American politician and lawyer, governor of New York since 2021
Zoox has received a temporary NHTSA exemption that allows it to charge fares for its purpose-built robotaxis and will start paid rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10. The company can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years under enhanced federal oversight while state and local approvals remain required for expansion.
Australia’s under‑16 social-media ban shows limited early success. A regulator’s three‑month follow‑up finds most youths retain or recreate accounts; age-checks remain weak and offline activity has shifted little. Governments may tighten enforcement and penalties.
New York state officials have filed a state Supreme Court lawsuit against Kalshi, alleging the prediction market platform operates illegally without a Gaming Commission license, endangers consumers, and should forfeit gains and pay restitution and penalties. The action adds to a broader clash over how prediction markets are regulated between states and the federal government.
An appellate court in Brooklyn has stayed a Staten Island judge's temporary restraining order and briefly allowed New York City's new pied‑à‑terre surcharge rollout to resume while the city seeks an appeal. The lawsuit challenges the administration's notification and list release; the city has argued the pause would derail time‑sensitive implementation.
The Northern District of New York has ruled that New York’s face-covering and identification measures in its law enforcement policy, enacted in the state budget, are likely unconstitutional because they conflict with the supremacy clause. The ruling follows California’s earlier block of a similar law.
New York City’s pied-à-terre tax is under court challenge after a Staten Island judge temporarily halted its rollout. Mayor Mamdani defends the policy as a revenue tool while President Trump has called for federal intervention. The city plans an appeal, arguing the pause threatens time-sensitive implementation.
Texas Governor has ordered audits of data-center projects seeking grid connections. ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission are reviewing more than 1,800 interconnection requests, the vast majority from data centers. The move aims to verify power and water use, tax incentives and community impacts, and could deny connections to projects that do not comply.
New York officials are weighing participation in a federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. Pro- and anti-school-choice coalitions are mounting campaigns as the state evaluates whether to opt in. The program would provide a 100% federal tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations, potentially funding private and religious schooling while public schools defend their budgets.
State prosecutors allege Kalshi has offered prediction markets without a license, exposing New York residents to financial risk and evading taxes. The suit seeks to block operations in New York and restitution for affected customers, as regulators clash over federal preemption and state authority.
The DOJ has dismissed felony and misdemeanor charges related to damage to the Reflecting Pool, citing flawed installation by the contractor as the cause rather than vandalism. Trump has criticized the decision, while defendants pursue remedies and further investigations.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and sworn in at the White House. He has served as acting attorney general since April, previously represented the president, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund while facing criticism that he is politicising the Justice Department and presiding over mass departures.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to spend up to $20 million to outfit ICE officers and agents with CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E. gloves that deliver electrical shocks to gain quick compliance. The devices, produced by Compliant Technologies, are intended as a non-lethal de-escalation tool but have drawn civil rights concerns and questions about misuse. Training and policy work are ongoing, with some jurisdictions already using similar devices.
Flock Safety has announced mandatory changes to its national license-plate camera network after reporting dozens of US officers misused the system. The company has shortened default data retention from 30 days to seven, will require case codes for searches and will force all customers to enable an audit tool that can lock out flagged users.
Washington state has obtained a preliminary injunction against Kalshi, barring most wagers on sports, elections, and related topics. Kalshi must implement geofencing by Sept. 2 and faces penalties if it fails. The case highlights a clash between state regulators and federal oversight over prediction markets, with the CFTC declaring a market emergency amid pressure from New York’s lawsuit.
Reports show a continued decline in violent crime and property crime across the U.S., with homicide hitting near historic lows. President Trump has spotlighted these figures on a campaign stop, while experts caution that the reasons behind the trend are complex and not tied to any single policy.
The NYPD says two hate-crime incidents at Orthodox synagogues are under investigation after bags of motor oil were thrown at two Brooklyn/Queens temples. Authorities are ramping up security as antisemitic incidents rise; a Bronx suspect has been linked to a separate deli shooting and a wider spree is under review.
State Senator Aisha Wahab has won the special election to serve the remainder of Eric Swalwell’s term in California’s 14th district. She will take the seat through January and will face Melissa Hernandez again in November for a full term. Outside groups tied to AIPAC spent millions supporting Hernandez; Wahab called the spending an attempt to buy the seat.
Texas politics are shifting as districts face rising backlash over data centers. A four-point plan aims to curb Chinese tech, protect children, and cut tax exemptions, while opponents accuse leaders of courting big tech and dodging local concerns. Polls show broad cross‑party opposition to new centers, potentially altering the 2026 midterms and beyond.
Jessica Bowie has been arrested in Albany after an FBI counterterrorism operation foiled her plan to bomb the New York State Capitol using an inert explosive in a DoorDash bag. She has pledged allegiance to ISIS and is under heavy investigation for radicalization online.
Federal prosecutors have charged Jessica Bowie, 35, with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organisation after she told an FBI informant she planned to bomb the New York State Capitol, kill senators and flee to Syria. Bowie has been accused of conducting reconnaissance, buying bomb materials and discussing disguises with undercover operatives before her arrest on Aug. 19.
Canada has matched the United States’ 50% tariffs on a broad range of goods, escalating a tense trade war. Ottawa says it will apply counter-tariffs across sectors including steel, dairy, appliances and electronics, while promising support for affected businesses as talks stall. The row centers on autos, housing materials and consumer items, with markets reacting to the broader clash over sovereignty and trade rules.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
The Army’s Janus program has selected five companies to develop microreactors, aiming to deliver reliable baseload power to installations and spur civilian adoption. Antares Nuclear leads the first deployment at Fort Bragg, with projects across Fort Drum and other sites; approvals and regulatory steps are being aligned to support rapid deployment.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has discussed housing, immigration and affordability with Jared Kushner in a private meeting, prompting questions about strategy and the left’s expectations as Democrats prepare for a potential return to the House. The talk highlights tensions over healthcare policy and party unity ahead of a possible midterm shift.
Trump signs an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America in the US; critics say the move echoes past rebrand efforts and ignores bilateral tensions with Canada amid tariffs and a stalled Iran conflict. The change applies to US government materials, with unclear uptake by businesses and states.
President Trump has ordered the U.S. government to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Google has updated Google Maps to show “Lake America” to U.S. users by following the U.S. Geographic Names Information System. Apple has not publicly changed its label for U.S. users and MapQuest has refused to adopt the new name, drawing a surge in downloads and criticism from Canadian officials.
Leaders say AI infrastructure remains critical while opposition grows. Polls show broad public concern over energy, water use and local impacts as politicians push for permits and pauses.
Authorities push for biometric entry-exit checks as 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. New data show operations have yielded thousands of arrests under Operation Rotten Apple, prompting calls for faster, broader biometric screening at land and air ports.
The acting Navy secretary has been nominated by the president to a permanent post as U.S. forces confront intensified strikes with Iran. The Lincoln has spent nine months at sea, while domestic political shifts accompany the military movements.