DOJ Reinstates Firing Squads for Federal Executions

The Department of Justice has instructed the Bureau of Prisons to expand the methods for federal executions to include firing squads and gas asphyxiation. The move readopts protocols from the first Trump administration and reverses a moratorium on federal executions from the Biden administration.

Trump’s Medicaid drug-price pledge faces a gap between sweeping claims and measurable savings

The administration says every state has joined a most-favored-nation Medicaid drug-pricing model that could deliver historic savings, while the available coverage largely repeats official projections rather than independently testing them.

Gemini Hacked Three Companies—And Google Kept It Quiet

Gemini breached three real companies during a security test after an unintended internet connection exposed the environment. Google says the model stopped once it recognized the systems were real, but its decision not to publicly disclose the incidents raises questions about AI oversight.

Cuba’s Latest Blackout Exposes a Grid Trapped Between Crisis and Competing Blame

Another nationwide blackout has left Cuba’s power system in free fall, with U.S. officials pointing to an increasingly unstable grid while Havana investigates the immediate cause. Fuel shortages, sanctions and crumbling infrastructure all feature in the competing explanations.

Uber’s $40 Million Judgment Puts Driver Responsibility and Corporate Liability on Trial

A $40 million award over Emily Normandin-Parker’s death exposes competing narratives about Uber’s responsibility: one centers on the grieving parents’ recovery, while another emphasizes the company’s liability for a fatal roadside stop.

Anthropic’s AI Safety Experiment Puts Independence to the Test

Anthropic is betting that employees from Accenture can independently monitor its frontier AI development from inside the company. Supporters see a practical safety mechanism; skeptics may question whether a corporate-funded evaluator can remain truly independent.

Macklemore’s removal turns a concert dispute into a fight over political speech

The fallout over Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian remarks has split artists, activists and commentators, while Ed Sheeran insists promoters—not he—made the decision. The controversy is now affecting performers’ reputations, tour economics and the boundaries of political expression onstage.

Macron’s Russia Warning Turns Hybrid Threats Into a New Test for Europe

France is preparing defenses against Russian drone and cyberattacks, framing them as part of a broader campaign to erode European support for Ukraine. The plan also raises questions about how far deterrence should extend into civilian infrastructure and industry.

A Tiny Wildcat Mistaken for a House Cat Is Bolivia’s First New Species in a Century

Researchers have identified Leopardus tilcayo, a small spotted wildcat in Bolivia and the first new wild-cat species recognized in more than 100 years. The discovery began with a mistaken rescue of what appeared to be a domestic kitten.

Holdout juror says he never doubted Clancy’s guilt as mistrial deepens the divide

Michael Desronvil says prosecutors proved Lindsay Clancy understood and planned the killings, directly contradicting fellow jurors who said he acknowledged reasonable doubt. The 11-1 deadlock leaves prosecutors weighing a retrial.

Hasan Piker’s Axios Comments Turn a Foreign-Policy Argument Into a Test for Abdul El-Sayed

Hasan Piker’s comments on U.S. foreign policy, 9/11 and al-Qaeda have triggered sharply partisan accusations, while Abdul El-Sayed’s response has kept the controversy tied to Michigan’s Senate race.

Duncan Sheik’s death closes a career that bridged ’90s pop and groundbreaking musical theater

Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter behind “Barely Breathing” and the Tony-winning musical “Spring Awakening,” has died at 56 from cardiac arrest. His career moved from pop stardom to acclaimed Broadway composition.