Fifth Circuit Limits Mail-Order Access to Abortion Pill
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily restricted mail-order access to the abortion pill mifepristone, mandating that it be distributed only in-person at clinics. This unanimous decision, which responds to arguments from Louisiana officials regarding state sovereignty and safety, effectively rolls back a 2023 FDA policy that allowed prescriptions via telemedicine and mail. The ruling is expected to lead to an appeal to the Supreme Court, marking a significant change in abortion access following the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Judge rules military lawyers can prosecute civilians
U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon Elkins ruled that the Justice Department can lawfully use military lawyers from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps to prosecute civilians, a decision stemming from a case involving Minnesota resident Paul Johnson, who was charged with assaulting a Customs and Border Protection agent. The ruling clarifies that exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act allow for such appointments, despite arguments against it from Johnson's legal team, which plans to appeal the decision.
Medicare Advantage Plans Face Benefit Cuts by 2027
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare Advantage health plans may face cuts to supplemental benefits starting in 2027, despite a 2.48 percent payment increase, amounting to over $13 billion. This decision comes as insurers like Humana and UnitedHealthcare indicate the need to reduce benefits to meet profit targets amid rising medical costs. Approximately 54 percent of eligible beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, which have increasingly relied on these extras to attract members.
Trump Appoints Former Lawyers to Key Government Positions
At least 10 former personal lawyers of President Trump have secured significant roles within his administration or have been nominated to federal judgeships since he returned to office in January 2025, according to POLITICO. Notable appointments include Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Solicitor General John Sauer, with others like Justin Smith nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Critics have raised concerns about the implications of this direct pipeline from Trump's legal team to influential government positions.
Trump Briefed on Military Options Amid Rising Fuel Prices
President Donald Trump is set to be briefed by U.S. Central Command on potential military actions in Iran as fuel prices in the United States surge to their highest levels in nearly four years, with gas averaging $4.30 a gallon. The spike in prices follows reports of proposed U.S. strikes aimed at breaking the deadlock in negotiations with Tehran, amid ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route for global oil. Brent crude prices reached over $126 a barrel, the highest since 2022, before settling around $114.
