All USA
First LookFentanyl crisis: US takes action against Chinese drug importsThe Biden administration announced a series of indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies blamed for importing the chemicals used to make fentanyl. This is the latest effort in the fight against the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history.
Speaker McCarthy ousted: Is GOP House ungovernable?A small group of hard-line conservatives combined with Democrats to throw Kevin McCarthy out of his speakership – and the House into disarray.
‘Higher visibility’: How US immigration dynamics are shiftingBorder Patrol encounters at the U.S. southern border are approaching a record high. A longtime immigration expert explains how this affects current immigration politics and policy.
First LookChina-US diplomacy hits panda-monium. Why are the bears going home?The National Zoo’s three giant pandas are set to return to China in December. Amid diplomatic tensions between China and a number of Western governments, China appears to be gradually pulling back its pandas from Western zoos as their agreements expire.
First LookHow can the Army increase enlistment? Target the college-educated.The Army hasn’t met its annual goal for new enlistment contracts since 2014. A new professional force of recruiters will overhaul the current recruitment system and focus on young people who have attended college or are early on in their careers.
How Texas plans to make access to advanced math more equitableWhat’s the best way to make sure all students have access to high-level classes? In Texas, a new strategy focuses on automatically enrolling top scorers.
Behind impasse in Congress: Rising deficits, record debtThe risk of a government shutdown has elements of political theater. But behind the unfinished drama are difficult challenges of debt and deficits.
Military families need more child care. Can Pentagon deliver?New child care efforts aim to provide more options for military families, many of whom struggle with limited access to day care and high costs.
First LookWhy a battle over groundwater has Californians boycotting carrotsThe residents in the rural town of New Cuyama, California, are boycotting carrots as two major carrot companies file a lawsuit over groundwater pumping rights. Groundwater wasn’t regulated in the state until a law in 2014 was passed amid a historic drought.
First LookLaphonza Butler named to fill Feinstein’s U.S. Senate seatLaphonza Butler has been selected by Governor Newsom to fill the seat of Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate. Ms. Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent California in the chamber.
No shutdown for now: Where Congress goes from hereAfter a weeks-long spending battle that seemed headed for a government shutdown, Congress moved at the 11th hour to pass a 45-day reprieve.
First LookShutdown averted? House passes short-term funding plan, sends to SenateThe House’s swiftly-approved plan is now with the Senate, which is meeting late on Saturday with just hours to go before the midnight deadline to fund the government.
Freedom Caucus: The Fight Club of CongressLong a thorn in the side of GOP leaders, the group can’t agree on demands, reducing its influence. But key individuals have more leverage than ever.
Government shutdown: How did we get here, and what could it mean?The start of a new fiscal year is a time to hash out budget priorities. But those seeking to exert maximum leverage sometimes undermine the whole process – including their own goals.
First LookMinimum wage hike: California leads nation in fast food worker payCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law raising minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour. It applies to fast food restaurants that have at least 60 locations nationwide – but not to restaurants that make their own bread.
First LookDianne Feinstein remembered for trailblazing, bridge-building careerSen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who died this week, was a skilled debater known for her sharp comebacks and ability to find middle ground. The oldest sitting U.S. senator served two mayoral terms in San Francisco during her decades-long career.
Difference MakerChildren need to see themselves in books. Enter Young, Black & Lit.What if you went to the bookstore and saw no one on the shelves who looked like you? One couple is addressing that deficit for young Black children, supporting literacy and identity.
Now tanks, next missiles? Expanding military aid buoys Ukraine.ATACMS missiles can enhance Ukraine’s capabilities. But the weapons will arrive amid tension between Ukrainian resolve and the human toll of a slow counteroffensive.
Reagan and Trump loom above second GOP debateThe second GOP presidential debate, at the Reagan Library, showed how far the current field has come from Mr. Reagan’s era. Former President Trump’s persona hovered, despite his absence.
First LookPoll confirms Black perceptions of US news coverage as racistPew Research Center conducted its first-ever study of Black attitudes toward news coverage. Their findings confirmed broad concerns about negative stereotyping and lack of diversity in portraying different aspects of Black communities.
