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Rhian Lubin

Senior US News Reporter

Rhian Lubin is a senior US reporter and writer at The Independent, focusing on US news and politics, with an interest in stories about the American healthcare system. Rhian was a former features writer and climate journalist at the Daily Mirror newspaper in the UK and was named Environment Journalist of the Year at the 2023 British Press Awards.

<p>The last time President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lit the National Christmas Tree was 2019 </p>
LiveUS politics

Trump and Melania to attend National Christmas Tree lighting: Live

<p>Admiral Frank ‘Mitch’ Bradley, a respected Navy SEAL officer who leads US Special Operations Command, spent Thursday on Capitol Hill to answer questions about the strikes on suspected drug boats</p>
US politics

Democrat says boat strike video shows survivors in ‘clear distress’

<p>Robert O’Neill, the former U.S. Navy SEAL who was part of the elite military unit responsible for assassinating Osama Bin Laden, boasted that he has ‘killed more people than Jeffrey Dahmer.’ </p>
US politics

Ex Navy SEAL brags he’s ‘killed more people than Jeffrey Dahmer’

<p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington</p>
News

Hegseth ‘pushed top Navy boss who questioned boat strikes to resign’

<p>Mary Cutter lost her only child, 24-year-old Christian, to a sudden death in 2012 and she selflessly donated his organs, saving the life of Payton Herres</p>
Americas

Mom offers to pay for vital meds of patient who received son’s heart

<p>The shock departure of Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean, was announced by Hegseth on Oct.16</p>
US politics

Hegseth forced out admiral with concerns over boat strikes: report

<p>The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new travel ban that would include 32 countries, expanding the list from the 19 it currently restricts</p>
LiveUS politics

Trump’s new immigration ban could expand to include 32 countries

News

Trump stops immigration applications from 19 countries – here’s why

<p>The Trump administration has halted all immigration applications from 19 countries that were already under travel restrictions to the United States</p>
US politics

Trump halts all immigration applications from 19 countries

<p>A baby getting a vaccine </p>
News

RFK Jr vaccine committee likely to delay shots for newborns

<p>An advisory panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is reportedly preparing to recommend major changes to when children receive vaccines</p>
US politics

RFK Jr to make major changes to when children get vaccines: report

<p>The proposed legislation would strip the first lady Melania Trump and son Barron of their Slovenian citizenship</p>
US politics

MAGA senator’s dual citizenship bill could impact Melania and Barron

<p>President Donald Trump has withdrawn nearly twice as many nominations than he did during his first term, as his administration has been troubled by vetting issues and Republican pushback</p>
US politics

Trump withdraws record number of nominees in second term: report

US politics

Trump withdraws record number of nominees in second term: report

<p>President Donald Trump has withdrawn nearly twice as many nominations than he did during his first term, as his administration has been troubled by vetting issues and Republican pushback</p>
<p>Allies of President Donald Trump are reportedly ‘worried’ that he has ‘become out of touch’ with the public since he has scaled back his campaign-style rallies</p>
US politics

Trump insiders fear he’s ‘out of touch’ as rallies grind to a halt

EEUU-DEMÓCRATAS-EJÉRCITO
News

Scathing report says FBI ‘is a rudderless ship’

<p>The FBI is a ‘rudderless ship’ under Kash Patel, who was described as being ‘in over his head’ in a damning assessment by active-duty and retired agents</p>
US politics

FBI ‘is rudderless ship’ with Kash Patel ‘in over his head’ - report

<p>President Donald Trump has appeared in public almost 40 percent less than he did during his first term and the time he begins the day on average is getting later, according to analysis of his schedule.</p>
US politics

Trump, 79, has appeared in public 40 percent less than his first term

<p>President Donald Trump has appeared in public almost 40 percent less than he did during his first term and the time he begins the day on average is getting later, according to analysis of his schedule.</p>
US politics

Trump, 79, has appeared in public 40 percent less than his first term

<p>Widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk spoke of Turning Point USA’s support for Vice President JD Vance’s possible 2028 election bid following backlash to an intense hug between the pair onstage</p>
US politics

Erika Kirk teases TPUSA support for JD Vance in 2028

<p>President Donald Trump is yet to carry out a threat he made four weeks ago to slap Canada with an additional 10 percent tariff over a ‘fraudulent’ ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan.</p>
US politics

President quietly ignores Canada tariff increase after Reagan ad fury

<p>Nursing has been excluded as a ‘professional degree’ by the Department of Education as it looks to implement sweeping cuts to student loads laid out in President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (file image)</p>
US politics

Trump’s bill deems nursing not a ‘professional degree’ for students

<p>The ‘no tax on tips’ law was a provision included in President Donald Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and a key pledge of his 2024 presidential campaign</p>
US politics

IRS relaxes ‘no tax on tips law’ so more workers can take advantage

<p>Trump’s signature legislation, which was signed into law earlier this year, eliminates the Grad PLUS loans used by many students to pay for grad school, and puts a cap on the amount they can borrow.</p>
News

Healthcare degree non longer classified as ‘professional’

<p>Texas Sen. Ted Cruz bizarrely compared conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson to New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani</p>
US politics

Ted Cruz compares Tucker Carlson to Zohran Mamdani in bizarre rant

<p>Rep. Nancy Mace said that the group of GOP women who defied President Donald Trump by campaigning for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files ‘ran out of patience a long time ago.’</p>
US politics

Mace says she ‘ran out of patience a long time ago’ over Epstein files

<p>Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security ripped off a post on X written by a ‘manliness’ influencer in an push to justify the removal of migrants.</p>
US politics

Noem’s DHS rips off and shares ‘manliness’ influencer’s X post

<p>Texas Sen. Ted Cruz bizarrely compared conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson to New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani</p>
US politics

Ted Cruz compares Tucker Carlson to Zohran Mamdani in bizarre rant

<p>Rep. Nancy Mace said that the group of GOP women who defied President Donald Trump by campaigning for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files ‘ran out of patience a long time ago.’</p>
US politics

Mace says she ‘ran out of patience a long time ago’ over Epstein files

<p>Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security ripped off a post on X written by a ‘manliness’ influencer in an push to justify the removal of migrants.</p>
US politics

Noem’s DHS rips off and shares ‘manliness’ influencer’s X post

<p>Republican lawmakers have warned President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that withholding any documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein case ‘would add fuel to the fire’</p>
US politics

GOP lawmakers warn Trump and Bondi not to withhold Epstein documents

US politics

GOP lawmakers warn Trump and Bondi not to withhold Epstein documents

<p>Republican lawmakers have warned President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that withholding any documents relating to the Jeffrey Epstein case ‘would add fuel to the fire’</p>
Trump Epstein Takeaways
News

When will the Epstein files actually be released?

<p>Congress rushed through the bill to release the Jeffrey Epstein files after months of resistance from President Donald Trump and Republican House leadership</p>
US politics

What happens next after Trump signed bill to release Epstein files?

<p>Breast cancer patients Amy Logan (left) and Rachael Proffitt (right) both experienced delays in their urgent treatment, exacerbating their stress while trying to process having the life-threatening disease</p>
Americas

Cancer patients fighting health insurance red tape — for their lives

<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson railed against the Jeffrey Epstein bill for months but eventually caved to pressure Tuesday and joined the other 426 representatives who voted for it.</p>
US politics

Mike Johnson is furious at the Senate for approving the Epstein bill

<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson railed against the Jeffrey Epstein bill for months but eventually caved to pressure Tuesday and joined the other 426 representatives who voted for it.</p>
US politics

Mike Johnson is furious at the Senate for approving the Epstein bill

<p>Newsom’s team replied Sunday to a White House post with a still image from 1992 of Trump with Epstein taken from archived footage.</p>
News

Newsom uses Epstein photos to troll Trump and Melania

<p>California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team has been trolling President Donald Trump over Jeffrey Epstein again, and this time dragged the first lady into the discussion</p>
US politics

Newsom trolls Trump over Epstein picture and drags Melania in

<p>Demonstrators in Charlotte marched against federal agents surging into the city as border patrol officers arrested dozens of people within its first day of operations.</p>
US politics

Over 130 immigrants arrested in North Carolina

<p>The United Airlines flight had to divert (file image)</p>
News

Bomb scare on United Airlines flight as pilot makes emergency landing

<p>Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse — many of whom appeared in Washington, DC, in September to lobby for the the release of the case files — have released a powerful video urging House Republicans to vote to release all of the files in relation to the late convicted pedophile</p>
US politics

Epstein survivors push House Republicans to release the files

<p>Brian Glenn, the chief White House correspondent for <em>Real America’s Voices</em>, showed his support for Greene in a social media post after Trump called his girlfriend a ‘traitor’</p>
US politics

MAGA reporter defends girlfriend MTG after Trump attacks

<p>A United Airlines flight from Dallas to Chicago was forced to divert after a bomb threat, according to a report</p>
Americas

United flight makes emergency landing in St Louis after ‘bomb threat’

<p>Federal law enforcement agents have surged into Charlotte, North Carolina, the latest Democratic-run city targeted by Donald Trump’s anti-immigration offensive</p>
US politics

Charlotte becomes latest Democratic-run city to be targeted by Trump

<p>Four people died and five are injured after a small boat capsized off the coast of San Diego early Saturday</p>
Americas

Four dead after migrant boat capsizes off San Diego coast

<p>Keith Michael Lisa is suspected of smashing up acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba’s office and destroying her belongings</p>
US politics

Suspect accused of smashing up Alina Habba’s office is arrested

<p>Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman revealed that he received 20 stitches following a fall near his home two days ago, prompted by a flare-up of a cardiac-related issue</p>
US politics

John Fetterman shows off 20 stitches after hospital discharge

US politics

John Fetterman shows off 20 stitches after hospital discharge

<p>Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman revealed that he received 20 stitches following a fall near his home two days ago, prompted by a flare-up of a cardiac-related issue</p>
<p>President Donald Trump gloated over news that Rep. Thomas Massie has remarried after the death of his first wife last year</p>
US politics

MAGA reacts to Trump’s gloat over Thomas Massie’s second marriage

News

Trump labels former ally a ‘disgrace’ as Epstein files rift deepens

<p>President Donald Trump has escalated his feud with MAGA firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, blasting her as a ‘traitor’ for continuing to push for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files</p>
US politics

Trump escalates fallout with Marjorie Taylor Greene in stunning slur

<p>Stacey Plaskett, the U.S. Virgin Islands non-voting delegate, appeared to be messaging with the late disgraced financier in February 2019 while the hearing was ongoing and asked Epstein for guidance</p>
US politics

Epstein texted Democrat hints during Michael Cohen questioning

<p>Stacey Plaskett, the U.S. Virgin Islands non-voting delegate, appeared to be messaging with the late disgraced financier in February 2019 while the hearing was ongoing and asked Epstein for guidance</p>
US politics

Epstein texted Democrat hints during Michael Cohen questioning

<p> Maxwell has also been allowed to largely keep to herself, the outlet reports.</p>
News

Ghislaine Maxwell reportedly receiving ‘special privileges’ at prison

<p>Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking co-conspirator, is reportedly receiving ‘special privileges’</p>
US politics

Ghislaine Maxwell enjoys bathroom break that fellow inmates don’t get

<p>The Trump Organization looked to bring in nearly 200 foreign workers on visas this year, the highest total to date, according to data from the Department of Labor.</p>
US politics

Trump Organization asked for foreign visas for nearly 200 workers

<p>Epstein claimed to Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had ‘spent hours’ with a victim</p>
US politics

Epstein claimed Donald Trump ‘knew about the girls’ in private emails

<p>Wolff and Johnson both commented on what could happen next in the Epstein files saga in the days before the emails dropped</p>
US politics

Michael Wolff and Johnson eerily foreshadowed Trump-Epstein bombshell

<p>Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges</p>
News

Jeffrey Epstein emails make bombshell claim about what Trump knew

<p>A conservative law firm has threatened a Missouri school district with legal action after students were shown a video acknowledging the significance of LGBTQ+ history month</p>
Americas

School district threatened with lawsuit after kids shown LGBTQ+ video

<p>Straight-A student Anna Kepner, 18, was aboard the Carnival Horizon ship traveling from Miami to the Caribbean when she died</p>
US Crime News

FBI probes mystery death of straight-A teen on Carnival cruise

US politics

Shutdown sees FAA ban most private jets from landing at busy airports

<p>An off-duty police chief who shot two Boston Terriers ‘in front of children’ is reportedly now suing the dogs’ owners</p>
Americas

Off-duty cop shot two dogs in front of children. Now he’s suing

<p>Disgraced former GOP congressman George Santos has claimed that he is fleeing New York City after Zohran Mamdani clinched victory in the mayoral election</p>
US politics

Trump-pardoned liar George Santos claims he’s fleeing NYC over Mamdani

US politics

Trump-pardoned liar George Santos claims he’s fleeing NYC over Mamdani

<p>Disgraced former GOP congressman George Santos has claimed that he is fleeing New York City after Zohran Mamdani clinched victory in the mayoral election</p>
<p>Nearly two-thirds of young Americans have considered relocating to another country due to the state of the nation, according to research</p>
US politics

Young Americans considering fleeing US over state of nation - study

<p>More than 800 flights are expected to be grounded in the US on Friday</p>
News

Hundreds more flights cancelled as US government shutdown takes toll

<p>By late Thursday over 800 flights within and in and out of the U.S. had already been canceled for Friday </p>
US politics

Major flight cancellations hit as airports comply with shutdown cuts

<p>People wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on November 4, 2025. With the federal government shutdown entering its second month, lines at airports are expected to grow amid increased absenteeism among security and safety staff at some of the country's busiest hubs</p>
News

The 40 airports reducing flights due to the government shutdown

<p>People wait in a security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on November 4, 2025. With the federal government shutdown entering its second month, lines at airports are expected to grow amid increased absenteeism among security and safety staff at some of the country's busiest hubs</p>
News

The 40 airports reducing flights due to the government shutdown

<p>Passengers are bracing for travel chaos as the Federal Aviation Administration is due to announce the 40 airports where flights will be reduced by 10 percent because of the ongoing government shutdown.</p>
US politics

NYC, Los Angeles and Chicago among 40 airports to see fewer flights

<p>Democratic strategists David Axelrod and Van Jones criticized the tone of Zohran Mamdani’s fiery victory speech after he was elected New York City’s next mayor</p>
US politics

‘Old guard’ Dem strategists criticize Mamdani’s victory speech

<p>FBI Director Kash Patel has lashed out at criticism he’s faced for using a government jet to see his girlfriend perform at a wrestling event</p>
US politics

Patel lashes out after using government jet to see girlfriend perform

<p>Trump claimed not to know who Binance co-founderChangpeng Zhao is, despite pardoning him</p>
US politics

Trump says he doesn’t know who Binance founder is despite pardon

<p>President Donald Trump said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids ‘haven’t gone far enough’ when confronted with questions about the administration’s tactics</p>
US politics

Trump says ICE ‘hasn’t gone far enough’ when confronted about tactics

<p>Millions of Americans are worrying about how they will feed their families as a vital food assistance program lapsed for many this weekend amid the ongoing government shutdown</p>
US politics

As Americans go hungry, US wastes up to $400 billion of food a year

<p>Donald Trump being interviewed by Norah O'Donnell for 60 Minutes</p>
US politics

Trump dodges question on whether US would defend Taiwan

<p>Donald Trump was interviewed on 60 minutes</p>
News

Trump refuses to discuss Taiwan on first 60 Minutes slot since lawsuit

<p>Former U.S .President Barack Obama speaks as Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (R) sits next to him during a campaign rally in the Chartway Arena on November 01, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia</p>
US politics

Obama shreds Trump administration - ‘It’s like every day is Halloween’

<p>President Donald Trump has been blasted for attending a lavish Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago hours before a vital food assistance program relied upon by millions of Americans was about to lapse</p>
US politics

Trump slammed for Gatsby Halloween party as vital food funding lapses

<p>There was an ‘intentional’ explosion at a Harvard Medical School building early Saturday and two people were seen running from the building, according to police</p>
US Crime News

‘Intentional’ explosion at Harvard Medical School, say police

<p>The White House has withheld the names of individuals and companies who have donated towards President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom, according to a report</p>
US politics

White House ‘withheld names of some donors’ to Trump’s $300M ballroom

<p>President Trump threw a lavish Halloween party inspired by the Great Gatsby</p>
News

Controversy over Trump’s lavish Halloween party intensifies

<p>Crypto exchange company Binance helped the Trump family’s own cryptocurrency venture make billions before Donald Trump pardoned its co-founder Changpeng Zhao, according to a report</p>
US politics

Binance helped Trump crypto company make billions before boss pardoned

<p>The Department of Homeland Security has been posting “misleading” videos on social media from years ago to push its deportation narrative, analysis has found</p>
US politics

DHS sharing videos from years ago as it pushes deportation narrative

<p>The job cuts, announced Tuesday, are the first wave that could affect as many as 30,000 corporate jobs – the largest layoffs in the Jeff Bezos-owned company’s history</p>
Business

Amazon announces 14,000 job cuts in continued AI push

<p>Crypto exchange company Binance helped the Trump family’s own cryptocurrency venture make billions before Donald Trump pardoned its co-founder Changpeng Zhao, according to a report</p>
US politics

Binance helped Trump crypto company make billions before boss pardoned

<p>The Department of Homeland Security has been posting “misleading” videos on social media from years ago to push its deportation narrative, analysis has found</p>
US politics

DHS sharing videos from years ago as it pushes deportation narrative

<p>The job cuts, announced Tuesday, are the first wave that could affect as many as 30,000 corporate jobs – the largest layoffs in the Jeff Bezos-owned company’s history</p>
Business

Amazon announces 14,000 job cuts in continued AI push

<p>President Donald Trump urged American troops to buy cars from Japanese manufacturer Toyota after long complaining about the lack of American vehicles sold in Japan.</p>
US politics

America First Trump tells US troops to buy Japanese-made Toyota cars

<p>President Donald Trump</p>
News

Donald Trump raises tariffs on Canadian goods

<p>Two people were killed and 11 were injured in the shooting </p>
News

Boy among two killed in mass shooting at Halloween party

<p>A deaf woman survived being hit by a small custom-made plane that crashed into her as she walked her dog in a soccer field</p>
Americas

Deaf California woman survives being hit by plane as she walked dog

<p>The Department of Homeland Security was forced to remove MGMT’s <em>Little Dark Age</em> hit from an ICE recruitment drive social media post after the band issued a takedown request</p>
US politics

ICE removes MGMT song from social media post after band hits back

<p><em>The Washington Post</em>’s editorial board has jumped to the defense of President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom in its latest op-ed for the newspaper</p>
US politics

Bezos’s Washington Post jumps to the defense of Trump’s new ballroom

<p>Two people, including a 16-year-old boy, are dead and 11 others were injured in a mass shooting at a North Carolina Halloween party that got out of hand, police said</p>
US Crime News

Mass shooting at North Carolina Halloween party leaves 2 dead

<p>President Donald Trump said he is slapping an additional 10 percent tariff on Canada for not pulling down a ‘fraudulent’ ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan fast enough</p>
US politics

Trump says he is hitting Canada with extra 10% tariff over Reagan ad

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