AI Impersonation Scheme Sees $129 Million Stolen, Judge Halts Trump Arch, Wall Street Sells Off

Three people face criminal charges for using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys. Prosecutors say the group stole approximately $129 million through the scheme. The charges were announced this week as the U.S. job market data showed a likely recovery from the disappointing numbers reported in September.

In Washington, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from beginning construction on a towering memorial arch. The court order pauses work for 14 days. President Donald Trump faces this legal hurdle in his first public appearance since the midterm elections. Those races saw opposition to data centers feature heavily in campaigns. Hundreds of millions of dollars in television ads focused on the topic, and many winners pledged to restrict the energy-hungry facilities.

Wall Street experienced a brutal sell-off this week. The drop was led by stocks tied to the construction of AI data centers. In the Senate, a Democratic-led chamber is preparing to challenge the administration's judicial nominees. President Trump has previously transformed the Supreme Court with a conservative supermajority, but the new legislative balance presents a different dynamic for his picks.

International attention turned to Pope Leo XIV as he returned to South America. The pontiff is visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. He spent two decades as a missionary priest on that continent. In Paraguay, President Santiago Peña is under criminal investigation following the collapse of a major digital bank. He will defend himself before the Senate against possible removal from office on Friday.

Local impacts of weather events continued to draw attention. Matthew Martinez, who has lived on the Navajo River for nearly 60 years, reported severe flooding for the first time in his tenure on the property. The event marked a shift in the area's typical weather patterns.