President Trump rejected $227 million in disaster aid requests from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for recovery from a February snowstorm, while approving aid for six Republican-led states on the same day. Democrats accused the White House of politicizing federal emergency management after POLITICO revealed Trump approved just 23% of disaster requests from Democratic-led states compared to 89% from Republican-led ones.
Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign on Wednesday after a woman accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he called 'categorically false.' Platner, a progressive who had energized the party's left wing, announced the suspension via a video posted to social media. The accusation has thrown a must-win Senate race into chaos, with Democratic leaders scrambling to find a replacement candidate. Maine is one of the most competitive Senate battlegrounds in the 2026 midterms, and Platner's exit has exposed deep divisions between the party's progressive and moderate factions. Several potential replacements have already expressed interest in seeking the nomination.
President Donald Trump has denied federal disaster assistance requests from four Democratic-led states — California, New York, Illinois, and Washington — following devastating flash floods and severe weather events that have left dozens dead and thousands displaced. The White House cited budget concerns and disputed the severity of the damage, sparking outrage from governors who said the decision was politically motivated. Congress is weighing a possible override vote.
Donald Trump has renewed his call for U.S. acquisition of Greenland as he arrives for the NATO summit, while the Graham Platner scandal dominates Washington politics. Bernie Sanders calls on Platner to withdraw from the Senate race amid new allegations, and Democrats clash over who should replace him.
President Donald Trump travels to Ankara, Turkey, for the annual NATO summit on July 7-8, where he will push allies to boost defense spending and meet Ukraine's President Zelenskyy for peace talks. Turkish President Erdogan is using the summit to project power as a global broker, with Turkey's weapons industry and strategic position giving it new leverage within the alliance.
President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on July 3, most of whom were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by modifying or disabling emissions controls on diesel trucks. The pardons included a major political donor who pleaded guilty in a fraud case involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Trump argued the individuals were "persecuted by the Biden administration" and claimed they were imprisoned for "fixing their car." The move drew sharp criticism from environmental groups.
The United States celebrated its 250th Independence Day on July 4, with President Donald Trump headlining events at Mount Rushmore and the National Mall. The celebration was marred by a brutal heatwave that forced cancellation of the National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Joe Biden each issued statements. The day highlighted deep political divisions even as the nation marked the historic milestone.
A federal court ordered the Trump administration to rehire intelligence officers who were fired earlier this year, ruling that the mass dismissals violated federal employment law. The decision marks a legal setback for the administration's efforts to reshape the intelligence community. Separately, the Supreme Court recently upheld birthright citizenship, and Republicans in Congress derailed a Pentagon policy bill amid internal party divisions over voting legislation backed by President Trump.
President Trump's financial disclosure reveals $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings, mostly from meme coins, while his administration pushes crypto-friendly policies. Historians call the windfall unprecedented for a sitting president, and the White House declined to say how much tax Trump paid on the income.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld birthright citizenship, ruling 6-3 that children born in the United States are automatically citizens regardless of their parents' immigration status. The decision struck down President Donald Trump's executive order that sought to end the long-standing constitutional principle for children born to undocumented or temporary immigrants. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that children born in the U.S. to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens under the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause.