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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Many large U.S. cities have much less public transportation compared to similar cities in other countries. A report found that improving public transit in the U.S. to world-class levels would require $4.6 trillion and huge new infrastructure over 20 years. This gap affects how people travel, the environment, and costs related to driving.
Key Facts
Houston, the fourth-largest U.S. city, has only one small Amtrak train station with very limited service.
American cities like Houston, Detroit, and Indianapolis have far fewer buses and trains per 100,000 people compared to cities like Paris, Vienna, and Montreal.
New York City has the best U.S. subway system but still has fewer transit vehicles per person than cities like Tehran.
Worldwide, cities in East Asia have high public transit use, while some African cities have very low numbers.
Expanding public transit is important to address climate change since transportation produces about one-third of global emissions.
The U.S. transport system remains heavily dependent on cars, which limits political support for transit improvements.
Improving U.S. public transit could reduce reliance on gasoline and help with rising fuel costs.
The study defines world-class transit as accessible, frequent, reliable, and convenient enough to replace car travel.
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Speaker Mike Johnson successfully passed several important bills in the House last week. However, he faces difficulties in keeping the Republican Party united when these bills return for further discussion.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the House and a Republican from Louisiana.
He recently got several key bills approved in the House.
These bills have split opinions within the Republican Party.
Johnson managed to bring together both hard-line conservatives and moderate Republicans to pass the bills.
Future votes on these bills could be challenging due to ongoing party divisions.
Maintaining party unity is a major task for Johnson moving forward.
The Republican Party remains divided on these legislative priorities.
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A federal court case about abortion has brought the topic back into national attention shortly before the upcoming midterm elections. Voter concern about abortion rights increased after the Supreme Court ended Roe v. Wade in 2022, influencing election results that year.
Key Facts
A federal court recently made rulings that have highlighted abortion as an important election issue.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal protection for abortion rights.
The overturn led to strong voter reactions, which helped Democrats win several races in the 2022 midterms.
Abortion remains a major and divisive topic in U.S. politics as the next midterm elections approach.
Political candidates are focusing more on abortion rights or restrictions in their campaigns.
President Donald Trump was in office when these national debates intensified.
The midterm elections are seen as a key moment for voters to express their views on abortion policies.
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The White House and the Pentagon have different views about using AI technology from the company Anthropic. The White House is more open to adopting Anthropic’s AI, while the Pentagon is resistant. This difference is causing confusion for government workers and contractors.
Key Facts
The White House supports using AI from the company Anthropic.
The Pentagon opposes using Anthropic’s AI systems.
These opposing views create challenges for government employees and contractors who work with AI.
Anthropic is a company that develops advanced artificial intelligence technologies.
The disagreement highlights how different parts of the U.S. government approach new technology.
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Senate Republicans are debating whether to approve a third budget bill that would fund immigration enforcement and include parts of President Trump’s agenda before the midterm elections. Some Republican senators support moving forward quickly, while others oppose passing another reconciliation bill so close to the election.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans plan to pass a budget reconciliation bill soon to fund immigration enforcement.
The bill is part of President Trump’s priorities before the midterm elections.
There is disagreement among Republican senators about passing a third reconciliation bill.
Some senators want to act quickly to advance more of President Trump’s agenda.
Other senators worry about the timing of passing another major bill before voters go to the polls.
Reconciliation is a special budget process that allows certain bills to pass with fewer votes.
The debate reflects tensions within the Republican Party about strategy before the election.
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Jordan Linden, a former SNP council leader, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of sexual offences against young men and teenage boys. The case revealed that complaints about his behaviour were ignored or downplayed by the SNP, leading to criticism of the party’s handling of the issue.
Key Facts
Jordan Linden was convicted of five sexual assaults and directing unwanted sexual messages to teenagers as young as 14.
The offences happened over a 10-year period, from 2011 to 2021.
Linden resigned as leader of North Lanarkshire council in 2022 after allegations surfaced.
Complaints about Linden’s behaviour were not properly addressed by the SNP.
Victims reported inappropriate behaviour during events linked to SNP youth groups, including the Scottish Youth Parliament.
The SNP leader, John Swinney, apologized and ordered an independent review of how complaints are handled.
Police investigation was extensive and involved many witnesses who viewed Linden as a trusted figure.
Linden has been placed on the sex offender register following his conviction.
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The FDA has allowed certain fruit-flavored e-cigarettes for adult smokers, marking a change in vaping policy under President Trump. These products include mango and blueberry flavors but come with strict age-verification that links use to a verified adult’s phone.
Key Facts
The FDA approved fruit-flavored e-cigarettes intended only for adults trying to quit or reduce smoking.
The new flavors include mango, blueberry, and two types of menthol, marketed by Glas Inc. in Los Angeles.
These e-cigarettes require age verification through a government ID on a phone and use Bluetooth to connect only with the verified user’s device.
The FDA will closely watch marketing and use of these products and can revoke approval if youth use increases or health risks outweigh benefits.
Teen vaping rates have dropped to a 10-year low, influencing the FDA’s decision to allow these flavors.
Under President Trump’s administration, previous restrictions limited flavor availability, but this marks a shift after industry appeals.
Health groups remain concerned that flavored e-cigarettes may encourage underage use.
The FDA’s decision is part of ongoing efforts to balance adult smoking cessation with youth vaping prevention.
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Jordan Linden, a former SNP council leader in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, was jailed for 18 months after being convicted of sexually assaulting five young men and sending unwanted sexual messages to seven teenagers. The offenses occurred over ten years, and Linden was placed on the sex offenders register.
Key Facts
Jordan Linden was the leader of North Lanarkshire Council but stepped down in 2022 after allegations emerged.
He was convicted in March following a seven-day trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
Linden assaulted five young men and sent unwanted sexual messages, some including explicit photos, to seven teenagers aged as young as 14.
The offenses happened between 2011 and 2021.
Linden denied all charges, claiming they did not happen or were consensual.
Some witnesses said complaints about Linden were ignored by the SNP party.
First Minister John Swinney expressed regret and ordered a review of the SNP’s complaint handling process.
The court also placed Linden on the sex offenders register.
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President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a new low in Rasmussen Reports' daily poll, with strong disapproval among likely voters rising to 48%. Overall approval stands at 41%, marking the widest negative gap and the lowest approval score for Trump since he began his second term in January 2025.
Key Facts
Rasmussen Reports polls about 1,500 likely U.S. voters daily, focusing on "strongly approve" and "strongly disapprove" categories.
On May 5, 2026, Trump's approval index was -23, calculated by subtracting strong disapproval from strong approval.
Strong disapproval rose from about 36% in January 2025 to 48% by May 2026.
Strong approval declined from about 38% in January 2025 to the mid-20s in May 2026.
The approval rating shifted from positive (+2.3) in January 2025 to increasingly negative throughout 2025 and early 2026.
Rasmussen Reports generally leans Republican, making this drop significant for Trump's support within his own party.
The growing gap between strong approval and disapproval could impact Republican candidates and political influence ahead of the midterm elections.
Other broader polling averages also show declining approval for President Trump.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will answer questions behind closed doors about his connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick is the first member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to be questioned by the House Oversight Committee in this investigation.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick is the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
He will testify about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in a private interview with the House Oversight Committee.
Lutnick was Epstein’s neighbor and once said he would never be near Epstein again after 2005.
Documents show Lutnick visited Epstein’s private island in 2012, years after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea.
Lutnick said he had lunch with Epstein during this trip and saw nothing inappropriate.
He and Epstein signed papers in 2012 to buy an advertising company called Adfin.
Epstein donated $50,000 in 2017 for a dinner in Lutnick’s honor.
Lutnick suggested Epstein’s light 2008 sentence might have involved blackmail.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his MAHA movement are working to defeat Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s upcoming primary. Cassidy has opposed Kennedy’s health policy changes and vaccine views, leading to tensions between them and a heated primary race.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the MAHA movement, aiming to change health policies.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, chairs the Senate HELP Committee and opposes Kennedy’s vaccine and health policy ideas.
Cassidy voted to confirm Kennedy but pushed back against scaling back vaccine guidelines and CDC changes.
Cassidy blocked the nomination of Casey Means, a Kennedy ally, for surgeon general.
Kennedy and supporters criticize Cassidy strongly and seek to unseat him in the May 16 primary.
Cassidy faces challengers Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming; Letlow is endorsed by both Kennedy’s MAHA PAC and President Trump.
Polls show Cassidy trailing Fleming and Letlow, risking a runoff if no one wins a majority.
Kennedy’s influence in Louisiana is debated, but some local policies reflect MAHA ideas, and Letlow supports them.
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Two Australian states are preparing to welcome back children and women from detention camps in Syria linked to the Islamic State group. Some of the women face arrest and criminal charges, while support services will help the children adjust to life in Australia.
Key Facts
Four women and nine children are expected to return to Australia from Syrian detention camps.
Most will settle in Melbourne, with one woman and her child going to Sydney.
Some women will be arrested and charged by Australian federal police.
The children will receive support to help them recover and live normal lives.
Eleven of the returnees are from the same family.
Australian citizens have the right to return unless a formal exclusion order is issued; only one woman has such an order for national security reasons.
Planning for their return has been ongoing for about ten years, including community liaison efforts.
Police in Victoria and New South Wales will monitor the returning group and take legal action if laws have been broken.
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A new poll shows that about 60% of Americans disapprove of how President Donald Trump is managing the conflict with Iran. This includes over 20% of Republicans. The poll also finds that most Americans think President Trump has weakened the United States’ reputation in the world.
Key Facts
Six out of ten Americans disapprove of President Trump’s actions regarding Iran.
More than one in five Republicans also disapprove of his handling of the situation.
President Trump recently announced pausing a U.S. mission escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The mission was paused at the request of Pakistan and other countries.
Over 60% of Americans believe President Trump has weakened the U.S. standing internationally.
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A baby boy in Florida named Cassian Joubert had a rare surgery before birth to fix a blocked airway. Doctors partially delivered him early so they could create an airway, then put him back in his mother’s womb to grow until full birth. He spent months in intensive care but is now home with his family.
Key Facts
Cassian Joubert’s mother, Keishera, was told at 19 weeks pregnant that he had a rare and serious airway blockage called congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS).
CHAOS affects about 1 in 50,000 births and often causes death before or shortly after birth.
Doctors first tried to treat the blockage with laser surgery while Cassian was still fully in the womb, but it didn’t work.
The surgical team then performed a partial cesarean delivery at 25 weeks, exposing only Cassian’s head and arms.
During this partial delivery, a surgeon created an airway for Cassian before placing him back in the womb to continue developing.
Cassian was fully delivered six weeks later and spent over four months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
At birth, Cassian weighed only 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) and still needs a ventilator to help him breathe.
His parents plan to celebrate his survival with two birthdays: one marking the surgery and one marking his full birth.
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Physical attacks against Jewish people in the U.S. reached their highest level since 1979, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). While overall antisemitic incidents dropped in 2025, assaults increased, including three deadly attacks.
Key Facts
The ADL recorded 6,274 antisemitic incidents in 2025, down 33% from 2024 but still the third-highest year on record.
There were 203 physical assaults targeting Jewish people in 2025, up from 196 in 2024.
Thirty-two assaults involved deadly weapons, an increase from 23 the previous year.
Three people were killed in antisemitic attacks last year, the first Jewish deaths due to antisemitic violence in the U.S. since 2019.
Attacks included a shooting in Washington, D.C., a Molotov cocktail attack in Colorado, and a stabbing in New York.
A firebomb was thrown at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home; Shapiro is Jewish.
Antisemitic incidents dropped sharply on U.S. college campuses, with a 66% decrease overall and an 83% drop in incidents related to anti-Israel protests.
Most antisemitic incidents occurred in major metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles County, and northern New Jersey.
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The Supreme Court temporarily restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone while it considers a legal challenge brought by Louisiana, a state seeking to restrict the drug. The upcoming decision may force the Trump administration to defend or concede restrictions on the pill, affecting the political climate for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Fifth Circuit Court, appointed by President Donald Trump, restricted mail and pharmacy access to mifepristone nationwide on May 1.
The Supreme Court issued an emergency stay three days later, restoring access while reviewing the case.
Louisiana claims it has “sovereign injury” standing to challenge the FDA’s approval of mifepristone by saying its abortion ban enforcement is hurt by mailed pills.
The Supreme Court previously dismissed a related challenge in 2024 due to lack of standing for plaintiffs not directly affected by the drug.
Legal experts question Louisiana’s standing, saying states cannot sue federal agencies just because they want stricter laws.
The case could keep abortion access a key issue in political campaigns during the midterm elections.
The Supreme Court’s decision could come within weeks or months, potentially in late June or early fall.
The dispute involves whether the court will uphold the Fifth Circuit’s restrictions or reject Louisiana’s legal argument.
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The price of petrol in the US has risen to an average of $4.48 per gallon, a 50% increase since the war between the US, Israel, and Iran began. The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, has caused crude oil shortages, driving prices up despite a temporary ceasefire.
Key Facts
Petrol prices increased by 31 cents in one week, reaching $4.48 per gallon.
Prices are 50% higher compared to before the US-Israel war on Iran started.
The Strait of Hormuz, where much of the world’s crude oil passes, has been blocked by the conflict.
Crude oil, the main raw material for petrol, has become harder to deliver due to the blockade.
Prices briefly fell during a ceasefire but started rising again as the conflict continued.
Experts say oil prices will stay high as long as the shipping route remains risky or blocked.
The rise in fuel prices has increased inflation and economic uncertainty in the US.
This situation has affected President Trump’s approval ratings amid public concern over the conflict and economy.
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and FBI Director Kash Patel disagreed over how the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance was handled. Patel said the FBI was kept out for four days and criticized the sheriff’s choices with evidence, while the sheriff’s department said they kept the FBI informed and made decisions based on police needs. Nancy Guthrie has been missing since January 31, and the case remains unsolved.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84 years old and mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, went missing near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31.
Authorities believe she was taken against her will and found blood drops on her front porch.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI was excluded from the investigation for the first four days.
Patel criticized Sheriff Nanos for sending DNA evidence to a lab in Florida instead of the FBI’s lab in Quantico.
The FBI helped obtain security camera footage showing a masked man on Guthrie’s porch.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said an FBI task force member was notified promptly and worked with local officers.
The sheriff’s office said evidence decisions were made based on operational needs and that the Florida lab worked closely with the FBI lab.
No suspect has been identified, and no major new leads have been announced since February.
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Gas prices in the U.S. have risen above $4.50 per gallon for the first time since July 2022. The average price is now $4.536, with California having the highest prices and Oklahoma the lowest.
Key Facts
The national average gas price reached $4.536 per gallon on Wednesday.
This is about 5 cents higher than the previous day’s average of $4.483.
California has the highest average gas price at $6.160 per gallon.
Oklahoma has the lowest average gas price at $3.962 per gallon.
Prices in both states are much higher than they were a month or a year ago.
Gas prices started rising after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.
Before the conflict, gas prices were falling and hit $2.98 per gallon on February 26.
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Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, was reported by the Times to have falsely claimed he was a British Red Cross spokesperson. Polanski said he spoke at events for the charity but admitted he used the wrong term and has removed the claim.
Key Facts
Zack Polanski became leader of the Green Party in September last year.
The Times published a story accusing him of falsely claiming to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross.
Polanski said he hosted fundraisers and spoke about the charity's work but was not an official spokesperson.
He accepted using the wrong word and removed the claim from his profile.
Polanski criticized the Times for an antisemitic cartoon about him and accused them of searching through his past for negative stories.
Polanski compared his scrutiny to that of Nigel Farage, another party leader with past scandals.
Several political leaders are campaigning ahead of elections, including Kemi Badenoch and Anas Sarwar.
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