Senate parliamentarian requests AI moratorium be rewritten in 'big, beautiful bill'

The Senate parliamentarian has ruled—again—that a 10-year ban on states regulating artificial intelligence can stay in President Trump’s big tax bill. Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee announced the decision, saying the moratorium passes a key procedural check (the Byrd rule). This keeps the controversial provision alive for now, though its final fate in the broader bill is still up in the air.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just bureaucratic fine print—it’s a big deal for who gets to control AI’s future. If the moratorium holds, states won’t be able to pass their own AI laws for a decade, leaving oversight mostly to the feds (or lack thereof). Critics worry this could stall protections against AI risks, while supporters might argue it prevents a messy patchwork of state rules. Either way, it’s another sign of how much AI policy is being decided behind closed doors in unrelated legislation.

The Pentagon just dropped a massive $961 billion budget proposal, with $848 billion earmarked for discretionary spending. The big takeaways? Fewer F-35 jets are on the shopping list, but drones and missile defense (including the Golden Dome system) are getting a cash boost. It’s a reshuffling of priorities—less focus on stealth fighters, more on unmanned tech and homeland protection.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about dollars—it signals a shift in how the U.S. military plans to fight future wars. Cutting back on pricey F-35s while pumping money into drones and missile defense suggests a bet on cheaper, more flexible tools over traditional hardware. For taxpayers and defense wonks, it’s a peek into the Pentagon’s evolving playbook.

Washington Mystics guard Jade Melbourne took a rough elbow to the mouth from Aces’ Chelsea Gray during Thursday’s game, leaving her with a chipped tooth. Despite the painful-looking injury, Melbourne was surprisingly upbeat afterward, flashing a smile post-game. The Mystics still pulled off the win, but the moment highlighted the physical toll of the sport—and Melbourne’s toughness.

Editor’s Note: Injuries like this are a stark reminder of how physical professional basketball can be, even in the WNBA. Melbourne’s reaction—grinning through the pain—shows the resilience athletes often have to shrug off brutal moments. For fans, it’s a mix of concern (ouch!) and admiration for her grit. Plus, it’s a talking point in the ongoing conversation about player safety in high-intensity games.

The Supreme Court has just made it harder for lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions—a move that could limit the power of individual judges to block federal policies. This decision is a big deal for the Trump administration, which has faced multiple injunctions halting its policies on everything from immigration to healthcare.

Editor’s Note: Nationwide injunctions have been a major headache for presidents, especially in recent years, as a single judge’s ruling could freeze a policy for the entire country. This ruling shifts the balance of power back toward the executive branch and the Supreme Court, making it tougher for district courts to act unilaterally. If you care about how laws get enforced (or blocked), this is a story worth watching.

A Republican congressman from Kentucky, Andy Barr, is pushing a new bill that aims to completely eliminate birthright citizenship—the long-standing policy that grants automatic citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. This comes as former President Trump and Democratic-led states continue to clash over immigration laws in court.

Editor’s Note: Birthright citizenship has been a cornerstone of U.S. immigration law for over a century, rooted in the 14th Amendment. Barr’s proposal would upend that, fueling an already heated debate over who "belongs" in America. If it gains traction, it could reshape immigration policy—and spark major legal and political battles ahead.