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The Trump administration is racing to fill a widening leadership vacuum within the US Department of Health and Human Services, amid months of upheaval that have shaken Americans’ trust and stoked GOP fears of a backlash at the ballot box in November.Senior health officials plan to settle on a new nominee to run the Food and Drug Administration within the next few weeks, in hopes of rapidly stabilizing an agency whose prior leader had alienated several elements of President Donald Trump’s political coalition, a senior administration official told CNN.They are also plotting a broader shakeup

Trump administration rushes to steady Kennedy’s HHS, with an eye on the midterms

How a vote for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ put Republican David Valadao in danger of losing his seat

A timeline of former death row inmate Richard Glossip’s legal battles spanning nearly 30 years

This Republican says he’s Trump’s ally. He’s getting in the way of Trump’s revenge in a key Louisiana Senate primary

President Donald Trump wants to take down Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment and has been a critic of parts of his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow to run against Cassidy and most other challengers dropped out.There’s just one problem: John Fleming.The Louisiana state treasurer, who is largely self-funding his campaign, has remained a stubborn force in the race, complicating Trump’s revenge plot and making it a near-certainty that Saturday’s primary will head to a June runoff. In doing so, Fleming

Strike deadline nears for New York-area train system with 250,000 daily commuters

UK government faces weeks of uncertainty over the prime minister's future

Business|Election|Political

Democrats test a new red state strategy: Back independents over their own nominees

Democratic leaders, desperate to compete in red states where their party brand is toxic, are embracing something new this midterm season: Not backing Democrats. In states like Nebraska, Idaho and Alaska, Democratic officials are, in some cases, looking past their own party’s candidates while subtly encouraging — or even openly promoting — independent candidates they hope can outperform the Democratic label. The Democratic National Committee and some of its allies in Washington are quietly supporting the new strategy. Meanwhile, some of the independent candida

Cuban dancer finds meaning and work in the streets as the island's art scene fades

A Texas town may offer a preview of a Trump plan to force noncitizens from public housing

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Crime|US

Justice Clarence Thomas laments ‘very dicey’ threats to judiciary and heightened security for Supreme Court

Justice Clarence Thomas lamented the heightened security that has become necessary for members of the Supreme Court in recent years, telling an audience in Florida on Thursday that it is now far more difficult for him to take part in activities outside the courthouse.The observation, which he repeatedly returned to as he spoke to a group of lawyers and judges gathered outside Miami, came as the court has sought millions of dollars in additional security funding from Congress amid increasing physical and cyber threats aimed at the judiciary.“The security concerns now are much different from t

Europe|MidEast|Political|US|World

US scraps deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland

The Pentagon has canceled plans to temporarily deploy 4,000 U.S.-based troops to Poland, two U.S. officials said, a surprise decision that renews questions about President Donald Trump's expected troop cuts in Europe.A Pentagon spokesperson declined comment, a lawmaker said the decision had not yet been notified to Congress, and no formal announcement has been made.The decision, first reported by Army Times, came just two weeks after the Pentagon announced it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, in part due to a widening rift over the Iran war between President Donald Trump

Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill, while lawsuit plays out

US Border Patrol chief Michael Banks is resigning, in latest DHS leadership change

Crime|Europe|US|World

Neo-Nazi leader gets 15 years for recruiting violent attacks, including a Santa poison plot

The leader of an Eastern European neo-Nazi group has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for trying to recruit others to commit violent attacks against Jews and racial minorities, including one plot that would have involved dressing as Santa Claus to hand out poisoned candy to children. Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 22-year-old from the country of Georgia who goes by the nickname “Commander Butcher,” was sentenced by a federal judge in Brooklyn on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty in November to soliciting hate crimes and distributing information about making bombs and ricin.

Health|US|World

Supreme Court allows telehealth and mail access to mifepristone for now

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed women to continue to access the abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth visits, maintaining the status quo while officials in Louisiana continue to push for limiting availability of the drug in lower courts.The conservative Supreme Court imposed a pause on a May 1 decision from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that abruptly required women to obtain the drug through in-person visits. The focus will now return to the New Orleans-based appeals court, which will decide the merits of Louisiana’s challenge.The court did not explain its reasoning, nor

US Supreme Court lets abortion pill mail delivery continue

Border Patrol chief Michael Banks resigns his position

World News

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Entertainment|Travel|World

Why Xi invited Trump to this highly secretive former imperial garden

US President Donald Trump spent his final morning in Beijing in Zhongnanhai — the highly secretive, tightly guarded leadership compound of China’s ruling Communist Party.Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping strolled through its pristine gardens, with Trump admiring the roses and Xi offering to send seeds before they held talks over tea and lunch.The central seat of power in China, the venue is sometimes compared to the White House or the Kremlin. Only a handful of American leaders have ever stepped beyond the centuries-old red ochre walls that separate the compound from the rest of the capi

Arts|Entertainment|World

Eurovision finalists to take the stage amid boycott from Spain, Ireland and others over Israel’s presence

Despite Eurovision’s insistence it is apolitical, politics has always been part of the continent-wide song contest, as much a feature as whatever constellation of pyrotechnics and power ballads are on display that year.But where, previously, politics was somewhat of a punchline, a useful indicator for cynical fans to guess which country might award points to another, this year it is threatening to overshadow the entire contest.Five countries – Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland – are boycotting this year’s event over Israel’s continued participation in it, marking

FBI offers $200,000 for information on former Air Force intelligence specialist charged with spying for Iran

Trump leaves Beijing with few wins, many warm words for Xi

Arts|Education|Health|Political|World

Justice Department accuses Yale medical school of illegally using race in admissions

The Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally considering race in admissions to its medical school — the second institution to face discrimination allegations by the federal agency this month. In a letter to a lawyer for Yale, Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said a DOJ investigation found that Black and Hispanic students have a much higher chance of admission to the medical school than white or Asian students, despite having lower grade-point averages and lower test scores. “Yale has continue

Americas|Political|World

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Raul Castro's grandson in Havana, US and Cuban officials say

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials including Raúl Castro's grandson during a high-level visit to the island Thursday, Cuban and U.S. officials said. Ratcliffe met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the head of Cuban intelligence services, and discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security issues. A CIA official confirmed the meetings to the AP. Ratcliffe was there "to personally deliver President Donald Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage o

Rory McIlroy has a bad finish for a rough start at the PGA Championship

Iran allowing transit of Chinese vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Fars news reports

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Business|Economy|Education|Health|Political

Newsom outlines his final budget proposal with no deficit, new major spending

Arts|Business|Economy|Entertainment|Lifestyle

OnlyFans is the star of TV’s hottest shows thanks to a messy economy

Crime|Economy|Health|Political

Fighting fraud is a top Trump administration priority. Here’s what you should know

Asia|Business|Economy|Environment|Technology

China's view on Elon Musk? Visionary, occasional villain

Asia|Business|Economy|Environment|World

China renews, then halts licenses for hundreds of US beef exporters amid Trump-Xi summit

Chinese customs appeared to have halted export clearances for hundreds of U.S. beef plants on Thursday, hours after Reuters

Economy|Environment|World

Cuba’s energy crisis to worsen as donated Russian oil runs out, minister warns

Oil ends flat as tanker crossings through Strait of Hormuz temper supply fears

Arts|Entertainment|Health|Political

As Trump fuels Vance vs. Rubio speculation, his vice president makes anti-fraud push

Crime|Political

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler blasts ‘disgusting’ antisemitic and homophobic comments from Sen. Rand Paul’s son

Crime|Economy|US|World

Taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements involving lawmakers exceeded $550,000, newly released documents show

California & Local

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Local

From LA to Scottsdale: The Founder Behind AdDynamix Is Building the Bridge Between AI and Business Tools

An LA digital advertising veteran of 28 years has moved to Scottsdale and is building what he calls the missing piece between business software and the AI assistants people now use every day. SCOTTSDALE, AZ. When Benoit Pecqueur talks about his latest company, he sounds less like a founder pitching a product and more like an operator who got tired of watching the same problem repeat itself. “Most small business owners are watching the AI revolution from the sidelines,” he says. “Not because they don’t want it. Because their tools don’t talk to ChatGPT or Claude. Their accountant still pulls