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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Deputy Leader Harriet Harman as unpaid advisers to help address Labour's recent election losses. Brown will focus on international finance partnerships related to defense, while Harman will advise on issues concerning women and girls. Labour faces calls from some MPs for Starmer to resign, but others defend him and want to avoid ongoing leadership disputes.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer appointed Gordon Brown as adviser on global finance to help with defense investments.
Harriet Harman will advise Starmer on women’s issues, including violence and economic opportunities.
Both roles are part-time and unpaid but signal Starmer’s effort to show strong leadership.
Labour lost over 1,400 council seats in England and lost power in Wales for the first time.
The party also lost seats in Scotland and saw voters shift to Reform UK and the Greens.
Some Labour MPs want Starmer to set a timetable for stepping down as leader within months.
Other Labour figures, like Deputy Leader Lucy Powell and Harriet Harman, support Starmer staying on.
Starmer plans to give a speech calling for closer ties with the EU as part of a premiership relaunch.
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President Donald Trump is planning to fire Marty Makary, the head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after several controversial decisions and political conflicts harmed the agency’s reputation and staff morale. The FDA has faced criticism for pulling back research on vaccine safety, approving flavored vaping products under pressure, and showing instability, which has led to a drop in public trust.
Key Facts
President Trump is considering firing FDA commissioner Marty Makary due to controversial decisions and political clashes.
Makary’s time at the FDA involved disputes over vaccines, drugs, abortion, and vaping policies.
The FDA delayed or blocked research publications supporting the safety of Covid and shingles vaccines.
Trump pressured the FDA to approve fruit-flavored vapes, which were otherwise halted by agency scientists.
The FDA’s reputation for stability and predictability has declined sharply, damaging public trust.
Internal FDA staff morale has fallen due to layoffs and controversial leadership choices.
Experts warn that political interference in FDA decisions risks public health and trust.
The agency’s recent actions reflect a pattern of leadership overriding expert advice.
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Republicans are gaining an advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives after recent court rulings and redistricting efforts favored their party. Democrats have faced several legal setbacks over new voting maps, making it harder for them to regain control of the House.
Key Facts
Democrats lost three key redistricting battles in 12 days, weakening their chances to win the House.
Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down new district maps that favored Democrats, giving Republicans a clearer edge.
Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis released new maps increasing Republican seats from 12 to 16.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s weakening of parts of the Voting Rights Act may add 4-5 Republican seats in the South.
Democrats have spent $65 million on redistricting efforts that have not succeeded.
Despite setbacks, some Democrats feel confident about winning in certain districts in the November 2024 elections.
Democratic candidates have done well recently in special elections, often outperforming past results.
Republicans express optimism and credit court decisions with their growing momentum ahead of the elections.
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The Virginia Supreme Court canceled a new congressional map that would have helped Democrats gain more seats in the House of Representatives. This decision reduces Democrats’ chances of winning a bigger majority in the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Virginia Supreme Court made the decision on a Friday.
The court threw out a redistricting referendum.
The new map was designed to increase Democratic seats from 6-5 to 10-1.
The ruling removes the expected advantage Democrats would have gained.
The ruling does not completely end Democrats’ chances to flip the House.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing voting district boundaries.
The midterm elections will take place later this year.
The decision affects political strategies in Virginia and possibly nationally.
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A federal court struck down a 10 percent tariff that President Donald Trump had placed on many imports entering the United States. This decision affects Trump's efforts to enforce his trade policies. It also raises questions about how he will respond to this setback.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on many imported goods.
A federal court recently ruled that this tariff is not legal.
This tariff was meant to replace an earlier tariff that was also removed by the courts.
The court decision challenges President Trump's trade agenda.
It is unclear what steps President Trump will take next regarding these tariffs.
Tariffs are taxes added to imported goods, used to protect domestic businesses or respond to trade disputes.
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President Donald Trump is trying to maintain a partial peace with Iran while working toward a permanent agreement to end a war that started 10 weeks ago. He and his top advisers have been cautious and unclear about when or how a ceasefire might happen.
Key Facts
President Trump began the war with Iran 10 weeks ago.
He is currently seeking a lasting peace deal to end the conflict.
Trump and his administration are trying to keep an unstable partial peace with Iran.
There is uncertainty about when a formal ceasefire will be declared.
Senior officials in the Trump administration have been involved in managing the situation.
The approach to peace talks involves careful and complex negotiations.
The situation is described as having “crashing crosscurrents,” meaning conflicting pressures and difficulties.
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The White House is working to update its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) as new, stronger AI models emerge. President Trump’s administration has so far supported innovation with few rules, focusing on keeping the U.S. competitive in AI technology.
Key Facts
The White House is reconsidering its AI policies due to rapid advances in AI technology.
President Trump began his second term with a focus on encouraging AI innovation.
The administration prefers fewer regulations on AI to support U.S. competition worldwide.
New AI models are pushing officials to rethink safety and control measures.
Discussions about AI rules involve both the White House and Congress.
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Virginia’s highest court rejected a voter-approved redistricting plan because the process did not follow state constitutional rules. Democrats plan to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court as it affects control of Virginia’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections.
Key Facts
Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down a redistricting measure approved by voters in April.
The court ruled the legislature violated the state constitution by not following required steps before submitting the amendment to voters.
The legal dispute centers on when an "election" occurs for constitutional sequencing of votes, including early voting.
The current congressional map remains in place, keeping a narrow 6–5 Democratic advantage.
Democrats want the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case, citing a dissenting opinion about how elections are defined.
Republicans, including President Donald Trump, called the ruling a major win for their efforts to maintain control.
The ruling affects the political landscape and could influence control of U.S. House seats in Virginia in 2026.
The path to the Supreme Court is difficult because the issue involves state constitutional interpretation, which courts often avoid.
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One Nation is leading early results in the Farrer byelection, which could give the party its first seat in the lower house of the Australian parliament. The Liberal and independent candidates are trailing, while Labor did not run in the race.
Key Facts
One Nation’s candidate David Farley is ahead in early voting in the Farrer byelection.
Winning Farrer would be One Nation’s first lower house seat from an election or byelection.
The Liberal Party vote dropped compared to last year’s federal election.
Independent Michelle Milthorpe is the main challenger but is behind in early counts.
Labor chose not to contest the byelection.
Nationals frontbencher Bridget McKenzie indicated willingness to work with One Nation in the future.
Independent MP Helen Haines blamed preference deals by the Coalition for One Nation’s strong performance.
David Farley was previously a member of the Nationals and had considered Labor before running for One Nation.
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Since January 2025, the Trump administration has fired or pushed out over 113 immigration judges and replaced them with military lawyers and political appointees as part of a stricter deportation effort. Some judges say this move pressures courts to support government enforcement goals and threatens their independence.
Key Facts
David Koelsch is a former immigration judge who resigned amid pressure from the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
He witnessed federal agents in tactical gear using teargas during an incident in Minneapolis.
The Trump administration fired more than 113 immigration judges and offered buyouts to others starting in early 2025.
Many judges targeted by the administration had higher rates of granting asylum.
Some judges report that political pressure is increasing to make courts support tougher immigration enforcement.
Koelsch also criticized the Biden administration for removing immigration cases from courts mainly to reduce case backlogs.
Judges and former judges spoke anonymously due to fear of retaliation.
Koelsch now teaches law and works for a faith-based group helping refugees.
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Book bans in the United States have increased sharply since 2021, especially targeting books with LGBTQ+ themes and stories about people of color. This has led to many popular and important books being removed or challenged in schools and libraries across the country.
Key Facts
Maia Kobabe’s book Gender Queer has been the most challenged book for three years in a row.
Between 2018 and 2023, over 23,000 book bans were recorded by PEN America.
Books about LGBTQ+ people and people of color are the main targets of censorship.
The American Library Association reported 4,235 different book titles were challenged in 2025 alone.
In 2025, 90% of book challenges came from activists and government officials.
Books like Sold by Patricia McCormick and Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo faced strong backlash.
Authors believe the bans try to limit young people’s understanding of different identities and experiences.
The rise in bans began after 2021, linked to political and cultural movements.
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At least eight people linked to a Dutch cruise ship have caught the Andes strain of hantavirus, with three confirmed deaths. The CDC took nearly a month to set up a formal response team, and some Americans exposed to the virus found out through state officials or news, not the federal government.
Key Facts
Eight people connected to a Dutch cruise ship caught Andes strain hantavirus; three died.
The World Health Organization informed the CDC about the outbreak on May 2.
The CDC did not create a formal response team until May 6, about a month after the first death.
Six Americans exposed to the virus were notified by state officials or news outlets, not the CDC.
CDC acting director says coordination with partners started immediately after notification.
Public trust in the CDC has dropped, with only 47% of Americans trusting it for vaccine information.
The CDC has lost about 25% of its workforce in the past year, with over 3,000 employees leaving.
Experts say the hantavirus outbreak is currently containable and not likely to become a pandemic.
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President Donald Trump is taking steps to regain support from working-class voters by promoting policies aimed at helping them save money and reduce living costs. These include expanding access to retirement savings and attempting to limit large investors buying up homes, even as his approval among this group has recently declined.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval among white non-college graduates dropped to 49% support vs. 51% disapproval in a March CNN poll.
About 20% of Trump voters surveyed do not plan to support a Republican candidate in 2028, mainly among working-class voters.
Rising energy prices from the war in Iran and cost-of-living issues have worsened public opinion on Trump’s economic handling.
Trump signed an executive order to expand access to low-cost retirement accounts (IRAs) for people without employer plans.
The government offers a $1,000 matching contribution as an incentive to build retirement savings.
Trump included “no tax on tips” in his key spending bill called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Proposed policies include banning large investors from buying single-family homes to increase housing supply.
Some conservative critics call these interventions socialist, while others see them as necessary to regain support ahead of elections.
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The Pentagon has released new files about UFOs, showing unusual lights and objects in the sky. President Donald Trump is encouraging public interest in these "unidentified anomalous phenomena."
Key Facts
The Pentagon shared new information about UFO sightings on Friday.
The files include reports of bright lights and strange objects in the sky.
These events are called "unidentified anomalous phenomena," which means they cannot be easily explained.
President Donald Trump supports public curiosity about these phenomena.
The files aim to provide more transparency on UFO activity.
This is part of ongoing efforts to investigate and understand strange aerial events.
The release was covered by the news agency France 24.
UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object, meaning something seen in the sky that is not recognizable.
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U.S. Representative Thomas Massie is currently leading in polls and prediction markets against Ed Gallrein, who is supported by President Donald Trump, in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District Republican primary. The race is close, but Massie’s independent political style seems to be popular with voters in the district.
Key Facts
Thomas Massie is the current U.S. Representative for Kentucky’s 4th District and is running in the Republican primary.
Ed Gallrein is Massie’s challenger and has President Trump’s endorsement.
Recent polls show Massie with a slight lead over Gallrein, with some undecided voters still influencing the race.
Prediction markets estimate Massie has about a 72% chance to win the primary.
Massie is known as a libertarian-leaning conservative who has sometimes opposed President Trump’s policies.
The district voters value independence and may support Massie’s “liberty-republican” views.
President Trump remains popular among Republican voters, making this a test of his influence.
Massie was criticized by Trump in 2020 after opposing a coronavirus relief bill but endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
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A Frontier Airlines flight struck a person on the runway at Denver International Airport while preparing to take off to Los Angeles. The plane aborted the takeoff, passengers evacuated, and authorities are investigating the incident.
Key Facts
The incident happened on Friday night at Denver International Airport.
Flight 4345 was an Airbus A321 with 224 passengers and 7 crew members onboard.
The pilot reported stopping on the runway and said they hit someone and had an engine fire.
The pilot also said there was a person walking across the runway.
Smoke was seen inside the cabin, so takeoff was aborted, and passengers left the plane using emergency slides.
Frontier Airlines is working with the airport and safety officials to investigate.
No official details have been released about injuries or how the person got onto the runway.
The flight was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles International Airport.
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A Frontier Airlines plane, preparing to take off from Denver International Airport, struck a person walking on the runway. After the incident, pilots reported an engine fire and smoke inside the plane, leading to the evacuation of all passengers who are now being checked for injuries.
Key Facts
The incident happened on runway 17L at Denver International Airport.
The Frontier Airlines flight was heading to Los Angeles.
Pilots reported an engine fire and smoke inside the plane after striking the individual.
At least one passenger suffered a minor injury.
All passengers were evacuated on the runway and are being taken to terminals by bus.
Passengers are being evaluated as a safety measure after the evacuation.
The local air traffic control audio confirmed the pilots’ reports.
The situation is still developing and more updates are expected.
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Most members of the Labour Party do not believe Prime Minister Keir Starmer can improve the party's chances in future elections, and 45% think he should step down. Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is the favored potential leader, but party rules currently prevent him from running for parliament.
Key Facts
51% of Labour members think Starmer cannot improve the party’s poll numbers.
45% of members say Prime Minister Starmer should resign his leadership.
Andy Burnham is the preferred successor for 42% of members surveyed.
Burnham cannot run for parliament because Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) blocks his candidacy.
More than a third of Labour members have considered leaving the party.
Labour faced election losses in England, Scotland, and Wales, with other parties like Reform UK and the SNP gaining ground.
Labour’s governing NEC does not plan to change its position on Burnham’s parliamentary runs unless Starmer changes his mind.
The poll included over 1,000 party members and showed growing dissatisfaction with current leadership.
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New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked about running for president in 2028 or challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. She said her main goal is to focus on changing the country through policies like healthcare and workers’ rights, rather than aiming for a specific title or position.
Key Facts
David Axelrod, former adviser to President Barack Obama, asked Ocasio-Cortez about her plans for 2028.
Ocasio-Cortez wants to focus on policy goals instead of planning her next political job.
She emphasized issues like single-payer healthcare, living wages, and workers' and women's rights.
Ocasio-Cortez noted that political positions come and go, but lasting change is permanent.
Recent polls show Ocasio-Cortez among the top potential Democratic candidates for 2028.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris leads in many polls, followed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg.
Senator Bernie Sanders praised Ocasio-Cortez as a strong politician who could be a good candidate.
No candidate, including Ocasio-Cortez, has officially announced a run for president yet.
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The U.S. military carried out a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean suspected of drug trafficking, killing two men and leaving one survivor. This is part of President Donald Trump’s campaign to target drug cartels, which has involved multiple attacks on similar vessels since September and has raised legal and ethical questions.
Key Facts
The U.S. military struck a suspected drug boat, killing two men and leaving one survivor.
The U.S. Coast Guard was called to help search and rescue the survivor.
President Donald Trump approved a new counterterrorism strategy focusing on eliminating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere.
Since early September, the Trump administration has conducted strikes on suspected drug boats, causing at least 192 deaths.
No proof has been provided that these boats carried drugs.
The strikes have increased in recent weeks.
President Trump is urging leaders in Latin America to work with the U.S. and take military action against drug traffickers and gangs.
Critics have questioned the legality of these strikes, especially after a "double tap" strike killed survivors from a previous attack, leading some lawmakers to call it a possible war crime.
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