Venezuela Struck by Most Powerful Earthquakes in a Century
Two massive earthquakes—magnitude 7.5 and 7.2—struck Venezuela within one minute of each other on Thursday, making them the country’s strongest in over 100 years. The death toll has climbed to over 900, with rescue crews arriving from around the world to race the clock searching for survivors still trapped in rubble. The disaster unfolded as Venezuelans were celebrating Battle of Carabobo Day, a national public holiday. The U.S. Geological Survey has warned the final casualty count could be much, much higher in the end, and the U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat for neighboring countries following the quakes. President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency, while Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. “stands ready, willing, and able to help.”
More News
⚖️ Supreme Court backs Trump on immigration—twice: The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in two separate immigration cases Thursday, siding with the Trump administration on both. In the first, the court cleared the way to end Temporary Protected Status for roughly 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians—opening the door to potential deportations. In the second, the court allowed the administration to physically turn away migrants at the southern border before they can set foot on U.S. soil to claim asylum.
🏠 Housing bill in limbo: President Trump canceled a planned Wednesday signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, demanding the Senate first pass the SAVE Act voter ID bill. The President supports the housing act, but is using every method possible to inflict pain on the U.S. legislature, in hopes that he can force their hand to also pass a voter ID act. Under the Constitution the housing act would become law automatically after 10 days even without the president’s signature if he doesn't veto it.
💊 Border Patrol seizes massive meth haul: Officers at a Laredo, Texas port of entry intercepted more than 1,100 pounds of methamphetamines last week, valued at an estimated $10.1 million on the street. Nationwide, border drug seizures are up sharply, with law enforcement collecting 32% more narcotics in May 2026 than the same month two years earlier.
🗽 Progressive sweep in New York primaries: Left-wing candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won all three of their Democratic House primaries Thursday night. Brad Lander ousted incumbent Representative Dan Goldman, Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated Representative Adriano Espaillat, and Claire Valdez won an open seat—all three running as progressives or democratic socialists. In a separate race that drew nearly $40 million in super PAC spending, state assemblyman Micah Lasher won a crowded primary that included Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy.
🇬🇧 Starmer resigns as UK Prime Minister: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed his resignation Monday after President Trump appeared to break the news on Truth Social the day before, posting that Starmer “failed badly” on immigration and energy. Less than two years after leading Labour to a landslide election victory, Starmer was undone by a sagging economy, devastating local election losses, and pressure from within his own cabinet. He will remain as caretaker PM until a successor is chosen, likely by September, with former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham considered the front-runner.
🇮🇷 US-Iran peace talks show early progress, though some strikes continue: The first round of U.S.-Iran peace negotiations wrapped up in Switzerland last weekend, with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan announcing “encouraging progress” and the creation of a roadmap toward a final deal within 60 days. Talks focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending fighting in Lebanon. However, the announcement comes amid continued tensions—the U.S. struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities this Friday and Saturday after Iran attacked a cargo ship in the Strait, with both sides accusing the other of violating the ceasefire.
🏛️ Trump orders Lincoln Memorial pool repaired: President Trump directed immediate repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Friday, alleging vandals had slit the liner of the pool with a box knife and poured corrosive chemicals into the recently renovated landmark, resulting in the pool lining peeling and the pool growing algae. Five people were arrested and five others cited in connection with the alleged damage. The pool has become a source of political tension, with some calling the renovations the President did unnecessary and wasteful, as well as rushed.
✈️ New Air Force One unveiled: President Trump showed off the new Air Force One Friday—a converted former jumbo jet from Qatar—inside a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base. The aircraft features a navy blue underside, a red stripe, the presidential seal, and an American flag on the tail, replacing the JFK-era blue-and-white livery. Trump said he plans to fly it to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, next month.
🇺🇦 Ukraine launches massive drone assault: Ukraine carried out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war, striking a dozen Russian regions, Russian-held Crimea, and surrounding seas overnight.
⚖️ Bolton pleads guilty: Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to illegally retaining classified information, sealing a deal that could allow him to avoid prison time.
🏕️ Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy: Camp Mystic, the Texas summer camp where 27 people—25 girls and two teenage counselors—died in catastrophic floods last year, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
👨👧 Record number of young adults living with parents: A record 25.2 million adults under 35 were living with their parents in 2025, according to new Realtor.com research—surpassing even pandemic-era highs. About 70% of them are employed.
📊 The South keeps booming: New Census Bureau data show that Southern states grew at nearly double the national rate between 2020 and 2025, with a six percent population increase across all age groups. The South was the only U.S. region where the under-18 population grew during that period, with suburban metro counties leading the way.
Homestead News
I’m writing today from the Modern Homesteading Conference in the beautiful Coeur d'Alene, which has seen an influx of growth similar to the “Southern boom” I mentioned above. Friday night in the keynote address, Joel Salatin jokingly prodded the Idaho crowd, often known even more for their sense of rugged individualism than for their Russet Burbank potatoes: “You spend all these years begging God for customers, then God sends you a bunch of Californians, and you push them away and tell them to go back home. You should instead hug them with one hand and pick their pockets with the other!”
On the topic of homesteading conferences, whether you live near Texas, Tennessee or Idaho, it’s not too early to make plans to visit next summer and not only learn more about growing food, but connect with those also on the journey. Our partnerships with homesteading events now cover much of the U.S.
The Homestead Conference — April 23–24, 2027 — Waco, TX
The Homestead Festival — June 4-5, 2027 — Columbia, TN
Modern Homesteading Conference — June 25-26, 2027 — Coeur d'Alene, ID
