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Today’s top stories
A federal judge dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Both were indicted by a lawyer tied to President Trump’s push to pursue charges after other prosecutors declined to bring cases. Judge Cameron Currie found that Lindsey Halligan, the lead prosecutor, was unlawfully appointed and that actions arising from her defective appointment were unlawful exercises of executive power that should be set aside. Halligan was the only prosecutor in the grand jury room for the indictments and the sole signatory. The Justice Department may appeal. Comey said he expects he could be targeted again but expressed faith in the federal courts. NPR reporting notes several courts this year have questioned the legality of some U.S. attorney appointments, underscoring limits on presidential appointment power.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is planning for the military to cut all ties with Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts). Documents reviewed by NPR say Hegseth argues the organization is no longer a meritocracy and has become one that “attacks boy-friendly spaces,” criticizing it as “genderless” and for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The U.S. military has supported the Scouts for more than a century and formalized the relationship in 1937.
The 28-point U.S. peace plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine appears to be off the table. Ukrainian and European officials characterized Washington’s proposal as a wish list for the Kremlin. European leaders have put a separate plan forward that closely resembles a proposal from April 2022. The key difference now, reporters say, is the exhaustion and heavy losses after four years of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the European plan constructive and potentially capable of ending the conflict; a Kremlin adviser has already rejected it. Throughout negotiations, Russia has not abandoned maximalist goals.
The Trump administration designated the Cartel de los Soles—associated with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—a foreign terrorist organization. The designation was published in the Federal Register after months of strikes on boats leaving Venezuela and amid reports the administration is weighing military options. Officials say the move is part of a campaign to stop drug trafficking into the U.S. and to protect American lives; analysts warn any military action carries political costs and risks of longer-term obligations.
Deep dive
Tech companies are pouring billions into artificial intelligence, sparking concerns about an AI bubble. Large firms are using private equity and debt to finance data center expansion to avoid draining cash reserves. But research suggests AI chatbots haven’t meaningfully boosted revenues for most tech firms: only about 3% of people pay for AI services. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate Big Tech could invest roughly $3 trillion in AI infrastructure by 2028, with half the funding coming from outside cash flows. If AI growth slows, oversupply could produce worthless debt and losses for financiers. Some say circular investments—where companies subsidize customers to buy their products—may be inflating apparent demand.
Picture show
A new edition of Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present, by Deborah Willis includes 130 new images and an accompanying gallery. Willis has spent decades cataloging and showcasing the work of Black photographers and photographs of Black life; the expanded edition examines migration and the role of images for people forced to leave their homes.
3 things to know before you go
1) Scientists found a promising lead in bowhead whale DNA that may help repair cellular DNA before it becomes precancerous, a finding published in Nature that could inform future cancer research.
2) A 2007 act of kindness created a chain reaction: after an expensive divorce left Jolena Rothwell short on cash, a coworker unexpectedly gave her $200 and asked only that she pay it forward—sparking a wider story of generosity.
3) Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican musician and actor who helped bring reggae to an international audience with hits like “Many Rivers to Cross,” has died at 81.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.