The majority of House Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to defeat a Lebanon war powers resolution forced to the House floor by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).
Why it matters: It's a blow to the anti-war left just one day after the House passed a similar measure constraining Trump's ability to wage war in Iran.
A surprise federal inspection found a prohibited chokehold, an officer who stabbed a detainee with a pen, and other issues that threatened health and safety at one of the largest ICE detention facilities in the U.S.
Why it matters: Unannounced inspections are one of the few ways to get a clear look inside the detention facilities, which otherwise have limited access for oversight.
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Thursday unveiled a proposal to regulate AI that would override some state laws.
Why it matters: The draft's release is a major step in what will be a difficult path forward for a bipartisan AI bill that can pass the House and the Senate.
President Trump will formally nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to lead the Justice Department, with the paperwork expected Thursday.
Why it matters: Confirmation would keep the Justice Department in the hands of Trump's former criminal defense attorney, who has used his tenure to fight judges, indict former FBI director James Comey and dismiss critics of the department's handling of the Epstein files.
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that a copycat version of a heart drug didn't infringe on the brand-name equivalent's patents in a closely watched case over how generic medicines are labeled and sold.
Why it matters: The case focused on how to promote generic drug competition while also giving brand-name drugmakers the intellectual property protections they say they need to create new medicines.
Israel and Lebanon agreed Wednesdayto a full ceasefire, contingent on Hezbollah halting attacks and withdrawing its operatives from the area south of the Litani River in Lebanon, according to a joint statement from the U.S., Israel and Lebanon.
The big picture: Hezbollah rejected the terms Thursday after the Shia militia had initially said it would agree to a full ceasefire. Without Hezbollah's agreement, the ceasefire could stay "on paper."
With summer driving season here, let's revisit two big questions: why isn't the global oil crisis even worse, and how long until economic damage from the Iran war gets even more acute?
Why it matters: There's persistent risk of much higher prices and expanding shortages.
California is losing people from suburbs year after year, revealing a deeper demographic shift reshaping America's most populous state.
Why it matters: If California's commuter engines keep shrinking, the state risks losing the diverse workforce that powers its economy — while shifting political clout to the states where those families relocate.
Just when President Trump removed one thumb from the eye of Senate Republicans — scrapping his $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" — he put another right back in with his choice of Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence.
Why it matters: This time, the stakes are even higher: Democrats are threatening to let the government's spy powers lapse next week unless Trump yanks the appointment.
As AI changes the way the world gathers information, some critics say that it is perpetuating stereotypes and erasing cultural nuances for Indigenous groups and people of color.
Why it matters: Most mainstream models are trained on the work of Western writers — particularly white men — and regularly mimic those values, writing styles, viewpoints and biases.
President Trump has expanded military operations across multiple regions during his second term, with U.S. forces targeting drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific even as American and Iranian officials pursue a peace deal.
Why it matters: Trump's expanding military operations are testing whether his America First doctrine can accommodate a growing U.S. military footprint overseas.
President Trump plans to announce nearly $700 million in new federal support for coal-fired power and coal exports Thursday, Bloomberg first reported and the White House confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: Trump officials are looking to revive the electricity source that has long been declining in the U.S., and coal production has also been mostly falling for almost two decades.
Tensions in the House boiled over Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans alike fumed at Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for her push to pass a Lebanon war powers resolution.
Why it matters: The fight — which was already dividing Democrats — has now sparked an explosive cross-partisan exchange on the House floor that briefly ground the chamber to a halt.
