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NTD News Today

325 episodes — Page 6 of 7

Iran–Israel Cease-Fire Back in Effect, Says Trump; RFK Jr. Testifies for HHS's 2026 Budget Request

President Donald Trump criticized Israel on Tuesday for its military response in the wake of a cease-fire deal and accused both Israel and Iran of violating the agreement just hours after he had announced it. Before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump urged both sides to "calm down." Trump said that Israel will abide by the cease-fire.“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” he wrote on Truth Social.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is due to testify on Tuesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee panel regarding the department's budget request for fiscal year 2026. Lawmakers are set to question Kennedy about the budget request's proposal to overhaul multiple agencies within the department.

Jun 24, 202545 min

Iran Threatens Response After US Strikes Nuclear Sites; Israel Struck Tehran's Evin Prison

Iran said on Monday it has expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces after the United States attacked three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said, “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”The State Department has issued a “worldwide caution” for U.S. citizens living abroad. In a Sunday alert, the department warned of potential demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests around the world. “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the bulletin stated, as it called on U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise “increased caution.”Israel hit Iranian government targets in Tehran on Monday in a series of strikes. The attack came after Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. Israel’s Defense Ministry said it hit targets that included the notorious Evin Prison in the Iranian capital and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards. The Israeli military also confirmed it struck roads around Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility to obstruct access to the site.

Jun 23, 202545 min

America Joins Israel in Striking Iran; Congress, China, and Global Oil Market Respond

The U.S. strikes nuclear targets in Iran, officially joining Israel in the fight against the Islamist regime in Tehran. Arian Pasdar joins us live with the latest on last night's operation.In the fallout on Capitol Hill, President Trump declared a "very successful" strike on Iran, sparking fierce reaction from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.Is it possible to completely dismantle Iran’s nuclear program without a regime change? And can the conflict be resolved without leading to war? We discuss this with our expert panel.China is condemning the United States for its weekend airstrikes on the Iranian nuclear facilities. How could the attack on Iran impact China and global oil supplies?A heat wave is set to hit millions of Americans in the coming days. Here's what we know about the hot temperatures that will affect parts of the midwest and east.

Jun 22, 20251h 37m

Israel, Iran Launch New Strikes, Diplomatic Efforts Underway; SCOTUS Allows Terrorism Victims to Sue in U.S. Courts

Israel says it has conducted further airstrikes in Iran, hitting industrial sites used to manufacture missiles. An Israeli paramedic service said Iranian missiles struck a residential area in southern Israel, causing damage to buildings. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appears to be traveling to Geneva for meetings with the European Union’s top diplomat and counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany.The U.S. Supreme Court on June 20 unanimously upheld a law that empowers Americans harmed by terrorist attacks abroad to sue in U.S. courts. The majority opinion in the 9–0 decision was written by Chief Justice Roberts. The decision reverses a federal appeals court that found U.S. courts lacked authority to hear cases based on terrorist attacks taking place outside the country.

Jun 20, 202549 min

Trump Signs Executive Order Extending TikTok Deadline; Iranian Missile Damages Hospital in Israel

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he extended the June 19 deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the U.S. assets of short-video app TikTok for 90 more days. "I've just signed the Executive Order extending the Deadline for the TikTok closing for 90 days (September 17, 2025)," he said in a Truth Social post, which included a copy of the document.An Iranian missile hit the main hospital in southern Israel early on Thursday, causing “extensive damage” but no serious injuries, the medical facility said. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz blamed Iranian leader Ali Khamenei for the strikes and said the Israeli military “has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.”The U.S. State Department announced new vetting requirements on June 18, including social media screening for all student visa applicants. While student visa interviews—previously paused as the government reviewed its visa policy—have resumed, applicants will now be expected to set their social media profiles to “public” to allow screening by U.S. diplomatic officials. Failure to do so could be interpreted as an effort to conceal certain online activity.

Jun 19, 202549 min

Trump Says It's 'late to Be Talking' With Iran; Fed Set to Hold Rates Steady

President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to answer reporters' questions on whether the U.S. was planning to strike Iran or its nuclear facilities, and said the Iranians had reached out but he feels "it's very late to be talking."Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has warned that the United States would face “irreparable harm” if the U.S. military were to join Israel’s attacks on Iranian targets and rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Iran's “unconditional surrender.” The statement follows a post by Trump on Truth Social saying the United States knows exactly where Khamenei is hiding and that he'd be an easy target—but that he's safe for now.The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday as its policymakers assess signs of a cooling economy, the risk of higher inflation from U.S. import tariffs, and the escalating crisis in the Middle East. The current benchmark interest rate was set at the 4.25 percent to 4.5 percent range in December.

Jun 18, 202548 min

Trump Wants 'Real End' to Iran Nuclear Program; Over a Dozen Killed in Russian Attack on Kyiv

President Donald Trump has said that he wants a genuine end to Iran’s nuclear program, dismissing French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that the United States had made an offer to secure a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. Trump later posted on Truth Social that his early departure from the G7 summit in Canada had nothing to do with a cease-fire in the Israel–Iran conflict. In a subsequent post, Trump said that he had not contacted the Iranian government to engage in any form of peace talks.Russia flattened a section of an apartment block in Kyiv in its deadliest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year, part of a huge barrage of hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles that killed at least 16 people and wounded 124 others. Ukrainian officials declared a day of mourning on Wednesday for the victims of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as one of the most horrific attacks on the capital since the start of the war.The man charged with killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another had dozens of apparent targets, including officials in at least three other states. Suspect Vance Boelter allegedly made it to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the attacks. However, one was on vacation while the suspect left the other house after police arrived, acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said on Monday.

Jun 17, 202547 min

Minnesota Shooting Suspect to Appear in Court; All Eyes on Trump as G7 Summit Begins

A man accused of killing a Democratic state lawmaker while posing as a police officer is expected to appear in a Minnesota court on Monday afternoon on state murder charges, after a massive two-day manhunt ended with his arrest on Sunday night.President Donald Trump arrived in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday for the G7 summit. Over the three-day summit meeting, Trump will engage with the leaders of six of the world’s most advanced economies to tackle pressing economic challenges and escalating geopolitical crises—with a particular focus on the Middle East, given the recent escalation to direct conflict. This year’s gathering unfolds against the backdrop of active conflict between Israel and Iran, with both countries exchanging strikes for a third consecutive day as of June 15.Iran fired a new wave of missile attacks at Israel early on Monday, triggering air raid sirens across the country as emergency services reported at least five killed and dozens more wounded in the fourth day of a conflict between the two countries that showed no sign of slowing. Iran said on Sunday that Israel had struck oil refineries, killed the intelligence chief of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, and hit population centers in intensive aerial attacks.

Jun 16, 202549 min

Military Parade Rolls Through D.C. Amid Nationwide Protests; 5 Top Health Tips for Dad on Father's Day

The U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade marched through downtown Washington on Saturday—but protests cast a shadow over the celebration.The National Mall buzzed with festivities for the Army’s 250th birthday. NTD's Melina Wisecup brings you the sights and sounds from the heart of the celebration.As Israel and Iran exchange direct missile strikes for a third consecutive day, the world watches closely. Our expert panelists discuss what the strategic aims are behind the escalation, and how the United States is responding.A historic U.S.–China trade deal has been finalized: U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will remain as high as 55 percent, while China has agreed to supply rare earth minerals and magnets. Our expert panelists discuss what this means for American businesses and consumers.You might be straining your eyes without even realizing it. Here’s how to find your true lens prescription—and give your vision the relief it deserves.And with Father’s Day coming up, it's the perfect opportunity to help the men you love put their health first. We’ve got some simple tips to get started.

Jun 15, 20251h 35m

Trump Urges Iran to Make Deal; Oil Prices Surge After Israel Strikes; Search for Answers as Air India Black Box Recovered

Israel launched large-scale strikes against military and nuclear targets in Iran on Friday. President Donald Trump suggested that Iran had brought the attack upon itself by resisting U.S. demands in talks to restrict its nuclear program, and urged it to make a deal, "with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal." Washington said it had no part in the operation. Oil prices jumped nearly 9 percent on Friday to near multi-month highs after the Israeli strikes.A black box has been recovered from the crash site of the Air India aircraft that went down on June 12 in India's western city of Ahmedabad, according to two police sources. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has begun its investigation into the cause of the crash of the Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board, which crashed moments after it took off, the country's Civil Aviation Minister said on Thursday.

Jun 13, 202545 min

Air India Plane Crashes Near Ahmedabad Airport; Sanctuary State Governors Testify Before Congress

At least 30 people were killed when an Air India plane bound for London with 242 people on board crashed in a residential area minutes after taking off from the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, with the toll expected to climb further, authorities said. The plane was headed for Gatwick Airport, which lies south of the British capital.The governors of New York, Illinois, and Minnesota are due to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday after days of protests in downtown Los Angeles over the Trump administration's enforcement of immigration law. The 3 states are among the 14 states and the hundreds of cities and counties recently listed by the Department of Homeland Security as “sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.” The list was later removed from the department’s website after criticism that it mistakenly included some local governments that support the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Jun 12, 202535 min

President Trump Confirms US–China Trade Deal; Protests Against ICE Operations Spread to More Cities

President Donald Trump says the United States has reached a deal with China as both sides wrapped up their trade talks in London. In a Truth Social post, the president confirmed that the agreement will ensure China supplies the necessary rare earths and full magnets. “We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!” the president wrote in all caps.Protests that began in Los Angeles against immigration enforcement operations spread to more cities on Tuesday, with further demonstrations planned for this weekend. Protesters have begun gathering in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Washington, and Chicago, and are calling for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting illegal immigrants. In some locations, demonstrators have clashed with law enforcement, and protesters have been arrested.Elon Musk has stepped back from his recent feud with President Donald Trump. Musk wrote on social media platform X: "I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far." He did not say which specific posts he meant, though he has deleted several that were critical of Trump. One of those signaled support for impeaching the president.

Jun 11, 202549 min

Secretary Hegseth Testifies Before Congress; Trump to Mark Army Milestone Amid LA Riots

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Lawmakers are expected to ask Hegseth about the military's deployment to Los Angeles amid the current riots, the department's budget request for fiscal year 2026, and other issues.President Donald Trump on Tuesday will visit Fort Bragg, home to about 50,000 active-duty soldiers, to speak to U.S. soldiers ahead of a major celebration on Saturday in Washington—a long-scheduled commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. Trump has mobilized 700 Marine Corps soldiers and another 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles as the unrest enters its fifth day.Nine people were killed in a shooting at a school in the city of Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, according to the city’s mayor, Elke Kahr. The suspected perpetrator also died in the incident, making a total of 10 deaths so far, according to Kahr. The fatalities include several students and at least one adult. Kahr said that many people were taken to hospitals with injuries.

Jun 10, 202542 min

Los Angeles Police Order Protesters to Go Home; US and China Holding Trade Talks in London

Police declared all of downtown Los Angeles to be an unlawful assembly area and ordered protesters to go home on Sunday night after a third day of violence hit protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Authorities in Los Angeles said some protesters had thrown concrete projectiles, bottles, and other items at police.High-level delegations from the United States and China are meeting in London on Monday in a renewed effort to break the deadlock after last month’s Geneva talks failed to produce meaningful results. A delegation led by the Chinese regime's vice premier, He Lifeng, is due to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at an undisclosed location in the city. The talks are due to last at least a day.

Jun 9, 202548 min

Demonstrators Protest Against ICE in Manhattan and California

LA Immigration Prtests & National Guard DeploymentProtests in California against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations took a violent turn, prompting the federal government to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Clashes and arrests followed, and state officials condemned the move as inflammatory.Secretary Noem’s Efforts Against Illegal ImmigrationAs Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem has swiftly curbed illegal immigration and increased deportations. Legal challenges have stalled some operations amid accusations of political showmanship.Trump–Musk Feud Shifts GOP LandscapeA public spat over Trump’s proposed spending bill has sparked talk of impeachment, with Musk mulling a new “America Party” and Vice President JD Vance emerging as a potential new GOP powerbroker.

Jun 8, 20251h 35m

US-China Meeting Expected Within a Week, Says Navarro; Trump Says He Won’t Be Speaking With Musk Soon

White House adviser Peter Navarro said on Friday that a meeting on trade between Trump administration and Chinese officials is expected to happen within seven days.President Donald Trump said he won’t be speaking with Elon Musk “for a while” in the aftermath of the feud between the two billionaires. “I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem. The poor guy’s got a problem,” Trump told CNN.U.S. employers added a solid 139,000 jobs in May. Hiring fell from a revised 147,000 in April, the Department of Labor said on Friday. The job gains last month were slightly higher than the 130,000 economists had forecast. The unemployment rate stayed at a low 4.2 percent. Average hourly wages rose 0.4 percent from April and 3.9 percent from a year earlier—a little higher than forecast.

Jun 6, 202553 min

Trump Meets German Chancellor Merz; Trump, Xi Agree to Send Delegations for Meeting on Trade

President Donald Trump is hosting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Thursday to discuss a wide range of pressing issues, with the Ukraine war, defense spending, and transatlantic trade tensions topping the list. The meeting marks the chancellor’s first visit to Washington since his election victory in May. Merz, the leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has established a personal rapport with Trump, according to German media. The meeting comes just 10 days ahead of the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, where both leaders are scheduled to attend.Trump and Chinese communist party leader Xi Jinping agree to send delegations for a meeting on trade. The two spoke by phone Thursday as tensions remain high over the ongoing US-China trade dispute.Israel has recovered the bodies of two Israeli American hostages taken in the Hamas terrorist organization’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of elderly married couple Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai were recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet internal security agency. Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel announced the deaths of Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 72, both of whom had Israeli and U.S. citizenship, in December 2023. Weinstein was also a Canadian citizen.

Jun 5, 202528 min

Trump’s 50 Percent Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum Take Effect; Rubio Condemns CCP’s Tiananmen Square Massacre

President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum went into effect on June 4, after midnight, following through on last week’s announcement at a U.S. Steel facility. Enacted through an executive order signed on Monday, the measure doubles the previous 25 percent rate with the intention of boosting domestic production. Meanwhile, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was “extremely hard to make a deal with,” after aides said Trump is expected to have a trade negotiations call with Xi this week.Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP's) “brutal crackdown” of the June 4, 1989, student protests in Tiananmen Square, in a social media post ahead of the anniversary. “We remember the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal crackdown 36 years ago in Tiananmen Square and commemorate the courage of the innocent people killed and imprisoned that day. Freedom, democracy, and self-rule are human principles the CCP cannot erase,” he wrote on X.

Jun 4, 202546 min

Job Openings Unexpectedly Jump in April; Boulder Suspect Backed Off His Initial Plan, Police Say

Employment vacancies unexpectedly rose in April, reaffirming the health of the U.S. labor market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS), job openings climbed by 191,000 to 7.391 million, from the upwardly revised 7.2 million in March.The suspect accused of a June 1 firebombing attack on peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado, had allegedly planned to kill them all but appeared to have had second thoughts, according to authorities. Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly had 18 Molotov cocktails but threw just two during Sunday's attack, police said. He didn’t carry out his alleged full plan “because he got scared and had never hurt anyone before,” police wrote in an affidavit.

Jun 3, 202549 min

DHS: Boulder Terror Attack Suspect in U.S. Illegally; Ukraine, Russia End 2nd Round of Peace Talks

The suspect in the attack in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday is in the U.S. illegally, according to the White House and Homeland Security. "The Colorado Terrorist attack suspect, Mohamed Soliman, is illegally in our country. He filed for asylum in September 2022,” A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wrote on X. The suspect is now facing multiple felony charges and is expected to appear in court on Monday.Delegations from Russia and Ukraine ended their latest peace talks Monday in Turkey after just over an hour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian state media said. Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, Zelenskyy said both sides "exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war.”

Jun 2, 202550 min

US Moves to Revoke Visas From Chinese Students: Analysis

In this episode, we discuss the Trump administration's move to revoke some visas of Chinese students in the United States, particularly those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party, in an effort primarily aimed at protecting intellectual property.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has also signed a new law aimed at protecting Texans from foreign political coercion and intimidation. The bill creates new ways to prosecute transnational repression and the unauthorized enforcement of foreign laws. The law takes effect on Sept. 1.

Jun 1, 20251h 41m

Trump Says China 'Totally Violated' Trade Agreement; SCOTUS Allows Trump Admin. to End Deportation Protections

President Donald Trump on Friday said China had violated an agreement on tariffs with the United States. "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.Trump announced that he would hold a press conference on Friday with Elon Musk, the outgoing head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed a lower court decision that halted the Trump administration’s attempt to remove a protection known as parole for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

May 30, 202545 min

Judge: No Changes to Harvard Student Visa Program; Trump Admin. Appeals Court Tariffs Ruling

A U.S. District Court judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration not to make any changes to Harvard's student visa program. That's after Justice Department attorneys said in a notice that the government will give Harvard University 30 days to provide evidence in response to the White House’s move to strip the Ivy League college of its ability to enroll foreign students.The Trump administration filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after a federal trade court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by using emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

May 29, 202546 min

Rubio Announces New Visa Restrictions on Foreign Nationals; Netanyahu Says Hamas Gaza Chief Killed

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday new visa restrictions against foreign nationals involved in censoring the speech of U.S. citizens. “For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights,” Rubio announced in a post on social media platform X.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, one of its most wanted and the younger brother of the deceased group's leader, Yahya Sinwar, had been eliminated.The U.S. and Argentina are calling on other nations to follow their lead in leaving the World Health Organization. After a meeting between US health secretary RFK Jr. and the Argentine President Javier Milei on Tuesday, the two nations are now proposing an alternative to the WHO.

May 28, 202537 min

Trump Admin. Seeks to Cut Federal Contracts With Harvard; 4 People Seriously Injured in Liverpool Crash

The Trump administration will request federal agencies to cut off their contracts with Harvard University in response to what it says is the school’s handling of anti-Semitism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. There are 30 federal contracts worth about $100 million, according to the General Services Administration (GSA). A letter to the agencies is scheduled to be sent on May 27, a GSA spokesperson told The Epoch Times.Four people were "very, very ill in hospital" after sustaining injuries when a car ploughed into a crowd of Liverpool fans during a Premier League title parade, the city's mayor said on Tuesday, adding he hoped they would "pull through."FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the bureau is looking at launching investigations into possible public corruption cases. Bongino says he and FBI Director Kash Patel made the decision to either reopen or allocate additional resources to the cases shortly after swearing in.

May 27, 202546 min

Trump Marks Memorial Day at Arlington Cemetery; Trump Rebukes Putin Over Recent Ukraine Attacks

President Donald Trump delivers remarks and participates in a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday.Trump said on Sunday that he was surprised by Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s escalation of attacks on Ukraine amid ongoing cease-fire talks, expressing his discontent with Putin’s actions. “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people. And I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,” Trump told reporters at the airport in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from New Jersey.

May 26, 202533 min

Memorial Day: New Connections to Heroes' Past; Jones Beach Air Show Returns to Long Island

Praising their choice of a life in service, President Donald Trump addressed graduates at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where the next generation of Army leaders is trained. He spoke of what he called a "golden age" for the nation and highlighted recent changes in the military under his leadership.Meanwhile, the FourLeaf Air Show returns to Jones Beach this Memorial Day Weekend, signaling the unofficial start of summer on Long Island. The 2025 lineup features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and other elite military aviation teams, thrilling crowds and honoring the spirit of service.Across the country, Americans mark Memorial Day by honoring the sacrifice of servicemembers at cemeteries and monuments. But for those whose heroism ended overseas and decades ago, there’s a growing push to bring their stories closer to home—ensuring they are remembered not just in history, but in the hearts of local communities.House Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to implement Trump’s agenda in an early morning session on May 22, with a 215–214 vote. It now heads to the Senate. What’s in the bill? Experts weigh in.

May 25, 20251h 32m

Judge Blocks Harvard Foreign Student Enrollment Ban; Trump Floats 50 Percent Tariffs on EU

A federal judge has blocked a Trump administration decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students. The temporary restraining order stops the government from pulling Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to host international students with visas to study in the U.S.President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Apple for any iPhones sold, but not manufactured, in the United States. Trump also said he would recommend a 50 percent tariff on the European Union to begin on June 1, which would result in stiff levies on luxury items, pharmaceuticals, and other goods produced by European manufacturers.

May 23, 202548 min

Multiple People Killed in San Diego Plane Crash; SCOTUS Blocks Nation’s First Religious Charter School

A small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, setting about 15 homes on fire as well as vehicles. Authorities say that multiple people on that private plane are dead.U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a bid led by two Catholic dioceses to establish in Oklahoma the nation's first taxpayer-funded religious charter school in a major case involving religious rights in American education.The House of Representatives approved legislation to enact more of President Donald Trump’s agenda, capping off weeks of negotiations and uncertainty within the House Republican conference. The House narrowly approved the bill in a party-line 215–214 vote.Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed on Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum in the city, with the suspect yelling, “free, free Palestine,” after he was arrested, police said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Lischinsky was a research assistant, while Milgrim organized visits and missions to Israel.

May 22, 202547 min

Trump Meets South African President Ramaphosa; Congressman Gerry Connolly Dies at 75

President Donald Trump is hosting a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House on Wednesday. Trump has accused the country's government of allowing a “genocide” to take place against its minority white farmers. Ramaphosa pushed for the meeting with Trump in an attempt to salvage his country's relationship with the United States.Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia has died aged 75, his family said in a statement posted to his account on social media platform X on Tuesday following his cancer diagnosis last year.

May 21, 202531 min

Trump Addresses House Republicans; RFK Jr., Noem, Rubio Testify at Budget Hearings

President Donald Trump is heading to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet with congressional Republicans as they aim to reach an agreement on a sweeping tax-cut bill, with their narrow majority divided over the scope of spending cuts. The bill would extend the 2017 tax cuts that were Trump's signature first-term legislative achievement, while adding tax breaks on income from tips and overtime pay that were part of his 2024 campaign pledge.Secretaries Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are testifying before Senate committees on Tuesday regarding their departments' budget requests for fiscal year 2026.

May 20, 202541 min

Trump Talks to Putin and Zelenskyy; Biden Thanks Supporters After Cancer Diagnosis

President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the morning of May 19, followed by calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO allies, to broker a cease-fire in the Russia–Ukraine war. Trump’s remarks come on the heels of the first direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv since 2022, which were held in Istanbul on May 16 but which failed to produce a cease-fire.Former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone. In a post on social media platform X on Monday morning, Biden posted a photo of himself and his wife, Jill Biden, and wrote: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”

May 19, 202548 min

Harvard, White House Clash Over Civil Rights, Free Speech; Mexican Ship Strikes Brooklyn Bridge Killing 2

As Harvard and the Trump administration continue their funding feud, we examine what’s at stake. The administration says the university is politically biased and wants Harvard to fundamentally change its hiring practices, admissions processes, student and faculty composition, and more. Over $2.2 billion in federal funding is set to be terminated, and the esteemed university’s tax-exempt status is on the chopping block. Harvard is suing the Trump administration to halt the funding freeze. What are the implications of this clash at the highest levels of academia? Here to discuss are Manhattan Institute Fellow Colin Wright and Professor Emeritus at Golden Gate University School of Law and UC San Francisco Law, Timothy Alan Simon.

May 18, 20251h 35m

House Budget Panel Rejects Trump Tax-cut Bill; New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Reacts to Transit Strike

House Republicans failed Friday to push their big package of tax breaks and spending cuts through the Budget Committee, as a handful of conservatives joined all Democrats in a stunning vote against it.President Donald Trump departed Abu Dhabi on Friday following his tour of the Gulf region. Trump said on Friday the United Arab Emirates and the United States had agreed to create a path for the Gulf country to buy some of the most advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors from U.S. companies. Trump wrapped his Gulf tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE with a pledge by Abu Dhabi to hike the value of its energy investments in the U.S. to $440 billion in the next decade.New Jersey rail engineers walked off the job after marathon contract talks stalled, setting off a strike at a transit system that serves some 350,000 rail passengers a day, including tens of thousands of commuters into New York City. At a Friday press conference, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy blamed the work stoppage on the union and said, "It did not have to come to this.”

May 16, 202553 min

Trump Visits UAE After Addressing US Troops in Qatar; SCOTUS Hears Birthright Citizenship Case

President Donald Trump landed in United Arab Emirates, and was received by UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Before arriving in the UAE, President Trump visited Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, delivering a speech to nearly 2,000 soldiers. Trump thanked the troops for making America “incredibly proud.” The base played a pivotal role during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, serving as the primary logistical and operational hub for evacuating tens of thousands of people.The Supreme Court hears oral arguments on May 15 over President Donald Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship and whether federal judges went too far in their decisions to block his directive nationwide. It’s the first major hearing of Trump’s second term and could offer insight into how the justices view the ongoing legal challenges to his agenda. So far, federal judges have blocked a long list of the president’s second-term policies while provoking criticism from Republicans alleging they abused their authority.

May 15, 202540 min

US, Qatar Deals to Generate $1.2 Trillion: White House; Key House Committee Advances GOP Tax Bill

Agreements signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Wednesday will "generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion," the White House said in a fact sheet summarizing some of the deals' details. The agreements include a $96 billion deal with Qatar Airways to buy up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X airplanes with GE Aerospace engines, the fact sheet said.It was markup day for the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee on May 13—one day after Republicans released the full text of their long-awaited tax legislation—as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle engaged in testy exchanges. The committee pushed the bill forward overnight, passing it along party lines with a 26–19 vote.Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial will enter its third day on Wednesday with his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura expected to resume testifying about how the rapper and hip-hop mogul made her a central figure in his alleged sex trafficking.

May 14, 202548 min

Trump Secures $600 Billion in Investments From Saudi Arabia; US Inflation Slows to Lowest Level Since 2021

President Donald Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States after the oil power accorded him a gala welcome at the start of a tour of Gulf states. The U.S. agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it "the largest defense cooperation agreement" Washington has ever done.The U.S. annual inflation rate eased to its lowest level in more than four years, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs started stretching throughout the U.S. economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual inflation rate declined to 2.3 percent in April, from 2.4 percent in March. This represented the third consecutive monthly slowdown and the lowest reading since February 2021.UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday suspended its 2025 forecast, just weeks after lowering its outlook, and announced the surprise exit of CEO Andrew Witty, sending its shares down 8 percent premarket. Stephen Hemsley, who served as CEO from 2006–2017, will take over from Witty. The announcement also pulled down shares of other health insurers such as Humana, CVS, and Elevance between 1 percent and 3 percent. 

May 13, 202532 min

American-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander is Free; Markets Soar After US China Trade Deal

An Israeli-American soldier held hostage for more than 19 months in the Gaza Strip was released Monday. The Israeli military confirmed that Edan Alexander had been turned over to the Red Cross and was being brought to Israeli forces. Alexander is the last known living American hostage held in Gaza.Wall Street's main indexes were set to open sharply higher on Monday as the United States and China reached a deal to reduce tariffs, signaling a truce in a punishing trade war that had kept markets on edge for weeks. The U.S. will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports in April this year to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125%, the two countries said on Monday. The new measures are effective for 90 days.President Donald Trump will visit the Middle East from May 13 to 16, with scheduled stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The trip marks his first major foreign trip of his second term, following a recent visit to the Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral two weeks ago. Trump is expected to announce a series of major investment deals aimed at attracting Gulf money into key U.S. sectors such as defense, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). His meetings will also focus on pressing regional issues, including the war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group and ongoing nuclear talks with Iran.

May 12, 202547 min

US–China Trade Talks: Trump Says Great Progress Made

All eyes are on Switzerland this weekend, as high-stakes trade talks between the United States and China continue behind closed doors.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with China’s vice premier amid ongoing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

May 11, 20251h 35m

Trump Floats Cutting China Tariffs to 80% Ahead of Talks; Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass as Pope

President Donald Trump said on Friday that 80 percent tariffs on Chinese goods "seems right." He said in a Truth Social post that "China should open up its market to USA—would be so good for them!!! Closed markets don’t work anymore!!!" Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief trade negotiator Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese economic czar He Lifeng in Switzerland this weekend for talks that could be the first step toward resolving the trade dispute.Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pope on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, where he was elected less than 24 hours earlier. He warned the congregation of the dangers caused by a lack of faith, and expressed his hope that the Catholic Church could be a beacon of light in the world's "dark nights."

May 9, 202552 min

Trump Announces Trade Deal With UK; A New Pope is Elected to Lead the Catholic Church

The United States and Britain announced plans for a trade deal on Thursday. “The final details are being written up,” President Donald Trump told reporters. “In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive.” The president said that the agreement would lead to more beef and ethanol exports to the U.K., which would also streamline the processing of U.S. goods though customs.The House passed a bill that would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter's rang out, signaling that cardinals have elected a new pope to succeed Pope Francis and take charge of the Roman Catholic Church.

May 8, 202545 min

David Perdue Sworn In as US Ambassador to China; India Launches Strikes Into Pakistani Territory

President Donald Trump participates in the swearing-in ceremony of David Perdue as U.S. ambassador to China. Perdue served as a senator for the state of Georgia, was a former Fortune 500 CEO, and is recognized as a strong China critic who lived in Hong Kong for a time during his 40-year business career. Perdue was confirmed by the Senate in a 67–29 vote on April 29. Perdue's ambassadorship comes amid deepening bilateral trade tensions between the United States and China.At least 31 people are dead after India fired missiles into several areas of Pakistan and territory it controls on Wednesday. India says the strikes aim to "preempt" and "deter" cross-border terror attacks.The escalation follows a massacre of Hindu tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir last month. Pakistan has dismissed India's allegations of its harboring terrorist camps as unfounded. Meanwhile, the leader of a U.N.-designated terrorist group in Pakistan reported that 10 of his family members had been killed in the attacks.

May 7, 202545 min

Trump Hosts Canadian PM Carney Amid Trade Tensions; Bessent Testifies Before Congress

President Donald Trump is hosting Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, at the White House on Tuesday for high-stakes talks focused on trade and security. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the neighbors in the wake of Trump’s imposing steep tariffs on Canadian products and ongoing remarks suggesting that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. This marks the first meeting between the two leaders since Carney’s Liberal Party secured victory in Canada's federal election on April 28.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is testifying before Congress on Tuesday for the first time since his confirmation hearing. The House Appropriations Committee is set to question him regarding the Trump administration's tariff policies, trade negotiations, and the need for a debt limit increase.

May 6, 202525 min

DHS Offers $1,000 Stipend for Self-deportation; House to Vote on Bills Addressing CCP's Organ Harvesting

The Trump administration will offer a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to migrants who elect to voluntarily "self deport" from the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday. The stipend and potential airfare for migrants who voluntarily depart would cost less than an actual deportation, the agency said.President Donald Trump announced on May 4 that he was authorizing his administration to impose a 100 percent tariff on movies produced outside the United States. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the Department of Commerce and the U.S. trade representative would immediately start to process the implementation of the levy on all movies “produced in foreign lands.” Trump said the move was necessary to protect the once globally dominant U.S. movie industry.The Chinese Communist Party's systematic forced organ harvesting is in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Later on Monday, lawmakers in the House will vote on two bills—the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 and the Falun Gong Protection Act—to hold China's communist regime accountable for its systematic forced organ harvesting, which targets the persecuted faith group Falun Gong.

May 5, 202543 min

U.S. and Ukraine Strike Rare Earth Deal Amid China Tensions

The United States and Ukraine signed a partnership agreement on April 30 focused on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and other natural resources.As China continues to tighten its grip on critical minerals—especially following the imposition of U.S. tariffs—control of rare earths becomes increasingly important. These minerals are essential for producing modern technologies, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and advanced weapons systems.Why does the U.S.–Ukraine rare earth deal matter? Where is this heading? Experts break it down.

May 4, 20251h 31m

Trump to Revoke Harvard’s Tax-exempt Status; CIA Seeks to Hire Chinese Officials, Promising a Way Out

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, as a battle between his administration and the Ivy League school continues. “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He did not elaborate on the details, including when it may happen.Trump is planning to unveil a budget blueprint that calls for slashing federal spending on key nondefense programs by $163 billion, targeting renewable energy, education, and foreign aid, according to a White House official.The U.S. economy added a stronger-than-expected 177,000 jobs in April. It was more than the 135,000 jobs economists were expecting the economy to add last month. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, a historically low level.America's top intelligence agency is posting a "help wanted" notice specifically for Chinese officials. The Central Intelligence Agency published two short videos on its platforms on Thursday, describing the opportunity as a way out for Chinese officials struggling to survive amid the Chinese communist regime's infighting and massive internal struggles.

May 2, 202550 min

Mike Waltz Said to Be Leaving Post Soon: Reports; Tesla Chair Denies Plan to Replace Musk

President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his deputy will be leaving their positions, according to reports. A senior White House official did not confirm or deny a report in comments to The Epoch Times on Thursday and advised to pay attention to an announcement from President Donald Trump later in the day.The Senate rejected a resolution on April 30 to nullify President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariffs on most trading partners. The measure failed with a tied vote of 49-49. The resolution was supported by Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). While Trump has since suspended most of the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days—with tariffs on China a notable exception—he left in place a 10 percent tariff on those countries in accordance with the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows the U.S. president to unilaterally enact tariffs for national security reasons. The failed resolution sought to undo the 10 percent tariffs.Management at Tesla has firmly denied reports by The Wall Street Journal that the company began looking for a new boss to replace Elon Musk weeks ago. Board chair Robyn Denholm called the report “absolutely false,” and said the company was “highly confident” Musk could execute the firm's growth plans. Musk said last week that he would cut back on his government role, and spend more time running his companies.

May 1, 202511 min

Trump Says 'Be Patient' as US Economy Contracts in Q1; Ukraine, US Expected to Sign Minerals Deal

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Americans should be patient in the face of a first quarter economic contraction, arguing that his tariffs would eventually lead to a boom in the U.S. economy. The economy declined by 0.3 percent in the first quarter, down from the 2.4 percent expansion in the previous quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said in a statement. Trump wrote on Truth Social: "This will take a while, has NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS, only that he left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BEPATIENT!!!"Ukraine and the United States could sign a minerals deal within the next 24 hours after the final details are worked out, Ukraine's prime minister said on Wednesday. The reworked agreement has become a "real partnership deal," which could consider future U.S. aid as part of contributions to the fund, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said in televised remarks.

Apr 30, 202529 min

Trump to Sign Executive Order on Auto Tariffs; Carney’s Liberals Win Canadian Election

President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on auto tariffs on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news briefing. "President Trump is building an important partnership with both the domestic automakers and our great American workers," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement provided by the White House.The Liberals won Canada’s general election on Monday and will form a government for the fourth consecutive term, with Mark Carney remaining as prime minister. Preliminary election results also showed Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh losing their seats. Poilievre said he'll stay on as party leader, while Singh said he would step down.

Apr 29, 202549 min

White House Touts 100-day Illegal Immigration Crackdown; Power Outage Hits Spain and Portugal

The White House highlights a massive drop in illegal border crossings in President Trump’s first 100 days, while border czar Tom Homan says there could still be around 20 million illegal immigrants in the country. Meanwhile, Trump plans to sign an executive order to identify the cities and states that are not complying with federal immigration laws, the White House said Monday.Cars and vehicles ground to a halt in Madrid on Monday after a widespread power outage caused chaos across Spain and Portugal.Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced a three-day cease-fire in Ukraine, starting on May 8. The Kremlin said Putin had ordered a full cessation of hostilities on “humanitarian grounds” to mark the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Ukraine, which agreed to a cease-fire earlier this month, has not yet responded to the announcement.

Apr 28, 202547 min