American political consultant and lobbyist, White House chief of staff since Jan 2025
The Mandelson files have been published, revealing extensive private communications with the prime minister and other officials. The government says disappearing messages are allowed if they do not affect record-keeping, while critics warn about gaps in transparency as MPs push for full disclosure.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge opening has been delayed as Canada and the United States resolve outstanding issues, with officials indicating a staged opening will occur later this week. Leaders stress cross-border cooperation and ongoing dialogue amid political tensions.
Presidential aides have faced renewed pressure as internal memos discuss suspending habeas corpus for unauthorized immigrants, prompting constitutional concerns and calls for clarity from Congress.
Recent reporting shows Donald Trump has publicly labeled Democrats and candidates allied with democratic socialism as “communists,” arguing this stance threatens religion and the American way of life. He cites New York primary victories by Mamdani-backed progressives as evidence of a leftward shift, while analysts warn the tactic risks conflating democratic socialism with communism.
The US Department of Commerce has lifted export controls on Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5, and Anthropic has begun restoring access. Mythos 5 has been cleared for a vetted group of US organisations; Fable 5 — redesigned with stronger safeguards — is being redeployed more broadly after testing and coordination with government officials.
Anthropic has redeployed Fable 5 globally with stronger safeguards after government export curbs, making the model available again to most customers while routing risky queries to weaker models. The move follows earlier shutdowns and a government order; industry and policymakers are watching how future frontier models will be released.
Anthropic has announced the restoration of access to Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 after the US Department of Commerce lifted export controls. The company says it will begin restoring access tomorrow, following government coordination to address security risks. The move follows previous restrictions amid concerns about safeguarding frontier AI models.
President Trump has begun flying a $400m Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar but used an older Air Force One during a July NATO trip after officials raised security concerns. The administration has launched a leak probe led by the FBI director and White House chief of staff; The New York Times reporters were subpoenaed as investigators sought sources about the jet's defensive capabilities.
Frontier AI models are set for stricter pre-release testing under a proposed US-led, industry-funded standards body modeled on FINRA. The plan envisions 30-day pre-release sharing with the body, a majority-independent board, and ongoing testing to curb cyber, bio and nuclear risks as the AI race intensifies.
President Trump has delivered a primetime address releasing declassified intelligence he says shows China acquired large volumes of U.S. voter data and that officials hid reports about foreign efforts to target U.S. elections. Journalists, former intelligence officials and state authorities have said the documents do not prove foreign actors altered 2020 vote counts and many of the administration's claims have been disputed.
The White House has hosted industry leaders to discuss a voluntary framework reviewing cybersecurity across the AI sector. OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are involved as the administration finalizes how frontier models will be evaluated under a forthcoming framework.
The Senate and House are pressing ahead with scheduling amid talks on government funding, crypto regulation, and voting integrity. Republicans push for votes on the SAVE Act and the CLARITY Act, while Democrats warn that bipartisan support is required to avert a lapse in funding and to address other urgent policy items.
Industry leaders warn that AI infrastructure investments have sparked a ferocious race among hyperscalers. Earnings calls show wide investor scepticism about when returns will materialise, even as compute demand remains strong.
Karoline Leavitt has announced she will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of August to spend more time with her two young children. President Donald Trump has said she will remain a top outside adviser and work with the Republican Party; the White House has not named an immediate successor.