Category: News

The White House is preparing a draft executive order that would give federal agencies the power to challenge and potentially override state laws regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The proposal would direct the Department of Justice to create an “AI Litigation Task Force” tasked with suing states whose AI-laws conflict with federal policy. Under the draft, the Department of Commerce would review state statutes and publish a list of laws deemed burdensome or conflicting with federal priorities. States that pass or enforce certain AI regulations could risk losing federal grants or broadband-deployment funding. The administration argues that a patchwork of 50 different state rules hurts U.S. leadership in AI and stifles innovation, especially as global competition intensifies. Some state officials and civil-liberties groups warn that bypassing state oversight could weaken protections against discrimination, deepfakes and opaque algorithms. Legal experts say the approach is aggressive and faces constitutional questions, because only Congress can clearly preempt state laws. The draft order is still under review and no final text has been signed yet. This move signals a shift in how AI might be governed in the U.S. Instead of each state setting its own rules, a single federal standard could soon become the baseline—or the battleground.

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is accelerating efforts to field drones built in the U.S. and reduce reliance on systems with Chinese components. In a recent update, the “Blue UAS” program expanded its list of approved drones that meet domestic sourcing standards — yet many approved models still use motors made in China.These Chinese-made motors highlight a supply-chain gap the Pentagon is now trying to close. The shift comes amid concerns that dependence on adversary-nation components leaves U.S. forces vulnerable in future conflicts.The program’s focus isn’t just sourcing. It also includes faster acquisitions and prioritizing drones as expendable assets rather than high-cost aircraft. That change aligns with new procurement guidelines that let military units buy and deploy drones quicker.

Russian forces launched 136 attack drones into Ukrainian territory, according to Ukrainian military officials. The bulk of the drones were intercepted, but the barrage still strained air-defense systems tasked with protecting critical infrastructure. The assault targeted multiple regions, including the Chernihiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv areas, with Ukraine’s energy ministry reporting damage to power-supply installations and several thousand homes losing electricity. Restoration work began immediately under challenging conditions. Officials reported that around 106 of the drones were destroyed or rendered inoperative by air defense and electronic warfare units — leaving about 30 that either hit targets or remain unaccounted for. Authorities warned of ongoing power-capacity restrictions and advised residents to stay alert.

A recent clinical study found that a new once-weekly injectable drug, elorolintide, helped adults with obesity lose about 20 percent of their body weight over 48 weeks. Participants received the medicine each week along with standard lifestyle counseling. The larger doses of the treatment showed the biggest weight-loss effects; in one group, average weight dropped by over 46 pounds, with reductions in waist circumference of more than 6 inches.Most of the side effects were mild to moderate and included nausea and fatigue, which eased over time. The drug acts on the amylin receptor, a different appetite-pathway than many existing GLP-1 treatments, suggesting a new angle for weight-management therapies.

In New York, a wave of climate-resilience funding is being routed into land-protection projects aimed at reducing flood and fire risks in the Catskill Mountains region. The Nature Conservancy’s sixth round of its Climate Resilience Grant Program is now offering grants of up to $50,000 for efforts that preserve lands, protect floodplains and shorelines, and enhance communities’ ability to cope with extreme weather. These grants support a range of activities—including acquiring easements on forested or wetland parcels, planning and capacity-building for local organizations, and connecting landscapes so they can better withstand storms and fires. While not all grants are specifically earmarked for the Catskills, the region is among areas identified for increased risk of flooding and fire due to changing climate patterns. Communities, conservation groups and municipalities in the Hudson Valley and Catskills have previously engaged in flood-preparedness planning and land-use strategies to reduce those risks.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report showing that health-savings accounts (HSAs) are overwhelmingly used by high-income earners. According to the analysis, individuals with higher incomes — and who are generally healthier — make far greater use of HSAs and capture the bulk of the tax benefits. The report highlights that enrollees in HSA-eligible high-deductible health plans tend to have greater financial means. It says the tax perks built into HSAs work best for those already well off, since the value of reducing taxable income is larger when you’re in a higher tax bracket. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted. Some Democrats argued the structure of HSAs amounts to “another tax break for the wealthy,” while some Republicans noted that the findings challenge claims that HSAs are broadly helping lower-income Americans. HSAs are often promoted as a tool to boost consumer control of health care costs and provide savings flexibility. But this report raises doubts about whether they serve lower- and moderate-income Americans at the same rate. With rising health costs and policy debates around whether to expand or reform HSAs, these findings could influence future legislation.

Today, an analysis revealed that the fiscal package championed by Donald Trump — which includes substantial tax relief and refund checks early next year — is likely to boost economic growth only modestly. The study estimates the legislation will raise GDP by about 0.4 percentage points in the first half of 2026, but only around 0.3 points for the full year. The reason: the Federal Reserve is expected to keep benchmark interest rates roughly a quarter-point higher than they otherwise would be because of the stimulus-driven momentum and inflation risks. Those higher rates are forecast to offset roughly half of the growth gains from the stimulus package. In addition, the legislation will raise the federal deficit significantly, adding roughly 0.8 percentage points to GDP again via higher spending on defense and border security. That larger deficit may further weigh on long-term growth and financial stability. President Trump is voicing frustration with the Fed’s reluctance to cut rates and has openly criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying he’d like to see him removed. Still, the Fed’s independence and its focus on inflation and employment mean it’s unlikely to shift course solely for political pressure.

The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) launched a payments program that awards $1,000 to university students who face discipline for anti-Israel protests. The program, called the “Champions of Justice Fund,” comes through CAIR’s California chapter. According to recent filings, CAIR-California raised over $100,000 from affiliates in San Francisco and Los Angeles to fund this support. Some of the payments were distributed in October 2024 when CAIR awarded $20,000 to 20 student protesters as interest-free loans and grants. The students in question had lost scholarships, housing, or faced other penalties after taking part in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel demonstrations at institutions including Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.

Senior Israeli officials sounded an urgent alarm as a wave of violent attacks by settlers in the West Bank swept into new levels. Groups of masked settlers torched vehicles, vandalized a mosque and clashed with soldiers near Palestinian villages. The toll of incidents has reached a record monthly high. The Israeli president called the acts “shocking” and demanded decisive action, while other senior military figures described the violence as a “minority of criminals” diverting security resources from serious threats. Critics say the government’s policy of settlement expansion, reduced accountability and weakened investigations helped create the very conditions for the surge. With the regional conflict already stretching Israel’s security forces, the explosion of internal violence adds another volatile front to the country’s challenges.

A cyberattack hit the Living Room Theaters in Portland Thursday night, forcing the arthouse cinema to shut down its downtown location. The company said most of its computer systems were rendered unusable and it has no clear timeline for reopening. Law-enforcement officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Portland field office and cybersecurity experts from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have been called in to assess the damage and determine how the breach happened. The theatrer’s CEO described the incident as “cruel and random.” Ticket holders were told they may have to wait for refunds, because the staff cannot yet access systems to process them. The shutdown also impacted the company’s other locations, showing how far-reaching the attack was.