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Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon leadership for pursuing increased violence without strategic direction in the Iran war, now in its 30th day.

Krugman dismissed Hegseth's belief that escalated aggression would produce results, noting 10,000 ground troops cannot secure the Persian Gulf or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Millions of Americans rallied in cities and towns across all 50 states on Saturday as part of nationwide “No Kings” protests opposing President Donald Trump and what organizers described as his increasingly authoritarian agenda. While final turnout figures have not yet been confirmed, organizers estimated that as many as 9 million people could have participated, potentially making it the largest demonstration yet in the growing protest movement. The flagship rally in Minneapolis drew an estimated 200,000 people, featuring speeches from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ilhan Omar and actress Jane Fonda, along with a performance by Bruce Springsteen.

The Minneapolis gathering was one of more than 3,300 events held nationwide, with aerial footage showing massive crowds in major cities including Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Diego. Demonstrations also appeared in smaller communities such as Arvada, Colorado; Madison, New Jersey; and St. Augustine, Florida, with additional solidarity events reported in London and Madrid. The protests mark the third major wave of “No Kings” demonstrations, following earlier nationwide rallies last year that drew roughly 5 million and 7 million participants. The White House dismissed the events, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson calling them “Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions” that only reporters care about.

As Gov. Ron DeSantis approaches his last months in office, Florida law enforcement officials are openly rebelling against his aggressive immigration enforcement.

Once his strongest supporters, Republican sheriffs and police chiefs expressed concerns at a State Immigration Enforcement Council meeting about detaining non-criminal unauthorized immigrants. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd noted those "working hard" with families and church involvement shouldn't be targeted.

Senate Democrats signaled opposition to a House Republican continuing resolution aimed at ending the partial government shutdown Friday.

The Republican-controlled Senate earlier approved a bipartisan bill funding most Department of Homeland Security operations while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but House GOP leadership rejected it as "garbage" and refused a vote.

President Donald Trump praised himself for constructing a $400 million ballroom while addressing farmers affected by his tariff policies at a White House event Friday.

Trump told the gathered farmers he had "given" them $12 billion in aid to offset tariff fallout, then shifted focus to admire the ballroom under construction.

The Department of Justice confirmed that Iran-backed hackers from the Handala Hack Team successfully breached FBI Director Kash Patel's personal email account, publishing stolen photographs and his purported resume online.

The group declared Patel would "now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims."

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, that Trump administration officials fear potential prosecution and indictment if Democrats win the 2028 election.

"Everybody's afraid that the next administration, if we don't win, we're going to all be investigated and indicted," said Blanche, citing what happened to Trump associates during the previous administration.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel issued a scathing 69-page preliminary injunction against ICE's detention practices at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minnesota, ordering restoration of detainees' access to attorneys, phone calls, and legal materials.

Brasel severely criticized ICE's legal team for submitting a brief containing fabricated case citations.

White House Communications Director Steve Cheung lashed out at biographer Michael Wolff after the Daily Beast published accounts of President Donald Trump's closest associates privately questioning the president's intellectual capabilities.

Wolff recounted conversations with Sam Nunberg, Trump's longtime confidant known as the "Trump whisperer," in which Nunberg called Trump "an idiot."

The Senate advanced a major spending bill directing tens of billions of dollars to the Department of Homeland Security at 3 a.m. Friday, with only five senators present, sparking criticism on social media.

The bill would fund most DHS operations, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, moving lawmakers closer to ending airport disruptions caused by the funding lapse.

French Senator Claude Malhuret, described by the New York Times as "Trump's European nemesis," delivered a scathing indictment of President Donald Trump's second-term administration on Wednesday.

Malhuret criticized Trump's cabinet appointments, characterizing them as unqualified and serving personal interests.

President Donald Trump faced online backlash after attacking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for disclosing he has dyslexia.

Trump stated he didn't want "a person with mental disability" or "a stupid person being president," characterizing dyslexia as a mental disability. Social media commenters immediately criticized the remarks, noting dyslexia is a learning disorder, not a mental disability, and questioned Trump's authority to judge intelligence given public concerns about his own cognitive abilities.

White House staffers forced to walk back denials after Bill Maher was confirmed to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, according to Politico reporting.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially claimed the award announcement was "fake news," with communications representative Steven Cheung calling reports "literally FAKE NEWS" on social media as well.