The deal with 47 states still needs judicial approval before its teen protections take effect.
The settlement with 47 states resolves claims that Meta intentionally designed its platforms to addict children, allegations the company denies. California expects at least $1.5 billion, while New Jersey expects at least $525 million.
AP10 sources
The rule takes effect Friday, one week before North Carolina sends the first mail ballots Sept. 4.
A federal judge in Boston lifted the nationwide injunction after the Supreme Court ruled that the earlier challenge was premature. Hours later, the states filed a new 53-page complaint. It argues that the Postal Service lacks authority to restrict who may vote by mail and that the rule could disenfranchise voters.
ABC NEWS8 sources
The surprise visit followed what The Atlantic described as new U.S. intelligence that Putin could test the alliance with a Baltic incursion.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials in Moscow on Tuesday but did not meet President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin. President Donald Trump called the trip “semi-routine” and denied it concerned fears of a Russian test of NATO or sanctions on Iran.
THE ATLANTIC7 sources
Castro’s 90-day detention expires Thursday, clearing the way for his release while Minnesota’s assault case remains pending.
A federal judge ruled that Minnesota sued too soon because Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had not denied its extradition request. Castro is charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime after prosecutors say he fired through the front door of a Minneapolis home Jan. 14, shooting 24-year-old Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg.
PBS NEWSHOUR9 sources
The Supreme Court bars at-will removal; the open question is whether the alleged mortgage errors constitute cause.
Trump says Cook falsely claimed two homes as primary residences. Cook’s lawyer said one home was identified elsewhere as a vacation property and that any mistakes were inadvertent or partly attributable to lender forms. The Supreme Court has barred the president from firing Federal Reserve officials at will, but left open whether misconduct may constitute cause after an opportunity to respond.
REUTERS6 sources
The Trump-backed political newcomer will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
After Lindsey Graham died suddenly July 11, Gov. Henry McMaster appointed his sister Darline to serve the remaining months of his current term. She defeated Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina roughly 52.5% to 47.5% — a five-point margin — in the runoff.
PBS NEWSHOUR11 sources
Thursday · The daily brief
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This story has run 3 times over 16 days, starting Aug 11.
The final 30% of Meta’s maximum payment is conditional: YouTube and TikTok must adopt one-hour daily limits, night mode and age-assurance measures, and each must match its share of that amount.
Red take
The two-hour cap and 10 years of daily limits may protect some teens, but uniform defaults risk displacing parents’ judgment about maturity, schoolwork and legitimate online activity. Judicial approval should ensure families can readily adjust these settings rather than turning a settlement into inflexible nationwide parenting policy.
Blue take
A settlement with 47 states reflects a broad judgment that voluntary safeguards were inadequate when platforms had incentives to maximize teen engagement. Two-hour limits, overnight blocking and muted school-hour notifications put children’s sleep and attention ahead of that business model while leaving Meta able to serve teens under clearer constraints.
This story has run 2 times, starting Aug 26.
The rule requires states using USPS for federal ballots to upload each participant’s name and address plus unique barcodes for outbound and return envelopes. USPS can reject outbound ballot mailings that fail its design and data checks; completed return ballots are not subject to that verification. States still decide voter eligibility.
This story has run 2 times, starting Aug 26.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are NATO members. Article 5 treats an armed attack on one ally as an attack on all and requires each member to assist; that assistance is not necessarily military.
The previous CIA-director visit to Moscow came in November 2021, when William Burns warned against invading Ukraine. Russia began its full-scale invasion about three months later.
This story has run 2 times over 8 days, starting Aug 19.
Red take
Trump’s side can argue that Fed independence does not require insulating governors from scrutiny over conduct tied to mortgage documents. If those records establish lawful grounds for removal, accountability protects rather than weakens the institution.
Blue take
Cook’s lawyer says the mortgage documents provide no legal basis for removal and cannot justify presidential control over a Fed governor’s tenure. Allowing dismissal on disputed allegations would weaken the Fed’s independence by making monetary policymakers vulnerable to political pressure.
The State Department paused immigrant-visa interviews worldwide in late August for staff training that began earlier that month. It gave no date for interviews to resume.
A military judge set a June 5, 2028, trial date for accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three co-defendants. The trial would start nearly 27 years after the attacks.
The Justice Department seized two domains used by QTFY, a Chinese state-linked hacking group that allegedly targeted U.S. agencies, hospitals, and critical infrastructure beginning in 2018. Targets included the Senate, NASA, Federal Reserve, and Department of Energy.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth upgraded valor awards for three Marines who responded to the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing, which killed 13 U.S. service members. Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby and Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston moved from Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with combat devices to Bronze Stars with valor devices. Cpl. Michael Gretzon moved from a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat device to a Commendation Medal with a valor device.
A federal judge rejected the Justice Department’s request to erase Bannon’s 2022 contempt-of-Congress conviction, saying prosecutors failed to explain their motives. The ruling leaves the conviction in place after the Supreme Court threw out the appellate decision that had upheld it. DOJ may renew its request, but dismissal would be largely symbolic because Bannon already served four months.
Bill Gates called for a new international body to manage AI risks and warned that the technology could rapidly displace jobs in law, medicine, software, manufacturing and customer service. He also proposed taxing revenue companies earn from AI outputs used to replace human labor, with the proceeds funding a safety net.
President Donald Trump ordered MAGA Inc. to reserve part of its $400 million war chest for midterm ads touting his record. Most of the money is still slated for specific House and Senate races.
U.S. total public debt hit $40 trillion last week as the average federal debt rate rose to 3.4% from 1.5% in 2021. For scale, Treasury data show the same measure crossed $35 trillion on July 26, 2024 — a $5 trillion increase in just over two years. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s claim that economic growth alone can solve the problem.