Spotlight
Virginia, New Jersey elections could signal national political mood ahead of 2026 midterms
Voters in Virginia, New Jersey, and other states are heading to the polls Tuesday in high-stakes elections that could provide early indicators of the national political climate ten months into President Trump's second term and one year before the 2026 midterms.
Pentagon accused of paying Vietnam millions in ‘extortion’ scheme for POW records
Resolving cases of missing Americans from the Vietnam War remains a top priority of the Trump administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday during a visit to Hanoi -- even as critics accuse Vietnam of turning the humanitarian mission into a moneymaking operation.
China-Taiwan tensions: Trump says Beijing won’t act during his term
U.S. President Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured him that Beijing will not take military action toward unifying Taiwan with mainland China during Trump's presidency.
New York mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani leads race by double digits in final campaign push
New York mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani spent the final weekend of his campaign rallying supporters around his vision to transform the city by abolishing injustice and uplifting the poor.
Hegseth: Nuclear tests bolster credible strategic deterrence, lower risk of nuclear conflict
President Trump's decision to resume nuclear tests was needed to strengthen the credibility of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and will help prevent nuclear war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday.
Filibuster fight: Trump pushes nuclear option as shutdown enters second month
President Trump wants Senate Republicans to open the government by going around Democrats to end the legislative filibuster.
Why Gen Z is turning to 300-year-old Quaker silent worship in Philadelphia
Young people are flocking to Philadelphia's historic Arch Street Meeting House in unprecedented numbers, seeking refuge from modern chaos in the silent worship and social justice traditions of Quakerism, with attendance surging from 25 before the coronavirus pandemic to up to 100 today.
Death threats against ICE officers surge as Trump deportation plans ramp up
The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday said death threats against ICE personnel have increased 8,000% as the agency moves to carry out President Trump's deportation plans.
AP-NORC poll reveals stark generational divide on political violence concerns
A new AP-NORC poll reveals that younger Americans are significantly less concerned about political violence than older generations, despite this year's assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman in Minnesota.
Louvre security overhaul won’t be complete until 2030 after crown jewels heist
A daring daylight heist at Paris' Louvre museum that netted eight pieces of French crown jewels worth $102 million has exposed critical security failures, including outdated surveillance systems, expired camera permits and slow emergency response protocols that allowed thieves to strike and escape within minutes.
No more freebies: DHS ends automatic work permit renewals for migrants
The Department of Homeland Security's immigration agency will announce a new rule Wednesday requiring all migrants to go through a full revetting before their work permits can be renewed.
Putin tests nuclear-powered missile as Trump urges focus on peace deal with Ukraine
Russia tested a nuclear-powered missile that traveled thousands of miles as tensions escalated with the West over new sanctions and military aid to Ukraine.
Void pardons: House says Biden used autopen without proper authorization
A monthslong House investigation has concluded that President Biden "was losing command of himself" while in office and was not personally involved in many of the pardons, commutations and other executive actions signed by an autopen.
Alabama dedicates historic monuments to Rosa Parks and Helen Keller
Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller were unveiled recently on the Alabama Capitol grounds, marking the first monuments honoring women at the historic site.
Double disaster: Navy loses two aircraft in 30 minutes over South China Sea
A U.S. Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of one another in separate incidents on Sunday, military officials said.
Elite capture exposed: $530M in Chinese funds flow to U.S. schools with little oversight
China provided more than $530 million to top-ranked American universities in recent years, but the schools failed to disclose how the funds were spent, prompting concerns about foreign influence, according to an open-source intelligence report.
Misty Copeland, first Black female principal dancer, says goodbye to American Ballet Theatre
Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history, retired Wednesday night at a star-studded gala at Lincoln Center, marking the end of a trailblazing 25-year career that transformed perceptions of diversity in ballet.
More than 30 arrested in Mafia-linked gambling ring involving NBA players and coaches
Federal authorities executed a massive crackdown Thursday on illegal sports betting and rigged poker operations, arresting more than 30 people including Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier.
Merit returns: Princeton dumps test-optional policy, requires SAT scores again
Princeton University will again require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, bolstering a growing retreat from test-optional admissions policies nationwide.
Trump administration sanctions Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil oil companies over Ukraine war
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on two of Russia's largest oil companies Wednesday, targeting Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company and Lukoil OAO, along with their subsidiaries.
