Trump spends day campaigning in Ohio and Kentucky on day 13 of the Iran war, targeting Rep. Massie for forcing Epstein file release and challenging war powers.
Pentagon bans press photographers from war briefings after Hegseth’s staff complained published photos were unflattering.
Pentagon tells Congress the Iran war cost $11.3 billion in its first 6 days as Trump declares “we’ve won” on day 13.
Protest group installs Trump-Epstein “Titanic” statue on the National Mall with giant banners parodying Trump’s portraits on federal buildings.
Senate investigates husband of DHS spokesperson for his role in the $143 million Noem ad campaign, awarded no-bid to a firm incorporated seven days before the contract.
Trump’s State Department nominee Jeremy Carl withdraws after senators pressed him on past comments promoting “white identity” and even Republicans withheld support.
Trump appoints Charlie Kirk’s widow to Air Force Academy board without announcement, weeks before it may vote on recommending her late husband for an honorary degree.
Speaker Johnson declines to condemn GOP members who said Muslims “don’t belong” in America, calling their remarks “popular sentiment” about Sharia law during the Iran war.
IEA proposes largest emergency oil release in its history to counter Iran war price spike as G7 backs the plan, but crude prices keep climbing.
DHS restores Global Entry after three-week suspension during shutdown while blaming Democrats for the disruptions its own decision created.
AG Bondi moved to military base housing after receiving threats tied to the Maduro capture and her handling of the Epstein files.
Two suspects fire handgun at U.S. Consulate in Toronto in what RCMP calls a “national security incident,” the third attack on a U.S. diplomatic facility in four days.
Senate confirms Gen. Joshua Rudd to lead NSA and Cyber Command 71-29, ending an 11-month vacancy created when Laura Loomer pushed to fire his predecessor.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Blair privately urges House Republicans to stop saying “mass deportations” as new polls show nearly 60% disapprove of ICE after Minneapolis killings.
Whistleblower alleges former DOGE engineer took Social Security databases covering 500 million Americans on a thumb drive, told colleagues he expected a presidential pardon if caught.
Federal judges decline to retain interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel in Milwaukee after Sen. Baldwin called the former Republican AG a “clearly partisan actor.”
D.C. Bar files ethics complaint against DOJ Pardons Attorney Ed Martin for threatening Georgetown Law over DEI, then trying to derail his own disciplinary investigation.
Smartmatic calls DOJ bribery case political retaliation, noting the administration dropped other foreign bribery prosecutions as policy while pursuing this one.
FDA rejects autism use for drug its own commissioner promoted, approves it only for rare genetic condition affecting fewer than one in a million.
Energy Secretary Wright falsely posts that the Navy escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, then deletes it after the White House confirms no escorts have occurred.
Iran declares Middle East banks military targets and vows to block all oil exports as Pentagon reveals 140 U.S. service members wounded in 12-day war.
Hegseth orders all Pentagon supervisors to push civilian employees to volunteer for immigration enforcement, requiring senior approval to deny requests during an active war.
Second federal judge in one week restricts Portland ICE agents’ use of tear gas, this time protecting nonviolent protesters and journalists with class-action status.
Federal judge blocks DOJ rule that would have automatically dismissed most immigration appeals within 10 days, calling it devoid of “meaningful consideration.”
Trump’s two eldest sons back new drone company targeting $1.1 billion in Pentagon contracts created by their father’s drone initiatives and Chinese drone ban.
New Mexico investigators search Jeffrey Epstein’s former Zorro Ranch as part of reopened criminal investigation into allegations of illegal activity including body burials.
Tennessee Rep. Ogles says Muslims “don’t belong in American society,” calls for deporting a naturalized U.S. citizen mayor, as Sharia Free America Caucus escalates anti-Muslim rhetoric during Iran war.
FBI subpoenas Arizona Senate records from debunked 2020 election audit, the second swing state targeted after January’s Georgia raid.
ICE awards $426 million in contracts to two firms with no detention experience to convert warehouses into holding centers for up to 10,000 migrants each.
Justice Jackson publicly criticizes Supreme Court’s emergency rulings favoring Trump, saying the shadow docket is “not serving the court or this country well.”
Justice Department settles with Live Nation mid-trial without telling 28 state co-plaintiffs or the judge, who calls it “absolute disrespect for the court.”
Anthropic sues over a dozen federal agencies and Pentagon leaders, calling its blacklisting for refusing to allow autonomous weapons and mass surveillance unconstitutional retaliation.
White House cites alcohol and harassment to justify NTSB firing two days after giving no reason for removing lead investigator of the DC midair crash.
Federal judge disqualifies all three leaders of New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, ruling they were installed to circumvent Senate confirmation after Habba was barred.
California Rep. Kevin Kiley leaves Republican Party to serve as an independent, becoming the only independent member of the House.
Rubio designates Afghanistan as second country labeled a state sponsor of wrongful detention, enabling sanctions over Taliban’s imprisonment of Americans.
Trump tells House Republicans the SAVE Act will “guarantee the midterms,” demands expanded bill with mail-in ballot restrictions and transgender sports ban before he signs any legislation.
Trump tells GOP lawmakers the Iran war will be a “short-term excursion,” then hours later threatens to hit Iran twenty times harder if oil stops flowing through Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Organization trademarks “Trump 250” to sell golf balls, tote bags, and drinkware, branding America’s 250th anniversary as a private business venture.
Enrique Tarrio, former Proud Boys leader pardoned after 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack, attends diplomatic Shield of the Americas summit and meets Rubio.
Trump announces he will refuse to sign any legislation until Senate passes the SAVE Act, demanding federal control over state-run elections with mandatory voter ID, proof of citizenship, and near-elimination of mail-in ballots.
Federal judge orders ICE to justify arrest of Nashville journalist who covered immigration raids the day before she was detained, after attorneys call crumpled, unserved warrant unconstitutional.
Oil tops $100 for first time since 2022 after Iraq production collapses 70% and Gulf states run out of storage, while Trump calls the surge “a very small price to pay.”
Airports tell travelers to arrive 4-5 hours early as security delays mount in second government shutdown in five months, with TSA workers again going unpaid.
NYPD confirms improvised explosive device was thrown into crowd during dueling protests outside Gracie Mansion after far-right group organized anti-Muslim rally during Iran war.
Ukraine sends drone defense experts to protect US military bases in Jordan after American request Thursday, Zelenskyy tells New York Times.
Two sanctioned Iranian ships loaded with suspected missile fuel chemicals depart Chinese port bound for Iran as Beijing chooses not to intervene in war.
Video shows what weapons experts identify as a US Tomahawk cruise missile hitting the Iranian compound where 175 students and staff died, as Trump continues to blame Iran.
Explosion hits US embassy entrance in Oslo overnight, shattering glass and prompting Norway to reinforce security around Iranian and Jewish populations.
White House fires NTSB board member two years into five-year term with no reason given, after he led the DC midair crash response that killed 67.
