Roll Call

A long list of countries walked out of Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations, with the roll call including Suriname, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Tunisia, Senegal, Palestine, Panama, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and others. The mass exodus reflects anger over the war in Gaza and deepening international isolation of the Israeli leader, and the published list is being widely shared as the UN General Assembly session draws attention.

The White House has moved to cancel funding for health and education programs that Congress had already approved, according to Roll Call. The decision raises immediate questions over presidential power to withhold appropriated money and is likely to trigger objections from lawmakers in both parties who backed the spending.

President Donald Trump said he has approved new fuel economy standards that roll back Biden-era rules pushing automakers toward electric vehicles. The move ends what Trump called the Biden EV mandate, loosening requirements that had pressured manufacturers to sell more electric cars. The decision affects US automakers, emissions rules and the wider EV market.

President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have finalized the "Freedom Means Affordable Cars" initiative, which resets federal fuel economy standards and ends what the administration calls an illegal electric vehicle mandate. The move is billed as lowering car prices for consumers, though it is likely to draw challenges from environmental groups and states over rolled-back emissions rules.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that expanded voter-citizenship checks can resume ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The decision allows officials to restart verification programs aimed at confirming the citizenship status of registered voters, a policy that has drawn sharp debate between supporters who call it a safeguard for election integrity and critics who warn it could lead to eligible voters being wrongly removed from registration rolls.

Senators are preparing for a confrontation with Jack Smith at the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to Roll Call. Smith, the former special counsel who led federal investigations into Donald Trump, is expected to face pointed questioning from lawmakers. The hearing signals continued partisan tension over the prosecutions and their handling of cases involving the president.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that Social Security data can be used to help identify noncitizens on voter rolls, a victory for officials pushing tighter election verification measures. The decision is drawing strong reactions, with supporters calling it a step toward election integrity and critics warning it could enable improper voter purges and discourage eligible voters from registering.

President Trump announced new fuel economy standards that his administration says will terminate what he calls the Biden-era electric vehicle mandate, declaring 'America is back' as part of the rollout. The move rolls back emissions and mileage requirements that pushed automakers toward EVs, a centerpiece of his effort to unwind his predecessor's climate and auto policies. Supporters hail cheaper cars and regulatory relief, while critics warn it undermines emissions goals and EV investment.

The updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine has rolled out in the United States, with people booking Moderna booster appointments at pharmacies such as Walgreens. The news comes as a COVID update reports a 13th wave underway, with outbreaks in 40 states and territories and an estimated 3.8 million new infections, prompting renewed calls to get the latest shot.

In a game using MLB's automated ball-strike system, a batter challenged a called first strike, but the ruling was upheld after review. The challenge system, being used at the top level, allows players to contest ball-strike calls, with cameras determining whether the pitch crossed the zone. The incident is drawing attention as baseball rolls out robo-ump technology.