美国计划通过互换释放4000万桶战略石油储备

2026年9月30日 07:48 / 联合早报

美国能源部在得州弗里波特设有一处战略石油储备基地。 （路透社）

美国能源部战略石油储备项目管理办公室星期二（9月29日）发布邀约公告，计划以“互换”方式向市场释放4000万桶原油。

新华社报道，根据美国能源部公告，计划参与“互换”的企业需要在近日提交提议。在公布“互换”合约后，联邦政府预计在11月和12月分批次交付储备原油。企业则最早可以从2027年4月开始归还原油，最晚归还期间为2029年年底。

据美国能源部介绍，美国释放战略石油储备可以通过“销售”和“互换”方式进行。在“互换”方式下，炼油企业因飓风、输油管道堵塞或航道关闭等紧急情况，从战略石油储备借出原油，随后足量归还。

数据显示，美国今年3月至6月已经开展三批石油储备“互换”，“互换”合约总共涉及1亿零700万桶原油。

美国能源部3月11日发表声明说，将在大约120天内释放1亿7200万桶战略石油储备，以应对美国和以色列军事打击伊朗引发的油价上涨。

美国能源信息局最新数据显示，在截至9月18日的一周，美国仅拥有2亿8460万桶战略石油储备，与今年3月底水平相比减少超1亿3000万桶。美国战略石油储备曾在2009年12月至2011年7月初维持7亿2600万桶以上的高位。

Hegseth to announce a 20% cut to generals and admirals

2026-09-29T19:24:34-0400 / CBS News

By

September 29, 2026 / 7:24 PM EDT / CBS News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to call for a 20% cut in the number of generals and admirals across the U.S. military on Wednesday, a Pentagon official told CBS News.

The announcement is set to take place during a rare address to military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. It marks the latest move by Hegseth to change the structure of the military, especially at its top levels.

Fox News was first to report the planned reductions.

In May 2025, Hegseth ordered that a minimum of 10% of all flag and general officers be cut, along with 20% of general officers in the National Guard. In a one-page memo posted on the Defense Department’s website, Hegseth said at the time that the cuts were necessary to “drive innovation and operational excellence.”

He argued that the military must be “unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness,” and the key to achieving this would be “removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”

As of July, there were 851 active-duty generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, according to a Defense Department tally. A year earlier, there were 848 general and flag officers. Federal law caps the number at 857.

Wednesday’s speech comes exactly one year after Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, where he slammed the Defense Department’s “woke” standards and “toxic leaders.” He also called for tighter standards, railing against “fat generals and admirals” and service members with beards.

At least 20 generals, admirals and civilian military leaders have been fired or have resigned their jobs since Hegseth became defense secretary, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Army, Navy and Air Force’s top uniformed officials. The secretaries of the Army and Navy, two civilian posts, have also been replaced.

A former National Guard infantry officer and Fox News host, Hegseth frequently criticized senior military leaders before becoming the military’s top civilian leader, casting them as insufficiently supportive of frontline troops and overly focused on diversity initiatives.

There is some debate over whether the military has too many generals and admirals, a Congressional Research Service report from May notes.

Critics argue that adding too many top-level officers can slow down decisionmaking and make the military overly bureaucratic. But others counter that senior leaders are necessary to oversee coalitions with other countries’ militaries, navigate technological change and manage an increasingly complicated Defense Department.

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona told reporters Tuesday that Hegseth is “in the process of purging the upper echelon of the military from its best leaders.”

“We need strong leaders. These folks have decades of experience, some of the best leadership our military has ever had. He’s getting rid of them,” Kelly said.

Ibrahim Aksoy contributed to this report.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/vance-high-profile-military-departures-hegseth-needed-culture-shift/

Vance addresses high-profile military departures under Hegseth: “We needed to have a culture shift”

(05:03)

Trump government ads draw artist protest, regulatory complaints

2026-09-29 / Reuters

By Dawn Kopecki and Helen Coster

September 29, 2026 6:29 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

US President Donald Trump speaks during National Design Studio launch event for America.gov, a new AI-powered government website, at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., US, September 29, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

• Artist demands White House stop using “Love Me”
• Watchdog seeks removal of taxpayer-funded ads
• White House calls ads patriotic public service spots

NEW YORK, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Taxpayer-funded television ads featuring President Donald Trump ​drew fresh scrutiny on Tuesday after the recording artist behind a song used in ‌one spot demanded the White House stop using his music and a watchdog group asked federal regulators to pull the commercials from the air.

The developments added to growing criticism of the three nationally broadcast ads, which celebrate a “golden age ​of America” and are airing five weeks before midterm elections, with ethics experts and lawmakers ​from both parties questioning whether public funds are being used to promote Trump ⁠politically.

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Attorneys for Christian Berishaj, who performs as JMSN, sent the White House a cease-and-desist letter saying ​his song “Love Me” was used without permission, while Public Citizen filed complaints with regulators arguing the spots ​are campaign advertisements that should not be produced or distributed with taxpayer resources.

Democratic Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday to answer for the ads, saying the administration had diverted $20 ​million from the agency for the ad campaign.

“This administration’s defense of using Americans’ tax dollars to air ​these ads is as absurd as it is offensive,” they wrote in a letter to Mullin.

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The White House did ‌not ⁠immediately respond to Reuters questions on Tuesday about the cost of the ads or criticism that they amount to political advertising funded by taxpayers. It previously defended the spots as “public service announcements” intended to promote patriotism rather than campaign ads.

The ads end with the disclaimer “Paid for by the US Government.”

‘LOVE ME,’ ​THE ADS IMPLORE

One ad features ​Trump declaring that “America ⁠will never be a communist country” while a chorus repeats the words “love me.” Another combines images of Mount Rushmore with footage of Trump praising a “golden age ​of America.” A third describes a “final battle” against the “deep state” and closely ​resembles one ⁠of Trump’s 2024 campaign advertisements.

Berishaj said in an Instagram post that he would “never authorize my music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign.”

Public Citizen asked broadcasters to stop airing the spots and urged federal ⁠authorities ​to investigate whether executive branch officials improperly engaged in partisan political ​activity.

“These ads are campaign advertisements, which should be produced and distributed on campaign time and without involving taxpayer dollars,” the group ​said.

Critics say the spots may violate longstanding restrictions on government propaganda and political activity.

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Editing by Howard Goller

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Appeals court declines to pause sanctions against Trump lawyers in IRS settlement

2026-09-29T16:58:35.563Z / Reuters

By Andrew Goudsward and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff

September 29, 2026 4:58 PM UTC Updated 19 mins ago

A 3D-printed miniature model of U.S. President Donald Trump with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service logo in the background is seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights

• Summary

• 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued ruling
• It found judge’s order did not violate free speech rights
• Judge earlier decided that Trump sought personal benefits
• Those included audit protections and a $1.8 billion fund

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – A US appeals court declined on Tuesday to immediately block sanctions ‌against lawyers for Donald Trump who a judge accused of misusing the court system in settling a lawsuit the Republican president filed against the Internal Revenue Service.

The ruling, rejecting a request made by Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department, was issued by a three-judge panel of ​the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals, with no dissents noted.

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The decision for now lets stand an ​order by Miami-based US District Judge Kathleen Williams concluding that Trump improperly filed a $10 billion lawsuit ⁠to extract personal benefits from the US government, including a now-abandoned plan for a nearly $1.8 billion fund for his allies ​and protections from tax audits.

Williams determined that the agreement was improperly collusive given that Trump, as president, controls the agencies ​his personal lawyers sued.

The judge’s order referred one of Trump’s personal lawyers to Florida legal disciplinary authorities and barred any of the parties in the case — including Trump, his adult sons and his namesake company — from referring to the agreement as a court settlement or citing ​any of its terms in future legal proceedings.

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In their appeal of the judge’s ruling, Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department ​argued that it ran afoul of the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech.

The 11th Circuit panel concluded that the bar ‌referral ⁠for one of Trump’s lawyers, Alejandro Brito, was not a final order that could be appealed. The panel also determined that the judge’s prohibition on Trump and his businesses referring to a settlement was sufficiently limited so as not to infringe on free speech rights.

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team reiterated claims that the president’s lawsuit against the IRS was ​an appropriate means to “hold those ​who wrong America and ⁠Americans accountable.” A Justice Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump filed suit this year against the IRS, alleging the tax agency did not do enough ​to prevent the leak of his tax records during his first term as president. ​Trump and Justice ⁠Department lawyers brokered an agreement in May to dismiss his lawsuit in exchange for the IRS giving immunity to him and his businesses over past tax claims and the department creating a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate his allies who allege prior ⁠government mistreatment.

The ​Justice Department scrapped plans for the fund following opposition from Democratic ​and Republican lawmakers.

Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department “did not submit or offer any evidence to explain their litigation conduct or demonstrate that the lawsuit and ​the settlement were not collusive,” the 11th Circuit panel stated.

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Adds detail on ruling in paragraphs 6-11
Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis and Will Dunham

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

US appeals court mulls contempt probe over Trump deportation flights

2026-09-29T18:18:11.72Z / Reuters

By Jan Wolfe

September 29, 2026 6:18 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

A Venezuelan migrant in handcuffs appears in an aircraft window, as the flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States arrives at Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia, Venezuela, January 19, 2026. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

• Summary

• Judge James Boasberg has probed whether Trump administration violated a court order
• Appeals court earlier blocked Boasberg’s inquiry but then voted to rehear the matter
• Some judges appeared skeptical of Trump administration’s bid to end the inquiry

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) – A US Justice Department lawyer asked an ​appeals court on Tuesday to terminate a judge’s inquiry into whether Trump administration officials willfully violated a judicial order ​directing them to stop deportation flights of Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador.

The three-hour oral argument was the latest development in a long-running standoff between President Donald Trump and US District Judge James Boasberg, who has sought to determine why his order was ignored, in a dispute that has become a test of the judiciary’s power ​to investigate executive branch decision-making.

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DOJ attorney Brett Shumate told the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit during ​an oral argument in Washington that the criminal contempt probe by Boasberg was “unlawful, unnecessary, and futile.”

“The district court ⁠judge here is going beyond the judicial role,” Shumate added.

A three-judge D.C. Circuit panel blocked Boasberg’s contempt probe in a 2-1 ruling earlier ​this year, but all 11 of the sitting judges on the intermediate court voted to rehear the case. The prominent appeals court has seven ​Democratic appointees and four Republican appointees.

Some of the judges on Tuesday appeared skeptical of Shumate’s arguments, saying Boasberg had properly invoked a federal rule of criminal procedure that allows a judge to investigate defiance of a court order and refer the matter for prosecution.

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Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, ​said Boasberg was simply conducting “fact-finding to know what happened and know why there was a violation of the district court’s order, oral and ​written.”

“The district court has to find out what happened and who was in the room providing the advice,” said Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, who was appointed ‌by ⁠Democratic President Barack Obama.

The dispute arose as part of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration under the Alien Enemies Act, with the plaintiffs arguing that the administration acted unlawfully with the deportation flights.

The 1798 law, which has been invoked rarely in US history, gives presidents broad powers to detain and deport non-citizens.

blob:https://www.reuters.com/63c08e8d-4cc6-4d9c-a12f-476653de45ce

The Venezuelan men at the center of ​the litigation were released from a Salvadoran ​prison last year and returned ⁠to Venezuela as part of a US-brokered prisoner swap.

Boasberg concluded last year that the administration appeared to have acted “in bad faith” when it hurriedly assembled three deportation flights at the same time that he was conducting ​emergency court proceedings to assess the legality of the effort.

The judge sought testimony from a high-ranking ​Justice Department lawyer, as ⁠well as a former department attorney who became a whistleblower.

In the 2-1 ruling issued in April, the three-judge panel said Boasberg’s request had encroached on “the autonomy of the executive branch” and “proposes to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy.”

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ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said during ⁠the hearing ​that Boasberg had acted courageously and refused to allow the executive branch to thumb ​its nose at him.

“No prior DOJ or administrator has ever taken these kinds of egregious actions and been so disrespectful to the judiciary,” Gelernt said.

“If you don’t uphold what ​this district court did, it will send a horrible message,” he said.

Reporting by Jan Wolfe in Washington; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Daniel Wallis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

US lawmakers including Sen. Warren push energy regulators to reject acquisition of power company AES

2026-09-29T17:06:46.059Z / Reuters

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) gestures as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies before a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the “Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress”, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Purchase Licensing Rights

• Summary
• Companies

• Lawmakers say the deal fails FERC’s public-interest standard
• AES investors and Ohio regulators already cleared parts of deal; closing targeted for 2026 or 2027

NEW YORK, Sept 29 (Reuters) – A group of US lawmakers including Senator Elizabeth Warren ​asked federal energy regulators this week to reject a more than

$33 billion sale of power company AES, saying it could drive up electricity ‌bills and benefit data centers at the expense of utility customers, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

U.S. electricity demand is being driven to record highs, largely by the proliferation of energy-intensive data centers, spurring a flurry of power mergers and acquisitions, some of which propose to take public electric utilities private.

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BlackRock’s

Global Infrastructure Partners, alongside Swedish private equity EQT

​and other investors, agreed in March to acquire AES

in a deal valued at about $33.4 billion including debt, making it one of ​the largest power sector transactions in recent years.

“The private equity industry’s involvement in the public utility market has ⁠significant implications for consumers’ energy costs at a time when Americans are facing record high utility bills,” said the letter dated Sept. 28, which ​was directed to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Laura Swett.

BlackRock declined to comment. EQT did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

AES in an ​emailed statement said, the acquisition is not expected to impact customer rates in company’s regulated utilities.

“No costs associated with the acquisition — including any premium paid or transaction-related expenses — will be borne by utility ratepayers and for the Company’s electric utilities in Indiana and Ohio,” it added.

The sale of AES is pending approvals by FERC, which is tasked ​with determining whether the transaction is in the public’s interest.

In their letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Laura Swett, dated September ​28, the lawmakers argued that the acquisition fails the public interest test, partially because it could increase energy costs for homes and businesses.

The letter was signed by a ‌bipartisan group ⁠of lawmakers, including Indiana representatives André Carson, a Democrat, and Victoria Spartz, a Republican, as well as Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

As part of the acquisition, publicly traded AES would become a privately held company, while utilities AES Indiana and AES Ohio would remain regulated subsidiaries.

The group said that GIP generally seeks an internal rate of return of around 15% to 20%, roughly double the historical 10% median ​earned by regulated utilities, creating incentives ​to pursue higher profits by hiking ⁠electricity rates.

AES has said in public filings that the deal would not raise rates at the utilities, which would continue to be state regulated and operated locally, and that the acquisition would broadly improve its access to ​capital to invest in critical grid infrastructure.

The acquisition, the lawmakers said, could also increase the risk of “cross-subsidization” ​between BlackRock’s utility holdings ⁠and its investments in data centers across the country.

The lawmakers argued that BlackRock’s growing ownership of both electric infrastructure and data centers could create incentives for utility investments that primarily benefit affiliated data centers, while leaving other customers to bear part of the costs.

“Even worse, if a data center fails, customers may ⁠continue paying ​for the unnecessary upgrades via increased utility bills,” the letter said.

AES shareholders have approved ​the transaction and Ohio regulators approved the transfer of AES Ohio earlier this month. The parties have said the deal is expected to close in late 2026 or early 2027, subject ​to remaining regulatory approvals, including by FERC.

Adds details on letter, background on regulations, in paragraphs 5-16

Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York and Sumit Saha in Bengaluru; Editing by Liz Hampton and Chizu Nomiyama

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Soros nephew divulges how family’s power helped bankroll El-Sayed’s education during secretive fundraiser

September 29, 2026 1:21pm EDT / Fox News

The billionaire George Soros’ nephew told attendees he helped launch El-Sayed’s career through a family fellowship

By Robert Schmad Fox News

Jeffrey Soros reveals that he personally helped pay for Abdul El-Sayed’s education during a closed-door fundraiser on Monday in video obtained by Fox News Digital.

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FIRST ON FOX:Jeffrey Soros, the wealthy nephew of billionaire Democrat mega-donor George Soros, detailed his yearslong connection to Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a Monday night fundraiser, according to footage obtained by Fox News Digital.

The Soros nephew, a wealthy Hollywood producer, hosted El-Sayed at his home Monday night for a fundraiser that attracted controversy given the emphasis the candidate has placed on getting money out of politics. During remarks, Soros noted that he played a key role in helping El-Sayed get his career off the ground, according to footage obtained by Fox News Digital.

“I just wanted to welcome you here and express my appreciation for coming. And it’s been a privilege,” Soros said while standing next to El-Sayed during the event, the footage showed. “Speaking of privilege, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Abdul since 2012. I got to interview him as a finalist for my parents. Fellowship, the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.”

The El-Sayed campaign and the Los Angeles Media Fund, where Soros serves as CEO, did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

DEM INSURGENT TURNS ON THE CHARM WITH PARTY ESTABLISHMENT AS SCHUMER LEAVES BITTER FEUD HANGING

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, speaks at the Michigan Democratic Nominating Convention in Lansing, Mich., on Aug. 29, 2026.(Anadolu via Getty Images)

Attendees were asked not to record the event, a common practice at many political fundraisers, organizers said in footage reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, which is designed to help immigrants and the children of immigrants get a leg up in the United States, pays out tens of thousands of dollars in stipend and tuition support to winners. El-Sayed won the fellowship in 2012, and it is touted on its website as one of its success stories.

MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL CALLS AIPAC DONATIONS ‘LEGALIZED BRIBERY,’ REMAINS SILENT ON OTHER DONATIONS

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, speaks to supporters at a campaign event, on August 2, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

The financial and political ties come as El-Sayed has made the influence of wealthy donors a recurring theme of his campaign.

“The fundamental corruption of our politics has been the system that allows corporations and would-be oligarchs and billionaires to buy politicians,” El-Sayed said during a 2025 local news interview.

“I want to get money out of politics, put money in your pocket, pass Medicare for All,” he said during a follow-up interview.

A flyer promoting the Soros fundraiser, which was attended by Hollywood notables, stated that attendees could donate up to $57,800 to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund, Fox News Digital previously reported. The Soros family’s political machine has also dumped millions into political committees that are supporting El-Sayed’s run for Senate.

SOROS NETWORK REBUILDS PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR PUSH AFTER STRING OF ELECTION LOSSES

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, left, and liberal billionaire George Soros.((Sarah Rice/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images))

“Abdul El-Sayed raising dark Soros money in California after begging Chuck Schumer for money in DC is the least surprising thing he’s done all cycle,” Alyssa Brouillet, communications director for GOP nominee Mike Rogers’ campaign, previously told Fox News Digital. “That’s what a conman does — says one thing and does another. Michiganders can’t trust this guy.”

El-Sayed’s campaign has defended itself by arguing that “corporate special interests are spending millions of dollars in dark money to try to buy Rogers a Senate seat because he’s spent his entire career making himself and his billionaire donors richer while Michiganders pay the price.”

Mamdani unveils strategy to combat antisemitism in New York City

2026-09-29T19:05:16.475Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/29/politics/mamdani-unveils-strategy-antisemitism-new-york-city

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a strategy to combat antisemitism Tuesday, including tens of millions of dollars in funding for hate crime prevention and Jewish cultural centers.

Mamdani, who has faced accusations of antisemitism from some Jewish groups over his criticisms of Israel and his handling of protests outside synagogues, has attempted to make outreach to Jewish communities in the city a strong element of his administration.

“Over the last year, I’ve met with Jewish New Yorkers across the five boroughs. I’ve met with them in their dining rooms, sat with them on the subway, and spoke to them in their shuls. Time and again, I’ve heard the same thing: antisemitism is real, and it is growing,” Mamdani said in a two-minute https://x.com/NYCMayor/status/2104949847421796398 posted on social media, laying out what he described as “a road map for how our administration will confront the scourge of antisemitism”

The first-term mayor vowed to devote more than $30 million in funding to prevention efforts and restarting the interagency security infrastructure working group to help city agencies identify threats to Jewish New Yorkers. Antisemitic hate crimes are up 8% so far this year and make up more than half of the hate incidents in New York City, according to statistics released by the New York Police Department earlier this month.

This move will also add funding to Jewish cultural centers and non-profits, including $2 million for the Queens Holocaust Memorial Garden and $2.5 million towards the Center for New Jewish Culture in Brooklyn.

“For generations, Jewish New Yorkers have sustained our city,” Mamdani said in the video, referencing noted composer Leonard Bernstein and businesses Kleinfeld Bridal and Katz’s Deli. “Today, we hold a responsibility to sustain and protect our Jewish neighbors.”

The new strategy comes as Mamdani has faced scrutiny from Jewish groups after making criticisms of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza a central element of his campaign. During his campaign, he suggested as mayor that he could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes, even though the US is not a signatory to the ICC. The mayor acknowledged earlier this summer that he would not have the legal authority to do so. He’s also faced backlash after comparing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its spending in US elections to “monsters” during a rally this summer.

Tuesday’s announcement was met with mixed reaction from Jewish groups, with several pointing to Mamdani’s rhetoric around Israel as contributing to antisemitism and arguing that his strategy did not go far enough.

“While the Mayor’s plan has a number of positive elements, including some increased security funding for Jewish institutions and expanding proven programs, it fails to address a central issue that the mayor himself has perpetuated: rhetoric that demonizes and delegitimizes Israel inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers,” the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, American Jewish Committee and New York Board of Rabbis said in a joint statement on X.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, whose organization launched a “Mamdani Monitor” to track the mayor’s administration, criticized the announcement in a post on X.

“Security grants do not substitute for moral clarity. A mayor who will not define antisemitism, will not confront terror flags being marched around in Jewish neighborhoods and terror sympathizers at the doorstep of a synagogue, and will not put his own politics aside is not fighting this crisis. He is managing around it,” Greenblatt said. “The mayor’s actions or inactions only serve to help fuel antisemitism in NYC. This ‘plan’ is just further proof.”

The plan’s rollout comes just days after Netanyahu was in New York City for the United National General Assembly, where he accused Mamdani of antisemitism and of distorting facts about Israel. At the same time Netanyahu was in New York, the mayor posted a video on X planting an olive tree at Gracie Mansion with Palestinian families from Gaza.

Some Jewish leaders, however, welcomed the new initiative.

“At a moment of real and rising antisemitism, extremism and violence across the ideological spectrum, our communities deserve a whole-of-government response,” Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs said in a statement. “This strategy marks an important step toward that goal — rooted in the recognition that Jewish safety and inclusive, pluralistic democracy must go hand-in-hand.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who proposed and passed legislation that would require police to publish plans to establish buffer zones at schools and houses of worship during protests, praised the plan to increase funding of security and Holocaust education.

“Jewish New Yorkers, and everyone in our city, deserve to be safe. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration to address the unacceptable rise of antisemitism in our city,” she said in a statement.

Trump unveils America.gov as AI-powered hub for passports, Medicare enrollment and more

‘Anyone who has used Grok or Gemini or ChatGPT will understand instantly how to use America.gov,’ Trump says

September 29, 2026 12:41pm EDT / Fox News

By James Cirrone

Trump says America.gov will streamline government paperwork: ‘We believe that your time matters’

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday instructing all federal agencies to integrate their websites’ information with America.gov as soon as possible.

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled America.gov, an AI-powered website designed to consolidate information from tens of thousands of federal webpages into a single searchable database.

After delivering brief remarks at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Trump signed an executive order that directs all federal agencies to make their websites “integrate directly” with America.gov as soon as possible.

The site is live as of Tuesday and allows users to type questions into a search bar that generates AI chatbot-style responses.

“Anyone who has used Grok or Gemini or ChatGPT will understand instantly how to use America.gov,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks during the launch of America.gov in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2026.(Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

TRUMP ANNOUNCES NEW ‘AI FORCE,’ VOWS TO PROTECT INDUSTRY AS AI CZAR ANNOUNCEMENT NEARS

Currently, the site can only answer questions and direct users on how to complete various tasks themselves.

U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia, who helped create America.gov, said that by 2027, citizens will be able to use the site to complete government forms and track the status of various applications.

In his speech, Trump highlighted several ways the site could streamline interactions with the federal government, including simplifying the paperwork involved when a woman changes her last name after getting married.

“Very soon, all she’ll have to do is ask America.gov and it’ll fill out the forms, track the progress and send her a new Social Security card, passport and insurance card in the mail,” Trump said.

President Donald Trump displays a signed executive order during the launch of America.gov in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2026.(Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PLANS AI-RUN GOVERNMENT WITHIN TWO YEARS

“Whether you’re a scout leader who wants to reserve a campsite at a national park, a senior citizen trying to choose a Medicare plan, or an American veteran trying to get the benefits that you’ve earned and so justly deserve, America.gov will be there to help,” he added.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz followed Trump’s remarks with a demonstration of how America.gov could simplify prescription ordering and other services.

Oz brought a woman named Lisa onstage who said she had spent more than a year trying to enroll in Medicare before revealing her newly issued beneficiary card on a large banner.

Oz said America.gov “explains what applies to Lisa’s situation and guides her through the decisions.”

At the same event Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that beginning in 2027, Americans will be able to use America.gov to apply for their first U.S. passport.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during an event to unveil the new America.gov website at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2026.(Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

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“Today, if you need your first passport, you start at the State Department’s website,” Rubio said. “There’s a lot of information up there, but if you actually want to apply, that is where the maze starts.”

Rubio said the site will allow users to upload their own passport photos, eliminating the need to visit a pharmacy or retail store to have one taken.

“No printing forms, no drugstore hostage photo, no appointment, no line, no middleman that you’re paying to do something that should be available to you,” Rubio said. “You tell America.gov what you’re trying to do and it walks you through every single step.”

More federal services are expected to be added over the coming months as agencies begin to integrate with America.gov.

James Cirrone is a writer on the Breaking/Trending News team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to james.cirrone@fox.com.

Gov. Beshear calls for ‘significant oversight’ from federal government of AI

2026-09-29T17:23:16.479Z / CNN Politics

By Dana Bash, CNN

Published 1:23 PM EDT, Tue September 29, 2026

Gov. Beshear calls for ‘significant oversight’ from federal government of AI

Inside Politics

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joins Dana Bash as major tech CEOs meet with President Trump for an AI summit. Beshear calls for federal regulation of the technology and argues, “Whether you’re a billionaire or not, you’re still living in this same world that could be threatened by this technology.”

2:28 • Source: CNN