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Saigon Sentinel · All articles
Browse every article we've published, from the latest news to long-form analysis and practical guides.
- World
Hanoi caught between U.S. trade demands and implicit warnings from Beijing
On the same day, Beijing told Hanoi not to take sides while Washington raised additional trade conditions — putting Vietnam in a squeeze that could directly affect goods flows, investment capital, and remittances tied to…
- US
IRS Drops Facial Scan Requirement, Reopens Video Interview Option for Identity Verification
The IRS confirmed it will delete all facial data previously collected through ID.me and allow taxpayers to choose video interviews instead of facial scanning — a change that came after a federal lawmaker raised privacy c…
- Politics
Republican 95 Billion Dollar Budget: Approved by Committee, Uncertain in House
The House Budget Committee narrowly passed the 95 billion dollar framework, but the razor-thin margin of votes suggests the real battle lies ahead — inside the Republican Party itself.
- Politics
Trump says US election was manipulated by China with fraud — what does the actual evidence show?
President Trump just spent 25 minutes of prime time discussing election security, but the intelligence report he presented actually contains no evidence that the 2020 election was interfered with. This is something all v…
- US
USCIS Rescinds Biden-Era 'Public Charge' Rule, Returns to Comprehensive Case Review
USCIS has officially eliminated the 2022 regulation that once limited the types of government benefits considered when reviewing immigration applications, paving the way for immigration officers to weigh a much broader r…
- Business
Fed Interest Rate 6.1% Below 12-Month Average
The Fed's federal funds rate currently stands at 3.63%, down 6.1% from the 12-period average and at the cycle bottom according to Federal Reserve data via FRED. However, 30-year mortgage rates have declined much more slo…
- Digest
News Digest 7/16: US Escalates With Iran, ICE Controversy in Houston
From ICE shootings in Houston to expanding US-Iran conflict and bookstore arrests in Hong Kong, today's digest roundup covers must-read stories that Saigon Sentinel hasn't covered in full.
- Politics
A Single Republican Vote Could Block Trump's Pick to Lead the CDC
A single Republican vote could decide the fate of the next CDC leader, even as the committee chairman from the same party publicly says he is disappointed that the nominee is dodging questions.
- NorCal
California's antitrust bill: who gets the right to sue, who worries about being sued
California is debating a bill that could let individuals and small businesses sue large corporations directly — but what deserves close attention is the enormous lobbying money behind it, and the division within the Demo…
- Houston
Licensing fees skyrocket 40-fold, small hemp shops in Texas face a critical crossroads
Licensing fees have increased 40-fold and THC definitions have been rewritten, forcing thousands of small hemp shops across Texas, many owned by Vietnamese Americans, to reassess their entire business model.
- Houston
Fines up to 2 million USD a year: Hospital pricing crackdown spreading to Houston
Hospital price transparency regulations are tightening as of April 2026, placing dozens of Texas hospitals — including those in the Houston area — on warning, putting the burden of price comparison on elderly residents a…
- US
US Regional Airline Faces Fine Over $260,000 for Operating Unairworthy Aircraft
The FAA has accused Southern Airways Express of operating an aircraft that failed to meet technical flight standards with passengers on board, and is proposing a fine of nearly 264,000 USD — a figure that may still chang…
- Houston
Texas declares disaster status in 101 counties due to flooding
Governor Greg Abbott signs disaster order covering 101 Texas counties after storms cause widespread flooding beginning Sunday, opening the door for Houston-area counties to access emergency resources from the state.
- Houston
What is a U visa and why could it help witnesses in the ICE shooting case avoid deportation?
Three men who were in a vehicle when ICE shot and killed a man in Houston are seeking a special visa category to both avoid deportation and remain in the country as witnesses — a legal process few know about but one that…
- Business
Remittances to Vietnam surge 72.39% during 2000-2004 period
Remittances to Vietnam surged 72.39% during 2000-2004, rising from 1.34 billion USD to 2.31 billion USD, according to World Bank data—a consistent upward trend that families sending and receiving money should know about.
- Guides
Access to Federal Services When English Is Limited: What You Need to Know About Title VI
Many older Vietnamese people still think the right to a free interpreter was eliminated along with the recent federal guidance. The fact is that the original Title VI law still protects them, but how it is enforced in pr…
- Digest
News Digest 7/15: Iran Tensions Push Oil Prices Higher, U.S. Inflation Still Hot
U.S.-Iran tensions escalating at the Strait of Hormuz threaten to reverse the inflation cooling recently seen in the U.S., while domestic issues ranging from immigration to climate continue to intensify.
- Business
81 Billion Dollar Tax Refund After Court Ruling: The Hidden Cost Behind Import Business Victory
The 81 billion dollar tariff refund is not a sign the White House is abandoning tariffs — it is a legal pause before a new tariff layer, based on forced labor accusations, is set to take its place.
- SoCal
Curfews, TikTok monitoring: Orange County's new mechanism to block spontaneous gatherings
Coastal Orange County cities are shifting from reactive responses to preemptive blocking through juvenile curfews, social media monitoring, and parental financial liability — a mechanism that places the burden on small b…
- Houston
When local police are powerless against ICE shootings
The ICE shooting in Houston exposes a jurisdictional gap: when a federal agency causes a death, local police have virtually no legal tools to investigate on their own.
- US
DHS Withdraws Guidance on Language Access Rights for People with Limited English Proficiency
DHS has withdrawn guidance documents that once directed hospitals, schools, and federal-funded agencies on their obligation to provide language support to people with limited English proficiency, even though the underlyi…
- Politics
As federal budgets shrink, who protects victims of domestic violence in Native communities?
As federal budgets tighten, the network protecting domestic violence victims in Native American communities — which relies on more than half federal funding — is gradually losing its ability to meet the most urgent cases…
- US
Trump's 1.8 Billion Dollar Tax Settlement with IRS Blocked by Court: What Happened?
A federal judge just blocked a settlement between President Trump and the IRS, ruling that he used presidential power to settle a lawsuit that he himself brought — involving nearly 1.8 billion dollars in taxpayer money.
- US
Tax Agency Extends Federal Tax Filing Deadline to November for 21 Wisconsin Counties
The IRS has confirmed that the federal tax filing and payment deadline for residents of 21 Wisconsin counties affected by storms and flooding has been moved to November, while a similar policy is also being applied to Mi…
- Business
US Gasoline Prices Rise 2.07% to $3.855, Ending 12-Week Low
The U.S. national average gasoline price rose 2.07% to $3.855 per gallon in the week of 13/7/2026, ending a decline that had brought prices to a 12-week low of $3.777 in the previous week. Compared to a year ago, prices …