02.10.26 - ICE funding stalled, Trump threatens U.S.–Canada bridge, Judge blocks mask ban, U.S. speedskater comes out, Funding increase for the 211 hotline

2.11.26 - Judges Push Back on Mass Detention, GOP Rebels on Tariffs, Grand Jury Spares Senate Democrats, U.S. Opposes West Bank Expansion, FDA Rejects Moderna Vaccine

Visit this link [https://beacons.ai/samanthaconlah] for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link [https://rss.com/podcasts/gli-stati-uniti-oggi]. Sources: Borger, Julian. “‘A step in the wrong direction’: Israel’s West Bank plans prompt global backlash” The Guardian. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/israel-west-bank-plans-global-backlash [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/israel-west-bank-plans-global-backlash] Cheney, Kyle. “Judges may have found a way to bypass 5th Circuit ruling upholding Trump’s mass detention policy” Politico. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/texas-immigration-detention-rulings-00774124 [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/10/texas-immigration-detention-rulings-00774124] Mangan, Dan. “DC grand jury declines to indict Sens. Kelly, Slotkin for seditious conspiracy: MS Now” CNBC. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/kelly-slotkin-grand-jury-trump-hegseth.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/kelly-slotkin-grand-jury-trump-hegseth.html] Mole, Beth. “FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine” ARS Technica. 10 Feb 2026. https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/fda-refuses-to-review-modernas-mrna-flu-vaccine/ [https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/02/fda-refuses-to-review-modernas-mrna-flu-vaccine/] Stracqualursi, Veronica, and Main, Alison. “Three House Republicans cross party lines to block effort to shield Trump from challenges to his tariffs” CNN. 11 Feb 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/house-trump-tariffs-vote-republicans [https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/house-trump-tariffs-vote-republicans] These stories are summaries. The United States Today — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

02.10.26 - ICE funding stalled, Trump threatens U.S.–Canada bridge, Judge blocks mask ban, U.S. speedskater comes out, Funding increase for the 211 hotline

Visit this link [https://beacons.ai/samanthaconlah] for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link [https://rss.com/podcasts/gli-stati-uniti-oggi]. Sources: Arrieta, Rolando. “U.S. skater Connor McDermott-Mostowy joins record number of out LGBTQ Winter Olympians” NPR. 09 Feb 2026. https://www.npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5703620/speedskater-connor-mcdermott-mostowy-lgbtq-olympian [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/09/nx-s1-5703620/speedskater-connor-mcdermott-mostowy-lgbtq-olympian] Burdelski, Julia. “Lt. Gov. Austin Davis stumps in Pittsburgh for boosting 211 help line budget” TribLive. 09 Feb 2026. https://triblive.com/local/lt-gov-austin-davis-stumps-in-pittsburgh-for-boosting-211-help-line-budget/ [https://triblive.com/local/lt-gov-austin-davis-stumps-in-pittsburgh-for-boosting-211-help-line-budget/] Cheney, Kyle, and Gerstein, Josh. “Judge blocks enforcement of California’s law banning masks for ICE agents” Politico. 09 Feb 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/judge-blocks-enforcement-california-ice-agents-masks-00772396 [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/09/judge-blocks-enforcement-california-ice-agents-masks-00772396] Gold, Michael. “Talks on Immigration Enforcement Limits Still Stuck With Deadline Nearing” New York Times. 08 Feb 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/dhs-funding-immigration-shutdown.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/us/politics/dhs-funding-immigration-shutdown.html] Harvey, Lex, and Waldenberg, Samantha. “Trump threatens to block opening of new US-Canada bridge” CNN. 10 Feb 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/gordie-howe-bridge-canada-trump-threat-intl-hnk [https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/gordie-howe-bridge-canada-trump-threat-intl-hnk] These stories are summaries. The United States Today — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

2.8.26 - Pelosi Backing JFK’s Grandson, Netanyahu Meeting With Trump, Mass Arrests at Minnesota Protest, The Super Bowl Halftime Show: Bad Bunny vs. Kid Rock, and Pittsburgh’s Boil Water Advisory

Visit this link [https://beacons.ai/samanthaconlah] for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Per l’episodio in Italiano, visita questa link [https://rss.com/podcasts/gli-stati-uniti-oggi]. Sources: Davis, Sarah. “Americans prefer to watch Bad Bunny halftime show over Kid Rock’s: Poll” The Hill. 07 Feb 2026. https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5728286-halftime-show-poll-results/ [https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5728286-halftime-show-poll-results/] Mokam, Bernard. “At Least 50 Arrested After Protests Escalate Outside Minnesota Federal Building” New York Times. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/us/minneapolis-immigration-protesters-arrested-whipple-building.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/us/minneapolis-immigration-protesters-arrested-whipple-building.html] Ochacher, Jared, and O’Keefe, Ed. “Nancy Pelosi to endorse Jack Schlossberg in New York congressional race” CBS News. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nancy-pelosi-to-endorse-jack-schlossberg-new-york-congressional-race/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nancy-pelosi-to-endorse-jack-schlossberg-new-york-congressional-race/] Ravid, Barak. “Netanyahu to hold urgent meeting with Trump Wednesday amid Iran negotiations” Axios. 07 Feb 2026. https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/netanyahu-trump-iran-negotiations [https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/netanyahu-trump-iran-negotiations] Reese, Quincey. “Boil water advisory impacting 95K in Allegheny, Washington counties could take ‘several days’ to lift” TribLive. 07 Feb 2026. https://triblive.com/local/regional/boil-water-advisory-issued-to-95000-in-allegheny-washington-counties/ [https://triblive.com/local/regional/boil-water-advisory-issued-to-95000-in-allegheny-washington-counties/] These stories are summaries. The United States — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.

02.07.26 - Immigration Detention Ruling, The Census, Nuclear Talks With Iran, TrumpRx, And ‘Pittsburgh Says ICE Out!’

Visit this link [https://beacons.ai/samanthaconlah] for additional materials, resources, and content. An episode in Slow English for those who want to follow American news without the stress. Sources: Ebrahim, Nadeen, and Salem, Mostafa. “US and Iran conclude high-stakes talks in Oman. Here’s what to know” CNN, 06 Feb. 2026, https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/middleeast/us-iran-oman-talks-explained-intl [https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/middleeast/us-iran-oman-talks-explained-intl] Raymond, Nate. “US appeals court upholds Trump's immigration detention policy” Reuters, 06 Feb. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-appeals-court-upholds-trumps-immigration-detention-policy-2026-02-07/ [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-appeals-court-upholds-trumps-immigration-detention-policy-2026-02-07/] Schneider, Mike. “Census Bureau plans to use survey with a citizenship question in its test for 2030, alarming experts” PBS News, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/census-bureau-plans-to-use-survey-with-a-citizenship-question-in-its-test-for-2030-alarming-experts [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/census-bureau-plans-to-use-survey-with-a-citizenship-question-in-its-test-for-2030-alarming-experts] Swift, Megan. “‘Pittsburgh Says ICE Out!’ protest, march takes place this weekend” TribLive, 06 Feb. 2026, https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/pittsburgh-says-ice-out-protest-march-takes-place-this-weekend/ [https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/pittsburgh-says-ice-out-protest-march-takes-place-this-weekend/] Sy, Stephanie, and Jackson Hudgins. “How Effective Will TrumpRX Be at Lowering Prescription Drug Prices for Americans?” PBS News, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-effective-will-trumprx-be-at-lowering-prescription-drug-prices-for-americans [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-effective-will-trumprx-be-at-lowering-prescription-drug-prices-for-americans]. Gli Stati Uniti Oggi — Slow English is narrated, recorded, and produced by Samantha Watkins. Music by Ol’ Matty G.