The Trump administration has finalized a rule that ends the use of federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for gender surgeries and treatments for minors.

The Details: The rule, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), prohibits Medicaid funding for "sex-rejecting procedures for children under 18" and blocks CHIP agencies from using funds for the same procedures for people under 19. Beneficiaries currently receiving hormone therapy can continue to claim benefits for six months after the rule comes into effect, which is expected on October 12. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level.

Key Quotes: CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said, "Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and convey no proven benefits. By cutting off federal funds for these sex-rejecting procedures, we're following the science, saving taxpayer dollars, and, most importantly, protecting children from potentially irreversible harm so they can truly flourish." Several outlets quoted Ma'ayan Anafi of the National Women's Law Center for an opposition perspective. Anafi called the move "politically motivated" and said it's "not about following the science. It's about promoting this administration's anti-transgender agenda. This stigma is really the primary function of this rule."

For Context: The Hill (Center bias) noted a 2024 study that found less than one percent of minors received some sort of gender surgery before adulthood. The Hill added that the study also found more cisgender male minors received gender surgeries than transgender minors. It cited breast reductions as an example, noting that 97% of them were males seeking treatment for gynecomastia. CMS projects that the move will save $235 million over a decade, with $138 million at the federal level and $97 million at the state level. In January 2025, a week after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order, "Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation."

Related Storylines: On Thursday, the Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that alleged hospitals used false diagnostic codes to bill insurance companies for gender-related care for minors. Subsequently, Vice President JD Vance ordered the Justice Department to investigate healthcare providers for fraud related to gender treatments.

How The Media Covered It: The Federalist (Right) referred to gender surgeries for minors as "​​child genital mutilation surgeries" and framed them as carrying significant risk. The publication also only included quotes from the Trump administration and framed the rule as final, with "​​the force and effect of law." The Guardian (Left), on the other hand, prominently said that "legal challenges could delay or block [the rule] entirely." Outlets from the left were more likely to refer to gender surgeries and treatment as "gender-affirming care."

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hired more than 2,000 video gamers to serve as air traffic controllers amid ongoing shortages.

The Details: The accelerated hiring was part of a campaign launched in April by the Transportation Department to fill positions by recruiting gamers. In an X post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the department has met 94% of its hiring goal.

Decline in Controllers: The number of air traffic controllers has declined 6% over the last decade, meanwhile there's been a 10% increase in the number of flights that rely on the air traffic control system, according to the US Government Accountability Office. The New York Post (Right) reported that the FAA has struggled to staff control towers since pandemic-era mass layoffs, which have coincided with an increase in plane collisions. In May, the FAA said it was reducing its target for air traffic control staffing from 14,633 to 12,563 in an effort to modernize scheduling and increase the time employees spend managing traffic. 

How the Media Covered It: The story was covered more by outlets in the center and on the right. AllSides found left-leaning coverage from only CBS News (Lean Left), USA Today (Lean Left), VICE (Left) and The Independent (Lean Left). CBS covered the story more objectively compared to other left coverage.

The Skills Needed: Outlets on the right emphasized Duffy's praise for the campaign. Zero Hedge (Lean Right), National Desk (Right), New York Post, Daily Caller (Right) and CBS all cited Duffy's claims that video gamers have skills like quick-thinking, focus and managing complex situations that are needed in air traffic control. They all also noted that additional training is needed and that controllers must meet federal eligibility requirements. Both Zero Hedge and CBS reported that the typical entry-level education for a controller is an associate's degree, with no related field work experience.

Safety Concerns: Vice covered the story more cynically, writing that the news was "surely meant to impress us but is actually deeply concerning." The outlet called the campaign a "half-cocked theory" and concluded with, "Maybe gaming skills help some people become good air traffic controllers, but planes are not video games, and passengers are not NPCs who can die and be save-scummed back to life." The Independent quoted a former FAA official who said video game experience "doesn't replace aptitude, or discipline, or decision making under pressure." It also cited anonymous online users who voiced concerns over safety, saying, "If they f*** up people die. They can't just restart a new game."

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reportedly plans to spend $20 million on gloves that can deliver electric shocks as a "de-escalation device." Outlets on the left emphasized mistrust of ICE due to past instances of violence and excessive use of force. Outlets on the right downplayed the effects of the devices and highlighted the need for more safety and protective tools for immigration officers.

The Details: The G.L.O.V.E. device, which stands for "Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter," could be distributed to ICE agents by March 2027. The gloves deliver about 380 volts of electricity when they come in contact with skin after they have been activated, though they cannot transmit electricity through hair, clothes, fur, or other barriers. For comparison, a TASER device typically delivers around 2,000 volts when in contact with the body, according to Newsweek (Center bias). John Peters, the president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, said, "It's immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting."

For Context: The G.L.O.V.E. manufacturer notes that "no more than two gloves should be applied at one time, and generally for no longer than 15 seconds." It also warns "against using them on certain higher-risk individuals, including children, pregnant women, the elderly and disabled people," according to Newsweek.

Concerns About Abuse: A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told Associated Press (Left), "ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do. Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public." Left outlets tended to describe the gloves as delivering "painful electrical shocks," while outlets on the right tended to highlight Peters' quote comparing it to a bee sting.

A Useful Deterrent During Arrests: Daily Wire (Right) noted that ICE's investment in the devices "comes as sources within ICE have described an uptick in violence by the individuals they're trying to arrest." It highlighted that ICE agents have seen a 1,300% increase in assaults and a 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, based on numbers provided by the Department of Homeland Security.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down her position at the end of August, President Trump announced on Wednesday.

The Details: Leavitt is stepping down to spend time with her family and children, according to a Truth Social post by Trump. She'll now serve as one of his "top outside" advisers, he said. In an X post, Leavitt thanked Trump for the opportunity, calling it "the honor and adventure of a lifetime." Leavitt recently gave birth to her second child in May and returned from maternity leave on July 16. No successor for Leavitt has been announced yet.

For Context: Leavitt served in Trump's first administration as an assistant press secretary from 2019 to 2021. She became a spokesperson for Trump's super PAC MAGA Inc. ahead of the 2024 presidential election and later transitioned to his campaign. Leavitt was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary at 27 years old.

Communication Style: The Hill (Center bias) and The New York Post (Right) noted that Leavitt was known for her more "aggressive and combative press strategy." The Post said she used this to "reprimand certain outlets for their coverage of the president." Politico (Lean Left) said Leavitt has been "widely praised on both the left and the right for being an effective communicator" and that "She earned a reputation for her tough but friendly banter with the press in that format."

From the Right: Coverage on the right generally focused on Trump's praise for Leavitt and her comments about wanting to be a more present mother. The Daily Signal (Right) and Daily Wire (Right) primarily cited quotes about Leavitt's decision to spend time with her family. The Daily Wire also noted Leavitt's statement that the US "is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party that seeks to destroy everything great about America." The New York Post said the press secretary role was "notorious for burnout" and that most White House press secretaries last about 1.5 to 3 years.

From the Left: The Guardian (Left) said the departure comes with Trump's approval rating "at a historic low" and as voters express frustration over increasing prices and the Iran war. The outlet juxtaposed Leavitt being a "devout Christian" with her more aggressive interactions with media and said that her briefings "rarely strayed off message…but did keep fact-checkers occupied." NBC News (Lean Left) mentioned that Leavitt is the fifth woman in a high-ranking position to leave the Trump administration this year. It detailed the tenure lengths of Trump's previous press secretaries and also noted Leavitt's unsuccessful Congressional bid in 2022.

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Chinese shipping company Sea Legend is slated to launch its first voyage along the Northern Sea Route (NSR) this week, prompting several new developments and media discourse on the viability of Arctic trade routes.

The Route: Sea Legend's vessel will depart from Ningbo, China, and reach Felixstowe, UK, on its "Ice Silk Road" route. The route, which has relied on summer temperatures and melted Arctic ice, avoids chokepoints controlled by other countries or militant groups and is expected to take half as long as going through the Suez Canal. According to American maritime outlet gCaptain (Center bias), the main operators are expected to be Chinese companies NewNew Shipping and Sea Legend, reaching European destinations such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Felixstowe, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, and Arkhangelsk.

For Context: Last year, 23 voyages were completed along the route, up from 15 in 2024. This week, gCaptain reported that a tanker on the NSR suffered "serious damage to its hull… highlighting the risks" of the route.

Russia's Role: Much of the route skirts along Russia's coastline, and ships need permits from Russian state energy company Rosatom to make the trip. Additionally, Russian icebreakers will reportedly assist the Chinese vessels. According to Vincent Clerc, CEO of Danish shipping giant Maersk, sanctions on Russia make the route nonviable for many shipping companies. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his administration has seen "growing interest" from some countries in utilizing the NSR. He added, "These partners include, above all, our friends China, India, and other nations who are actively discussing these matters with us."

'New Era': Christopher Jasper of The Telegraph (Center) said the upcoming voyage "promises to herald a new era in world trade." Jasper highlighted that the voyage is the "first-ever scheduled container service" using the route and is expected to run once a week over the next two months. "If the experiment goes to plan, it will establish the Northern Sea Route – as the new trade lane is known – as the quickest maritime link between East Asia and north-west Europe," he wrote. Jasper framed the route as particularly valuable in light of the Yemeni Houthis' repeated attacks on ships in the Red Sea. He also noted a recent report that found Arctic ice is once again melting rapidly, and said it "raises the prospect" that China may eventually be able to cut its voyage time even more and avoid Russian waters by sailing in waters closer to Iceland and Greenland. He also quoted a shipping analyst who said that for Russia and China, the move could also be "an attempt to achieve hegemony in the region."

'Reality Check': Richard Milne of Financial Times (Center) said despite "plenty of hype" around Arctic shipping, "the cold, hard fact remains" that it's "nothing more than a niche commercial activity." He added, "There is a long way, and time, to go until it becomes a viable business proposition of scale. Nonetheless, moves like Sea Legend's are hugely interesting geopolitically." Milne previously spoke with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, who said there are still geopolitical, environmental, and commercial complications that need to be solved before it can be a fully viable option. Milne concluded, though, that some of the recent developments are reminders that "slow change still can bring momentous shifts with time."

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Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who was imprisoned by Russia for over four and a half years, was released and returned to the US after his health deteriorated to a life-threatening condition.

Key Quotes: Trump wrote on Truth Social, "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return – No exchange took place." The Kremlin said it freed Gilman for "humanitarian reasons." Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, said, "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action."

The Detention: Gilman was arrested in Voronezh in January 2022, over a month before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He was convicted of assaulting a police officer who evicted him from a train for allegedly causing a disturbance while drunk and sentenced to three and a half years. His sentence was extended after he was convicted of assaulting several Russian prison officials. Eric Lebson of Global Reach, a nonprofit that aims to return wrongly detained Americans home, denied the account of his alleged crimes and said he was hit by police, fell ill, and accidentally kicked the officer.

Split Account: Fox News' (Right bias) coverage differed from outlets from the left and center in that it reported a backstory and more context on why Gilman was allegedly in Russia in the first place. Gilman family representative Kieran Ramsey told Fox on Friday that Gilman was "not even supposed to travel to Russia" when he was on his way to Moldova in November 2021 and fell "violently ill." According to Ramsey, he went to Moscow to stay with a relative while he recovered, and after he thought he recovered, he went to the US embassy to renew his passport and became "violently ill" again. "At that point," Ramsey added, "the Russian police approach him thinking he's drunk, claiming that he assaults them, and then they proceed to assault him and arrest him and charge him. And that nightmare has exponentially expanded since that point."

The Return: Concerns for Gilman's health arose when he was moved from a prison hospital to a civilian hospital on June 30. Hospital staff said his condition was "dire and life-threatening," according to Global Reach. Last week, a State Department spokesperson said they were "deeply concerned" about Gilman's health and "continued detention." Gilman arrived in Washington, DC, on Tuesday night, and according to Ramsey, he was "very frail" and unable to walk off the plane on his own.

Past Prisoner Releases: Both the Biden and Trump administrations have conducted prisoner swaps and releases with the Kremlin. Read AllSides' coverage of some of the most notable ones:

• Russia Releases US Marine Trevor Reed in Prisoner Exchange
• Brittney Griner Released in Prisoner Swap for Arms Dealer
• WSJ Journalist Evan Gershkovich, Former US Marine Paul Whelan to be Released from Russia in Prisoner Swap
• Marc Fogel, American Teacher Imprisoned in Russia, Back in US
• US Citizen Ksenia Ksarelina Freed in Prisoner Exchange With Russia
• Trump and Putin Agree to Prisoner Exchange, Russian Foreign Minister Says

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