Author: Robert Jones

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House did not pressure the Smithsonian to remove references to President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit and will include him in an updated presentation “in the coming weeks,” the museum said Saturday. The revelation that Trump was no longer listed among impeached presidents sparked concern that history was being whitewashed to appease the president. “We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit,” the Smithsonian statement said. A museum spokesperson, Phillip Zimmerman, had previously pledged that “a future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments,”…

Elon Musk made donations totaling $15 million to three super PACs supporting Donald Trump and the Republicans after his very public falling out with the president, but all before he announced his plans for the new “America Party.”Newsweek reached out to the White House and Musk via X, SpaceX, and Tesla for comment by email outside of normal business hours on Saturday morning.Why It MattersMusk and Trump formed a fast and mutually beneficial friendship in the runup to the 2024 presidential election, with Musk bankrolling Trump’s campaign to the tune of at least $250 million and helping him secure victory…

A standoff in Texas over redrawn U.S. House maps sought by President Donald Trump sharply escalated Sunday when dozens of Democratic legislators left the state to block a vote, followed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott warning them that he will seek their removal from office if they don’t return.The revolt by Democrats, and Abbott giving them until Monday to come home or face efforts to strip them of their elected positions, pushed a widening fight over congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections into new territory. At the center of the deepening impasse is Trump’s pursuit of five more…

Detainees at the controversial immigration facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz” have reportedly been on a hunger strike for more than 10 days, protesting conditions at the center.However, a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official rejected the reports, telling Newsweek in an email on Sunday morning: “FALSE. There is no hunger strike at Alligator Alcatraz. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, that the media repeats unsubstantiated, inaccurate allegations about illegal alien detention facilities.”Newsweek has reached out to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office for comment via email on Saturday.Why It Matters There have been allegations…

BANGKOK (AP) — Global shares advanced Monday after Wall Street had its worst day since May following the release of weak U.S. jobs data. France’s CAC 40 added 0.8% in early trading to 7,609.44, while the German DAX rose nearly 1.0% to 23,702.42. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.4% to 9,108.28. U.S. shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures up 0.6% at 43,951.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.6% to 6,302.75. Markets in Asia had already reacted on Friday to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement late Thursday of sweeping tariffs on imports from many U.S. trading partners. The new…

France began a large-scale airdrop of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip on Friday, deploying four flights from Jordan to deliver 40 tons of food and supplies as the international posture towards the spiraling humanitarian crisis shifted in the face of imminent famine.French President Emmanuel Macron announced the move as part of a plea for Israel to permit full humanitarian access, Reuters reported. The effort is the result of a multinational coalition including Jordan, Germany and the United Arab Emirates.Newsweek reached out to the foreign ministries of France and Israel outside of normal business hours on Saturday afternoon for comment.Why…

LAS VEGAS (AP) — When Susana Pacheco accepted a housekeeping job at a casino on the Las Vegas Strip 16 years ago, she believed it was a step toward stability for her and her 2-year-old daughter. But the single mom found herself exhausted, falling behind on bills and without access to stable health insurance, caught in a cycle of low pay and little support. For years, she said, there was no safety net in sight — until now.For 25 years, her employer, the Venetian, had resisted organizing efforts as one of the last holdouts on the Strip, locked in a…

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal agency, confirmed Saturday that it has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the former special counsel who prosecuted federal cases against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.The New York Post first reported about the investigation.The investigation centers on allegations that Smith violated the Hatch Act, a federal law prohibiting certain government officials from engaging in political activities while in office.Newsweek has reached out to the OSC and the White House via email on Saturday for comment.Why It MattersThis investigation represents a significant reversal of roles, with the former prosecutor now facing scrutiny for…

NEW YORK (AP) — The requests have come in letters, emails and phone calls. The specifics vary, but the target is consistent: The U.S. Department of Justice is ramping up an effort to get voter data and other election information from the states.Over the past three months, the department’s voting section has requested copies of voter registration lists from state election administrators in at least 15 states, according to an Associated Press tally. Of those, nine are Democrats, five are Republicans and one is a bipartisan commission. In Colorado, the department demanded “all records” relating to the 2024 election and…

Brian Burch, former longtimepresident of CatholicVote, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Saturday as the Ambassador to the Holy See.He was confirmed along party lines in a 49-44 vote, with four Republican Senators and three Democrats not voting.Newsweek reached out via email to the press teams of the four Republican senators who did not cast a vote on his confirmation on Saturday.Why It MattersBurch had been critical of decisions made by the late Pope Francis.The Chicago-based Catholic will serve as the first ambassador to the Holy See with the new American, also Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV. He is also…