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NASA Completes Major Propulsion Test for Artemis Lunar Program

NASA engineers have completed a series of static-fire tests on the Space Launch System core stage at Stennis Space Center, keeping preparations for upcoming crewed lunar-orbit missions on track.

U.S. State Department Issues Global Travel Advisory Over Heightened Security Risks

The State Department has urged Americans overseas to exercise greater caution and maintain low profiles in public places amid increased geopolitical tensions involving the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Former Gang Leader Duane Davis Convicted in 1996 Murder of Tupac Shakur

A Nevada jury found 63-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of orchestrating the drive-by shooting that killed rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996.

U.S. Summer of 2026 Sets Historic Temperature Records, NOAA Says

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said average summer temperatures across the contiguous United States reached record highs, worsening drought and agricultural stress in parts of the West and Midwest.

Illinois Governor Rejects White House Offer to Send Federal Agents to Chicago

Governor JB Pritzker declined a proposal to deploy federal law enforcement personnel to Chicago, calling it an improper federal intrusion into state and municipal policing.

Florida Bans Automated License Plate Readers on State Highways

Governor Ron DeSantis has prohibited law enforcement agencies from using Flock cameras and other automated license plate tracking systems on Florida public roadways, citing privacy and surveillance concerns.

Justice Department Sues Kansas School District Over Gender-Transition Policies

Federal prosecutors have challenged school policies allowing minors to socially transition their gender identity without explicit prior parental consent.

U.S. Senate Panel Advances Social Media Age-Verification Bill

A bipartisan Senate committee has approved legislation requiring major social platforms to introduce biometric or document-based age checks intended to protect minors from harmful content and addictive feeds.

USPS Whistleblower Warns Mail-Ballot Screening Portal Is Untested Ahead of Midterms

A federal whistleblower told congressional Democrats that a new Postal Service ballot-mail portal was rushed into service and could reject entire batches if its scanning system fails.

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche Nomination for Attorney General

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department, sending it to the full Senate after contentious questioning over his independence from the White House.

Trump Administration Expands Drug-Pricing Agreements to 26 Manufacturers

President Donald Trump said 26 brand-name and generic drugmakers have now signed most-favored-nation pricing agreements covering lower costs for state Medicaid programs and commitments to U.S. manufacturing.

U.S. Treasury Proposes New Restrictions on Banque Misr’s UAE Branches

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a proposed rule barring U.S. financial institutions from transactions with Banque Misr branches in the United Arab Emirates as Washington increases pressure on Iran-linked financial networks.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns Amid Pentagon Leadership Friction

Dan Driscoll has resigned as the U.S. Army’s top civilian official after 18 months, adding to senior-level turnover amid reported policy disputes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

U.S. Supreme Court Allows $400 Million White House Ballroom and Bunker Project to Continue

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a $400 million White House event space and underground bunker project in a 5-4 ruling, finding that preservation groups lacked standing to block construction.

FTC and States Sue Amazon Over Alleged Manipulation of Advertising Prices

The Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general have sued Amazon, alleging the company manipulated its marketplace advertising system to raise costs for merchants and consumers.

FBI Warns Election Officials of Foreign Disinformation Campaigns Targeting Midterms

Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have urged state and local election officials to strengthen cybersecurity against AI-generated deepfakes and coordinated foreign influence operations ahead of the midterm elections.

U.S. House Advances Short-Term Funding Bill to Avert Government Shutdown

The House of Representatives moved forward with a continuing resolution to fund federal operations through December, shifting the next major spending confrontation until after the midterm elections.

Trump Administration Unveils Deal to Develop 65 Billion Barrels of Venezuelan Oil

The White House said a private consortium will receive long-term development rights across 17 Venezuelan oilfields, with the U.S. government taking a 35% passive stake financed through the Defense Department.

Federal Reserve Signals Slower Path for Interest Rate Cuts

Federal Reserve officials indicated that monetary easing may proceed more cautiously than markets expected as persistent inflation and volatile energy prices complicate the outlook for borrowing costs.

U.S. Economy Grows at 1.5% Annualized Pace in Second Quarter

Revised Bureau of Economic Analysis data showed U.S. economic growth slowing to an annualized 1.5% rate in the second quarter as lower government spending and higher borrowing costs weighed on activity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Steps Down After 15 Years as John Ternus Takes Over

Apple said Tim Cook has stepped down as chief executive after 15 years, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus succeeding him at the technology company.

U.S. Launches Direct Strikes on Iranian Targets After Threats in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command struck military targets on Larak Island and regional rocket launchers after threats to commercial shipping, prompting Iran to retaliate with ballistic missiles aimed at American airbases in Jordan.

Republicans Criticize John Cornyn Over Refusal to Back Ken Paxton in Texas Senate Race

Prominent Republicans have attacked Senator John Cornyn for declining to support Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign, exposing further divisions within the party in Texas.

JD Vance Calls Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed “Very Evil” at Michigan Rally

Senator JD Vance sharply attacked Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a campaign appearance in Michigan, reflecting increasingly personal rhetoric in competitive midterm contests.

House Panel Names Two More Jeffrey Epstein Associates for Investigation

A congressional oversight committee has identified two additional people connected to Jeffrey Epstein for investigation, while attorney general nominee Todd Blanche faces separate litigation concerning the release of case files.

Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary Pits Ed Markey Against Seth Moulton

Massachusetts voters are choosing between incumbent Senator Ed Markey and challenger Seth Moulton in a closely watched Democratic primary testing the strength of the party’s progressive wing ahead of the midterms.

Justice Department Drops Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Case After Presidential Criticism

Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss felony charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool, citing a flawed installation rather than vandalism days after President Donald Trump criticized the prosecution.

Bipartisan U.S. Lawmakers Seek Tougher TikTok Transparency and Safety Rules

Members of Congress from both parties are pressing TikTok for stronger data protections, transparency measures and safeguards comparable with age-verification and safety rules adopted by competing platforms.

Federal Authorities Move to Close Trucking Schools Over Regulatory and Safety Violations

The U.S. government has begun enforcement actions against commercial driving academies that saw large enrollment increases from migrants admitted under a previous parole program, citing regulatory and safety breaches.

California Blocks Shasta County From Hiring Convicted Election Consultant Tina Peters

Governor Gavin Newsom has barred Shasta County from employing Tina Peters, who was convicted of offenses involving voting-machine tampering, citing concerns over election integrity.

Illinois Governor Rejects Trump Offer to Deploy Federal Agents to Chicago

Governor JB Pritzker has declined President Donald Trump’s proposal to send federal law enforcement personnel to Chicago, describing the offer as an intrusion into state and municipal authority.

Florida Bans Automated License Plate Readers on State Roadways

Governor Ron DeSantis has prohibited automated license plate tracking systems, including Flock cameras, on Florida highways, citing privacy and surveillance concerns.

Trump Backs Rapid Expansion of U.S. Data Centers for Artificial Intelligence

President Donald Trump has pledged federal support for faster construction of energy-intensive data centers as his administration seeks to expand domestic artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Senate Committee Advances Contempt Charges Against Anthony Fauci

A Republican-led Senate committee voted to hold former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during questioning on the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

Justice Department Sues Kansas School District Over Student Gender-Transition Policies

Federal prosecutors have filed a civil-rights lawsuit challenging policies that allow students to socially transition their gender identity at school without formal parental notification.

Justice Department Sues Illinois Over Laws Limiting Immigration Enforcement Cooperation

Federal prosecutors have sued Illinois over state laws restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities at courthouses and hospitals, arguing that the measures conflict with federal statutes.

White House Reaches Drug-Pricing Agreements With Nine Pharmaceutical Companies

The Trump administration has announced agreements with nine major drugmakers aimed at reducing treatment costs for conditions including Parkinson’s disease and glaucoma under its favored-nation pricing initiative.

IRS Audit Revenue Falls $3.5 Billion After Workforce Reductions

An independent government watchdog said Internal Revenue Service audit collections declined by $3.5 billion over the past fiscal year, attributing the drop to large reductions in the tax agency’s auditing workforce.

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche Nomination for Attorney General

The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department after contentious hearings in which Democratic lawmakers questioned his independence from the White House.

Trump Administration Plans Federal Civilian Pay Freeze for 2027

The White House is preparing a pay freeze for federal civilian employees in 2027, drawing opposition from public-sector unions and Democratic lawmakers concerned about workforce retention.

U.S. Postal Service Whistleblower Warns Mail-Ballot Monitoring System Is Untested

A federal official told congressional Democrats that a new Postal Service portal for monitoring mail ballots was rushed and insufficiently tested ahead of the midterm elections.

FTC and 22 States Sue Amazon Over Alleged Manipulation of Advertising Prices

The Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of state attorneys general have sued Amazon, alleging the company unlawfully manipulated its digital advertising market to inflate costs for sellers and consumers.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns After Reported Friction With Pete Hegseth

Dan Driscoll is stepping down as the U.S. Army’s top civilian official after 18 months, creating another Pentagon leadership vacancy amid reported disputes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

U.S. Supreme Court Allows $400 Million White House Ballroom and Bunker Project to Continue

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge seeking to halt construction of a $400 million White House event space and underground bunker, ruling 5-4 that historic preservation groups lacked standing to sue.

U.S. Treasury Proposes Restrictions on Banque Misr’s UAE Operations in Iran Sanctions Push

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a proposed ban preventing U.S. banks from dealing with Banque Misr branches in the United Arab Emirates as Washington prepares additional secondary sanctions aimed at isolating Iran.