AURN News

It was the kind of email that hits like a gut punch. More than 350 community programs received a message from the Trump Justice Department: their funding was done. No warning. Just done. Millions of dollars slashed from efforts to stop gun violence, treat opioid addiction, and support victims of violent crime.

The DOJ says the money no longer aligns with department priorities, but for programs like Oakland Youth Alive and the Baltimore Center for Hope, it’s a death sentence. These frontline groups have helped reduce homicides by more than 30% in cities like Baltimore. And now, just before summer—when shootings typically spike—federal support is gone.

This includes a $2 million grant pulled mid-cycle, hotlines shut down, violence interrupters laid off, and victims left with no resources. All while the Trump administration shifts its focus to law enforcement operations.

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(AURN News) — How clean is your air? The American Lung Association released its latest report this week that includes the most polluted cities in the United States, revealing surprising locations impacted by significant air pollution. Cities were ranked based on ozone pollution, year-round particle pollution, and short-term particle pollution.

Leading the list for ozone pollution is Los Angeles-Long Beach, California. Visalia, California, followed closely, along with Bakersfield-Delano, California; Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona; and Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran, California. Completing the top 10 are Denver-Aurora-Greeley, Colorado; Houston-Pasadena, Texas; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California; Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, Utah-Idaho; and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas-Oklahoma.

California dominated the rankings for year-round particle pollution, with Bakersfield-Delano listed first, followed by Visalia and Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran.

According to the American Lung Association, air pollution can cause a variety of health issues ranging from wheezing and coughing to asthma and even lung cancer. Other potential health problems include heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.

The organization also says that ozone is a lung irritant, and exposure can negatively affect respiratory health and potentially shorten lifespans.

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White House aide Stephen Miller is at it again—this time, demanding reparations. Not for slavery. Not for Jim Crow. Not for Black families locked out of the American dream. No—Miller wants reparations for white America for what he calls the "cost of immigration."

His remarks came after the administration was accused of violating a Supreme Court order to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador.

Instead of apologizing, Miller launched into a rant—blaming immigrants for everything from gang violence to failing schools and fentanyl overdoses—while demanding the U.S. be repaid for decades of what he called uncontrolled illegal migration.

Let’s be clear: Abrego Garcia has no criminal record. His deportation was acknowledged as an administrative error, but rather than own that, Miller doubled down on scapegoating and xenophobia—echoing rhetoric we've seen time and time again from this administration.

Reminder: Immigrants are statistically less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens.

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Tesla stock is in a nosedive, dropping nearly 40% this year. Profits have plunged 71% year-over-year, and Elon Musk says he’s finally refocusing on Tesla—not Trump. After months of moonlighting in the Trump White House leading DOGE, Musk says he’ll reduce his time with the agency next month.

That comes as Tesla faces a 13% drop in sales and a 9% revenue loss. Who’s to blame? Musk’s political entanglements, fierce competition from China, and backlash to Trump’s steep tariffs. Tesla owners are trading in their cars, and protestors worldwide are torching charging stations and targeting dealerships.

Musk defended lowering tariffs, but said it’s Trump’s call. Critics say Musk’s anti-government crusade through DOGE is now eating away at his own empire. Will stepping back save Tesla, or is it too little too late?

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According to the Associated Press, beginning May 5, the Education Department will resume collecting defaulted student loans through the Treasury Department’s offset program, which withholds tax refunds, federal salaries, and benefits.

Borrowers may also face wage garnishment after 30 days’ notice. This move ends a COVID-era pause on collections in place since March 2020.

About 5.3 million borrowers are currently in default, with millions more at risk. Advocates criticize the policy as harsh and confusing, citing frequent policy shifts between administrations.

Some borrowers struggle to understand repayment options, especially after recent court rulings disrupted income-driven repayment plans.

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More than 150 colleges and universities — including Harvard, Princeton, American University, and MIT — are drawing a red line. In a powerful joint statement, they're calling out the Trump administration for what they describe as unprecedented political interference in higher education.

The backlash comes just after Harvard sued the administration for freezing over $3 billion in federal research grants. At the center of the clash are demands to gut diversity policies and audit schools for so-called viewpoint diversity.

Trump's camp says it's cracking down on antisemitism, but universities say this is a thin cover for silencing dissent, cutting international student access, and politicizing science and speech. The warning from the nation's top schools: Undermining free thought in classrooms today could cost democracy tomorrow.

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(AURN News) — President Donald Trump’s approval rating has slipped to 42%, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, continuing a gradual decline over recent months.

The poll shows a three-percentage-point drop from the 45% approval rating recorded just one month ago, highlighting ongoing challenges for the president in his second term.

Trump, who won re-election campaigning heavily on economic policy, now faces diminishing public confidence in his handling of the economy. Only 37% of Americans approve of his economic policies, according to the poll.

Immigration policy, another cornerstone of Trump's campaign platform, has also seen eroding support. The survey indicates that 45% of Americans currently approve of the president's immigration policies, down from 50% in polling conducted March 11–12.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll comes as the administration continues to implement its second-term agenda following January's inauguration, ranging from the tariff wars to even recent calls to garnish the wages of those who have defaulted on student loans.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under scrutiny after reportedly sharing sensitive U.S. military plans in yet another Signal group chat that included his wife and brother.

Hegseth faced intense questioning over reports that he disclosed sensitive military details drawn from a top general's secure messages about U.S. strikes in Yemen. Despite criticism, Hegseth remains defiant, insisting the chats were informal, unclassified, and part of routine media coordination.

"Absolutely. The president and we are going to continue fighting on the same page all the way," Hegseth said.

However, the timing raised concerns. The intelligence was shared just minutes before U.S. jets launched strikes, a move critics argue could have jeopardized lives. President Trump defended Hegseth, calling him "great" and dismissing speculation of a potential replacement, even as some administration officials reportedly view it as a serious misstep.

The Justice Department is now investigating the leak, with Hegseth pledging prosecution for those responsible. Amid national security concerns, critics question how secure the chain of command can be if Signal is involved.

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On April 22, 1978, the One Love Peace Concert was held at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. It brought together some of reggae’s biggest names during a time of intense political violence.

The event’s most iconic moment came when Bob Marley united Prime Minister Michael Manley and opposition leader Edward Seaga onstage, raising their hands in a gesture of peace and unity. Marley, returning to Jamaica after an assassination attempt two years prior, used his music and presence to call for healing.

The concert wasn’t just entertainment—it was a symbol of hope, a cry for peace, and a moment that defined Marley’s legacy as both an artist and revolutionary spirit.

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In a morning post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump cited falling energy and food costs as evidence that the Fed should move quickly to lower rates.

"'Preemptive Cuts' in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden's egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other 'things' trending down, there is virtually No Inflation," Trump wrote.

The president continued his argument by suggesting the economy could slow "unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW."

He also accused Fed Chair Jerome Powell of political motives, claiming the Fed chair "lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected," before adding, "How did that work out?"

Wall Street reacted swiftly to the president's comments. Markets dove deep and hard throughout Monday's trading session, with the dollar falling to a three-year low.

This is not the first time Trump has targeted Powell. The president has previously called for the "termination" of the Fed chair.

The tensions come as the administration continues to navigate economic challenges following its trade policies, particularly regarding the trade war with China.

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