A federal commission appointed by former President Donald Trump has approved the final design for a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring Trump’s image to mark the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. Despite federal laws prohibiting living presidents on currency, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent authorized the coin’s production, which will be limited in quantity and potentially larger than standard gold coins. This gold coin project is separate from a planned $1 circulated coin featuring Trump, and its approval bypassed some traditional advisory channels amid broader efforts by Trump to link his legacy with national celebrations.
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The FCC has approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc., creating the largest local television station operator in the U.S. despite lawsuits from eight states and DirecTV arguing the merger will harm competition, raise consumer prices, and reduce local journalism diversity. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the decision, citing regulatory waivers and conditions to promote competition and localism, while Nexstar’s CEO emphasized the deal’s importance for sustaining local journalism amid competition from Big Tech. Critics, including Democratic officials and FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, condemned the approval for lacking transparency and warned it could create a broadcast monopoly, with legal challenges ongoing in federal court.
Labor leader Dolores Huerta revealed in a recent interview that Cesar Chavez, co-founder of the United Farm Workers, sexually abused her in the 1960s, joining allegations from other women detailed in a New York Times investigation. Huerta kept the assaults secret for decades to protect the farmworker movement but now urges that Chavez’s misconduct not overshadow its achievements. In response, public officials and communities across the U.S. are reconsidering Chavez’s legacy, with several cities and organizations initiating efforts to rename landmarks and events honoring him to better reflect survivors and the broader movement.
The United States and Israel have escalated military strikes against Iran, with the U.S. conducting over 7,000 attacks on Iranian military and industrial sites as part of Operation Epic Fury, while Israel targeted key Iranian officials and energy infrastructure. These actions have heightened tensions and disrupted global energy markets, prompting President Trump to warn Israel against further attacks on shared resources unless provoked by Iran, and calls for international efforts to reopen the closed Strait of Hormuz. Despite significant damage to Iran’s capabilities, intelligence reports indicate the regime remains intact, amid ongoing investigations into leaks related to the conflict and revelations of covert coordination between the U.S. and Israel.
The conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran has escalated sharply after an Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across Gulf states and causing major disruptions to global energy supplies. These attacks have led to soaring oil and natural gas prices, closure of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic, and heightened regional tensions, with international actors calling for de-escalation amid widespread condemnation. The ongoing crisis threatens regional stability and global markets, while diplomatic efforts have so far failed to resolve the conflict, leaving the situation highly volatile.
The FBI is investigating Joe Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, for alleged leaks of classified information, with the probe beginning before his recent resignation over opposition to the Trump administration’s decision to go to war with Iran. Kent criticized the administration’s rationale, claiming there was no imminent Iranian threat and that the war decision was influenced by Israeli pressure, while the Trump administration and intelligence officials have disputed his claims. His resignation has sparked debate among political and intelligence circles, with former President Trump calling Kent “weak on security” and reaffirming the threat posed by Iran.
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center and a former Trump supporter, resigned amid controversy over U.S. military actions against Iran, criticizing the administration’s war rationale and alleging misinformation campaigns by Israeli officials and American media. His departure sparked backlash from Republican leaders who condemned his claims as anti-Semitic, while Kent’s past associations with far-right figures and conspiracy theories further complicated his tenure. Concurrently, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified on Iran’s diminished but ongoing threat, underscoring internal divisions and political pressures shaping U.S. policy toward the conflict.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressing a cautious stance on Iran’s nuclear threat and avoiding full endorsement of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign. Her testimony highlighted divisions within the administration and intelligence community, especially after her deputy resigned in protest over the conflict’s justification. The ongoing conflict has caused significant geopolitical and economic disruptions, with Iran retaliating against U.S. interests despite degraded military capabilities.