Hegseth Signals Stronger US Action Targeting Mexican Cartels
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Aug. 11 that the government is taking action against Mexican drug cartels and will move to protect the American people.
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Newsweek
6 minutes ago
- Newsweek
White House Launches Smithsonian Review To 'Ensure Alignment'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The White House has announced a review of some Smithsonian Institution museums to "ensure alignment" with President Donald Trump's goals. Newsweek has contacted the Smithsonian for comment via email outside regular working hours. Why It Matters In March, Trump signed an executive order, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," to eliminate what his administration described as "improper ideology" across all branches of the Smithsonian—including its museums, research centers, educational initiatives and the National Zoo. The move sparked backlash online and from museum volunteers. In July, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History removed references to Trump's two impeachments from its exhibit on presidential impeachments, prompting a debate about historical accuracy and political influence on public institutions. A Smithsonian Institution sign on the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 28. A Smithsonian Institution sign on the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March To Know A letter dated August 12 and addressed to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch said the White House would be leading "a comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions." According to the letter, the review is timed to coincide with next year's celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed. The letter described the review as a "constructive and collaborative effort," adding that it would focus on key areas such as public-facing content, the curatorial process, exhibition planning, collection use and narrative standards. The letter also said the initial review would focus on the following museums: National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. These are not the only museums being reviewed. The letter said additional museums would be reviewed in "Phase II." While the Smithsonian is independent of the government, it receives funding from Congress. As with Trump's March executive order, the review has received backlash online. Some social media users have raised concerns about the level of government intervention with the museums. What People Are Saying The White House's letter to the Smithsonian said: "This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions." President Donald Trump wrote in his March executive order: "Museums in our Nation's capital should be places where individuals go to learn—not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history. To advance this policy, we will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness." Karly Kingsley, a media personality, wrote on X in a post viewed more than 200,000 times: "We're suspending the jobs report so you don't see how bad the numbers are, auditing the Smithsonian to match Trump's politics, fighting over gerrymandering the map, and deploying the military into cities. This isn't governance anymore. It's authoritarianism in plain sight." Journalist Dan Friedman wrote on X in a post viewed more than 40,000 times: "The White House pressuring the Smithsonian to 'eliminate political influence' from its presentation of history is some freaky Orwellian s***." What Happens Next The letter includes a 30-, 75- and 120-day implementation timeline. By the 120-day mark, "museums should begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials."
USA Today
34 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trump is a bully. He's using the National Guard to conquer DC as a test run.
The District of Columbia should be allowed statehood, not forced to endure deployment of the National Guard to stop an imagined crime wave. President Donald Trump's activation of the National Guard in Washington, DC, has less to do with an imagined 'out of control' crime wave and more to do with conquest. It is more misguided bullying by the president. To facilitate this racialized farce, he dehumanized the capital district's citizens by labeling them 'bloodthirsty criminals' and 'roving mobs of wild youth.' Let there be no mistake: This rhetoric portends violence against Black, Brown and poor citizens and complete disdain for the unhoused. This action and whatever else might follow is deeply personal to the 700,000 people who call the District of Columbia home and who are tired of the meddling from the administration and Capitol Hill politicians who treat our city like a play toy, likely because of our history as a majority Black jurisdiction. Home to a federal government that offers well-paying positions, Washington has attracted Black professionals and blue-collar workers, creating one of the largest Black middle-class populations in the country. We've innovated with affordable housing, invested flush tax revenue in education and implemented a slew of smart labor and justice policies. There's a real city beyond what the tourists know Many Americans don't know this story. They think Washington starts and ends with memorials, museums and monuments. The residential and commercial city is often invisible as a thriving metropolis in its own right, with a deep history and a vibrant culture. Share your opinion: In the wake of Trump's federal DC takeover, are you worried about crime? Tell us. | Opinion Forum Not only have we outshined many of our peer cities, but states, too. DC has a population comparable to Vermont, Alaska and North Dakota, but a budget larger than Arizona's. Residents pay the equivalent of state taxes. DC balances its budget every year, manages a highly functioning mass transit system and employs thousands in jobs that DC residents do with great pride. Still, the way congressional politicians treat us would have our red state friends up in arms if it were done to them. This summer, as the result of a so-called error, Congress withheld more than $1 billion from our approved budget, and that money remains out of our reach − instead of providing the services that our citizens voted and paid for. Opinion: Trump ushers in new DC tourist event − 'A Live Re-creation of Authoritarianism!' The Republican budget proposal for the next fiscal year includes all kinds of culture war initiatives in an attempt to impose conservative values on the more sensible and moderate residents of DC. We're tired of being the punching bag for politicians who wouldn't last a week living under the policies they impose on us. It's as dishonest as it is insulting. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. So much of what this administration and Congress do is informed by their stated orthodoxy around local control and 'rights.' That somehow doesn't apply to us. DC needs statehood, not a federal takeover Fortunately, the president and Congress can't truly 'take over' Washington without ending home rule, which would be difficult to do with the Senate filibuster blocking them. But the president can fearmonger through state-sanctioned violence. And he can use Washington as the test run for the federal takeover of Black and Brown cities daring to oppose this administration's death-dealing politics. We will not accept death. Washington, DC, has proved our right to self-governance and, indeed, statehood. Instead of forcing us to manage a manufactured crisis, elected officials who believe in democracy in earnest should let DC leaders spend our energy on building a more successful and safe city that must become the 51st state. William H. Lamar IV is the pastor at the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
Axios
34 minutes ago
- Axios
What investors see in the sale of AI chips to China
Nvidia and AMD can sell their AI chips to China for the low price of 15% of their revenue, paid out to the U.S. government. Investors are unfazed. Why it matters: Shareholders are focusing on the revenue opportunities that come with more access to Beijing, not on the unprecedented involvement of the Trump administration in Nvidia's business dealings. What they're saying: "There's way more upside," Daniel Newman, principal analyst and CEO of The Futurum Group, tells Axios. Catch up quick: The Trump administration previously backed export controls on Nvidia's H20 chips, which are "orders of magnitude" less powerful than Nvidia's Blackwell chips, Newman says. A month ago, the administration signaled that it was shifting course on these controls, but did not issue the licenses required for sales to be possible. That appeared to change after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with President Trump. Nvidia walked away with promises of licenses so long as the chip giant cut the U.S. government a check for 15% of its China revenue. Zoom in: Nvidia stock is up nearly 0.5% since the news broke Monday, with investors and analysts bullish on the deal. The lifting of the export controls could lead to a $15 billion revenue windfall for Nvidia. Both Nvidia and AMD have pricing power, given the strength of demand for AI chips in China, according to a note from Bank of America. That means the 15% expense could be passed on to Chinese customers. Between the lines: While the deal could lead to billions of dollars in additional revenue for the U.S. government, it's not just about the money. It's also about access to rare earth magnets, Newman says. The U.S. has powerful AI chips that China wants. China has rare earth metals the U.S. wants. When the administration first changed course on export controls in July, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC that selling the "fourth best" AI chip to China wasn't material. Lutnick also said the export control rollback was tied to a rare earths deal, though those details have not fully materialized. Yes. but: Export controls are typically put in place for a reason: in this case, national security concerns. The 15% revenue split, first reported by the Financial Times, includes an anonymous source quote that points to the security concerns: "What's next — letting Lockheed Martin sell F-35s to China for a 15% commission?" Situational awareness: Beijing is urging local companies to avoid buying chips from American companies because of its own security concerns. Newman says that may be political theater – an effort for China to keep the upper hand in ongoing negotiations. Chinese companies will likely still want access to the best possible chips. Be smart: In just January of this year, investors feared China outpacing the U.S. in the AI arms race given the reported success of DeepSeek.
