May 17

Drone strike hits Barakah nuclear plant perimeter

Three drones targeted the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi; UAE air defenses intercepted two and one struck the plant's outer perimeter, igniting a fire extinguished within hours. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed no radiation was released and reactor operations were unaffected. No group claimed responsibility, but sources cited by the Jerusalem Post said the attack was intended to send a message to the Emiratis about their support for U.S.-led operations against Iran. The strike was the first known attack on an operating commercial nuclear facility.

Trump issues Truth Social ultimatum to Iran after Barakah drone strike hits UAE

President Trump posted on Truth Social on May 17, 2026: "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them." The post came as the ceasefire collapsed after Iran refused nuclear concessions in its 14-point proposal. That same day, a drone struck an electrical generator at the UAE's Barakah Nuclear Power Plant — the first attack on Gulf nuclear infrastructure since the war began — with no radiation detected. Trump then convened a Situation Room meeting with Hegseth and CENTCOM's Admiral Cooper to review a prepared strikes plan.

+4 others

Michael Caputo Files First Known Claim Against $1.776B Anti-Weaponization Fund

Michael Caputo, former HHS communications director and Trump adviser, became the first known individual to file a restitution request with the DOJ's newly established $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. Caputo is seeking $2.7 million, claiming he was targeted by the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and later investigated in connection with a film about Joe Biden.

Jenny Cudd Announces All Jan. 6 Defendants Will Apply to $1.776B Anti-Weaponization Fund

Jenny Cudd, a Jan. 6 defendant who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespass charge related to the Capitol riot, publicly announced that all January 6th defendants intend to apply for restitution from the DOJ's newly created $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. Cudd represents a class of an estimated 1,500–1,600 Jan. 6 defendants expected to file claims.

UAE condemns Barakah attack as IAEA and FANR report no radiation release

The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned the drone strike on Barakah as a treacherous terrorist attack and a direct threat to the country's security, declining to name a perpetrator pending investigation. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed reactor operations were unaffected and radiation monitoring showed no release. The IAEA activated its Incident and Emergency Centre and Director-General Rafael Grossi called on all parties to refrain from attacks on nuclear facilities, invoking Article 56 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.

US military deploys floating pier off Gaza coast pier breaks apart within weeks

The US military completes deployment of a Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) temporary floating pier off the coast of Gaza, a project Biden announced during his State of the Union address in March 2024 to surge humanitarian aid into the enclave. The $320 million pier is the Pentagon's attempt to bypass Israeli-restricted land crossings. Within days of operation, the pier sustains damage from heavy seas and is towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repairs. It resumes operations briefly but is ultimately decommissioned in July 2024 after delivering a fraction of the humanitarian aid originally projected. Critics call it a costly failure that underscored US inability to pressure Israel to open land crossings.

Supreme Court Rules School Segregation Unconstitutional in Brown v. Board

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously 9-0 in Brown v. Board of Education that state-mandated racial segregation in public schools violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," overturning Plessy v. Ferguson's 1896 "separate but equal" doctrine. The ruling laid the foundation for federal civil rights enforcement in education and made local schooling a constitutional concern.