Supreme Court overturns 91-year precedent, gives president power to fire independent agency heads at will
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump can fire independent agency heads without cause, overturning the 91-year-old Humphrey's Executor precedent. The decision significantly expands presidential power over agencies like the FTC, SEC, and EEOC, though the Court carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve.
U.S. and Iran halt five-day strike exchange, schedule Doha talks for June 30 as ceasefire holds
The U.S. and Iran agreed Sunday to end a five-day escalation of drone and missile attacks and resume high-level negotiations in Doha on June 30, with White House envoys Witkoff and Kushner leading the U.S. delegation. The ceasefire, signed only 13 days prior, was strained by conflicting interpretations of which shipping corridors are authorized through the Strait of Hormuz, a dispute the original memorandum did not clarify. Oil markets responded positively, with Brent crude falling toward $73 per barrel as investors anticipated restored shipping flows.
EPA formally rescinds greenhouse gas endangerment finding, stripping federal authority to regulate emissions
The EPA finalized its rescission of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding on February 12, 2026, eliminating federal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and engines under the Clean Air Act. The agency justified the action on statutory interpretation grounds rather than climate science, despite overwhelming scientific consensus supporting the original finding and hundreds of thousands of public comments opposing the repeal.
Comcast to Spin Off NBCUniversal and Sky in Major Restructuring
Comcast announced a tax-free spinoff that will separate NBCUniversal and Sky into an independent publicly traded company, ending a 15-year experiment combining its cable business with media assets. The move, expected to complete within one year, reflects investor pressure following a 30% stock decline and accelerating cord-cutting that has reduced Comcast's video subscribers from a 2007 peak of 24.8 million to 10.95 million.
U.S. measles cases hit 2,134 across 30 outbreaks, threatening elimination status for first time since 2000
The United States has reported 2,134 confirmed measles cases across 30 outbreaks as of June 25, 2026, putting the country at risk of losing its measles elimination status—a designation it has held since 2000. The surge is driven primarily by declining vaccination rates, with 92% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals, and health authorities warn summer travel could trigger additional spread.
Supreme Court upholds mail-in ballot grace periods in 5-4 decision, rejecting Republican challenge
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states can count mail-in ballots received up to five days after Election Day if postmarked by Election Day, upholding Mississippi's law and protecting similar rules in over half the states. The decision, authored by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, rejected a Republican-led challenge and handed a major pre-midterm defeat to those pushing for stricter ballot receipt deadlines.
Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium Communications for $8 billion, creating vertically integrated satellite competitor
Rocket Lab announced on June 29, 2026 a definitive agreement to acquire Iridium Communications for approximately $8 billion in an all-stock and cash deal, expected to close in mid-2027. The acquisition gives Rocket Lab immediate access to Iridium's 66-satellite low-Earth orbit network, global L-band spectrum, and 2.55 million subscribers across government, defense, aviation, and maritime markets, positioning the combined company as a challenger to SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's satellite initiatives.
FDA approves LungFX device for centralized ex vivo lung perfusion, enabling assessment of discarded donor lungs
The FDA granted premarket approval to United Therapeutics for its LungFX device, the first proprietary system for centralized ex vivo lung perfusion that keeps donor lungs warm and functional outside the body for assessment. The approval addresses a critical transplant shortage: only 20-25% of donor lungs recovered from deceased donors are currently transplanted, with the remaining 75% discarded due to inability to adequately assess quality during standard cold-storage transport.