The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to an El Salvador prison last month. While the justices stopped short of ordering the administration to return Garcia to the US, they sent the case back to a lower court for review.
We’ll update you as we learn more — now, let’s get to the rest of the news…
— The Editors
What's Happening
Politics
Proof of Citizenship To Vote? Congress Is Considering It
What's going on: The Republican-led House just passed the SAVE Act — a bill critics say could make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require people to present in-person proof of citizenship — like a valid US passport or birth certificate — to update their voter registration. It would also have states set up programs to remove undocumented people from voter rolls, while allowing citizens to sue election officials who don’t follow the rules. Supporters argue the bill is needed to prevent noncitizens from voting — even though that’s already illegal, and studies show it’s incredibly rare. But Democrats say it would disproportionately disenfranchise US citizens — especially married women, people of color, young voters, and those with disabilities or in the military.
What it means: If the SAVE Act becomes law, expect a paperwork nightmare, especially for rural residents and seniors. According to the Brennan Center, over 21 million voting-age Americans don’t have the necessary documents readily available, and more than 140 million don’t have a passport (overwhelmingly in red states). Meanwhile, married women could be required to provide additional proof if their legal names don’t match their birth certificates. And long-registered voters might have to re-verify their citizenship under stricter rules. Though the bill is being pitched as a safeguard for elections, critics argue it echoes Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud — and leans into conspiracy-fueled fears like the so-called “great replacement” theory. Still, the bill’s future is unclear in the Senate, where similar legislation stalled before.
On Trump's 2025 Wishlist: A Nuclear Deal with Iran
What's going on: Nearly seven years after imploding the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal, President Donald Trump is looking to strike a fresh agreement with Tehran. For the first time in years, negotiators from both sides will meet tomorrow in Oman to begin talks. The Trump team’s goal: Get Iran to fully dismantle its nuclear program. If that seems like a heavy lift, it is. Experts say it’s a nonstarter for Tehran, which only had accepted nuclear restrictions as part of the 2015 deal. But the president seems to be using the power of intimidation, issuing a stern warning earlier this week: “If the talks aren’t successful with Iran, I think Iran is going to be in great danger.”
What it means: Experts say Iran could soon have enough weapons-grade uranium to build nukes of its own — though Tehran says it’s “not after a nuclear bomb.” It’s also unclear what, if anything, would convince Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. On the one hand, Iran’s nuclear program is considered its last point of leverage against the West, according to experts. On the other, Tehran is much weaker politically, with its proxy militias across the Middle East suffering major blows amid the Israel-Hamas war. And financially, the country has struggled with a falling currency and rising inflation. Iranian leadership hinted they’d welcome US investment if a deal is reached. Still, negotiations face an uphill battle. In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Iran’s minister of foreign affairs pointed to a “significant wall of mistrust,” and said “the ball is now in America’s court.”
What's going on: In Vermont, businesses didn’t just recognize the child care crisis facing their workers — they helped fix it. When employers like Twincraft Skincare noticed workers driving hours, missing shifts, or quitting because they couldn’t find care, they saw a problem and got organized. Twincraft rallied other local brands like Burton, Vermont Creamery, and Lake Champlain Chocolates around a shared solution: a 0.44% payroll tax — split between workers (0.11%) and employers (0.33%) — to fund expanded child care. It passed with bipartisan support (overriding the governor’s veto) in 2023, and the new law took effect in July 2024. Since then, Vermont has added 90 new child care programs and created 1,000 new slots — its first net gain in years. Some employers even chose to cover the full cost of the tax for workers.
What it means: Vermont is treating child care like infrastructure — not just a personal problem for parents to figure out alone. One mom of twins saw her monthly child care bill cut by two-thirds after the new law, finally giving her a chance to start saving. Families now have more options, providers are better paid, and employers say it’s helping with hiring and retention. A year before the Vermont law passed, 1 in 5 child care providers feared shutting down — now it’s just 1 in 20. And Vermont isn’t the only state rewriting the child care playbook. New Mexico now offers free care for most families, thanks to a voter-approved plan to tap into state trust funds. It’s proof that when communities and lawmakers get creative, they can make life easier for working parents — and boost local economies in the process.
A professional home organizer shares her tips and go-to products to make tidying your space less of a slog. Trust us when we say these storage bins will change your life.
If you're prone to breakouts, these toner pads might be the skincare step you're missing. They're made with madecassoside and cica to calm inflammation, and provide an extra cleansing boost.
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Settle This
A new restaurant chain has bumped Olive Garden as the most popular for casual dining. Which one is it?
A decade after Mad Men, Jon Hamm is once again behaving badly in the suburbs — albeit, in a very different way. In the new AppleTV+ dramedy, Your Friends & Neighbors, Hamm plays Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a hedge fund manager who's used to living the good life (think: fancy cars, even fancier houses, weekends spent at the country club). That is, until his high-flying world is upended, when he learns his wife (Amanda Peet) cheated on him with his best friend (Mark Tallman), and he's suddenly fired from his high-paying job. So, to maintain his luxurious lifestyle, Cooper does the only reasonable thing: steal from his wealthy neighbors’ homes, making a bunch of dicey decisions and discovering some sinister secrets along the way.
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