Author: Robert Jones

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…

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge agreed on Friday to temporarily block the Trump administration’s efforts to expand fast-track deportations of immigrants who legally entered the U.S. under a process known as humanitarian parole — a ruling that could benefit hundreds of thousands of people.U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., ruled that the Department of Homeland Security exceeded its statutory authority in its effort to expand “expedited removal” for many immigrants. The judge said those immigrants are facing perils that outweigh any harm from “pressing pause” on the administration’s plans.The case “presents a question of fair play” for…

Plans for a series of demonstrations dubbed the “Rage Against the Regime” protests have expanded across the nation in advance of their August 2 date.Earlier this week, the 50501 movement, which is coordinating the protests, said that there were 300 protests set to take place against President Donald Trump this weekend. But on Friday, the figure was updated to 425.Newsweek reached out to 50501 via email for comment.Why It MattersSince assuming office in January, Trump has been hit with multiple coordinated protests from different groups.One took place on the Memorial Day weekend, while others targeted Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the agency that compiles the closely watched monthly jobs report usually toils in obscurity, but on Friday, the current holder of that job was loudly fired by the president of the United States.Erika McEntarfer, a longtime government employee, bore the brunt of President Donald Trump’s unhappiness with Friday’s jobs report, which showed that hiring had slowed in July and was much less in May and June that previously estimated. He accused her without evidence of manipulating the job numbers and noted she was an appointee of President Joe Biden.McEntarfer, a longtime government worker who…

Facebook Tweet Email Link A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. It seems too early, but it’s not. Just as Democrats are plotting how to win the next presidential election, Republican candidates are too. But while Democrats will try to outdo themselves in their opposition to President Donald Trump, Republicans will have to navigate a party that Trump has rebuilt around his own political instincts. I talked to CNN’s Eric Bradner about which Republicans are likely to run for president in 2028 and how they…

President Donald Trump just succeeded where Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush all failed.Last month, European leaders finally agreed to the president’s persistent demand that they significantly increase defense spending. For nearly two decades, they’d been resisting major spending hikes—despite Presidents Bush, Obama, and Biden all publicly or privately pressuring European allies to contribute more toward the West’s collective defense. President Donald Trump reacts as he meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bilateral talks at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 28, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland. President Donald Trump reacts as he meets British Prime Minister Keir…

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and television stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” said Friday that it would close after the U.S. government withdrew funding.The organization told employees that most staff positions will end with the fiscal year on Sept. 30. A small transition team will stay until January to finish any remaining work. The private, nonprofit corporation was founded in 1968 shortly after Congress authorized its formation. It now ends nearly six decades of fueling the production of renowned educational programming, cultural content and…