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Washington President Donald Trump's choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faltered many times during his first Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday when he was questioned by senators on possible Medicaid reforms. Nearly 80 million low-income individuals are covered by the government-based health insurance program, which has gained more attention as Republicans in Congress search for ways to cut federal spending, with Medicaid potentially being one of the broadest cuts. Kennedy will supervise the implementation of Medicaid in addition to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act if he is confirmed as secretary of health and human services. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking member of the Finance Committee, stated at the end of the hearing that ...

For a years-long bribery and corruption plot that saw him rewarded with gold bars and piles of cash, a court on Wednesday sentenced an emotional former senator, Bob Menendez, to 11 years in prison. Twice, Menendez had sobbed as he begged U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein for mercy. After describing acts he claimed to have done to assist people while serving in the Senate—a position he was forced to leave following his conviction—the Democrat from New Jersey declared, "I have lost everything." Menendez, who chaired the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee when he accepted the payoffs, claimed that "every day I am awake is a punishment for a man who spent his entire life in public service." The judge seemed unimpressed, stating that although he had accomplished some good work, the e...

After their first policy meeting since he returned to office, Federal Reserve officials left interest rates steady, which prompted President Donald Trump to criticize them. In reference to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, he wrote on his Truth Social platform, "I will do it by unleashing American energy production, slashing regulation, rebalancing international trade, and reigniting American manufacturing because Jay Powell and the Fed failed to stop the problem they created with inflation." He said that inflation would never have been an issue if the Fed had focused less on DEI, gender ideology, green energy, and false climate change. The president's criticism follows days after he put pressure on policymakers to decrease interest rates, continuing his practice of making his opinions ...

Immigration enforcement actions have begun to spread throughout major U.S. cities since President Donald Trump returned to office. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 956 persons were taken into custody on Sunday. However, according to an NBC News report, immigration officials made around 1,200 arrests that day, but only 613 of them—or roughly 52%—were classified as criminal arrests. The remaining individuals seemed to be either nonviolent criminals or those who had only crossed the border illegally. Being undocumented is not a criminal; rather, it is a civil offense. The following day, the number of arrests increased once further, according to the agency, which reported that 1,179 arrests and 853 detainers were made on Monday. There has been worry that law-abiding...

In his first week or two back in office, President Donald Trump quickly fulfilled a number of campaign-trail pledges, granted a plethora of pardons (some controversial), and exacted revenge on his political rivals. According to early polling, Trump is starting the election with greater support from the public and more leeway than he had before his first term in office. However, it is unclear how voters will evaluate his initial acts as president. Compared to January 2017, the previous president's image rating was higher as he began his second term. Just 38% of Americans gave Trump a good rating in NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey conducted in the days leading up to his first inauguration, whereas 42% of registered voters did so at that time, according to Fox News. According to the most ...

When my friends found out about my cat's $600 litter box, they made fun of me endlessly. Instead of giving you a detailed recap of the sneers (you can use your imagination), I'll just say that this amazing equipment changed my relationship with my cat, Opie, without using exaggeration. I accept that the price tag is ridiculous, but this litter box is truly amazing. Through a dedicated app on your phone, the Leo's Loo Too smart litter box cleans itself and notifies you when it needs to be cleaned. Additionally, it can be connected to Google or Alexa voice control systems. Leo's Loo Too Automatic Litter Leo s Loo Too Automatic Litter Box Why we like this automatic litter box and how it works The exterior of the machine, which is 27.5 inches tall and 22 inches wide, looks like it...

Caitlin Clark will not play her first 3-point game as a professional until July, when Indianapolis hosts the WNBA All-Star weekend. According to her managers at Excel Sports, the Fever star turned down an opportunity to take part in a unique challenge during NBA All-Star weekend next month on Wednesday. The idea of Clark playing in a match that featured Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu in a 3-point shootout during the NBA All-Star weekend last season had been discussed. The New York Liberty star was defeated by Curry. It was among the weekend's high points. When the NBA All-Star Game is held in the Bay Area in two weeks, there have been talks about extending that shootout this year. Earlier this month, Ionescu told The Associated Press that she would attend the All-Star celebrations, but ...

Washington According to a new White House letter a source gave to NBC News, President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday revoked an order that placed a broad suspension on the majority of federal grants and loans in the face of intense criticism. The Office of Management and Budget ordered the revocation, which was verified Wednesday by a senior administration official. The first order caused uncertainty and mayhem throughout Washington, but a federal district judge temporarily stopped it Tuesday night. Soon after the memo was made public on Wednesday, Democrats, who fiercely opposed the White House decision, applauded its revocation. "Americans fought back and Donald Trump backed off," said Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the Senate from New York. "Though the Tr...

In the extensive case, the New York architect accused of murder in the Gilgo Beach crimes is contesting the DNA evidence used against him and requesting two trials. Rex Heuermann's attorneys contend that the DNA evidence used by the prosecution should not be used in the trial since it is not generally acknowledged in the scientific world. Additionally, the defense team for the Long Island resident seeks to divide the case against him into several trials. The remains of at least ten people, predominantly female prostitutes, were found along a remote highway near Gilgo Beach on the south shore of Long Island, and authorities have been looking into their deaths since late 2010. In 2023, Heuermann was taken into custody and accused with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, a...

After their first policy meeting of the second Trump administration, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged. President Donald Trump, who had aimed to exert pressure on policymakers to cut rates, was incensed by that decision. One hint at the central bank's justification: It took a more cautious stance on inflation in its press release announcing the decision, which experts usually interpret as an indication of the way forward. In their earlier announcement, officials took out a portion of a sentence stating that inflation has come closer to their 2% target, simply mentioning that it is still rather high in Wednesday's statement. In a news conference after the announcement, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that while recent inflation data appeared to be positive, we sho...