united states news

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose substantial tariffs on countries that don't manufacture furniture in the United States, following his earlier announcement of 50% tariffs on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities and 30% on upholstered furniture set to take effect this week. The implementation details remain unclear since furniture is manufactured by businesses rather than countries, though the post suggests a tariff structure potentially based on furniture export volumes to the U.S. Furniture prices have already increased in recent months following Trump's tariff hikes on China and Vietnam, which are the top sources of imported furniture to the U.S., with prices rising 4.7% compared to August 2024, marking the largest increase in three years. Trump claims these measures aim to help North Carolina, which he says has "completely lost its furniture business to China, and other countries."

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual awards dinner featured direct commentary about the challenges facing Black Americans and democracy. Vice President Kamala Harris, one of three honorees alongside Angela Rye and Jotaka Eaddy, criticized Republicans' long-term strategy to consolidate power and rejected the idea that a single individual could save democracy. Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized collective power rather than presidential authority, while discussions throughout CBC Week centered on developing strategies against perceived threats to democracy under Trump's administration. The event occurred as the federal government faces a potential shutdown and more federal employee dismissals.

The US is considering Ukraine's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could strike targets up to 1,500 miles away, potentially bringing Moscow within range. Vice President JD Vance indicated that President Trump would make the final decision, amid signals of a shifting US stance toward supporting Ukraine more aggressively. Ukrainian officials argue that the ability to strike deep into Russia would force Moscow to negotiate peace by raising the cost of continuing the war. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces intensifying Russian aerial attacks, with a recent 12-hour assault leaving four dead and 70 injured in Kyiv, highlighting Ukraine's urgent need for additional air defense systems like Patriots to protect its cities.

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter has partnered with Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design (PLC Detroit) to launch the Apparel Creation STU/DEO by adidas, unveiled during the National Black Footwear Forum. Carter, the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards for her costume design work on films like "Black Panther," aims to provide mentorship and creative opportunities for aspiring designers. The studio, designed with contributions from PLC Detroit students Angel Buckens and Rodney Banks and featuring a mural by Detroit artist Sydney G. James, represents a collaboration between an iconic designer, the only design-focused HBCU in the country, and adidas to nurture the next generation of design talent.

Michigan has expanded its reentry ID program to Wayne County, ensuring people leaving the county jail can obtain driver's licenses or state identification cards upon release. The program, operating since 2020, has already provided identification to approximately 20,000 individuals exiting Michigan prisons and jails. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson emphasized that having an ID is critical for accessing employment, housing, and educational opportunities after incarceration. This expansion addresses a significant barrier to reentry in Wayne County, where about 60 percent of jail inmates lacked valid identification, and is particularly impactful for Detroit's Black community, which is disproportionately affected by incarceration.

Russell M. Nelson, the 101-year-old president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Saturday in Salt Lake City. As a revered prophet and the oldest serving head of the church, Nelson implemented significant policy changes during his leadership, including rolling back anti-LGBT policies, severing ties with the Boy Scouts, and campaigning against nicknames like "Mormon" for the faith. Before his religious leadership, Nelson had a distinguished career as a surgeon who pioneered open-heart surgery techniques in Utah. His presidency, which began in 2018, was marked by global ministry and increased temple construction, with Nelson visiting 32 countries and announcing 200 new temples.

A violent attack occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove a vehicle into the building during Sunday services, opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and started a fire, resulting in at least four deaths and eight injuries. The assailant, a Marine Corps veteran, was killed by police within eight minutes of beginning his rampage, which authorities are investigating as an "act of targeted violence" though the motive remains unclear. The attack caused extensive fire damage to the church building, which was attended by hundreds of people at the time. FBI and local authorities have responded with 100 FBI agents deployed to assist with the investigation, while also addressing and clearing additional bomb threats at multiple other locations.

Amir Amiry, a US citizen who was detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nine months, has been released following negotiations led by Qatar. He is the fifth American freed from Afghanistan this year and was traveling back to the United States as of Sunday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Qatar for their diplomatic efforts while noting that other US citizens remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. Qatar's foreign ministry facilitated the release after months of negotiations, which included arranging a meeting between Amiry and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler, with a breakthrough occurring this weekend.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has withdrawn from his re-election campaign five weeks before the election, citing media speculation and lack of public matching funds as key factors hampering his campaign. Adams, who was originally elected as a Democrat in 2022 but was running as an independent this time, had been indicted on bribery and fraud charges that were later dismissed by the Trump administration. The race now narrows to Democrat Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, with Adams declining to endorse any candidate but warning against "those who claim the answer to destroy the very system we built together." Adams' popularity had declined due to corruption allegations, immigration policy disputes, and public frustration with rising living costs in the city.

A shooter killed three people and injured several others after firing from a boat outside the American Fish Company at Southport Yacht Basin in North Carolina on Saturday evening around 21:30 local time. The attacker fled by boat but was apprehended approximately 30 minutes later by the US Coast Guard in Oak Island, about 12 miles from the scene. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring described the event as "a very tragic night" for their small community of under 4,000 people, where "everybody knows everybody." After initially urging residents to remain in their homes during the active shooter investigation, officials later stated they believed there were no additional threats to the community.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco were married on September 27, 2025, in a ceremony held in Santa Barbara, California with approximately 170 guests in attendance, including celebrities Taylor Swift, Paul Rudd, Steve Martin, and Martin Short. The couple, who got engaged in December 2024 after dating for a year, had previously collaborated on multiple music projects before their romantic relationship began. Their professional relationship included work on hits like "Same Old Love" and "Kill Em with Kindness," and they recently released an album titled "I Said I Love You First" in March that chronicles their romance. Both Gomez and Blanco have established careers in the entertainment industry, with Gomez known for her Disney Channel role and music career, while Blanco is recognized as a producer who has worked with numerous high-profile artists.

Venezuela is mobilizing its National Bolivarian Militia, primarily composed of senior citizens, in response to recent US naval deployments in the South Caribbean. President Nicolás Maduro has called the militia to active duty after US forces destroyed three boats allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing at least 17 people. This escalation follows deteriorating US-Venezuela relations, with the Trump administration refusing to recognize Maduro's 2024 re-election and doubling the reward for his capture to $50 million. Despite military experts noting the US naval deployment isn't large enough to suggest an invasion, the Venezuelan government is conducting weapons training for militia volunteers in neighborhoods like Petare, with many elderly citizens expressing willingness to defend their country.

President Donald Trump has ordered troops to Portland, Oregon with authorization to use "full force" against protesters targeting immigration detention centers, claiming to protect ICE facilities from "Antifa and other domestic terrorists." Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has pushed back, stating there is no security threat in Portland and calling the deployment "an abuse of power." The move comes amid Trump's broader immigration crackdown and recent designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, following protests at Portland's ICE facility since early June that have led to federal charges against 26 people. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the deployment and ICE's tactics, while some Republicans have supported Trump's decision to "protect ICE facilities."

President Trump's increase of H-1B visa fees to $100,000 has created an opportunity for Canada to attract skilled workers affected by the policy change. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated Canada is developing "a clear offering" for tech workers who would have otherwise sought H-1B visas in the US. While business experts and immigration advocates urge Canada to seize this moment, some experts caution that Canada's immigration system faces its own challenges, including recent immigration scale-backs and lower average wages compared to the US. The situation reflects a potential talent shift, as evidenced by Canada's 2023 program for US-based H-1B holders that reached its 10,000 application cap within 24 hours.

The Trump administration has appealed to the Supreme Court to uphold its executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of migrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas. Lower courts have blocked the order, which was signed in January, arguing it violates the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to those born in the United States. The Justice Department contends the constitutional language "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" excludes children of people not legally or permanently in the country, and has asked the Supreme Court to resolve the case in its term beginning October 6. According to research, approximately 250,000 babies were born to unauthorized immigrant parents in 2016, with potential long-term implications if birthright citizenship ends.

The FBI has reportedly terminated between 15 to 20 agents who knelt during a 2020 racial justice protest in Washington DC following George Floyd's death. The FBI Agents Association has criticized this mass firing as a violation of the agents' rights, while the FBI itself has declined to comment on the reports. This action appears to align with the Trump administration's efforts to remove what it considers "woke" policies and officials from federal government. The dismissals follow several other recent high-profile firings at the FBI, with some former agents filing lawsuits against FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming they were terminated to appease President Trump.

Two major US local TV station owners, Sinclair and Nexstar, have resumed airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! after a week-long ban over controversial comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's murder. The companies reinstated the show on Friday following ABC's earlier decision to bring Kimmel back after a brief suspension. This situation highlighted the interdependent relationship between national networks and local station owners, with Sinclair citing feedback from viewers and advertisers in their decision, while Nexstar emphasized its commitment to First Amendment principles. Despite the temporary ban affecting about a quarter of ABC stations, Kimmel's return episode saw his audience more than quadruple.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to declassify all government records related to the 1937 disappearance of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific Ocean during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Despite numerous theories ranging from fuel exhaustion to Japanese capture, the mystery remains unsolved, with no physical evidence ever found to conclusively determine her fate. While some FBI files and Navy search reports have been released over the decades, many records have remained classified, fueling speculation about possible government cover-ups. The declassification will include all materials related to Earhart, her final journey, and other aspects of her life and career.

New files released by Congressional Democrats from the Jeffrey Epstein Estate include references to billionaire Elon Musk and Prince Andrew, among other prominent figures. The documents show Musk was invited to Epstein's island in December 2014, while a flight manifest from May 2000 lists Prince Andrew as a passenger on a flight with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The third batch of documents also contains names of Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and references to Bill Gates, along with financial records and daily schedules. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are using these documents in their ongoing effort to bring justice for Epstein's victims, while Republicans have criticized the release as politically motivated.

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstructing an investigation, with President Donald Trump publicly praising this development against his long-standing political opponent. Legal experts have raised concerns that Trump's public attacks on Comey and his apparent pressure on the Justice Department may undermine the prosecution's case and create grounds for dismissal. The unusually brief two-page indictment contains limited information about the evidence, making it difficult to assess the strength of the government's case. The charges stem from a 2020 congressional hearing where Comey allegedly lied about authorizing leaks to the press, with some legal experts suggesting that while conviction is possible, Trump's interference could jeopardize the case.

Assata Shakur, a 78-year-old Black Liberation Army activist who had been living in exile in Cuba for four decades, died Thursday in Havana due to health conditions and "advanced age." Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron and also known as Joanne Chesimard, had escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1979 while serving a life sentence for a state trooper's murder during a 1973 shootout, though she maintained her innocence and claimed her trial was unfair. After fleeing to Cuba in 1984, she was granted asylum by Fidel Castro, became the first woman added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list, and remained a point of contention between the U.S. and Cuba with a $2 million combined reward offered for information leading to her arrest.

The Department of Homeland Security has placed an ICE officer on administrative leave while investigating an incident where he was filmed forcefully shoving a woman to the ground at a New York immigration court. Video footage widely shared on social media shows the officer saying "adios" to a crying woman before physically confronting her, pushing her into a wall, and knocking her to the ground. The incident reportedly occurred after federal agents attempted to take the woman's husband into custody while she and her daughter held onto him. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the officer's behavior as "unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE," emphasizing that ICE law enforcement personnel are held to the highest professional standards.

The California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) is launching two new assistance programs through ReCoverCA to help residents affected by the 2023-2024 floods. The Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation/Reconstruction (SFRR) program will provide funding to repair, rebuild, or reconstruct damaged primary residences for eligible homeowners in federally designated Most Impacted and Distressed Areas. Additionally, the Disaster Recovery Homebuyer Assistance Program (DR-HBA) will offer up to $300,000 in second mortgage loans, forgiven after five years, to help low and moderate-income residents purchase homes in safer areas starting November 10, 2025. Both programs have specific eligibility requirements, including proof of flood damage and location requirements, with the DR-HBA program prioritizing impacted households during the first 60 days of applications.

A 27-year-old gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan office building was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, according to the New York City medical examiner. Shane Tamura, who targeted the NFL headquarters but entered the wrong part of the building, left notes blaming the NFL for concealing CTE's effects and requesting his brain be studied. The medical examiner confirmed Tamura had "low-stage CTE," a condition typically associated with symptoms including depression, memory loss, and progressive dementia. Despite being a former high school football player with known mental health issues, Tamura never played in the NFL but still targeted their offices during his July shooting spree.

Democratic governors in Arizona, Illinois, Maine, and North Carolina have recently signed orders to allow most residents to receive COVID-19 vaccines at pharmacies without individual prescriptions, joining a growing trend among states. According to CVS Health, its stores now offer shots without individual prescriptions in 41 states, though nine states plus D.C. still require prescriptions under the company's interpretation of state policies. At least 14 states have announced policies this month to ease vaccine access, with most being led by Democratic governors, while a West Coast alliance of four states plans to make their own vaccine recommendations. Republican-controlled states generally haven't changed vaccine policies recently, though the vaccinations remain available under existing protocols.

Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by the US Department of Justice over testimony he gave to Congress in 2020 regarding media leaks. The indictment alleges Comey misled the Senate by claiming he had not authorized leaks to the media about FBI investigations, potentially contradicting statements made by his former deputy Andrew McCabe. The charges come nearly a decade after Comey's controversial handling of Hillary Clinton's email investigation during the 2016 election and his subsequent firing by President Trump in 2017 while leading the Russia investigation. Critics argue the timing of the charges, filed days after Trump urged his attorney general to target political opponents, raises concerns about the Justice Department's independence.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll reveals that 79% of American voters believe the country is experiencing a political crisis, with widespread agreement across party lines following Charlie Kirk's assassination. The survey indicates 71% of voters now consider politically motivated violence a "very serious" problem, up significantly from 54% in June, with 82% blaming inflammatory political rhetoric. Most respondents (58%) no longer believe political rhetoric can be toned down, and a majority expect political violence to worsen in coming years. Additional concerns highlighted in the poll include declining confidence in freedom of speech protections, skepticism about the democratic system's functionality, low approval ratings for President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and economic worries centered on consumer prices.

In 1989, Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett, two Black men, were wrongly accused of killing Carol Stuart, a pregnant white woman in Boston, when in fact her husband Charles Stuart had orchestrated the murder. After facing wrongful accusations that sparked racial tensions and a police crackdown in a Black neighborhood, Swanson and Bennett have now received a $150,000 settlement from the city of Boston. The settlement comes two years after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued a formal apology for the injustice they suffered and the harm caused to the Black community. Bennett will receive $100,000 while Swanson will receive $50,000 from the settlement.

Recent research reveals that approximately 88 percent of our daily behaviors are performed habitually with minimal conscious thought. The study, conducted by researchers from three universities across multiple countries, tracked 105 participants for a week and discovered that 65 percent of actions were "habitually instigated" by environmental cues rather than deliberate decisions. The research distinguished between habitual instigation (automatically starting an action) and habitual execution (carrying out an activity without thinking), finding that demographics generally didn't affect how automatic people's behaviors were, with exercise being a notable exception. Importantly, the study found that most automatic behaviors aligned with personal goals, with only 17 percent of habitual actions contradicting what people consciously wanted to do.

Eleven West African deportees from the U.S. were sent to their home countries by Ghana over the weekend despite ongoing legal challenges and safety concerns. The deportees, who were part of a group of 14 immigrants initially sent to Ghana, had filed a lawsuit seeking release, with eight claiming they faced risks of torture or persecution in their home countries. Their lawyer, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, stated that the deportations occurred hurriedly to circumvent their court case, and some deportees have gone into hiding for safety reasons after arriving in their countries of origin. The deportations are part of the Trump administration's controversial program that has been criticized by human rights experts who question whether proper screening protocols for asylum-seekers are being followed.