Trump News for Wednesday, August 13, 2025

DC to wake up to troops deployed along the National Mall

Anne Flaherty, ABC News

Trump's plan to address crime in D.C. calls for deploying National Guard troops along the National Mall overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to a source.

Open Banking and Payments Competition

Patrick McKenzie (patio11), Bitsaboutmoney.com

Why the banks really hate fintechs that allow businesses to learn your account number easily.

U.S. Transportation Secretary & Acting NASA Administrator Sean P. Duffy Joins President Trump Executive Order Signing to Boost U.S. Space Competitiveness

Gerelle Q. Dodson, NASA

U.S. Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House Wednesday for the historic signing of the Executive Order (EO), “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry.” “People think t…

WATCH: Raccoon enjoys windy ride in the back of a pickup truck on California highway

ABC News

A raccoon enjoyed the California summer breeze as it hitched a ride in the back of a driver's pickup truck.

How Alaska Went from Russian Colony to U.S. State

Greg Myre, NPR

All eyes are on Alaska ahead of President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting there on Friday. We revisit the history of Russia’s sale of the Alaskan territory to the U.S.. NPR’s Greg Myre describes how some Russians still question whether Al…

At The Money: How to Manage Your News & Data Flow

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

At The Money: How to Manage Your News & Data Flow (August 13, 2025) We live in an age of endless news and spin.  We rely on data and news releases, but it’s really easy to get tripped up by all of it. How should investors manage this firehose of numbers? Full…

Trump Administration Halted Lawsuits Targeting Civil Rights Abuses Of Prisoners And Mentally Ill People

Corey G. Johnson, Techdirt

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. The Trump administration has halted litigation aimed at stopping civil rights abuses of prisoners in Louisiana and mentally ill people living in South Carolina gro…

U.S. Allegedly Super-Charged Its Efforts to Prevent China From Getting American Chips

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

The AI chip arms race reportedly involves spooky surveillance tactics.

Trump Announced This Year's 5 Kennedy Center Honorees, And Some Of These Picks Are Kind Of Shocking

Associated Press, Buzzfeed

Trump also announced he's going to host...

Man throws sandwich at Border Patrol officer in DC, faces federal assault charges

Doc Louallen, ABC News

A Washington, D.C., man faces federal charges after throwing a sandwich at a Border Patrol officer amid Trump's push for federal control over D.C. police.

Brazil plans aid packages for businesses impacted by Trump tariffs

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The plan, called 'Sovereign Brazil', will include credit for businesses that rely on exports.

US appeals court lifts injunction on Trump effort to slash foreign aid

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Critics argue President Trump has overstepped his constitutional authority by slashing congressionally approved aid.

WATCH: Gaudreau brothers' widows speak out nearly 1 year after deadly crash

ABC News

The widows of hockey player brothers Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau are speaking out about their grief nearly one year after their husbands were killed by an alleged drunk driver.

Is the Fed ready to cut interest rates? Experts weigh in

Max Zahn, ABC News

President Trump has repeatedly called for lower rates since he took office.

The Internet Is Completely Losing It Over This Podcast Host Telling White People Who Voted For Trump To Go Back To "Cracker Barrel"

Alexa Lisitza, Buzzfeed

"This is the most savage takedown of anyone I've ever heard in my life," one commenter reacted.View Entire Post ›

Texas Dems Weigh Return to State in Redistricting Fight...

Joe Lovinger and Julie Fine, Yahoo Entertainment

Texas Dems Weigh Return to State in Redistricting Fight... (First column, 11th story, link) Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron

What’s at stake at the Alaska summit for all sides?

Al Jazeera English

Ukraine and European allies are anxious about upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Federal Judges Have Absolutely Had It With The Trump Administration, DOJ

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Maybe this won’t actually mean anything when all is said and done. Maybe what we’re seeing here is the last dying breaths of a democracy as its current owners sell it off for parts and consolidate their power. But maybe it’s the other thing: the checks and ba…

WATCH: Meteorite that smashed through roof of Georgia home older than Earth, scientists say

ABC News

Scientists confirmed a meteorite that was seen streaking across the sky in June and smashed through the roof of a home in McDonough is 20 million years older than Earth.

WATCH: Scammers accused of targeting hundreds of elderly victims face federal charges

ABC News

The suspects allegedly posed as grandchildren, nieces and nephews with fake emergencies and convincing the victims to send money.

Veterans Are “Guinea Pigs” in Trump’s First National Abortion Ban Experiment

Jessica Washington, The Intercept

“They’re testing what they want to do with the rest of the country on us,” one veteran told The Intercept. The post Veterans Are “Guinea Pigs” in Trump’s First National Abortion Ban Experiment appeared first on The Intercept.

Dictators love a crisis. “For reasons of both personality and political ambition,...

Jason Kottke, kottke.org

Dictators love a crisis. “For reasons of both personality and political ambition, Trump needs a crisis to govern — or rather

Fed can wait to adjust policy because job market is near full employment, Bostic says

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

The Fed should avoid policy volatility that can be troublesome to the public, Bostic said at an event in Alabama, adding that his "predisposition is to try...

DOGE Has Wasted Billions While Saving Only a Fraction of What It Claims: Reports

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

New analysis paints a picture of dysfunction and waste at the Department of Government Efficiency.

8 celebrities who left the US or are considering moving for political reasons

Jordan Pandy,Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider

Celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and Rosie O'Donnell are among the stars who have left America and moved elsewhere due to politics.

Over 4 Million People Have Watched This Woman Perfectly Explain How Predatory Student Loans Truly Are In America

Kelley Greene, Buzzfeed

"A TikTok that explains the student-loan crisis better than any politician or journalist can, in 93 seconds."View Entire Post ›

‘Morning Joe’ Sends Trump Into Meltdown Mode

Yahoo Entertainment

US car sales slow after tariff-driven buying surge ends

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

Major car makers including Ford, GM and Volvo took hits because of tariff associated costs.

Trump tells Putin: Agree ceasefire on Friday or face severe consequences

Iona Cleave, Yahoo Entertainment

Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin there would be “severe consequences” if he did not agree to end his war on Ukraine at their summit in Alaska on Friday...

Will Trump Get His Potemkin Statistics?

Brian Klaas, The Atlantic

In authoritarian regimes, good numbers are always right.

WATCH: Colorado boy tells David Muir about becoming youngest American to climb Matterhorn

ABC News

After becoming the youngest person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite by rope, 11-year-old Sam Evermore is now also the youngest American to climb the Matterhorn in the Alps. David Muir shares his story.

KISS Stars Say They're Grateful for Kennedy Center Honor

TMZ Staff, TMZ

KISS will get their flowers at the upcoming Kennedy Center Honors ... and, the band members couldn't be more grateful for the accolade. We spoke to Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley from the iconic band ... and, they all expressed gratitude…

Trump Administration Guts Annual Human Rights Report on Israel

Nick Turse, The Intercept

Clocking in at nine whole pages — down from 103 in 2024 — the new State Department human rights report is “functionally useless.” The post Trump Administration Guts Annual Human Rights Report on Israel appeared first on The Intercept.

‘South Park’ Fan Roasted for Admitting That the Show Is Their Primary News Source

Keegan Kelly, Cracked.com

Are Trey Parker and Matt Stone America’s greatest news reporters? Hopefully not

Diddy's Family Visits Him in Jail

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Sean "Diddy" Combs is not going home to his family for at least another 7 weeks ... so, they're going to him. The Bad Boy founder's family dropped by to see him Tuesday at MDC Brooklyn, where Diddy is being held until his October 3 sentencing.…

Europe expresses hope after call with Trump on Putin summit

BBC News

European leaders are urging Trump to keep Ukraine and Europe's interests at the forefront when he meets Putin on Friday.

WATCH: Star of '70s sitcom 'What's Happening!!', Danielle Spencer, dies at 60

ABC News

Actress Danielle Spencer, best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom "What's Happening!!," has died after a long battle with cancer.

RFK Jr. Is Supporting mRNA Research—Just Not for Vaccines

Emily Mullin, Wired

HHS is slashing hundreds of millions in funding for mRNA vaccines and infectious disease treatments, but leaving the door open to mRNA therapies for cancer and genetic conditions.

‘Are You Surprised?’: Trump Shrugs Off New Suspected Hack of Documents by Russia

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

President Trump meets with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Friday.

US weather agency dangles $396M to run ops for its next space-watching fleet

Brandon Vigliarolo, Theregister.com

Hurricane data, schmurricane data: Have you heard about that Sun burp? The more our Earth-bound society learns to rely on electronics, the greater the risk that weather from the stars shatters our reality. That's why US government space watchers are seeking a…

Trump touts second trilateral meeting before Putin summit; Zelenskyy pushes

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The jockeying follows a virtual meeting between European leaders and the US and Ukrainian presidents on Wednesday.

Donald Trump names Kiss, Sylvester Stallone as Kennedy Center Honors picks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The US president also announced he would host the annual award show which recognises lifetime contributions to the arts.

Trump Just Militarized the Capital – What Comes Next?

Vivaed, Onegex.com

This is not safety. This is a spectacle. Trump sent 800 National Guard troops into D.C., seized control of the police, and now he’s eyeing L.A. Democracy ended yesterday—but we’re still watching like it’s a show.

2.1 Million Retirees in Ohio Qualify for the ‘Senior Deduction’ Under Big, Beautiful Bill

The Realtor.com Team, Yahoo Entertainment

Roughly 2.1 million retirees in Ohio are expected to benefit from a new federal deduction that exempts most Social Security income.

Gloria Gaynor, Kiss, and George Strait Get First Kennedy Center Honors Since Trump Takeover

Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork

Actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford were also selected for honors

Trump nominee to lead labour statistics agency faces wave of criticism

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Economists worry that EJ Antoni’s nomination is largely political in nature for a historically non-partisan role.

Appeals court ruling will let Trump administration cut billions in foreign aid

Peter Charalambous, ABC News

A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court's ruling, clearing the way for the Trump administration to cut billions in foreign aid funding this year.

Trump Reveals Kennedy Center Honors Recipients

Philip Elliott, Time

KISS, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford are the first Kennedy Center Honors recipients overseen by Trump.

In maps: The war-ravaged Ukrainian territories at the heart of the Trump-Putin summit

BBC News

Kyiv has rejected ceding territory seized by Russia to secure a ceasefire.

The Trump Administration Is Deliberately Destroying The Democratic Process

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

It’s no surprise that Donald Trump thinks El Salvador president Nayib Bukele is a fun hang. After all, Bukele has already referred to himself as the world’s “coolest dictator” — two descriptors Trump definitely aspires to. (Although he’ll take the latter in t…

Kiss, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

Andy Greene, Rolling Stone

This is the first Kennedy Center Honors since President Trump took over as chairman of the prestigious institution and pledged to turn it in a more conservative direction

What’s next for oil as OPEC+ and Trump shake the market?

Al Jazeera English

OPEC+ is opening the oil taps again, while Donald Trump's tariffs target Russian crude buyers.

Mrs. MAHA Is Staying Married...and Releasing a Memoir

Audra Heinrichs, Jezebel

“I don’t think there’s any point to going through every rumor and headline to try to defend or explain it,” Hines told the Wall Street Journal of her marriage to RFK Jr.

Forget the Crypto Bros. Wall Street Is Driving the New Crypto Boom

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

The crypto market is on fire again, but the fuel isn't coming from social media hype. It's coming from institutional investors making a massive bet that the Federal Reserve is about to make money cheap again.

POLL: 31% call Trump honest and trustworthy...

Taylor Orth, David Montgomery, Yougov.com

This week’s Economist/YouGov poll covers approval of Trump's job performance, partisan gerrymandering, Ghislaine Maxwell's prison move, inflation, and government jobless numbers

LOOMER DECLARES: REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL NOT SURVIVE POST-TRUMP...

Rachel Cohen | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, nj.com

LOOMER DECLARES: REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL NOT SURVIVE POST-TRUMP... (Second column, 1st story, link) Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron

Goldman economist, uncowed by Trump attack, plans to 'keep doing' as before

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

Chief U.S. Economist David Mericle's defense of his team's work came a day after Trump in a social media post said Goldman Chief Executive David Solomon...

‘South Park’ Is Taking Another Week Off, and Fans Are Blaming Paramount

JM McNab, Cracked.com

Comedy Central’s ‘South Park Day’ won’t include a new episode

Musk is wrong and has only influence on his side in a childish App Store spat

William Gallagher, AppleInsider

Analyst Daniel Ives says Elon Musk suing over the App Store is a huge problem for Apple, but Musk simply no longer has the right influence to matter.Elon Musk — image credit: TeslaMaybe Tim Cook needs to have a quiet word with Musk. Again. Back in 2021, the T…

MAGA to Elon Musk: We want you back

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

Several prominent MAGA figures, including Vice President JD Vance, have said in recent days that they're willing to take Elon Musk back.

In Alaska, is Putin offering Trump peace or a trap?: ANALYSIS

Patrick Reevell, ABC News

Most observers have more doubts than hopes that the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska will bring a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump is “waging a war on Democratic-run cities”

Al Jazeera English

“He does not like the fact that the mayor of [Washington,] DC is a Democrat and that the city is largely Democratic.”

Is This the Hardest Physical Contest in the World?

Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic

The Best Ranger Competition belies the idea that the Army is weak or “woke.”

Trump asked Polish President Nawrocki to replace Tusk in Ukraine meeting

Barbara Erling and Anna Koper, Yahoo Entertainment

WARSAW (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump at the last minute requested MAGA-allied Polish President Karol Nawrocki join the Ukraine teleconference with...

FEMA’s Flood Maps Are Basically Lies

Margherita Bassi, Gizmodo.com

A researcher who studies flood-risk mapping says many politicians aren't interested in updating maps because it might trigger higher insurance costs and restrictions on construction.

Newsom says California's new congressional maps will take down Trump

Oren Oppenheim, ABC News

Newsom said the new maps will "END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY."

Groups sue Trump agencies for using 'secret' report to reverse core of US climate rules

Valerie Volcovici, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two major environmental groups announced on Tuesday they have sued the Trump administration for secretly convening a group of climate...

Faster NextGen Acela Trains Are Coming to the U.S. at the Worst Time

David Alff, University at Buffalo, The Conversation, Gizmodo.com

The new Acela trains are scheduled to start running on the Northeast Corridor soon.

Sebastian Telfair Reports To Prison

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Sebastian Telfair is now behind bars ... TMZ Sports has learned the former NBA star has officially begun his prison sentence. Records show the 40-year-old reported to Fort Dix FCI in New Jersey, where he's expected to remain for the next six…

The Trump Family’s Crypto Empire Is Expanding—Fast

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

A new deal will see a publicly traded company buy up to $1.5 billion of the Trump family's proprietary crypto token, further blurring the lines between the White House and their private business interests.

The EPA wants to roll back climate regulations. Here’s how Hoosiers can have a say

Sophie Hartley, Indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Star

Almost a quarter of Indiana's greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation — a sector EPA wants to deregulate. Here's how you can have a say.

Clinton to Trump: How Putin has met, courted and frustrated US presidents

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Vladimir Putin has met five US presidents over 25 years. But jazz and fishing have given way to threats and tension.

Chatbots aren’t telling you their secrets

Adi Robertson, The Verge

On Monday, xAI's Grok chatbot suffered a mysterious suspension from X, and faced with questions from curious users, it happily explained why. "My account was suspended after I stated that Israel and the US are committing genocide in Gaza," it told one user. "…

Perplexity, Worth $18 Billion, Just Offered $34.5 Billion for Chrome (Which Isn’t for Sale)

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

Perplexity made a $34.5 billion offer for Chrome, far above its own value, but Google has no plans to sell the world’s most-used browser.

Superman’s new job at ICE is the perfect American plot twist

Somdeep Sen, Al Jazeera English

Dean Cain’s leap from TV hero to immigration enforcer captures America’s embrace of fear as patriotism.

France, Germany and UK say they are ready to reimpose Iran sanctions

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The so-called E3 countries say they are ready to trigger the 'snapback' mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal.

The Download: Trump’s golden dome, and fueling AI with nuclear power

Rhiannon Williams, MIT Technology Review

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Why Trump’s “golden dome” missile defense idea is another ripped straight from the movies Within a week of his inaugurati…

AI Data Centers Are Massive, Energy-Hungry and Headed Your Way

Corin Cesaric, CNET

Behind your ChatGPT and Gemini queries, there's a land grab happening to keep up the fevered pace of gen AI's growth. The consequences are significant.

Borz is back: Why Khamzat Chimaev is only now fighting for a UFC title

Brett Okamoto, ESPN

The road to get to a middleweight title opportunity at UFC 319 has been long and full of setbacks for Khamzat Chimaev.

The China-U.S. tariff truce lives on — thanks to Nvidia

Kenneth Rapoza, MarketWatch

In making a deal with the U.S. government, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is Trump’s silent partner in trade.

Does a Trump-brokered deal squeeze Russia, Iran out of the South Caucasus?

Mansur Mirovalev, Al Jazeera English

A transit corridor pact signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia could be game-changing, according to several experts.

Sources: World Liberty Financial's partnership with Binance-run PancakeSwap is helping boost demand for USD1, generating profit for Trump, as CZ seeks a pardon (Wall Street Journal)

Techmeme.com

Wall Street Journal: Sources: World Liberty Financial's partnership with Binance-run PancakeSwap is helping boost demand for USD1, generating profit for Trump, as CZ seeks a pardon  —  The under-the-radar trading platform is quietly administered by Binance, t…

iPhone 17 Pro price rise to be masked by increased storage

William Gallagher, AppleInsider

The latest report claiming that Apple will add $50 to the price of the iPhone 17 Pro because of tariffs, also adds that the base model will start with more storage than before.iPhone 17 Pro - Image Credit: AppleInsiderIt's been expected that the price of the …

Why Trump’s “golden dome” missile defense idea is another ripped straight from the movies

Becky Ferreira, MIT Technology Review

In 1940, a fresh-faced Ronald Reagan starred as US Secret Service agent Brass Bancroft in Murder in the Air, an action film centered on a fictional “superweapon” that could stop enemy aircraft midflight. A mock newspaper in the movie hails it as the “greatest…

What are Zelenskyy, Europe demanding of Trump ahead of Putin summit?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Ukraine and EU see no sign that Russia is preparing for a ceasefire ahead of Trump-Putin talks on Friday.

It Claimed to Be One of the Most Successful Rehabs in the U.S. Patients Preferred Prison.

Shoshana Walter, Slate Magazine

Its tactics recall North Korean brainwashing techniques.

Trump-Putin meet will be 'listening exercise,' US says, as Kyiv 'mobilizes' allies

David Brennan, ABC News

President Donald Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska will be "a listening exercise," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Israel pounds Gaza City, 123 dead in last 24 hours

Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose, Yahoo Entertainment

CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's military pounded Gaza City on Wednesday prior to a planned takeover, with another 123 people killed in the last day...

Zelenskyy, European leaders to hold Trump call ahead of Putin summit

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

German chancellor has arranged a series of meetings, beginning with European leaders and followed by a call with Trump.

Trump can't accept bad news. Here's how that hurts the First Amendment | Opinion

Rob Miraldi, NorthJersey.com

After Colbert and the jobs report, if Donald Trump gets away with backdoor censorship, America's democracy will be on the line.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 hits all-time high after US inflation remains steady

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Asian stock markets see big gains amid growing expectations of an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.

Israel, South Sudan in talks over forced transfer of Palestinians: Report

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Human rights groups have warned that expelling the population from Gaza would violate international law.

Stephen King Compares Donald Trump’s Presidency to ‘a Horror Story’

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

Stephen King called Donald Trump's presidency a "horror story" in a new interview about his career.

Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Putin does not agree to stop war after summit

Yahoo Entertainment

Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ defence plan includes space missiles, lasers: Report

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Plans shared with contractors also show a new missile field in the US Midwest, according to report.

Will Trump’s India tariffs shut down world’s biggest cut diamond supplier?

Gurvinder Singh, Al Jazeera English

Two million Indian workers supply 14 out of 15 cut diamonds globally. Trump’s 50 percent tariffs could disrupt that.

Putin lauds ‘heroism’ of North Koreans in liberating Kursk, Pyongyang says

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Call between the two leaders comes days ahead of US President Donald Trump's summit with Putin in Alaska.

Trump admin orders Smithsonian museums to be reviewed for ‘Americanism’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

White House says the review is in line with Trump's executive order on 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History'.

National Guard troops now on DC streets told to maintain presence near National Mall

Luis Martinez, Anne Flaherty, Emily Chang, ABC News

National Guard troops called on to active-duty by President Donald Trump arrived on the footsteps of the Washington Monument on Tuesday.

US judge orders conditions be improved in New York immigration facility

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Detainees reported 'crowded, squalid and punitive' conditions in the holding areas of 26 Federal Plaza, an ICE facility.