Author: Newyorki

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that significantly eases federal regulatory restrictions on commercial spaceflight companies, a move expected to directly benefit Elon Musk’s SpaceX. While SpaceX was not specifically named in the order, the company stands to gain the most due to its extensive government contracts, frequent launch schedule, and pivotal role in U.S. space missions. Streamlining Launch RegulationsThe order directs the U.S. transportation secretary to expedite or remove environmental reviews for launch approvals overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It also calls for eliminating outdated, redundant, or overly restrictive rules governing launch and re-entry vehicles.…

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to block, for now, a Mississippi law requiring age verification and parental consent for minors to use social media platforms. The decision allows the law to remain in force while courts consider whether it is constitutional. The case was brought by NetChoice, a trade group representing major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, X, and YouTube, which argued that the law violates the First Amendment. NetChoice sought Supreme Court intervention after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a lower court’s injunction and permitted the law to take effect. Background and Lower Court Ruling…

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) warns that President Donald Trump’s approach to addressing homelessness in Washington, D.C., risks worsening the crisis rather than solving it. Trump announced on August 11 that he intends to take control of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department and clear homeless individuals from the streets. However, CBPP’s August 6 report, authored by Mari Castaldi, the think tank’s director of state housing policy, argues that policies criminalizing sleeping outdoors are both “cruel” and ineffective. According to the report, forcibly removing people from public spaces often results in the loss of…

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that the state will hold a special election on November 4 to allow voters to decide on a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan. The proposal, if approved, would implement new district maps for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 House elections, before returning authority to the state’s independent redistricting commission after the 2030 census. Newsom emphasized that the independent commission system would remain intact in the long term but argued that a one-time, voter-approved redrawing is needed. The move comes amid a wave of redistricting initiatives in Republican-led states such as Texas, Florida, and Ohio, as…

President Donald Trump’s unprecedented move to assume control of Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Force has sparked debate over the scope of presidential authority in the nation’s capital. Legal experts say the action, enabled by DC’s special federal status, cannot be replicated in other U.S. cities without significant legal changes. A Federal City with Special Rules Unlike states, DC operates as a federal district under congressional oversight. The 1973 Home Rule Act granted the city an elected mayor and council but preserved Congress’s authority to overturn local laws and control spending. Under a provision of DC law, the president can take…

Severe flooding in Tennessee on Tuesday, August 12, brought traffic on a key interstate to a standstill and caused deadly consequences in the Chattanooga area. Interstate Flooding Halts Traffic Video footage from the scene showed vehicles stranded on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga, where floodwaters rose so high that some cars were almost completely submerged, with only their roofs visible above the brown, murky water. The Tennessee Department of Transportation confirmed that I-24 was closed between I-75 and US 27 in Hamilton County due to widespread flooding, with crews prioritizing work on that section. By late evening, the waters had receded,…

President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration is weighing a decision to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance under federal law, with an announcement possible within the next two weeks. Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug — the most restrictive category, reserved for substances deemed highly dangerous, addictive, and without accepted medical use. In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed moving marijuana to Schedule III, alongside substances such as ketamine and testosterone, which are recognized as having medical applications and lower abuse potential. Trump described the decision as complex, citing the need to…

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee expressed greater concern about the recent rise in underlying inflation than July’s weaker-than-expected jobs report, suggesting a high threshold for supporting an interest rate cut at the Fed’s September meeting. Speaking at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce in Illinois on August 13, Goolsbee—often seen as one of the Fed’s more “dovish” policymakers—highlighted that persistent inflation in the services sector was particularly troubling. While overall inflation held steady at 2.7% in July, the core rate, which excludes food and energy, climbed from 2.9% to 3.1%, driven by notable increases in airfares and…

The Trump administration has launched a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution, aiming to align its exhibits and materials with the White House’s directive to emphasize “American exceptionalism” and eliminate what it deems “divisive” or “partisan” narratives. Scope and Goals of the Review In an August 12 letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, administration officials outlined plans for a “comprehensive” evaluation of the museum system’s content. The review will assess whether exhibits meet the administration’s standards for “unity, progress, and enduring values” in historical interpretation. The letter sets a 120-day deadline for the Smithsonian to begin “content corrections,” replacing…

President Donald Trump’s national approval ratings remain in negative territory, yet state-level polling reveals a more nuanced picture, with nearly half of U.S. states viewing his job performance favorably. Where Trump Is Most and Least Popular According to an August 12 Morning Consult update, Trump holds a positive approval rating in 27 states. Wyoming ranks as his strongest state, with 66% approval, while Vermont is his weakest, with 64% disapproval. In Texas, 53% approve and 44% disapprove of Trump’s performance, while in California — where Governor Gavin Newsom has threatened to respond to Texas’s redistricting efforts — 41% approve and…