Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela. The president on Wednesday also said he's considering land operations following recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela. Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event that he had authorized the move because Venezuela is allowing criminals and drugs to flow into the U.S. On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the record of the U.S. spy agency in various conflicts around the world without directly addressing Trump’s comments about authorizing the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.
Alaska airlifting hundreds from storm-devastated coastal villages
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Officials say one of the “most significant” airlifts in Alaska history is underway to evacuate hundreds of people from storm-devastated coastal towns. Officials announced the airlifts Wednesday. Some villages on the state’s southwest coast were inundated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong last weekend. The storm slammed into coastal communities, bringing record-high water levels in some areas. Many homes were swept away, some with people still inside. The storm at one point left about 1,500 residents in makeshift shelters. One person died and two are still missing.
Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules
NEW YORK (AP) — Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power. The refusal was near-unanimous, from trade publications, wire services, television networks and newspapers, and included outlets that appeal largely to conservatives like Fox News Channel and Newsmax. Many of the reporters chose to turn in their badges together at the 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Department to vacate the building. Reporters said their work will continue despite the loss of access.
Supreme Court case could lead to loss of Black representation in Congress, but the scope is unknown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has indicated a willingness to limit race-based districts under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. During 2 1/2 hours of arguments on Wednesday, the court’s six conservative justices seemed inclined to effectively strike down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana because it relied too heavily on race. The landmark civil rights law has created majority-Black and Latino districts that vote reliably Democratic in some of the nation’s most conservative states. If the high court limits or strikes down Section 2, it would likely benefit Republicans and could open up more than a dozen Democratic-controlled seats for Republicans to target. However, it wouldn't fully start until the 2028 elections and yield may few GOP gains.
Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers during the government shutdown
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the human cost "cannot be tolerated.” U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order halting the job cuts, saying she believes evidence would show the cuts were illegal. The White House budget office said Friday that mass firings of federal workers had started. That announcement prompted labor unions for federal employees to ask the judge to block the Republican administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those already sent out. The White House referred a request for comment to the Office of Management and Budget. The budget office has yet to respond.
Israel receives remains of 2 more hostages as military says another body was not that of a hostage
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has received the remains of two more hostages after they were transferred by the Red Cross from Hamas. Their arrival in Israel on Wednesday came hours after the Israeli military said that one of the bodies previously turned over was not that of a hostage. The confusion added to tensions over the fragile truce that has paused the two-year war. After the two coffins were brought into Israel, the military in a statement cautioned that the hostages’ identities had yet to be verified. Meanwhile, the Gaza Health Ministry said it received 45 more bodies of Palestinians from Israel.
Democrats say they won't be intimidated by Trump's threats as the shutdown enters a third week
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is entering a third week, and Democrats say they're not intimidated by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. In fact, Democrats appear emboldened. And they're showing no signs of caving as they return to Washington from their home states. Senate Democrats, in votes Tuesday and Wednesday, again rejected a Republican bill to open the government. Republicans are now planning additional votes on individual spending bills, starting Thursday with the defense legislation that would fund salaries for the military. It's unclear whether Democrats will support it.
JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat
The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers has prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, has criticized the backlash, labeling it "pearl clutching." Vance compared the dustup to past violent comments by a Democratic candidate In Virginia, arguing that Jay Jones' remarks concerning political violence were worse. Other Republicans, like Vermont's Gov. Phil Scott, are demanding resignations, calling the comments "unacceptable." Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have urged investigations, condemning the messages as discriminatory.
County judge in Chicago area bars ICE from arresting people at court
CHICAGO (AP) — Cook County’s top judge has signed an order barring ICE from arresting people at court. The county includes Chicago, which has seen a federal immigration crackdown in recent months. Detaining residents outside courthouses has been a common tactic for federal agents, who have been stationed outside county courthouses for weeks, making arrests and drawing crowds of protesters. The order, which takes effect Wednesday, bars the civil arrest of any “party, witness, or potential witness” while going to court proceedings. It includes arrests inside courthouses and in parking lots, surrounding sidewalks and entryways.
Faulty engineering led to implosion of Titan submersible headed to Titanic wreckage, NTSB finds
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says faulty engineering led to the implosion of an experimental submersible that killed five people en route to the wreck of the Titanic. The NTSB made the statement Wednesday in its final report on the hull failure and implosion of the Titan submersible in June 2023. Everyone on board the submersible died instantly in the North Atlantic when Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion as it descended to the wreck. The NTSB report says the faulty engineering of the Titan did not meet necessary strength and durability requirements. The implosion led to lawsuits and calls for tighter regulation of private deep sea expeditions.
