Man in custody after a Virginia council member was set on fire over 'a personal matter,' police sayNew Foto - Man in custody after a Virginia council member was set on fire over 'a personal matter,' police say

A suspect is in custody after a Danville, Virginia, city council member was set on fire Wednesday morning by a man police say he knows. The attack on council member Lee Vogler "stems from a personal matter not related to the victim's position on the Danville City Council or any other political affiliation," police said in the statement. The suspect, who police identified as 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, entered Vogler's place of employment, confronted him and doused him with an unknown flammable liquid, Danville police said in anews release. Andrew Brooks, the publisher and owner of Showcase Magazine, said Vogler was attacked at the magazine's office. The man "forced his way into our office carrying a five-gallon bucket of gasoline and poured the gasoline on Lee," Brooks said in asocial media video. Vogler, 38, "attempted to flee" and the suspect followed him, according to Brooks. "The victim and suspect exited the building, where the suspect then set the victim on fire," police said in the statement. Buck Hayes fled the area, but witnesses provided a description of him and his vehicle. Brooks said Vogler was able to identify his alleged attacker. He was airlifted for medical treatment. The extent of Vogler's injuries is not clear at this time, police said. Vogler was taken to a burn unit at a hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Vogler's father Jack Vogler Sr.told The Associated Press. UNC Health declined to comment on the victim's condition, the AP reported. Buck Hayes is facing attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding charges, according to police. Buck Hayes requested and was assigned a court-appointed attorney, court officials said. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 30. Danville Public Defender Joseph Schenk said Wednesday "it would not be appropriate" for his office to represent Buck Hayes because he is friends with Vogler and has known him "personally and professionally for over a decade." Vogler, a Danville native, was the youngest person ever elected to the city council in May 2012, according to his biography on thecity council's website. He works as the managing partner for Andrew Brooks Media Group, a multimedia company that publishes regional magazines such as Showcase Magazine, the biography said. He is also the director of sales at Showcase Magazine, the publication said in a report on itssite. Officials, including Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, said Vogler was in their prayers and asked others to pray for him. "We pray for a swift recovery for Lee and peace to be on the entire Danville community," Youngkin said in asocial media post. Ina statement, Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones called the attack "an unthinkable act of violence." "Lee is a member of our City Council family. And today, that family is hurting," Jones added. "Our Council is close. We've worked through challenges together —and now, we face this heartbreak together." "This type of senseless violence has to stop," Brooks said in the social media video. "You do not have the right as a human being to get upset with someone enough to lash out and attempt to harm them in any way, much less this way." The magazine also offered prayers to Vogler and his family. "We are deeply shocked and saddened by this act of violence," the magazine said. "The Showcase Magazine team is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they continue their investigation." Virginia state Sen. Tammy Brankley Mulchi condemned the "deeply troubling attack" and said she supports efforts to bring the suspect to justice. "I have had the pleasure of getting to know Lee over the last couple of years and the one thing I know that he loves more than representing the people of Danville is the love of his family," the senator said in asocial media post. "I pray during this difficult time for his swift and complete recovery." Danville is in southern Virginia on the border of North Carolina. It is about one hour south of Lynchburg and approximately one hour north of Durham, North Carolina. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 31, 2025

Man in custody after a Virginia council member was set on fire over ‘a personal matter,’ police say

Man in custody after a Virginia council member was set on fire over 'a personal matter,' police say A suspect is in custody after a ...
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Trump orders a 35% tariff for goods from Canada, citing a lack of cooperation on illicit drugsNew Foto - Trump orders a 35% tariff for goods from Canada, citing a lack of cooperation on illicit drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. PresidentDonald Trumphas raised the tariff rate onU.S. imports from Canadato 35% from 25%, effective Friday. The announcement from the White House late Thursday said Canada had failed to "do more to arrest, seize, detain or otherwise intercept ... traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs." Trump has heckled Canada for months and suggestedit should become its 51st U.S. state. He had threatened to impose the highertariff on Canadaif no deal was reached by Friday, his deadline for reaching trade agreements with dozens of countries. Earlier Thursday, the president saidCanada's announcement it will recognize a Palestinian statewould "make it very hard" for the United States to reach a trade agreement with its northern neighbor. Prime Minister Mark Carney had tempered expectations over tariffs, saying Ottawa would only agree to a deal "if there's one on the table that is in the best interests of Canadians." In a statement released early Friday, he said he was disappointed by Trump's actions. "Canada accounts for only 1% of U.S. fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes," Carney said. He added that some industries — including lumber, steel, aluminum and automobiles — will be harder hit, but that the government will try to minimize the impact and protect Canadian jobs. Canada was not included in Trump's updatedlist of tariff rateson other countries announced late Thursday. Thoseimport dutiesare due to take effect on Aug. 7. Some imports from Canada are still protected by the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which is up for renegotiation next year. The White House's statement said goods transshipped through Canada that are not covered by the USMCA would be subject to a 40% tariff rate. It did not say where the goods might originate.

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July 31, 2025

Trump orders a 35% tariff for goods from Canada, citing a lack of cooperation on illicit drugs

Trump orders a 35% tariff for goods from Canada, citing a lack of cooperation on illicit drugs WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. PresidentDonald Trumph...
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Indonesia set to release hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency planNew Foto - Indonesia set to release hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency plan

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is set to begin releasing hundreds of convicts from its notoriously overcrowded prisons after parliament approved the first stage of President Prabowo Subianto's wide-ranging clemency plan. The first group of 1,116 will begin leaving prisons next week, and include prominent rivals of previous President Joko Widodo who were jailed during his term, as well as Papuan independence activists. The announcement was made late Thursday by the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas after a consultation between the government and party factions in the legislature. Subianto surprised the nation barely two months after he took office in October when he said he planned to grant clemency to 44,000 inmates nationwide. Past Indonesian leaders have rarely used their amnesty powers, which require the approval of parliament. Agtas said the government is prioritizing prisoners with mental disorders, the elderly, critically ill and those convicted of blasphemy or insulting the country's leader. Among the convicts set to be released are several prominent opposition figures, including Hasto Kristiyanto, the Secretary General of the country's only formal opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Kristiyanto, a former Widodo ally who turned to harshly criticize the former president and his family, was sentenced last week to 3.5 years in prison over bribery in a 2019 legislative seat appointment scheme. Agtas said parliament also approved an end to criminal proceedings against former Trade Minister Tom Lembong, a onetime Widodo ally who broke with him during the 2024 presidential election to support political rival Anies Baswedan. Lembong received a 4.5 year sentence and had been preparing to appeal it before Subianto proposed him for clemency. "Both have demonstrated service to the nation, and our priority now is to strengthen the unity of the nation," Agtas said. The group also includes six Papuan independence activists who are currently serving prison sentences for treason. Agtas said they were released the government considers their movement unarmed. Authorities are expected to submit a second list of 1,668 inmates to parliament in the near future, he added.

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July 31, 2025

Indonesia set to release hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency plan

Indonesia set to release hundreds of prisoners under president's clemency plan JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia is set to begin relea...
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Key things to know about how Elon Musk has boosted hard-right figures in EuropeNew Foto - Key things to know about how Elon Musk has boosted hard-right figures in Europe

ROME (AP) —Elon Muskmay have tumbled from political grace in Washington, D.C., but as he seeks to build a new political party, his power on X — where he commands the most popular account — remains unchecked. Musk isa kingmakeron the platformhe acquired in 2022 for $44 billion. He has used his influence to cultivate hard-right politicians and insurgent activists across Europe. A retweet or reply fromElon Muskcan lead to millions of views and tens of thousands of new followers, according to an Associated Press analysis of public data. That fact has not been lost on influencers who have tagged Musk persistently, seeking a reply or a retweet. It has also fueled concerns in Europe about foreign meddling -- not from Russia or China, but from the United States. "Every alarm bell needs to ring," Christel Schaldemose, a vice president of the European Parliament who works on electoral interference and digital regulation, told AP. The Associated Press analyzed more than 20,000 posts, which were compiled by Bright Data, over a three-year period from a sample of 11 European figures who had significant interactions with Musk and frequentlypromote a hard-right political or social agenda. These case studies are not meant to be representative of a broad universe; rather they showcase the ways in which Musk's engagement can have an impact on local influencers that share his views. Musk has sweeping power to direct attention on X Since acquiring Twitter in October 2022, Elon Musk's followers have more than doubled, to over 220 million. No other large account has shown such high or consistent growth. The result: If Musk's X account is his megaphone, it has gotten a lot bigger since he took over -- a change that has global implications. The accounts Musk has been promoting are part of a growing global alliance of nationalistic parties and individuals united in common cause to halt migration, overturn progressive policies and promote an absolutist vision of free speech, which has rattled the foundation of a trans-Atlantic bond that guided U.S. and European relations for over eight decades. Several of the accounts AP analyzed belong to people who have faced allegations of illegal behavior in their own countries. Tommy Robinson, an anti-immigrant agitator in the U.K.,was sentenced in October to 18 months in prisonfor violating a court order blocking him from making libelous allegations against a Syrian refugee. Bjoern Hoecke, a politician from Germany's Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party, wasconvicted last year of knowingly using a Nazi sloganin a speech. Italian vice premier Matteo Salviniwas acquitted in Decemberof allegations he illegally detained 100 migrants aboard a humanitarian rescue ship Among the others examined by AP: Alice Weidel, who helped lead Germany's Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party to its best electoral showing this year; Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch influencer known as the "shieldmaiden of the far-right"; Naomi Seibt, a German activist dubbed the "anti-Greta Thunberg" now living in what amounts to political exile in Washington DC; Rubén Pulido and Foro Madrid, both associated with Spain's populist Vox party; and Fidias Panayioutou, a politician from Cyprus who has also advocated for Musk's companies. These accounts collectively gained roughly 5 million followers from the time Musk took over Twitter in October 2022 through January of this year. Most saw triple-digit percentage increases in their followers -- as high as 920%, or in one case of a tiny account exploding over that time, topping 6,000%. Even some accounts that grew more steadily on their own saw their follower counts sharply begin rising once Musk started interacting with them. Similarly, on days Musk interacted with a post, the number of views the account got soared — in most cases, accruing two to four times as many views, with a few seeing boosts 30 or 40 times their normal daily viewership. More established players in Musk's orbit -- like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose ruling Brothers of Italy party has neo-fascist roots — benefit less when Musk interacts with them on X, AP found. Attention seekers know that getting Musk to engage can be transformative Musk's dominance creates a strong incentive for people to get Musk to engage with their content. Naomi Seibt, a German climate skeptic, pinged Musk nearly 600 times over the past three years. Musk finally engaged in June 2024, when he asked her to explain why the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is so controversial in Germany. Since then, Musk has replied to, quoted or tagged Seibt more than 50 times, and her followers have grown by more than 320,000 since Musk took over the platform. On days Musk interacted with Seibt, her posts, on average, got 2.6 times as many views. "I didn't intentionally 'invade' Elon's algorithm," Seibt told AP. "Obviously Elon has a lot of influence and can help share a message even with those who are usually glued to the legacy media, particularly in Germany." Musk's online influence has real-world political and financial impact Alice Weidel, who helps lead the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, saw her daily audience surge from 230,000 to 2.2 million on days Musk interacted with her posts on X. After Musk hosted a livestream with Weidel on X, vice president JD Vance broke protocol and met her in Munich. Weidel's party, which is fighting a lawsuit to block the German government's decision to designate it as an extremist group, went on to secure its best electoral showing ever. Musk has also used X to advocate for the leader of Italy's hard-right League party, Matteo Salvini. On days Musk interacted with Salvini's account, average views were more than four times higher than usual. Now serving as vice premier, Salvini has urged his government to move ahead with controversial contracts for Starlink and pushed back against European efforts to regulate content on X. And Musk has a friend in Brussels: Fidias Panayiotou — a 25-year-old social media influencer from Cyprus. Before winning a surprise seat in the European Parliament last year, the Cypriot spent weeks on a quest to get Elon Musk to hug him. In January 2023, his wish came true. Their embrace went viral. Since taking office, Panayiotou has praised X on the floor of the European Parliament, pushed back against regulations that impact the platform, and credited Musk with sparking his call to fire 80% of EU bureaucrats. Musk, evidently, was pleased. "Vote for Fidias," he wrote on X. "He is smart, super high energy and genuinely cares about you!" The endorsement has been viewed 11.5 million times. —- Kessler reported from Washington —- Contact AP's global investigative team atInvestigative@ap.orgorhttps://www.ap.org/tips/

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July 31, 2025

Key things to know about how Elon Musk has boosted hard-right figures in Europe

Key things to know about how Elon Musk has boosted hard-right figures in Europe ROME (AP) —Elon Muskmay have tumbled from political grace in...
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'Doing its best to dismantle the Constitution': Biden slams Trump administrationNew Foto - 'Doing its best to dismantle the Constitution': Biden slams Trump administration

Former PresidentJoe Bidenon Thursday accused PresidentDonald Trumpand his administration of trying to "dismantle the constitution." At the National Bar Association's 100th Annual Awards Gala, Biden said the Trump White House "is doing its best" to go after the nation's core principles and that "they've been doing it all too often with the help of a Congress that's just sitting on the sidelines and enabled by the highest court in the nation." The speech echoed the "Soul of the Nation" theme in Biden's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. "In the life of our nation there are moments so stark that they divide all that came before from everything that follows. Moments that force us to confront hard truths about ourselves, our institutions and democracy itself," Biden said in his July 31 speech. "We are, in my view, at such a moment in American history." The former president also swiped atlaw firms that have made dealswith the Trump administration, saying they were "bending to bullies." Biden, who accepted the association's C. Francis Stradford Award, called on lawyers in the room to defend the rule of law. "It means take the client that can't write the big check but needs protecting of basic fundamental rights. It means sign on to that brief that may draw the ire of people in power, but you know its the right thing to do," Biden said. Biden's remarks came just over a week after former President Barack Obama issued a statement inresponse to Trump's accusations of treasonand the posting of an AI generated video of the 44th President being arrested. The statement, attributed to a spokesperson, called Trump's comments a "ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction" from the ongoing controversy surrounding the Trump administration's handling ofsex offender Jeffrey Epstein's criminal files. Trump has had his own share of criticism for Biden, both recent and in the past.In April, Trump blamed his predecessorfor a poor economy, saying "This is Biden's Stock Market, not Trump's," adding that "we have to get rid of the Biden 'Overhang.'"He's also ordered an investigationof Biden's alleged "cognitive decline." At a2022 rally in Arizona,Trump said "Biden has utterly humiliated our nation." In the rare post-presidency public appearance Thursday evening, Biden said that "the hard truth" of the Trump administration was that it aimed "to erase fairness, equality, to erase justice itself." Biden's remarks echoed hisfirst post-presidency speech in April, when he accused Trump of "taking a hatchet" to the Social Security Administration. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Biden says Trump is trying to 'dismantle the Constitution'

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July 31, 2025

'Doing its best to dismantle the Constitution': Biden slams Trump administration

'Doing its best to dismantle the Constitution': Biden slams Trump administration Former PresidentJoe Bidenon Thursday accused Presid...
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Poll: Nearly 70% of Americans — including a majority of Republicans — think the government is hiding something about Jeffrey EpsteinNew Foto - Poll: Nearly 70% of Americans — including a majority of Republicans — think the government is hiding something about Jeffrey Epstein

Bipartisanship is rare in U.S. politics these days. But according toa new Yahoo/YouGov poll, there's now at least one thing that more than two-thirds of Americans seem to agree on: that the government is "hiding" information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The survey of 1,729 U.S. adults, which was conducted from July 24 to 28, shows that a clear consensus has formed across party lines about how the government has handled the questions surrounding Epstein's life and death. When respondents are told that President Trump's Justice Department has "concluded that Epstein did not have a 'client list' of famous associates who engaged in wrongdoing with him," 69% of them still say the government is "hiding information about Epstein's client list." That group includes a majority of Republicans (55%). Just 8% of Americans, meanwhile, say the governmentisn'tconcealing information about a client list. About a quarter of U.S. adults (23%) believe the Justice Department's conclusion that Epstein died by suicide after hanging himself in jail. The rest think Epstein was murdered (47%) or say they're not sure what happened (30%). Nearly as many Republicans (42%) as Democrats (51%) believe Epstein was killed. As a result, nearly seven in 10 Americans (67%) say the government is hiding information about Epstein's death. Again, that group includes a majority of Republicans (52%). About half of Americans (48%) — including 81% of Democrats and 53% of independents — think the government is hiding information about Epstein's client list "because it would implicate Trump." Even among Republicans, 13% say the same and 16% say they're unsure. The new Yahoo/YouGov poll comes amidongoing right-wing backlashover how the administration has handled its investigation into Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for allegedly paying dozens of teenage girls, some as young as 14, to perform sex acts. The disgraced financier has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim he was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret "client list." During the 2024 campaign, Trump said he would consider releasing additional government files on Epstein. Then, after returning to the White House, he directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence it had collected. Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBIreleased a two-page joint memoconcluding that Epstein had "committed suicide in his cell" and compiled no such "client list" — echoing previous findings by the Biden administration. The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files. It also put the spotlight back onTrump's own relationship with Epstein. Speaking to reporters Monday in Scotland, Trump said henever visited Epstein's notorious private island, even when given the chance. "I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn him down," Trump said. "But a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island. In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn't want to go to his island." For the president, the Epstein controversy now seems to be creating acredibility gapwith the public — including some of his own supporters. Just 21% of Americans approve of the way the president is handling the investigation, his lowest rating this year on any individual issue; nearly three times as many (61%) disapprove. Meanwhile, 44% of Republicans — roughly half the number who applaud his approach to immigration — approve of how Trump has dealt with the investigation. A majority of Americans (55%) say the president has "not gone far enough" in his efforts to "get to the bottom" of the Epstein case; combined, less than a quarter say that his approach has been about right (16%) or that it has gone too far (7%). A third of Republicans (33%) say Trump has not gone far enough. Attorney General Pam Bondi — the face of the administration's Epstein efforts — is now deeply unpopular: 26% of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of her. And while confidence in the Justice Department wasn't high the last time Yahoo and YouGov asked about it, in August 2022 — back then, 44% said they had "a lot" of confidence or "some" confidence in the DOJ; 56% said they had "a little" or "none" — today those numbers are even worse: 39% and 61%, respectively. The new Yahoo/YouGov poll suggests three potential explanations. First, ubiquity: Nearly all respondents (91%) have heard either a lot (50%) or a little (41%) about the story. That's the fourth highest "heard a lot" score recorded in any Yahoo/YouGov poll since 2020; only the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022 (70%), Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards that same year (66%) and Trump getting indicted in 2023 (57%) have topped it. Meanwhile, a full 84% of Americans say they think Epstein was guilty — including 91% of Democrats, 90% of independents and 77% of Republicans. Second, Epstein's bipartisan circle. In the poll, respondents were reminded that Epstein "had a wide circle of influential friends and acquaintances, including former President Bill Clinton and President Donald Trump." Then they were asked if either president "engaged in crimes" with the financier — and nearly half of Americans said yes for Clinton (47%) and Trump (48%). In contrast, the share who said the two presidentsdid notengage in crimes with Epstein —12% for Clinton, 26% for Trump — was much lower. Conspiracy theories may be more attractive when they have the power to hurt the other side as well. Third, conspiracy theories in general seem to have become more mainstream recently. For example, a majority of Democrats (51%) believe "many top politicians are involved in child sex-trafficking rings." A majority of Republicans (51%) believe that "regardless of who is officially in charge of the government and other organizations, there is a single group of people who secretly control events and rule the world together." A majority of Democrats (57%) believe "the assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pa. was staged in order to help him win the 2024 election." A majority of Republicans (58%) believe "Trump's would-be assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks, didn't act alone." And a majority of Republicans (63%) also believe that former President Barack Obama "committed treason to try to sabotage Donald Trump in the 2016 election" — as Trump has been claiming lately,without proof. Americans are clear about what they want: More than eight in 10 (84%) say they would approve of the government "releasing all of the information it has on Jeffrey Epstein." Just 5% would disapprove. Conversely, more than two-thirds of Americans (69%) disapprove of the decision last week by Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, to send "the U.S. House of Representativeshome early for the summer to avoid having to vote on releasing the Epstein files." Only 10% approve. Previously, Johnson had said that Congress "should put everything out there and let the people decide it." With Dylan Stableford __________________ The Yahoo survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,729 U.S. adults interviewed online from July 24 to 28, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 3.1%.

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July 31, 2025

Poll: Nearly 70% of Americans — including a majority of Republicans — think the government is hiding something about Jeffrey Epstein

Poll: Nearly 70% of Americans — including a majority of Republicans — think the government is hiding something about Jeffrey Epstein Biparti...
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Judge extends temporary protected status for 60,000 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and NepalNew Foto - Judge extends temporary protected status for 60,000 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal

A federal judge in California on Thursday extended temporary protected status for 60,000 people from Central America and Asia, including people from Nepal,Honduras and Nicaragua. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously determined that conditions in the migrants' home countries no longer warranted the protections, which prevent them from being deported and allow them to work in the US. Temporary protected status designations for an estimated 7,000 from Nepal were scheduled to end August 5. And protections allowing 51,000 Hondurans and nearly 3,000 Nicaraguans to reside and work lawfully in the US for more than 25 years were set to expire September 8. The secretary said both Honduras and Nicaragua had made "significant progress" in recovering from 1998's Hurricane Mitch. The Trump administration has aggressively been seeking to remove the protection, thus making more people eligible for removal. The terminations are part ofa broad effort by the Republican administrationto deport immigrants en masse, by going after people who are in the country illegally but also by removing protections that have allowed people to live and work in the US on a temporary basis. Noem can grant temporary protected status to people of various countries already in the US if conditions in the home country prevent a safe return, such as natural disaster or political instability. The Trump administration has already terminated TPS for about 350,000 Venezuelans, 500,000 Haitians, more than 160,000 Ukrainians and thousands of people from Afghanistan, Nepal and Cameroon. Some have pending lawsuits at federal courts. Lawyers for the National TPS Alliance argue that Noem's decisions were not based on objective analysis of conditions at home countries, but predetermined by President Donald Trump's campaign promises and motivated by racial animus. They say designees usually have a year to leave the country, but in this case, they got far less. "They gave them two months to leave the country. It's awful," said Ahilan Arulanantham, an attorney for plaintiffs, at a hearing Tuesday. The government argues that Noem has clear and unreviewable authority over the TPS program and that her termination decisions reflect the administration's objectives in the areas of immigration and foreign policy. Justice Department attorney William Weiland said it is not a pretext to have a different view of a program that provides temporary safe harbor. "It is not meant to be permanent," he said Tuesday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 31, 2025

Judge extends temporary protected status for 60,000 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal

Judge extends temporary protected status for 60,000 people from Honduras, Nicaragua and Nepal A federal judge in California on Thursday exte...
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El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends presidential terms to 6 yearsNew Foto - El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends presidential terms to 6 years

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — The party of El Salvador PresidentNayib Bukeleapproved constitutional changes in the country's National Assembly on Thursday that will allow indefinite presidential reelection and extend presidential terms to six years. Lawmaker Ana Figueroa from the New Ideas party had proposed the changes to five articles of the constitution. The proposal also included eliminating the second round of the election where the two top vote-getters from the first round face off. New Ideas and its allies in the National Assembly quickly approved the proposals with thesupermajoritythey hold. The vote passed with 57 in favor and three opposed. Bukeleoverwhelmingly won reelectionlast year despitea constitutional ban, after Supreme Court justices selected by his party ruled in 2021 that it allowed reelection to a second five-year term. Figueroa argued Thursday that federal lawmakers and mayors can already seek reelection as many times as they want. "All of them have had the possibility of reelection through popular vote, the only exception until now has been the presidency," Figueroa said. She also proposed that Bukele's current term, scheduled to end June 1, 2029, instead finish June 1, 2027, to put presidential and congressional elections on the same schedule. It would also allow Bukele to seek reelection to a longer term two years earlier. Bukele, who once dubbed himself "the world's coolest dictator," is highly popular, largely because of his heavy-handed fight against the country's powerful street gangs. Voters have been willing to overlook evidence that his administration like others before it had negotiated with the gangs, before seeking astate of emergencythat suspended some constitutional rights and allowed authorities to arrest and jail tens of thousands of people. His success with security and politically has inspired imitators in the region who seek to replicate his style.

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July 31, 2025

El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends presidential terms to 6 years

El Salvador approves indefinite presidential reelection and extends presidential terms to 6 years SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — The party...
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Trump unveils new tariffs on dozens of countries ahead of tonight's midnight deadlineNew Foto - Trump unveils new tariffs on dozens of countries ahead of tonight's midnight deadline

President Trump on Thursday formally announced higher tariffs against more than 60 U.S. trading partners starting next week — just hours before the administration's self-imposed midnight deadline. The president signed an executive order listing out tariff rates for imports from dozens of countries, including a handful that have cut trade deals with the administration and dozens that haven't reached a deal yet. The duties range as high as 41% for Syria and 40% for Laos and Myanmar, while almost no country's imports will face tariffs below 10%. The new tariffs apply to imports that are "entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption," in seven days, the order said. Mr. Trump had vowed to impose higher tariffs starting just after midnight on Friday, Aug. 1. A White House official told CBS News the extra seven days were intended to give Customs and Border Protection enough time to implement the new tariff rates. "[F]or most economies and most of our trading partners, the cost of doing trade tomorrow will be higher than it is today," Greg Daco, chief economist at management consulting firm EY-Parthenon, said prior to the release of Thursday's list. Mr. Trump set the latest deadline for trade agreements in April after announcing —and later suspendingfor 90 days — what he described as "Liberation Day" tariffs on more than 90 countries. A July 9 deadline for deals came and went, with the White House again stalling for time. But Mr. Trump had since vowed not to extend the deadline beyond Aug. 1 for most nations. Almost 70 trading partners are included on Thursday's list, and goods from countries that weren't listed will face 10% tariffs — the same baseline that Mr. Trump imposed in April. For some countries, Thursday's tariff list features lower rates than the ones that were threatened on Liberation Day. But other countries' tariffs were adjusted up slightly. For example, Madagascar was threatened with 47% tariffs in April and just 15% tariffs on Thursday, but Switzerland's rate jumped from 31% to 39%. For the handful of trading partners that have reached agreements with Mr. Trump in recent weeks — includingJapan,South Koreaand theEuropean Union— the new tariff list reflects the terms of those trade deals. Stiff tariffs on Canada Tariffs on the United States' three largest trading partners — Mexico, Canada and China — are treated separately. Duties on Canadian goods will jump from 25% to 35% starting Friday, the White House announced Thursday, following through on a threat from earlier this month. Mr. Trump is also threatening tariff hikes for Mexico and China, but the U.S.' southern neighborgot a 90-day extensionon Thursday, and an Aug. 12 deadline to strike a deal with China isexpected to be extendedfor three months, too. Amid concerns that the White House's trade agenda was fueling economic uncertainty for businesses and consumers, Trump administration officials this springpledgedto nail down "90 deals in 90 days." By that measure, his administration has come up far short of its goals. The White House has announced broad bilateral agreements with a handful of nations as well as the 27-member European Union, but those deals have lacked the extensively documented details typical of most trade deals, experts note. "It's important to note that we don't even have any deals as deals are commonly understood, except maybe the U.K. agreement, which is still being discussed," Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, a left-leaning advocacy group, told CBS MoneyWatch. The countries that have yet to strike deals with the U.S., including major trading partners such as Canada and Mexico, account for 56% of American imports, according to Goldman Sachs. Shortly after the new tariff list was released, Mr. Trumptold NBC Newsin an interview it's "too late" for countries that still haven't struck a trade agreement to avoid the new import duties — but he's still willing to negotiate after the higher tariffs take effect. He said he believes his trade strategy was going "very well, very smooth," pointing to the revenue brought in by tariffs and the fact that inflation has not spiked. "President Trump's trade deals have unlocked unprecedented market access for American exports to economies that in total are worth over $32 trillion with 1.2 billion people," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement. "As these historic trade deals and the Administration's pro-growth domestic agenda of deregulation and The One Big Beautiful Bill's tax cuts take effect, American businesses and families alike have the certainty that the best is yet to come." Tearing up the rules Mr. Trump re-entered office in January promising to rewrite the rules of international commerce, which he has long maintained disadvantage the U.S. and hurt American workers. In that effort, he has embraced tariffs as a way to reduce trade deficits with other nations, energize domestic manufacturers, generate federal revenue and gain leverage in foreign policy. In practice, the White House has struggled to deliver on that ambitious agenda, Daniel Altman, an economist and founder of investment newsletter High Yield Economics, told CBS MoneyWatch. "There were never enough trade negotiators in all of Washington to conclude all of these details by August 1," he said. "We have some framework agreements that have made the headlines, but as we're finding out a lot of those deals include tariff rates that are pretty much the same as the base rate of 15% that the White House has mooted for the rest of the world." Yet despite the appearance of chaos that has attended some of the rollout of his new tariff regime, Mr. Trump has clearly succeeded in changing the terms of trade with several key economic partners in ways that could favor the U.S. In some cases, that includes winning the elimination or significant reductions in tariffs on American exports going the other way. Under its deal with the EU, for instance, the U.S. will impose a 15% tax on most of the trading bloc's imports, but the EU has agreed not to charge any levy on imports from the U.S.Deals with JapanandSouth Koreaimpose the same tariff rate on those countries' exports to the U.S. Other countries that struck trade deals with the U.S. have acceded to higher tariffs in hopes of ensuring good relations with Mr. Trump and avoiding even higher levies. Those includeIndonesia and the Philippines, which will each face a 19% tariff on their exports. The U.S. will subject imports fromVietnamto a 20% duty, plus a 40% tariff on goods that are transshipped via other countries. "In any other time frame, one would have said that having the EU, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and the United Kingdom covers an awful lot of world trade and U.S. trade," Alan Wolff, senior fellow at the nonpartisan Peterson Institute for International Economics and former deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization, told CBS MoneyWatch. President Trump's tariff agenda is also generating significant revenue. According to the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. in June brought in $27 billion in tariff revenue — more than three times what it collected in the same period a year ago. The White House has repeatedly insisted that tariff costs will be borne by foreign countries and that the levies will help spur investment in U.S. manufacturing. Trade experts note that tariffs aretypically paid by importers, which often pass on those costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. Watch: Hawaii Gov. Josh Green gives update on tsunami warning Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi gives tsunami warning update Tennessee manhunt underway for suspect in killings of abandoned baby's relatives

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July 31, 2025

Trump unveils new tariffs on dozens of countries ahead of tonight's midnight deadline

Trump unveils new tariffs on dozens of countries ahead of tonight's midnight deadline President Trump on Thursday formally announced hig...
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Exclusive-Trump officials told Congress Israel agreed to match $30 million for GHF, sources sayNew Foto - Exclusive-Trump officials told Congress Israel agreed to match $30 million for GHF, sources say

By Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Senior Trump administration officials told Congress this month that Israel agreed to match a U.S. award of $30 million to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, a previously unreported contribution to the controversial armed private aid operation. Aside from the U.S. contribution, which the U.S. State Department announced in June, the sources of the foundation's funding have been opaque - GHF does not disclose its donors. Israel faces intensifying international pressure over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its promotion of GHF's aid operation, which has distribution sites only in southern Gaza and has been called dangerous and ineffective by aid groups and the United Nations - claims the group denies. Aryeh Lightstone and Charles Leith, aides to Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, briefed U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees on July 8 and 9 about the GHF operation, according to the two sources. They told the congressional committees that Israel had agreed to match the $30 million that the U.S. awarded to GHF in June, enough to fund the organization through the end of July, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Lightstone and Leith did not respond to a request for an interview and the White House referred questions to the State Department. Donors "have pledged or disbursed tens of millions of dollars to GHF," a State Department spokesperson said, without identifying those donors. "The United States has pledged tens of millions of dollars," the spokesperson continued, adding that the U.S. aid "does not come close to encompassing the total amount of help the administration has given the people of Gaza since January 2025." The Israeli government did not respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. had dispensed $60 million for Gaza humanitarian aid. The State Department, however, has made no other announcements beyond the $30 million approved for the GHF in June. A third source familiar with the matter said some U.S. officials believe Trump likely was conflating the U.S. and Israeli funds. Lightstone and Leith told Congress the hope was that by August, other donors would see GHF's success and contribute to its operation, allowing the foundation to double its distribution sites from four to eight, according to the sources. Reuters could not verify whether Israel had disbursed the $30 million to GHF, which uses private for-profit U.S. military and logistics firms to transport aid into the Palestinian enclave for distribution to its sites. Speaking on Wednesday to the Hudson Institute think tank, GHF Executive Chairman Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore, a former evangelical adviser to the White House during Trump's first term, said that as a private U.S. charity, the foundation did not have to disclose its donors. He indicated that GHF required more money. "The biggest problem is just we need more of it, and $30 million is not going to get it done," he said, in an apparent reference to the U.S. contribution. GHF said in an email to Reuters that it was focused on distributing as much food as was safely possible and was continuing to press the Israeli government to allow it to open additional distribution sites, including in northern Gaza. It declined to comment on its donors or funding. STARVATION IN GAZA GHF has been criticized by the United Nations, aid groups and others over what they say is an unsafe aid distribution model and a breach of humanitarian impartiality standards, allegations that GHF denies. Israel alleges that the U.N.-led aid system that has traditionally served the residents of Gaza has let Hamas-led militants loot aid shipments intended for civilians. Hamas denies the accusation. A recent U.S. government internal analysis found no evidence of systematic theft of U.S.-funded aid by Hamas. Starvation has been spreading in Gaza, and a hunger monitor on Tuesday said a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death. In his Wednesday remarks, Moore denied that famine is developing. "That's made up. There's not a famine. There's acute hunger. There's not enough food in the Gaza Strip," he said. Gaza health authorities have been reporting increasing deaths from hunger-related causes and images of emaciated Palestinian children have drawn international condemnation. Trump this week declared that many people were starving, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said there was no starvation in the densely populated coastal enclave, largely destroyed by Israel's military offensive that has killed over 60,000 people according to Gaza health officials. Trump promised to set up new food centers and said the top priority in Gaza was feeding people. Gaza's food stocks have been running out since Israel, at war with Palestinian militant group Hamas since its fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages back to Gaza in October 2023 according to Israeli tallies, cut off all supplies to the territory in March. That blockade was lifted in May but with restrictions that Israel says are needed to prevent aid being diverted to militant groups. Israel says it has no aim to starve Gaza. This week it announced steps to allow more aid in, including pausing fighting in some locations, air-dropping food and offering more secure routes. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York and Charlotte Greenfield in Jerusalem; Editing by Don Durfee and Deepa Babington)

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July 31, 2025

Exclusive-Trump officials told Congress Israel agreed to match $30 million for GHF, sources say

Exclusive-Trump officials told Congress Israel agreed to match $30 million for GHF, sources say By Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne...
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Bessent tries to walk back comments suggesting Social Security could be privatizedNew Foto - Bessent tries to walk back comments suggesting Social Security could be privatized

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is trying to walk back his suggestion that the so-called Trump savings accounts for newborns could be a "back door" to start privatizing Social Security. Bessent made the comments in an interview with Breitbart while he was speaking at length about the importance of financial literacy. "But in a way, it is a back door for privatizing Social Security," Bessent said. In a social media post on Wednesday evening, Bessent sought to clarify his remarks. "Trump Baby Accounts are an additive benefit for future generations, which will supplement the sanctity of Social Security's guaranteed payments," Bessent wrote on X. "This is not an either-or question: our Administration is committed to protecting Social Security and to making sure seniors have more money." MORE: Social Security fund may run dry sooner than previously expected, trustees say The White House on Thursday, when asked about Bessent's comments, said Trump was "committed to protecting" Social Security. "What the secretary of treasury was saying, and what this administration believes, is that these Trump newborn accounts, which is an incredibly creative and great provision that was in the one big, beautiful bill for newborn babies and families and future generations of Americans, will help supplement not substitute Social Security," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "The Trump administration is wholeheartedly committed to protecting Social Security. The president did it in his first term. He's doing it again in this term. But these newborn accounts are another revenue stream for young people, to watch their money grow throughout their lives and to one day be able to access those funds so they can hopefully build a home and live the American dream," she added. A spokesman for the Treasury Department also clarified Bessent's comments, saying that they are "additive" to Social Security, not a replacement for the benefit. "Trump Accounts are an additive government program that work in conjunction with Social Security to broaden and increase the savings and wealth of Americans. Social Security is a critical safety net for Americans and always will be. This Administration has not just fought tirelessly for seniors, but is also fighting for the next generation," the Treasury spokesperson said. The "Trump Savings Accounts" were part of his megabill agenda narrowly passed by congressional Republicans earlier this month. The policy will deposit $1,000 into a tax-deferred, low-cost index fund account that will track the overall stock market for each newborn. Additional contributions can go up to $5,000 annually. When the children reach adulthood, they can access funds to cover expenses such as college or a down payment on a home. If a child is born after December 31, children under the age of 18 will have one thousand dollars put in their accounts for investment purposes. The program is a new initiative to promote financial literacy among Americans. "And, you know, people can put in up to certain amounts every year for their child, and they can invest that stuff in the market, and they can learn how to do this," Bessent said in his interview with Breitbart. When asked if companies matching would be a good thing, Bessent responded positively, saying it would be a "great thing." "At the end of the day, I'm not sure when the distribution level date should be. Whether should it be 30 and you can buy a house? Should it be 60? But in a way, it is a back door for privatizing Social Security," Bessent said. "Social Security is a defined benefit plan paid out to the extent that if all of a sudden, these accounts grow and you have hundreds of thousands of dollars for your retirement, then that's a game changer, too." MORE: New head of Social Security, hired from Wall Street, tells staff he had to Google the job when he was offered it Several Democrats quickly criticized Bessent's comments. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, slammed the treasury secretary in floor remarks on Thursday. "Now, of course, Secretary Bessent had rushed to Twitter later to do a little cleanup, but the truth came out, the real truth," Schumer said. "Actions speak louder than words, and the actions Donald Trump and his gang are taking against Social Security speaks volumes." "Well, Republicans said the quiet part out loud: They want to 'privatize Social Security.' Your money. Your benefits. Sold to the highest bidder. So much for standing with seniors," Rep. Katherine Clark, the Democratic whip,wroteon X on Wednesday. "Today the Treasury Secretary said the quiet part out loud: Republicans' ultimate goal is to privatize Social Security, and there isn't a backdoor they won't try to make Wall Street's dream a reality," Rep. Richard Neal, the top Democrat the House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement on Wednesday. "For everyone else though, it's yet another warning sign that they cannot be trusted to safeguard the program millions rely on and have paid into over a lifetime of work." AARP, an interest group that focusing on issues affecting those 50 and older in the U.S., alsopushed backon Bessent. "AARP condemns Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's endorsement of a "backdoor" to Social Security privatization. We have fought any and all efforts to privatize Social Security, and we will continue to," said AARP Senior Vice President of Campaigns John Hishta. "President Trump has emphasized many times that Social Security 'won't be touched,' and that he is 'not going to touch Social Security.' This must include any and all forms of 'privatization.'" ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report.

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July 31, 2025

Bessent tries to walk back comments suggesting Social Security could be privatized

Bessent tries to walk back comments suggesting Social Security could be privatized Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is trying to walk back h...
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'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakersNew Foto - 'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers

WASHINGTON ‒ The number ofBlack women electedto Congress has held steady in recent years, but a record number of Black women have served this year in state legislatures, often the pipeline to higher offices, according to a new report. A new report titled "Black Women in American Politics 2025," provided to USA TODAY shortly before its July 31 release, tracked the number of Black women serving in statewide offices, state legislatures and Congress over the last decade. The report found that at one point in 2025, 402 Black women were serving in state legislatures, up from 240 nearly a decade ago. "It's steady progress,"Chelsea Hill, an author of the report, said of the 2024 elections. Since 2014, there's been a 67% increase in the number of Black women in state legislatures, according to the report by Higher Heights, which works to expand Black women's political power, and the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey. State legislatures have long served as a path to Congress. In the more than 10 years since the first report, there's been an acceleration of Black women "moving along the pipeline,'' said Glynda Carr, president of Higher Heights. Last year also marked some firsts for Black women with Kamala Harris' historic bid for president. Harris, who became the first woman of African American and Asian American descent to run for president and the first woman to serve as vice president, announced July 30 that she would not run for governor in California. She didnot say if she had ruled out a presidential bidin 2028. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, both Democrats, also made history when they were elected thefirst two Black women to serve in the U.S. Senateat the same time. There were no Black women in the Senate when the report was first published in 2014, Carr said. "It's a reminder of why we do the work and a reminder of the program and the impact of the work,'' she said. There have been more opportunities over the years for Black women to run at the state level, said Carr and Hill. They pointed tomore programs to recruit and train womencandidates. "When Black women run, they do win,'' said Hill, director of data at the Center for American Women. "They have high win rates. At the congressional level, Black women have higher win rates than their counterparts.'' In the 2024 general election, 63% of Black women congressional nominees won their contests, outpacing the win rates of all female candidates at 49% and male candidates at 53% across race/ethnicity, according to the report. Many women serving in Congress are former state lawmakers. The number of Black women in Congress has nearly doubled from 17 to 31, including nonvoting delegates, since 2014, the report found. Hill called Harris' run for the presidency a "galvanizing force'' for all women, including Black women. Carr said Harris' presidential bid "shows the strength of a leadership pipeline for Black women." "Here's a woman who had run and won on every level of government," Carr said, noting that Harris served in the Bay Area and the state of California for more than a decade. Carr said Harris' calculated decision not to run for governor will continue to inspire women and Black women to run for office. "More importantly (it has) created a blueprint around 'how do you serve on a local level and continue to serve and run for higher office,'" Carr said. Meanwhile, the report found that there have been other gains. Eight Black women serve as mayors of the 100 most populous cities, including Karen Bass in Los Angeles, Muriel Bowser in Washington and LaToya Cantrell in New Orleans. Despite the gains, women candidates often face hurdles, including fundraising, experts said. Some Black women candidates have complained that party organizations have been slow to support their bids. While there are fewer of those barriers, Carr said there has been an increase in misinformation about candidates and Black women have been targets of political threats. Most Black women elected to Congress have been Democrats. GOP candidates must also deal with the tension of Republicans pushing back against diversity, equity and inclusion, which often includes women. There's only been one Black Republican woman, the late Mia Love of Utah, elected to Congress. "I certainly hope that I won't be the last one. I really do," Lovetold USA TODAY in 2022. And while there were a record number of Black women in state legislatures, there are five states with no Black women in their state legislatures, Hill said. They include Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. One place where there has not been a win for Black women is in governorships. In the last decade, several Black women have run for governor, such as Stacey Abrams in Georgia, but have not won. More are trying, including Republican Lt. Gov.Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governorin Virginia this year. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, has announced plans to run for governor of Georgia in 2026. The landscape will be different from 2024 when there were 11 gubernatorial races, Hill said. In 2026, there will be 36 open seats. "Hopefully, we can all retire that factoid of 'there's never been a Black woman governor,'" Hill said. Meanwhile, Carr and Hill said there may be more opportunities for Black women to run next year. There were 73 statewide races in 2024. Next year, there will be 200. Hill said she's hoping to see Black women recruited, supported and running for some of those positions. There's also a push for more Black women to run in districts with diverse populations, not just majority-Black districts, Carr said. "In 2026, the work is to ensure that we are not losing ground and (that) there's an infrastructure in place for Black women to run for reelection, for Black women to run for higher office and for more Black women to run," she said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Black women reach record numbers in state politics, report finds

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July 31, 2025

'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers

'When Black women run, they do win:' New report shows gains in Black women lawmakers WASHINGTON ‒ The number ofBlack women electedto...
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'TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID': Trump bashes Fed Chair Powell after central bank leaves interest rates unchangedNew Foto - 'TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID': Trump bashes Fed Chair Powell after central bank leaves interest rates unchanged

President Trump escalated his criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell a day after the central bankkept rates on hold, saying in a social media post that Powell is "TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL" to have his job. "He is costing our Country TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, in addition to one of the most incompetent, or corrupt, renovations of a building(s) in the history of construction! Put another way, 'Too Late' is a TOTAL LOSER, and our Country is paying the price!" The new attack on Thursday morning followed the fifth consecutive meeting where the Fed decided to leave rates unchanged, defying Trump's repeated calls for a cut. Two Fed governors dissented and argued for a quarter percentage point reduction, the first time two Fed governors have done so at a policy meeting since 1993. Read more:How the Fed rate decision affects your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investments Powell at a press conference Wednesday did not budge from his view that more time is needed to assess the impact of Trump's tariffs on inflation and the economy, saying that there is still a "a long way to go" to figure that out and "you have to think of this as still quite early days." He also declined to say whether a cut was on the table for the Fed's next meeting in September and made it clear that inflation was still a concern as the Fed balances its dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment. "In the end, there should be no doubt that we will do what we need to do to keep inflation under control." Anew reading on inflationreleased Thursday showed price increases accelerated in June more than expected asinflationremained above the Fed's 2% target. The "core" Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, which strips out food and energy costs and is closely watched by the central bank, rose 2.8% on an annual basis, above the 2.7% economists had expected and higher than the 2.7% seen in May. The new PCE reading "will do little to ease the Fed's concerns about tariff-driven inflation," Capital Economics assistant economist Harry Chambers said in a Thursday note. "If these pressures persist, as we expect, a September cut looks unlikely." Traders have narrowed the odds of a cut in September, lowering them to roughly 40%. Trump on Wednesday saidhe does expect a cut at the next meeting, telling reporters before the Wednesday rate hold was announced that "I hear they're going to do it in September." Read more:How much control does the president have over the Fed and interest rates? The decision to keep rates on hold was expected to increase tensions with Trump, who has also in recent weeks been invoking a $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed's headquarters as a way to question the chair's management of the institution. Trump played down his displeasure with the Fed chair during a visit to the construction project last week, saying of firing Powell: "To do that is a big move, and I just don't think it's necessary." Asked last Thursday what might lead him to back off the barrage of critiques that Trump has been leveling against Powell for weeks, the president said, "I'd love him to lower interest rates," before patting Powell on the back. But today, Trump turned back to a harsher view of the Fed chair in a new social media post. "Jerome "Too Late" Powell has done it again!!! He is TOO LATE, and actually, TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID, & TOO POLITICAL, to have the job of Fed Chair." At his press conference Wednesday afternoon, Powell declined to comment in detail on the president's critiques. He said the president's recent visit was an honor and defended central bank independence. He said any rate cuts this fall will depend on "the totality of the evidence" as part of his message that inflation remains above target and that his goal is to ensure that short-term price hikes from tariffs don't become long-term problems. "We're going to be looking at a lot of data" between now and the next meeting, Powell said. "We'll see where that takes us." Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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July 31, 2025

'TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID': Trump bashes Fed Chair Powell after central bank leaves interest rates unchanged

'TOO ANGRY, TOO STUPID': Trump bashes Fed Chair Powell after central bank leaves interest rates unchanged President Trump escalated ...
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Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projectsNew Foto - Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects

The Trump administration is canceling plans to use large areas of federal waters for new offshore wind development, the latest step to suppress the industry in the United States. More than 3.5 million acres had been designated wind energy areas, the offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is now rescinding all designated wind energy areas in federal waters, announcing on Wednesday an end to setting aside large areas for "speculative wind development." Offshore wind lease sales were anticipated off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Maine, New York, California and Oregon, as well as in the central Atlantic. The Biden administration last year hadannounced a five-year scheduleto lease federal offshore tracts for wind energy production. Trump began reversing the country's energy policies after taking office in January. A series ofexecutive orderstook aim at increasing oil, gasand coal production. The Republican president has been hostile to renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. One earlyexecutive ordertemporarily halted offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and paused the issuance of approvals, permits and loans for all wind projects. In trying to make a case against wind energy, he has relied onfalse and misleading claimsabout the use of wind power in the U.S. and around the world. The bureau said it was acting in accordance with Trump's action and anorder by his interior secretarythis week to end any preferential treatment toward wind and solar facilities, which were described as unreliable, foreign-controlled energy sources. Robin Shaffer, president of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, applauded the administration for its actions and said they were long overdue. Opponents of offshore wind projects are particularly vocal and well-organized in New Jersey. "It's hard to believe these projects ever got this far because of the immensity, scale, scope and expense, compared to relatively cheap and reliable forms of onshore power," he said Thursday. "We're nearly there, but we haven't reached the finish line yet." The Sierra Club said the administration's "relentless obstruction of wind energy" shows it does not care about creating affordable, reliable energy for everyday Americans. "No matter how much they want to bolster their buddies in the dirty fossil fuel industry, we will continue to push for the cleaner, healthier, and greener future we deserve," Xavier Boatright, Sierra Club's deputy legislative director for clean energy and electrification, said in a statement. Attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia are suingin federal courtto challenge Trump's executive order halting leasing and permitting for wind energy projects. His administration had also halted work on a major offshore wind project for New York, butallowed it to resume in May. The nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, a12-turbine wind farm called South Fork, opened last year east of Montauk Point, New York. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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July 31, 2025

Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects

Trump administration cancels plans to develop new offshore wind projects The Trump administration is canceling plans to use large areas of f...
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'No leniency is being given or discussed': Trump admin official denies Maxwell clemency is currently on the tableNew Foto - 'No leniency is being given or discussed': Trump admin official denies Maxwell clemency is currently on the table

A senior Trump administration official stated Thursday that President Donald Trump is not currently considering clemency for Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell after the president has repeatedly left the door open on the matter in recent weeks. "No leniency is being given or discussed. That's just false. The President himself has said that clemency for Maxwell is not something he is even thinking about at this time," the official told CNN. The remark comes as the family of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre is speaking out against any possibility of Trump giving clemency to Maxwell. The family was spurred to comment after the presidenttold reportersearlier this week that Epstein "stole" Mar-a-Lago employees, leading to the two men's falling out in the early 2000s. He acknowledged, when asked by a reporter, that one of those employees may have been Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year. "I think she worked at the spa," Trump said. "I think that was one of the people, yeah. He stole her." Asked about the president's comments, Giuffre's family expressed shock and raised questions about Trump's relationship with Epstein in a statement to CNN. The comments were first reported byThe Atlantic. "It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey 'likes women on the younger side … no doubt about it,'" said the statement from Giuffre's two brothers and her sisters-in-law. They called Maxwell a "monster" and a "predator." "If our sister could speak today, she would be most angered by the fact that the government is listening to a known perjurer. A woman who repeatedly lied under oath and will continue to do so as long as it benefits her position," they continued, adding: "The government and the President should never consider giving Ghislaine Maxwell any leniency." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement that Trump was "directly responding to a question posed by a reporter about Ms. Guiffre — he did not bring her up." "The fact remains that President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club for being a creep to his female employees," Leavitt added. The president has been noncommittal when asked about the possibility of a pardon or commutation for Maxwell amid mounting calls for transparency around Epstein. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. "Well, I'm allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody's approached me with it. Nobody's asked me about it," Trump told reporters earlier this week. He added that it was "inappropriate to talk about it." Maxwellhas offeredto testify before Congress, but with major conditions, including immunity, according to a list of her demands sent to the House Oversight Committee by her attorneys. A spokesperson for the panel has said they would not consider immunity. This article has been updated with additional reporting. CNN's Kerry Rubin, Rashard Rose, Aaron Blake and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 31, 2025

‘No leniency is being given or discussed’: Trump admin official denies Maxwell clemency is currently on the table

'No leniency is being given or discussed': Trump admin official denies Maxwell clemency is currently on the table A senior Trump adm...
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The 'Panama Playlists' leak claims to expose Spotify accounts of JD Vance, Pam Bondi and a slew of other pols and CEOsNew Foto - The 'Panama Playlists' leak claims to expose Spotify accounts of JD Vance, Pam Bondi and a slew of other pols and CEOs

Vice President JD Vance is a big fan of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt gets pumped up with Beyonce's "Run the World (Girls)" — and there's one very prominent politician who loves Nelly's "Hot In Herre." That's all according to thePanama Playlists— a site that quietly went live Wednesday and claims to reveal the private music tastes of a slew of public figures. "I found the real Spotify accounts of celebrities, politicians, and journalists. Many use their real names. With a little sleuthing, I could say with near-certainty: yep, this is them," the anonymous eavesdropper wrote. "We've been scraping their accounts since summer 2024. Playlists, live listening feed, everything. I know what songs they played, when, and how many times," they wrote, also stating the project has not affiliation with company "Spotify." The anonymous researcher told The Post that they became convinced in the authenticity of each account as the months of monitoring went on. "I gained confidence in each person by looking at lots of signals. An example is Pam Bondi. Her longtime partner is John Wakefield, and her profile has an old playlist called "john" and an old shared playlist with a user named 'John Wakefield,' so that gives me a lot of confidence it is her account." "Karoline Leavitt's profile has a playlist called 'Baby Shower,' and she had a baby a month after the playlist was made," the owner of the website told The Post, emphasizing they only collected publicly available information. It all seems to be a bit of summer fun, that reveals the questionable, ironic and sometimes too-on-the-nose music choices of America's rich and powerful. "Heard of the Panama Papers? That exposed offshore bank accounts. This is about onshore vibes," the site says. Here is a sample of what "Panama Playlists" found. Vice President JD Vance is a fan of the songs "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys and "One Time" by Justin Bieber, both of which appear on his oft-listened to "Making Dinner"playlist. The millennial veep also appears to be a fan of pop-punk, with several songs from the early aughts favorite Death Cab for Cutie appearing on his playlist "Gold On The Ceiling." On that playlist, Vance shows off an eclectic taste in tunes, selecting songs "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star, "Pepper," by Butthole Surfers, "Signs" by band Tesla, and "Take a Walk" from Passion Pit. FTX fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has three public playlists — "rap" "soft" and "loud" — which feature plenty of Eminem, also Death Cab for Cutie, and song "Young Dumb, Broke" from Khalid. Leavitt had the songs "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyonce and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" from Cyndi Lauper on her"Baby Shower"playlist. Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's liked tracks on his Pandora account include "Parachutes" from the movie "Air Force One" and the "Finding Nemo/Nemo Egg" theme performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. He's also into "One Night Love Affair" by Bryan Adams and "May It Be" by Enya. Social media gadfly Taylor Lorenz's public playlists include "Older Millenial College Rager TBT" and "Breakup Songs" —- but her "Favs" include tracks "Romeo and Juliet" from Dire Straits and "You Can Get It If You Really Want" from reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. Bondi prefers the more upbeat tracks on her playlist named"Pam"— including Nelly's immortal jam "Hot In Herre," "Hands to Myself" by Selena Gomez, and "Fix My Eyes" from band For King & Country." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's"My Shazam Tracks"— meaning songs he likely looked up — include the well-known "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy Elliot, "Make Me Feel Your Love," by Adele, and "Vivir Mi Vida" from Marc Anthony. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) included the song "I'm a Mess" from Ed Sheeran on her "In love" playlist on the account that bears her name. Coinsbase CEO Brian Armstrong has a playlist called "Repeat" that is the song "Long Way Home" by Gareth Emery saved 60 times. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a major classic rock fan with hisonly public playlistfeaturing iconic songs "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash, "Southern Nights" from the rhinestone cowboy Glen Campbell, and The Charlie Daniels Band's  "The Devil Went Down To Georgia."

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July 31, 2025

The ‘Panama Playlists’ leak claims to expose Spotify accounts of JD Vance, Pam Bondi and a slew of other pols and CEOs

The 'Panama Playlists' leak claims to expose Spotify accounts of JD Vance, Pam Bondi and a slew of other pols and CEOs Vice Presiden...
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Senate rejects bid to halt sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, but Democratic opposition growsNew Foto - Senate rejects bid to halt sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, but Democratic opposition grows

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate rejected an effort Wednesday from Sen.Bernie Sandersto block the sale ofU.S. bombs and firearms to Israel, though the vote showed a growing number of Democrats opposed to the arms sales amidwidespread hunger and suffering in Gaza. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, hasrepeatedly tried to block the saleof offensive weapons to Israel over the last year. The resolutions before the Senate on Tuesday would have stopped the sale of $675 million in bombs as well as shipments of 20,000 automatic assault rifles to Israel. They again failed to gain passage, but 27 Democrats — more than half the caucus — voted for the resolution that applied to assault rifles, and 24 voted for the resolution that applied to bomb sales. It was more than any of Sanders' previous efforts, which at ahigh mark in November last yeargained 18 votes from Democrats. The vote tally showed how the images of starvation emerging from Gaza are creating a growing schism in what has traditionally been overwhelming support for Israel from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Sanders said Democrats are responding to "a significant majority of the American people who are tired of spending billions and billions of dollars on an Israeli government which is currently starving children to death." As the war approaches its second year, the leading international authority on food crises said this week that a "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in theGazaStrip." International pressure, including from PresidentDonald Trump, has led Israel toannounce measures, including daily humanitarian pauses in fighting in parts of Gaza and airdrops. But the U.N. and Palestinians on the ground say little has changed, and desperate crowds continue to overwhelm delivery trucks. The Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, argued that Hamas was to blame both for the conflict and the current situation in Gaza. All Republican senators voted against Sanders' resolutions. "They use the people of Gaza as human shields, and they steal the food that the people of Gaza need," Risch said. "It is in the interest of America and the world to see this terrorist group destroyed." Known as joint resolutions of disapproval, the measures would have had to pass both houses of Congress and withstand any presidential veto to become binding. Congress has never succeeded in blocking arms sales with the joint resolutions. Democratic senators spent an hour on Wednesday evening with a series of floor speeches calling attention to the children who have starved to death in Gaza. They are alsocalling on the Trump Administration to recalibrateits approach to the conflict, including a large-scale expansion of aid into Gaza channeled through organizations experienced working in the area. Senate Democratic LeaderChuck Schumersaid in a statement following the vote that the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "have a responsibility to urgently" surge food and other aid into Gaza. Still, he voted against the resolution. "I have also long held that security assistance to Israel is not about any one government but about our support for the Israeli people," said Schumer, a New York Democrat. Other senior Democrats were breaking from that standard. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat who voted against similar resolutions from Sanders in the past, voted in support of the legislation this time. "As a longtime friend and supporter of Israel, I am voting yes to send a message: the Netanyahu government cannot continue with this strategy," she said in a statement. Another Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said it was still "painful" to support the resolution. "For many of us who have devoted our congressional careers to supporting Israel, standing by them through difficult times, it is impossible to really explain or defend what is going on today," Durbin said. "Gaza is starving and dying because of the policies of Bibi Netanyahu." ___

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July 31, 2025

Senate rejects bid to halt sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, but Democratic opposition grows

Senate rejects bid to halt sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, but Democratic opposition grows WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate rejected an effo...
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All the ways Republicans want to honor Trump, from the $100 bill to Mount RushmoreNew Foto - All the ways Republicans want to honor Trump, from the $100 bill to Mount Rushmore

WASHINGTON (AP) — Imagine getting the day off work forDonald Trump'sbirthday. Receiving a $100 bill withDonald Trump's portrait on it. Touching down at Donald J. Trump International Airport near the nation's capital. And taking in a show at the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts. All would be possible under a flurry of bills Republican lawmakers have sponsored this year. Trump is six months into his second term, but some Republicans are ready to elevate him into the pantheon of American greats, proposing an ever-growing list of bills paying tribute well before his second term ends. One lawmaker even proposes carving his face intoMount Rushmore. It's a legislative exercise mixing flattery and politics, providing another stark reminder of the Republican Party's transformation under Trump as lawmakers from red-leaning states and congressional districts look for ways to win the president's good graces — and stay close to his supporters. Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who served as communications director ofthe Republican National Committee, said the bills have an important audience despite their seeming frivolity. "This is more about one person," Heye said. "It's not, 'Hey, voters, look what I'm trying to do for Donald.' It's, 'Hey, Donald, look what I'm trying to do for you.'" No time to waste House Republicans moved quickly to honor Trump after his second term began. The bill to rename Dulles International Airport in Virginia after Trump was introduced 72 hours afterhis swearing-in. "Best president in my lifetime," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Addison McDowell of North Carolina. "And I can't think of a better way to honor somebody than to cement their place in history by naming an international airport in our nation's capital after him." Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas waited a few more weeks before sponsoring his bill to put Trump on the $100 bill, which now features Benjamin Franklin. His legislation stated no $100 bill printed after Dec. 31, 2028, could be printed without Trump's portrait on the front, even though federal law bans living figures from being placed on U.S. currency. That law, enacted just after the Civil War, was intended to avoid the appearance of a monarchy. Another proposal from Rep. Greg Steube of Florida would rename Washington's subway system the Trump Train. There's also a bill from Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York combiningTrump's birthdaywith Flag Day to designate June 14 a federal holiday. Perhaps the most daring idea comes from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who wants the Interior Department secretary to arrange for Trump's likeness to be carved into Mount Rushmore alongside Washington, Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt. She has two models of it in her office. Luna said throughtwo assassination attemptsand a "sham impeachment," Trump has "shown not just resiliency in character but also to have been able to do what no other president has been able to accomplish." Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina admits he wasn't enamored with Trump at first. Now, Wilson carries a pamphlet he gives to colleagues asking them to sponsor a bill that would direct the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to design and print a $250 bill bearing Trump's image. The honor would coincide withthe 250th anniversaryof the United States declaring its independence. "I believe the president has served in a such a manner that he deserves it," Wilson said. It's not just a few random Republicans taking part. In the GOP's tax cut and immigration law, leadership changed the name of a newsavings accountfor children from "MAGA accounts" to"Trump accounts." "Because Trump is a transformational leader and he advocated for them," Rep. Jason Smith, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said of the name change. The Nobel Peace Prize Several lawmakers are also talking Trump up as someone who should winthe Nobel Peace Prize. As a candidate, Trump promised he wouldend the Russia-Ukraine war on his first dayin office before saying later as president he was joking. Solving that conflict and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has eluded Trump. But Republicans — and at least one foreign leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — are still proposing Trump receive the prize. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has called on the Senate to nominate Trump, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee asked her social media followers to share her post if they agree he deserves it. Tenney recently wrote on X she has nominated Trump twice and will continue to do so until he's awarded the prize. Honoring Melania Trump, too An appropriations bill making its way through the House includes an amendment from Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho that would name the Opera House at the Kennedy Center forfirst lady Melania Trump. Simpson said the White House didn't know about the amendment until it was introduced. He said the effort is different from renaming Dulles Airport in Trump's honor because the theater isn't currently named after anyone. "She's just been a supporter of the arts, always has been, and we're trying to keep the arts alive in this bill," Simpson said. "So we thought it was the appropriate thing to do." Smart politics For many Republicans, lauding Trump in legislation is simply smart politics. Trump's endorsement helped catapult many lawmakers into elected office, and his support could be helpful as individual members try to get their priorities into law. Plus, Trump wields his endorsement aggressively to replace membershe finds disloyaland reward allies. He's already endorsed Gill and Luna for reelection in 2026, calling them "MAGA Warriors." But the power of a Trump endorsement extends beyond the primary, especially in the midterm elections. "In the general election, they just send a signal to Trump voters to turn out, to trust somebody and vote for them," said Steve Stivers, former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Democrats have taken note of the flurry of Trump tributes, seeing it as a chance to portray a pliant Republican majority as being focused on placating Trump rather than helping Americans. "House Republicans continue to embarrass themselves," said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. "These people are sycophants."

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July 31, 2025

All the ways Republicans want to honor Trump, from the $100 bill to Mount Rushmore

All the ways Republicans want to honor Trump, from the $100 bill to Mount Rushmore WASHINGTON (AP) — Imagine getting the day off work forDon...
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More Trump administration figures who met Laura Loomer's ire are out. A look at her influenceNew Foto - More Trump administration figures who met Laura Loomer's ire are out. A look at her influence

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumphas downplayed the influence ofLaura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur known for her incendiary social media presence, in his administration's decision-making. But the list of administration officials who have drawn Loomer's ire and swiftly thereafter gotten the axe fromDonald Trumphas been growing. Among the latest is Dr. Vinay Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration's polarizing vaccine chief, whoannounced this week he was leaving the agencyafter a brief tenure that drew the ire of biotech executives, patient groups and conservative allies of Trump. Prasad had recently become a target of right-wing activists, including Loomer, who flagged Prasad's past statements criticizing Trump and praising liberal independent Sen.Bernie Sanders. On Wednesday, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll directed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to removeJen Easterly, a newly announced hire who led the nation's cybersecurity agency under PresidentJoe Biden, shortly after Loomer criticized her. Loomer, who has publicly encouraged Trump to purge aides who she believes are insufficiently loyal to the "Make America Great Again" agenda, has taken credit for some of the ousters, tearing into some of Trump's allies and advisers and calling out what she calls a "vetting crisis" within the White House. Trump, meanwhile, has long praised Loomer while distancing himself at times from her most controversial comments and downplaying her direct impact on his choices. Here's a rundown on connections between Loomer's criticism and Trump administration departures: Vocal opposition to Health and Human Services appointees Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Prasad was ousted following several recent controversies. The people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel matters. Last week, Loomer posted on X of Prasad, "How did this Trump-hating Bernie Bro get into the Trump admin???" Prasad did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday morning. Hejoined the FDAin May after years as an academic researcher at theUniversity of California, San Francisco, where he frequently criticized the FDA's approach to drug approvals and COVID-19 vaccines. Loomer was also vocal in opposition to Trump's first choice for surgeon general, whose selection was ultimately withdrawn. Trumppulled the nominationof former Fox News medical contributorJanette Nesheiwatjust before Senate confirmation hearings in May. Loomer had posted on X that "we can't have a pro-COVID vaccine nepo appointee who is currently embroiled in a medical malpractice case and who didn't go to medical school in the US" as the surgeon general. Criticism for 'Biden holdovers' Driscoll's directive thatWest Point remove Easterly, sharedon X, came just a day after she was announced as the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in West Point's social sciences department. Easterly had served as director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA,facing harsh criticismfrom Republicans who argued that her work to counter misinformation about elections and the COVID-19 pandemic amounted to censorship. On Tuesday, Loomer posted on X about Easterly's new role at West Point, saying "Biden holdovers" at the Defense Department were "undermining" Trump's administration. Prompting departures at the National Security Council On April 3, Loomer presented "research findings" to Trump, Vice PresidentJD Vance, chief of staffSusie Wilesand others including then-national security adviserMike Waltz, during an Oval Office meeting, according to people speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. A day later, Trumpsaid he had fired"some" White HouseNational Security Councilofficials, downplaying Loomer's influence on the moves. Thedepartures includedthe director of the National Security Agency, Air ForceGen. Tim Haugh, who also oversaw the Pentagon's Cyber Command, along with Haugh's civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble. When reached for comment, Loomer referred The Associated Press to an X post, saying she was not going to divulge any details about her Oval Office meeting with Trump "out of respect" for the president. In a subsequent X post, Loomer appeared to take credit for the firings, writing, "You know how you know the NSC officials I reported to President Trump are disloyal people who have played a role in sabotaging Donald Trump?" She noted, "the fired officials" were being defended by Trump critics on CNN and MSNBC. Loomer called for Waltz's ouster in the weeks following revelations he had mistakenly added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief to a Signal chat being used to discuss military plans. As reports began to circulate that Waltz could be leaving the administration — he wasultimately nominatedas United Nations ambassador — she appeared to take credit, writing "SCALP" in an X post. A 'pressure campaign' targeting the Justice Department Adam Schleifer, an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, received an email in March saying he was being terminated "on behalf of President Donald J. Trump," according to a person familiar with the matter. The email came exactly an hour after Loomer called for him to be fired in a social media post that highlighted Schleifer's past critical comments about Trump while Schleifer was running in a Democratic primary for a congressional seat in New York. Earlier this month, Loomer took a victory lap after the Justice Department firedMaurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey and a federal prosecutor in Manhattan who worked on the cases againstSean "Diddy" CombsandJeffrey Epstein, three people familiar with the matter told The AP. Comey's ouster, Loomer said on X, followed her two-month "pressure campaign." Has Loomer spoken out about others? Yes, chief among them Attorney GeneralPam Bondi. Loomer has called for Bondi's resignation over failure to keep promises to release more files from the Justice Department's sex trafficking investigation of Epstein, branding her a "total liar." Earlier this month, following DOJ's revelations thatno Epstein "client list" existedand no more files would be released, Loomer posted on X that she was told that FBI Deputy DirectorDan Bonginowas "seriously thinking about resigning" amid his ongoing clashes with Bondi over the case. Weeks later, both Bondi and Bongino were still on the job. What has Trump said about Loomer's role? In April, Trump denied that Loomer had anything to do with aides being ousted from their jobs at the National Security Council, calling her a "very good patriot and a very strong person" who only made recommendations. "Sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody," Trump said then, adding: "She's usually very constructive. She recommended certain people for jobs." Loomer was seen traveling with Trump during last year's campaign,accompanying himon a trip to New York and Pennsylvania as he commemorated the 9/11 attacks. She also traveled with Trump to Philadelphia for a debate against then-Vice PresidentKamala Harris. Loomer said she never officially joined the campaign after Trump's allies preferred he would keep his distance. After a Harris-related post on Xin which Loomer played on racist stereotypes, Trump called Loomer "a supporter of mine" with "strong opinions," but denied knowledge of her comments. He later posted on his Truth Social account that he disagreed with what she had said. ___ Kinnard can be reached athttp://x.com/MegKinnardAP.

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July 31, 2025

More Trump administration figures who met Laura Loomer’s ire are out. A look at her influence

More Trump administration figures who met Laura Loomer's ire are out. A look at her influence COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trum...
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Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist tiesNew Foto - Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist ties

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed PresidentDonald Trump'spick to lead the National Counterterrorism Center,Joe Kent, on Wednesday evening as Republicans looked past his connections to right-wing extremists and support for conspiracy theories about theJan. 6, 2021, riotat the U.S. Capitol. Kent won confirmation on a 52-44 vote tally with Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina the only Republican nay vote. Kent had already been working for Director of National IntelligenceTulsi Gabbard. As the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he will oversee an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats. In the role, he plans to devote agency resources to targeting Latin American gangs and other criminal groups tied to migration. He is the latestDonald Trumployalist to win Senate confirmation to the upper echelons of U.S. national security leadership at a time whenTrump is stretching his presidential wartime powersto accomplish his goals. "President Trump is committed to identifying these cartels and these violent gang members and making sure that we locate them and that we get them out of our country," Kent said at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee in April. Kent enters the top role at the counterterrorism center after twounsuccessful campaigns for Congressin Washington state, as well as a military career that saw him deployed 11 times as a Green Beret, followed by work at the CIA. His first wife, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in 2019 while fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. Yet Democrats strongly opposed his confirmation, pointing to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to distance himself froma conspiracy theory that federal agents had somehow instigatedthe Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well asfalse claims that Trump won the 2020 electionover President Joe Biden. Democrats grilled him on his participation in agroup chat on Signalthat was used by Trump's national security team todiscuss sensitive military plans. They also raised grave concerns over a recent incident where Kent, as Gabbard's chief of staff, told an intelligence analyst to revise an assessment of the relationship between the Venezuelan government and a transnational gang. The revisions supported Trump's assertions that members of the gang could be removed under the Alien Enemies Act — a wartime provision. Democrats said it showed Kent cannot be trusted to handle some of the nation's most important and sensitive intelligence. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said any counterterrorism director "must be trusted to tell the truth and to uphold the core principles of the intelligence community: Objectivity, nonpartisanship and fidelity to fact." "Unfortunately, Mr. Kent has shown time and again that he cannot meet the standard," Warner added. Still, Republicans have praised his counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience. Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, said in a floor speech that Kent "has dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe." ___ This story has corrected the vote tally. A previous version of this story said that it was 53-44. Kent was confirmed by a 52-44 vote tally.

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July 31, 2025

Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist ties

Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist ties WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirme...
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