Trump officials reveal plan to roll back regulations in Endangered Species Act

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the United States has requested to join the Group of 20 (G20) summit after initially stating it would boycott the event. Following a change of mind from the Trump administration, Ramaphosa indicated that the summit is now working on logistics to accommodate the U.S. participation in the two-day event.

Donald Trump and JD Vance were reportedly not invited to the funeral of former Vice President Dick Cheney, which was attended by various US dignitaries. Notably absent were former Presidents Obama and Clinton, highlighting ongoing divisions within the Republican Party and the Cheney family's tensions with Trump.

A task force established by the Trump administration has proposed changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but has not recommended its elimination. The FEMA Review Council, primarily composed of Republicans, was created to assess the agency's operations and suggest reforms. This development reflects ongoing efforts to reshape FEMA amid criticisms of its performance during recent disasters.

The Trump administration has canceled several citizenship ceremonies in New York, citing unmet legal requirements. This decision has raised concerns among state lawmakers, who view it as an obstruction to the naturalization process.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to provide a classified briefing to the Senate regarding the Trump administration's military operations in Venezuela. Schumer emphasized the need for transparency as military activities in the region are reportedly increasing.

The senior military lawyer for the combatant command overseeing lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela expressed legal concerns regarding the operations, contradicting the Trump administration's stance that they are lawful. His views were reportedly sidelined, according to multiple sources familiar with the legal advice.

The Trump administration has taken steps to weaken the Endangered Species Act, aiming to reinstate changes from the president's first term that were previously blocked by a federal judge. This move has raised concerns among environmentalists and advocates for wildlife protection.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) expressed strong opposition to the Trump administration's negotiations with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine. He criticized the approach of negotiating with Russia instead of directly involving Ukraine, particularly objecting to the idea of presenting any agreement as a 'fait accompli' to Ukraine.