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President Trump said yesterday that the U.S. has begun striking Iran's drone facilities and locations where Iranian missiles are made and delivered. Trump provided this update at a press conference where he answered reporters' questions for the first time since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. The president gave contradictory messaging throughout the day, sometimes suggesting the war's end was near and other times that it was not.
Federal authorities have charged two Pennsylvania men, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, with terrorism related crimes. The charges come after an attempted bomb attack during an anti-Muslim protest this weekend outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence. Balat and Kayumi allegedly targeted the right-wing protesters with explosives. Federal investigators say the suspects were motivated by ISIS, a group that radicalizes young Muslim men globally.
A new lawsuit filed yesterday accuses the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment by threatening to deny visas or deport noncitizens who work on or research social media platforms, fact-checking or other activities the government deems "censorship" of American speech. The suit alleges that these noncitizen academics and independent researchers are living in "pervasive fear" of immigration enforcement, which has "chilling effects" on their work. It argues that the administration's actions amount to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.
As with politics and the arts, the fallout from the Epstein files release has been dramatic in the science world. NPR interviewed scientists and reviewed Department of Justice documents on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to uncover how he established a network of prominent scientists. Epstein showed interest in theoretical physics, evolutionary biology and computer science. He funded conferences, research programs and individual researchers. A 2006 conference for physicists in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which included a trip to Epstein's private island, illustrates how he used philanthropy to build relationships with scientists and academic institutions.
A potential new front in the redistricting battle may focus on who is counted for state legislative districts. For decades, mapmakers have based district boundaries on each area's total population. Some Republican officials are now advocating for counting only "eligible voters." Some advocates for this form of redistricting interpret this to mean excluding non-U.S. citizens and children. This change would likely shift political influence from younger, more diverse urban areas to older, whiter rural areas. While Republicans might gain more than Democrats from this approach, a study suggests the overall impact on the balance of power in state legislatures may be minimal.
The chaos of the day can make it harder for you to fall asleep. To create a relaxing bedtime environment, consider adopting a pre-bedtime ritual, says Allison Harvey, a professor and clinical psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley. On Life Kit, sleep specialists shared evidence-based strategies to incorporate into your wind-down routine for a better night's sleep.
For more tips on how to improve your sleep, sign up for Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep, a one-week email series. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.