Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, , President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Overton is a medical doctor and deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council who has worked on several of Trump鈥檚 second-term health initiatives. She has become a trusted administration figure and a champion of the Republican president鈥檚 goals.
If confirmed by the Senate, Overton will have to balance a raft of competing priorities, including Trump鈥檚 fixations, the anti-regulatory interests of traditional Republicans and the anti-corporate posture of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Those challenges dogged the tenure of the previous FDA head, , who resigned in May.
Trump said he鈥檚 delaying the 50% on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. The countries reached a deal on Tuesday, buying time for more negotiations and avoiding, for now, another strain in .
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International Criminal Court criticizes US sanctions on senior staffers
The ICC called the a 鈥渇lagrant attack鈥� on its independence and vowed to continue seeking justice for atrocities around the world.
The ICC said in a statement that when 鈥渏udicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk.鈥� It said it 鈥渨ill continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality.鈥�
The State Department announced Tuesday that it hit ICC president Tomoko Akane and ICC senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye with that freeze any assets that they have in U.S. jurisdictions or come into contact with the U.S. financial system.
The Trump administration has now sanctioned nine of the ICC鈥檚 18 judges, both its deputy prosecutors, its former and one other staffer, the court said. The U.S. accuses it of overstepping its mandate by investigating and seeking to prosecute military and political officials from countries, such as Israel and the United States, that are not members.
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FTC proposal would require retailers to be transparent about personalized pricing
Companies that secretly vary prices based on how much they think individual customers will pay could face federal charges under a proposed policy released Wednesday by the .
鈥淲hen consumers see a listed price, they expect it to be (the) same price that everyone else sees, not the retailer鈥檚 estimate of how much they are willing to pay based on their personal data,鈥� FTC Chairman said in a statement.
The FTC has had its eye on personalized pricing . In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the agency found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers鈥� locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.
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Trump announces 鈥楳OST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER鈥� on Iran
On his social media site, the president promised 鈥淓conomic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale鈥� but provided few details.
He said other countries that allow their 鈥渇inancial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences.鈥�
It was not immediately clear what that meant for major economies with close ties to Iran, including China.
But Trump said his prohibitions would include things like oil smuggling, cash transfers and cooperation through exchange houses and ship registries and front companies.
鈥淚t all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are,鈥� Trump said, imploring U.S. allies 鈥渢o stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat.鈥�
Canada and the US move closer to finalizing a trade agreement
would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs, and a senior Canadian official called the emerging terms 鈥渁 very good deal for Canada鈥� while cautioning that negotiations were not complete.
The official said it would provide greater certainty, protect Canada鈥檚 dairy sector and jobs threatened by the new tariffs, and preserve what Ottawa considers favorable trade terms with the United States.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly before an agreement is finalized.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked provincial premiers to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said, a step aimed at addressing one of the Trump administration鈥檚 key trade complaints.
Houston and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, both conservatives, voiced support for the direction of the talks, though Houston said whether Canadians would actually buy U.S. alcohol again 鈥渋s a whole other discussion.鈥�
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鈥� Rob Gillies, Paul Wiseman and Seung Min Kim
Longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes to retire, citing differences with Pentagon leadership
Max D. Lederer Jr. is ending a decades-long career with the military newspaper as Pentagon moves to exert editorial control and eliminate what it asserts are 鈥渨oke distractions.鈥�
Lederer made the announcement in a memo to staff and an interview with Stars and Stripes. In the memo, seen by AP, he said it had 鈥渂ecome clear that my philosophy of leadership, and my understanding of the value and mission of Stars and Stripes, differ in fundamental ways from the direction the leadership of the Department of Defense has for the organization.鈥�
The announcement comes less than four months after the Pentagon fired the paper鈥檚 ombudsman, whose job was to safeguard editorial independence. The news outlet is partly funded by the Defense Department but has a legacy of independence from military and government leadership.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Stars and Stripes has recently been at the forefront of some reporting on conditions for sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln and concerns for their mental health during its long deployment 鈥� concerns that .
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Missouri court allows new Trump-backed US House districts be used in November election
A Missouri judge has allowed new U.S. House districts backed by the president to be used in the November elections, rejecting a bid to put the Republican-friendly districts to a statewide vote.
Wednesday鈥檚 ruling by Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green is a victory for Republicans seeking to hold on to their slim majority in the House, but the court decision is likely to be appealed.
already were used in the August primaries. That same day Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins with thousands of signatures seeking to force a November referendum on the map. Hoskins asserted that Missouri鈥檚 Constitution does not allow a referendum on congressional redistricting.
The judge agreed with Hoskins.
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Trump says he will attend GOP鈥檚 national midterm convention
In a social media post, the president said he plans to attend the Republicans鈥� first-ever national convention ahead of the midterm elections, an unusual event aimed at boosting turnout in races.
鈥淚 will be with you both nights, and rarin鈥� to go,鈥� Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump used his characteristic hyperbole to build hype around the event, which will be hosted in Dallas on Sept. 9 and 10. He teased it as 鈥淭HE GREATEST RALLY OF THEM ALL.鈥�
鈥淚t will be like nothing else,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Music, Excitement, and Importance of this Evening will be at levels never seen at a Convention or Political Event.鈥�
US national debt hits $40 trillion
The national debt surpassed a record $40 trillion on Wednesday, a staggering milestone as defense costs, social programs like Social Security and Medicare and interest on the burgeoning deficit make up an enormous share of federal spending.
The milestone figure was recorded just five months after the U.S. in March. It five months before that, in October.
The unprecedented $40 trillion figure highlights competing administration priorities, from boosting the defense spending that the U.S. relies on to carry out to lowering the .
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New CDC director acknowledges agency troubles, including 鈥榸ombie鈥� programs
Dr. Erica Schwartz, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is promising to advocate for the agency while addressing staff burnout and understaffing issues.
In her remarks to staff, Schwartz referenced this week about CDC programs that have congressional appropriations but functionally are dead or nearly dead because the CDC staffers who did the work were laid off by Trump鈥檚 administration or remain on leave.
She did not say exactly what she will do about these dead, or 鈥渮ombie,鈥� programs and about staffers who feel exhausted and overloaded but said she will meet with CDC staffers to learn more about the situation and what can be done.
Trump tells Congress to pass pro-crypto law 鈥� but isn鈥檛 waiting to act
At a White House crypto conference Wednesday, Trump urged passage of the Clarity Act before yielding the floor to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Mike Selig, who vowed to 鈥渦se every tool available鈥� to advance Trump鈥檚 agenda.
Selig鈥檚 comments came ahead of a CFTC meeting Thursday examining ways the agency can use its existing authority to ease crypto rules. A day earlier, other securities regulators proposed rules, making it easier for crypto to raise money from the public.
Since the self-styled 鈥渃rypto president鈥� was reelected last year, his administration has also disbanded a Justice Department crypto enforcement unit and pulled back from prosecutions.
The shift comes as Trump鈥檚 latest financial disclosure reported he took in more than $1.4 billion in crypto-related income last year.
Trump said he鈥檇 welcome a data center. Many Americans aren鈥檛 so sure
鈥淚f I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, an AI plant or a data center,鈥� the president told reporters in the White House. 鈥淚 would absolutely want it because the jobs are enormous and the money paid, the taxes paid are just enormous.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 review is more optimistic than many Americans, who have pushed back against data centers in their backyard over concerns with the buildings鈥� use of water, electricity or hefty tax breaks for tech companies. The large edifices 鈥� often used for artificial intelligence and cloud computing 鈥� have stirred a bipartisan resentment, which Trump nodded toward Wednesday.
鈥淢aybe it can use a little public relations help,鈥� he said, adding that a solution is for companies to produce their own electricity.
US to spend more than $19M to counter Chinese seabed mining, fishing in international waters
The Trump administration has notified Congress of its plans to spend more than $19 million to assist Pacific Island and other countries in countering Chinese attempts to dominate seabed mineral mining as well as crack down on unregulated Chinese fishing in waters far from China.
The State Department told lawmakers this week in separate notices that $14 million would fund ocean mapping and seabed exploration to push back against 鈥渁ggressive and corrupt practices鈥� by China in 12 Pacific island nations. Another $5.2 million will assist seven countries in boosting inspections of Chinese-flagged fishing vessels that frequently use their ports.
The notices, dated Monday, were obtained by The Associated Press.
The programs are part of a broader effort by the administration to counter China鈥檚 growing global influence and power projection.
Trump complains rates are 鈥榓rtificially high鈥�
The president criticized a recent spike in borrowing costs and said the U.S. should have lower rates because the economy is doing well, contradicting financial analysts who say steady growth is a reason rates are rising.
鈥淲e have interest rates that are artificial 鈥� they鈥檙e actually artificially high,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淲hen our country is strong, interest rates should go down. When our country is weak, frankly, they should go up.鈥�
Interest rates on long-term Treasury debt have risen steadily for weeks to multiyear highs, lifting mortgage rates and other borrowing costs. The Treasury Department announced steps Wednesday to push rates lower.
Wall Street analysts say borrowing costs have advanced because of expectations that steady economic growth will keep inflation elevated. Most economists also blame ongoing large budget deficits and heavy borrowing by leading tech companies to build AI infrastructure.
Trump reduced joint US-South Korea military exercises
Trump also said he gave the order because he wasn鈥檛 happy with South Korea鈥檚 refusal to support him over Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 like the fact that we were doing these massive military exercises really against North Korea,鈥� Trump said. He added that 鈥淚鈥檓 friendly with him,鈥� meaning North Korean leader Kim.
Trump said he hadn鈥檛 seen anything happening from North Korea 鈥渇or certainly two and a half years.鈥� The country appears to have slowed its pace of test firing rockets and ballistic missiles in the region in recent years.
鈥淪o, I felt that to do a massive, we were doing a massive war exercise, I thought that was very insulting to somebody that, frankly, has been, during my term at least, very well behaved,鈥� Trump said.
Trump says 鈥榳e have things we could sanction鈥� on Iran
鈥淲e have very draconian sanctions and we鈥檒l see what happens,鈥� the president said, without providing details.
Trump also said, 鈥淎 lot of boats are coming through鈥� the Strait of Hormuz while also acknowledging, 鈥淭hat may slow down a little bit at some point.鈥�
Attempting to shrug off oil prices that have remained high, the president said they鈥檇 not reached $350 a barrel. He didn鈥檛 say who had suggested they might reach such a catastrophically high price.
Instead, Trump said that ongoing disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz had left the world looking for alternatives. He even offered, 鈥淚 think the Hormuz Strait鈥檚 not going to be as important as it was in the past.鈥�
Before the war, a fifth of the world鈥檚 traded oil typically flowed through the strait every day.
Michael Cohen, Trump鈥檚 former fixer-turned-enemy, says the president will appear on his radio show
Cohen and 77 WABC, the radio network where he hosts a new talk show, confirmed Wednesday that Trump will appear as a guest on the program this week after MS NOW first reported it.
Cohen, Trump鈥檚 longtime attorney who later testified against him in a hush money case, seems to have mended fences with the president recently.
Cohen has since criticized prosecutors in the case and said the two have begun to reconcile.
He said in a post on the social platform X that the interview would air during the evening on Thursday and Sunday.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump hosts crypto leaders
The president is holding court on Wednesday with several cryptocurrency and finance leaders for an event on digital assets.
The meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House coincides with one held by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission鈥檚 Innovation Advisory Committee, which focuses on matters of technology and finance.
The president kicked off the meeting by listing his administration鈥檚 accomplishments on the issue.
鈥淲e鈥檙e ensuring that America remains the undisputed leader, not only in Bitcoin and crypto but also technologies like prediction markets, artificial intelligence, and much more,鈥� Trump said.
An alarmed bond market gets the Trump administration to act again
Normally quiet, the bond market can occasionally loud enough to hit stock markets worldwide and even grab the attention of and other world leaders.
After the bond market鈥檚 alarm bells rose in volume throughout the summer in the form of higher yields, the Trump administration announced on Wednesday a move that could help calm it down.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it will more than double the amount of U.S. government bonds it will buy back. And the move worked to lower longer-term yields, for now at least.
The stakes are high because high yields drag on economies and bring downward pressure on stock markets.
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Trump鈥檚 White House renovations don鈥檛 stop at driveway鈥檚 edge
Trump鈥檚 construction tour also revealed that he has replaced the walkway from the diplomatic entrance to the White House and a connecting portion of the asphalt driveway around the South Lawn with white granite.
He asserted that asphalt is 鈥渘ot appropriate for a great house, or a great place like the White House.鈥�
鈥淥ne thing I know how to do is build,鈥� Trump said.
Clinton鈥檚 birthday expands the octogenarian president鈥檚 club
Clinton was the last of three baby boomer presidents born within 66 days of each other in 1946. But he was the first to reach the Oval Office, elected in 1992 at the age of 46.
Trump turned 80 on June 14, followed by George W. Bush on July 6. Joe Biden, the only president from the Silent Generation, is 83.
It鈥檚 the oldest group of living U.S. presidents ever, with Barack Obama as the only one under 80 鈥� and even the 44th president has reached Medicare eligibility age. He turned 65 earlier this month.
Clinton has slowed down in recent years, more than a decade after major heart surgery that led him to adopt a mostly vegan diet.
At the 2024 Democratic convention, he told delegates, 鈥淚 have no idea how many more of these I鈥檒l be able to come to.鈥�
Bill Clinton gets birthday wishes as he turns 80
The 42nd president is celebrating a milestone birthday Wednesday.
Hillary Clinton, the former presidential nominee, secretary of state and first lady, led birthday greetings for her husband.
鈥淗appy birthday, dear Bill. Eighty years in to your extraordinary life, I feel very lucky to have spent over 50 of them with you,鈥� she posted on social media. 鈥淗ere鈥檚 to more dancing, talking, and laughing together in the years to come.鈥�
The George and Barbara Bush Foundation noted Clinton and former President George H.W. Bush鈥檚 鈥渕eaningful friendship 鈥� built after their time in office 鈥� a friendship grounded in mutual respect, service and a shared commitment to helping others.鈥�
Clinton defeated the elder Bush in 1992 but came to see him as a mentor and sort of father figure. Bush died in 2018.
鈥楴o serious dispute鈥� that Comey鈥檚 seashell post could be read as a Trump threat, prosecutors say
The Justice Department is defending its and says there鈥檚 鈥渘o serious dispute鈥� that a social media post of seashells he made could be understood as a threat against .
Prosecutors also late Tuesday Comey鈥檚 account that he found the seashells in the numerical arrangement 鈥�86 47鈥� while walking on a North Carolina beach. Trump is the 47th president.
Prosecutors say Comey intended a physical threat or knew that the number 86 could suggest violence. Comey鈥檚 legal team calls it a vindictive prosecution and says Comey鈥檚 post didn鈥檛 amount to a true threat.
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Trump picks Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, to lead FDA
Overton is a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and a trusted figure in the administration. She has worked on several of Trump鈥檚 health initiatives.
But the new commissioner will face challenges balancing Trump鈥檚 priorities, traditional Republican interests, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 anti-corporate stance. Overton will need Senate confirmation and face questions from the Senate health committee.
The previous FDA head, , resigned in May, leaving unfinished projects like work on ultra-processed foods, antidepressants, and COVID-19 shots.
Referring to a 鈥淒r. Heidi鈥� in a Truth Social , Trump called Overton a smart and respected 鈥渞ockstar鈥� who would deliver on his priorities of faster cures, innovation, lower drug prices and more wins for Kennedy鈥檚 Make America Healthy Again movement.
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Trump walks and waxes on white granite and grass
It was planned as a private event, but the president decided otherwise. He wanted the reporters to see him sign a massive stone, which would become part of the new helipad under construction.
So, a gaggle of reporters tailed Trump outside the White House as he noted the prior state of disrepair and now, 鈥渓ook at the columns, how perfect they are.鈥� As for the grass, which he said, 鈥渉as life like humans have life,鈥� it will now 鈥渓ook so beautiful.鈥� And the white granite, which is a 鈥減owerful stone鈥� that 鈥測ou鈥檒l never see a crack in.鈥�
Trump came to a stop, flanked by construction workers in hi-vis vests, hard hats, and sunglasses, who stood silently as the president complimented them and answered a few questions from reporters about the day鈥檚 news. The president signed the stone in sweeping strokes.
鈥淚 hope you liked it,鈥� he told the assembled reporters.
Trump says underground portion of ballroom will be 5 stories deep
Trump complained that the lawsuit against his White House ballroom was 鈥渧ery unfortunate鈥� because the filings in the case have made public details that might have been kept secret.
But Trump has also been talking about components of the portion of the ballroom that will be underground. And he has taken to referring to the structure as a 鈥渕ilitary complex鈥� instead of a ballroom.
Trump said during the press tour that the part of the ballroom will be five stories deep underground. The precise depth of some structures, like the ballroom, is usually treated as a closely guarded secret.
Trump said he may reopen negotiations with Iran 鈥榓t some point鈥�
When asked by a reporter at the White House on Wednesday when he would plan to resume talks with Iran, Trump said, 鈥淩ight now, I think the situation is so good, but maybe at some point.鈥�
He reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon but didn鈥檛 offer any other details on his thinking.
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