Trump’s Funding Battles and Global AI Advances – 5/27/25

Consumer confidence in the U.S. surges to a five-year high, while President Trump’s administration faces legal challenges from NPR over funding cuts and pushes for controversial trade and social policies. Internationally, AI-driven projects gain traction, with significant developments in China and Europe, alongside a tragic crowd incident in Liverpool.

United States

  • Most Americans now believe the U.S. is on the right track, a historic first in Rasmussen Reports’ polling
  • President Trump threatens to withhold California’s federal funding unless the state bars biological male AB Hernandez from competing in the girl’s State Finals, stating, “MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS” is illegal and unfair
  • RFK Jr. and the CDC remove COVID vaccine from the immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women
  • Social Security purges 12.3 million individuals aged 120 or older from its rolls, as reported by the Department of Government Efficiency
  • Congress is out of session until next week, while consumer confidence in May hits a strong 98.0, defying experts’ predictions of a decline due to Trump’s trade policies
  • President Trump leverages U.S. economic dominance to secure better trade deals, with economist Stephen Moore stating, “he will prevail” in negotiations, per Stephen Moore
  • ICE probes illegal immigrants in Ohio accused of stealing over $150,000 in SNAP benefits, as new legislation aims to protect welfare programs for vulnerable Americans
  • NPR files lawsuit against President Trump for cutting federal funding, claiming it “threatens the existence of [the] public radio system” relied on by millions
  • Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticizes Congressional Republicans for failing to vote on Department of Government Efficiency cuts, calling it a “betrayal of the voters who elected them”
  • Trump administration to terminate Harvard’s $100M federal contracts, with directives sent to agencies, per The New York Times
  • HHS Secretary RFK Jr. halts recommendation for COVID vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children, per The Washington Post
  • US consumer confidence surges in May from a five-year low, boosted by improved economic and labor outlooks, per Bloomberg News
  • Delinquent student loans slash credit scores for millions of Americans, hindering housing and job prospects, per The Washington Post
  • NPR sues Trump administration, alleging an executive order targeting public broadcasting funding violates First Amendment rights, per KOIN 6 News
  • A former Obama advisor warns Democrats face trouble if they can’t regain Latino support, per NYPost
  • Severe thunderstorms disrupt Memorial Day travel in the Southeast and central U.S., causing delays, per NYTimes
  • President Trump plans to redirect federal funds away from Harvard University, per FoxNews
  • Scott Pelley’s commencement speech criticizing Trump was mocked online after receiving sparse applause, per NYPost
  • The Enhanced Games, allowing performance-enhancing drugs, will debut in May, with one swimmer already breaking the 50-meter freestyle record, per Wired
  • In Kentucky, crypto mining’s decline prompts investors to pivot toward AI-powered data centers to revitalize the region, per Wired
  • The suspect in the Palm Springs fertility clinic attack is reportedly tied to “anti-life” ideology, raising concerns about rising violence, per Wired
  • Abridge, an AI health startup, is in talks for a $5B valuation, driven by its integration with Epic Systems, per The Information
  • AI could consume 82 terawatt-hours of electricity this year, matching Switzerland’s annual usage, without production increases, per Wired
  • Fintech firm Chime, serving moderate-income clients, prepares for an IPO with a complex valuation due to its unique fee and lending model, per The Information
  • High-performing VC funds now prioritize active portfolio management, including strategic sales, over just selecting winners, per The Information
  • Deel is moving its corporate headquarters from a San Francisco apartment to Texas or Florida, per The Information
  • New research from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals insights into one of the solar system’s most enigmatic planets, per Wired
  • Microsoft is testing new AI features for Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad to enhance user experience, per PCMag

Western States

  • Supreme Court denies Native American plea to stop Arizona copper mine destroying sacred tribal site, per MSNBC
  • Arizona may be reimbursed for millions spent on a shipping container border wall built in 2022 near Nogales, per FOX 10 Phoenix
  • Stray dogs are reportedly being abandoned more frequently in the Arizona desert without food or water, per ABC15 Arizona
  • Supreme Court rejects Apache appeal to stop a copper mining project on sacred federal land, per ABC15 Arizona
  • A body found near the 405 Freeway sparks a criminal investigation with possible foul play, per KTLA 5
  • Police search for suspects after an attempted burglary at a marijuana dispensary, per KTLA 5
  • An 8-year-old girl was reported missing while visiting with family, per KOIN 6 News
  • Nearly 20 people rescued after a home’s foundation collapsed, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • A Churchill County Deputy Sheriff has died after a motorcycle crash, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton faces charges for allegedly driving under the influence, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • Lake Mead reached its record low water level of 1040 feet three years ago, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • A dog died after exposure to toxic algae in a river, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • A masked intruder attacked sleeping victims with a crowbar in their apartment, per FOX5 Las Vegas
  • One person seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a UTA bus on I-15, per KUTV2News
  • One person critically injured in a five-vehicle crash on I-15 after a driver looked down to pick up gum, per KUTV2News
  • One person died after a motorhome caught fire and rolled down a hill, per KUTV2News
  • Police fatally sh-t a man during a domestic violence call, per KUTV2News
  • A Texas mother honored her late daughter by walking across a high school graduation stage, per FOX5 Las Vegas

International

  • People hospitalized in critical condition after car crashes into Liverpool soccer fans celebrating, per The New York Times
  • Italian judges overturn ban on remote check-ins for short-term rentals, reversing keybox cleanup efforts, per Reuters
  • British man, 53, arrested for attempted murder after injuring 65 in Liverpool soccer crowd crash, per Yahoo News
  • King Charles, on Canada visit amid US annexation threats, vows Canada will stay “strong and free,” per Reuters
  • A driver allegedly crashed into Liverpool fans celebrating their Premier League win, injuring many, per APNews
  • A German YouTuber clinched victory for the second year at Britain’s quirky cheese-chasing race, per APNews
  • An actress mourns her 13-year-old son’s s-icide due to bullying, hopes to cryogenically preserve his body, per NYPost
  • Germany’s chancellor lifts range limits on weapons supplied to Ukraine for its fight against Russia, per APNews
  • Phil Robertson’s final words to Sadie Robertson were “full speed ahead,” the reality star shared in a heartfelt farewell, per FoxNews
  • A car plowed into Liverpool’s Premier League victory crowd, seriously injuring a child and an adult, per NYTimes
  • A driver slammed into pedestrians at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade, injuring dozens, per NYTimes
  • Brigitte Macron reportedly shoved President Macron playfully before exiting a plane, per FoxNews
  • Competitors tumbled down a hill chasing cheese in Gloucester’s quirky annual tradition, per FoxNews
  • The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “the Wall,” draws over five million visitors yearly, 50 years after the war’s end, per NYTimes
  • Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron’s relationship faces scrutiny after a reported physical altercation, per NYPost
  • China’s AI Strategist team, led by Lu Xin, won a thrilling robot combat competition in Hangzhou, part of the CMG World Robot Competition Series, per CGTN
  • A skydiver’s alleged s-icide jump followed a breakup with her boyfriend, per NYPost
  • Injecting captured CO2 deep underground could dissolve rocks to extract nickel and other metals crucial for battery production, per New Scientist
  • Nothing’s CEO discusses the future of smartphones in the AI era and critiques competitors’ missteps in an interview, per Wired
  • A new experiment challenges the multiverse theory derived from quantum mechanics, suggesting it may be time to reconsider, per New Scientist
  • President Trump’s proposed Golden Dome defense system, with space-based missile interceptors, could cost billions and escalate space weaponization, per New Scientist
  • Samsung is reportedly considering a $100M investment in medical imaging startup Exo, per TechCrunch
  • The Browser Company may sell or open-source Arc Browser as it shifts focus to AI-driven projects, per TechCrunch
  • Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro AI model introduces advanced image, video, and text generation to bolster its search business, per The Information
  • The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge sets trends with its standout design and performance, per Digital Trends
  • Banking umbilical cord bl-od was once touted for future health benefits, but its potential is largely overhyped, per New Scientist