Trump Privately Approved Attack Plans For Iran But Has Withheld Final Order  —  The president is hoping that threatening to join Israel's strikes will lead Tehran to abandon its nuclear program  —  WASHINGTON—President Trump told senior aides late Tuesday that he approved of attack plans for Iran …

State Department unveils social media screening rules for all student visa applicants  —  Applicants will be vetted for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.”  —  U.S. diplomats have officially …

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors, big loss for transgender rights  —  The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, a stunning setback to transgender rights.  The justices' 6-3 decision in a case …

SAMHSA Statement on 988 Press 3 Option  —  On July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the “Press 3 option,” to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option.

FDA approves powerful HIV drug that nearly eliminated spread in clinical trials  —  The twice-yearly injectable drug's potential could be compromised by the Trump administration's dramatic cuts to HIV-prevention infrastructure in the U.S.  —  The Food and Drug Administration has approved …

Social Security fund could run dry ahead of earlier forecast, trustees say  —  If Congress does not overhaul the funds' financing, automatic cuts will slash Social Security benefits by 23 percent in 2033, according to the latest trustees report.  —  Summary384

Democrats walk out of Senate Judiciary hearing probing Biden's mental fitness  —  Democrats are refusing to participate in the first congressional hearing focusing on allegations of former President Joe Biden's mental decline while in the White House.  Only Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) …

The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash  —  Under its new leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee has been plagued by infighting and a drop in big donations, raising alarms from Democrats as they try to win back power.  —  Just months into the tenure of a new party leader …

Hispanic reporter arrested at protest now in ICE custody, faces deportation  —  Mario Guevara, who was taken into police custody while covering a weekend protest in metro Atlanta, could be sent back to El Salvador.  —  An Immigration and Customs Enforcement database shows that Mario Guevara …

Accounts peddling child abuse content flood some X hashtags as safety partner cuts ties  —  Thorn, a non-profit that provides detection and moderation software related to child safety, said they canceled their contract with X after the platform stopped paying them.

Break-in reported at home of slain Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman  —  Police say someone pried off a wood covering and broke a window to enter the Brooklyn Park house.  —  Police are investigating a reported overnight break-in at the boarded-up home where Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman …

Reps. Nadler and Goldman barred from inspecting ICE holding area in NYC … We rely on your support to make local news available to all  —  Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025.  Donate today  —  Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Some Democratic senators regret voting to confirm Kristi Noem as DHS secretary  —  After seven Democrats voted for Noem, some say they'd now oppose her in the wake of Trump's aggressive deportation plans and last week's incident involving Sen. Alex Padilla.  —  WASHINGTON — Five days …

Kennedy's picks for vaccine advisory panel raise concerns about anti-vaccine bias  —  A few of the new members Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed to the federal panel have promoted misinformation about vaccines and public health.  —  Health and Human Services Secretary Robert …

Hegseth defends Kinglsey Wilson amid questioning about antisemitic record  —  ‘Any suggestion that I or her or others are party to antisemitism is a mischaracterization attempting to win political points,’ the defense secretary said  —  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth offered a strident defense …

Scoop: Democrats probe FBI handcuffing of Padilla  —  The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee is scrutinizing FBI agents' forcible removal and handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) at the agency's Los Angeles headquarters last week, Axios has learned.

Business Leaders Call Trump Attacks on Universities a Competitive Threat  —  More than 200 business leaders signed an open letter calling on the Trump administration to reverse its moves against colleges and universities, arguing that funding cuts and restrictions on student visas threaten America's economic competitiveness.

Deseret News condemns Lee's posts about Minnesota shooting  —  The editorial board of the Utah-based publication said the Utah senator cast a “poor light"' on the Beehive State.  —  The Deseret News has condemned Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee for social media posts about two shootings in Minnesota …

Senate leadership ponders rural hospital fund to sway megabill holdouts  —  Senate Republican leaders are working to assuage a group of key megabill holdouts — “the Medicaid moderates” — as they try to lock down votes next week for President Donald Trump's “big, beautiful bill.”

Texas Man Charged Federally for Receipt and Transport of Explosives Intended for Use Against Law Enforcement  —  For Immediate Release  —  A Texas man is facing federal charges after allegedly purchasing powerful explosives in New Mexico and expressing plans to use them to harm law enforcement officers …

Why the Trump Administration Is Handcuffing Politicians  —  The detention of Brad Lander, the second-highest-ranking official in New York City, is the latest in a series of aggressive actions that the Administration has taken against members of the opposition party.

Hegseth defers to general on Pentagon's plans for Iran  —  U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla is overruling other top Pentagon officials.  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given an unusual level of authority to a single general in the latest Middle East crisis …

Exclusive: CEO economic outlook sinks to five-year low  —  Economic sentiment among America's top CEOs plunged to the lowest level since 2020, according to a new survey by the Business Roundtable, first seen by Axios.  —  Why it matters: Chief executives have not been this sour on the economy since …

‘More Babies and Beef Tallow, Less Blue Hair and Birth Control’  —  Seventy-two hours with America's most ambitious young conservative women.  —  Hundreds of young women in floral sundresses and cowboy boots are line-dancing on the floor of a ballroom in a Dallas convention center.