The federal judiciary's apex court.
E. Jean Carroll has received $5,625,005.48 that a 2023 jury awarded after finding Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The funds had been held in a court-controlled escrow account while Trump exhausted appeals and sought last-minute delays; his legal team is continuing challenges tied to a separate $83.3m judgment.
Charles Winters and other Black employees allege systematic racial discrimination at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Planet Fitness facilities, claiming reduced duties, stricter supervision, unlawful terminations, and denial of promotions. Lawsuits seek tens of millions in damages as the cases unfold in Los Angeles Superior Court and related venues.
The set of U.S. Supreme Court rulings since 2012 has made juvenile life-without-parole sentences vulnerable to retroactive review. In New Hampshire, the last of five inmates to be resentenced is undergoing a hearing as prosecutors decide what term to seek, with defenses urging 30–40 years and highlighting growth and remorse.
Meta has faced a federal lawsuit alleging its internal AI systems and monitoring tools discriminated against workers on legally protected leave in a May layoff round totaling about 8,000 jobs. The suit seeks an injunction to pause separations and an independent audit of the selection process while claims proceed in arbitration.
Civil rights leaders have announced a major demonstration in Washington, D.C. for Aug. 28, marking the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 march. The event, led by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, aims to press Congress after a Supreme Court ruling tightened voting rights protections and spurred state redistricting.
The White House reveals updated perimeter security plans, including fencing Lafayette Park and a new underground screening facility, as part of a broader modernization drive. Projects are advancing amid ongoing security concerns and dramatic architectural changes across Washington.
The Interior Department has finalized rules that require individualized protection plans for species added to the threatened list and mandate economic analyses for critical habitat. Critics warn the move could hamper wildlife recovery, while supporters say it balances conservation with development. Several species, including monarch butterflies and the grizzly bear, are cited in ongoing debates.
Haitian gangs control large parts of Port-au-Prince and rural areas, escalating violence and humanitarian needs. The U.N. and U.S. officials warn of a dire situation as Washington contemplates ending TPS for roughly 350,000 Haitians living in the United States and seeks international help for security and relief efforts.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear Kenneth Jouppi’s challenge to the seizure of his 1969 Cessna after a Alaska ruling upheld criminal forfeiture in a case stemming from a 2012 incident involving alcohol in a dry community.
The Justice Department is conducting a compliance review of Harvard University’s foreign funding disclosures to ensure it does not discriminate against American students in financial aid. Harvard says it does not unlawfully discriminate and is reviewing the DOJ notice as part of ongoing scrutiny of foreign money in U.S. higher education.
The Oversight Project has released roughly three hours of audio and 117 pages of heavily redacted transcripts of Joe Biden’s 2016–17 interviews with his ghostwriter for Promise Me, Dad. The recordings, obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s documents probe, show Biden discussing retained notes and at times struggling with dates and details; Republicans say the tapes prove decline, Biden calls the release political.
The U.S. appeals courts have ruled on cases involving noncitizen students and activists challenging deportation. The Fourth Circuit upholds due process protections for a Palestinian activist; the Second and Third Circuits have overturned lower-court releases, while authorities argue the cases hinge on immigration court jurisdiction.
Democrats have launched an affordability-focused campaign as 100 days remain before the midterms. Jeffries vows to cut living costs, emphasize healthcare, and crack down on price gouging while Democrats seek to regain a House majority amid concerns about Iran and economic pressures.
Courts have blocked Minnesota’s prediction market ban, while federal agencies push for broader regulation and states push back. The cases test federal preemption versus state gambling authority, with ongoing litigation and potential appeals shaping the future of event-contract markets.
The Secret Service has reported about 10,000 threatening cases against government officials so far in 2026, a roughly 40% rise from last year, and directors say the threat environment is at its highest level. Agencies are tightening security, investigating more mental-health cases and deploying new technology ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
A string of developments around testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has sparked a national conversation. The US military is considering testing service members’ testosterone levels and expanding access to TRT where clinically appropriate, while lawmakers and experts weigh safety, ethics and performance implications. Reports from AP News, CNBC, CNBC and other outlets indicate a widening trend in how TRT is discussed and regulated.
The European Commission has fined Google €890m for breaching the Digital Markets Act by self‑preferencing search results and blocking app developers from steering users away from Google Play. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate Section 301 trade investigation and threatened substantial tariffs, raising the prospect of fresh US‑EU trade tensions over tech regulation.
The United States has set 10% to 12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, arguing that they fail to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. The tariffs take effect as prior global levies expire, with India and others qualifying for lower rates after tightening enforcement.
The US has imposed new 10%–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, saying they have not effectively enforced bans on goods produced with forced labour. The levies replace expiring temporary duties and include product exemptions, while trading partners from Brazil to Australia have criticised the move and markets have reacted with caution.
A coalition of 25 US states has filed suit in the US Court of International Trade to stop 10–12.5% tariffs that took effect in July on goods from about 60 trading partners. Plaintiffs say the administration has used forced‑labour claims to recreate broad levies courts have already struck down; the White House says the duties are lawful under Section 301.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to lift an injunction blocking several provisions of Trump’s March executive order on voting procedures, keeping a lower-court ruling in effect as the case moves to appeal. The decision comes as states race to adjust ahead of upcoming elections.
The Supreme Court is being pressed as states challenge President Trump’s March executive order to create a national voter list and restrict mail ballots. Courts have blocked key provisions, while the administration seeks emergency relief ahead of the midterms.
Florida has carried out two lethal injections six hours apart, making this the first time the state executes two inmates in a single day in more than 60 years. The two men, James Aren Duckett (68) and Dominick Anthony Occhicone (80), are the 11th and 12th inmates executed in Florida in 2026 as Governor DeSantis accelerates the state’s death-penalty calendar.
The American Red Cross has declared a national blood-supply crisis as donations fall to a multi-year summer low. Hospitals face strained inventories, especially for type O blood, during the summer trauma season. Efforts to incentivize donations and explore prehospital transfusion payments are under way in the US and Canada.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted 8–5 to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a hearing on pandemic decisions and the origins of COVID‑19. Chairman Rand Paul has authorised sending the committees report to the DC US attorney for possible prosecution and has threatened to certify the citation to the Senate president if the chamber is not in session.
The Supreme Court has been asked to pause a large damages judgment against the Palestinian Authority and the PLO as they appeal a 2025 reinstatement of a case tied to 2002-04 Jerusalem attacks. Lower courts previously voided the verdict, then Congress updated the Anti-Terrorism Act; the high court’s action could impact funding for West Bank services.
The DOJ has repeatedly lost in federal courts as it seeks voter rolls and citizenship data to back President Trump’s election-security push. Courts across the country have rebuffed its requests, citing constitutional boundaries and procedural limits, while some states have begun sharing data that is publicly available. The legal battle continues as cases move toward potential Supreme Court review.
Amazon has disclosed a $600 million tariff refund in Q2 after a Supreme Court ruling found Trump-era tariffs illegal. The refunds, largely benefiting customers, will be issued automatically where specific charges can be traced. Most refunds will go to affected buyers, with third-party sellers absorbing the bulk of the levies.
The Federal Communications Commission has voted 2-1 to remove the statutory 39% national TV ownership cap and replace it with case-by-case reviews of proposed mergers. Chair Brendan Carr has said the change will let broadcasters scale up and invest in local news; Democrats and press advocates say the commission lacks authority and will spur consolidation and legal challenges.
The Massachusetts Senate has adopted a measure that would remove the existing list of conditions for late-term abortion, allowing it based on physicians’ professional judgment. Gov. Healey now faces signing the bill into law as debates continue over safety and access amid a shifting national landscape.
TPS protections for Haitians and other countries are being rolled back by a Supreme Court decision that leaves hundreds of thousands at risk. Work permits have expired or are in jeopardy, forcing employers to suspend workers as courts navigate the policy’s end.
At the National Urban League conference, Kamala Harris has proposed revisiting the Electoral College, expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices, and considering statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. She frames these ideas as part of a broader push to engage voters and recalibrate U.S. institutions ahead of midterm battles.
The United States has faced a wave of double-digit tariffs on 59 countries and the EU, arguing they curb forced-labor imports. Courts are being asked to halt the tariffs, with states seeking refunds while White House officials defend the measures as lawful responses to unfair practices. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that cast doubt on broader authority.
Four US-based rights organisations have filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging last year’s executive order that authorised US sanctions on International Criminal Court judges, prosecutors and groups that cooperate with the court. The complaint has argued the measures have forced them to curtail work, violated constitutional rights and unlawfully interfered with international justice.
Google has expanded its Play Age Signals API to Australia and Canada, with a global rollout by year-end. The tool lets developers share age ranges to tailor apps while preserving privacy. It is optional and relies on parental controls, aiming to satisfy evolving laws requiring age verification in app stores.
The administration has issued new orders aimed at restricting birth tourism and citizen eligibility criteria, while a federal appeals court has ordered construction on a White House ballroom to stop pending Congressional approval. The BBC’s Americast interview with Hunter Biden is being unpacked as part of the broader political scene.
The Trump administration has refunded about $100 billion of pre-cut tariff revenue after a Supreme Court ruling invalidated much of the IEEPA-based tariff regime. Refunds are continuing as trade authorities review remaining claims and importers provide banking details, while lawsuits challenge new duties.
Federal judges have blocked key parts of President Trump’s attempts to centralise voter-roll control and to curtail birthright citizenship, and lawyers have asked courts to treat his new August orders as violations of earlier injunctions. Separately, the Fifth Circuit has reversed a lower court ruling and restored Texas’s 2021 election restrictions.
The US Justice Department has found that Duke University School of Law used proxies for race in admissions, citing a probe that suggests Black or Hispanic applicants have a higher likelihood of admission than white or Asian applicants with the same credentials. The department seeks a voluntary settlement while Duke reviews the findings.
The Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to let construction on the president's 90,000 sq ft White House ballroom continue while courts hear challenges. A federal appeals court last week upheld an injunction requiring congressional approval for above‑ground work and stayed that order for 14 days. The administration argues the project includes vital security and military features and is roughly two‑thirds complete.
The Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 86–11, granting the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil and expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran. The bill now heads to the House, which will consider it after its August recess.
The White House has told Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Cook that the president is "considering" removing her and has given her until Aug. 26 to answer mortgage-fraud allegations. The letter, signed by Dan Scavino and dated Aug. 5, revives claims first raised in 2025 after the Supreme Court this year blocked an earlier firing attempt.
The Supreme Court justice has announced he will remain for another term, a move that reshapes the court's balance as Republicans look to confirm a potential successor before the next election cycle. The discussion comes amid ongoing debates over longevity, health, and the political dynamics surrounding the high court.
President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf as White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective Sept. 1. Scharf has served as White House staff secretary and chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; he has represented Trump in major cases, including at the Supreme Court. The change comes weeks after Trump elevated other former personal lawyers to senior legal roles.
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas, citing law-enforcement encounters, criminal activity and national-security concerns. Officials highlight cases including assault, DUI, theft and drug offenses, as well as birth-tourism concerns. The crackdown follows broader immigration enforcement and stricter vetting.
The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel has issued an opinion stating the president can exert executive privilege over communications with private advisers, including outside individuals. The memo argues confidentiality is essential for rapid decisionmaking, with potential implications for subpoenas and investigations if Democrats regain Congress.
The government has appealed via the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing that universal injunctions cannot align with CASA after a Supreme Court ruling last year. The majority of tariff refunds have already been paid; hundreds of orders have been issued by the Court of International Trade, and tens of thousands of importers may pursue further relief within the statute of limitations.
The administration has finalized a rule that ends federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming care for minors, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries. Mental health services remain funded. Seventeen states currently cover some degree of gender-affirming care under Medicaid and CHIP, while many hospitals have paused treatments.
The Supreme Court has refused to rehear Donald Trump’s defamation and sex-abuse verdict cases involving E. Jean Carroll. The latest order leaves the $5 million defamation verdict intact and maintains a separate $83.3 million defamation award under review. The decision follows two earlier denials of petitions to reconsider.
A Maryland judge has enjoined the ballot measure seeking to allow Democrats to redraw congressional lines, staying the ruling to allow an appeal. The case centers on deadlines and the scope of constitutional rules for redistricting. Democrats control seven of eight congressional seats; the case reflects a broader national clash over mid-decade redistricting.