NASA's Artemis II mission is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center, marking the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years with four astronauts embarking on a nine-and-a-half-day journey orbiting the moon. Utilizing the powerful Space Launch System rocket, this mission aims to test spacecraft systems and set a record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans. Excitement is high along Florida’s Space Coast, where thousands of spectators have gathered, boosting the local economy with increased tourism and related activities.
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American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad by suspected Iranian-backed militants linked to the militia group Kata'ib Hezbollah, with Iraqi security forces arresting one suspect and continuing efforts to secure her release. Despite multiple warnings from the U.S. State Department about threats to her safety, Kittleson traveled to Baghdad, where surveillance footage showed her abduction. U.S. and Iraqi authorities, including the FBI and counter-terrorism units, are coordinating to resolve the situation amid heightened tensions involving Iranian-aligned militias in Iraq.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the suspension of two Army pilots who flew AH-64 Apache helicopters near musician Kid Rock’s Nashville home, announcing no investigation or punishment would follow. The incident, initially prompting an Army investigation and suspension, involved the helicopters hovering briefly outside Kid Rock’s property during a training mission, with the singer expressing support for the pilots. President Trump downplayed the event, suggesting the pilots may have been showing support for Kid Rock, a known Trump ally and recent performer at conservative political events.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on a Trump-era executive order aiming to restrict birthright citizenship by limiting it to children born to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, challenging the traditional interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause. The administration argues that the clause’s phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes children of temporary visitors or undocumented immigrants, citing historical cases, while opponents maintain that longstanding legal precedent and the amendment’s language guarantee citizenship to nearly all born on U.S. soil. The Court’s decision could have significant implications for constitutional law and immigration policy, with former President Trump expected to attend the proceedings.
A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with an EEOC subpoena seeking information about Jewish employees as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination on campus, while exempting certain Jewish-affiliated organizations from disclosure. The EEOC's probe follows multiple antisemitic incidents at the university and examines its response to related protests, with the judge acknowledging the subpoena's flaws but upholding its narrow purpose. The university plans to appeal the decision, citing concerns over employee privacy and constitutional rights amid ongoing efforts to address antisemitism.
NASA is preparing to launch Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, sending four astronauts on a nine-day journey orbiting the moon as a critical step toward establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface and future Mars missions. The crew, led by commander Reid Wiseman and including the first Canadian to travel beyond low-Earth orbit, will fly aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, both developed over nearly two decades at a combined cost exceeding $44 billion. Despite challenges such as high costs and technical issues, Artemis II aims to advance long-term lunar exploration, maintain U.S. leadership in space, and inspire a new era of human spaceflight.
President Donald Trump is set to attend Supreme Court oral arguments on his executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporarily present immigrants, marking the first time a sitting president has personally attended such a session. The case challenges the longstanding interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which has historically granted citizenship to nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' status. With a conservative majority on the Court, including three Trump appointees, a ruling expected by July could significantly impact immigration law and constitutional citizenship rights.
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the temporary parole status of hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered the U.S. lawfully through the Biden-era CBP One app, ruling that the administration’s termination of their status violated federal procedures and exceeded DHS authority. The Trump administration had revoked parole en masse in 2025 without personalized notice, citing border security concerns, but the judge found this action unlawful and sided with immigration advocacy groups representing affected migrants. While the Department of Homeland Security opposes the ruling and plans to appeal, the decision restores legal protections for many migrants, though the full impact remains uncertain.