Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson meet about impasse on voting overhaul bill
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The Supreme Court this morning allowed the Trump administration to proceed with removing deportation protections for thousands of Syrian and Haitian immigrants.
What to know today
- TRUMP, JOHNSON MEET: President Donald Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., at the White House this afternoon to discuss a path forward on the legislative impasse on Capitol Hill over a voting overhaul bill that Trump has made a top priority. Trump later posted that House Republicans should stop preventing bills from getting votes in the chamber.
- SUPREME COURT ALLOWS DEPORTATIONS: The Supreme Court this morning cleared the way for the Trump administration to remove legal protections from thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants in the U.S., meaning they could be subject to deportation. The court also ruled for Trump in an asylum claims case and for gun owners in a challenge to a Hawaii concealed carry restriction.
- TRUMP VOTING ORDER BLOCKED: A federal judge today blocked implementing key parts of Trump's executive order on mail voting, declaring the plans to intervene in state-run elections unconstitutional.
- HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS POLL: As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, Americans count the abolition of slavery, the expansion of civil and voting rights, the victory in World War II and the 1969 moon landing as among its greatest accomplishments, according to the latest NBC News poll.
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What led to an unusual courtroom clash between Justices Alito and Sotomayor
Conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had the final word today as he engaged in an unusual clash inside the courtroom with his liberal colleague Justice Sonia Sotomayor over the outcome of an immigration case.
Trump administration sued over DACA renewal delays
Immigrant advocacy and legal aid groups sued the Trump administration today, demanding answers about “severe delays” in renewals for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients that are causing people to lose their jobs, livelihoods and legal immigration status.
Under DACA, over half a million qualified undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as young children are allowed to work and study in the country where they were raised without fear of deportation. But thousands of them have had their status lapse because of delayed renewals, which must occur every two years, resulting in the loss of their work permits and leaving them more vulnerable to detention and deportation.
The delays have stopped a 26-year-old graduate from a top medical school from beginning his residency in anesthesiology while his DACA review is pending, according to the complaint, filed against ICE and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Another DACA recipient who graduated from an orthopedic surgery fellowship in New York has been unable to work since February and cannot begin his role at an underserved medical center in rural Pennsylvania later this year as he waits for his renewal, the lawsuit said.
‘The decision is sickening’: MAHA leaders feel betrayed by Supreme Court ruling on Roundup weed killer
Many prominent figures in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement said they felt betrayed today after the Supreme Court ruled that Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, did not need to warn consumers of a potential cancer risk associated with its weed killer.
The ruling is likely to prevent thousands of lawsuits from arguing in state courts that Roundup should come with a cancer warning.
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is linked to cancer. That has long alarmed a subset of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s followers, known as “MAHA moms,” who want to eliminate chemicals from the food supply. The group rallied in front of the Supreme Court during oral arguments in April, and a smaller cohort expressed their concerns about underregulation of pesticides directly to Kennedy and Trump at a White House meeting that month.
Today’s ruling gave new fuel to worries within the movement that the Trump administration has prioritized the interests of the agrochemical industry.
Trump says Reflecting Pool looks 'beautiful' despite alleged vandalism
Trump reiterated claims this evening that the Reflecting Pool was vandalized and said a suspect had been "caught" as the pool remains coated in green algae and pieces of its lining are peeling.
"We caught some people vandalizing our beautiful Reflecting Pool," Trump said in the Rose Garden this evening. "They took a cutter, a box cutter or something very sharp ... and they threw a little fertilizer in the water, which is not good."
"But they caught him. They actually caught him, and those guys have some problems ahead of them, but they did some damage," he continued.
At least six people have been arrested over allegations connected to vandalism of the pool, Trump said this week.
A National Park Service official gave a federal judge details about the alleged vandalism overnight, according to court documents. After Trump's project to update the pool and paint it "American flag blue" was complete, the NPS received a damage report that a sharp knife or a razor had been used to cut through the pool's sealant, court documents said.
Green algae have covered the pool after its renovation this month, and pieces of its floor have become detached. Despite the issues, Trump said this evening that the pool "looks beautiful."
"I just looked at it, Doug, and it looks beautiful," Trump said, speaking to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in his remarks at the Rose Garden.
The National Park Service plans to begin draining the pool sometime after July 4 to conduct repairs, the court filing said.
Federal judge orders Todd Blanche to disclose additional Epstein files
A federal judge today ordered acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to disclose additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the Justice Department must make certain emails and Justice Department documents public, including leaving “potential co-conspirator names unredacted.”
The order is in response to a lawsuit filed by lawyer and independent journalist Katie Phang.
“The Epstein Act requires the Attorney General to publicly disclose the documents that are covered by it; complying with the law does not harm the Attorney General,” Sullivan wrote. “The Attorney General conceded that he is in violation of the Act.”
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“The government ignored its own law and blew off a judge’s order, all for the sake of protecting the very powerful and the very rich,” attorney Brendan Ballou, a former Justice Department prosecutor who represented Phang in this suit, told NBC News.
“Doing so had consequences, and now the public will finally get transparency around Jeffrey Epstein and his network,” Ballou added.
After he was named acting attorney general, Blanche said the Epstein files should not be a part of the Justice Department moving forward. In December, the department said hundreds of thousands of files would be made public, but it included only a small fraction of that number. It made public millions more files at the end of January but withheld millions, which Blanche said were mostly duplicates.
Democratic rift over the party’s future widens amid the left’s New York victories
A trio of democratic socialist victories in New York City this week is deepening a schism among Democrats over who should lead the party and determine its direction as the midterms approach — and as the 2028 presidential race looms not far beyond.
The party’s left flank took a victory lap after insurgent candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani all won Tuesday night, knocking off a pair of House incumbents, as well as the handpicked successor of a retiring congresswoman.
The results pushed long-held tensions into public view once again. Some in the establishment called for candidates to stop identifying as Democrats and instead start their own party if they detest its leaders so much. Others even accused Mamdani of trying to “blow up” the party.
Vance compares Watergate to Trump's first term
Vice President JD Vance suggested the Watergate scandal that took down President Richard Nixon was orchestrated by the "deep state," comparing it to Trump’s first term.
“By the way, if you look at the story of how the deep state took down Richard Nixon, it’s not all that different from what the same groups of people, the same institutions, tried to do to Donald Trump and the first Trump administration, there is a parallel,” Vance said in a conversation at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California.
Vance added that he joked with the moderator backstage that “if Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be, like, a 12-hour news story — the idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy.”
The answer came after Vance was asked about the epitaph on Nixon’s memorial at the library in light of his role in brokering a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. The epitaph says, “The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker.”
Trump urges House GOP to 'unify' and 'stop voting down' rules
Trump wrote this afternoon on Truth Social: "House Republicans should unify, and stop voting down 'Rules' or, threatening to do so. Giving power to the Radical Left Dumocrats in the House to control what goes up for a Vote will make our outcomes worse, not better. No more grandstanding, please! They are the Dumocrats, and we can’t let them WIN!"
The post came as Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., at the White House. It also came as some GOP lawmakers united this week to oppose anything that did not involve the SAVE America Act, a bill backed by Trump that would make major changes to U.S. elections.
Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO before DOJ reached surprise antitrust settlement
Trump spoke with Live Nation’s chief executive shortly before the Justice Department reached a surprise settlement in its high-profile antitrust case against the live entertainment giant and its subsidiary Ticketmaster.
Live Nation disclosed that Trump and the company’s president and CEO, Michael Rapino, spoke in February about a “variety of topics” related to the company, including the status of the government’s lawsuit. The pair did not discuss any “substantive terms” regarding a potential settlement, according to court documents.
The filing revealed that the White House Counsel’s Office participated in some settlement discussions in February and March, which took place through in-person meetings, video conferences, phone calls and written communications between the company and the Justice Department.
On March 5, representatives of Live Nation, the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, the offices of the attorney general and the deputy attorney general and the White House Counsel’s Office met to finalize the proposed settlement’s terms, according to court documents.
N.Y. GOP nominee Bruce Blakeman says Brad Lander would be 'a camp guard in the concentration camp'
Bruce Blakeman. Alejandra Villa Loarca / Newsday via Getty Images file
Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor of New York, is standing by his comments this week that a Democratic congressional candidate "would be a camp guard in the concentration camp if he could."
In a Newsmax interview yesterday, Blakeman called Brad Lander, who won the Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District on Tuesday, antisemitic, adding, "Even though he's Jewish, this guy would be a camp guard in the concentration camp if he could." Both Blakeman and Lander are Jewish.
Brad Lander. Adam Gray / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Blakeman said in a statement today: “Maybe camp guard was too strong, but certainly collaborator as Brad Lander turned his back on the Jewish community when he locked arms with the extremists who want to wipe Israel off the map."
Lander is a close ally of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and both have been openly critical of the Israeli government’s actions in the Gaza Strip, accusing the country of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians.
“I don’t know where Bruce Blakeman went to Hebrew school, but I was taught that ‘Never Again!’ means never again to anyone,” Lander said in a statement. “Standing up for Palestinian human rights doesn’t make me any less proud to be Jewish, or any less serious about fighting antisemitism.”
Lander added that he thinks New Yorkers “will resoundingly reject Blakeman’s far-right MAGA bigotry this November.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Blakeman’s opponent in the fall election, told NY1 that his remark "disqualifies him from public office."
"Every single time Bruce Blakeman opens up his mouth, he’s simply auditioning for his next role in the Trump administration after he loses the election," she said.
White House calls Supreme Court TPS ruling a 'tremendous win'
Following criticism, some of it from Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., about the Supreme Court ruling this morning ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, the White House called the decision "a tremendous win."
“Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what President Trump has always maintained: temporary protected status is, by definition, temporary. It was never intended to be a pathway to permanent status or legal residency and it is committed to the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. "The Trump Administration continues to lawfully end the egregious abuses to our immigration system that have hurt Americans for years.”
Lawler, who represents a sizable Haitian community in his district, said in a statement that “the situation on the ground in Haiti is a humanitarian and political disaster and continues to warrant an extension.”
He also said that “of the 350,000+ lawful Haitian TPS holders, roughly 1/3rd work in our healthcare system.”
“I’m asking the administration to allow for an orderly process by which Haitian TPS holders can maintain their work authorization while their immigration cases are adjudicated over the next six months, if the revocation of TPS moves forward,” he added.
Trump falsely claims 'at least 45,000 people' attended his speech on the National Mall last night
Trump is touting his speech on the National Mall last night — seeming to respond to some of the coverage and online chatter about the crowd’s size and enthusiasm.
He claimed on Truth Social that the area was “packed to the brim” with “at least 45,000 people” and noted that he wished they could have had a larger area for the speech. He also claimed that “everybody stayed right until the end of my speech.”
People arrive before President Donald Trump speaks at the opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall. Jen Golbeck / AP
People watch the rally to kick off the Great American State Fair. Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images
Based on estimates by our team on the ground, nowhere near 45,000 people were present.
The CIA officer with gold bars at his house got additional money. Investigators are looking for it.
The senior CIA officer arrested in May with several hundred gold bars stashed at his house received additional money or valuables as part of his top-secret work for the agency — which federal investigators have not been able to locate, according to four people with knowledge of the investigation.
Former CIA Officer David Rush appears in court on June 5. Dana Verkouterern
The officer, David Rush, requested the money or other valuables and the CIA approved him to provide the resources to agency sources abroad, the people with knowledge of the investigation said. They said what happened to the money or other valuables remains under investigation.
Speaker Mike Johnson says the goal is to 'build consensus' ahead of White House meeting with Trump
Leaving the Capitol for his meeting with Trump this afternoon, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he is going to discuss how to “build consensus” as the House remains at a legislative impasse due to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s vow to block all other legislation until the SAVE America Act is passed.
“We’re in an era with small margins and small majorities, and we’ve got to get things moving. There is a frustration the president has expressed about the unwillingness of Senate Democrats to do anything that follows common sense and follows public opinion,” Johnson told reporters.
The SAVE America Act, a bill backed by Trump that would overhaul U.S. elections and would require photo IDs to vote, has stalled in the Senate.
“We’re working on that, and I’m going to talk with the President about these issues and how to get the agenda moving again. And it’s going to be very productive,” he added.
The speaker did not take questions from reporters upon his departure.
Vivek Ramaswamy allies with anti-contraception group in Ohio governors race
As Ohio’s Republican nominee for governor, Vivek Ramaswamy has aligned himself with the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, a group that not only favors restricting abortion in all cases, but also opposes all forms of contraception.
Vivek Ramaswamy. Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP - Getty Images
The GOP gubernatorial nominee accepted the group’s endorsement earlier this year, which RTLACO says is conditioned on a candidate being “in fundamental agreement” with the group’s policy document.
The policy document says RTLACO “opposes abortion at any point of gestation,” “opposes abortion for pregnancy resulting from rape or incest” and “cannot support any form of contraception.”
Linda Theis, RTLACO’s legislative team chair, told NBC News that the group’s leaders “met with Vivek early in the spring last year, a couple of different times.”
“He assured us that he was totally with us. We met with him a second time, and he made sure that he said to us — he verbalized that he was all about protecting life without compromise, which is our main standard, so that was our big thing,” she added.
Asked directly about whether Ramaswamy made any commitments to the group opposing contraception, Theis said, “No, we have not discussed that.”
“We’re sending him constantly more information on all of those other issues as well, and he seems open to all of that,” she said.
Ramaswamy’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment about whether he agrees with RTLACO’s position on contraception, but his campaign website does tout RTLACO’s endorsement, among others.
Ramaswamy is facing Amy Acton, a physician and the former director of the Ohio Health Department, in November’s general election to succeed GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited.
In 2023, Ramaswamy spoke about his anti-abortion position after Ohio voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state’s Constitution.
The then-presidential candidate told CNN in an interview that he supports “substantive provisions in the law that codify greater responsibility for men in cases of confirmed paternity tests and also greater access to options like contraception, adoption and otherwise.”
At a GOP presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News earlier that month, Ramaswamy also promoted “access to contraception, adoption” and “the missing ingredient in this movement: sexual responsibility for men.”
Riding primary momentum, democratic socialists eye a battleground state breakthrough
After a string of primary successes this month in deep-blue corners of the country, democratic socialists will face a major test of whether their appeal can translate to a battleground state later this summer.
In Wisconsin, a lengthy list of Democrats are competing to be the next governor, including Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, who serves alongside retiring Gov. Tony Evers, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who narrowly lost the 2022 Senate race in the state.
Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong's bid for governor is gaining traction amid democratic socialist victories across the country. Tork Mason / USA Today Network via Reuters
But it’s been another candidate — state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist — who has unexpectedly seen a surge of momentum in recent weeks in a field that lacks a clear front-runner. Hong has been at the top of the limited public polling ahead of the August primary and placed second this month in a straw poll at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention.
Pete Buttigieg is on the road again and aiming to be ‘useful’ as he weighs a 2028 bid
Pete Buttigieg cradled a paper towel in one hand and dangled a grilled chicken wing in the other, taking care not to drip any of the light, buttery glaze on his white button-up shirt.
Schumer and Padilla launch program to train Senate staff to serve as election observers
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., are announcing an initiative today to train Senate staff to serve as observers in elections and "protect against any meddling in the 2026 midterm elections," according to the plan.
"The program will recruit and train Senate staff to serve as official congressional observers, who will document any attempted voter interference, threats against election workers, misinformation, disinformation, and other attempts to meddle with fair elections, both on Election Day and in the post-election canvass and certification process," their offices said in a news release.
The program is nonpartisan and the observers would not be advocating for any candidates, the announcement said.
The program's purpose, it said, is to gather information about Senate elections "to assist the Senate in addressing any potentially contested elections;" to record voter interference, threats targeting election workers or disinformation surrounding elections; and to inform future legislation.
A similar program is run in the House to observe elections for that chamber.
Top House Oversight Democrat to try to force a vote on blocking Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., announced today that he plans to file a petition to try to force a vote on Trump's proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Raskin, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, needs to collect 218 signatures on the so-called discharge petition to bypass House Republican leadership and force a vote on the bill, which he introduced.
The legislation would bar compensation from the proposed fund or future Justice Department settlement funds for Jan. 6 rioters or others, including the president, vice president, their families or political appointees.
The bill would also require judicial review of any settlement between a sitting president and the federal government.
Amid bipartisan backlash in Congress over the proposed fund, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers that the settlement fund would not proceed.
The fund would be aimed at providing compensation to those targeted by the federal government, raising concerns among Democratic and Republican lawmakers that payouts could go to Jan. 6 rioters who assaulted police officers during the Capitol riot.
The fund resulted from a settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax filings to the media. The settlement agreement also barred the federal government from prosecuting or seeking claims, including money, from Trump, his family and their businesses.
Mullin hearing concludes
The Mullin hearing has wrapped after a little more than two hours.
Mullin and Rep. Rosa DeLauro get into shouting match
Mullin got into a brief shouting match with Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., while sidestepping questions about child separations at the border and whether he's in favor of shuttering FEMA.
The fireworks began when DeLauro pressed him on the thousands of children who were separated from their families - and Mullin fired back over what he said were the hundreds of thousands of children who went missing during the last administration.
"Do not interrupt!" DeLauro yelled, pointing at him saying he should answer her question and "Do not interrupt." "Don't point your finger at me," Mullin snapped. "I will point my finger," DeLauro shot back.
DeLauro told chair Amodei she should put Mullin "in his place." "You should be put in your place," Mullin said.
Amodei, who'd warned earlier he could postpone the hearing if questions weren't being answered, told the pair it was not a contest about who could be louder. "We are going to have something resembling order here," he said, telling Mullin he'd give him a four-minute closing statement if he feels there are points he was not allowed to make.
"Do not accuse me of lying," DeLauro added. "Then don't," Mullin said.
DeLauro then asked Mullin if he was in favor of privatizing FEMA, "Yes or no." He said it wasn't a yes or no question, but did not answer. "The record will reflect the response," Amodei said.
Trump to meet with Mike Johnson to discuss gridlock over key housing and election bills
Trump is expected to meet with Speaker Johnson at the White House this afternoon to discuss a path forward on the legislative impasse on Capitol Hill, a source familiar with the meeting said.
President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file
The meeting comes a day after Trump suddenly canceled the signing ceremony of major housing legislation that passed with broad bipartisan support. The president told Senate Republicans yesterday that they must first pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require voters to present additional ID and proof of citizenship to cast ballots, despite being repeatedly advised that the bill lacks the votes to pass.
Johnson needs the president’s support to break the deadlock in the House, where Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has been blocking all legislation until the SAVE Act is passed. One version of the measure has passed the House, but it has stalled in the Senate.
Supreme Court rules for Trump on asylum claims at the border
The Supreme Court today backed the Trump administration’s bid to strengthen its ability to regulate the entry of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Divided 6-3, the court ruled that someone who seeks to enter the United States at the southern border cannot claim asylum if they present themselves to officials while still standing on Mexican soil because they are not technically in the United States.
The case saw conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the ruling, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented, clash openly in court as the ruling was announced.
House cancels votes Friday, will leave town amid impasse over voting bill
The House has canceled votes tomorrow and will hold a final vote this afternoon before leaving town for the week, as a group of Republicans vow to block other legislation until Congress passes the the voting overhaul bill dubbed the SAVE America Act.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference about the SAVE America Act at the Capitol on Feb. 11. Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images file
Yesterday, the House canceled a vote on a rule that would have allowed several pieces of legislation to come to the floor, including two full-year spending bills. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., is leading the group of Republicans who say they will vote down rules and other legislation until the SAVE America Act passes the Senate.
Speaker Mike Johnson. R-La., is headed to the White House for a 2 p.m. meeting with Trump, where they are expected to discuss a path forward on the voting bill and a bipartisan housing affordability bill that the president has refused to sign until the SAVE American Act is passed.
The House is currently scheduled to be in session from Monday to Thursday. next week
Chair threatens to postpone hearing during heated back and forth
Rep. Laura Underwood, D-Ill,, got in a heated exchange with the DHS secretary over FEMA's refusal to approve disaster funding in her state, leading the committee's chair to warn he could postpone the hearing.
Underwood pressed Mullin on the funding denial stemming from powerful storms last year, and said that since Trump took office, studies show that disaster funding requests in Democratic-led states are only being granted 23% of the time, compared to 89% in Republican-led states.
Mullin told her she had her facts wrong and said that neither he nor the president were politicizing emergency funding. "I don't look at states as different between blue and red," he said.
Underwood then pressed him about what she said was the historically high death rate of detainees in immigration custody, and whether there were any plans to combat the issue. Mullin called her accusations "not accurate" and "dangerous," but did not directly answer the question.
Committee Chair Mark Amodei, R-Nev., then stepped in, and reminded Mullin and Underwood of the time limits, and politely suggested Mullin just answer questions.
If "this format won't work, we'll reschedule this meeting for later," he said. "And I don’t mean that as a threat to anybody. I’m just saying this is not "Meet the Press" or Fox News or whatever for anybody involved. It’s what’s the question, it’s the answer, Mr. Secretary," he said.
Underwood then repeated her question, and Mullin asked her about the death rates of inmates in custody in Illinois.
Judge blocks Trump’s executive order on mail voting
Hannah Beier / Getty Images file
A federal judge today blocked the implementation of key parts of Trump’s executive order on mail voting, declaring the plans to intervene in state-run elections unconstitutional.
Trump’s March executive order directed the creation of federal lists of voters and asked the Postal Service to only deliver mail ballots to certain people on those lists.
Supreme Court allows Trump to remove protections for thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants
The Supreme Court this morning cleared the way for the Trump administration to remove legal protections from thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants in the United States, meaning they could be subject to deportation.
Yronel Cabrerra walks with protesters during a candlelight vigil and interfaith prayer at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Jan. 28. Miami Herald / TNS via Getty Images file
The court, on a 6-3 vote on ideological lines, ruled in favor of the administration, which asked to continue with its plan to strip Temporary Protected Status from about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians.
Supreme Court strikes down Hawaii's 'vampire rule' for gun owners
The Supreme Court this morning struck down a Hawaii gun restriction that limits when people can carry firearms on certain private properties open to the public, saying it infringes on the right to bear arms.
On a 6-3 vote, the court invalidated the measure that requires people with concealed carry permits to seek permission from a property owner before entering. It has been dubbed the “vampire rule” because, as in the classic novel “Dracula” and related tales, vampires can only enter someone’s home if they are invited in.
DHS Secretary Mullin testifies before House subcommittee
Homeland Secretary Secretary Markwayne Mullin is testifying at an oversight hearing before the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for his department.
Speaker Johnson to meet with Trump to discuss a path for elections overhaul and housing bills
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is meeting with Trump this afternoon at the White House to discuss a way past the impasse over dueling priorities on housing and elections legislation, a source familiar with the meeting said.
The meeting follows Trump’s abrupt cancellation of the signing of a bipartisan housing package that passed overwhelmingly. Trump told Senate Republicans yesterday that they must first pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require voters to present identification to cast ballots and proof of citizenship to register to vote, despite being repeatedly advised that the bill lacks the votes to pass.
Johnson will need Trump's support to break the deadlock in the House, where Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has been blocking all legislation until the SAVE Act is passed.
Democratic senators take sides in contested Michigan, Minnesota primaries
A pair of Democratic senators announced they are taking sides in two contested Senate primaries.
In Michigan, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., endorsed former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, a staunch progressive.
"We need fighters in the Senate who want to dismantle a broken status quo that isn’t working for the American people and to take on the big money special interests working to rig our economy and our politics in favor of the billionaires — at the expense of everyone else," Van Hollen said in a statement.
The Michigan primary has divided high-profile senators, with Van Hollen joining Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in backing El-Sayed. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has endorsed state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has backed Rep. Haley Stevens. Former Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has also endorsed Stevens.
Stabenow weighed in on another contested Democratic primary, backing Rep. Angie Craig in the Minnesota Senate race.
“Angie is a tough, effective legislator with the experience to take on the Trump administration on Day 1 while also delivering economic relief for Minnesotans,” Stabenow said in a statement.
The race between Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has also divided Democratic senators. Flanagan has endorsements from Sanders, Warren, Van Hollen, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and others. Craig has endorsements from more than a half dozen senators, including Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
First to NBC: Bipartisan Senate duo team up to prevent child sexual abuse
Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, are teaming up to introduce a bill to enshrine a program to protect children from sexual abuse into law.
The bill, dubbed the PREVENT Act, would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand on a child sexual abuse prevention program by increasing research and strengthening prevention strategies.
“I am proud to partner with Senator Murkowski to ensure these critical research programs are written in law — so even in the face of cuts at the CDC, prevention efforts will continue to be funded and expand,” Alsobrooks wrote in a statement shared first with NBC News.
The bill comes as the Trump administration has scaled back the budget and workforce at the CDC.
Melissa Merrick, the president and CEO of the advocacy group Prevent Child Abuse America, lauded the legislation in a statement.
“No single system can prevent child sexual abuse alone," Merrick said. "This legislation helps move the field forward by supporting the knowledge, coordination, and resources needed to strengthen prevention efforts and help states and communities take meaningful action before harm occurs."
Michael Whatley’s Michigan roots largely disappear from his bio as he runs for Senate in North Carolina
Standing next to Trump after Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina in 2024, Michael Whatley wanted those watching the storm briefing to know how affected he was by the disaster, saying he had deep roots in the region.
“As a son of western North Carolina, I was in Watauga County with Samaritan’s Purse recently and got a chance to see the devastation that all of these communities have hit,” said Whatley, who was then chair of the Republican National Committee and the Trump administration’s “recovery czar.”
Whatley is now running for Senate against Roy Cooper, North Carolina’s former Democratic governor. And on the campaign trail, his ties to the region are a central part of his political DNA. He frequently talks about how he “grew up” in the tiny town of Blowing Rock in western North Carolina. An NBC News review found that Whatley has used some variation of that line at least 15 times since he announced his Senate run in July.
But records show that Whatley spent most of his childhood away from North Carolina. He was born in Michigan and stayed there until his early high school years. He then lived in Blowing Rock for roughly three years before going elsewhere in the state for college.
Parks official says caulking was cut in alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism
Overnight, a National Parks Service official provided a federal judge in Washington, D.C., details on vandalism he says occurred at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in recent weeks.
“On June 9, 2026, after the rehabilitation project was substantially complete, the U.S. Park Police responded to an NPS report of damage to the reflecting pool, including a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material, Frank Lands, Deputy Director for Operations for the National Park Service, wrote in the court filing.
“In addition, approximately 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool.”
The National Park Service plans to begin draining the reflecting pool following Independence Day, “to conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining,” Lands said.
Binding war powers resolution fails in the Senate a day after a symbolic one passed
Senate Republicans defeated an Iran war powers resolution last night on a 47-50 vote, just one day after senators approved a House-passed nonbinding version.
This resolution, unlike yesterday's, had teeth. Yesterday's measure was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and directed Trump to “remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran” unless authorized by Congress.
A procedural motion to bring the resolution to the floor passed 50-47 last month, as four Republican senators voted to advance it. But one of those four, Rand Paul, of Kentucky, voted present today after having said hostilities “seem to be over.”
Another one of the four, Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, who had a contentious exchange with Trump over the Iran conflict during a GOP lunch today, voted against the measure.
Cassidy told reporters after the lunch that he intended to vote for the resolution until he got a briefing on Iran. Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff briefed him in the White House Situation Room later in the day, Cassidy said.
“I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” Cassidy wrote on X.
Yesterday's resolution included similar language to today’s but had no force of law. It was entirely symbolic, expressing the sentiment of Congress, and did not require Trump’s signature.
Trump kicks off the Great American State Fair after musicians pulled out
Trump dances on stage after speaking during the kick-off celebration for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall last night. Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images
Trump treated the kickoff last night to the Great American State Fair as a victory lap for the U.S. — and for himself.
“Tonight, as we stand at the edge of our 250th year, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said in a speech on the National Mall. “As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.”
The event, organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump that labels itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, marked the beginning of the 16-day exposition, envisioned as a modern-day world’s fair to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Planning for the event stirred controversy last month when several musical artists booked to perform, including rapper Young MC and country singer Martina McBride, backed out, citing concerns about the political nature of an event backed by the Trump White House.
Civil rights, moon landings and war wins: What Americans see as the country’s greatest achievements
The abolition of slavery. The expansion of civil rights and voting rights. Victory in World War II. Landing people on the moon.
As America nears its 250th anniversary, those are among the events its people call the greatest accomplishments in their country’s history, according to the latest NBC News poll, which was sponsored by More Perfect, a nonpartisan nonprofit group dedicated to advancing democracy.
Unlike other poll questions with multiple-choice answers, this one was completely open-ended. Still, people’s answers generally fell into three broad buckets: Close to two-thirds of respondents chose events related to the expansion of rights, while about one-sixth each chose military or diplomatic-related events and events related to science or economic achievement.
Top of mind for many was the end of slavery following the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment. The 1865 amendment formally ended slavery in the U.S., liberating more than 4 million enslaved people.
