America in Brief

Trump Announces $700 Million Coal Industry Revival Strategy

President Donald Trump announced on June 4 a plan to invest $700 million to revive the coal industry, using the Defense Production Act he signed in April.

“Today, we’re taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal,” Trump said.

The U.S. government plans to extend the service life of a number of existing coal plants across the country, invest in upgrades, add more jobs, and cut electricity costs.

Trump’s executive order invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950, initially enacted during the Korean War. The act allows the president to bolster the nation’s domestic industrial base in the interest of national defense.

Rubio Delivers Message on Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre

Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a statement on June 3, on the eve of the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

“No amount of censorship can erase the past. Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.” Rubio said. 

In 1989, thousands of Chinese civilians, many of whom were students, were killed by troops under the order of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), after they had gathered to call for democratic reform.

The CCP continues to suppress information about the event and to harass anyone who attempts to participate in public remembrance each year.

Lawmakers on June 4 introduced proposed measures to change the address of the Chinese Embassy in Washington from 3505 International Place NW to 1 Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard.

Supreme Court Sides With FCC Over Wireless Carrier Dispute

The Supreme Court has sided with the nation’s communications regulator in its authority to enforce data privacy laws on phone providers, a move that could shift how telecommunications companies handle users’ data.

In an 8-1 decision, the Federal Communications Commission was granted authority to penalize the wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon for selling their customer’s location data without permission.

Carriers AT&T and Verizon, which had been fined $57 million and $47 million, respectively, had filed an appeal, deeming the penalties unconstitutional.

In all, the FCC had placed nearly $200 million in fines against wireless carriers for sharing access to users’ data.

Other major networks, T-Mobile, were fined $80 million, and Sprite, which is now owned by T-Mobile, was fined $12 million.

US Journalist Pleads Guilty to Acting as Chinese Agent

A U.S. journalist and son of a politician has pleaded guilty to acting as an agent for the Chinese Communist Party by selling them secrets that he had access to.

Thomas Weir Pauken II, 50, who lived and worked in China, had been accused of infiltrating U.S. political circles and gathering intelligence on targets between 2019 and February 2026, which he would sell to his Chinese handlers.

Paulken received at least $100,000 for his work with a contact named “Cathy,” among others with whom he worked.

Pauken’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 1. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

He is the son of Texan politician Thomas Pauken, who served as chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 1994 to 1997.

DOJ Charges 9 in $42 million Ohio Fraud Scheme

The Department of Justice, alongside state prosecutors, has filed fraud charges against nine defendants for their roles in a $42 million shared Ohio Fraud scheme.

The charges were announced on June 4, along with the DOJ’s cooperation with Ohio state officials to crack down on fraud in the state.

“Ohio is leading the charge in the fight against fraud, and some states should take notice,” said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in a statement.

The announcement coincided with FBI Director Kash Patel’s launch of the “Most Wanted Fraudsters” list, in line with Vice President JD Vance’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

“Today’s takedown of multiple healthcare companies and four individuals who allegedly robbed taxpayer-funded Medicaid is the latest victory in the Trump administration’s total war on fraudsters,” Patel said in a statement.

Trump Announces Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence

President Donald Trump has announced William Pulte as the acting head of national intelligence, following outgoing director Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation last month.

Pulte, 38, currently serves as director of the Federal Housing Agency and is chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprise meant to stabilize the U.S. housing market.

Gabbard, whose resignation becomes effective on June 30, has cited a need to support her husband, who is suffering from a rare form of brain cancer, as her reason for leaving.

Pulte will oversee 18 independent agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

DOJ Renounces $1.8-Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund

The Department of Justice has gone back on its $1.8-billion anti-weaponization fund meant to compensate those claiming to be victims of weaponized prosecution by the government following pushback by some politicians.

“We’re not moving forward with the fund, period,” said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee oversight hearing on June 2.

The Anti-Weaponization Fund was created by Trump following a settlement in a lawsuit he filed against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns.

The fund has been challenged in court and was temporarily blocked by a judge in late May.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on June 1 launched a coordinated effort among Democrats to stop it.

Senate Passes Immigration Enforcement Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a long-awaited $70 billion immigration enforcement bill on June 5, following a 19-hour-long voting session known as a vote-a-rama.

All Republicans voted for the bill, and a majority of Democrats voted against it.

The vote is now headed to the House, which will pick it up next week.

Republicans are in favor of the funding as it includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been a vital part of Trump’s agenda in countering illegal immigration.

Democrats have been criticizing federal immigration operations, following the shooting death of two protesters by federal officers during separate protests against immigration enforcement in Minnesota at the beginning of the year.