Author: Andrew Rogers

President Donald Trump attended Sunday’s Washington Commanders game, becoming the first sitting president in nearly 50 years to watch a regular-season NFL match. The Commanders lost 44-22 to the visiting Detroit Lions in Landover, Maryland. Trump’s appearance drew loud boos from some fans when he appeared on the videoboard late in the first half. The reaction continued during his halftime introduction and as he led a military oath ceremony on the field. He shared the suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson while attending the game. Upon arrival, Trump told reporters, “We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along…

COP30 climate talks opened Monday near the Brazilian Amazon, with world leaders calling for faster action and closer cooperation to combat global warming. After more than 30 years of climate negotiations, countries are under pressure to reduce carbon emissions that drive rising temperatures. André Corrêa do Lago, president of this year’s conference, urged negotiators to work together, using the Brazilian concept of “mutirão,” which means joining forces to complete a shared task. He said, “Either we decide to change by choice, together, or we will be imposed change by tragedy. We can change. But we must do it together.” The…

After more than a month of halted federal services and unpaid workers, a group of Democratic senators and one independent have helped pass the Government Shutdown Deal. Their support ended the nation’s longest shutdown and opened the way for a new debate on Affordable Care Act subsidies. The group said the agreement, while not perfect, was the best option to relieve pressure on millions of Americans affected by the standoff. They stressed that federal employees, air traffic controllers, and families relying on government programs could not wait any longer for relief. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, a veteran Democrat retiring…

Georgia Democratic senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have defended their votes against advancing a bill to reopen the federal government. Both lawmakers said their opposition centers on the need to protect health care access for millions of Americans. Senator Ossoff, who faces reelection in 2026, said President Donald Trump has refused to work with Democrats on addressing the nation’s health insurance challenges. Democrats have pushed for an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for their support to end the ongoing government shutdown. Senator Warnock described the situation as difficult, accusing President Trump of making it harder…

Members of Iraq’s security forces and its internally displaced population began casting ballots on Sunday in the country’s parliamentary elections, the sixth since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Voting opened at 7 a.m. (04:00 GMT) for 1.3 million security personnel at 809 polling centers. Ballots will close at 6 p.m. (15:00 GMT) so the forces can be deployed for election day duties on Tuesday. More than 26,500 displaced Iraqis are also eligible to vote early across 97 polling stations in 27 locations nationwide, the Iraqi News Agency reported. Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari said the special voting…

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in the United States on Saturday for a landmark official visit, a day after Washington removed him from a terrorism blacklist. This visit marks the first time a Syrian president has come to the US since the country gained independence in 1946. Sharaa, whose rebel forces overthrew longtime leader Bashar al-Assad last year, is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. The visit follows a previous meeting in Riyadh during Trump’s regional tour in May. US officials hope the meeting will result in an agreement for Syria to join…

President Donald Trump’s new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) aims to provide tax relief for seniors, but experts warn it could have long-term consequences for Social Security and Medicare. The White House claims that 88% of Social Security recipients will pay no federal tax on their benefits under the bill, but independent analyses suggest the impact may be smaller and short-lived. The bill introduces a new deduction for seniors aged 65 and older, allowing individuals to claim up to $6,000, or $12,000 for couples filing jointly. While this reduces taxable income for some, eligibility depends on modified adjusted gross…

Democrats scored a decisive victory in recent elections, delivering a major rebuke to President Donald Trump and his party. The results reflect a notable shift in voter sentiment, particularly among Latino communities, analysts say. Trump has long argued that his previous election victory represented a broad mandate from Americans. However, the Democratic wins on Tuesday challenged that narrative, signaling growing support for Democratic candidates across multiple races. Political commentators Susan Del Percio and Paola Ramos highlighted the significance of the results on “The Weekend: Primetime.” They noted that the Democratic surge could shape strategies for both parties ahead of the…

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order requiring the Trump administration to provide full federal food benefits to roughly 42 million Americans. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued the temporary pause on Friday to allow a federal appeals court more time to review the administration’s request for extended relief. The decision came as the administration approached a deadline set by a district court to deliver full food assistance for November. The order also required the use of roughly $4 billion from other nutrition programs to cover payments. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit had previously maintained…

UNICEF has intensified its efforts to restore education for children in Gaza, aiming to bring all 650,000 school-aged children back into classrooms for in-person learning. The task is enormous, the agency says, due to extensive destruction across the region. Tess Ingram, a UNICEF spokesperson, explained that significant obstacles remain before schools can fully reopen. “We need more space. We’ve got to clear the massive amounts of rubble that now cover large parts of Gaza and make sure that there are no unexploded ordnance that present a risk to children,” Ingram said. In addition to clearing debris, temporary structures must be…