The Kennedy Center will move forward with of the sprawling performing arts venue to allow for substantial renovation work, while some outdoor programming may continue. That鈥檚 according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity before an official announcement. The decision made Thursday comes after a federal judge for a two-year closure. Ahead of the meeting, the Kennedy Center鈥檚 management said it would present the board with three approaches for consideration.
Also, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, , will leave the Trump administration at the end of the month to spend more time with her young family. Leavitt, 28, called it a 鈥渂ittersweet decision鈥� in Wednesday shortly after President Donald Trump announced she would be stepping down.
Here’s the latest:
Wall of US Embassy in Brazil鈥檚 capital is vandalized as relations remain tense
One of the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Brazil鈥檚 capital as tensions between the countries remained high. Police said they detained one man in connection with the case but that he has already been released.
The messages against the U.S. government sprayed on the wall of its Brasilia embassy come as President Donald Trump places high tariffs on some Brazilian goods and revokes the Brazilian ambassador鈥檚 visa to Washington.
Brazilians rarely vandalize embassies and consulates of any country.
A message that read 鈥淭he USA makes war and profits from death鈥� was written in Portuguese and English outside the embassy.
The American embassy in Brasilia said in a statement that it is committed to Brazilians and to staffers鈥� security.
Brazil鈥檚 government did not comment on the incident.
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit alleging antisemitism at Harvard University
A federal judge in Boston on Thursday dismissed that accused Harvard University of turning a blind eye to harassment of Jewish students.
The decision from U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns said the administration failed to prove an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws. The judge said the lawsuit, filed in March, mostly focuses on incidents during the 2023-24 academic year, with a few from March 2025.
The cases were 鈥渢oo isolated and episodic鈥� to prove a persistent civil rights violation at the Ivy League campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the judge said.
The lawsuit accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students during that roiled the campus after on Israel. The Trump administration argued that Harvard officials did nothing as Jewish students were 鈥渉arassed, physically assaulted, stalked, and spat upon.鈥�
鈻�
Democratic senator calls for Hegseth to discuss civilian deaths from US strikes
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee is calling out the number of civilian deaths from U.S. military operations under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island cited that said 153 civilians were killed last year from U.S. airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Reed also said the Pentagon has yet to release a report into a U.S. airstrike in Iran this year that involved a missile hitting , killing up to 168 people.
鈥淭his did not happen in a vacuum,鈥� Reed said in a statement Thursday, noting that Hegseth had 鈥済utted鈥� .
Reed called for Hegseth to explain the incidents before Congress.
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit alleging antisemitism at Harvard University
A federal judge in Boston on Thursday dismissed that accused Harvard University of turning a blind eye to harassment of Jewish students.
The decision from U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns said the administration failed to prove an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws. The judge said the lawsuit, filed in March, mostly focuses on incidents during the 2023-24 academic year, with a few from March 2025.
The cases were 鈥渢oo isolated and episodic鈥� to prove a persistent civil rights violation at the Ivy League campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the judge said.
The lawsuit accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students during that roiled the campus after on Israel. The Trump administration argued that Harvard officials did nothing as Jewish students were 鈥渉arassed, physically assaulted, stalked, and spat upon.鈥�
鈻�
New aircraft carrier heads toward the Middle East after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln
The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East, according to Navy statements and open-source information.
It comes as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose long deployment in support of the Iran war includes a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days.
The Navy acknowledges the war has created an environment 鈥渨here traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions.鈥� That, in turn, led to shortages and loss of mail aboard the Lincoln.
鈥淟eadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail,鈥� the Navy statement said, before assuring that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and 鈥渉ealthy meal options.鈥�
Several Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations, more information and greater visibility into conditions aboard the USS Lincoln.
Kennedy Center board votes to add Trump鈥檚 name to the building鈥檚 facade
The Kennedy Center board has voted to to the facade of the performing arts building. That鈥檚 according to Rep. Joyce Beatty and lawyers.
The move Thursday comes after the board decided to move forward with a two-year closure to allow for substantial renovation work, while some outdoor programming may continue.
Kennedy Center board moves forward with a 2-year closure to allow for renovations, AP sources say
The Kennedy Center will move forward with a of the sprawling performing arts venue to allow for substantial renovation work, while some outdoor programming may continue, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The decision, made Thursday by a board largely composed of President Donald Trump鈥檚 allies, amounts to a doubling down on the institution鈥檚 initial plan so changes could be made that leaders said were necessary for safety. Critics have raised concerns that Trump could move ahead with more drastic renovations as part of his second-term effort to remodel Washington in his image.
The two people were not authorized to publicly discuss the board鈥檚 action before an official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in May blocked a closure set to take effect July 5. It was not immediately clear whether the board鈥檚 move would prompt another round of legal challenges. that the board鈥檚 March 16 vote backing the move appeared 鈥渋ll-informed and seemingly preordained.鈥�
In moving forward, board members may face pressure to prove they have thoroughly considered their options.
___
Associated Press reporter Steven Sloan contributed to this report.
Trump White House says it鈥檚 losing $19B-$26B a year in revenue as countries dodge tariffs
The Trump White House said in a new report on Thursday that countries are routing their exports through third countries to , estimating tax revenue losses of $19 billion to $26 billion annually.
The report specifically highlights that responded to new tariffs in 2018 by sending its goods to other nations ranging from Mexico to Malaysia for packaging and limited assembly 鈥� a practice known as transshipping. That pattern made it look like , but enabled Beijing to continue in ways that could challenge U.S. factories and employment.
鈻�
Democrats are gathering to give final approval to their 2028 presidential primary calendar
Democrats are gathering to finalize their this week, setting the stage for a wide-open contest to succeed President Donald Trump and chart a path ahead as the party鈥檚 voters oscillate between progressive and more moderate candidates.
The Democratic National Committee is expected to vote at its summer meeting in Austin, Texas, on the new order that frontloads states with more diverse populations.
The meeting comes ahead of bitterly contested midterm elections that will decide control of Congress later this year. Democratic voters have delivered mixed messages on the direction they want to see the party go 鈥� backing candidates viewed as as well as in consequential primaries across several states.
The group also is convening at a time of internal turmoil, with some members calling for DNC to be replaced.
鈻�
Did you pay tariffs last year? You might be due a refund from FedEx or UPS
If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account.
Shippers including for imported packages and received tariff refunds from the U.S. government have started to pass on those refunds to the customers that originally paid the tariffs.
The refunds to consumers are the last step in a monthslong process that kicked off in February when implemented by President Donald Trump under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act on goods from almost every country. The court ordered the government to return the tariffs it collected.
So far, about $100 billion in tariffs have been refunded to companies who paid them under a system set up by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
鈻�
US unemployment claims rise but remain at historically healthy levels
The Labor Department reported Thursday that 209,000 people filed jobless claims last week, up from a revised 200,000 the week before and higher than the 205,000 forecasters had expected. The four-week average of applications, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, was unchanged at 199,000.
The overall number of people collecting employment benefits the week that ended Aug. 1 dropped by 22,000 to 1.78 million.
Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and they鈥檝e been at a historically low range of around 200,000 to 230,000 a week for the past year, suggesting Americans who have jobs enjoy unusual job security. The U.S. unemployment rate is low at 4.1%, as the economy has proven resilient despite a spike in energy prices caused by the fighting with Iran.
鈻�
US stocks rise toward records as oil prices drop and inflation gets less bad
The stock market is rising toward an all-time high Thursday following that . Stocks also got a lift from easing oil prices in their latest yo-yo move.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% and was on track to top . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 185 points, or 0.3%, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1% higher.
Wall Street relaxed after a report showed prices at the U.S. wholesale level were 4.7% higher last month than a year earlier. While that鈥檚 still very high, it鈥檚 not as bad as June鈥檚 5.5% inflation rate at the wholesale level, and it was slightly better than economists expected.
鈻�
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says party is in a moment of 鈥榞eneration change鈥�
During an interview at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta, Jeffries said progressive wins in recent congressional races show generational change.
鈥淚 think transition, change, renewal will continue to be an important part of the story, and that energy is being brought to the House in a variety of different ways, including from our progressive members,鈥� Jeffries said.
But he also highlighted his own ascent to Democratic leader and some moderate wins as part of the same trend.
鈥淚 think we鈥檒l see what happens in terms of what the caucus looks like on the other side of the midterm election,鈥� Jeffries said when asked if the party鈥檚 progressive wing would have greater influence. 鈥淥ur focus right now is making sure that we win as many seats as we can in November.鈥�
But Trump鈥檚 vaccine order is not legally binding
Despite the precedent-breaking nature of Trump鈥檚 order, some experts are skeptical it will result in meaningful changes.
Neither the White House nor the FDA can compel drugmakers to develop and seek approval for new vaccines. And from a business perspective, companies have little incentive to develop individual versions of vaccines they already sell in combination shots.
鈥淭hey鈥檇 be competing against themselves, and there鈥檚 no reason to do that,鈥� said Dr. Paul Offit, a Children鈥檚 Hospital of Philadelphia vaccine researcher and former government adviser.
While Trump鈥檚 order calls for more federal research and recommendations, only state governments have the legal authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. The order simply advises states to consider updating their laws to reflect the Trump administration鈥檚 approach.
鈥淚 think states will ignore this,鈥� Offit said. 鈥淚 think that bottom line is that we don鈥檛 need to look to Donald Trump for our medical advice.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 vaccine plan would require manufacturing overhaul
Under Trump鈥檚 executive order, federal officials are instructed to develop within 90 days plans for breaking up the MMR shot and spacing out other vaccines.
But pharmaceutical scientists and former regulators say those changes would likely take years and require drugmakers to spend tens of millions of dollars on new studies and manufacturing facilities.
Currently, there are no individual vaccines in the U.S. for measles, mumps or rubella. All the vaccines approved for those viruses by are combination shots. That three-in-one approach has been the standard in the U.S. since the early 1970s.
Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former FDA vaccine chief, said companies would have to conduct large studies showing new individual shots produced immune system-boosting reactions in children similar to the current versions.
US ambassador condemns settler siege of Palestinian homes in the West Bank
Israeli settlers have besieged three homes in the for several days, including one owned by a Palestinian American, in what the U.S. ambassador called a 鈥渉orrific act of terror鈥� on Thursday.
Mike Huckabee鈥檚 remarks on X represented an unusually sharp rebuke from the Trump administration of the latest episode in a .
Starting Sunday, settlers gathered around three houses in the village of Qusra, according to local officials, Palestinian American homeowner Loui Ridi, and Ridi鈥檚 brother. At times numbering dozens, the settlers threw stones, attempted to bring down a stone wall nearby, and prevented the occupants from leaving as their food and water dwindled.
Israeli troops have intervened to try to restore order. On Thursday morning, Ridi鈥檚 brother, Qusai Abu Rida, who had holed up in the house with his own teenage son to defend it, said they were moved by Israel鈥檚 military to another home but still cannot leave the area.
鈻�
USAID fallout: In Nepal, when the aid workers stopped coming, the women and babies started dying
One baby at a time, the world is marching toward a grim milestone: Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase.
And while global child mortality data for 2025 won鈥檛 be available for several months, health officials are already bracing for a surge in deaths among the world鈥檚 youngest and most vulnerable.
The decision by President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration to dissolve the United States Agency for International Development 鈥� once the world鈥檚 largest humanitarian donor 鈥� gutted maternal and neonatal care, decimated nutrition programs for millions of pregnant women and children and left scores of birthing centers devoid of equipment, medicine and staff.
The U.S. government has repeatedly insisted that no one 鈥� and, particularly, no children 鈥� have died because of its funding cuts. But The Associated Press has documented the deaths of women and children from to .
鈻�
Reflecting Pool鈥檚 botched repairs threaten to tarnish the National Park Service鈥檚 reputation
President Donald Trump鈥檚 at have landed the National Park Service in a political predicament.
The beloved federal agency, its iconic park rangers and other employees have been serving the public while managing controversial demands by the Republican president 鈥� from at parks and other sites to the demolition of important structures under its stewardship, such as , to arresting visitors for alleged vandalism at the pool.
Critics say the monthslong Reflecting Pool saga and other demands by Trump risk undermining the integrity of a federal agency that鈥檚 long been held in high esteem by the American public.
鈥淣ever 鈥� not once in decades 鈥� have I witnessed such systematic degradation, disrespect and dismantling of the National Park Service as I see today under the thumb of President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum,鈥� said Bill Wade, a former park ranger and superintendent.
鈻�
Rubio and Bessent stayed on decoy flight from Turkey as Trump switched planes, official says
The two most senior members of Trump鈥檚 Cabinet, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, flew out of last month鈥檚 in Turkey on what was effectively a decoy plane following an Iranian threat, while , a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.
The official, who was briefed on the situation and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive details of presidential travel, said Rubio was aware of the switch and details of the threat behind it but could or would not say why he had stayed on the plane. The official said Bessent was likely aware but did not know for sure.
The official, however, noted that 鈥� especially one who has been the 鈥� are more robust than those for even top members of the Cabinet.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the secretaries of State and Treasury follow the vice president and the highest ranking member of each chamber of Congress in the presidential line of succession.
鈻�
鈥� Matthew Lee
Kennedy Center board set to vote on whether to move forward with closure
The Kennedy Center鈥檚 board is expected to meet Thursday to consider plans for the performing arts venue鈥檚 future after a federal judge blocked an earlier move for a two-year closure that would allow for substantial renovations.
Ahead of the meeting, the Kennedy Center鈥檚 management said it would present the board with three approaches for consideration.
The options would include a complete closure or a partial closure that would allow 鈥渟ome continued public access and limited programming in spaces unaffected鈥� by the work. A third option would 鈥渃onsider a highly limited series of phased closures to address only the Center鈥檚 most serious infrastructure needs while scheduling and maintaining a full slate of programming.鈥�
In blocking earlier plans for closure, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper the board鈥檚 March 16 vote backing the move appeared 鈥渋ll-informed and seemingly preordained.鈥� In moving forward, the board, which is largely made up of President allies, may face pressure to prove they鈥檝e thoroughly considered their options.
鈻�
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is leaving the Trump administration
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, , will leave the Trump administration at the end of the month to spend more time with her young family.
Leavitt, 28, called it a 鈥渂ittersweet decision鈥� in a social media post Wednesday shortly after President Donald Trump announced she would be stepping down. She recently returned to the White House podium after the birth of her second child, a daughter named Viviana, in May. She also has a 2-year-old son.
鈥淭he truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary 鈥� and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,鈥� Leavitt wrote.
Trump did not outline plans for who might replace her in the high-profile role.
鈻�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
