Author: Newyorki

While most Texas House Democrats left the state to block a Republican-led mid-decade redistricting plan, State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond of Laredo has remained at the Capitol, working to persuade GOP lawmakers to reconsider a proposal that could reshape the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican leaders, encouraged by President Donald Trump and the White House, are pushing a new congressional map designed to add five GOP-leaning seats. The move could help secure a Republican majority in the closely divided U.S. House and advance Trump’s agenda through the remainder of his term. Democrats responded by traveling to Illinois, New York, and…

The Trump administration has directed all federal agencies to remove records related to employees’ COVID-19 vaccination status, compliance with pandemic mandates, and exemption requests, marking a significant reversal of pandemic-era policies. The order was outlined in an August 8 memorandum from Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), addressed to all federal department and agency heads. Agencies have until September 8 to confirm compliance. “Effective immediately, federal agencies may not use an individual’s COVID-19 vaccine status, history of noncompliance with prior COVID-19 vaccine mandates, or requests for exemptions from such mandates in any employment-related decisions,” Kupor wrote.…

Unusually extreme summer heat is set to scorch large areas of the United States in the coming days, with nearly 30 million people under heat advisories or extreme heat warnings, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Some of the most severe conditions will be felt in the West, where Death Valley, California — one of the hottest places on Earth — is forecast to reach 121°F by August 12. In nearby cities, Las Vegas is expected to hit 110°F and Phoenix 111°F, prompting extreme heat warnings. The Southwest will bear the brunt of the heat from August 10–13, with…

Vice President JD Vance has dismissed growing speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run, saying it is “way too early” to consider future campaigns while emphasizing his current role in the Trump administration. Questions about Vance’s political ambitions intensified after President Donald Trump told reporters on August 5 that the vice president was “most likely” the heir to the MAGA movement. While stopping short of a formal endorsement, Trump said Vance would “probably be favored at this point” and suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio might “get together with JD in some form.” Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning…

Commerce Department has begun issuing licences to Nvidia to export its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China, ending weeks of delays and marking a reversal in policy after direct intervention from President Donald Trump. The move follows a meeting at the White House between Nvidia’s chief executive, Jensen Huang, and the president. According to officials familiar with the matter, the Bureau of Industry and Security, which oversees export controls, began processing the licences just two days after the Oval Office discussion. The H20 chip was specifically designed for the Chinese market in response to earlier Biden-era restrictions on advanced AI…

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could reshape the investment landscape for U.S. retirement savings, granting 401k plans access to private equity, cryptocurrencies, and other alternative assets for the first time on a broad scale. The move potentially affects the financial future of more than 90 million Americans, unlocking new opportunities for diversification while also exposing savers to greater risks. The decision follows extensive lobbying from major private capital and asset management firms, including Apollo Global Management, BlackRock, Carlyle, and Blackstone. These firms have long sought access to the $9 trillion held in 401k accounts, viewing retirement…

President Donald Trump has ordered a significant increase in the presence of federal law enforcement officers across Washington, D.C., in a move aimed at addressing what he described as persistent crime issues in the nation’s capital. The deployment will initially last seven days, with the possibility of an extension, according to a White House statement. The order follows a recent assault on Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old staff member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who was attacked during an attempted carjacking. Trump referenced the incident on social media, calling Coristine “brave” and tying the attack to broader concerns about…

President Donald Trump has removed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Billy Long from his post, ending the former Missouri congressman’s tenure just two months after he was officially confirmed for the role. A White House official confirmed the decision to USA TODAY, stating that Long will step down immediately and that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will assume the duties of acting commissioner until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed. While the dismissal may appear abrupt, the official indicated it was part of a broader personnel strategy. Long is expected to be nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to Iceland,…

President Donald Trump announced on August 7 his intention to initiate a new U.S. census, citing the need to reflect “modern-day facts and figures” and to exclude undocumented immigrants from being counted. The announcement, made via his social media platform, immediately raised legal, constitutional, and political concerns—especially as the nation approaches the pivotal 2026 midterm elections. Trump’s proposal follows Republican-led efforts in Texas to redraw congressional maps mid-decade, a move traditionally reserved for once-a-decade adjustments after the decennial census. The redistricting aims to secure up to five additional GOP seats, a strategy prompting Democrats in other states to consider retaliatory…

A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court’s ruling that found probable cause to hold officials from the Trump administration in contempt over their handling of the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the rarely-used 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, sided with the administration, rejecting U.S. District Judge James Boasberg’s April finding that officials could face criminal contempt for allegedly disobeying his March 15 order. That order barred the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members without allowing them the opportunity to contest their removal. Judge Gregory Katsas, writing…