Stories from Washington D.C. · United States

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that Washington has changed its stance regarding the Malvinas sovereignty dispute following an internal email leak. Rubio stated that the United States does not take a position on the sovereignty issue.

The US federal debt has reached approximately $28 trillion, according to reports. The debt is reported to be approximately 130 percent of the GDP and is categorized into total gross debt and debt held by external holders. The debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded 100 percent. The context for this development includes ongoing political actions and potential gerrymandering impacting electoral competition. GDP was slightly over $31 trillion, while the federal debt held by the public was approximately $49 billion greater. This situation has persisted outside of a brief period during the pandemic when GDP was significantly depressed. This level of debt can limit the government's ability to fund essential services like infrastructure projects or national parks.

A court held that a statement explicitly referencing the shooting of President Lyndon Johnson was crude political rhetoric rather than a true threat.

The Justice Department spent nearly a year determining that an Instagram post by James Comey constituted a true threat. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that threatening the life of the President of the United States will not be tolerated. The specific nature of the threat involved the arrangement of shells on a beach. The Department of Justice determined that an Instagram post containing the numbers 86 and 47 constituted a threat against the President of the United States. Court papers describe the post as an image of the numbers 86 and 47, where 86 is slang for 'get rid of' and 47 refers to the 47th President. The user deleted the post last year and claimed they were unaware of any connection to violence. The number 86 is identified as slang for 'get rid of' or 'kill,' while 47 refers to America's 47th president. Donald Trump addressed the case this week.

A request has been made for 25 additional updated aircraft models manufactured in the United States. The US military is discussing nuclear capabilities, including the potential to destroy enemy nuclear and missile capabilities and eliminate leadership. The discussion involves preventing adversaries from acquiring nuclear weapons. US military support includes missile nuclear facilities, over 100 air and sea aircraft, drones, and 15,000 troops.

The EPA, FBI, CISA, and NSA have issued a joint cybersecurity advisory regarding cyber attacks affiliated with Iran targeting water systems. The advisory aims to mitigate risks to critical water infrastructure. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand questioned the assessment of the threat from Iran during her second day of hearings on Capitol Hill. The hearing lasted just under three hours and covered topics including the Pentagon's $1.5 trillion defense budget request. Gillibrand stated she disagrees with the assessment that the US is under threat, noting that adversaries use rhetoric frequently. Gillibrand argued that rhetoric such as "death to America" is common among adversaries and does not necessarily validate the threat assessment. US Senator Chris Murphy responded to claims regarding an Iranian maritime blockade.

Economist Tara Watson of the Brookings Institution noted that the U.S. Rising elder care costs are also being linked to these demographic shifts. Watson stated that unlike the mass deportations of the 1950s, current trends occur alongside lower fertility rates.

More people left the United States than moved in during the last year, marking the first occurrence in at least half a century. The trend is expected to result in fewer workers for tax contributions, housing construction, food production, and elderly care. Outmigration is expected to increase further in 2026. WNYC reported that the United States is expected to see even more outmigration in 2026. Victor Sanchez reported that ongoing ICE raids are impacting Los Angeles. This trend may result in fewer workers paying taxes, building homes, growing food, and caring for an aging population. The shift could have lasting effects on the economy. Last year saw more people leaving the U.S. than entering, the first such instance in at least 50 years. Out-migration is projected to rise in 2026, potentially impacting tax revenue, housing, food production, and elderly care.

President Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi and appointed Todd Blanche as her acting replacement. The move follows reports that the Justice Department has ramped up efforts to indict James Comey for a second time. Blanche reportedly instructed the Interim U.S.

AstraZeneca stock declined following an FDA panel vote against a new cancer drug. An advisory panel voted 6-3 against AstraZeneca's oral drug camizestrant intended for specific breast cancer tumors. The panel cited concerns regarding the clinical trial design during the vote.