Trump News for Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Texas Republicans approve controversial Trump-backed congressional map

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Vote was held after Democrats returned from two-week walkout to block passage.

Texas lawmakers approve redistricting map favouring Republicans

BBC News

Facing opposition from Democrats who fled the state to stall the vote, Republicans hope the new maps will lead to more seats in Congress.

New FOIAs Show Barr’s DOJ Coordinated With Congress On Destroying Section 230

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

During the last year of the Trump administration, there was this weird period where the Bill Barr DOJ decided that it could destroy the internet. It came out of Donald Trump declaring that Section 230 was bad for whatever reason Donald Trump thinks anything i…

Parts of Europe are suspending postal shipments to the US — and your order may not arrive

Katherine Li, Business Insider

Ahead of the end of a US customs exemption, some major postal service in Europe are suspending shipments to the US, or charging a large fee for it.

US court allows Trump to end temporary protections for 60,000 migrants

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Appeals court pauses an order that had protected status for Nepalese, Hondurans and Nicaraguans.

Trump Confirms US Is Seeking 10% Stake In Intel

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: After the Trump administration confirmed a rumor that the US is planning to buy a 10 percent stake in Intel, US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) came forward Wednesday to voice support for the highly unusua…

Watch: Are museums in DC too 'woke'? We ask visitors what they think

BBC News

President Donald Trump has called for a review of Smithsonian museums, saying they focus too much on "how bad Slavery was".

NVIDIA builds a weaker AI chip for China — but will it pass the policy test?

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) , Cale Hunt, Windows Central

Amidst escalating geopolitical tensions, NVIDIA continues its ambitious push in China, unveiling plans for the B30A AI chip—an advanced counterpart to the H20—aiming to secure market share against local competitors while navigating complex export control regu…

Trump's met with Putin and Zelenskyy. What's next for Russia-Ukraine peace talks?

Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News

With the dust settling from President Donald Trump's week of rapid-fire diplomacy on the Russia-Ukraine war, attention turns to what's next in peace negotiations.

Trump Labor Department Supports American Workers With Image of AI-Generated Worker

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

What better way to celebrate America's workers than with a fake picture of one?

The White House Just Joined TikTok, Five Years After Trump First Tried To Ban It

staff@bgr.com (Andy Meek), BGR

President Trump attempted to ban TikTok in his first term, but five years later, the White House has created its own TikTok account.

Trump vows to expand his review of U.S. museums. Can he do that?

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

The White House said that after the administration eliminates "woke" culture from the Smithsonian, it would expand to other museums around the country. Would that be possible?

PlayStation hikes prices after Xbox — inflation or just peer pressure? Here’s what each model will now cost.

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

In a surprising turn, Sony confirmed a price increase for its PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S., effective August 21, as economic pressures mount. This hike follows similar rises by Microsoft and reflects ongoing challenges in the gaming hardware market.

US vice president visits troops amid protests in Washington, DC crackdown

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

JD Vance serves burgers to troops, praising their efforts amid chants of 'free DC' from protesters at Union Station.

These GOP Lawmakers Referred Constituents To The CFPB For Help. Then They Voted To Gut The Agency.

Joel Jacobs, Techdirt

This story was originally published by ProPublica. Republished under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. A New York business frozen out of its checking account. A Georgia chemotherapy patient denied a credit card refund after a product dispute. A New Jersey service me…

Want your company’s merger approved? Pay a MAGA influencer.

Andrew Prokop, Vox

A former Trump Justice Department appointee blasted some of his ex-colleagues in a speech Monday, saying they “perverted justice and acted inconsistent with the rule of law” — and he named names. Roger Alford was a top appointee in the DOJ’s antitrust divisio…

Dependent on foreign sales, U.S. wheat farmers hoping longtime partners stick with them

Kirk Siegler, NPR

As President Trump's tariffs kick in, American companies that rely on imports are worried about rising costs and passing them onto consumers. But some U.S. exporters are worried too.

MAGA Billionaire Is Latest to Champion Anti-DEI School, This One With More AI

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

The educational model of the future is AI-led, and involves less time in the classroom.

Israel approves controversial West Bank settlement project

BBC News

The Palestinian Authority says the decision is illegal and will "destroy" the prospects for a two-state solution.

Is European lobbying of Trump a sign of strength – or weakness?

Al Jazeera English

European leaders are in intense efforts to influence Trump on Ukraine.

US Senator Bernie Sanders backs Trump plan for government stake in Intel

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The new stake in the tech giant aims to increase US semiconductor chip production.

US judge denies bid to unseal Epstein grand jury records

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Federal judge says government already has bounty of documents and material regarding Epstein that it could release.

‘The Daily Show’s Desi Lydic Talks Emmy Milestone, Trump-Epstein Saga, AI & Navigating Late-Night’s Uncertain Future — Comedy Means Business Podcast

Matthewgrobar, Deadline

For Desi Lydic, the longtime Daily Show correspondent, who in recent years has elevated to become a rotating host of the late-night program, the pace of the news cycle feels like it’s intensified significantly since she joined a decade ago. Whereas the first …

Trump calls on Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to resign, renewing attack on central bank

Callum Jones in New York, Yahoo Entertainment

Ally of the president has accused the first Black woman to sit on the central bank’s board of mortgage fraud

Dems Are Struggling to Register Voters and Raise Money

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

The Democratic Party is struggling to register voters and raise money ahead of the 2026 midterms, when the party hopes to win back the House.

Ana Navarro Calls Out Melania Trump’s ‘Performative’ Letter To Putin

CorEy Townsend, HuffPost

The first lady urged the Russian president to protect kids — “The View” co-host says she should start with her husband.

Bernie Sanders Likes Trump’s Plan for Government Taking Ownership in Tech Companies

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Bernie says American taxpayers should get a return on their investment.

Hear Tom Morello’s ‘F-ck ICE’ Playlist Featuring the White Stripes, Bruce Springsteen, Public Enemy

Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone

Tom Morello has assembled a 65-song playlist called 'Fuck ICE' featuring the White Stripes, Bruce Springsteen, Public Enemy, and more.

Trump Take Game

Ethan Gach, Kotaku

The president's trade war is making the PS5, Xbox, and Switch harder to buy The post Trump Take Game appeared first on Kotaku.

Judge denies DOJ's request to unseal Epstein records from criminal case

Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, ABC News

A federal judge in New York has denied the Department of Justice's request to unseal grand jury material from Jeffrey Epstein's criminal case.

The Most Controversial Aspect of Tonight’s ‘South Park’ Might Be Towelie

JM McNab, Cracked.com

Towelie haters seem to be angrier than Trump supporters this week

Most Americans support international recognition of Palestine: Poll

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

A Reuters/Ipsos survey shows 59 percent of US respondents say Israel's military campaign in Gaza has been excessive.

PS5 Price Increases Hit US Gamers This Week

Oscar Gonzalez, CNET

Starting Thursday, you can expect to pay more for a new PlayStation, thanks to "a challenging economic environment."

Price Tag for Trump’s D.C. Military Surge: At Least $1 Million a Day

Nick Turse, The Intercept

An analysis conducted for the Intercept found that the militarization of D.C. could end up costing hundreds of millions. The post Price Tag for Trump’s D.C. Military Surge: At Least $1 Million a Day appeared first on The Intercept.

Protesters heckle Vance, Hegseth, Miller as they get photo op with DC National Guard

Ivan Pereira, ABC News

JD Vance joined two other Trump administration officials who received an unwarm welcome during a photo op with National Guard troops stationed at Union Station.

Trump calls on Fed Gov Cook to resign over mortgage allegations

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The resignation calls intensify Trump’s attempts to yield influence over the central bank.

Trump calls for resignation of Fed governor in latest line of attack

Scott Horsley, NPR

President Trump is calling for the resignation of Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook after a Trump ally accused her of making false statements on mortgage applications.

Ugandan official denies reports that it will take US deportees

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US government documents obtained by CBS had said Trump signed deals with Uganda and Honduras to take foreign deportees.

After Paris Olympics Gender Controversy, Imane Khelif Debuts Dramatic Makeover

Lei RV, Boredpanda.com

"I’m going through a difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting."

WATCH: Laufey plays 'This or That' with 'GMA'

ABC News

The singer shared her summer hot takes as part of the 'GMA' Summer Concert Series.

WATCH: Cracker Barrel CEO discusses big changes coming to beloved restaurant chain

ABC News

CEO Julie Felss Masino dishes on fan feedback, while Robin Roberts asks the question on all of our minds.

Fired Antitrust Official Reveals How Trump’s Friends Turned Justice Into A Pay-To-Play Business

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

When I was in DC last week, everyone seemed to be talking about the brewing drama at the Department of Justice’s antitrust division. The HPE/Juniper merger settlement had raised eyebrows, two senior officials had been fired, and rumors were swirling about pol…

WATCH: Michael Urie and Kumail Nanjiani talk 'Oh, Mary!'

ABC News

The actors share a story about a famous face in the audience of their Broadway show.

WATCH: McDonald's is cutting costs of some of its popular items

ABC News

The fast food giant is lowering the prices of its combo meals weeks after the CEO acknowledged that its menu had become too costly.

Trump Refuses to Pay for Hegseth’s Huge Personal Security Demands

Ewan Palmer, Daily Beast

The Trump administration is refusing to provide additional funds to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unusually bloated personal security arrangements, ...

Why did Trump deploy the National Guard in Washington, DC?

Al Jazeera English

Trump deployed National Guard troops in Washington, DC, citing crime, even as city data shows rates have been falling.

Trump set to bar college graduates from debt relief program if employers undermine ‘American values’

Yahoo Entertainment

Sony’s PlayStation 5 Gets a Big Price Hike

Kyle Barr, Gizmodo.com

Neither the PS5 digital edition nor the PS5 Pro was spared tariff woes.

National Guard vehicle collides with civilian car near US Capitol, trapping person

LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press, CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press, ABC News

A National Guard vehicle collided with a civilian car near the U.S. Capitol as troops took positions around Washington during President Donald Trump's crackdown

White House Joins TikTok, The Social Network Trump Once Promised to Ban

Matt Growcoot, PetaPixel

The White House has launched an official TikTok account, six months after the app was supposed to be sold or banned in the United States. [Read More]

US-Mexico border wall to be painted black to stop climbers

BBC News

Using black paint to make the entire US-Mexico border wall hotter and harder to climb was reportedly Trump's idea.

The Covid Vaccine Situation for the Fall Is a Complete Mess

Jason Kottke, kottke.org

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina (aka Your Local Epidemiologist) has a frustrating update on how Covid vaccines are probably going to work thi

Iran says moment for ‘effective’ nuclear talks with US not yet reached

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Iran's FM sceptical about resuming talks with the US, says Iran cannot break ties with UN nuclear watchdog.

PS5 Price Hikes Announced For The US, Every System Going Up By $50

Eddie Makuch, GameSpot

Sony is raising PS5 prices in the US, with every system going up by $50. The company said it is continuing to "navigate a challenging economic environment" and will pass the cost on to consumers in the form of higher prices. The new prices go into effect on A…

The big buydown bet

Hallam Bullock, Business Insider

Mortgage rate buydowns have become a mousetrap for homebuyers.

Texas GOP Ordered Dems to Sign a Hall Pass or Face Arrest. So This Rep. Slept in the Capitol.

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Rep. Nicole Collier agreed to return to the state after fleeing to delay a vote on GOP gerrymandering—but refused to further comply with the House Speaker's inane demands.

Russia says talks on Ukraine security guarantees must include Moscow

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says discussing Ukraine security issues without Russia is a 'road to nowhere'.

Why International Recognition of a Palestinian State Actually Matters

Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic

International recognition of a Palestinian state isn’t just symbolic.

Trump White House Joins TikTok As Ban Deadline Looms; “I Am Your Voice,” POTUS Tells Followers

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The White House has launched a TikTok account, even as the app’s Chinese parent company faces a deadline next month to divest the social media platform. The account debuted on Tuesday and is up to almost 122,000 followers. That is a fraction of the more than …

Trump Calls For Fed Governor To Resign, Widening Pressure On Central Bank...

Barron's

Trump Calls For Fed Governor To Resign, Widening Pressure On Central Bank... (Second column, 1st story, link) Related stories:Snaps up more than $100 million in bonds while in office... Drudge Report Feed needs your support!  …

Trump buys more than $100 million in bonds in office, disclosure shows

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump has bought more than $100 million in company, state and municipal bonds since taking office in January, his...

Did Trump’s tariff war force India and China to mend ties?

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

China and India have agreed to resume trade ties and move towards resolving their longstanding border dispute.

We Now Know Everything About the First Xbox Handheld (Except the Most Important Thing)

Kyle Barr, Gizmodo.com

Regular folk can now play on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, even if they still can't preorder it yet.

Why ESPN chief Jimmy Pitaro held back on streaming — until now

Peter Kafka, Business Insider

ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro talks about balancing streaming vs. cable, the rise of sports betting, and diversity in the Trump 2.0 era.

Britain Drops Demand to Access Apple User Data

Matt Growcoot, PetaPixel

Britain will no longer demand backdoor access to Apple users' private data in the U.S. after the Trump administration reached a deal, according to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. [Read More]

"Crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor."

Jess Kung, NPR

On August 11, President Trump announced his intention to "rescue" the nation's capital. A central feature of his plan involved using federal officials to remove people experiencing homelessness from the city — people that he listed alongside "violent gangs, b…

John Deere Hit With Layoffs Amidst Trump’s Idiotic Tariffs

Lucas Ropek, Gizmodo.com

The tractor company has said tariffs are contributing to an uncertain climate for its buyers.

Shonda Rhimes On Paramount & Disney Bowing To Trump: “It Feels There’s Self-Censoring Going On”

Jake Kanter, Deadline

Shonda Rhimes has claimed that there are genuine jitters in the U.S. that network storytelling is being self-censored during Donald Trump’s second term in office. The creative powerhouse behind Bridgerton and Grey’s Anatomy said she could not comment directly…

Trump's control of D.C. police is limited. Its National Guard is a different story

Rachel Treisman, NPR

President Trump needs Congress' permission to use D.C.'s police for over 30 days, but there are no such limits on its National Guard. Experts spoke to NPR about how the takeover could end.

Musk’s Starlink Gets Mad At The State Of Virginia For Refusing To Shower It With Broadband Subsidies It Doesn’t Deserve

Karl Bode, Techdirt

There are $42.5 billion in broadband grants that are headed to the states thanks to the 2021 infrastructure bill most Republicans voted against (yet routinely try to take credit for among their constituents). But Republicans, despite a supposed feud between T…

Why is Europe leading the US in military aid to Ukraine?

Al Jazeera English

Europe outpaces the US in military support to Ukraine. Donald Trump wants to lead in diplomacy and end Russia's war.

You can now carry rifles, shotguns in DC without facing charges...

FP News Desk, Firstpost

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., will no longer seek felony charges for carrying rifles or shotguns. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro cites Supreme Court rulings and constitutional rights in line with Trump’s law enforcement push.

WAR WITH VENEZUELA?

Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time

The U.S. deployed three Navy missile destroyers and around 4,000 military personnel to the waters off Venezuela in effort to thwart cartels.

WATCH: Fireball streaks through skies over Japan

ABC News

A fireball was caught on multiple cameras lighting up the night skies in southern Japan on Tuesday evening.

Is Ukraine closer to peace after Trump’s meetings with Zelenskyy, Putin?

Mansur Mirovalev, Al Jazeera English

Analysts say as the US and Europe avoid direct military contact with Russia, a ceasefire is yet elusive.

"I'm worried about China" — OpenAI's Sam Altman doesn't believe export controls will slow foreign progress in AI supremacy war

c.cale.hunt@gmail.com (Cale Hunt) , Cale Hunt, Windows Central

In an interview with CNBC, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that he doesn't believe export controls will work to curb China's AI progress, and that the US is underestimating its power.

Why 'Chelsea's trophy' is in the US president's office

Jess Anderson, BBC News

Why is a Club World Cup trophy in US President Donald Trump's Oval Office in Washington? BBC Sport takes a look.

Swatch ad that sparked backlash puts focus on risky campaigns amid diversity rollbacks

Samantha Marshak, Yahoo Entertainment

(Reuters) -In an era of short attention spans and a White House that has declared war on diversity programs, companies are embracing edgier marketing. Swiss...

Millennials Are Dying at an Alarming Rate. We Have a Few Ideas as to Why.

Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Andrew Stokes, and Jacob Bor, Slate Magazine

America is not a good place to be an early adult.

Anarchy in the AI: Trump's desire to supercharge US tech faces plenty of hurdles

Rupert Goodwins, Theregister.com

Rotten is as Rotten does Opinion It's 1976, and in the country of the Beatles, another guitar band is giving it some. Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols isn't so keen on love and blackbirds. Instead, he sings lustily that he wants to be an anarchist, destroying…

It's the Economy, Donald

Jake Lahut, Wired

As US labor and inflation data seemingly worsen, the White House refrain is “no panicans”—in other words, no room for panic. That isn't keeping everyone in Trumpworld from getting the jitters.

Democratic lawmakers demand information about 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Peter Charalambous, Allison Pecorin, ABC News

A group of congressional Democrats is pushing officials at the DHS for more information about the use of the immigration detention facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."

Trump's return to 'law and order' highlights a sore spot for Democrats: crime policy

Elena Moore, NPR

Democrats have struggled to counter GOP efforts to frame itself as the party of "law and order." Some see it as a problem of messaging, while others think past and current policies may be to blame.

Voting officials are leaving their jobs at the highest rate in decades

Miles Parks, NPR

Some 2 in 5 of all the local officials who administered the 2020 election left their jobs before the 2024 cycle, new research has found.

Trump, send your deportees to Europe not Africa

Tafi Mhaka, Al Jazeera English

Deal with them in the US; failing that, let the former colonial powers bear the burden they helped create.

Dana White’s Net Worth Keeps Rising With Each Ufc Pay-Per-View

Mariam Atef, Boredpanda.com

Dana White's Net Worth Keeps Rising With Each Ufc Pay-Per-View

‘South Park’ Takes Aim Trump’s Militarized D.C. in New Episode Teaser Trailer

Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone

'South Park' shared a teaser trailer for the show's new episode, which takes aim at Donald Trump's militarization of Washington, D.C.

Why is the US sparing China, but not India, for importing Russian oil?

Alex Kozul-Wright, Al Jazeera English

Unequal treatment reflects a cold combination of political and economic calculations.

US strikes deportation deals with Honduras and Uganda

BBC News

Uganda and Honduras have agreed to accept migrants of other nationalities who have been deported from the US, CBS reports.

White House Rages at Rocker Who Dissed Trump’s ‘Vulgar’ Oval Office

Cameron Adams, Daily Beast

The Trump administration has clapped back at Grammy-winning musician Jack White’s critical commentary on the president’s new-look Oval Office. White, former ...

How will Trump’s semiconductor tariffs affect the global chip industry?

Erin Hale, Al Jazeera English

The US president has threatened to impose a tariff of up to 300 percent on imports of semiconductors.

“I thought they hated Trump,” the Fox host said after Newsom’s office mocked her for telling him to get serious.

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Fox News host Dana Perino got heated over California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s all-caps posts mocking President Donald Trump’s chaotic Truth Social style. Perino’s...

Trump’s White House takes to TikTok as deadline looms to ban platform

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The new account comes as Trump has three times delayed implementing a 'sell or ban' law for the Chinese-owned app.

Trump says Smithsonian museums only cover ‘how bad Slavery was’ in US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US President says a review of the national museums will be similar to those he has ordered for universities.

The White House just joined TikTok a month before it's set to be banned (again)

Kelsey Vlamis, Business Insider

The White House joined TikTok less than a month before it could face a ban, though Trump has already extended the deadline three times.

No US troops in Ukraine, Trump says

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president suggests security guarantees for Ukraine could see Washington provide air support.

N Korea says S Korea ‘cannot be a diplomatic partner’ as US drills continue

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

North Korean leader's sister rejects peace overtures from South Korea, denouncing its ongoing military drills with US.

Elon Dershowitz Dies: ‘Reversal Of Fortune’ & ‘Fallen’ Producer Was 64

Erik Pedersen, Deadline

Elon Dershowitz, a producer on such films as Reversal of Fortune, Fallen and The Whole Truth and son of prominent attorney Alan Dershowitz, died August 17 of a stroke, his family said. He was 64. The younger Dershowitz was a co-producer on Reversal of Fortune…

The 28 Headlines That Rocked The World In 2025

Viktorija Strelciunaite, Boredpanda.com

The year 2025 has (so far) been one for the history books. Simmering conflicts have escalated into wars, while ongoing wars have seen more casualties than ever. Politics was shaken up even further by Trump taking office again and implementing a long list of p…