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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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H.R. 9329: SEC Reform and Restructuring Act
Ordered Reported: Last Action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23. Explanation: The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on June 30, 2026.
H.R. 8141: Fair Credit Reporting Reseller Accuracy Act
Ordered Reported: Last Action: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. Explanation: The committees assigned to this bill sent it to the House or Senate as a whole for consideration on June 30, 2026.
Director sentenced to more than two years for defrauding Netflix out of $11m
Carl Rinsch requested $11m for never-finished sci-fi series but diverted money to personal account, prosecutors said Hollywood writer-director Carl Rinsch was sentenced Monday to two-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Netflix out of $11m for a never-finished sci-fi series. Supporters including Keanu Reeves had asked the court to show him leniency. Rinsch, best known for the 2013 samurai fantasy film 47 Ronin, was convicted in December of federal wire fraud and other charges. According to prosecutors and trial testimony, he told Netflix he needed $11m to finish a show called White Horse but diverted the money into a personal account and ultimately spent whopping sums on luxury cars, watches, clothes and household goods, including $638,000 on two mattresses. Continue reading...
Cairo Takeaway secures court win over pro-Israel activist who claimed he was ‘completely vindicated’ after settlement
Federal court judge rules Ofir Birenbaum breached parts of settlement between Middle Eastern restaurant and Jewish man working with Daily Telegraph Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A pro-Israel activist breached parts of a legal settlement with Sydney restaurant Cairo Takeaway, a court has ruled, after he claimed to have been “completely vindicated” following the settlement. Justice Robert Bromwich handed down his decision in the federal court on Tuesday, in the latest chapter of a long-running feud with Ofir Birenbaum, who visited the popular Middle Eastern restaurant wearing a Star of David cap and necklace with reporters from the Daily Telegraph in February 2025. Continue reading...
Trump news at a glance: Trump tried to appeal E Jean Carroll verdict all the way to the supreme court. They passed
The 2023 verdict found Trump liable for sexually abusing writer and then defaming her – key US politics stories from Monday 29 June at a glance The US supreme court on Monday declined Donald Trump’s request to review a New York jury’s 2023 verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll, and then defaming her. The justices did not provide an explanation or reasoning, and no public dissents were noted. The decision leaves intact the $5m civil judgment against Trump that was returned by the jury after the two-week trial in 2023. Continue reading...
Both Republican Dan Sullivans can compete in Alaska primary, court rules
Challenger Dan Sullivan had been booted from ballot, but supreme court ruled he can compete against senator of same name A man with the same name and party affiliation as Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, is qualified to run for the seat and ordered election officials to place him on Alaska’s primary ballot in August, the state supreme court ruled Monday. The ruling came hours after arguments on Monday and just days after state court Judge Thomas Matthews found the division of elections had “abused its discretion” in booting the challenger Sullivan from the ballot. The supreme court, in a brief ruling, affirmed Matthews’ decision but sent back to the division the issue of how the challenger should be listed on the ballot, “within the confines of existing Alaska ballot design law”. Continue reading...
Peru’s Keiko Fujimori wins presidential election, in latest victory for Latin American right
The 51-year-old daughter of late president Alberto Fujimori secured the top office after authorities spent weeks reviewing contested ballots Peru’s conservative president-elect Keiko Fujimori has vowed to restore “order and hope” after defeating left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez, in the latest victory for a resurgent Latin American right. Fujimori won the 7 June presidential runoff by the slimmest of margins, outpolling Sanchez by fewer than 50,000 votes out of the more than 18 million ballots cast, the final results showed. Continue reading...
Trump nominates Keith Sonderling to permanent role of labor secretary
Sonderling is filling in as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced she was leaving in April Donald Trump announced he is nominating Keith Sonderling to serve as US secretary of labor, a role he is currently filling as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s announced her departure in April. “It is my Great Honor to announce that I am nominating Keith E. Sonderling, the outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor, to be permanent,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Keith previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, worked at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.” Continue reading...
Australian police close in on ‘Scorpio’, mystery author of threatening letters to high-profile people
Federal and NSW police say more than 100 letters sent to MPs and community leaders since 2015 Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Police are appealing for help in tracking down the mystery author of more than 100 letters, some threatening, sent to high-profile community figures. The Australian federal police and New South Wales police have released excerpts of anonymous letters sent by someone who goes by “Scorpio” and “Bullit”. Continue reading...
‘Humanity is a privilege’: Umar Khalid on his six years in an Indian jail without trial
Exclusive: Activist tells of his life as one of India’s most prominent political prisoners and his opposition to the government of Narendra Modi Prison is hardest at sunset. As the thousands of prisoners incarcerated in Delhi’s most infamous jail are cast out of their cells and forced into the dank yard until darkness falls, prisoner number 626714 feels the punishing dread begin to rise. Yet the inmate – better known as Umar Khalid – was recently moved to discover that another political prisoner, exiled at a camp thousands of miles from India, wrote of the very same feeling more than 150 years ago. Continue reading...
Venezuelans newly deported from US missing after hotel collapse
More than 100 people removed on ICE flight were being held in hotel in La Guaira when earthquakes struck More than 100 people just deported from the United States were being held in a hotel when earthquakes struck Venezuela, setting off a scramble to find survivors and bodies buried in the rubble, according to survivors. A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Venezuela hours before Wednesday’s earthquakes. Onboard were 146 Venezuelans, including 19 women and seven children, according to ICE Flight Monitor, an initiative of Human Rights First, which tracks deportation flights. They were transported to a hotel in La Guaira. Continue reading...
H.R. 7128: TRIA Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
Vote: Passed 373/15 Rep. Krishnamoorthi [D-IL8]: Yea
Crypto firms operating in UK to be subject to sweeping new rules
City regulator will require booming industry to prove its resilience to risk from October next year Crypto firms operating in the UK will be forced to prove they can weather market shocks and hold capital against risky assets as part of sweeping new rules announced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulations will increase supervision of the crypto industry, which has so far has faced minimal oversight despite a boom in popularity linked to social media influencers and a legitimisation drive under the US president, Donald Trump. Continue reading...
Transparency, standards and a new commissioner – but does the maternity review go far enough?
Amos review sets out recommendations for government, but falls short on systemic racism and traumatic births England to get powerful maternity commissioner after ‘shocking’ failings The findings of Lady Amos’ review into maternity and neonatal services across England, which state the system is ultimately no longer fit for purpose, are unsurprising. The systemic failures and inadequacies of these services have been uncovered in several reports already, including Donna Ockenden’s review of the “toxic” Nottingham NHS trust published last week. But what this report does offer are a set of recommendations for the government to implement. Amos states that if they were to be delivered in full then “the overall safety and quality of maternity and neonatal care in England will be materially and sustainably improved”. But how far do these recommendations go, and what will it take for them to be implemented? Continue reading...
England to get powerful maternity commissioner after ‘shocking’ failings
Health secretary announces move after Amos review finds childbirth and neonatal care in need of ‘urgent reform’ Analysis: Transparency, standards and a new commissioner – but does maternity review go far enough? A powerful maternity commissioner will be appointed to push through an urgent transformation of childbirth care in England after a major review concluded that it had multiple failings. Ministers have bowed to growing pressure by agreeing to recruit the UK’s first commissioner for maternity and neonatal care. Whoever takes on the role will pursue hospitals over persistent failures in care, ensure wide-ranging improvements are made and try to restore the faith of families in a maternity system in England that has been rocked by a series of scandals. Maternity triage services – the childbirth equivalent of A&E – need an urgent overhaul, including more staff on duty, so that women’s concerns are acted on more quickly. Families should get the right to seek a fresh, independent investigation when things go wrong if they are not happy with the hospital’s own inquiry. The NHS’s “brutal” and “cruel” system of agreeing compensation with harmed and bereaved families should be replaced by a new process in which hospitals admit errors immediately. The NHS must root out racism and discrimination that is “embedded throughout the maternity and neonatal system”. Continue reading...
H.R. 7757: KIDS Act
Vote: Passed 267/117 Rep. Krishnamoorthi [D-IL8]: Nay
Monaco explosion injures three and triggers police hunt
Two people said to be in critical condition after CCTV shows man dropping backpack at residential building lobby An explosion in Monaco has triggered a police hunt for a man suspected of detonating a makeshift bomb that wounded three people. The blast occurred on Monday evening in the semi-enclave famous for casinos and superyachts, French media reported. Continue reading...
San Francisco archdiocese to pay $395m to settle over 500 child sexual abuse claims
Settlement requires archbishop to write apology letter to each survivor and implement child protection reforms The San Francisco Catholic archdiocese has agreed to pay $395m to settle more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials, plaintiffs’ attorneys said Monday. Salvatore Cordileone, the San Francisco archbishop, will have to write an apology letter to each survivor as part of the settlement. Continue reading...
Offenders in England and Wales who kill current or ex-partners face 10 more years in prison
Increase comes after seven-year campaign by mothers of victims for a change in the minimum sentence for domestic murder Offenders who kill their current or ex-partner face spending an extra 10 years behind bars, with a new minimum sentence of 25 years in England and Wales, under plans announced by David Lammy. The increase, announced by the justice secretary on Monday, comes after a seven-year campaign by mothers of victims for a change in the minimum sentence for domestic murder. Continue reading...
Asylum seekers to pay £10,000 towards living costs under new UK law
Means-tested scheme included in immigration and asylum bill condemned by charities for placing tax on refugees Asylum seekers will be ordered to pay about £10,000 to cover their state-funded living costs or be denied settled status in the UK under a new law to be considered by MPs on Tuesday. The means-tested scheme, compared by officials to student loans and included in the immigration and asylum bill, has been condemned by charities for placing a tax on refugees fleeing war, torture and famine. Continue reading...
New defence secretary wins another £1.5bn to boost drone spending
Dan Jarvis persuaded Rachel Reeves to reduce £18bn funding gap that led to predecessor resigning The new defence secretary has secured an extra £1.5bn to the UK’s long-delayed defence investment plan, with the bulk of that to be spent on drones to deter Russia and Iran. Rows about closing an £18bn funding gap had led to the resignation of John Healey and raised questions about Britain’s commitments to Nato – though on Monday the head of the alliance told the Guardian he believed the UK would honour its commitments. Continue reading...
Grizzlies reportedly trade Ja Morant to Trail Blazers in blockbuster deal
Morant traded to Blazers in blockbuster deal Grizzlies land Grant, Murray as rebuild rolls on Portland adds Morant, eyes another big move Ja Morant is headed to the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade that would end his volatile run with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to multiple reports Monday. Pending NBA approval and physicals, the teams agreed to a swap that sends Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Continue reading...
High-street slot machines and casinos could face £460m tax rise under Burnham
Thinktank finds 43% of the public would support a move by Labour to raise taxes on adult gaming centres All-night slot machine shops and casinos could face a £460m tax rise if Andy Burnham acts on his concerns about the gambling industry as prime minister, after an influential thinktank found the policy would have public support. Known by some in the gambling sector as “slot sheds”, adult gaming centres (AGCs) have flooded UK high streets in recent years, disproportionately targeting economically deprived areas . Continue reading...
Lions release Terrion Arnold after allegations player orchestrated kidnappings and beatings
Cornerback’s bail set at $1m by judge of Florida Prosecutors say player believed he was robbery victim The Detroit Lions have released cornerback Terrion Arnold, only days after his arrest over allegations that he orchestrated the abduction and beating of three men. Prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected the men of having stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him. The Lions made the announcement on Monday. The team did not give a reason, but the announcement came the same day that a Florida judge set Arnold’s bail at $1m. Continue reading...