Logan Andrew
Published: June 29, 2025 | Updated: August 26, 2025 6 minutes read
U.S. Politics
Supreme Court Pulls Rank: The Supreme Court waded into the power struggle between judges and presidents, ruling that lone federal judges can’t issue nationwide injunctions to block federal policies anymore. In plain speak, one judge in Hawaii (or Texas) will no longer singlehandedly freeze a president’s agenda for all 50 states. The White House hailed this as a big win, while activists on issues from immigration to birthright citizenship are bracing for tougher fights ahead.
Trade Tiffs with our Neighbors: Trade drama is back on the menu. President Trump abruptly suspended trade talks with Canada and slapped new tariffs on Canadian imports crossing the border. Nothing says friendship like surprise tariffs, right? Canada isn’t amused (expect some maple syrup retaliation jokes), and U.S. businesses are uneasy about a possible trade war 2.0. With North American economies so tightly linked, everyone’s watching to see if this escalates or cools off after the political posturing.
Cuomo’s Comeback Gets Quashed: In New York City politics, a famous name fell flat. Former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to resurrect his career by running for NYC mayor, but Democratic primary voters weren’t feeling the nostalgia. Progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani took the lead in the primary, leaving Cuomo in the dust. It’s not official until all the ranked-choice votes are tallied next week, but it looks like Cuomo won’t be moving into Gracie Mansion. (Talk about a tough encore — going from Albany’s power player to losing a local race is quite the humbling turn.)
Global Headlines
Middle East on a Knife’s Edge: A simmering conflict between Israel and Iran exploded into a full-blown crisis this week. In a jaw-dropping move, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, with President Trump announcing the hits and essentially upping the ante in the Iran-Israel war. Iran’s parliament raged in response – even threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz (the chokepoint for a big chunk of the world’s oil supply) to retaliate. The White House claimed it brokered a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, but… apparently neither Tehran nor Jerusalem got that memo. Missiles kept flying in both directions, and even U.S. bases in the Mideast went on high alert. In an unusually candid (and R-rated) moment, Trump vented that Iran and Israel “don’t know what the **** they’re doing” as the chaos continued unabated. Diplomacy at its finest, folks.
War Drags on in Ukraine: Over in Eastern Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine rumbled on with no signs of a summer break. Moscow launched one of its biggest drone and missile barrages yet at Kyiv, battering homes, hospitals and more – a deadly reminder that even far from the front lines, civilians aren’t safe. Ukrainian officials reported dozens killed or injured in this latest onslaught. On the flip side, NATO allies are doubling down on support: European countries (plus Canada) announced a fresh aid package worth about €35 billion to help Ukraine keep fighting and rebuild what’s been destroyed. The grind of war continues, but at least Ukraine’s friends are still writing checks – even as everyone wonders how long this conflict will grind on.
Tension and Thaw in Africa: Africa saw a bit of hope and a bit of fury this week. First, some good news: the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a new peace agreement in Washington, D.C., aiming to end a long-running conflict in eastern DRC. The deal calls for rebels to disarm and for respect of borders – a rare diplomatic bright spot in a region that’s seen too much bloodshed. But in Kenya, frustration boiled over into deadly protests against the government’s economic policies (think tax hikes and high living costs). Clashes between demonstrators and police left at least 16 people dead and hundreds injured. It’s a stark reminder that soaring prices and austerity can spark real unrest – not just in news headlines, but in the streets.
Odds and Ends Abroad: In a quirky twist, Pakistan announced it plans to nominate Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him for mediating in a recent India–Pakistan flare-up. (Yes, you read that right – Trump’s Nobel nod, as proposed by Pakistan. 2025 diplomacy keeps getting weirder.) And in Belarus, authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko unexpectedly pardoned several jailed opposition figures – a minor win for human rights, likely brokered behind the scenes by U.S. diplomats as part of the Ukraine war chessboard. It’s not exactly regime change, but any good news out of Minsk is welcome.
Trending News
NBA Finals Go the Distance: Basketball fans were treated to a thrilling seven-game NBA Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder edged out the Indiana Pacers to clinch their first-ever championship – and they did it in style on their home court in Game 7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (remember that name) nabbed the Finals MVP trophy after carrying OKC through the series. It’s not often we see a Finals without the usual big-market superteams, so this underdog victory had hoop heads buzzing. (Meanwhile, Seattle Sonics fans might be feeling bittersweet, seeing their former team’s glory… but that’s another story.)
Markets Hit New Highs: Wall Street is partying like it’s 1999 – or make that forever – as stocks reached record heights. The S&P 500 closed at an all-time high this week, blowing past its previous peak. Traders seem optimistic, even with global chaos in the background. In real-world economics, Americans got a bit of relief at the gas pump: summer fuel prices are the cheapest they’ve been in four years, offering a sweet kickoff for the upcoming Fourth of July road trips. Enjoy it while it lasts, because who knows what OPEC or hurricanes have in store later this summer.
Eyes on the Skies: In science news, humanity’s window to the cosmos just got an upgrade. The brand-new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile released its first images – a sneak peek at what this 8.4-meter mega-telescope can do. Astronomers are giddy; this observatory will help map the universe in unprecedented detail and maybe crack some cosmic mysteries (dark matter and energy, we’re looking at you). It’s a reminder that not all big news is down here on Earth – some of it is written in the stars, literally.
Pride and Protest: This week wrapped up Pride Month with vibrant celebrations across the U.S. and around the globe. Major cities like New York and San Francisco threw massive Pride parades, blanketing the streets in rainbows and revelry. Of course, the culture wars tried to chime in – there were a few skirmishes and heated debates over LGBTQ rights (from drag show bans to healthcare for trans youth), reminding everyone that the fight for equality isn’t over. But the overarching vibe was joyful and defiant. Millions marched, danced, and celebrated love and diversity, sending a clear message to any haters out there: the Pride spirit isn’t going anywhere.
