President Donald Trump claims that the United States has, in his words, “completely decimated” Iran. But the situation appears more complex, especially with two U.S. warplanes just having gone down in separate incidents during the war. Trump has struggled to respond to Iran's actions such as effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz that's disrupted global oil supplies. His go-it-alone approach has faced criticism from traditional American allies reluctant to support a war they didn't endorse. At home, some Republicans emphasize the importance of maintaining strong international relationships and are taking issue with Trump's unilateral strategy.

Moms for Liberty made a name for itself at the local level, fighting to win control of school boards as it battled “woke indoctrination” in the classroom. Now it's being embraced by the Trump administration and gaining new influence in national decisions. Co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich said she has a voice in discussions around transgender sports bans, artificial intelligence and more. Experts say her group is filling an advisory role typically given to establishment groups that have shied away from the Trump administration. Critics say Moms for Liberty has extreme views that don't represent most Americans.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to create a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and to restrict mail-in voting. The move Tuesday swiftly drew legal threats from state Democratic officials as the president demands further limitations on voting ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Trump's order calls on the Department of Homeland Security, working in conjunction with the Social Security Administration, to make the list of eligible voters in each state. It also seeks to bar the U.S. Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to those not on each state’s approved list, although the president likely lacks the power to mandate what the Postal Service does.

A federal judge has agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing a presidential directive to end federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s executive order to cease funding for NPR and PBS is unlawful and unenforceable. The judge says the First Amendment right to free speech “does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type.” Last year, Trump said at a news conference he would “love to” defund NPR and PBS because he believes they’re biased in favor of Democrats. NPR claims the Republican president wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.

The Supreme Court is once again hearing arguments on whether President Donald Trump can deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily. The Wednesday case stems from an executive order Trump signed on the first day of his second term ending what’s known as birthright citizenship, which guarantees citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil. But while the concept has been part of U.S. law for well over a century, it is relatively rare around the world. Only about three dozen countries guarantee citizenship to children born on their territory. Most countries follow the principle of jus sanguinis, or “right of blood,” with a child’s citizenship based on the citizenship of their parents.

An Argentine emigre in Florida quickly got her newborn son a U.S. passport last year. During a legal fight over President Donald Trump’s executive order to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to people in the country illegally or temporarily, the passport was tangible evidence the baby is American. The Supreme Court hears arguments over the order's fate Wednesday in a New Hampshire case. The 14th Amendment and federal law have been widely understood to make citizens of everyone born in the country, with narrow exceptions. Every court that's ruled has found Trump's order illegal and prevented it from taking effect. The effort to repeal birthright citizenship is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown.

Heading into the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pay the tens of thousands of TSA officers who have been working without pay for over a month during a partial government shutdown. It's unclear whether the move will translate into shorter wait times for passengers at airport security lines as the budget impasse continues. White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday that federal immigration officers deployed to assist airports could remain in place until TSA operations return to normal. Major U.S. airports continued to recommend Sunday that passengers arrive several hours early.

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss charges against an Army veteran who set fire to an American flag near the White House last year to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order on flag burning. Jay Carey of Arden, North Carolina, was arrested in August after he set fire to a flag in Lafayette Park. Earlier that day, Trump signed an executive order requiring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute people for burning the American flag. Carey was charged with two misdemeanors that aren’t focused on the act of burning a flag and pleaded not guilty. Carey says he hopes the victory "can help the next person who takes a stand.”