April 9, 2026 (San Diego) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
U.S.
- Trump’s VA killed a home loan program. Vets are now losing their homes because of it (NPR)
- Eligible young men will automatically be registered for US military draft later this year (NY Post)
- Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein docs (USA Today)
- Trump administration can’t make colleges provide race-related data, judge rules (Reuters)
- Looking to limit birthright citizenship, Trump turns to an 1884 Supreme Court ruling against a Native American man (NBC)
- Judge deals Trump setback in civil suits over Capitol riot (Politico)
- Board of Immigration Appeals transforms law behind the scenes (NPR)
- Judge sides with New York Times in challenge to policy limiting reporters’ access to Pentagon (AP)
- Judge orders Trump administration to bring back DACA recipient deported to Mexico (Politico)
- Prosecutor conceded lack of criminal evidence in Federal Reserve investigation, transcript shows ((AP)
- US Treasury plans to put Trump’s signature on new paper currency in first for sitting president (AP)
- Judge Halts Construction of Trump’s White House Ballroom (Associated Press)
- Epstein survivors sue Justice Department and Google over release of private information (CNN)
- Beer cans, helium balloons and mortgages: Unexpected costs of war (NPR)
- Eulogy for the CIA Factbook: The free standard for world facts, long an educational staple, is gone (AP)
- WORLD
- G7 agrees to secure Strait of Hormuz but only after war in Iran ends (Euro News)
- Israel says it will begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as US prepares for Iran ceasefire talks (CNN)
- Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM (BBC)
- Exclusive: US can only confirm about a third of Iran’s missile arsenal destroyed (Reuters)
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
U.S.
Trump’s VA killed a home loan program. Vets are now losing their homes because of it (NPR)
More than 10,000 veterans lost their homes to foreclosure since May of last year, when the Trump administration shut down a key safety net in the VA home loan program, according to the latest industry data. That is the highest pace of foreclosures for VA loans in a decade. Another 90,000 vets are heading toward foreclosure.
Eligible young men will automatically be registered for US military draft later this year (NY Post)
… Congress approved automatic registration for the draft last December as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, must-pass legislation that authorizes funding for military personnel and operations. .. The US has not had a draft since the Vietnam War, but the Iran conflict has fueled concerns that one could take place.
Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein docs (USA Today)
Bondi was the second Cabinet member removed in Trump’s second term, after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump administration can’t make colleges provide race-related data, judge rules (Reuters)
The Trump administration cannot force public universities in 17 U.S. states to turn over sweeping amounts of data so it can examine whether they have ceased considering race as an admissions factor, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
Experts on Native American law say the Elk v. Wilkins ruling has no bearing on whether the children of immigrants without permanent legal status can be denied birthright citizenship.
Judge deals Trump setback in civil suits over Capitol riot (Politico)
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that evidence produced so far in the litigation brought by police officers and Democratic lawmakers indicated that Trump’s speech at the Ellipse that day was political in nature and not subject to the immunity the Supreme Court has found for a president’s official acts.
Board of Immigration Appeals transforms law behind the scenes (NPR)
An administrative court known as the Board of Immigration Appeals has published a body of immigration case law that significantly narrows the due process and relief from deportation available for immigrants… The White House has done that by shrinking the size of the board by nearly half — and stacking the remaining slate of 15 judges with President Trump’s appointees.
Judge sides with New York Times in challenge to policy limiting reporters’ access to Pentagon (AP)
Federal Judge Paul Friedman blocked the Pentagon’s policy restricting journalist access, ruling it violates First and Fifth Amendment rights protecting free speech. The policy barred reporters who refused new credentialing rules from accessing the Pentagon, prompting The New York Times to sue in December.
Judge orders Trump administration to bring back DACA recipient deported to Mexico (Politico)
U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins called the deportation a “flagrant violation” of DACA’s promise of protection to those who arrived in the country as minors.
Prosecutor conceded lack of criminal evidence in Federal Reserve investigation, transcript shows ((AP)
The Justice Department’s investigation of a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Federal Reserve didn’t find any evidence of a crime, a federal prosecutor privately conceded under questioning by a skeptical judge earlier this month, according to a transcript of the sealed hearing.
US Treasury plans to put Trump’s signature on new paper currency in first for sitting president (AP)
The move would be a first for a sitting president, since traditionally, U.S. paper currency carries the signatures of the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer, not the president.
Judge Halts Construction of Trump’s White House Ballroom (Associated Press)
Decision says construction on the estimated $400 million project can’t proceed until Congress authorizes
Epstein survivors sue Justice Department and Google over release of private information (CNN)
A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Justice and Google on Thursday over the release of victim-identifying information in files related to the late convicted sex offender. The complaint, filed in Northern District of California federal court, alleges the documents the DOJ released in late 2025 and early 2026 “outed approximately 100 survivors” and published “their private information and identifying them to the world.”
Beer cans, helium balloons and mortgages: Unexpected costs of war (NPR)
The Iran war has been catastrophic for global oil and gas supplies, sending prices soaring. Drivers are paying a steep price at the pump every time they fuel up. Now, a host of other unexpected shortages and price spikes are starting to pop up, which stand to affect people’s lives and pocketbooks.
Eulogy for the CIA Factbook: The free standard for world facts, long an educational staple, is gone (AP)
… On Feb. 4, the Trump administration abruptly shuttered this widely accepted account of humanity and its flags, nations, customs, militaries and borders. The CIA framed the move as one of progress for an agency whose core mission has changed.
WORLD
G7 agrees to secure Strait of Hormuz but only after war in Iran ends (Euro News)
…The joint commitment from foreign ministers comes as US President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on European nations to help secure the waterway, which Tehran has kept virtually shut since the start of hostilities nearly one month ago.
Israel says it will begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as US prepares for Iran ceasefire talks (CNN)
Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah and reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain sticking points in a tenuous agreement to pause fighting in Iran.
Trump compares attack on Iran to Pearl Harbor in meeting with Japanese PM (BBC)
In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump was asked why he didn’t inform allies about his plan to attack Iran. Trump responded by raising Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II, saying, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan?”
Exclusive: US can only confirm about a third of Iran’s missile arsenal destroyed (Reuters)
The assessment, which has not been previously reported, shows that while most of Iran’s missiles are either destroyed or inaccessible, Tehran still has a significant missile inventory.