The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday temporarily restored access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a federal appeals court ruling and teeing up a showdown at the high court. On Friday, a three-judge panel of the ⁠Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a nationwide Biden-era policy allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be prescribed online and delivered by mail. The court held that the regulation is likely unlawful and inflicts ongoing harm while litigation proceeds. Over the weekend, manufacturers of the abortion drug filed emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to intervene. Acting alone, Justice Samuel Alito on Monday entered an administrative stay of the Fifth Circuit ruling, which is a short-term, procedural order that freezes legal proceedings to maintain the status quo.  The emergency order, set to expire next Monday, directs Louisiana to file briefs for consideration by the full court. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration expanded access to chemical abortion nationwide. Under the 2023 rules, mifepristone could be prescribed via telehealth and shipped without an in-person doctor visit. The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications, usually a combination of mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol, according to the Associated Press. The policy aims to circumvent some of the abortion bans that conservative states have implemented. Louisiana challenged the Biden-era policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the FDA relied on flawed or nonexistent data while eliminating safety protocols. The Daily Wire previously reported that the agency acknowledged it had not adequately studied the safety of remote dispensing and is still conducting a review, with no clear timeline for completion. The Fifth Circuit rejected the argument that courts should wait on the FDA’s ongoing review. Allowing the policy to continue, the panel argued, would effectively permit the agency to maintain a potentially unlawful regulation indefinitely. “Every abortion facilitated by FDA’s action cancels Louisiana’s ban,” the court wrote, emphasizing that such sovereign harms cannot be undone. The ruling outraged Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the decision “an appalling overreach.” The Trump administration has defended the F.D.A. in court as the agency conducts a new review of mifepristone. Some anti-abortion advocates have been frustrated with the speed of the review, putting the White House in an uncomfortable political position going into the November midterms. Susan B. Anthony, a prominent Pro-Life group, blasted the Trump administration and called for the immediate termination of FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary. “Indifference is completely unacceptable to millions of pro-life voters expecting the administration to act to save lives. Abortions are up, not down, after Dobbs, with at least 1.1 million deaths a year,” the group said in a statement. “More than 90,000 abortions occur each year just in states that protect babies in the law throughout all nine months of pregnancy — a direct result of Biden’s Covid-era mail-order abortion drug rule, which the Trump administration inexplicably allows to continue.” “This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP,” the group added. “The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top.” The White House was not immediately available for comment.

Throughout April, Congress faced a deadline everyone knew was coming. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a spy tool that enables our intelligence agencies to collect information on non-U.S. persons, was set to expire. Despite years of documented abuses and a growing bipartisan demand for reform, talks stalled, and Congress initially opted for a 10-day extension to work out their differences. After once again reaching an impasse, despite the grumblings of the deep staters, a last-minute agreement for another short-term reauthorization was reached for another 45-day extension, and life in America will go on. The House passed a measure to reauthorize Section 702 of FISA for three years without meaningful changes. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated this measure was “dead on arrival” in the Senate because of an attached ban on central bank digital currency. His preference is for a 45-day clean extension, and a three-week extension by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) failed on unanimous consent due to an objection from Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to an added provision to declassify a recent FISC ruling. While the intelligence community might argue that this uncertainty threatens national security, the reality is that the precarious position they find themselves in was entirely avoidable. Rather than taking the bipartisan calls for reform seriously, they played chicken and got burned. This fight has offered a rare, final chance for redemption, a chance to finally secure common-sense reforms that organizations across the political spectrum have spent years fighting for. Why FISA Isn’t Serving Our National Interest Section 702 is one of the most powerful surveillance authorities the federal government possesses, empowering it to collect the communications of non-U.S. persons located abroad. In the process, it also incidentally collects billions of Americans’ communications, and it has become a backdoor for warrantless surveillance of Americans. The FBI has routinely queried this massive database on Americans, all without ever seeking a warrant. When the public learned that the program was abused for everything from vetting romantic matches to spying on protesters and sitting members of Congress, the intelligence agencies shouldn’t be surprised that “trust us” isn’t a viable policy anymore. For years, critics and politicians across the political spectrum have raised serious concerns over the misuse of Section 702. Rampant, repeated violations and a lack of meaningful accountability have eroded trust in a key institution charged with keeping the country safe. Considering the stakes and value of the program, a significant portion of the president’s daily briefing contains information collected via 702; the fact that Congress and the intelligence community allowed this to come down to the wire reflects a sense of complacency. The 10-day extension didn’t have to happen, and it’s disappointing that another short-term reauthorization of 45 days was needed. Lawmakers had ample time to debate potential reforms, negotiate compromises, and pass something to keep the program’s lights on. Hopefully, this latest extension provides the necessary space to move beyond the false choice between subjecting Americans to total surveillance or total blindness for our intelligence agencies. Priorities For Reform First and foremost, Congress needs to close the backdoor search loophole. If the intelligence community would like to search an American’s communications, get a warrant. In many reform camp legislative proposals, there is a litany of carve-outs to allow for defensive queries, identify victims, and exempt metadata from the warrant requirement, all to ensure that, in exigent circumstances, these agencies can operate with the needed flexibility. Second, the government shouldn’t be able to buy its way out of Fourth Amendment scrutiny by purchasing information on Americans from data brokers. Ending the data broker loophole is critical. Otherwise, we are effectively turning every consumer’s smartphone into a tracking device for the state. Third, we must fix the definition of an electronic communications service provider. During the last FISA reauthorization fight, this definition was expanded so broadly that it could potentially deputize a wide range of businesses and organizations into the national security apparatus for simply providing access to communication infrastructure. This approach, where “everyone is a spy,” is a massive overreach that needs to be reined in. There is also a broader economic consideration. As the administration seeks to export the American AI tech stack globally, our domestic surveillance practices matter. If we fail to incorporate serious reforms, we undermine the faith other nations place in American technology. We will hinder our ability to win the AI race if our tech stack is viewed as a Trojan horse for our intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance. This isn’t about blinding agencies to legitimate threats. National security and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive. In fact, when the government violates Americans’ rights by ignoring the Constitution, it erodes the social contract that empowers it to operate effectively. That erosion is its own fundamental threat to national security. The administration, the intel community, and Congress have been given a second chance to stop kicking the can down the road and move toward reform. We need a Section 702 reauthorization that respects the law as much as it protects the country. There is more than enough time to do the right thing. *** James Czerniawski is the head of Emerging Technology Policy at the Consumer Choice Center. His work has been featured in The New York Post, Newsmax, Newsweek, and more. He has testified to Congress on government surveillance issues. You can follow him on X @JamesCz19.

Iranian forces launched cruise missiles at U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels under American protection in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first significant escalation since the implementation of the ceasefire last month. U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper described the actions by Iranian forces as “Iran initiating aggressive behavior” on a call with journalists Monday. “The cruise missiles were going after both U.S. Navy ships, but mostly after commercial shipping,” Cooper said. “We’ve defended both ourselves and, consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships.” Cooper declined to comment if Iran’s actions violated the ceasefire agreement. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. No U.S. Navy ships or commercial ships have been hit by Iran’s efforts which began about 12 hours ago, according to Cooper. He added that Iranian forces also used drones and small boats to attack commercial ships. Cooper said six of those boats were destroyed by Apache and Seahawk helicopters. “You typically see between 20 and 40 small boats in a pack coming out,” he said. “Today we saw six and eliminated them quickly. I think this is an example of the degradation of their capability. That doesn’t mean it’s all gone, but it’s highly degraded.” The attacks come as President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran through “Project Freedom,” an operation designed to restore the flow of global commerce through the narrow waterway after escalating Iranian threats. Trump said Iran had already targeted vessels not related to the operation, including a South Korean cargo ship. “Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!” he added. Cooper said the U.S. military is carrying out two simultaneous operations in two different bodies of water — one aimed at isolating Iran economically, the other at reopening maritime transit. “We’re enforcing the blockade in the Gulf of Oman. There is no commerce going into and out of Iran and we will be sustaining this effort. Second, we’ve now opened a passage through the Strait of Hormuz to allow for the free flow of commerce to proceed,” he said adding that the blockade has so far been 100% effective. He said that the pathway, which was used by two merchant vessels flying U.S. flags earlier today, has received “great enthusiasm” by over 87 countries represented by the vessels “held hostage” in the Arabian Gulf by Iran’s threats in the Strait of Hormuz. While the U.S. Navy is not personally escorting the vessels, it is protecting a corridor for them to pass through with large amounts of U.S. military assets. “We are employing U.S. ballistic missile defense capable destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms—meaning under the sea, on the sea, and from the air—and then 15,000 service members to extend this defensive umbrella across the Strait of Hormuz to protect our forces and also, as committed, to defend commercial shipping,” Cooper said. Aircraft, vessels, and personnel being used in the efforts include A-10s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, F-35s, EA-18 Growlers, RC-135, KC-46s, and KC-135 fixed-wing aircraft and numerous U.S. warships including destroyers, two carrier strike groups, and amphibious readiness groups and the Marine Expeditionary Units.  As the operations continue, Cooper says U.S. commanders on the scene “have all the authorities necessary to defend their units and to defend commercial shipping.” “Iranian forces are strongly advised to remain well clear of U.S. assets and personnel operating in international waters in and near the Strait of Hormuz,” Cooper said.

Pop star Britney Spears will avoid prison time after pleading guilty Monday in a California courtroom to reckless driving following her arrest earlier this year for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. During an arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court, a lawyer for Spears entered the plea on her behalf. Under the plea deal, Spears admitted to violating California’s “wet reckless” law, which is a lesser charge offered at the county prosecutor’s discretion, according to NBC. She will serve 12 months of probation, enroll in a three-month substance abuse program, and pay a fine of $571. The 44-year-old was also sentenced to one day in jail but credited for time served. On March 4, the California Highway Patrol arrested Spears on suspicion of D.U.I. after officers observed her driving erratically and at a high rate of speed near Thousand Oaks. Spears was the “solo occupant” of the BMW and “showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests.” Her representative released a statement at the time, calling it an “unfortunate incident” and saying that it was “completely inexcusable.” “Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law, and hopefully this can be the first step in a long-overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well-being.” The pop star shares two sons, Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with ex-husband Kevin Federline. In April, Spears, at the urging of family and loved ones, voluntarily checked herself into a treatment center, according to NBC. Spears was charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run in 2007, though the case was later dismissed. The following year, she was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation and placed under a conservatorship largely overseen by her father. The arrangement lasted 13 years, ending in November 2021 when a judge terminated it after the fan-driven “Free Britney” movement.

This article is part of Upstream, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you. *** There’s a trend going around social media where women brag about performatively hating on men before returning home to their loving husbands. “Coming home to my man after spending 2 hours being a certified man hater at dinner with the girls,” reads the caption to one video. This isn’t surprising. From “the future is female” to “everything a man can do a woman can do bleeding,” the culture is full of demoralizing messages about men. Under the influence of feminism, equality between the sexes long ago morphed into sameness between the sexes. It became an outright societal faux pas to assert any unique traits between men and women that might mean one sex is better than the other at doing some particular thing or exhibiting some particular trait. Now, boys are told they are outright useless. As pop star Sabrina Carpenter sings in her hit song “Manchild,” “Baby, what do you call it?/ Stupid?/ Or is it slow?/ Maybe it’s useless?/ But there’s a cuter word for it/ I know/ Manchild!” To our culture, men are second-rate women. It’s a complete reversal of the most cartoonish sexism of yesterday. Men are seen as less compassionate, less interesting, less emotionally intelligent, and less communicative women. Little time is spent engaging with the many ways in which men tend to possess uniquely strong character and personality traits. We ignore these traits at our own peril; they are absolutely essential for the building of a just society. Men are anything but useless. They are the most likely to die in wars and the most likely to do dangerous jobs. Over 90% of the most dangerous occupations are filled by men. That includes jobs like logging and construction, some of the most important occupations in the economy. Despite the risk, men keep choosing these types of occupations, ones where they are continually asked to put themselves in danger, often for the sake of another’s life. We should applaud them for it. As women, we can’t say we want “real men” who are confident and strong providers and then trash the entire sex as sub-rate humans just because they don’t emote like women. We can’t expect boys growing up in this culture to rise to the occasion and become the masculine men we need in society if they grow up being dismissed just for existing. We must assert that men are valuable in society and have unique capabilities and strengths compared to women, just as women do compared to men. That means we must do something that would make a lot of Western women uncomfortable, even those who wouldn’t necessarily describe themselves as feminist. We have to stop treating female character traits as inherently good and men’s as inherently bad. We have to assert that it is a good thing that men are more aggressive. If compassion and emotional intelligence are important for a cohesive community, then so is a penchant for competitiveness and emotional stoicism. The caveats here are obvious; a man unable to tell his wife he loves her needs to loosen up a bit. But a woman who emotionally manipulates those around her needs to gain control of her feelings. These are tendencies that beset both sexes uniquely, yet they are often rooted in sex-specific personality characteristics that are in themselves good. The second thing which we must do as women to assert men’s unique value in society is to admit that we need them. Not only does an individual woman need her individual man, but women as a group need men. Women need men to counterbalance their tendency to let emotions rule them. Women need men to take on the physically demanding labor their bodies cannot accomplish. Women need men’s protection as they carry out the physical bearing of children, from pregnancy to birth to breastfeeding. If such statements make you uncomfortable, it is likely that you have been influenced more than you realize by the current feminist malaise. *** Sarah Wilder is a wife and mom living on a small homestead in Michigan. She is a cultural commentator and a writer, and her work is regularly published in outlets such as Chronicles Magazine, 1819 News, and American Mind.