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Secret Service Orders Trump to Swap Aircraft Amid Credible Iranian Threat

U.S. officials uncovered a credible threat from Iranian-backed proxy forces targeting President Donald Trump and Air Force One during his recent visit to Turkey for the NATO summit. Acting on urgent advice from the Secret Service, Trump abandoned his newly acquired Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8—which lacks the highly advanced anti-missile defense systems of the official presidential fleet—and flew back to Washington onboard the older Air Force One. The swap highlights the extreme security measures being taken as the five-month military conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to intensify. Trump has recently met with senior military advisers to weigh a major escalation against Tehran, while Iranian proxy forces widen their retaliatory attacks against U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

The New York Times - The Guardian

Trump Fires Insults and Jokes About Fourth Term at Correspondents’ Dinner

President Donald Trump delivered a meandering, hour-long keynote address at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. The event, which was postponed in April following a nearby shooting, took place under heavy security. While the dinner is traditionally celebrated as a lighthearted tribute to press freedom, Trump’s speech quickly drifted from self-deprecating humor into familiar campaign trail grievances. He mocked prominent political rivals, repeatedly labeled the mainstream media “fake news,” and joked that he might run for a third and even a fourth presidential term. Despite the barbs, the event marked a rare moment of direct, in-person interaction between the president and the press corps, even as relations between his administration and the media remain deeply strained.

The New York Times - The Guardian - The Wall Street Journal

Crime & Local News

Georgia School Shooter Colt Gray Pleads Guilty to Murder

Colt Gray, the teenager responsible for the devastating September 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to all 55 charges against him, including four counts of murder. Gray was 14 years old when he shot and killed two classmates and two teachers, and wounded nine others. Now 16, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. During the emotional court hearing, victims’ families delivered heart-wrenching statements, describing the “life sentence of grief and trauma” Gray inflicted upon their community. The case has drawn nationwide attention, particularly following the landmark criminal conviction of Gray’s father for involuntary manslaughter after he purchased the firearm used in the assault for his son.

BBC - The Guardian - The Wall Street Journal

Former NFL Star Tony Romo Arrested for DUI in Wisconsin

Tony Romo, the prominent CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback, was arrested outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. According to reports from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Romo was stopped by deputies while driving south on Interstate 43 on Thursday night. He was taken into custody after performing poorly on field sobriety tests. Under Wisconsin state law, a first-offense OWI (operating while intoxicated) is treated as a civil violation rather than a criminal charge. Romo was booked at the local station and subsequently released. Neither CBS Sports nor Romo’s representatives have issued a public statement regarding the incident.

BBC - The Guardian - Los Angeles Times

Politics

Federal Judge Strikes Down FDA Restrictions on Abortion Pill Mifepristone

U.S. District Judge Robert S. Ballou in Virginia has ruled that the Food and Drug Administration’s long-standing restrictions on prescribing the abortion pill mifepristone are unlawful. In a scathing decision, the judge characterized the federal barriers to the medication as “arbitrary and capricious,” pointing to overwhelming scientific consensus that mifepristone is safe and highly effective. The ruling orders the Trump administration’s FDA to formally re-examine and consider overturning the safety protocols that heavily restrict how the drug can be distributed. Reproductive rights advocates praised the decision as a major victory against mounting state-level abortion bans, while conservative legal groups criticized the court’s interference with federal regulatory authority.

Reuters - The Guardian

Democrats Select South Carolina to Lead 2028 Presidential Primary Calendar

The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to retain South Carolina as the official starting state for the party’s 2028 presidential primary cycle. In a move designed to better represent the party’s racially diverse voter base, South Carolina will vote first on January 22, 2028, followed in sequence by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. The decision cements the influential role of Black and Latino voters in the nominating process. The proposal, which passed with a slim majority, still requires final confirmation by the full DNC at a general meeting scheduled for next month.

Reuters - The Guardian - The Wall Street Journal

Economy & Finance

Trump Threatens European Union With Tariffs Over Big Tech Fines

President Donald Trump has threatened to hit the European Union with substantial new tariffs after Brussels fined Google $1 billion for digital competition breaches. In a fiery social media post, Trump accused European regulators of “robbing” American companies and taxpayers, specifically naming Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Google as targets of EU overreach. The threat of additional tariffs comes at a precarious time for global markets, which are already grappling with a separate wave of U.S. “forced labor” tariffs on over 60 nations and ongoing volatility in the energy sector as Gulf oil prices hover near $110 a barrel.

Al Jazeera - BBC - The Guardian

Trump Administration Admits Withholding Energy Grants Over 2024 Election Loyalty

In a series of startling federal court filings, the Trump administration admitted it canceled more than $7.5 billion in clean energy grants for state-level projects “based solely” on whether those states supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The legal admission confirms that federal funds were systematically denied to states represented by Democrats or those that voted for Kamala Harris. While the administration’s budget office has attempted to downplay the filings as a “misrepresentation” of its policy, the documents show that political criteria were directly used to terminate funding for environmental projects. The disclosure has sparked fierce condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, who accuse the administration of using taxpayer-funded grants as a political weapon.

The New York Times - The Guardian

World News

ICC Ousts Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Following Sexual Misconduct Investigation

The governing body of the International Criminal Court voted to remove British barrister Karim Khan from his role as chief prosecutor. The historic decision follows a lengthy internal crisis over allegations of sexual misconduct involving a junior female staff member. Khan has repeatedly denied the accusations, claiming the investigation was politically motivated to undermine his authority. His removal ends a highly controversial tenure that saw the prosecutor seek high-profile arrest warrants for world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC’s member states finalized the vote to ensure the integrity of the court as it faces unprecedented political pressure and U.S. sanctions against several of its officials.

BBC - The New York Times - The Guardian

Extreme Heatwaves Trigger Historic Wildfires and Evacuations in France and Spain

A relentless European heatwave has sparked catastrophic wildfires across Spain and France, forcing the emergency evacuation of more than 200,000 residents and tourists. In Spain, which has declared a national emergency, regional officials warn they are battling the “worst fire in the history of the region,” with strong winds threatening to expand the blazes. Meanwhile, French firefighters are struggling to contain massive forest fires in the Gironde department that are advancing rapidly toward the suburbs of Bordeaux. The historic dry spell has also decimated France’s rivers, with the Loire reduced to a trickle in some areas.

Al Jazeera - BBC - The Guardian

Culture & Entertainment

Hollywood giants Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery have agreed to pause their planned $110 billion merger while a major anti-monopoly lawsuit plays out in federal court. Under the terms of the legal agreement, the two entertainment studios will remain completely separate, competing operations until a judge issues a final verdict, or until June 1, 2027. The delay could trigger hundreds of millions of dollars in fees for Paramount, which has already agreed to pay up to $1.7 billion in penalties if the transaction fails to close. The pause represents a significant setback for the proposed media consolidation, which was designed to help the traditional studios compete against dominant streaming giants like Netflix.

Reuters - BBC - The Wall Street Journal

Veteran Hollywood Director Chuck Russell Dies at 74

Chuck Russell, the acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker behind box-office hits like The Mask, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and the 1988 remake of The Blob, was found dead in his San Diego, California, home at the age of 74. Russell was widely celebrated for his pioneering use of brash, computer-generated visual effects, which helped launch the careers of major stars such as Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Over a career spanning four decades, Russell’s unique blend of horror, action, and comedy earned him a dedicated cult following.

The New York Times - The Guardian

Society & Technology

US Measles Cases Surge to 35-Year High as Vaccination Rates Fall

The United States has recorded 2,318 confirmed cases of measles, officially surpassing the total for all of last year and reaching a 35-year high. Public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that falling vaccination rates across the country have left highly vulnerable groups, particularly young children, increasingly exposed to the highly contagious virus. The resurgence of the preventable disease marks the worst measles outbreak in the country since 1991, prompting warnings from scientists who emphasize that maintaining high herd immunity is crucial to keeping the disease eliminated in the U.S.

Reuters - The Guardian - Los Angeles Times

SpaceX Successfully Launches 13th Experimental Starship Test Flight

SpaceX completed another highly anticipated test flight of its experimental Starship megarocket, achieving a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean roughly an hour after liftoff. The successful launch marks a milestone as the first since Elon Musk’s rocket company went public in a historic IPO. Beyond testing the spacecraft’s reusable design, the mission briefly deployed the company’s first upgraded Starlink satellites. The successful test flight is being closely watched by market investors as SpaceX continues to dominate the commercial aerospace sector and refine its technology for future deep-space missions.

Reuters - BBC - The Wall Street Journal

Sports

LeBron James to Join Philadelphia 76ers for Final NBA Contract

NBA superstar LeBron James announced that he will join the Philadelphia 76ers for what he intends to be his final professional basketball contract. The decision marks a significant shift for the future Hall-of-Famer, who prioritized fit and team potential over sentiment as he looks to pursue one last championship run. Sports analysts noted that the move is perfectly in character for James, who has historically engineered bold, calculated transfers to maximize his competitive edge. The signing immediately positions the 76ers as major title contenders for the upcoming season.

BBC - The Guardian

Commonwealth Games Open in Glasgow Amid Dramatic Gymnastics Injury

The 2026 Commonwealth Games kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland, with host nation Scotland celebrating three gold medals in the pool within the first hour of competition. However, the opening night of action was heavily overshadowed by a sickening injury to England gymnast Gabriel Langton. During the high bar routine of the men’s artistic team final, the 19-year-old suffered a terrifying head-first fall on the mat, bringing the competition to a complete halt. Langton was rushed to the hospital with a concussion. Despite the distress, the competition resumed, with Canada capturing the team gold and England securing the silver medal.

BBC - The Guardian - Al Jazeera

  SAT 💧 SUN MON
New York ☁️ 61/83 0% ☁️ 60/83 🌦️ 69/78
Los Angeles 🌤️ 68/93 0% ☁️ 67/92 ☁️ 75/91
San Francisco 🌤️ 57/71 1% ⛅ 55/69 ☁️ 58/68
Chicago ☁️ 60/79 2% ☁️ 68/89 ☁️ 77/95
Houston ☁️ 78/97 5% 🌦️ 76/96 ☁️ 80/101
Dallas ⛅ 81/100 1% ☁️ 80/100 ☁️ 85/105
Phoenix 🌤️ 94/118 1% 🌦️ 91/118 ☁️ 94/113
Philadelphia ☁️ 64/84 0% ☁️ 63/86 🌦️ 69/85
San Antonio ☁️ 76/95 2% ☁️ 74/96 ☁️ 76/100
San Diego 🌫️ 68/81 0% 🌫️ 66/80 ☁️ 70/77
San Jose ☀️ 56/78 0% 🌤️ 54/77 ☀️ 58/90
Austin ☁️ 76/97 0% ☁️ 76/97 ☁️ 78/102
Jacksonville ☁️ 78/98 22% 🌦️ 78/98 🌦️ 76/104
Fort Worth ☁️ 80/100 1% ☁️ 79/100 ☁️ 82/105
Columbus ☁️ 60/84 4% ☁️ 70/84 ⛈️ 67/91
Charlotte 🌦️ 71/81 38% ☁️ 70/84 🌦️ 71/96
Indianapolis ☁️ 58/77 14% ☁️ 65/92 🌦️ 74/97
Seattle ⛅ 58/79 4% ☁️ 59/71 ☁️ 56/81
Denver 🌦️ 68/102 45% ☁️ 72/103 🌦️ 78/103
Boston 🌤️ 58/79 0% ☁️ 57/73 🌫️ 58/72
Nashville 🌦️ 72/88 18% ☁️ 75/98 ☁️ 76/98
Detroit ☁️ 58/84 1% ☁️ 65/88 ☁️ 70/94
Portland ⛅ 58/84 1% ☁️ 58/75 ⛅ 60/82
Las Vegas ☀️ 89/114 4% ☁️ 85/115 🌦️ 94/113
Miami 🌧️ 80/90 21% 🌧️ 77/90 🌦️ 78/90
Atlanta 🌦️ 73/86 68% 🌦️ 71/86 ☁️ 77/97
Minneapolis ☁️ 71/94 2% ☁️ 74/105 ☁️ 75/106
Kansas City ☁️ 75/92 16% ☁️ 76/103 🌦️ 79/104
New Orleans 🌦️ 77/93 7% ☁️ 75/95 ☁️ 79/98
Honolulu 🌦️ 74/85 21% 🌦️ 73/84 🌦️ 73/85
Anchorage 🌦️ 50/71 0% ☁️ 51/67 ☁️ 53/69