Trump News for Thursday, August 7, 2025

Trump's latest executive order banning 'debanking' takes aim at an industry that cheered his return

katherineli@insider.com (Katherine Li,Bradley Saacks), Business Insider

Trump's 'debanking' executive order targets financial institutions he believes are denying services to conservatives, including his family business.

Trump doubles reward to $50 million for arrest of Venezuela's president to face US drug charges

Yahoo Entertainment

Trump Turns 401(k)s Into Crypto Machines

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

A new executive order could funnel billions from American retirement accounts into Bitcoin and other digital assets, a massive win for the crypto industry and a huge new risk for your savings.

"Trying To Talk To Them Is Hopeless" — Parents, Siblings, Friends, And Loved Ones Of MAGA Supporters Shared The Moment Their Relationships Broke Apart

Alexa Lisitza, Buzzfeed

What was the "final straw" that made you cut someone off because of their political beliefs?View Entire Post ›

Trump opens door for crypto in retirement accounts

BBC News

The president signs an order aimed at expanding the kinds of investments allowed in retirement accounts.

Federal judge halts construction at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Greg Allen, NPR

The 14-day stoppage comes as a federal judge considers whether additional construction of the immigration detention facility in south Florida's Everglades is detrimental to the environment.

Hegseth Threatens Another Civil War to Defend ‘Proud’ Confederate History

Liam Archacki, Daily Beast

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed not to back down from celebrating America’s “proud” Confederate history. “We recognize our history,” Hegseth told...

Trump’s new tax, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: It’s tariffs day, for real this time. President Donald…

A Political Game Could Redefine Voting in America

David A. Graham, The Atlantic

A push by Texas Republicans for a rare mid-decade gerrymander threatens to set off a vicious cycle.

Rosie O’Donnell Doesn’t Think ‘The View’ Will Survive the Trump Administration

Matt Solomon, Cracked.com

The White House also predicts doom for ‘The View’

South Park's Latest Assault On The Trump Administration Is One Of The Show's Most Shocking Episodes

staff@slashfilm.com (Quinn Bilodeau), /FILM

South Park season 27 has taken its lampooning of the Trump administration to even wilder heights, sending up Kristi Noem, JD Vance, and more in the process.

Denim Drama: The Political Battle for Your Butt Continues

Oscar Hartzog, Rolling Stone

How Beyonce x Levi’s and Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle Outfitters sparked political debate — and boosted stock prices for both brands

Trump orders colleges to share admissions data, with an eye on affirmative action

Cory Turner, NPR

Thursday's move would compel colleges to report more data about the students they enroll and those who apply, including applicants' race and standardized test scores.

‘Hank Hill’ Defends Nancy Mace Against Those Mocking Her Severe Case of Diminished Gluteal Syndrome

Carly Tennes, Cracked.com

By Carly Tennes Published: August 07th, 2025

President wants to exclude noncitizens from Census counts

Nathan Yau, Flowingdata.com

Hansi Lo Wang reporting for NPR: The 14th Amendment requires the “whole number of persons in each state” to be included in a key set of census numbers used to determine how presidents a…

Trump calls in press for ‘major announcement’ in Oval Office - but just spent 5 minutes bragging about his ‘wins’

Yahoo Entertainment

The Texas gerrymandering showdown is about to get even messier

Sean Rameswaram, Vox

Democracy’s a pretty simple concept: Voters vote for a politician, the politician with the most votes wins, and that politician then represents voters as an elected official. That’s the idea anyway, right? But what if — just what if — instead of voters pickin…

WATCH: Suspect indicted in killing of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.

ABC News

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro spoke about prosecuting hate crimes at a press conference regarding the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., on May 21.

Jailed by Trump’s ICE, Children’s Hospital Chaplain Was Thrown Into ‘Solitary’

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Ayman Soliman is locally renowned for helping the families of dying kids. Now, friends say he’s been "tortured" in isolation as the Trump administration tries to deport him

Dean Cain Says He Joined ICE to Support Vilified ICE Agents

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Dean Cain says he joined up with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because he wants to support all of the law enforcement officers who are being vilified for doing their jobs. We spoke with the actor on "TMZ Live" Thursday ... and, we asked…

Trump taps White House economist Stephen Miran to fill Fed vacancy on temporary basis

Scott Horsley, NPR

President Trump plans to nominate Stephen Miran to fill a vacant seat on the Federal Reserve's board of governors, but only for the next six months.

WATCH: Salt-N-Pepa on how they want to be remembered

ABC News

The hip-hop group is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year.

'Potentially fatal': Crisis experts warn Intel not to stay silent after Trump calls on its CEO to resign

Tim Paradis,Sarah E. Needleman, Business Insider

Crisis communications experts advise Intel to act swiftly after President Trump called on CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign over national security concerns.

Woman Diagnosed with Malaria in Washington May Be State’s First Locally Acquired Case

Natalia Mesa, Gizmodo.com

The woman who contracted the disease had not traveled out of the country recently, marking the first potential locally-acquired case of malaria in the state.

Paramount is now a Skydance Corporation

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

It’s official: Skydance Media’s deal to purchase CBS parent company Paramount Global for $8 billion is complete, and incoming chairman / CEO David Ellison’s first order of business is a massive restructuring. In an open letter about his plans for Paramount, a…

WATCH: Marathon mom shares moment she hears family’s candid cheers during Boston run

ABC News

David Muir reports on the moment mom Kayla Kunz's family unknowingly records their unfiltered reactions to seeing her finish the last miles of her marathon before crossing the finish line in Boston.

WATCH: New Jersey native Jen Pawol makes history as MLB's first female umpire

ABC News

She will take the field during Saturday's doubleheader between the Marlins and the Braves in Atlanta.

Amazon Gives Trump’s Government a Billion-Dollar Discount

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

Getting that sweet data is worth it.

This Is the Classic TV Show That ‘South Park’ Parodied With Its Fat-Faced J.D. Vance

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

Donald Trump wishes he was as classy and cool as Ricardo Montalbán

The government is literally telling firefighters “help is not on the way”

Kylie Mohr, Vox

This story was originally published by High Country News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Every spring, Forest Service fire leaders meet to plan for the upcoming fire season. This year, some employees were shocked by the blunt…

FBI will help track down Texas Democrats who left state, Sen. John Cornyn says

Caroline Linton, CBS News

Texas Republicans have been trying to bring the state Democratic lawmakers back in order to vote on their redistricting plan.

WATCH: Heidi Klum on returning to 'Project Runway'

ABC News

Klum joined "GMA" to discuss her first season of the iconic show after departing in 2017.

WATCH: Catherine Zeta-Jones on becoming Morticia Addams

ABC News

The actress returns to the iconic role in Netflix's "Wednesday."

DOJ Files Frivolous Misconduct Complaint Against Judge For… Doing His Job And Being Right About Government Lawlessness

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We’ve seen some pretty ridiculous attempts by government officials to intimidate judges over the years, but the Department of Justice’s new misconduct complaint against D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg might take the cake for sheer absurdity. As Steve Vladeck …

WATCH: Jenna Ortega talks 'Wednesday' season 2

ABC News

The actress sat down with "GMA" to discuss her A-list co-stars.

Who's a good robot dog? Bert and Spot explore Mars-like surface with help from AI and astronaut in space

Elizabeth Howell, Space.com

"We have now achieved all the technical requirements for controlling complex robotic missions on Mars — and for a future permanent lunar research station."

The White House has a preferred alternative to PBS. It may already be in countless classrooms.

Sean Rameswaram, Vox

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced last week that it would shut down after Congress voted to claw back over $500 million of federal funding from the organization. The announcement imperils local PBS and NPR stations around the country that have…

Tesla’s Biggest Rivals Warn the EV Party Might Be Over

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

The trade war and the end of federal tax credits are creating a brutal new reality for America's most promising EV startups.

Katie Miller, Former DOGE Goon and Stephen Miller’s Wife, Leaves Elon to Start Podcast

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Stephen is reportedly going to help book guests.

Spain is passing on the F-35, looking instead at European fighters as anxiety over Trump has had US allies rethinking the jet

Sinéad Baker, Business Insider

Spain said it would not go with the US-made F-35 and would instead look at options like Europe's Eurofighter and FCAS.

JD Vance Altered a Whole Lake for His Birthday Canoe Trip

Audra Heinrichs, Jezebel

The Guardian reports that Vance celebrated his big day by deploying an army corps of engineers (USACE) to raise the water levels of Caesar Creek Lake to create “ideal kayaking conditions.” Father of the year, am I right?

‘I’ve Finally Made It’ Says Trump’s Sniveling, Fat-Faced Henchman About Last Night’s ‘South Park’

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

The Vice President is the latest conservative to pretend to be in on the joke

DOJ Has Lost So Many Lawyers It Might Not Have Enough Left To Help Trump Destroy America

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

First, the Trump administration gutted the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, probably because it was too concerned about protecting constitutional rights. Whoever still remained was “allowed” to do whatever Trump’s DOJ (now headed by yet another regrettable Trump …

Will the Rest of Comedy Develop ‘South Park’s Backbone?

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

The second episode of the new season proved to be even more audacious

The bulk of Trump's tariffs are finally here. We broke down what the latest updates mean for you.

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

More of President Donald Trump's tariff plans have gone into effect, likely raising the prices you'll see on key goods.

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage drops to lowest level since April

ALEX VEIGA, Yahoo Entertainment

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage has fallen to its lowest level in four months, welcome news for prospective homebuyers who have been held back by...

Charlie Kirk Is Trying to Convince His Fans That ‘South Park’ Is on His Side

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

‘Conservatives are funnier than liberals’ says one of God’s meanest jokes

ROG Xbox Ally Handhelds Reportedly Launching in October — and Prices Have Leaked, Too

samuelwtolbert@gmail.com (Samuel Tolbert) , Samuel Tolbert, Windows Central

A new report indicates that the ROG Xbox Ally devices are slated to launch on October 16, while prices line up with a prior leak.

Quant hedge funds start digging out of their hole

Bradley Saacks,Alex Morrell, Business Insider

Computer-run managers like London-based Qube lost money in July, but enjoyed a strong end to the month.

WATCH: Putin and Trump to meet 'in the coming days': Russia

ABC News

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said. A date or location has yet to be announced. ABC News' Martha Raddatz reports.

Katie Miller is leaving Musk World to start a podcast for conservative moms

Alice Tecotzky, Business Insider

Katie Miller was sending out communications messages for xAI, one of Musk's companies, as recently as last month.

Trump Demands Intel CEO’s Resignation, Says He’s ‘Highly CONFLICTED’

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

President Donald Trump posted on social media that Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan should resign 'immediately.'

NASA Told to Overhaul Its Plans to Replace the International Space Station

Passant Rabie, Gizmodo.com

A new Trump administration directive seeks to radically change NASA's vision for a continued astronaut presence in low Earth orbit.

“We Miss All the Trains to Get Rich”: The Real Story of Crypto and the Black Community

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

I went to a journalism convention expecting to talk about AI and politics. Instead, a chance encounter with a 24-year-old leader revealed a devastating truth about who gets left behind.

MAGA Superman Dean Cain Says He’s Becoming an ICE Agent ‘A.S.A.P’

Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone

Dean Cain, who played Superman in the Nineties television series, announces plans to be sworn in as an ICE agent to assist in rampant deportations.

The Epstein ‘Client List’ Will Never Go Away

Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic

How can you prove the absence of a secret file?

Reactions to Trump demanding Intel CEO's resignation

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

Tan has invested in hundreds of Chinese technology firms, including at least eight with links to the People's Liberation Army, Reuters reported in April. On...

Trump tariffs hit India's garment makers as US buyers say move production

Yahoo Entertainment

An Extremely Realistic Headcanon of What Hannah Montana Has Been Up to for the Past 20 Years

Claire Guinan, Jezebel

Please indulge me in this imagined life story of a one-in-a-million pop star as she grows up in the same nightmare hellscape the rest of us did.

Skydance Closes $8 Billion Paramount Deal After Colbert Got the Axe

TMZ Staff, TMZ

The Skydance-Paramount merger is officially a done deal -- and it’s all going down as "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" rolls through its final season. Skydance Media, led by CEO David Ellison, closed its massive $8 billion acquisition of…

The vice president tried to laugh off his cartoon roasting as the show keeps coming after Team Trump.

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Vice President JD Vance attempted to make light of South Park shrinking him to a pint-size “manbaby” who oils Satan’s backside for President Donald Trump...

Donald Trump Says He Knows Exactly When Howard Stern Lost His Audience

Matt Solomon, Cracked.com

No, it wasn't when Trump told Stern he could call Ivanka 'a piece of ass'

New (Terrifying) Constitution Just Dropped!

Ria Gupta, Jezebel

A government website "accidentally" removed the parts of the Constitution that guarantee people the right to challenge their detention...then claimed it was just "a glitch."

Trump demands CEO of Intel resign over ties to China

Jess Weatherbed, The Verge

President Donald Trump has called for Lip-Bu Tan to immediately resign as Intel’s CEO over his reported ties to Chinese tech firms. The demand follows Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton questioning Intel’s board chairman whether Tan’s alleged connections to China wo…

FBI granted request to locate fleeing Texas House Democrats, Sen. Cornyn says

Brittany Shepherd, Isabella Murray, ABC News

Sen. John Cornyn says FBI Director Kash Patel granted his request to assist with locating Texas Democrats who fled the state over GOP redistricting efforts.

Apple Reportedly Ditching Sony for Samsung to Make ‘Innovative’ Triple-Layer iPhone Image Sensors

Jeremy Gray, PetaPixel

As part of Apple's $600 billion investment in American manufacturing, Apple will work with smartphone rival Samsung at its Austin, Texas facility to create "innovative new technology for making chips." These new chips are reportedly image sensors, a major mov…

Truth Social’s new AI search engine basically just pushes Fox News

Jess Weatherbed, The Verge

Donald Trump’s Truth Social has launched a new AI search feature that consistently pushes conservative media sources. The feature, Truth Search AI, is powered by the AI startup Perlexity and is now available on the web version of Trump’s social media platform…

"I’d Rather Bing" — Trump’s Perplexity-Powered AI Search Engine Roasted by Reddit

sean.endicott@futurenet.com (Sean Endicott) , Sean Endicott, Windows Central

Trump Media’s new AI search tool uses Perplexity, but critics question its reliability and ethical foundation.

Ultra-processed food consumption is down a bit, but still more than 50% of U.S. diet

Yuki Noguchi, NPR

Americans get about 55% of our calories from tasty, cheap — and unhealthy — manufactured foods, the latest data from CDC says. For kids, the percentage is even higher.

Pranksters Interrupt Education Secretary Linda McMahon With Circus Music

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

What a clown show.

Paramount Closes Deal to Merge with Skydance After Settling ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

Brian Welk, IndieWire

A full year after Paramount's board approved a deal for Paramount to merge with Skydance, that deal has finally closed, and the merger is officially complete.

The Latest: US import taxes hit levels not seen in nearly 100 years

The Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump began levying higher import taxes on goods from nearly 100 other nations on Thursday, just as the economic fallout of his monthslong...

What are semiconductors and why is Trump threatening 100% tariffs?

BBC News

The President said he plans to introduce 100% tariffs on foreign-made chips, but the largest producers may avoid the levy.

Trump Admin Warns States They’ll Lose Billions In Broadband Grants If They Try To Make Broadband Affordable

Karl Bode, Techdirt

The Trump administration is once again warning states that they risk losing billions of dollars in historic infrastructure bill grants — if they attempt to make the taxpayer-subsidized broadband actually affordable. That’s the updated guidance coming out of t…

Intel CEO responds after Trump calls for resignation

Myles Udland, Yahoo Entertainment

President Trump on Thursday called for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign.

WATCH: Twin waterspouts swirl side by side off coast of northern Italy

ABC News

Breathtaking video captured the moment two twin waterspouts merged off the Po River Delta on Italy's north-eastern coast, driven by strong winds that hit the area.

WATCH: Dog owner captures golden retriever's 'uncanny human-like smile'

ABC News

Bowie the golden retriever is blessed with a “human-like” smile, which his owners say is "right on the edge of adorable and a little uncanny."

‘No saving it’: Fire destroys Oxbow Bridge, cutting off Arizona to California route

Stephanie Murray, Arizona Republic, AZCentral

It took less than two hours for the bridge to completely collapse, according to a farmer in nearby Blythe, California.

The Trump Administration’s Illegal Plan to Defund Carbon Tracking Satellites

Graham Templeton, ExtremeTech

Reports indicate that newly appointed officials are going ahead with plans to end two orbital carbon tracking missions.

Weaponizing the Watchdog

Walter M. Shaub Jr., The New York Review of Books

Donald Trump’s fascist takeover of government is a comprehensive affair, and sometimes it’s the little things that reveal just how thoroughly his administration has been dismantling our democratic infrastructure. On June 16 Trump nominated the thirty-year-old…

The Emperor's New Trade Deal – Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman, Substack.com

Tariffs are bad. A deluded president is worse.

Trump’s Attack on Wind, Solar Cuts Deeper Than Industry Expected

Mark Chediak, Jennifer A Dlouhy and Ari Natter, Yahoo Entertainment

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on wind and solar power from the rhetorical to the tangible, mounting a rapid-fire campaign...

Apple chipmaker TSMC says it too is exempt from US tariffs

Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac

After Apple committed to an additional $100 billion in US manufacturing spend and presented Trump with a trinket for his desk, the president declared that the company would be exempt from his planned 100% tariff on chips imported into the country. Apple ch…

Kevin O’Leary claims China’s Xi Jinping ‘doesn’t give a rodent’s rear end’ about a critical asset — investors face risks

Jing Pan, Yahoo Entertainment

Here is how to protect yourself in the face of a 'domino effect of market cap.'

Trump official walks into trap after MSNBC analyst asks how tariffs are paid

Yahoo Entertainment

How AI Conquered the US Economy: A Visual FAQ

Derek Thompson, Derekthompson.org

Artificial intelligence is the biggest tech construction project in a century. Here's what that looks like.

I Went to the Most Popular, Controversial Comedy Show in America. Now I See Why No One Can Stay Away.

Luke Winkie, Slate Magazine

Even I can no longer deny the radical power of Kill Tony.

Kremlin says Trump and Putin have agreed to meeting 'in the coming days'

Jon Haworth, ABC News

The Kremlin has confirmed that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have agreed to a meeting, though a specific date or location has yet to be announced.

Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda take a big hit from Trump's tariffs

Tom Carter,Kwan Wei Kevin Tan, Business Insider

Japanese automakers were handed a reprieve when President Donald Trump said he would lower tariffs on Japan to 15% from 25%.

Video shows Department of Justice official urging Jan. 6 rioters to 'kill' cops

Tom Dreisbach, NPR

The Department of Justice hired a former Jan. 6 defendant who was caught on tape urging rioters to "kill" police. The department calls him a "valued member" of the administration.

DHS took 5 days to fund Texas flooding hotline, federal records show

Rebecca Hersher, NPR

Funding for FEMA's disaster survivor hotline lapsed the day after the Texas floods, federal records show. It took DHS Secretary Kristi Noem five days to approve more money.

Major US alcohol groups are begging Trump to slash tariffs before the holidays to keep them from losing $2 billion in sales

Aditi Bharade, Business Insider

The Toasts not Tariffs coalition warned that the tariffs could result in a $2 billion sales dip and 25,000 American jobs lost.

India's Modi vows no compromise on farmers interests amid Trump's tariff salvo

Manoj Kumar and Sarita Chaganti Singh, Yahoo Entertainment

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday he will not compromise the interests of the country's farmers even if he has to pay...

Trump teases ‘approximately’ 100 percent tariff for imported semiconductors

Simon Sharwood, Theregister.com

Exemptions available for promises to build about American fabs World War Fee US president Donald Trump appears to have settled his semiconductor tariff strategy.…<!--#include virtual='/data_centre/_whitepaper_textlinks_top.html' -->

Fat-Face JD Vance Made His ‘South Park’ Debut Tonight

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

He got to play Trump’s very tread upon punching (and kicking) bag

‘South Park’ Exposes Charlie Kirk for Stealing Cartman’s Shtick

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

Cartman was the first unlovable troll to masterdebate to college girls while living in his mom’s house

China's July exports top forecasts amid rush to meet Trump tariff deadline

Yahoo Entertainment

Donald Trump Sex Traffics Dora The Explorer in Tonight’s New ‘South Park’

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

By Keegan Kelly Published: August 06th, 2025

Trump Media Is Testing an AI Search Engine Powered by Perplexity

Gael Cooper, CNET

The president's media company is beta-testing Truth Search AI, but will the results lean toward conservative opinions?

Apple’s $100B US commitment got it a 100% chip tariff exemption

Marcus Mendes, 9to5Mac

During today’s Oval Office press conference, President Donald Trump announced that Apple will be exempt from an upcoming “very large tariff on chips and semiconductors”. Here are the details. more…