Two of President Trump’s most recent health nominees, including his newest pick to be head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appeared before the Senate on Wednesday where a reluctance to break with the administration put Democrats and some Republicans on edge. Erica Schwartz, nominee to be the next director of the CDC; and Sean Kaufman, nominee to head the...
{beacon} View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment Your feedback matters to us. Take our brief newsletter survey to help us improve the newsletters you read every day. The Big Story Experts say latest attacks may not get better result President Trump is returning to war in an attempt to break Iran’s grip...
Maverick Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has said he has “no plans” to leave the Democratic Party, but he warned on Wednesday that if Democrats completely turn their backs on U.S. support for Israel, that would cross a red line that could push him out of the party. “If our party ever becomes — and just...
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a high-speed internet grant program signed into law by President Biden unconstitutionally used race as a factor in deciding where to dole out the funds. U.S. District Judge John Bates heavily cited the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating affirmative action in higher education admissions in agreeing with President Trump, who...
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced it will convene a panel to study the “decisions, coordination, planning, and execution” of the military’s 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a rule that led to the dismissal or departure of more than 8,700 service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the nonpartisan and independent National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)...
House Democrats split nearly evenly on a Wednesday amendment to cut off U.S. aid to Israel, showcasing how the contentious issue is reshaping the political dynamics in the party. The amendment spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was always presumed to be a doomed show vote, but provided a test for Democrats who have been...
The U.S. military disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail to an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf on Wednesday, the first instance of the U.S. forces crippling a vessel since President Trump reimposed the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz this week. A U.S. fighter jet struck M/T Belma, a Curacao-flagged tanker...
Acting attorney general Todd Blanche pledged on Wednesday to take action to stop abortion medication from being available through the mail. Blanche committed to Republican senators he would prioritize taking action on mifepristone if confirmed but declined to go into specifics. He said the Trump administration opposes a Biden-era policy that allowed the abortion...
President Trump is reportedly considering a return to all-out war against Iran as he seeks to break a stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz and force Tehran’s hand in nuclear negotiations. The U.S. military has resumed strikes over the past week, mostly targeting air defense and radar systems and missile and drone launch sites near...
Views of the United States and President Trump are worsening around the globe, according to a survey published by the Pew Research Center on Wednesday. At the same time, China and its leader, Xi Jinping, are gaining more favorability, marking a reversal in worldwide opinions. The Pew survey highlights the increasing challenge for the U.S....
Data centers are expected to add billions in electricity costs across 13 states in the years ahead after a recent power auction. Grid operator PJM this week announced the results of an auction to buy power for the 13 states that it serves for June 2028 through May 2029. Monitoring Analytics, an independent market monitor...
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) on Wednesday addressed the international race to achieve dominance over artificial intelligence and the importance behind each country’s efforts to take the lead. “China and Russia and Iran would love nothing more than for us to say, absolutely, no data science. And that is because it is a cognitive warfare. They...
A coalition of civil rights leaders on Tuesday announced plans for a march on Washington next month in response to recent court rulings they say weakened long-standing protections for minority voters. The coalition is led by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and joined by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, the NAACP and...
