U.S. and Rwanda Sign $228 Million Health Partnership to Boost Self-Reliance 
U.S.-EU Tensions Rise After $140 Million Fine on Elon Musk’s X Platform 
U.S. Urges Europe to Take Over Majority of NATO Defense Burden by 2027 
Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors for First Time as President Tightens Grip on Iconic Arts Institution 
Australia Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Officials Over Human Rights Abuses 
Syria Marks First Anniversary of Assad’s Overthrow Amid Ongoing Challenges 
Trump Backs Review of U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Hepatitis B Policy Change 
Hong Kong Election Sees Low Turnout Amid Public Anger After Deadly Fire 
U.S. Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Remove Members of Key Federal Labor Boards 
CFPB to Review Anti-Discrimination Policies and Fair Lending Rules Amid Policy Shift 
Zelenskiy Calls Talks With U.S. Envoys “Constructive but Difficult” as Ukraine Pushes for Peace Plan 
U.S. Defense Bill Sets Record $901 Billion Budget, Includes Ukraine Aid 
Japan–China Tensions Rise as Chinese Carrier Intensifies Air Operations Near Okinawa 
Southwest Airlines Has $11 Million Fine Waived as USDOT Cites Operational Improvements 
Thailand Launches Air Strikes as Border Clashes With Cambodia Intensify 
Zelenskiy Describes “Substantive” Call With Trump Envoys as Ukraine, U.S. Explore Peace Path 
Boeing Executive Says Trump’s Equity Stake Plan Won’t Target Major Defense Contractors 
President Donald Trump’s nominee for NASA administrator, billionaire pilot Jared Isaacman, previously faced fraud charges and lawsuits over casino debts, according to court records. Isaacman, who founded Shift4 Payments and commanded the first civilian SpaceX mission in 2021, was arrested in 2010 at the Canadian border for alleged fraud tied to bad checks written to Las Vegas casinos. He was released a day later.
In a Senate questionnaire, Isaacman explained the arrest stemmed from a dispute with Palms Casino over a travel reimbursement, claiming it was resolved within 24 hours and charges were dismissed. Court records, he noted, were sealed.
Separate lawsuits from Trump’s Taj Mahal and Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun alleged Isaacman wrote $2 million in bad checks between 2008 and 2010. The Taj Mahal lawsuit settled in 2011 for $650,000, while the Mohegan Sun case was withdrawn. Isaacman also disclosed two additional civil cases tied to casino debts during his nomination process.
When questioned by Senator Maria Cantwell, Isaacman described his actions as "immature hobbies" during his early business success, emphasizing that all legal matters were resolved quickly and would not impact his leadership. Despite the controversies, the White House praised Isaacman as "exceptionally qualified" to restore American leadership in space exploration.
Interestingly, while orbiting Earth aboard SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in 2021, Isaacman made history by placing the first sports bet from space, highlighting his continued ties to gambling.
The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on his nomination Wednesday.
