Four states file alongside FTC, claiming WPath made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors

The Federal Trade Commission and four states sued the World Professional Association for Transgender Health on Wednesday, in the latest push by Donald Trump’s administration and others to limit gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

The suit alleges the group, known widely as WPath, made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited off the claims. Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska and Texas filed along with the FTC.

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© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Don Berthiaume, Trump nominee for inspector general at justice department, pressed by senators amid confirmation

Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as a top independent watchdog at the Department of Justice has refused to call the January 6 insurrection an “attack” during questioning by US senators.

Don Berthiaume, a career justice department employee who has been serving as inspector general at the agency, faced senators as part of his confirmation process to take up the role permanently on Wednesday.

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© Photograph: Victor J Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Victor J Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

© Photograph: Victor J Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Trump administration is paying yet another company to give up the right to build wind energy offshore, saying the firm will invest in gas plants and geothermal energy instead. The Interior Department announced Wednesday that it reached a settlement agreement with affiliates of Invenergy to give up four offshore wind leases off the costs…

The Trump administration is paying yet another company to give up the right to build wind energy offshore, saying the firm will invest in gas plants and geothermal energy instead. The Interior Department announced Wednesday that it reached a settlement agreement with affiliates of Invenergy to give up four offshore wind leases off the costs…

Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent a Wednesday letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to inquire about reporting that says Trump administration officials discussed the possible suspension of habeas corpus last year.  Habeas corpus is a fundamental legal procedure that allows people who are detained or imprisoned to…

Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent a Wednesday letter to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to inquire about reporting that says Trump administration officials discussed the possible suspension of habeas corpus last year.  Habeas corpus is a fundamental legal procedure that allows people who are detained or imprisoned to…

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that President Trump is “holding our national security hostage” by delaying the confirmation hearing for U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence.  In an early morning Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump said Clayton’s nomination would be delayed to ensure that Federal Housing Finance…

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that President Trump is “holding our national security hostage” by delaying the confirmation hearing for U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence.  In an early morning Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump said Clayton’s nomination would be delayed to ensure that Federal Housing Finance…

The Pentagon artificial intelligence chief on Monday said Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot is tantamount to national security in a sworn statement that noted xAI’s technology has been used throughout the Iran war.  Cameron Stanley, the chief digital and artificial intelligence officer for the Department of Defense, wrote that the chatbot “enabled U.S. forces to deploy…

The Pentagon artificial intelligence chief on Monday said Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot is tantamount to national security in a sworn statement that noted xAI’s technology has been used throughout the Iran war.  Cameron Stanley, the chief digital and artificial intelligence officer for the Department of Defense, wrote that the chatbot “enabled U.S. forces to deploy…

Congressman Jamie Raskin alleges FBI director authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circle

FBI director Kash Patel has been accused of directing more than $1m in taxpayer-funded bonus payments to a small circle of loyalist agents as part of a “personal slush fund” that may have violated federal law.

Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking member of the House of Representatives judiciary committee, alleged Patel had authorized substantial recurring payments to agents in his inner circle and security detail.

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© Photograph: Oliver Contreras/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Oliver Contreras/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Oliver Contreras/AFP/Getty Images

Vice President Vance on Tuesday said it was “kind of ironic” that GOP critics of the Iran deal don’t want the war “stopped,” as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raise questions about the details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed over the weekend.  Senators have sought to obtain the text of the…

Vice President Vance on Tuesday said it was “kind of ironic” that GOP critics of the Iran deal don’t want the war “stopped,” as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle raise questions about the details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed over the weekend.  Senators have sought to obtain the text of the…

Joy Behar, a co-host of “The View” who has been a staunch critic of President Trump, on Tuesday said she doesn’t think Vice President Vance is a “bad guy” and said a faceoff between him and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in 2028 would be “interesting.” “Truthfully, as I said to you in the beginning…

Joy Behar, a co-host of “The View” who has been a staunch critic of President Trump, on Tuesday said she doesn’t think Vice President Vance is a “bad guy” and said a faceoff between him and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in 2028 would be “interesting.” “Truthfully, as I said to you in the beginning…

Keith Sonderling, acting head of the agency, threatens to withhold administrative funds from states for first time in history

Keith Sonderling sent letters to 53 states and US territories demanding action to “combat waste, fraud, and abuse” within the unemployment insurance program, threatening to withhold administrative funds from states for the first time history.

“We are officially putting governors on notice,” said the acting US secretary of labor. “The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars – no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.”

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© Photograph: Taylor Coester/Reuters

© Photograph: Taylor Coester/Reuters

© Photograph: Taylor Coester/Reuters

Vice President Vance late Tuesday said the alleged plot to attack lawmakers at the White House UFC match was “not that advanced,” noting that the suspects “weren’t in town” during the event, which drew thousands of spectators.  “There was a lot of security there. And it turns out the plot was like, not that advanced.…

Vice President Vance late Tuesday said the alleged plot to attack lawmakers at the White House UFC match was “not that advanced,” noting that the suspects “weren’t in town” during the event, which drew thousands of spectators.  “There was a lot of security there. And it turns out the plot was like, not that advanced.…

Move will allow Trump’s controversial pick, Bill Pulte, to assume role and remain in place for at least several weeks

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Donald Trump abruptly diverted the confirmation process for Jay Clayton as the US’s top intelligence chief early Wednesday, in a move that will allow the US president’s controversial selection for acting director of national security, Bill Pulte, to assume the role and remain in place for at least several weeks until Clayton is confirmed.

Trump pushed the Senate to confirm Clayton after his appointment of Pulte as acting director sparked bipartisan pushback and stalled his administration’s push for renewal of the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa).

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© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters

© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters

© Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters

This liveblog is closed. For the latest on the Middle East crisis, follow our new liveblog here.

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Donald Trump also denied (again) that the memorandum of understanding includes a $300bn fund for Iran, and denied that he had asked the Gulf states to commit funding.

“It’s false,” Trump told reporters as he sat alongside Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “You can invest if you want. What am I going to do, say no one is ever allowed to invest? We’re not investing, we’re not putting up 10 cents and people can decide to do it. That’s up to them.”

In short, what it does is it opens the strait of Hormuz immediately … It also provides a framework whereby if the Iranians give us what we need – on stopping the funding of terrorism, on no longer pursuing a nuclear weapon – then they can get some benefits, be re-invited into the world economy.

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© Photograph: Stéphane Lemouton/SIPA/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Stéphane Lemouton/SIPA/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Stéphane Lemouton/SIPA/Shutterstock