The previous National Defense Strategy – a document published every four years – identified China as the most significant strategic competitor to the U.S.
Current Status is the consensus view of the current top U.S. political stories from a cross-section of the news media ecosystem.
There are three components that determine the Current Status: First, there is an editorially-responsible algorithm that considers the signals news editors send about a story's news value. Second, there's a human-in-the-loop curating the list and providing oversight to ensure that the Current Status is a fair and accurate representation of the day's essential political stories. And third, Current Status is biased toward recent, highly-cited stories, with an emphasis on depth and accuracy. The stars are a reflection of a story's current relative news value.
This is what the political web is talking about right now.
–Matt
Military conducts 'lethal kinetic strike' on alleged drug boat, leaving one survivor – The statement by U.S. Southern Command said it notified the Coast Guard "to activate the search and rescue system" for the survivor.
Inside the effort to organize clergy nationwide to resist ICE – (RNS)— Hundreds of clergy from around the country gathered in Minneapolis to learn from Minnesota faith leaders how to protest against ICE enforcement. Then they took to the streets and helped block…
Thousands rally against ICE in Minneapolis in below-zero temperatures – Organizers handed out hand-warmers to demonstrators as they waved American flags and signs calling for ICE to leave their city.
Unhinged Florida nurse fired after foul TikTok rant directed towards Karoline Leavitt goes viral – Florida nurse was terminated after she said she hoped Leavitt suffered severe injury during childbirth.
TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest Changes – According to its new privacy policy, TikTok now collects more data on its users, including their precise location, after majority ownership officially switched to a group based in the US.
ICE Tells Legal Observer, 'We Have a Nice Little Database, and Now You're Considered a Domestic Terrorist' – The video is the latest example of federal immigration authorities labeling anyone who opposes them a "domestic terrorist."
Prince Harry defends Nato troops killed in Afghanistan after Trump swipe – The Duke’s remarks come after Sir Keir Starmer condemned Donald Trump’s comments
‘Another Incredibly Idiotic Story’: Jake Tapper Can’t Believe Trump Officials Reportedly Told FEMA Not To Say ‘Ice’ Amid Winter Storm – On Friday, CNN's Jake Tapper was in disbelief that Homeland Security officials reportedly advised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to avoid using the word 'ice' as they continue to…
DOJ sought to probe Renee Good for criminal liability, even after her death: Sources – A judge refused an FBI warrant that proposed investigating dead Minnesota mom for suspected assault on an officer.
Federal judges reject DOJ motion to detain arrested Minnesota protesters – One judge found the Trump administration offered “no factual or legal support” to support its contention that this was a “crime of violence.”
Video: Opinion | Is This Who Trump Meant by the ‘Worst of the Worst’? – The columnist Jamelle Bouie argues that the Trump administration’s immigration policy has more in common with ethnic cleansing than actual immigration enforcement.
US Judge Rules ICE Raids Require Judicial Warrants, Contradicting Secret ICE Memo – The ruling in federal court in Minnesota lands as Immigration and Customs Enforcement faces scrutiny over an internal memo claiming judge-signed warrants aren’t needed to enter homes without consent.
Maryland Democrats make a new play to redraw their House map for 2026 – State Senate Democrats have resisted changing the state's map to add another Democratic seat. A group of state House members introduced a bill to redraw for the next election.