News chronological

THEFEDERALIST (Shawn Fleetwood) - DOJ Asks SCOTUS To End Blockade On White House Ballroom Construction Mon Aug 17 16:52:23 2026

The Trump Justice Department asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to lift a lower court blockade on construction of the new White House ballroom. In its emergency application for stay, the Trump administration requested the high court to temporarily pause a preliminary injunction by D.C. District Senior Judge Richard Leon. Issued by the Bush […]

JUSTTHENEWS (Kevin Killough) - Fuel shortages spread across some regions in Russia, prompting restrictions on sales Mon Aug 17 16:52:18 2026

The crisis began gaining momentum in May, and by July, it had spread to almost all regions of Russia as drone attacks shutdown several refineries.

AMERICANALMANAC (Alex Tanzer) - Robotics CEO pitches humanoid border patrol to DHS as contract talks advance Mon Aug 17 16:51:41 2026

A U.S. robotics company says it has demonstrated a humanoid robot to Department of Homeland Security officials and is negotiating contracts to deploy the machines along the southern border, though DHS says no formal deal exists. Foundation, the company behind a humanoid robot called Phantom, told Fox News Digital that it has shown the technology […] The post Robotics CEO pitches humanoid border patrol to DHS as contract talks advance appeared first on American Almanac .

A U.S. robotics company says it has demonstrated a humanoid robot to Department of Homeland Security officials and is negotiating contracts to deploy the machines along the southern border, though DHS says no formal deal exists. Foundation, the company behind a humanoid robot called Phantom, told Fox News Digital that it has shown the technology to DHS officials and is in active discussions with multiple national security agencies about putting the machines to work in one of the most dangerous and difficult operating environments in federal law enforcement. Founder and CEO Sankaet Pathak said the company is ready to move fast, claiming a pilot program could launch almost immediately and a broader deployment within months. DHS pushed…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Jonah Adams) - Indonesia earthquake death toll climbs to 68 as thousands on Flores island still await aid Mon Aug 17 16:51:41 2026

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has killed at least 68 people on Indonesia's Flores island and displaced roughly 5,000 more, and days later, thousands were still waiting for food, water, and medicine as the country marked its Independence Day. The quake struck East Nusa Tenggara province shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at a shallow depth of […] The post Indonesia earthquake death toll climbs to 68 as thousands on Flores island still await aid appeared first on American Almanac .

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has killed at least 68 people on Indonesia's Flores island and displaced roughly 5,000 more, and days later, thousands were still waiting for food, water, and medicine as the country marked its Independence Day. The quake struck East Nusa Tenggara province shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, about six miles, sending residents into the streets in panic and triggering tsunami warnings that were later lifted. By Monday, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, known as BNPB, reported 213 people injured, more than 1,300 homes damaged, and nearly 250 homes destroyed on Flores alone. Rescue teams were still searching through debris, and 1,576 aftershocks had rattled the…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Britain's new prime minister fell for a fake Susie Wiles — the second impersonation of Trump's chief of staff in months Mon Aug 17 16:51:40 2026

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the second known incident of a fraudster posing as Trump's top aide to reach senior officials. Burnham, who took office on July 20 after replacing former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, traded what officials described as "a few messages" […] The post Britain's new prime minister fell for a fake Susie Wiles — the second impersonation of Trump's chief of staff in months appeared first on American Almanac .

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the second known incident of a fraudster posing as Trump's top aide to reach senior officials. Burnham, who took office on July 20 after replacing former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, traded what officials described as "a few messages" with an unidentified person pretending to be Wiles before growing suspicious and cutting off contact. CBS News reported that the exchange involved only written messages, no phone call or verbal conversation took place. Neither the date of the exchange nor the platform used has been disclosed. The incident, first reported Monday by POLITICO and confirmed by BBC News, drew immediate…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - Iran's military chief puts $30,000 bounty on American troops Mon Aug 17 16:51:40 2026

Iran's army commander has announced a cash bounty for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. soldier, a direct threat to American service members that escalates Tehran's increasingly open hostility toward the United States. Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami told Iran's state-run IRNA news agency that anyone who kills or captures what he called an […] The post Iran's military chief puts $30,000 bounty on American troops appeared first on American Almanac .

Iran's army commander has announced a cash bounty for anyone who kills or captures a U.S. soldier, a direct threat to American service members that escalates Tehran's increasingly open hostility toward the United States. Iranian Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami told Iran's state-run IRNA news agency that anyone who kills or captures what he called an "invading American military personnel" will collect $30,000, equivalent to 5 billion Iranian tomans, paid by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army. If an Iranian woman carries out the act, Newsmax reported , the reward doubles to $60,000. Hatami went further. He said weapons used to kill Americans would be purchased by the Iranian military at twice their value, replaced with new weapons,…Open

AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - Nancy Mace debuts tattoo-covered arms on new YouTube show after fifth-place gubernatorial finish Mon Aug 17 16:51:36 2026

Former Rep. Nancy Mace has resurfaced on social media with nine new tattoos and a YouTube talk show called "Get Maced", her first public move since a string of political defeats left her without a path back to office. Mace, 48, took to social media late last week to tease her plans, showing off tattoo-covered […] The post Nancy Mace debuts tattoo-covered arms on new YouTube show after fifth-place gubernatorial finish appeared first on American Almanac .

Former Rep. Nancy Mace has resurfaced on social media with nine new tattoos and a YouTube talk show called "Get Maced", her first public move since a string of political defeats left her without a path back to office. Mace, 48, took to social media late last week to tease her plans, showing off tattoo-covered arms she had kept hidden for months. The South Carolina Republican first got the ink back in February, the New York Post reported , but waited until now to display them publicly, timing the reveal to coincide with the launch of her new show, which apparently covers the news of the day. The debut drew a mix of bewilderment and mockery across X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. One user, Joe, posted simply: "What the f,."…Open