Newsroom
Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General in 50-49 Vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning in a narrow 50-49 vote. Despite vocal concerns from both sides of the aisle regarding his independence, Blanche—who served as Donald Trump’s personal attorney—secured the position after pledging to dismantle a controversial $1.8 billion departmental fund.
Former UN Aid Chief Labels Gaza Conflict 'Worst Crime of the Century'
Martin Griffiths, the former United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, has publicly characterized the ongoing war in Gaza as a genocide. Speaking in a recent interview, he argued that the systematic starvation and destruction in the strip represent the most severe atrocity observed during the 21st century.
New York Times Clarification on Gazan Child Sparks Backlash
After facing intense pressure from Israeli officials and media watchdogs, The New York Times issued a clarification regarding a report on a malnourished Palestinian toddler, citing his preexisting medical condition. The decision has ignited a fierce debate over journalistic integrity and the framing of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Gaza Famine Denial Campaign
Conflict lead: Israeli officials and their international allies are now dismissing the reality of the Gaza famine as a hoax, citing a recent UNICEF report while ignoring the agency’s own warnings about the severe limitations of their data in a war-torn territory where access remains largely controlled by the military.
UN Food Expert Accuses Israel of Using Starvation as Genocide
A top United Nations human rights official has leveled a grave accusation against Israel, claiming the intentional starvation of Palestinians in Gaza constitutes an act of genocide. Michael Fakhri, the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, argues that the systematic destruction of food infrastructure is a deliberate war crime.
Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of Using Starvation as a Weapon
The Israeli government is deliberately and systematically obstructing food aid to the Gaza Strip, effectively starving children to death, according to a report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch. The findings, based on medical accounts and family testimony, frame the blockade as a direct violation of international law.
DuckDuckGo Mocks Meta with Tech-Free Anti-Surveillance Glasses
As Meta faces intensifying backlash over its AI-powered smart glasses, privacy-focused browser DuckDuckGo has launched a tongue-in-cheek alternative: a pair of matte black frames that do nothing but block the sun. The $35 shades sold out within a week, highlighting a growing public appetite for tech-free personal privacy.
New Mexico Judge Slaps Meta With $567 Million Fine Over Youth Harm
A First Judicial District judge has ordered Meta to pay $567 million in additional penalties, citing the tech giant's role in fueling a youth mental health crisis. The ruling follows a March jury verdict, bringing the total financial burden for the company in New Mexico to nearly $1 billion.
New Mexico Jury Orders Meta to Pay $375 Million Over Child Safety
A New Mexico state jury has ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties, finding the social media giant liable for prioritizing profits over the safety of children. The verdict follows a seven-week trial where prosecutors argued that the company knowingly ignored internal warnings about the harm its platforms inflict on minors.
MaineHealth Closes Key Maternity Unit Amid Growing Rural Care Crisis
The MaineHealth board voted Thursday to shutter the labor and delivery department at Lincoln Hospital, effectively creating a maternity desert across three counties. The decision, which follows months of intense grassroots opposition, marks the 12th such closure in the state since 2015 and has reignited calls for nationalized healthcare reform.
Troy Jackson Accuses Susan Collins of Political Theater Over Blanche Vote
Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson is calling out Senator Susan Collins for what he describes as a calculated shell game. Jackson claims Collins' public opposition to the confirmation of Todd Blanche for attorney general is a hollow gesture designed to appeal to Maine voters without actually affecting the outcome.
States Sue to Block Federal Wind Power Buyout
A coalition of seven state attorneys general launched a legal challenge Tuesday against the Trump administration, seeking to invalidate a $928 million taxpayer-funded agreement that incentivizes TotalEnergies to abandon major offshore wind projects in favor of fossil fuel infrastructure.
Trump Administration Halts Five Major Offshore Wind Projects
The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered an immediate pause on five major offshore wind farms along the East Coast, citing national security concerns. Officials claim that turbine blades and reflective towers create radar interference, a move that critics describe as a calculated strike against the renewable energy sector.
Trump Administration Pays $1 Billion to Halt Offshore Wind Projects
The Trump administration has finalized a deal to pay nearly $1 billion to French energy giant TotalEnergies, effectively incentivizing the company to abandon its offshore wind leases. The agreement redirects the firm’s focus toward expanding fossil fuel production in states like Texas instead of developing renewable energy off the East Coast.
RWE Abandons Offshore Wind Projects in $1.22 Billion Settlement
German energy giant RWE has agreed to relinquish its offshore wind leases off the coasts of New York, California, and Louisiana, securing a $1.22 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior that effectively redirects the company’s capital toward fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
Trump Administration Slashes Review Times for Fossil Fuel Projects
The Trump administration is fast-tracking oil and gas development by slashing federal review timelines to just 28 days, a move justified by the president’s declaration of a national energy emergency that critics argue bypasses essential public oversight and threatens protected lands across the United States.
DOJ Targets State Climate Laws Under Trump Energy Emergency Order
The U.S. Department of Justice launched a legal offensive against four states this week, citing a declared national energy emergency to block local efforts to hold fossil fuel giants accountable for climate-related damages. Critics describe the move as a strategic maneuver to shield industry players from rising state-level litigation.
US Renewable Energy Hits Record Highs Despite Federal Policy Rollbacks
Renewable energy production has reached historic milestones across the United States, defying a federal administration committed to dismantling clean power initiatives. In May, solar and wind power surged to unprecedented levels, with solar energy outpacing coal generation nationwide for the first time as several states reported renewables providing the majority of their electricity.
Solar Power Overtakes Coal in US Energy Milestone
In a significant shift for the American energy grid, solar power outpaced coal for the first time in May, supplying 12.8% of the nation's electricity compared to coal’s 12.2%. This milestone arrives despite a series of aggressive federal initiatives aimed at propping up the declining fossil fuel industry.
US Fossil Fuel Handouts Reach $34.8 Billion Under New Budget Law
A new report from Oil Change International reveals that the US government is funneling $34.8 billion into the fossil fuel industry this year, a figure poised to climb further due to the recent "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by President Donald Trump.
Appeals Court Blocks Construction of Trump’s White House Ballroom
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Donald Trump must halt most construction on his $400 million White House ballroom project. In a 2-1 decision, the court affirmed that the president acts as a temporary tenant of the executive residence and lacks the authority to modify the property without congressional approval.
GOP Drops $1 Billion Ballroom Funding Amid Trump Pressure on Senate
A controversial $1 billion allocation for a White House ballroom project has been stripped from the upcoming budget reconciliation package, even as Donald Trump publicly demanded the dismissal of the Senate parliamentarian for blocking the expenditure in an initial ruling.
Cassidy Backs Blanche, Undercutting Collins' Symbolic Opposition
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana announced his support for Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination on Friday, effectively neutralizing the opposition of Senator Susan Collins. By securing the necessary votes, Cassidy’s maneuver ensured that the public dissent from vulnerable GOP members remained largely symbolic rather than a genuine legislative roadblock.
Ansari Calls for Prosecution of Stephen Miller Over Citizenship Orders
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) is calling for an investigation into White House official Stephen Miller, labeling his latest executive push to restrict birthright citizenship an illegal act. The demand follows a new attempt by the administration to bypass Supreme Court rulings by narrowing the definitions of who qualifies for automatic citizenship.
Bernie Sanders Proposes 50% Tax on AI Giants to Create Public Wealth Fund
Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce legislation establishing a sovereign wealth fund, financed by a one-time 50% tax on major artificial intelligence firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. The proposed American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act aims to secure public ownership stakes in technology built on collective human labor.
AIPAC Stumbles in Illinois as Primary Spending Hits Record Highs
More than $92 million flooded Illinois primary elections this week, setting a state record for campaign spending. Amid this surge, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee failed to secure victories in its most expensive contests, highlighting growing friction between the lobbying group and the Democratic base.
Silicon Valley’s $125 Million Bet to Shape the Next Congress
With public skepticism of artificial intelligence surging, the industry’s primary super PAC, Leading the Future, has funneled $125 million into midterm races. A new tracker launched Wednesday by Demand Progress aims to expose which candidates are accepting these funds to block oversight and protect industry interests on Capitol Hill.
Greg Casar Calls for Democratic Split from AI Industry Lobbying
Comparing the influence of AI lobbyists to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Representative Greg Casar is urging fellow Democrats to reject campaign funds from tech-backed super PACs and is pushing a new legislative effort to defend American workers against AI-induced unemployment.
Illinois Candidates Allege Secretive AIPAC Spending in Primary Races
Progressive congressional candidates in Illinois have accused AIPAC of deploying stealth tactics to influence local races, alleging the pro-Israel lobby is funneling money through shell organizations to avoid the political toxicity now associated with its brand among Democratic voters.
Washington Democrats Join 'Uncommitted' Push to Challenge Biden on Gaza
With primary ballots open in Washington and Georgia, a growing contingent of Democratic voters is opting for 'uncommitted' or blank ballots to protest the Biden administration’s military support for Israel, signaling deepening fractures within the party over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.