Last week in one sentence: The Supreme Court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to resume deporting migrants to “third countries” where they have no connections; Trump’s taxpayer-funded TV ads were paid for with $20 million in border security funding; Trump canceled $810 million in spending approved by Congress; the U.S. military formally withdrew from Iraq and ended its 12-year anti-ISIS operation; and the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use a federal citizenship database to verify voter rolls ahead of the midterms.

The Week, Distilled

1/ The Supreme Court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to resume deporting migrants to “third countries” where they have no connections. The unsigned order paused a lower-court ruling that migrants must be given notice and a meaningful chance to raise fears of torture or persecution before deportation. The Department of Homeland Security says more than 25,000 people have been deported to third countries under the policy. The justices will hear arguments in December on whether the policy is legal. (Day 2078 / Day 2079)

2/ Trump’s taxpayer-funded TV ads were paid for with $20 million in border security funding. The White House moved money Congress had allocated for border surveillance and drug-trafficking enforcement into a Homeland Security account for “commemorative events.” DHS then awarded a $20 million “national media campaign” contract the next day. Federal law prohibits using public funds for “propaganda purposes,” but FCC Chair Brendan Carr called the ads “normal” public service announcements. (Day 2079 / Day 2081)

3/ Trump canceled $810 million in spending approved by Congress. The White House notified Congress five days before the fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, leaving lawmakers without the required 45-day review period. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins called the move illegal, saying the White House budget office “does not get to decide which programs are worth funding.” (Day 2078)

4/ The U.S. military formally withdrew from Iraq and ended its 12-year anti-ISIS operation. Iraq is now responsible for containing ISIS and Iran-backed militias, while the Pentagon will continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support. It’s the second time the U.S. has withdrawn all of its military forces from Iraq since the 2003 invasion. (Day 2080)

5/ The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use a federal citizenship database to verify voter rolls ahead of the midterms. The order pauses a lower-court ruling that had blocked the system, which combines immigration and Social Security records to check voters’ citizenship status. Federal law, however, prohibits mass removal of voters within 90 days of Election Day. The emergency ruling was unsigned, with the court’s three liberal justices dissenting. (Day 2078)

Catch up on last week.

By the numbers.

  • 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living and 65% blame his policies for high prices. 67% of Republicans, however, say higher prices were due to factors outside his control.

  • The Pentagon is preparing to send 10,000 more troops and a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and a Marine amphibious group set sail this week, but one official said no final decision had been made on the carrier’s destination.

  • The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate jumped to 7.28%, its highest since November 2023. Rates rose from 7.03% last week, which was the biggest weekly increase since October 2022.

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved plans to cut 20% of positions reserved for generals and admirals. The military has until Jan. 1, 2027, to complete the reductions, which double the 10% overall cut Hegseth ordered last year.

  • The Trump administration has spent at least $1.7 million on taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting Trump and his policies ahead of the midterms. The funds came from the Department of Homeland Security and Trump reportedly personally pushed for the ads and helped select the imagery and videos used.

Most clicked last week.

  1. ‘President of the Unites States’: White House’s AI accord includes spelling error. “Trump and six tech executives voluntarily signed the document, which included a misspelling, committing to safely developing AI.” (The Guardian)
  2. Eric Schmitt pins down Jack Smith — as a Caitlin Clark fan. It appeared that the Missouri Republican misinterpreted a text message reference to the “hawks.” (Politico)
  3. Ex-special counsel Jack Smith tells Senate panel ‘I stand by’ decisions to charge Trump. Smith appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to defend his two criminal probes into President Donald Trump. (ABC News)
  4. Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back nearly $1B in spending approved by Congress. (Associated Press)
  5. Supreme Court Allows Expansive Federal Database for Voter Screening. (New York Times)
  6. Data center bill falls short in Senate as lawmakers take final votes before the midterms. (Associated Press)
  7. Leaning into culture war flashpoints, Hegseth says he has transformed U.S. military. Hegseth told hundreds of junior military officers and enlisted leaders on Wednesday that the Trump administration has achieved a cultural shift in the military. (NPR)
  8. States That Ban Abortion Challenge Shield Laws for Providers Who Mail Pills. (New York Times)

The Last Week in WTF News Quiz.

Where did the $20 million for TV ads promoting Trump come from?

That’s one of 10 questions about this week’s news. Get answers and explanations as you go.

Take this week’s news quiz