Stories from Washington · United States

Lawmakers sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) this week, warning that ending the Combined Federal Campaign (CFP) would be "disastrous" for hospitals, food banks, and other organizations. OPM recently decommissioned the CFP's online donation portal.

John Bolton, who served as National Security Advisor during President Trump's first term, believes that the president's social media postings are negatively affecting Iran negotiations. Bolton specifically cited "the very ferocity of its tweets" as a contributing factor.

Caroline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, stated that Truth Social is "the most powerful and popular social media platform in the world." She attributed this status to the platform serving as President Trump's authentic voice. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, stated that AI is currently creating job opportunities.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported layoffs in the professional and business services sector.

Artificial intelligence was cited as the top cause of layoffs in April, responsible for 26% of job cuts. Company closures ranked second, followed by cost-cutting measures. AI's impact is primarily affecting white-collar jobs, a shift from previous automation cycles that predominantly impacted blue-collar workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted these layoffs in professional and business services. The specific number of layoffs or the full scope of the report was not detailed in the broadcast.

Representative Bill Keating of Massachusetts, a Democrat serving on the House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee, is criticizing U.S. government attacks against boats in the Pacific and Caribbean. Keating stated that this activity "should not be occurring."

A political endorsement has not occurred due to ongoing disputes over redistricting. The source indicated that 'odds over redistricting' are preventing the endorsement from happening.

Fragrance sales are up about 35% and are expected to accelerate to 65% growth this weekend. Purses and handbags have seen growth as high as 37%, which Pandia says is slightly higher than last year. Adobe also expects flower sales to spike 550% to 600% on Saturday and Sunday.

Donald Trump transformed the heart of the White House Rose Garden into a patio covered in stone. This change is one of several renovations initiated by the current administration. President Trump defended the rising cost estimate for his White House ballroom project, according to a Truth Social post. He stated that the cost has changed because the ballroom is now expected to be approximately twice its original size. The billion dollars would cover security enhancements and Secret Service operations.

President Trump is building a "national garden of American heroes" along the Potomac River. Plans for the garden call for hundreds of statues of Americans, ranging from George Washington to Kobe Bryant.