Key Events (10)
The Trump administration filed a new lawsuit against Harvard University alleging the Ivy League institution violated civil rights of Jewish and Israeli people in the aftermath of the war in Gaza. The administration had spent months investigating the university and the two sides had been in talks to negotiate a settlement.
Trump claimed he had no advance knowledge of Israel's plan to strike Iran's South Pars gasfield, exposing a rift between U.S. and Israeli strategic objectives in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The U.S. and Israel are beginning to show different priorities regarding Iran, with the U.S. viewing the situation through global strategic interests while Israel takes a more regional approach.
During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House, Trump made a controversial joke about Pearl Harbor in response to a question about the Iran war, saying 'Who knows better about surprise than Japan?' The remark elicited scorn and dismay in Japan, with concerns it could harm U.S.-Japan relations.
A federal judge ruled that RFK Jr., Trump's health secretary, overstepped his authority when issuing a declaration that gender-affirming treatments are unsafe. The judge determined he did not go through proper procedures when making the declaration.
The U.S. health department is investigating 13 states that require insurance plans to cover abortion, looking into alleged disregard or confusion about the federal Weldon amendment. This action reflects the administration's effort to restrict abortion coverage.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. may remove sanctions on Iranian oil stranded in tankers to increase oil supply and bring down prices, though the long-term effects remain uncertain. This comes as markets have declined over four consecutive weeks due to the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.
Travelers in the U.S. continue to face significant delays at airport security amid a DHS shutdown, with staffing shortages intensifying screening times as TSA workers have gone weeks without pay.
Democrat Senator John Fetterman voted to advance the nomination of Markwayne Mullin, drawing outrage from fellow Democrats and calls for his resignation. Fetterman has been characterized as Trump's 'favorite Democrat.'
A father of a U.S. military member killed in a refueling tanker crash disputed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that relatives of service members told him to 'do not stop until the job is done' in Iran. The dispute raised questions about Hegseth's characterization of military families' positions.
The national intelligence director testified that a voting machine seizure in Puerto Rico was requested by a U.S. attorney who has been attempting to revive 2020 election conspiracy theories, raising questions about the role of Venezuelan conspiracy narratives in the Trump administration's actions.