Trump Orders Full Release of JFK, RFK, and MLK Assassination Files

President Donald Trump has ordered security agencies to develop plans for the complete release of all government records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This move follows his earlier promise during his first term to disclose JFK-related documents, though he had allowed some redactions at the request of intelligence agencies. Now, he asserts that withholding such information is no longer in the public interest. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for health secretary, has been a vocal advocate for releasing these files and has publicly questioned the official accounts of both his uncle’s and father’s assassinations. A 1992 law required the declassification of JFK-related records by 2017, though thousands of documents remained partially or fully withheld under Presidents Trump and Biden. Trump's new executive order demands a full disclosure plan for JFK documents within 15 days and for RFK and MLK files within 45 days.

Notes: By 2023, 99% of the 320,000 reviewed documents had been disclosed, but thousands remained partially or fully withheld.

Source: The New York Times, The White House

Senate Advances Pete Hegseth’s Defense Secretary Nomination

The U.S. Senate voted 51-49 to advance the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary, setting up a final confirmation vote. Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, faces strong opposition from Democrats and some Republicans due to allegations of excessive drinking, misconduct toward women, and controversial views on women in combat roles. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins broke ranks, citing concerns about his qualifications and past behavior. Despite these objections, most Republicans support his nomination, and with a 53-seat majority, confirmation seems likely. If confirmed, he will oversee the Department of Defense, managing 2.1 million service members and an $850 billion budget.

Source: Associated Press

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Order to End Birthright Citizenship

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and certain temporary visa holders. Judge John C. Coughenour, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, ruled that the order is "blatantly unconstitutional," citing the 14th Amendment's guarantee of birthright citizenship. The ruling grants a 14-day restraining order, renewable upon expiration, marking the first legal setback for Trump’s second-term immigration agenda. The lawsuit was filed by four states—Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon—arguing that the executive order would deny rights to over 150,000 children annually and potentially leave them stateless. Trump’s administration vowed to appeal the decision, while multiple lawsuits across the country continue to challenge the order’s legality.

Notes: If Trump’s appeal succeeds, it could challenge the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment and reshape U.S. immigration policy.

Source: The New York Times

China to Ship Chemicals Used to Manufacture Ballistic Missiles to Iran

Two Iranian vessels docked in China have reportedly been loaded with 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a key ingredient in missile propellant. If delivered, Iran could use this material to produce 960 tons of ammonium perchlorate, enough for approximately 260 midrange ballistic missiles, according to Western officials. The shipments come amid Iran's efforts to replenish its missile stockpile, which has been depleted due to attacks on Israel and arms transfers to Russia. U.S. officials see the transaction as part of Iran's deepening ties with China, which has long supplied Tehran with missile-related materials despite international sanctions. While there is no evidence that the Chinese government was directly involved, the discovery of the shipments places pressure on the Trump administration to push Beijing to curb its cooperation with Iran.

Notes: China has been a major supplier of missile-related materials to Iran since at least the 1990s, including components like nitrile butadiene rubber for solid propellants.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Boeing Reports $4 Billion Loss Amid Safety Crisis and Strikes

Boeing announced that it expects to report a $4 billion loss for the fourth quarter of 2024, extending a streak of financial struggles that has persisted since 2018. The company attributed its losses to a midair safety incident, a machinists' strike, and ongoing defense and space program delays. Boeing projects a $5.46 per share loss and $15.2 billion in revenue, falling short of analysts' expectations. It also expects to have burned through $3.5 billion in cash despite raising over $20 billion to stabilize its finances. The company is taking a $1.1 billion charge on its 777X and 767 programs due to the strike and new labor contract. Its commercial airplane division, already impacted by regulatory scrutiny following the January 2024 midair door plug failure, is expected to post a 44% negative operating margin. Boeing’s defense sector is also suffering, with $1.7 billion in charges on programs including the KC-46A tanker and the new Air Force One aircraft.

Notes: Boeing has not posted an annual profit since 2018, when it faced setbacks from the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to global grounding.

Source: CNBC

OpenAI Unveils Operator: An AI Agent for Web-Based Tasks

OpenAI has launched Operator, an AI-powered agent capable of navigating the web to perform tasks such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and making online bookings. Available as a research preview for Pro users in the U.S., Operator utilizes a new model called Computer-Using Agent (CUA), which combines GPT-4o’s vision capabilities with reinforcement learning to interact with web interfaces similarly to a human. The agent can see webpages through screenshots and take actions like typing, clicking, and scrolling. Users can step in at any time, especially for sensitive tasks requiring login or payment details. OpenAI is partnering with major platforms like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber to refine Operator’s functionality and is also exploring public-sector applications, such as improving access to city services in Stockton. The company plans to expand Operator to Plus, Team, and Enterprise users and eventually integrate it into ChatGPT.

Source: OpenAI