Author: Robert Jones

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve announced Friday that governor Adriana Kugler will step down next week, opening up a spot on the central bank’s powerful board that President Donald Trump will be able to fill.Kugler, who did not participate in the Fed’s policy meeting earlier this week, would have completed her term in January. Instead, she will retire Aug. 8. She did not provide a reason for stepping down in her resignation letter.Federal Reserve governors vote on the central bank’s interest rate decisions and also on changes to bank regulations and other financial rules. The Trump administration could take…

Facebook Tweet Email Link The US Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing to end certain abortion services to veterans, rolling back a Biden-era move to expand abortion rights. In a proposed rule filed Friday, the department said that it is seeking to revoke access to abortions and abortion counseling for veterans and the beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “We take this action to ensure that VA provides only needed medical services to our nation’s heroes and their families,” the department said in the filing. Under the Biden administration’s rule, the department…

President Donald Trump’s second term “honeymoon” is over, a YouGov analyst has said in the wake of the latest polling, which revealed his disapproval rating has increased.According to the YouGov polling forBritish paper The Times, the proportion of people who disapprove of Trump’s job performance has increased from 52 percent in April to 57 percent in July.Reacting to this polling, analyst for YouGov Mark Blumenthal said: “The honeymoon at the beginning has gone.”Why It MattersIn the first six months of his presidency, Trump’s popularity as fluctuated. Voters have in particular raised concerns about the administration’s handling of the late sex…

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett speaks with reporters in the driveway outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., March 19, 2025. Kevin Lamarque | ReutersNational Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s sudden decision to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, without citing specific evidence.Hassett repeatedly pointed to the revisions in Friday’s employment data to justify Trump’s firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, but did not provide data showing the latest jobs report was “rigged,” as Trump claimed.”I mean, the revisions are hard evidence,” he said on NBC News, adding that there “have…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Commanders’ hopes of returning to the site of their former home at RFK Stadium cleared a significant hurdle Friday when the District of Columbia Council approved the legislation.The bill advanced by a 9-3 vote, but it still must be approved a second time by the council before being sent to Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.Bowser negotiated an initial plan with Commanders owner Josh Harris in April, with the team contributing $2.7 billion and the city investing roughly $1.1 billion for the stadium, housing, green space and a sportsplex on land bordering the Anacostia River.“We are one…

Bryson DeChambeau has never been shy about pushing boundaries on the course, and now he is continuing the momentum under President Donald Trump.The LIV Golf star, often praised by Trump and LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil for his innovative approach to growing the game, made headlines again this week.This time it was not for a viral swing or a YouTube “Break 50” challenge, but for stepping into a new leadership role at the national level. US President Donald Trump (2L) listens as US golfer Bryson DeChambeau speaks prior to signing an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public…

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal judge T.S. Ellis III, whose legal scholarship and commanding courtroom presence was evident in numerous high-profile trials, has died after a long illness. He was 85.Ellis oversaw the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson as well as the plea deal of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh across a judicial career that lasted more than 35 years.His acerbic wit sometimes drew muted complaints at the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, where Ellis was based, but his legal reasoning was unquestioned.Ellis died Wednesday at his home in…

It was once a rite of passage for millions of American schoolchildren before being phased out under the Obama administration.But now public school students across the U.S. once again face being rated on their strength, endurance and flexibility under an executive order reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test signed by Donald Trump on Thursday.What is the Presidential Fitness Test?The original program, which was replaced in 2012, was formalized in 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson to “promote good health” and provide “sturdy young citizens equal to the challenges of the future.”It typically assessed students aged 6 to 17 in public schools…

The Trump administration is freezing $339 million in research grants to the University of California, Los Angeles, accusing the school of civil rights violations related to antisemitism, affirmative action and women’s sports, according to a person familiar with the matter.The federal government has frozen or paused federal funding over similar allegations against private colleges but this is one of the rare cases it has targeted a public university.Several federal agencies notified UCLA this week that they were suspending grants over civil rights concerns, including $240 million from the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health,…

The U.S. labor market slowed sharply over the past three months, according to new data released Friday, amid ongoing concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.U.S. employers added 73,000 jobs in July, far lower than expected. In a survey by Bloomberg before the release of the report, forecasters had expected the nation to add around 109,000 jobs in July.Hiring figures for May and June were also revised down sharply. A combined total of 258,000 fewer jobs were added over the past three months compared to previous reports.Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent from 4.1 percent in June. President…