Trump prompts outcry by suggesting Republicans should ‘take over’ elections | First Thing

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President claims idea to ‘nationalize’ elections in 15 states before midterms is to prevent noncitizen voting. Plus, how Muslim creatives are changing New York City’s cultural landscape Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Donald Trump suggested on a conservative podcast released on Monday that Republican state officials “take … Read more

What replaced USAID? Inside the Trump administration’s global health overhaul

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For months after the Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, critics warned that America’s global health programs were being gutted. What drew far less attention was what replaced it.  In December 2025, the White House quietly rolled out the America First Global Health Strategy, shifting control of U.S. global health aid from … Read more

Author who co-wrote two books with Noam Chomsky condemns scholar’s ties to Epstein

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Vijay Prashad said he was ‘disgusted’ by linguist’s friendship with Epstein as new files shed light on their relationship Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files: 10 key takeaways so far An author who collaborated on two books with Noam Chomsky has written a letter condemning the acclaimed scholar’s friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey … Read more

Tennessee to test Stephen Miller’s plan of enlisting states for immigration enforcement

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Bills mandate ICE cooperation, school status checks and criminalize information release, testing constitutional lines The power to enforce immigration law rests with the federal government. But Trump adviser, Stephen Miller, has a vision for states working in coordination with federal immigration officials, and he’s attempting to test it out in Tennessee. Earlier this month, the … Read more

Jeffrey Epstein messaged with former CIA director Bill Burns, files show

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Spokesperson says Burns ‘deeply regrets ever meeting’ with Epstein and cut ties after learning of his conviction A new tranche of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein revealed several communications with William J Burns, a career diplomat who would go on to become the central intelligence director under Joe Biden. The documents describe … Read more

Billionaire US investor Ken Griffin accuses Trump White House of ‘enriching’ itself

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Citadel hedge fund boss, Republican donor and vocal Trump critic says administration has made ‘distasteful’ choices not in the public interest The billionaire investor Ken Griffin has accused Donald Trump’s administration of “enriching” its families, and criticised its interference in American businesses as “distasteful”. Griffin, who is the chief executive of the hedge fund Citadel … Read more

Major public school board simulates parent ‘terrorist’ attack after fatal accident kills student

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Shortly after a student was killed in a fatal accident involving a school maintenance vehicle, the board for Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) held a closed-door safety training for staff in which dozens of actors simulated parents unleashing “terrorist activity,” according to a report. Nick Minock, a reporter for Washington, D.C., area outlet ABC7, posted … Read more

Trump Calls on Republicans to ‘Nationalize’ Future Elections

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President Donald Trump is escalating his push to nationalize future elections during a podcast interview with his former FBI director Dan Bongino. It comes as new body camera video has surfaced of the FBI’s search of the Fulton County election office in Georgia and shows police approaching agents questioning them about their operation. Agents later … Read more