The U.S. and Iran returned to substantive Geneva talks as U.S. carrier strike groups repositioned, creating a tight diplomatic timeline backed by military pressure. Domestically, critics urge a Republican purge over unmet promises while a $72 billion bidding fight for Warner Brothers pits Netflix against Skydance and Paramount amid antitrust and political scrutiny.
A funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security has left components like TSA and the Coast Guard strained as Democrats press for binding ICE accountability measures, turning appropriations into a battleground over enforcement policy. Separately, a viral livestreamed bar encounter spotlights growing lookism and hypergamy as social media, cosmetic enhancements, and status signaling reshape dating markets and social stability.
A 77-day ICE and Border Patrol surge in Minneapolis has concluded after roughly 4,000 arrests, officer-involved shootings and sustained public protests. Meanwhile, Congress is negotiating Homeland Security funding that ties appropriations to new operational reforms for ICE and Border Patrol, raising the prospect of a partial lapse in funding.