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Friday

President Trump speaks to journalists in the Oval Office on Friday. A federal judge in Rhode Island has issued an order blocking the administration’s efforts to freeze some federal spending.

President Trump speaks to journalists in the Oval Office on Friday. A federal judge in Rhode Island has issued an order blocking the administration's efforts to freeze some federal spending. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Politics

A 2nd U.S. judge says Trump administration must pause its federal spending freeze

The decision came in response to a petition by attorneys general in 22 states and Washington, D.C., seeking to block the administration's efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.

Actress Karla Sofia Gascon at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025.

Actress Karla Sofia Gascon at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. Etienne Laurent/Getty Images hide caption

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Etienne Laurent/Getty Images

Culture

Oscar-nominated actress Karla Sofía Gascón apologizes for old social media posts

The first openly trans actress to be nominated for an Oscar is facing backlash for old social media posts that denigrate certain marginalized groups. She apologized for the posts through a statement.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Texas National Guard monitor the border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez on January 24, 2025.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Texas National Guard monitor the border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez on January 24, 2025. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images/Anadolu hide caption

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Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images/Anadolu

National

Texas is Trump's biggest – and most enthusiastic – partner on immigration overhaul

Gov. Greg Abbott this week directed state agencies to work with federal immigration authorities to crack down on illegal immigration.

No other state has sided with Trump's immigration initiatives like Texas

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The Department of Justice stands in the early morning hours in 2019 in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Justice stands in the early morning hours in 2019 in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Politics

Justice Department changes rattle current and former agency veterans

In little more than a week, the Trump administration has fired people who prosecuted the president and reassigned other career officials.

The Trump administration has begun firing or reassigning career officials in the DOJ

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An American Airlines aircraft takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as emergency workers continue to search the wreckage of the aircrafts that crashed into the Potomac River Wednesday night. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to DCA airport.

An American Airlines aircraft takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as emergency workers continue to search the wreckage of the aircrafts that crashed into the Potomac River Wednesday night. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to DCA airport. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images hide caption

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Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

D.C. plane and helicopter crash

FAA restricts helicopter flights near DCA airport after mid-air collision

Federal authorities have restricted helicopter flights near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The move comes days after a deadly collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter.

NAIROBI, KENYA - 2021/12/01: A woman takes her Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) pills during the World Aids Day in Kibera. As today marks 33 years since the beginning of World Aids Day and 40 years since the first case of HIV, it's also one of the greatest days to help put an end to inequality that drives Aids and other pandemics across the world.

A woman in Nairobi, Kenya, who is HIV positive takes antiretroviral pills, which suppress the virus. The U.S. program PEPFAR is instrumental in providing these life-saving medications around the world. Donwilson Odhiambo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/LightRocket hide caption

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Donwilson Odhiambo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/LightRocket

Goats and Soda

Conflicting signals from Trump could disrupt HIV meds. What's the impact?

A series of orders from the Trump administration have the potential to disrupt the delivery of life-saving medications to HIV positive people. Here's what a disruption of this drug regimen would mean.

What happens if someone who is HIV-positive stops taking anti-retroviral meds?

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The smartphone app DeepSeek's page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025.

The smartphone app DeepSeek's page is seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Andy Wong/AP hide caption

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Andy Wong/AP

Technology

International regulators probe how DeepSeek is using data. Is the app safe to use?

The Chinese chatbot took the world by storm and rattled stock markets. But lost in all the attention was a focus on how the company is collecting and storing data.

International regulators probe how DeepSeek is using data. Is the app safe to use?

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Winters are warming around the country, which gives rats more of an opportunity to search for food.

Winters are warming around the country, which gives rats more of an opportunity to search for food. AP/Richard Drew hide caption

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AP/Richard Drew

Climate

Rats! Climate change is helping increase their populations in cities

Winters are getting warmer and shorter as the climate changes. That's helping rat populations grow in several U.S. cities.

Rats and Climate Change

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In this Aug. 29, 2006, photo, a police officer guards the wreckage of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky. The crash killed 49 passengers and crew.

In this Aug. 29, 2006, photo, a police officer guards the wreckage of Comair Flight 5191 at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky. The crash killed 49 passengers and crew. Ed Reinke/AP hide caption

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Ed Reinke/AP

D.C. plane and helicopter crash

The D.C.-area crash recalls some of the deadliest aircraft disasters in U.S. history

Responders are working to recover the victims of Wednesday night's midair collision over Washington, D.C. It could be the deadliest crash to occur in U.S. airspace in at least 15 years.