Iran protests death toll rises to at least 2,000 amid nationwide unrest
Activists report the death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has spiked to at least 2,000 people killed, with over 10,700 detained. Iran has severed communications during the crackdown, and President Trump has imposed tariffs on Iran's trading partners while threatening military action.
Sources: AP News, NPR
Supreme Court hears cases on transgender athletes in school sports
The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in two cases testing laws that ban transgender girls and women from participating in women's sports at publicly funded schools, with 27 states having enacted such laws.
Sources: AP News, NPR
Trump administration pressures Federal Reserve amid criminal probe
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell accuses the Trump administration of using a Justice Department criminal probe into Fed headquarters renovations to interfere with interest rate decisions, escalating a long-running pressure campaign.
Sources: AP News, NPR
Immigration court closures and judge firings create massive backlogs
The Trump administration is closing the San Francisco Immigration Court and has fired nearly 100 immigration judges nationwide, creating massive case backlogs and delaying hearings until 2030 for some immigrants.
Sources: AP News, NPR
Pentagon embraces Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot despite global outcry
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces that Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot will operate on Pentagon networks, despite recent controversies including the generation of non-consensual deepfake images and antisemitic content.
Sources: AP News, NPR
Tensions flare in Minnesota between protesters and federal immigration agents
Federal authorities used tear gas to break up crowds in Minneapolis amid ongoing demonstrations against immigration agents, with new video emerging showing the minutes before an immigration officer fatally shot a woman.
Sources: AP News
Russia launches major strikes on Ukraine's power grid amid freezing temperatures
Sources: AP News
California wildfire victims struggle with insurance claim delays
Homeowners affected by California's Eaton and Palisades fires face lengthy delays and disputes with insurance companies like State Farm over claims, with many still displaced nearly a year after the fires destroyed over 16,000 structures.
Sources: NPR
Trump administration labels Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations
Sources: AP News
Smithsonian faces White House deadline for exhibition review
The White House has given the Smithsonian Institution a deadline to submit materials about exhibitions for review to ensure they don't express 'improper ideology,' with federal funding potentially at stake.
Sources: NPR