The House has approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies
Democrats are developing "Project 2029," a policy blueprint for a future president, inspired by the conservative Project 2025. A key focus is combating the "annoyance economy," a term for frustrating business practices like hidden fees and difficult subscription cancellations, estimated to cost Americans $165 billion annually. Policy veterans Chad Maisel and Neale Mahoney are leading efforts to create regulations addressing these issues.
Extreme heat waves are causing roads to buckle and warp, leading to traffic disruptions and closures. Experts cite climate change as a driver of more frequent and intense heat, questioning the readiness of current infrastructure to withstand future climate conditions.
President Trump's long-standing criticisms of NATO, particularly regarding defense spending and burden-sharing, are expected to create a tense atmosphere at the upcoming summit in Turkey. Allies are focused on maintaining the alliance's cohesion amidst Trump's "transactional" foreign policy approach.
Descendants of Dred Scott and Chief Justice Roger Taney, who authored the infamous Dred Scott decision, met recently in Washington D.C. The meeting occurred as the Supreme Court grappled with birthright citizenship, a case that echoes the 1857 ruling.
US defense tech firm Forterra has deployed over 100 autonomous ATVs in Ukraine for nine months, marking a significant combat deployment of ground autonomy. These vehicles aid logistics, casualty evacuation, and operate in areas made dangerous by aerial drones, though full autonomy faces challenges with enemy threat identification.
Explosions occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit, wounding at least four people. Macron was meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the presidential palace when the blasts happened. This is the first major Western leader visit since al-Sharaa took power.
