Today marks the final day of the Supreme Court’s nine-month term, a significant occasion as the court prepares to issue rulings on a series of high-profile cases. With a 6-3 conservative majority, the Supreme Court is expected to address six outstanding cases, including the highly anticipated dispute surrounding birthright citizenship.
The most closely watched case involves President Donald Trump’s efforts to end automatic birthright citizenship, a right guaranteed under the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Historically, this provision has ensured that anyone born on U.S. soil is considered an American citizen, with only a few minor exceptions. The case now before the Supreme Court does not assess the legality of Trump’s proposal but instead examines whether federal judges possess the authority to block it nationwide as litigation continues. This ruling could have far-reaching implications, especially given the frequent pushback against Trump’s expansive use of executive power by federal judges.
In addition to the birthright citizenship case, the Supreme Court will also decide on several other important matters:
Whether conservative religious parents can exempt their elementary school-aged children from LGBTQ-themed books in classrooms. The legality of congressional districts in Louisiana. A Texas law imposing age restrictions for accessing adult websites. A challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s preventive care task force. A Federal Communications Commission program that provides subsidies for phone and internet services in underserved areas.For more details on these critical rulings, read the full story here.
In related political news, the White House is planning to restrict intelligence sharing with Congress following the leak of an early assessment regarding the damage caused by recent U.S. strikes in Iran. Meanwhile, Senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Intelligence Committee, is advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of the intelligence office led by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, proposing to reduce its workforce by 60%.
This weekend, Democratic voters in Virginia will participate in a special primary election to select a new representative in the wake of the late Rep. Gerry Connolly’s passing. Candidates are focusing their campaigns heavily on the implications of Trump’s policies.
In legal news, former Trump attorney Kenneth Cheseboro has been disbarred in New York due to his involvement in a scheme aimed at overturning Trump’s 2020 election defeat. Additionally, the Social Security Administration has recently hired a 19-year-old former DOGE staffer nicknamed “Big Balls,” who had previously departed from the Trump administration.
In a significant setback for Republicans, the Senate referee ruled that several proposed health care cuts and savings included in One Big Beautiful Bill, aimed at advancing Trump’s agenda, are ineligible for the budget reconciliation process. This decision raises doubts about whether the Senate will be able to proceed with voting on the bill today, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune had hoped to achieve.
Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough disqualified numerous provisions, including those concerning Medicaid rules that require verification of immigration status for funding and new limitations regarding eligibility for Affordable Care Act funding. Experts estimate that these disqualified provisions could amount to savings of between $200 billion and $300 billion over a decade.
Despite these challenges, Republican aides maintain that the rulings are not fatal to the overall bill. Some conservative members, frustrated by MacDonough’s decisions, have suggested she should be removed from her position.
Recent developments at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate a significant shift under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. During a recent meeting of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee, the topic of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, was discussed—an ingredient that has been largely discredited in relation to autism claims and has not been used in most U.S. vaccines since 2001.
The committee, under Kennedy’s influence, heard from Lyn Redwood, president emerita of the Children’s Health Defense anti-vaccine group, leading to a vote recommending single-dose thimerosal-free flu vaccines for children, adults, and pregnant women. The lone dissenting vote came from a pediatrician who argued that the issue had already been settled in previous discussions. Nevertheless, the committee reaffirmed the recommendation for annual flu shots for individuals aged 6 months and older, as well as supporting an RSV drug for infants under 8 months.
In a surprising turn of events, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state legislator, appears to have achieved an upset victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. This outcome has sparked interest in the effectiveness of his social media campaign, which distinguished itself from the early social media efforts of Kamal Harris’s failed presidential run.
Reporters Angela Yang and Bruna Horvath delve into how Mamdani built a substantial social media following, leveraging it for political engagement and fundraising. Their analysis highlights the strategic savvy that could position Mamdani as a potential future leader of the largest city in the United States.
For further updates and insights on today’s key political developments and Supreme Court rulings, be sure to stay informed by subscribing to our newsletters and podcasts.
