Venezuela Earthquakes, TPS Protections, & Otrovert Personality

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
June 26, 2026

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Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday evening, killing at least 164 people and injuring 971. Officials warned the death toll would likely rise.
The earthquakes were among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency. Authorities closed the country's main international airport, canceled classes, and mobilized healthcare workers as hospitals filled with the injured.
The quakes shook much of northern South America, triggering brief tsunami advisories across the Caribbean and forcing evacuations more than 1,000 miles away in Brazil's Amazon. The US joined more than a dozen countries in offering emergency assistance, deploying search-and-rescue teams, medical resources, and humanitarian aid.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 yesterday that the Trump administration can end Temporary Protected Status for about 356,000 immigrants from Haiti and Syria, clearing the way for them to lose legal protections and potentially face deportation.
Temporary Protected Status allows people from countries devastated by war, natural disasters, or other humanitarian crises to live and work legally in the United States. The administration argued that conditions in Haiti and Syria had improved enough to justify ending the protections, while challengers said many would face danger if forced to return.
The decision follows similar Supreme Court rulings allowing the administration to revoke protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans and marks another victory for Trump's broader effort to narrow humanitarian immigration programs. Affected immigrants may still pursue other forms of legal relief, including asylum.

The National Park Service said someone cut the liner of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with a knife or razor earlier this month, marking the first time the Trump administration has publicly detailed evidence supporting its claims of vandalism during the site's renovation.
Officials said the damage included cuts to the pool's waterproof lining and foam sealant, along with dozens of fence posts thrown into the water. The Interior Department has made seven arrests, issued seven federal citations, and opened 18 police reports, though it has not released details about the suspects or charges.
The renovation has faced criticism after the pool developed algae blooms and sections of its new blue coating began peeling soon after reopening. Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations into the $16 million project, questioning its no-bid contracts and whether construction flaws—not vandalism—are responsible for some of the damage.

A federal judge blocked the US Postal Service from withholding mailed ballots from states that refuse to share voter rolls, ruling the agency lacks authority to regulate elections. (More)

The Supreme Court struck down Hawaii's concealed carry restrictions, ruling that states cannot require permit holders to obtain property owners' permission before carrying firearms into businesses open to the public. (More)

A Senate resolution seeking to limit US military action against Iran failed after two Republican senators reversed their positions following meetings with President Trump and administration officials. (More)

The U.N. paused its Strait of Hormuz ship evacuation after a projectile struck a vessel off Oman. (More)

A British TikTok influencer faces possible execution in Dubai after being charged with premeditated murder in the fatal stabbing of a man she claims attacked her. (More)

Pakistani police rescued a French woman and her five children after she alleged her husband held them captive for more than a decade. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Thursday (S&P -0.01%, Nasdaq -0.46%, Dow +0.14%). The Nasdaq fell for a fourth day in a row while the Dow notched a new all-time high. (More)

Apple raised prices on MacBooks and iPads because of higher component costs, sending shares down more than 5% in their worst one-day decline since April 2025. (More)

JPMorgan promoted Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh to newly created co-president roles, advancing CEO Jamie Dimon's succession plan as another longtime executive retired from contention. (More)

Marina Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points as Toronto defeated Los Angeles 125-94. (More)

Ecuador rallied to beat already-qualified Germany 2-1, securing a place in the World Cup knockout stage with Gonzalo Plata's late winner. (More)

The Hornets traded LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to the Timberwolves for Naz Reid, an unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks, and multiple future pick swaps. (More)

The Supreme Court ruled Monsanto cannot be sued under state law for failing to include cancer warnings on Roundup labels because federal pesticide labeling law preempts such claims. (More)

Scientists discovered a tiny four-winged dinosaur in China whose unusual wings and feathers provide new clues about how bird-like dinosaurs evolved and the origins of powered flight. (More)

NASA's Perseverance rover confirmed organic carbon in ancient Martian rocks, strengthening evidence that life's building blocks once existed on Mars, though the discovery does not confirm past microbial life. (More)

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