politics

A U.S. Mint investigation confirmed it purchased gold from drug cartels, funneling illicit cash into the federal supply chain and triggering a security crisis during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner [134258]. The shooter at that dinner, a Caltech graduate, is now in federal court, and King Charles’s state visit continues as U.S.-U.K. ties fray over defense and trade disputes [134256], [134247], [134261]. The U.K.’s Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that a proposed wealth tax would drive high-net-worth individuals out of the country, reducing overall tax revenue rather than increasing it [134171]. Meanwhile, a California ballot measure seeking to tax billionaires has secured enough signatures to force a vote, pitting voter pressure against capital flight fears [134273]. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney faces collapsing approval ratings after a brief honeymoon period, as his government struggles to deliver on housing and cost-of-living promises [134162]. The Democratic Party is fracturing internally: a senior party official publicly called a sitting senator “a mess,” while Senator Bernie Sanders threatened to withhold party support from any candidate who accepts Super PAC money [134236], [134269]. The Republican Party, led by Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida, gained four House seats through aggressive redistricting maps that sparked a legal war with Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries [134228]. Supreme Court arguments began on whether so-called “geofence warrants” — which force tech companies to hand over all phone location data from a specific area — violate the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches [134253], [134259]. Separately, the Court sided with the GOP in allowing a Texas voting map that critics say dilutes minority representation [134225]. China blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus after a national security review, while the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Chinese oil refiner Hengli, prompting Beijing to warn Washington against “misuse” of sanctions [134165], [134188], [134186]. Pakistan’s president began a week-long state visit to China to deepen economic and military ties, as India bought Russian missiles to counter Chinese-backed Pakistani forces [134202], [134221]. Taiwan received its final shipment of U.S. Abrams tanks, escalating tensions with Beijing [134200]. Finland’s government stated that U.S. territorial integrity is a red line, meaning Europe’s core border guarantees are now tied directly to American military credibility [134206]. A Ukrainian drone commander reported his unit destroys a third of all Russian targets in their operational zone, offering a rare specific battlefield metric [134161]. High-profile journalist Raghu Rai, India’s visual historian, has died. His work documented the country’s poverty and protests—pain that power often prefers invisible [134163]. **Sources** <a href='/news/134155'>Kim Jong Un opens memorial for North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine</a> <a href='/news/134156'>Female Bishop Meets Pope: "Stop the War" Plea in Vatican</a> <a href='/news/134161'>Ukraine drone commander: “We destroy a third of all Russian targets”</a> <a href='/news/134162'>Canada’s Carney Honeymoon Ends. Now the Real Test Begins.</a> <a href='/news/134165'>China blocks Meta’s $2bn AI takeover deal</a> <a href='/news/134166'>US-Europe Military Ties Fraying: An Unhappy Marriage</a> <a href='/news/134171'>UK wealth tax would drive away the rich, warns IFS</a> <a href='/news/134186'>China warns US over sanctions 'misuse' after hitting oil refiner Hengli</a> <a href='/news/134188'>China blocks Meta's $2 billion Manus deal after security review</a> <a href='/news/134200'>Taiwan Gets Last US Abrams Tanks as China Tensions Rise</a> <a href='/news/134202'>Pakistani president pushes for deeper China ties in week-long visit</a> <a href='/news/134205'>Japan’s First Female PM Faces Women-Led Revolt Over Military Shift</a> <a href='/news/134206'>Finland: Europe’s territorial integrity is a "red line" for the US</a> <a href='/news/134214'>Court Orders Marcos to Reveal Health Status in Rare Constitutional Test</a> <a href='/news/134219'>Indonesia’s Overflight Fear Misses the Real Threat</a> <a href='/news/134220'>Trump’s mad strategy: a calculated push for bipolar world</a> <a href='/news/134221'>India buys Russian missiles to counter China-backed Pakistan</a> <a href='/news/134222'>King Charles’ US Visit On Track After Washington Shooting</a> <a href='/news/134223'>Iran’s top diplomat lands in Russia for Putin talks on Iran-US war</a> <a href='/news/134225'>Supreme Court Gives GOP a Win, Allows Texas Voting Map</a> <a href='/news/134226'>Obama Questions Motive of WHCD Shooter, Sparks Backlash Online</a> <a href='/news/134227'>Teachers Union Spent $1 Billion on Liberal Causes, Report Says</a> <a href='/news/134228'>Florida GOP gains 4 seats. DeSantis map sparks war with Jeffries.</a> <a href='/news/134233'>New Rule: Colleges Could Lose Federal Loans if Grads Don’t Outearn High School Dropouts</a> <a href='/news/134235'>White House Dinner Entertainer Recalls 'Surreal' Shooting Scene Backstage</a> <a href='/news/134236'>Democrat senator called "a mess" by own party official</a> <a href='/news/134237'>North Dakota Lawmaker Killed in Minnesota Plane Crash</a> <a href='/news/134241'>White House Dinner Shooting Suspect Identified; Key Details Emerge</a> <a href='/news/134246'>China Blocks Meta's Bid to Buy AI Startup Manus</a> <a href='/news/134247'>White House Dinner Shooter in Court. King Charles Arrives.</a> <a href='/news/134248'>Iran scrambles for allies as Trump says ‘we hold the cards’</a> <a href='/news/134251'>Gunman in White House Dinner Attack to Face Federal Court</a> <a href='/news/134253'>Supreme Court to Decide if ‘Geofence’ Warrants Are Unconstitutional</a> <a href='/news/134256'>Caltech Grad Arrested in White House Dinner Attack</a> <a href='/news/134257'>Political Violence’s Expanding Club: Shooting at Press Gala Shocks Guests</a> <a href='/news/134258'>U.S. Mint Buys Drug Cartel Gold; Chaos Hits Correspondents’ Dinner</a> <a href='/news/134259'>Supreme Court to Decide if Police Can Sweep Your Phone Data for Suspects</a> <a href='/news/134261'>King Charles’ U.S. Visit Arrives as U.K.-U.S. Ties Strain</a> <a href='/news/134265'>China’s Economy Shows Strain From Iran War</a> <a href='/news/134269'>Bernie Sanders: Reject Super PAC Money or Lose Party Support</a> <a href='/news/134270'>Florida and Virginia in the Spotlight: Redistricting Battle for House Control Heats Up</a> <a href='/news/134271'>“She said, they said, now what?” – Swalwell, Gonzales test #MeToo limits</a> <a href='/news/134273'>Tax Billionaires? California Ballot Measure Gets Enough Signatures.</a> <a href='/news/134275'>Trump Seeks Loyal U.S. Attorneys to Target Enemies</a>