Amy Coney Barrett confronts Trump admin lawyer on respecting court rulings

In oral arguments about birthright citizenship on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett confronted Solicitor General D. John Sauer on the Trump administration's approach to respecting court rulings.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment via email.

The nation's highest court heard arguments about whether lower courts have the authority to block President Donald Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship, which ensures that children born in the U.S. are citizens regardless of their parents' status. The court's ruling could have key implications for millions of Americans.

Barrett, appointed to the court by Trump, on Thursday asked Sauer about whether the administration "wanted to reserve its right to maybe not follow a Second Circuit precedent say, in New York, because you might disagree with the opinion?"

The "general practice" is to "respect those precedents," but "there are circumstances when it is not a categorical practice," Sauer said, prompting Barrett to ask if he meant he believes that is the "general practice" of only the Trump administration or the federal government.

Sauer replied that he understands it to be the "long-standing practice of the Department of Justice."

Read the full story by Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

Tiffany Trump shares birth of son

Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump's youngest daughter, shared the birth of her son in a post on X.

House Republicans push Trump-backed bill with tax cuts, work requirements and border funding

House Republicans are moving forward with a sweeping legislative package backed by Trump, including deep tax cuts, spending reductions, and aggressive immigration enforcement. Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass the 1,116-page bill, titled the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," by Memorial Day over unified Democratic opposition.

The package includes more than $5 trillion in tax breaks, making Trump-era cuts permanent and temporarily eliminating taxes on tips and overtime. Republicans aim to offset some costs by phasing out clean energy tax credits and cutting Medicaid spending by nearly $800 billion. New Medicaid and food assistance work requirements are also included.

Immigration provisions include $46.5 billion for border wall construction and deportation efforts. The bill imposes a first-ever $1,000 fee on asylum seekers and aims to detain 100,000 people at a time while deporting up to 1 million immigrants annually.

The plan also ends Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, repeals a tax on gun silencers, and allows the administration to strip nonprofits of tax-exempt status for alleged ties to terrorism.

Other measures include a $1,000 government-backed savings account for babies, more student loan repayment changes, and expanded drilling and mining on public lands. Democrats have called the proposal extreme and harmful to vulnerable Americans.

Jeffries defends Democrats' ICE facility visit in Newark

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Thursday there is "no evidence" any House Democrats acted improperly during a recent visit to an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, NBC News reported.

Speaking at a press conference, Jeffries defended Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez, saying their visit was part of legitimate congressional oversight. He said no videos have surfaced showing misconduct, adding that any such footage would have been released by now.

Jeffries accused federal officials of using their authority to intimidate Democrats and warned such efforts would not succeed. His comments come after Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing during the same incident, and amid reports that the Trump administration may seek charges against the lawmakers.

Space Force plans Guard transfers despite governors' concerns

The U.S. Space Force is moving forward with plans to absorb nearly 600 Air National Guard members into its ranks despite opposition from several governors who say the move infringes on their authority over state units.

Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of Space Force, said Thursday the transfers will help build a part-time force suited for space missions without creating a separate Space Force National Guard. The 578 affected personnel currently serve in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Ohio, and Air National Guard headquarters.

While the 2025 defense bill authorizes the transfers, state leaders argue the decision risks losing skilled personnel and undermining state control. The National Governors Association has called for an immediate halt to the plan.

Under the legislation, Guard members can transfer or stay with their unit and retrain. Those who join the Space Force would be allowed to remain in their home states for the next decade.

Good and bad signs for Trump at birthright citizenship hearing

United States Supreme Court justices appeared highly skeptical of how President Donald Trump would implement his desired changes to birthright citizenship, as they heard arguments over lower court blocks to the policy Thursday.

Both conservatives and liberals on the bench grilled Solicitor General John Sauer over the move to limit automatic citizenship at birth, but also showed signs that they wanted to limit federal judge-imposed nationwide injunctions — a different, but highly coveted, legal prize for the administration.

While justices have yet to take up the core issue of parsing the 14^th Amendment's meaning as it relates to birthright citizenship, Justice Brett Kavanaugh pressed Sauer with a series of questions about how the federal government might enforce Trump's order.

"What do hospitals do with a newborn? What do states do with a newborn?" he asked, referring to a scenario where Trump's executive order was allowed to take effect.

Read the full story by Dan Gooding on Newsweek.

Senate Democrats move to block Qatar arms deal over Trump jet gift

A group of Senate Democrats introduced a resolution Thursday aimed at blocking a $1.9 billion arms sale to Qatar in response to Donald Trump's decision to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Gulf nation.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, argues that the gift — intended to be used as a new Air Force One — represents an unconstitutional bribe.

"This isn't a gift out of the goodness of their hearts — it's an illegal bribe," Murphy said in a statement, calling on Trump to reject the plane or face consequences.

The measure is privileged, meaning it will receive a vote on the Senate floor. However, it is unlikely to be considered in the House.

Trump's acceptance of the jet has sparked backlash from both parties. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is holding up Justice Department nominees until more details are released, while Republican lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz have also raised concerns.

Donald Trump's odds of winning Nobel Prize climb

President Donald Trump has the best odds of winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize, according to new data released by a large oddsmaker.

On March 5, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee announced that 338 candidates have been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations—a drastic increase from the 286 nominees in 2024. Four U.S. presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002) and Barack Obama (2009).

Trump has been nominated multiple times for the prize over the years, including by U.S. and Ukrainian lawmakers as well as members of Norwegian and Finnish parliaments—all previously crediting the first Trump administration's Abraham Accords treaty in September 2020 that normalized Middle East relations and was signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Read the full story by Nick Mordowanec on Newsweek.

Florida bans local governments from adding fluoride to water

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday that prohibits local governments from adding fluoride to their water systems. After Utah, Florida became the second state to enforce a statewide ban on water fluoridation.

DeSantis signed the measure at a public event in Dade City, despite objections from dentists and public health experts. He said the state offers other ways to access fluoride and emphasized that adding it to the water supply removes individual choice, especially for those concerned about overexposure.

Trump reshapes the Middle East with Israel's foes

President Donald Trump is reshaping the Middle East by drawing closer to Israel's long-term adversaries, prompting critics to suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—a key ally—has been sidelined.

Trump has struck a truce with the Yemeni Houthis, brokered a hostage deal with Hamas, courted Qatar, lifted sanctions on Syria, praised Turkey's leader, and opened nuclear talks with Iran—all without Israel at the table.

Newsweek contacted the Israeli prime minister's office and the U.S. State Department for comment.

Trump's recent moves signal the potential for rifts with Netanyahu—a key ally and among his most vocal supporters and raise questions over the extent of the U.S. support that has been invaluable to Israel for decades.

Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit Trump at the White House in his second term, has been excluded from high-profile meetings as Trump set out for a Middle East tour skipping Israel.

Read the full story by Amira El-Fekki on Newsweek.

Rubio tempers expectations ahead of Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey

Secretary of State Marco Rubio lowered expectations for the upcoming talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Turkey, saying, "We don't have high expectations of what will happen tomorrow."

Rubio confirmed a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation but did not clarify who from the U.S. would engage with the Russian team. He added that meaningful progress in the war is unlikely without direct talks between President Trump and President Putin.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Turkey for the discussions, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin will not attend.

Vance honors fallen officers, denounces 'defund the police' movement

JD Vance spoke at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service on Thursday, paying tribute to fallen police officers and sharply criticizing local leaders and progressive prosecutors, he said, who were too lenient on crime.

At the Capitol ceremony, Vance claimed the public rejected the "defund the police" movement in the last election, saying, "They used Donald J. Trump as the murder weapon." He promised that the administration would support the families of officers killed in the line of duty and "never disparage or degrade" law enforcement.

His remarks came at the same site where hundreds of police officers were attacked during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump, who has downplayed the violence, pardoned over 1,500 individuals tied to the attack after returning to office.

Republicans want to raise taxes targeting 40 million immigrants

Republicans included a new tax affecting 40 million immigrants in President Donald Trump's tax bill.

Newsweek contacted House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, for comment via email.

Remittances, money that migrants send to family members in their home countries, are a major source of income for communities across Latin America, Asia, and Africa. These payments represent a financial lifeline in many rural and economically strained areas worldwide.

According to World Bank data, global remittances to low—and middle-income countries are estimated to have reached $647 billion in 2023, though experts have noted that the true total of these transfers is difficult to know.

A new 5 percent tax on remittances is in the House Republican tax bill that addresses key priorities for the president, according to the Associated Press.

Read the full story by Andrew Stanton on Newsweek.

Baraka says feds tried to 'humiliate' him after court hearing

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka criticized federal prosecutors Thursday for what he called an attempt to "humiliate and degrade" him, after he was ordered to be fingerprinted and photographed for a second time following a court hearing on a trespassing charge.

Baraka, who is running for the Democratic nomination for New Jersey governor, was in court for a 15-minute procedural hearing last week related to his arrest during a protest outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center. The judge said he needed to be formally processed by the U.S. Marshals Service, even though Baraka said he had already been processed by agents at the time of his arrest.

Baraka defended his actions outside the courthouse, saying he and others were standing up for constitutional rights. He maintained that he was not on private property and that the charge—carrying a maximum 30-day sentence—should be dismissed. His lawyers argued that the case involved selective prosecution and a jurisdictional issue since only Baraka was arrested.

A video from the incident shows Baraka being told he could not enter the facility and being arrested after leaving its grounds. A trial date has not been set, but both sides said July may be feasible.

Duffy voices concern over Pentagon air traffic after deadly crash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday raised alarms about continued heavy air traffic linked to the Pentagon, months after a fatal air disaster over the Potomac River.

Speaking during a Senate hearing with Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Duffy said he was "very concerned" about the volume of flights, especially those involving training missions near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

"There are still helicopters coming out of the Pentagon doing training missions or carrying VIP guests," Duffy said. "That has been a concern."

He urged better scheduling such missions during off-peak hours to reduce risk near the busy airspace.

Trump welcomed with ceremony, medal in Abu Dhabi visit

Trump arrived at Qasr Al Watan palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, greeted by children waving U.S. and U.A.E. flags and a ceremonial honor guard with camels.

Trump is participating in a tour led by the United Arab Emirates' first astronaut, part of a symbolic gesture emphasizing technological cooperation.

He will also meet with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and receive a medal of honor from his hosts.

Donald Trump Ukraine peace plan stonewalled by Putin

Donald Trump's attempts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to end the war he started have been exhausted, an opposition Ukrainian MP has told Newsweek.

Kira Rudik said President Trump must use sanctions, give more arms to Ukraine and threaten the confiscation of Russian assets to pressure Putin after the Kremlin said he would not attend talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

John Hardie from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) told Newsweek that Trump has dangled carrots in front of Putin, "now it's time to add some sticks."

Trump said there will be no progress until he speaks directly with Putin after the Russian leader again thumbed his nose at the U.S. administration's plans for ending the war.

Trump's comments mark the latest chapter in his efforts to bring together both sides, but they have resulted in Putin snubbing Washington's proposal, backed by Kyiv, for a 30-day ceasefire as a pathway to permanent peace.

Read the full story on Brendan Cole on Newsweek.

Lawmakers and officials weigh in on SALT deductions, FEMA cuts, and birthright citizenship

On CNN News Central Thursday, lawmakers and former officials discussed three major policy issues facing the country, from GOP tax talks to disaster preparedness and birthright citizenship.

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) signaled openness to adjusting the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions in ongoing Republican tax negotiations. Speaking with anchor John Berman, Barr said he was "flexible" on a higher SALT cap, acknowledging the party's narrow House majority and the need to find consensus. "We're very, very close on this," he said.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) criticized proposed cuts to FEMA, warning the agency may not be ready for the upcoming disaster season. "That is a recipe for tragedy," he told anchor Kate Bolduan, warning that many Republican-led states could suffer from the reduced federal capacity.

Former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf supported the Trump administration's challenge to birthright citizenship, calling the Fourteenth Amendment "misread and misinterpreted." He argued that children born to undocumented immigrants should not automatically receive citizenship and welcomed the case now before the Supreme Court.

House bill would track advanced chips to keep them from China

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced legislation requiring tracking advanced U.S. chips to prevent them from reaching China.

The bill comes amid intensifying competition between the U.S. and China in artificial intelligence, where high-performance chips play a critical role. Lawmakers say the measure addresses concerns that chips are being smuggled to China despite existing export controls, some of which the Trump administration has moved to roll back.

"This bipartisan bill closes those gaps with real safeguards to keep our most advanced chips out of the wrong hands," said Rep. John Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican and chair of the House Select Committee on China.

The bill, led by Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat, would require exporters to track AI chips under export controls and alert the federal government if any are diverted or tampered with.

Collins criticizes Trump plan to accept $400M jet from Qatar

Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Thursday became the latest Republican to oppose Trump's plan to accept a $400 million jet from Qatar to serve as Air Force One.

Collins warned that the proposal is "rife with legal, ethical, and practical impediments, including the potential for espionage," per NBC News. She questioned whether the U.S. could adequately inspect and secure the aircraft and noted that the plane might not even be ready before the end of Trump's current term.

"Ultimately, I'm not sure why this is necessary at all," she said.

WATCH: Hair-swinging dancers greet Trump in Abu Dhabi

Supreme Court revives civil rights case against Texas officer in deadly traffic stop

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously revived a civil rights lawsuit against a Texas police officer who fatally shot a man during a 2016 traffic stop over unpaid tolls.

The justices ruled that lower courts used the wrong legal standard in dismissing the case brought by the mother of Ashtian Barnes, who was shot and killed by Officer Roberto Felix Jr. on the shoulder of the Sam Houston Tollway in Houston. Felix had claimed he feared for his life when Barnes's car began to move as he stood on the driver's door sill.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court that judges must consider the "totality of the circumstances," not just the moment Felix opened fire. The decision could make it easier for plaintiffs to pursue claims in excessive force cases.

Barnes was unarmed and had been driving a rental car tied to unpaid tolls, which he reportedly didn't know about. He was pulled over while heading to pick up his girlfriend's daughter from day care.

Russian state TV launches patriotic kids show featuring toddler Trump

Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov is launching a children's show featuring animated toddler versions of world leaders—including President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—which he claims will instil patriotism in young viewers from an early age.

Solovyov, a prominent Russian state TV host and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced show's debut on social media Wednesday.

The show will air on Russian state TV and will therefore mirror the Kremlin's talking points and agenda. Solovyov himself is known for his hawkish views of the West and for repeatedly threatening that Russia could strike NATO member states.

Read the full story by Isabel van Brugen on Newsweek.

USAID cuts leave thousands jobless in South Africa's HIV fight

More than 8,000 health workers in South Africa's HIV program have lost their jobs following massive U.S. funding cuts, the country's health minister said Thursday. The decision stems from the Trump administration dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said 12 U.S.-funded HIV clinics serving over 60,000 people have shut down, forcing patients to transfer to public facilities. The cuts have also disrupted services for key populations like sex workers and gay men, who often face stigma elsewhere.

The U.S. previously contributed $436 million annually through PEPFAR, part of a $2.5 billion program supporting HIV efforts in South Africa, which has the world's largest number of people on HIV treatment. Since the cuts began in February, viral load testing has dropped 21%.

Motsoaledi warned that while South Africa's program is not collapsing, it faces significant strain. The country is now appealing to other donors, but only the Global Fund has stepped in with $55 million in new support.

"We will not allow this massive work to go up in smoke," Motsoaledi said.

NATO ministers debate U.S. call for major defense spending hike

NATO foreign ministers met Thursday in Turkey to discuss a U.S. proposal urging allies to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2032, a significant jump from the current 2% target. The push comes as the U.S. shifts focus toward global security threats beyond Europe, including China.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said greater investment is needed to prepare for long-term threats from Russia, terrorism, and emerging global powers. "We need to do much, much more," he said, warning that Russia could rebuild its military within five years once the war in Ukraine ends.

The U.S. proposal includes spending 3.5% of GDP on defense and another 1.5% on infrastructure and related areas, a move that would redefine how NATO calculates military investment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the plan reflects "the threats of the 21st century."

Currently, 22 of 32 NATO members meet the current 2% target, while countries like Italy, Spain, and Canada still fall short. European officials acknowledged the difficulty of meeting the higher target but said rising threats demand urgent action.

The discussion comes ahead of a key summit in the Netherlands this June, where leaders, including Trump, will shape the alliance's future approach to Ukraine and defense cooperation.

Trade tensions stall export growth in Asia-Pacific, APEC warns

Rising trade tensions dampen export growth across the Asia-Pacific region, with officials from 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) sounding the alarm on declining trade momentum.

In a new report, APEC projected export volume growth at just 0.4% for 2025, a sharp drop from 5.7% in 2024. The group also revised its regional economic growth forecast to 2.6%, down from 3.6% last year.

Carlos Kuriyama, director of APEC's Policy Support Unit, cited tariff hikes, retaliatory measures, and rising non-tariff barriers as key disruptors. "We are witnessing an environment that is not conducive to trade," he said, adding that uncertainty is damaging business confidence and delaying investments.

Much of the strain centers on the U.S. and China, which have moved to ease tariffs this week while continuing broader trade negotiations. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese envoy Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the APEC session in Jeju, South Korea, though no further details were released.

Trump says Iran has 'sort of' agreed to nuclear deal terms

Trump said Thursday that the U.S. and Iran have "sort of" agreed to terms on a nuclear deal, signaling cautious optimism as talks progress. Speaking in Doha, Qatar, Trump described negotiations as "very serious" and focused on achieving "long-term peace."

The president said Iran appeared open to limiting uranium enrichment and allowing international inspections, though Tehran is pushing for immediate sanctions relief. Trump reiterated his core demand: "They can't have a nuclear weapon."

While emphasizing diplomacy, Trump warned that military options remain if talks fail. He also visited U.S. troops at Al-Udeid Air Base, stressing a preference for ending conflicts rather than starting them.

China pauses sanctions on US companies in trade war climbdown

China has walked back nontariff measures imposed in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hikes.

The suspension, announced Wednesday by the country's Commerce Ministry, covers both trade and investment bans on 17 U.S. companies and a pause on export restrictions involving dual-use civilian-military goods.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment via email.

The moves are part of a broader effort to de-escalate the tit-for-tat trade war launched during Trump's first term, which sharply intensified after his April tariff hikes and led to an effective trade embargo on U.S.-China trade.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng reached a temporary deal over the weekend to cut tariffs by 115 percent on both sides.

Trump, who hailed the deal as a "total reset," seeks to revive U.S. manufacturing and close the almost $300 billion trade deficit with China—an outcome critics call unlikely given that China exports more than three times as much to the U.S. as Washington exports to Beijing.

Read the full story by Micah McCartney on Newsweek.

National Urban League president warns of racial justice setbacks five years after George Floyd's death

National Urban League President Marc Morial appeared on CNN This Morning to reflect on the progress and challenges in racial justice since the murder of George Floyd in 2020. In conversation with anchor Audie Cornish, Morial addressed both the rollback of police reform efforts and the decline in corporate diversity commitments.

Morial voiced concern over efforts to pause federal consent decrees with local police departments, calling the moves political and counterproductive. "It has nothing to do with quality policing. It has nothing to do with the Constitution," he said. He noted that during the Biden administration, significant strides were made—including the investigation of a dozen police departments and the conviction of 180 officers—but warned that momentum is now in danger of reversing.

On the corporate front, Morial described the retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs as "almost insulting." Still, he praised leaders like JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and companies like Apple and Costco for standing by their commitments. "Equal opportunity is important for my company, my customers, and the nation," he said, echoing their stance.

Morial emphasized that despite loud opposition to DEI initiatives, the majority of Americans continue to support them. He urged continued vigilance and action, saying, "We can't let the headline be the only story in this moment. This conversation is going to continue."

Countries with unrestricted birthright citizenship

Unrestricted birthright citizenship means that someone automatically becomes a citizen of a country by being born there, no matter the immigration or citizen status of their parents.

The following countries have unrestricted birthright citizenship:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chad
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Lesotho
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• The United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

U.S. wholesale prices dropped unexpectedly in April for the first time in more than a year

Wholesale prices in the U.S. dropped for the first time in over a year last month despite subdued Trump tariffs on imported goods. On Thursday, the U.S. Labor Department reported that the producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level, declined 0.5% in March but remained 2.4% higher than in April 2024.

Core wholesale prices, excluding volatile food and energy costs, dropped 0.4% from March and rose 3.1% from the same period last year. Economists were expecting a slight rise in producer prices for the month, but a 0.7% drop in service costs was one reason for the drop.

Meanwhile, consumer prices rose 2.3% in April from a year ago, the lowest year-over-year increase in more than four years. Though some economists predict Trump's tariffs will propel prices upward, most anticipate inflationary pressures becoming more apparent in June or July.

Vance and Rubio to attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in Vatican

Vice President Vance and Senator Rubio will attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass in Vatican City, NBC News reports. The new pope will lead the formal installation mass on Sunday.

Vance, a Catholic, briefly met with Pope Francis before his death last month. The U.S. delegation will also include Second Lady Usha Vance.

Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born pope, elected by a conclave last week.

About SCOTUS arguments in the birthright citizenship case

The Supreme Court is considering whether judges can issue nationwide injunctions in a case stemming from Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

Trump signed the order on his first day back in office, denying citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent is a citizen or a lawful resident. The administration argues those children are not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the U.S., but lower courts quickly blocked the move.

Now, justices are hearing emergency appeals focusing on judicial authority, but the debate could touch on the constitutional right to citizenship under the 14th Amendment. That right has been settled since a 1898 Supreme Court decision confirmed citizenship for nearly all children born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' immigration status.

Trump admin selects 120,000 H-1B visa applications: What to know

The Trump administration has selected 120,141 H-1B visa applications for the fiscal year 2026, according to newly released data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

President Donald Trump has previously expressed support for employment-based visas, especially the H-1B program. The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of employment-based immigration and signals a more restrained approach compared to previous years.

The FY 2026 H-1B cap season experienced a notable decline in both total registrations and eligible applicants compared to previous years. USCIS received 358,737 H-1B registrations, of which 343,981 were deemed eligible. This represents a 27% drop in eligible registrations from the 470,342 reported for FY 2025.

Additionally, the number of unique applicants fell sharply. For FY 2026, approximately 336,000 individuals submitted applications, down from 423,000 the previous year, signaling either reduced participation or stricter eligibility criteria.

A detailed look shows that 336,153 eligible registrations came from individuals with only one registration, while just 7,828 registrations were from beneficiaries with multiple submissions. This is a significant decrease compared to prior years when multiple filings made up a larger share of total registrations.

Read the full story by Billal Rahman on Newsweek.