Denise Cheung, head of the criminal division in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, resigned on February 18, 2025, following directives from Trump administration officials to initiate a criminal investigation into a $20 billion climate-related contract awarded during President Joe Biden's tenure. Cheung, a 24-year veteran of the Department of Justice, cited insufficient evidence to support such an investigation and expressed concerns over potential political motivations behind the directive.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued new guidance defining "woman" as "an adult human female." This action aligns with President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14168, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." The guidance emphasizes that sex is an immutable biological classification determined at conception and observable before birth. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated, "This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government."
The Kennedy Center has canceled an upcoming LGBTQIA+ Pride performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW), just weeks after President Donald Trump assumed his role as chairman of the venue’s board.
A federal court ruling last week delivered a significant setback to AI companies using copyrighted material for training, as US District Judge Stephanos Bibas sided with Thomson Reuters in its lawsuit against Ross Intelligence. The ruling marks the first major decision on AI-related copyright disputes, setting a precedent that could impact multiple ongoing cases.
The parents of a Long Island teenager who died by suicide are suing TikTok, alleging that the app used location tracking to push disturbing videos that contributed to his death.
Montana lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the use of mRNA vaccines in most medical circumstances, citing concerns over long-term safety and rushed development. The legislation, House Bill 371, recently passed out of committee and is now headed for debate on the state House floor.
President Donald Trump strongly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war, arguing that the conflict could have been prevented if the U.S. had stronger leadership. In a recent interview, Trump contrasted his administration’s foreign policy with those of his predecessors, asserting that Russia’s aggression significantly escalated under certain administrations while remaining in check during his presidency.
A California court has upheld a parental notification policy adopted by Chino Valley Unified School District, marking a significant development in the battle over parents’ rights in education. The ruling, which allows the district to notify parents when students seek changes to official or unofficial school records, was not appealed by the state, effectively securing a partial win for both the school district and California officials.
Authorities have arrested a trans-identified suspect, Alan "Alina" Abad, 19, of Westwood, New Jersey, in connection with the brutal double homicide of two women in Spring Valley, New York. Abad was taken into custody on February 16 and is currently being held without bail at the Rockland County Jail on first-degree murder charges.
President Donald Trump is posting strong approval ratings just four weeks into his administration, with multiple polls showing him in positive territory among voters. Compared to his first term, Trump is seeing a much stronger reception from the public early on.
