News

Magazine archive
Key takeaways from Jack Smith’s testimony to House Judiciary Committee

Former special counsel Jack Smith used a closed-door deposition with House Republicans last month to defend his investigations into Donald Trump’s alleged effort to subvert the 2020 presidential election and his alleged retention of certain classified documents, using the hours-long testimony to forcefully dispute the notion that his team had acted politically, and citing what he described as ample evidence to support the indictments that had been levied against Trump.  ‘I made my decisions in...

Trump-aligned super PAC enters 2026 midterms with nearly $300M war chest

A super PAC aligned with President Donald Trump has nearly $300 million in its war chest heading into the 2026 midterms, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on Thursday. MAGA Inc. reported $294 million in cash on hand in its latest campaign finance disclosure, which the super PAC said will be used to support candidates aligned with the president’s agenda. ‘Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, MAGA Inc will have the resources...

Brighton Palace Pier put up for sale as rising costs bite leisure sector

Brighton’s iconic Palace Pier has been put on the market after almost a decade under the ownership of serial entrepreneur Luke Johnson, underscoring the mounting pressure facing Britain’s leisure and hospitality businesses. The Grade II*-listed attraction, which opened in 1899 and remains one of the UK’s most recognisable seaside landmarks, is being sold by Brighton Pier Group, which has appointed Knight Frank to oversee the sale. The decision comes against the backdrop of declining footfall,...

DOGE says agencies cut $1.6B in federal contracts, flags spending on Somalia, HHS web services

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said Friday that federal agencies have terminated or reduced 55 contracts over the last three days with a combined ceiling value of $1.6 billion, claiming $542 million in savings. DOGE, whose name nods to Elon Musk’s high-profile involvement, was launched during the opening days of President Donald Trump’s second administration as part of a broader effort to reshape federal spending and bureaucracy. While Musk has since stepped back from...

Protests spread across Iran as regime threatens US forces as ‘legitimate targets’ after Trump warning

As nationwide protests continued to spread across Iran on Friday, the regime’s hardline Parliament speaker warned the U.S. that American forces and bases in the region would be considered ‘legitimate targets’ if Washington intervenes in the country’s ongoing political unrest. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the comments after President Donald Trump said earlier Friday that the U.S. would take action if Iran uses force against demonstrators. It comes as protests entered a sixth day...

Schumer silent as Mamdani scraps antisemitism definition, synagogue security

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., remained silent Friday when his office was asked about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s day one orders that drew backlash from the international Jewish community. Among his first actions as mayor, Mamdani revoked orders by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including Executive Order 61, which provided additional NYPD security to synagogues in the city and axed the definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). He...

Healthcare, economy and the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’: Welcome to the midterms

If you’re still unpacking results from the 2024 election, it’s time to give up. 2026 is an election year. Welcome to the midterms.  Health care. The economy. The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’ All are factors as voters go to the polls this fall. Democrats are trained on kitchen table issues this year. They hope that voters will forget about culture wars and have buyer’s remorse, perhaps flipping the House — and even the Senate. ‘They...

Ukraine tricks Russia into paying $500K bounty for fake hit on Putin opponent: report

Ukraine orchestrated a fake hit on one of Russia’s enemies who has fought alongside Ukrainian forces, tricking the Kremlin into paying out a $500,000 bounty Kyiv used to fund its war effort.  The subject of the supposed Dec. 27 assassination was Denis Kapustin, also known as ‘White Rex,’ the leader of the right-wing Russian Volunteer Corps, a group fighting for the overthrow of Vladimir Putin, Metro UK reported.  However, Kapustin is alive despite claims from...

Mamdani’s inauguration fuels debate over Gen Z shift toward socialism, away from free markets

New York City’s new mayor wasted little time drawing ideological lines, using his swearing-in ceremony to double down on campaign promises filled with government-led solutions — a sharp contrast with free-market principles Republicans warn are increasingly under threat amid an evolving understanding of socialism among younger audiences. ‘We will draw this city closer together,’ Zohran Mamdani, a socialist, said at his ceremony on Thursday. ‘We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth...

Iran crackdown rattles Middle East as analysts weigh US options short of military intervention

Months after the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, tensions are rising again as Iran kills protesters, Israel weighs new military action and President Donald Trump signals the U.S. could intervene. Trump sharpened pressure on Tehran this week, threatening U.S. action if Iranian security forces violently suppress the ongoing protests that erupted after the country’s national currency collapsed. ‘If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters … the United States of America will come to...