency funding through December 11, postponing negotiations over longer-term fiscal 2027 spending until later in the year.

U.S., Denmark and Greenland Reach Security Agreement Expanding American Military Role

President Donald Trump announced an agreement giving the United States broader long-term authority over security operations in Greenland, while Danish and Greenlandic leaders stressed that the arrangement does not transfer sovereignty ov...

White House Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico Reporters From Presidential Complex

Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access and had White House credentials confiscated after President Donald Trump accused the outlets of publishing false coverage, prompting the organizations to invoke First Amendment...

Senate Committee Holds Hearing for US Arctic Ambassador Nominee Julia Nesheiwat

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has considered Julia Nesheiwat’s nomination as ambassador-at-large for the Arctic as Washington increases its diplomatic focus on security and strategic competition in the region. ([Foreign Relatio...

House Passes Bill Delaying North Atlantic Right Whale Regulations

The House approved legislation extending the period before stricter federal protections affecting fishing and maritime activity around endangered North Atlantic right whales take effect. ([House of Representatives Clerk][28])

Congress Advances Bipartisan Push to End Production of the US Penny

The Senate has passed its version of the Common Cents Act by unanimous consent, while related House legislation would direct the Treasury to stop producing one-cent coins for general circulation. ([GovInfo][27])

US Marshals Prepare to Transfer About 400 Pre-Trial Detainees From Georgia Facility

The US Marshals Service is preparing to move roughly 400 federal pre-trial detainees from a private detention facility in Georgia to another site nearly 200 miles away amid concerns about conditions at the existing facility. ([CBS News]...

Pentagon Releases New Batch of Declassified UAP Records

The Defense Department has published another tranche of records on unidentified anomalous phenomena, continuing a rolling programme to release historical documents and other material related to unexplained aerospace incidents. ([UAP Led...

House Tax Panel Advances Bipartisan Digital Asset Tax Legislation

The House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation clarifying federal tax treatment for cryptocurrencies, including rules for small transactions, mining, staking and existing anti-abuse provisions. ([Ways and Means][23])

Kennedy Center Closes After Court Again Blocks Addition of Trump’s Name

The Kennedy Center’s board voted to close its main building after a federal judge again barred it from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts complex. ([CBS News][22])

California’s Newsom Orders Faster Development of Independent AI Oversight

Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order accelerating independent scrutiny of advanced artificial-intelligence systems and directing experts to examine safeguards including a potential emergency shutdown mechanism. ([Governor...

White House Withdraws Lance Schroyer Nomination to Lead ICE

The Trump administration has withdrawn Lance Schroyer’s nomination to head US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his confirmation failed to advance in the Senate. ([AP News][17])

Pentagon Orders Testosterone Screening for Male Service Members Aged 30 and Older

The Pentagon has issued clinical guidance requiring testosterone screening for male troops aged 30 and above, a policy that has drawn questions from medical specialists over the evidence supporting routine testing. ([AP News][16])

House Democrats Probe Russian Businessman’s Financing of Donald Trump Jr. Wedding Celebrations

Senior House Democrats are investigating Russian businessman Umar Kremlev’s financial support for celebrations linked to Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding and have sought records concerning his contacts with the Trump family and White House. (...

Republican Campaign Committees Deploy Financial Advantage Ahead of Midterms

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is committing $46.5 million to coordinated campaigns across eight states, while House Republicans hold about a $13 million cash advantage over their Democratic counterparts. ([Axios][14])

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Policy Cutting Teacher-Training Grants

A federal judge ruled that the Education Department unlawfully terminated hundreds of millions of dollars in teacher-training grants associated with diversity, equity and inclusion programmes. ([Investing.com][12])

Justice Department Says Federal Handgun Sales Ban for 18- to 20-Year-Olds Is Unconstitutional

The Justice Department said federal restrictions preventing licensed dealers from selling handguns to otherwise law-abiding adults aged 18 to 20 violate the Second Amendment and should not be criminally enforced. ([Department of Justice...

Trump Announces Lower Medicaid Drug Prices Under Most-Favoured-Nation Agreements

The Trump administration says all 50 state Medicaid programmes will gain access to lower prices on selected branded medicines under agreements linking costs to prices paid in other developed economies. ([The White House][10])