Good morning. This is your Up First briefing.
Top stories
Federal judge throws out Comey and James indictments
A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Judge Cameron Currie concluded the lead prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed and that charges brought under her authority must be set aside. Halligan was the only attorney present in the grand jury room and the sole signatory on the indictments. The Justice Department is considering an appeal. Comey said he could be targeted again but expressed confidence in the federal courts. NPR reporting notes this ruling follows other recent court questions about the legality of some U.S. attorney appointments, highlighting limits on presidential appointment power.
Pentagon move to sever ties with Scouting America
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing to end the military’s long-standing relationship with Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts). Documents reviewed by NPR show Hegseth argues the organization is no longer a merit-based group and criticizes what he calls a push against “boy-friendly spaces,” along with the group’s shift on gender policy and diversity initiatives. The U.S. military has supported the Scouts for more than a century and formalized that relationship in 1937; a break would mark a major shift in a long partnership.
U.S. 28-point Ukraine proposal appears sidelined
The Biden administration’s reported 28-point peace proposal for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine appears to have fallen out of favor. Ukrainian and European officials characterized the U.S. draft as closer to a wish list for Moscow than a practicable settlement. European leaders have advanced their own plan, similar to a proposal floated in April 2022. The biggest new reality is the toll of four years of war—exhaustion and heavy losses—which shaped leaders’ assessments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the European plan constructive and potentially capable of ending the conflict; a Kremlin adviser has already rejected it. Throughout talks, Russia has shown no sign of abandoning maximalist demands.
U.S. designates Venezuela-linked group a terrorist organization
The Trump administration has designated the Cartel de los Soles, an organization tied to Venezuelan security forces and associated with President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. The designation was published in the Federal Register after months of attacks on vessels leaving Venezuelan waters and amid reporting that the U.S. is weighing military options. Officials say the move aims to disrupt drug trafficking into the United States and protect American lives. Analysts warn that any military action would carry significant political costs and could lead to longer-term commitments.
Deep dive: Is AI investment forming a bubble?
Tech firms are plowing billions into artificial intelligence infrastructure, raising concerns of an AI investment bubble. Companies are increasingly using private equity and debt to finance massive data center and compute expansion instead of relying solely on internal cash. Yet early returns are mixed: research suggests AI chatbots have not significantly boosted revenues for most firms, and only about 3% of consumers pay for AI services. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate that Big Tech could spend roughly $3 trillion on AI infrastructure by 2028, with about half financed from outside cash flows. If growth slows, oversupply could leave costly, low-value assets and distressed debt. Observers also point to circular investments—where companies subsidize purchases to manufacture demand—as a factor that may be inflating apparent market appetite.
Picture show
Expanded edition of Reflections in Black
An updated edition of Deborah Willis’s Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present includes 130 new images and a companion gallery. Willis, who has spent decades documenting Black photographers and visual portrayals of Black life, expands this edition’s focus on migration and the power of images for people compelled to leave their homes.
Three things to know before you go
1) Scientists reported a promising discovery in bowhead whale DNA that may reveal mechanisms for repairing cellular DNA before precancerous changes occur. The finding, published in Nature, could inform future cancer research.
2) A 2007 act of kindness led to a chain reaction: after an expensive divorce left Jolena Rothwell short on cash, a coworker gave her $200 with a single request—to pay it forward—sparking a wider story of generosity.
3) Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican musician and actor who helped bring reggae to a global audience with songs like “Many Rivers to Cross,” has died at 81.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.