NATIONAL NEWS
Trump Calls for New Census
President Trump announced he has ordered the Commerce Department to begin work on a “new and highly accurate” census, using “modern-day facts” and results from the 2024 presidential election. He said undocumented immigrants will not be counted.
The Constitution mandates a census every 10 years, with the next scheduled for 2030, and the 14th Amendment requires counting “the whole number of persons in each State.”
Russia Ceasefire Deadline Walked Back
Trump, who had set today as a ceasefire deadline for Russia, now says “the deadline is up to Putin” and that he is “very disappointed.”
Secret Directive: Military Force Against Cartels
Sources say Trump signed a classified order authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against designated Latin American drug cartels. The move shifts a law enforcement mission into potential direct military operations at sea or abroad, targeting fentanyl and other drug flows.
Trump Targets Intel CEO
Trump called on Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over alleged conflicts of interest. A GOP senator has also raised concerns about Tan’s investments in China. Intel says its leadership is committed to U.S. national and economic security.
Air Force to Cut Transgender Troops’ Benefits
The Air Force will deny retirement benefits to transgender service members with 15–18 years of service, offering either lump-sum separation payments or later involuntary separation. The change follows a Supreme Court ruling allowing a Pentagon ban on transgender troops.
FBI Reports Drop in Violent Crime
FBI data shows violent crime fell 4.5% in 2024, including a 14.9% drop in murders and a near 9% drop in robberies — the lowest in 20 years. Hate crimes also fell slightly. However, assaults on police rose from 83,000 to 85,730.
CDC: Americans Still Rely on Ultra-Processed Foods
A CDC report found 55% of calories consumed by Americans came from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) between 2021–2023. Children’s diets were 61.9% UPFs, adults’ 53%. UPFs are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, with little whole-food content.
Quick Headlines
Contraceptives to Be Destroyed – The Trump administration plans to incinerate millions of dollars’ worth of birth control pills, implants, and other contraceptives originally earmarked for developing countries, after cutting funding to USAID programs that would have distributed them abroad.
Biotech Firm Wins After Donation – Extremity Care, a biotech company making high-priced products like paper-thin placenta bandages, secured a Medicare policy change expected to boost sales after donating $5 million to Trump and meeting him at Mar-a-Lago.
RFK Jr. Cuts Vaccine Funding – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, including COVID-19 projects, drawing sharp criticism from scientists and global health agencies.
Cuomo on Trump – After discussing the New York City mayoral race with Trump, Andrew Cuomo compared his political relationship with the president to a “dysfunctional marriage” during remarks to business leaders.
Weather Service Hiring Spree – The National Weather Service will hire hundreds of staff after earlier layoffs caused operational strain during this year’s hurricane season.
FBI Tracks Texas Democrats – The FBI is assisting Texas authorities in locating Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a Republican redistricting vote, following a request from Sen. John Cornyn.
California’s Canyon Fire – The Canyon Fire north of Los Angeles has burned more than 1,500 acres in less than 24 hours, forcing thousands to evacuate as high winds and dry brush fuel rapid spread.
France’s Largest Wildfire in 75 Years – A massive blaze in southern France, bigger than Paris, has been contained after killing one person and injuring 13. Officials blame conditions worsened by climate change.
Fed Board Nominee – Trump nominated Stephen Miran, an economic adviser and critic of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, to fill a temporary seat on the Federal Reserve Board. His confirmation is not expected before September, raising questions about central bank independence.
Paramount–Skydance Merger – Paramount’s controlling shareholder Shari Redstone exits after selling to David Ellison’s Skydance. Ellison plans to integrate advanced tech into streaming, news, and production, meeting with CBS News and 60 Minutes staff on his first day.
Automakers’ Tariff Losses – Global carmakers have lost nearly $12 billion in operating earnings since Trump’s new tariffs took effect, according to the Wall Street Journal, with Japan, Germany, and South Korea among the hardest hit.
GLOBAL NEWS
Japan Tariff Adjustment
Japanese trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa said the U.S. has agreed to reimburse all mistakenly collected levies under Trump’s new tariff rules.
Any product previously charged above 15% will have the rate reduced to 15%.
Items with tariffs below 15% will now be charged exactly 15%, in line with the current U.S.–Japan agreement.
The adjustment follows intense negotiations to protect Japanese exports — particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors — from the steepest tariff hikes in decades.
India–U.S. Trade Rift Widens
Relations between Washington and New Delhi have hit their lowest point in decades after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50% over India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
PM Narendra Modi said he is prepared to “pay a very heavy price” to maintain energy ties with Moscow, underscoring India’s strategic partnership with Russia.
Reuters reported that India has paused talks to purchase Stryker combat vehicles, Javelin missiles, and certain Boeing aircraft, and canceled a planned visit by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington.
While the Indian Defense Ministry publicly denied pausing U.S. arms purchases, officials said New Delhi wants clarity on tariffs and overall bilateral relations before moving forward.
Indian media note the government is open to gradually reducing Russian oil imports as part of a possible settlement — but only if Washington offers concessions on tariffs.
Russia Lists Abducted Ukrainian Children Online
Russian websites are posting photos, ages, and details of abducted Ukrainian children — described by observers as resembling an online catalog.
NATO Delivers U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine
The first U.S. military package under NATO’s new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List arrived in Ukraine, fully funded by the Netherlands.
Israel Approves Gaza Takeover Plan
In a high-stakes move, Israel’s cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the gradual military takeover of Gaza — a decision opposed by the country’s top military commander and many in the international community.
Plan Details:
Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s full demilitarization.
Return of all living and deceased hostages.
Israeli security control over Gaza, followed by transfer to a civilian government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
Establishment of compounds to house up to 1 million displaced Palestinians evacuated from Gaza City and surrounding areas.
First-phase deadline: October 7 — the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s 2023 attack on southern Israel.
Reactions:
Domestic: Polls show ~70% of Israelis want the war to end and hostages returned. Mass protests erupted, with hostage families calling the plan a “death sentence for the living hostages.”
International: The UK, China, Turkey, and Finland condemned the plan, warning of humanitarian disaster. UK PM Keir Starmer said it “will only bring more bloodshed.” The UN warned that nearly 12,000 children in Gaza are in acute malnutrition.
Hamas & PA: Hamas threatened Israel would “pay dearly,” and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan “a full-fledged crime.”
Haiti’s New Transitional Leader
Businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr assumed Haiti’s rotating presidency amid worsening gang violence and calls for greater international military support.
COMING UP
Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders meet at the White House.
World Robot Congress opens in Beijing.
Japan marks the 80th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing tomorrow.
