Washington
Trump dismisses new AI guardrails, says there is a ‘SICK conspiracy’ against AI and data centers
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump said Monday that he is a sufficient guardrail against rogue artificial intelligence, claiming that any efforts to limit the technology was part of a “SICK conspiracy.” “The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” Trump […]
US inflation accelerated last month as gas prices spiked, squeezing Americans’ finances
WASHINGTON | U.S. inflation accelerated last month as gas prices spiked in the wake of renewed fighting in the Middle East, underscoring the affordability challenges that are top of mind for many voters with midterm elections now just seven weeks away. The consumer price index rose 3.4% last month compared with a year ago, the […]
US diesel prices soar past $6 a gallon, deepening strain for hauling everyday goods
CHICAGO | Diesel prices in the U.S. hit yet another record on Friday, soaring past $6 a gallon on average as Washington’s war with Iran disrupts the world’s flow of fuel. The national average of nearly $6.06 is up from $5.85 last week and almost $3.71 this time last year, according to motor club AAA. […]
Republicans showcase their ‘big beautiful bill’ to voters, but the law’s impact has been mixed
WASHINGTON | Working to keep the majority in Congress, Republicans at the midterm convention in Dallas are showcasing their chief legislative accomplishment — the sweeping package of tax breaks, social service cuts and immigration enforcement that President Donald Trump signed into law. A year on, what’s known as the One Big Beautiful Bill — or, […]
US wholesale prices rise in latest sign of stubborn inflation as oil prices continue to climb
WASHINGTON | Wholesale inflation picked up last month after cooling earlier this summer as higher oil and gas prices stemming from the Iran war keep costs elevated. The Labor Department’s producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 5.4% in August from a year ago, up from 4.8% in July, […]
Cyclospora outbreak followed years of declining FDA foreign inspections
WASHINGTON | A nationwide outbreak of cyclospora tied to contaminated lettuce has heightened safety concerns about imported food, while underscoring a longer-term trend: U.S. regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch contaminated produce before it lands on American plates. Food and Drug Administration inspections of foreign food sites — including the Mexican farm linked […]
As midterms approach, new poll finds that few Americans trust campaigns or Trump
WASHINGTON | Americans are more skeptical of government information than they were a few years ago, with majorities now saying they have little or no trust in federal government information about elections and politics, foreign affairs or the environment, a new poll finds. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and […]
Trump wants voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. The Republican Party is going along for the ride
WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump is embracing his inner cowboy, seeking to gallop into this week’s Republican convention in Dallas and save the midterm elections for his party just in the nick of time. As first-of-their-kind festivities open Wednesday, Trump wants to stoke his core supporters’ enthusiasm by making Election Day on Nov. 3 all […]
Cyclospora outbreak followed years of declining FDA foreign inspections
WASHINGTON | A nationwide outbreak of cyclospora tied to contaminated lettuce has heightened safety concerns about imported food, while underscoring a longer-term trend: U.S. regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch contaminated produce before it lands on American plates. Food and Drug Administration inspections of foreign food sites — including the Mexican farm linked […]
The GOP was confident about keeping its Senate majority. Now the fight for control is wide open
WASHINGTON | Republicans appeared to have a firm grip on the Senate heading into the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. But with less than two months until Election Day, control of the chamber is now up for grabs. Democrats have found themselves competing in states that once seemed beyond their reach as […]