Trump drags feet on drone deal with Ukraine, mystifying experts

By Ellen Mitchell

The Trump administration’s hesitancy in signing a major drone deal with Ukraine is slowing the U.S. military down in an area where it’s already trying to play catch-up.

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Democratic confidence surges with Turek’s Iowa Senate primary

By Sarah Fortinsky

Democrats are eyeing Iowa’s U.S. Senate race with renewed optimism after state Rep. Josh Turek secured his party’s nomination on Tuesday. They consider it their best chance to compete for the seat in years.

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Intoxicating hemp industry seeks rescue in Congress as ban looms

By Nathaniel Weixel

The intoxicating hemp industry and its allies are quickly running out of time to convince Congress to delay or stop a looming ban on their products. 

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Graham Platner’s troubles grow in Maine, and Democrats are increasingly nervous

By Amie Parnes and Julia Mueller

Democrats are questioning whether Graham Platner, the oyster farmer turned Maine Senate candidate, is quickly becoming a liability in one of the most important races in the upper chamber. 

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The Memo: Trump upends expectations with idea of meeting Iran’s supreme leader

By Niall Stanage

President Trump upended expectations yet again when he told reporters Thursday that he would be “honored” to meet Iran’s supreme leader in the event of a peace deal.

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Trump pardons ex-GOP lawmaker convicted in insider trading scheme

By Sophie Brams

President Trump granted a pardon this week to a former Republican lawmaker who was convicted of insider trading for using nonpublic information to buy stocks after leaving office, according to the White House.

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Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles spearheads wave of reality stars running for office

By Mallory Wilson

A new wave of celebrities are appearing on ballots across the country, showing just how far a famous face can carry a candidate to office with no political experience.

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Bill Maher taunts Trump over approval ratings: ‘I know he’s in a foul mood’

By Sophie Brams

Comedian Bill Maher joked on Friday that he can “always tell” President Trump’s temperament based on whether the president is attacking him on social media.

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Hegseth in D-Day speech warns Europe being ‘stormed’ by ‘dangerous ideologies’

By Sophie Brams

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged European leaders on Saturday to remain vigilant against the threat of what he described as “dangerous ideologies” coming to the continent, invoking the lessons of D-Day to warn about modern-day immigration.   

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Mental health must be part of cancer care

By Patrick J. Kennedy & Sheri Biller

OPINION | Millions of Americans live with mental health conditions, whether as a primary diagnosis or as part of a broader medical journey like cancer. As awareness for the importance of mental health grows, it’s time to confront a harder truth: awareness doesn’t always increase access to timely, high-quality, affordable care. 

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How doubt became a weapon against constitutional rights

By Eric Scarffe

OPINION | Four years after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the most important part of Justice Samuel Alito’s legacy may not be the end of Roe v. Wade, but the transformation of doubt into a constitutional weapon.

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The New York Times: Kennedy shows minimal engagement with vast health portfolio

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg

Shortly after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Africa a public health emergency, a reporter asked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if he was worried about the virus. Six Americans had already been exposed. His response was brief: “Yeah, we’re working on it.”

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The Wall Street Journal: Rahm Emanuel pedals hard to show vitality as aging potential 2028 candidate

By John McCormick

Rahm Emanuel has long been exercise-obsessed, swimming 3 to 4 miles a week, plus weight training, machine workouts and yoga. He put his vitality forward in a more public way over the weekend as he biked across a state vying to hold the first 2028 Democratic presidential nominating contest.

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Associated Press: First came Congress. Now a national redistricting battle may turn to statehouses and city councils

By AP

After a blitz of congressional redistricting ahead of the midterm elections, a national battle for partisan control is about to enter a new phase that could affect representation on everything from tax rates to social safety net programs, teacher salaries, housing regulations and local road repairs.

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The Washington Post: Hunter Biden has been talked about for years. Now on X, he isn't holding back.

By Amy B. Wang

Up until last month, Hunter Biden was most known for being a former president’s son whose well-documented substance abuse and legal troubles made him one of the GOP’s go-to bogeymen.

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