NYTIMES (John Eligon) - South Africa Cancels Release of ‘Melania’ Documentary
The distributor, which was set to release the film on Friday, said it had canceled the theatrical premiere because of “recent developments,” but declined to specify.
NYTIMES (Aaron Boxerman) - U.S. allies in the Middle East have been pressing for weeks to prevent a conflict with Iran.
Diplomats in the region have spent weeks trying to prevent a confrontation that they say risks a wider conflict.
AXIOS (Stephen Neukam) - Body cameras, warrants top list of Democrats' ICE demands
Senate Democrats are demanding that federal agents be barred from donning masks and that they wear body cameras as part of sweeping changes to DHS that also include a ban on roving patrols and tighter use of warrants. Why it matters: Democrats are pledging to tank a broader funding package aimed at staving off a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday if Republicans don't agree to new constraints on ICE and other federal law enforcement. - "Senate Democrats are united behind a set of commonsense policy goals," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday after a private caucus meeting. - Schumer called on Republicans to either change the DHS spending bill to incorporate the Democrats' demands or strip it from…
ABCNEWS - FBI conducting 'court ordered activity' at Georgia election site
The FBI said Wednesday that there is court authorized activity at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center.
| Keywords | fbigeorgiafulton-countyelection-hubelection-integrityfederal-investigationcourt-ordervoting-systemgeorgia-politicselectoral-processlaw-enforcementfulton-county-electionus-newspolitics |
NPR (NPR Washington Desk) - The FBI conducts a search at the Fulton County election office in Georgia
The FBI would not clarify whether the action is tied to the 2020 election, but last month the Department of Justice announced it's suing Fulton County for records related to the election.
NYTIMES (Nicole Sperling and Brooks Barnes) - Amazon’s $35 Million ‘Melania’ Promotion Has Critics Questioning Its Motives
The tech giant is spending $35 million to promote its film about the first lady, far more than is typical for documentaries.
NPR (Scott Horsley) - Fed holds interest rates steady, taking a pause from rate cuts to assess the economy
The central bank cut rates at its three previous meetings in an effort to support the job market. But with inflation still elevated, the Fed is cautious about additional rate cuts.
| Keywords | federal-reserveinterest-ratesinflationeconomylabor-marketcentral-bankmonetary-policyjob-marketeconomic-newsprice-stabilityfinancefed-pauseus-economyemploymentrate-cutshawkishmacroeconomics |
WASHINGTONPOST (Marianne LeVine, Andrew Jeong, Kelly Kasulis Cho, Adela Suliman) - Two federal agents involved in Alex Pretti shooting placed on administrative leave
The development comes a day after DHS provided the first official timeline of the deadly encounter, stating that two federal officers had fired at Pretti.
AXIOS (Neil Irwin) - The economy's pressure relief valve: the U.S. Dollar
Massive fiscal deficits as far as the eye can see. The prospect of easy monetary policy even amid elevated inflation. America's role in the world is in flux. Something has to give, and that something is the U.S. dollar. The big picture: A drop in the value of the dollar against other major currencies — underway for the past year, with a new leg down in the last couple of weeks — is the market manifestation of a shifting economic landscape. - With strong economic growth and the AI boom, the stock market has remained robust. The prospect of additional Federal Reserve rate cuts has kept Treasury bond prices stable. - But on the currency markets, the dollar has been falling — with specific recent words and actions by the Trump…
AXIOS (Emily Peck) - It's a feel-bad job market for high-earning professionals
Data: Morning Consult; Chart: Axios Visuals There are signs that the so-called vibecession is back for 2026, but with a twist — it's the highest-earning Americans who feel more glum, as the faltering labor market for white-collar workers drives a bit of a doom loop. Why it matters: The U.S. economy increasingly runs on the spending power of the upper middle-class and wealthy, and if they're anxious that could affect everyone. Where it stands: Amazon's latest round of layoffs — 16,000 corporate jobs axed — is the latest piece of grim news for professionals who are growing antsy about the job market. - An increasing share of Americans are either reporting that they expect to lose pay or have already lost pay, per Morning Consult's…