Month: September 2025

A new federal report shows that U.S. high school seniors are performing at their weakest levels in reading and math in more than 30 years. According to a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics, which released its findings Tuesday in what it calls the Nation’s Report Card, students across the country are increasingly struggling to meet proficiency standards in science, math and reading.

The report, published by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), found that average scores for 12th graders in both subjects fell three points between 2019 and 2022, marking the steepest decline since the assessments began in 1992. The 2022 results mark the first NAEP assessments administered since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person learning nationwide. The exams, given every two years since 1969, provide one of the most consistent long-term snapshots of student performance in the U.S.

Pre-pandemic results already showed limited progress. In 2018, eighth graders saw no gains in math and only a one-point increase in reading, with an average score of 267 out of 500. The pandemic-era data confirms that many students continued to struggle in the aftermath of remote instruction.

The center evaluated approximately 23,000 eighth graders in science,19,300 12th graders in mathematics and 24,300 12th graders in reading from January to March 2024. Upon assessing eighth graders in science and 12th graders in mathematics and reading, the students’ average scores dropped in each subject between 2019 and 2024.

The report also highlighted setbacks in science. Among eighth graders, average scores dropped four points since 2019. Nearly one-third of students tested scored below the “basic” benchmark—the lowest share since 2005—while 45% of 12th graders and 38% of eighth graders were also below basic levels, suggesting many are struggling to grasp even foundational science concepts.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the findings as “bleak” and noted that despite billions spent on K-12 programs each year, achievement gaps continue to widen and said that “more high school seniors are now performing below the basic benchmark in math and reading than ever before.” McMahon also argued during a visit to Detroit on Monday that more authority over education should be shifted to state governments, and underscored the urgency of reversing the decline: “If America is to remain competitive in the world, students must be able to read proficiently, think critically, and graduate ready to tackle complex challenges,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, said in a post on X about McMahon’s visit to Michigan that restoring control to states would allow parents and communities to better equip children with the skills needed for future success.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals, meanwhile, urged caution in interpreting the results, emphasizing that test scores represent only one measure of student achievement. The group said in a statement on X:  “Students need more mental health supports, educators need resources, and schools need safe environments to thrive.”

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A federal appeals court on Monday upheld an $83 million defamation verdict against President Donald Trump, rejecting his bid to overturn the judgment awarded to former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll in 2019.

Trump’s lawyers had argued the case should be dismissed, saying it inflicted “severe damage to the presidency” and represented a “great miscarriage of justice.” Carroll’s attorneys countered that no one, including a sitting president, is above the law.

Last year, a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in January 2024 after finding Trump repeatedly defamed her in 2019 – both during and after his presidency – when he denied sexually abusing her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. The amount Trump owes has continued to grow due to New York’s 9% annual interest rate on judgments.

In its ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Pres. Trump failed to provide any legal basis to revisit earlier findings on presidential immunity. The three-judge panel wrote in reference to the punitive damages imposed that “Trump has failed to identify any grounds that would warrant reconsidering our prior holding on presidential immunity. We also conclude that the district court did not err in any of the challenged rulings and that the jury’s damages awards are fair and reasonable.” 

The panel added that: “Trump acted with, at a minimum, reckless disregard for the truth” when he called Carroll a liar and said she’s not his type. The panel said the $18.3 million the jury awarded Carroll in compensatory damages was fair, writing: “After Trump released his statements, which were viewed by between 85.8 to 104 million people, Carroll was instantly and continuously attacked on Twitter and Facebook and in emails. She received thousands of such attacks, including hundreds of death threats.”

Carroll’s lead attorney, Roberta Kaplan, welcomed the ruling, saying her client is looking forward to the appeals process coming to an end so “justice will finally be done.”

Carroll first went public in 2019 with allegations that Trump sexually assaulted in the mid-1990s. Trump has consistently denied Carroll’s allegations and any wrongdoing, calling them a “hoax” and accusing Carroll of fabricating the story to promote her book.  Carroll went on to file two separate lawsuits — the first, tied to Trump’s statements while in office, led to the $83 million award. The second, made possible under a temporary New York law allowing expired sexual assault claims to proceed, included allegations of the assault itself and defamatory remarks Trump made after leaving office. In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, ordering him to pay Carroll $5 million.

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned a lower court order that had restricted federal immigration officers from conducting certain patrols in Los Angeles and other areas of Southern California. The ruling clears the way for President Trump to resume sweeping immigration enforcement stops in the region, as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to carry out mass deportations of people in the U.S. unlawfully.

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision comes as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents also step up enforcement in Washington amid Trump’s unprecedented federal takeover of the capital city’s law enforcement and deployment of the National Guard. The high court issued a short order without explanation; with Justice Brett Kavanaugh writing separately that he questioned whether constitutional violations had occurred. He noted that given Los Angeles’ sizable undocumented immigrant population—many of whom gather at day-labor sites, work in construction, or speak little English—officers could often claim reasonable suspicion in practice: “”Especially in an immigration case like this one, it is also important to stress the proper role of the Judiciary. The Judiciary does not set immigration policy or decide enforcement priorities.”

By granting an emergency request, the justices temporarily set aside a July 11 ruling by U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong in Los Angeles that prevented federal immigration authorities from stopping people in Southern California without reasonable suspicion that they are in the U.S. unlawfully. That order barred officials from relying solely on certain factors like a person’s race or occupation as the basis for a detentive stop.

Immigrant advocacy groups and workers’ organizations contended the policy violated the Fourth Amendment, which requires law enforcement to establish “reasonable suspicion” before making stops. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Frimpong’s order on August 1, prompting the administration to seek relief from the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the injunction issued by the district court hampered the ability of immigration authorities to enforce the nation’s immigration laws in Los Angeles and put them at risk of violating its order during routine investigative stops.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented alongside the other two liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She condemned the ruling, warning that it opened the door to discriminatory practices: “we should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent,” Sotomayor wrote adding that the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which protects against unlawful searches and seizures, should protect everyone: “After today, that may no longer be true for those who happen to look a certain way, speak a certain way, and appear to work a certain type of legitimate job that pays very little.”

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A new report from The New York Times says the Trump Administration has rolled out a new federal immigration enforcement initiative in Massachusetts, aimed at deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the operation includes the city of Boston, with sources stating that the operation began in early September and is expected to last several weeks. The effort reflects a broader strategy by the Trump administration to escalate deportations in cities led by Democratic officials who oppose federal immigration measures.

DHS confirmed Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun an operation called “Patriot 2.0”, designed to build on the May campaign known as Operation Patriot. The agency said the effort will focus on what it described as “the worst of the worst” offenders living in the state.

In its statement, DHS criticized Boston Mayor Michelle Wu over the city’s sanctuary policies, arguing they shield undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement. The agency claimed those measures “not only attract and harbor criminals but also place these public safety threats above the interests of law-abiding American citizens,” vowing that DHS will arrest criminals released by local authorities. The statement continues to state that “under President Trump and Secretary Noem, nowhere is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return.”

Earlier this month, the Justice Department filed suit against Mayor Wu over Boston’s sanctuary policy, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey criticized the federal action, telling MSNBC on Sunday: “What we have seen from ICE and from the administration really isn’t about public safety, it’s about political theater. It’s about a political power grab and an attempt to intimidate.”

White House officials told CNN that the Boston operation coincides with similar enforcement plans in Chicago, part of a broader push to crack down on sanctuary cities in the months ahead. Both operations mirror a large-scale initiative in Los Angeles earlier this year, where federal authorities reported 5,000 arrests since June. Officials added that the president has the option of deploying the National Guard in Boston or Chicago if federal agents determine additional support is needed to maintain order.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday, amid mounting pressure from within his party following a crushing defeat in July’s parliamentary elections.

Ishiba, who took office last October, had resisted calls from rivals inside the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to step down, arguing that his resignation could create instability at a time when Japan faces pressing domestic and international challenges. Ishiba’s fractured party while navigating a minority government was weakened by back-to-back electoral setbacks. His coalition lost its majority in the 248-seat upper house in July, compounding an earlier loss of control in the lower house. After weeks of intensifying criticism, he ultimately agreed to resign.

The prime minister’s decision followed a private meeting Saturday with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his longtime mentor, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Both reportedly urged him to resign before the party’s leadership discussions. Ishiba said during a press conference: “I have consistently stated that I do not intend to cling to this position, and that I would make a decision at the appropriate time after accomplishing what needed to be done. I believe this is precisely the appropriate timing. I have therefore decided to step aside and make way for my successor.”

Ishiba’s announcement came just one day before the LDP was set to decide on whether to call an early leadership race—an effective vote of no confidence had it gone ahead. Instead, Ishiba confirmed that he would begin the process for a party leadership election to select his successor, making Monday’s planned decision unnecessary. Ishiba’s top aide LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, a key figure in negotiations with the opposition, has also offered to resign over the election defeat. Moriyama expressed his intention to step down on Sept. 2 over the election loss, though Ishiba hasn’t granted his resignation.

Pressure escalated after the LDP last week adopted a post-election review calling for a “complete overhaul” of the party, fueling demands for either his resignation or an immediate leadership contest. Prominent conservatives, including veteran lawmaker Taro Aso—one of Ishiba’s fiercest critics—joined several cabinet ministers and deputy ministers in pressing for a swift leadership vote. In addition, Former Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said that Ishiba should “settle” the issue before Monday’s party meeting to prevent further division.

With Ishiba’s resignation confirmed, the LDP is now expected to schedule a leadership election for early October. Potential contenders include Koizumi; former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative; and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a centrist closely aligned with former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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