WashingTone

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery Complete $110 Billion Merger

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have closed a $110 billion merger after regulatory and antitrust review, creating one of the world’s largest media and entertainment groups.

Federal Contractor Charged With Stealing $194 Million Through Fake Classified Program

The Justice Department has charged a federal contractor with allegedly embezzling $194 million from a US intelligence agency by creating a fictitious classified national security program.

US Presses Russia for Answers Over Possible Pneumonic Plague Incident in Siberia

The State Department and Senate intelligence officials are seeking information from Moscow following intelligence reports of a possible pneumonic plague breach at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute.

US Expands Tariff Push to Imported Medical Devices

The Trump administration has added medical devices and equipment to its list of tariff targets, prompting healthcare industry warnings that the move could raise hospital operating costs.

ICE Questions Detainees About Illegal Voting Ahead of November Elections

US immigration officers are questioning detainees about unlawful voter registration and ballot casting as the administration intensifies enforcement focused on non-citizen voting claims.

Justice Samuel Alito Says He Will Not Retire During Lame-Duck Session

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has said he does not plan to step down before the next Congress takes office, preserving the court’s current ideological balance through the end of the year.

White House Names Jay Clayton as First US Artificial Intelligence Czar

The Trump administration has appointed former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Jay Clayton to coordinate federal artificial intelligence policy across national security, market regulation and technology agencies.

Trump Administration Directs $6.6 Billion to Anduril Shipbuilding Project in Baltimore

President Donald Trump announced $6.6 billion in federal support for submarine-component manufacturing at an Anduril Industries shipyard in Baltimore, drawing political controversy after Maryland Governor Wes Moore was excluded from spea...

Trump Draws Bipartisan Backlash After Comments About Possible Iranian Attacks on California Cities

California officials and members of Congress criticized President Donald Trump after he suggested Los Angeles or San Diego could be targeted by Iran, prompting state emergency authorities to monitor potential threats.

JD Vance Says Iran Must End Uranium Enrichment Before US Considers Ceasefire

Vice President JD Vance said Washington will not accept diplomatic assurances without action, insisting that Iran permanently dismantle its uranium enrichment capabilities before the United States considers a formal ceasefire.

US Deploys More Forces to Middle East as White House Weighs New Strikes on Iran

The Pentagon is moving thousands of troops, a third aircraft carrier and strategic bombers into the Middle East after intelligence indicated a possible Iranian drone offensive, while President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest diplom...

State Department Says B-1 Bomber Moves Were Unrelated to Suspected Iran Plot in Britain

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the redeployment of U.S. B-1 bombers from a British airbase was a routine military adjustment and not connected to a recently disrupted suspected Iranian threat.

Former Congressman David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years Over Venezuela Lobbying

Former Republican Representative David Rivera was sentenced to a decade in federal prison for failing to register as a foreign agent while lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of Venezuela.

Competitive Senate Races Emerge in Kansas and Texas Ahead of Midterms

Polling and fundraising data show unexpectedly tight Senate contests in traditionally Republican states including Kansas and Texas, forcing the Trump administration to devote more campaign resources to defending incumbents.

U.S. Governors Form Bipartisan Coalition to Develop State-Level AI Rules

A group of state governors launched a coordinated effort to develop regional artificial intelligence regulations, citing the absence of comprehensive national standards from Congress and the federal government.

Anduril Plans $3.7 Billion Investment in U.S. Nuclear Submarine Supply Chain

President Trump highlighted a $3.7 billion investment by defense technology company Anduril to manufacture components for nuclear-powered submarines at a Maryland shipyard.

Civil Rights Groups Challenge Expanded U.S. Deportation and Detention Policies

The American Civil Liberties Union intensified its legal opposition to the Trump administration’s deportation campaign as military studies raised concerns about shock gloves used by immigration enforcement personnel.

Trump Moves Presidential Advertising Costs From Taxpayers to MAGA Inc.

President Trump said his MAGA Inc. super PAC will fund a nationwide television campaign promoting administration achievements after Democrats filed complaints over the use of taxpayer money.

ABC Challenges FCC License Review as Unconstitutional Political Retaliation

Lawyers for ABC asked a federal judge to halt an expedited Federal Communications Commission review of its broadcast licenses, arguing that the process violates First Amendment protections and threatens editorial independence.

White House Bars Politico From Presidential Travel Despite Court Injunction

The Trump administration prohibited Politico from serving as the print pool aboard Air Force One despite a federal judge’s temporary order blocking earlier White House travel restrictions involving CNN and MSNBC reporters.

Democratic Attorneys General Sue RFK Jr. Over Changes to Childhood Vaccine Guidance

Sixteen state attorneys general sued the Department of Health and Human Services to block changes to pediatric vaccination recommendations as a major measles outbreak prompted a disaster emergency declaration in New York.

Justice Department Steps Up Noncitizen Voting Prosecutions Ahead of Midterms

Federal prosecutors have filed more noncitizen voting cases since September than during the entire previous administration, reflecting a sharper Justice Department focus on election-related enforcement before the November congressional e...

Federal Reserve Signals Rates May Stay Near 4% as Oil Prices Fuel Inflation

Federal Reserve communications indicate that policymakers are preparing to keep interest rates elevated as higher oil prices linked to the Iran conflict complicate efforts to bring underlying inflation under control.

Supreme Court Weighs Whether States Can Pursue Climate Damages Against Oil Companies

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over whether state and local governments can seek compensation from companies including ExxonMobil and Suncor in state courts, a jurisdictional dispute with major implications for climate litigation.

Senior U.S. Officials Meet at Camp David to Review Iran War Strategy

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held high-level talks on the conflict with Iran as President Trump warned publicly about potential threats to major U.S. population centers.

Trump Suspends Federal Diesel Taxes for Agriculture and Commercial Transport

President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending federal diesel excise taxes for agricultural and commercial transport sectors through the end of 2026, while also raising the possibility of broader gasoline tax rel...

US Charges California Broker With Espionage Targeting Taiwanese President’s Family

Federal prosecutors in Seattle have charged a California real estate broker with acting as an unregistered foreign agent and surveilling relatives of Taiwan’s president.

House Panel Recommends Contempt Charges Against Leon Black in Epstein Inquiry

A congressional committee has advanced contempt proceedings against billionaire financier Leon Black after he declined to comply with deposition subpoenas connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, prompting Black to sue the panel.

Russia Cuts Social Spending as Defence Budget Rises to Record $88 Billion

The Russian government has announced a 7% reduction in social programmes to finance record military spending, while US intelligence is separately monitoring a fatal incident at a classified Siberian plague research facility.

Senate Confirms Trump Labor Secretary Pick and Advances Nicole Saphier Nomination

The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Labor Department and advanced Dr. Nicole Saphier’s nomination for surgeon general before lawmakers left Washington for recess.

Congress Votes to End Production of the US Penny

The House and Senate have passed bipartisan legislation to permanently stop minting the one-cent coin, sending the measure to President Donald Trump after decades of debate over its production cost.

US Justice Department Steps Up Noncitizen Voting Prosecutions Ahead of Midterms

Federal prosecutors have filed more noncitizen voting cases in the past month than during the entire previous administration, intensifying election-security enforcement as congressional races tighten.

Senate Recesses Until After Midterms, Delaying Defense and Surveillance Bills

The US Senate has adjourned until the week of November 9, postponing work on the annual defense authorization bill, permitting reform and expiring Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act authorities until the lame-duck session.

Trump Proposes $5,000 Citizen Dividend if Republicans Retain Congress

President Donald Trump has made a proposed $5,000 payment to Americans a central midterm campaign pledge, though House Speaker Mike Johnson says the plan would require congressional approval and faces significant budget constraints.

Trump Suspends Federal Diesel Tax Under Emergency Order

President Donald Trump has ordered a temporary freeze on the 24-cent federal diesel tax and expanded agricultural diesel sales, using emergency authority to lower fuel costs for trucking and farming sectors ahead of the midterm elections.

Pentagon Prepares Up to 10,000 More Troops for Middle East as Iran Ceasefire Talks Continue

The US Defense Department is preparing an aircraft carrier deployment and as many as 10,000 additional troops while the Trump administration considers Iranian proposals for a two-week ceasefire and reduced restrictions on Strait of Hormu...

Trump and Xi Agree Two-Month Tariff Truce and AI Incident Framework

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to extend tariffs through January, establish a communication framework for artificial intelligence incidents and secure Chinese purchases of 10 million metric tonnes of US co...

Pentagon Launches New Officer Recruitment Pipeline at Selected U.S. Universities

The Department of War introduced a commissioning programme involving Liberty University, Hillsdale College and Louisiana State University, designating the institutions as Honor Schools for military officer recruitment.

Dennis Hastert, Former Republican House Speaker, Dies at 84

Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the U.S. House before a federal conviction related to concealing past sexual abuse, has died at the age of 84.

Andy Beshear Raises National Profile as Democrats Look Ahead to Next Presidential Election

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is promoting his record of winning in a strongly Republican state as a potential model for Democrats considering their strategy for the next presidential campaign.

Federal Reserve Extends Comment Period on Proposed Bank Insider Lending Rules

The Federal Reserve extended the consultation period for proposed changes governing loans to bank executives and insiders after pressure from the financial services industry.

Justice Department Issues New Corporate Fraud Enforcement Guidelines

The Justice Department’s Fraud Division released updated enforcement guidance governing how prosecutors assess corporate compliance programmes and negotiate financial settlements in white-collar cases.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Proposes First Groundwater Rules for In-Situ Uranium Mining

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission advanced new groundwater protection requirements for in-situ uranium extraction, setting up potential conflict with mining companies over compliance costs.

Senator Mark Warner Proposes Data Center Water and Energy Disclosure Rules

Democratic Senator Mark Warner introduced legislation requiring major data centers to report annual water consumption, electricity sources and greenhouse gas emissions as scrutiny of artificial intelligence infrastructure grows.

Senate Reauthorizes Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 Million a Year

The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation extending the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative with annual funding of $475 million through the end of the decade.