US Vice-President JD Vance accused some Israeli government members of trying to influence American public opinion to keep the war with Iran going. Vance said this influence aims to stop negotiations and continue military conflict, while the US recently made an agreement with Iran to try to ease tensions.
Key Facts
JD Vance said some Israeli officials are "manipulating" US opinion to prolong the Iran war.
Vance trusts some in the Israeli government but criticized others for hurting US diplomacy.
The US and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month to continue talks and pause fighting.
Tensions have risen again with attacks and military strikes in the region involving the US, Iran, and allies.
Vance has been directly involved in recent negotiations with Iran, including meetings in Pakistan and Switzerland.
White House Press Secretary acknowledged foreign countries try to influence US public opinion.
The US and Israel started joint strikes on Iran in February, leading to Iranian attacks on Israel and US allies.
The US House rejected a proposal to cut billions of dollars in aid to Israel, showing some divided opinions in Congress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio plans to introduce a bill to punish Canada and its officials. The bill aims to respond to smoke and bad air quality in the U.S. caused by large wildfires in Canada.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno is from Ohio and a supporter of President Trump.
Moreno will introduce the bill next week.
The bill targets Canada and specific Canadian government officials.
It is a response to wildfires in Canada that caused smoke to spread into the U.S.
The smoke has led to unhealthy air quality in parts of the United States.
The bill proposes sanctions, which are penalties or restrictions, against Canada.
Wildfires in Canada have affected air safety across the U.S. border.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new poll shows that more voters in Pennsylvania feel their financial situation has gotten worse compared to last year. Pennsylvania is an important state that President Trump won in 2024, and this poll was conducted as the midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
The poll is from Quinnipiac University.
44% of Pennsylvania voters say they are worse off financially than a year ago.
This percentage is higher than in previous months.
Pennsylvania is considered a key swing state.
President Trump won Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election.
The poll results come ahead of the 2024 midterm elections.
The financial outlook of voters could influence their voting decisions.
The poll reflects voters’ personal economic experiences, not predictions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after reports said he used early information about President Trump’s speeches to win over $100,000 betting on an online prediction market called Kalshi. The White House confirmed it follows strict ethical rules and is now having someone else operate the teleprompter during official speeches.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump’s teleprompter since 2016.
Perez allegedly used advance knowledge of speeches to place bets on Kalshi’s “mentions” market, where people bet on if certain words or topics will be said.
Kalshi detected unusual betting and reported it to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal agency overseeing such markets.
Perez earned about $175,000 a year as a White House technical adviser.
The White House placed Perez on unpaid administrative leave and informed President Trump about the situation.
Federal authorities have recently started investigating insider trading linked to prediction markets like Kalshi.
Kalshi and its competitor Polymarket made new rules recently after lawmakers proposed restrictions on prediction markets.
The CFTC, led by chair Michael Selig, supports Kalshi’s legal standing at the federal level, overriding state laws.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democrats responded before President Donald Trump's prime-time speech, expecting him to focus on claims about the 2020 election. Some Republicans say Trump should concentrate on the upcoming midterm elections instead of revisiting past election issues.
Key Facts
President Trump plans a speech about "protecting the integrity of our elections," expected to address the 2020 election.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, criticized Trump for questioning Georgia voters and election results.
Ossoff is up for re-election in November, with Republicans targeting his seat.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the speech will focus on election security and transparency.
Some Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, think focusing on 2020 is unhelpful for the midterms.
Representative Thomas Massie said the White House is wrongly blaming election problems instead of other issues.
The midterm elections are upcoming, and attention is on whether Trump’s focus will impact voter attitudes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing a budget plan called Reconciliation 3.0 to fund President Donald Trump's military actions in Iran. The plan seeks about $95 billion for defense, intelligence, farm aid, and election changes but faces opposition from some Republican lawmakers because it does not include spending cuts or ways to pay for the new costs.
Key Facts
President Trump has restarted military operations in Iran, needing funding for a 138-day conflict.
Speaker Johnson aims to pass a budget through a process called budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple Senate majority.
The $95 billion package includes up to $60 billion for military costs and $13 billion for intelligence related to the Iran war.
The plan also includes $12 billion for farmers and parts of the SAVE America Act, which involves election reforms.
Budget reconciliation lets Republicans pass this bill without Democratic support since they control the House, Senate, and White House.
Some House Republicans oppose the plan because it does not have spending cuts or any offsets to cover the new expenses.
Losing more than three Republican votes could cause the plan to fail, as Johnson has a slim majority.
A vote on the budget resolution is expected soon before the five-week summer recess.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime speech about election security. Todd Blanche is attending his second day of hearings to be confirmed as attorney general.
Key Facts
President Trump plans a primetime address focused on election security.
Todd Blanche is undergoing confirmation hearings for the role of attorney general.
The hearings for Blanche have reached their second day.
The information was shared on CBS News.
The events are part of U.S. political and government activities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego is reported to have had sexual relationships with two House staffers during his time in the House of Representatives. Gallego did not confirm or deny the claims and called the reports "gossip."
Key Facts
The New York Post reported that Senator Ruben Gallego had relationships with two Democratic House staffers while serving from 2015 to 2025.
Gallego is a married father of three and described as "very flirtatious."
He refused to comment on the accusations when asked and called them gossip.
One source said the relationships reflect a pattern of poor judgment by Gallego.
Allegations arose amid increased scrutiny after the resignation of Representative Eric Swalwell over sexual assault claims.
The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed an earlier complaint against Gallego involving campaign finance and sexual misconduct.
Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna publicly mentioned hearing reports of inappropriate behavior by Gallego toward multiple women.
Gallego denied rumors connecting him to a controversial video involving Swalwell.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senate Republicans stopped a Democratic effort to end a Medicare program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to approve or deny medical care ordered by doctors. The vote fell along party lines, with 50 senators against and 46 in favor of ending the program.
Key Facts
The program was started during President Donald Trump’s administration.
It uses AI to help decide if Medicare will approve or reject medical treatments suggested by doctors.
Democrats tried to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to stop the program.
The Senate voted 50 to 46 against ending the AI pilot program.
The vote was split by party, with Republicans supporting the program and Democrats opposing it.
CRA is a tool Congress can use to overturn federal rules or programs.
The AI pilot aims to make Medicare authorization faster and more efficient.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump plans to accuse China of interfering in U.S. elections during his primetime speech on Thursday night. This information comes from sources cited by CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump will give a primetime speech on Thursday night.
In the speech, he will claim that China tried to influence U.S. elections.
The report comes from sources mentioned by CBS News.
CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi provided the update.
The speech is expected to address election security and foreign interference.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump has said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was vandalized and drained for repairs. He has repeatedly changed the reported size of the damage but has not shown any proof of vandalism. Observers at the site did not see clear signs of the large damage he described.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals using a knife or box cutter.
He first said the damage was 250 feet, then 300 feet, later 350 feet, and recently said 300 yards (900 feet).
No photos or evidence have been made public to prove the vandalism claims.
Media and visitors who saw the drained pool reported no obvious cuts or gashes.
A long line seen in the pool is actually a drainage channel, not damage.
The pool was painted blue for the US 250th anniversary, but algae growth turned it green.
Chemicals to kill the algae caused the blue paint to chip and float on the water.
President Trump has denied that the renovation or contractors caused the problems and blamed vandals instead.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota are causing heavy smoke and poor air quality in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast United States. The smoke is making the skies hazy and air quality unhealthy for residents in these areas.
Key Facts
Wildfires are burning in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota.
Smoke from these fires has spread far into the U.S. Midwest and Northeast regions.
The smoke makes the sky appear dark and hazy.
Air quality in many affected areas has become unhealthy.
Officials are monitoring the situation and providing updates.
The smoke is expected to affect air conditions for several days.
People in the affected regions are advised to limit outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Several major U.S. TV networks will not show President Trump's prime-time speech live on their main channels but will offer coverage through streaming services. The speech is expected to focus on election security and may include contested claims about the 2020 election.
Key Facts
President Trump's speech is scheduled for 9 pm Eastern Time.
At least two of the four major TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) will not air the speech live on their main channels.
NBC will show the speech live on its streaming service NBC News NOW and air a special report afterward.
ABC will stream the speech on ABC News Live and ABC News Radio, with updates in regular newscasts.
ABC may interrupt regular programming to provide live updates if needed.
CBS and FOX have not announced their plans for airing the speech.
The speech is expected to focus on issues related to election security and claims about the fairness of the 2020 election.
Networks are cautious because the speech could include false information about the election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Senate voted against a Democratic resolution to end a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to review some Medicare treatment requests. The program aims to reduce waste and fraud in Medicare, but some worry it could delay care for seniors who use original Medicare.
Key Facts
The Senate vote took place on Thursday afternoon and was divided mostly along party lines.
The Democratic resolution wanted to stop a CMS pilot program using AI in reviewing Medicare treatment approvals.
Republicans, led by President Donald Trump’s administration, supported keeping the AI pilot to reduce waste and fraud.
The pilot program, called WISeR, started in January and runs in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.
WISeR requires prior authorization for some medical services that may be at risk of fraud or unnecessary spending.
Private contractors using AI technology help decide if Medicare will pay for the services.
Forty-six Democrats supported repealing the AI pilot; 50 Republicans voted against the repeal.
Four senators did not vote, including three Republicans and one Democrat.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday. This meeting follows pressure from lawmakers during recent hearings on Capitol Hill.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General of the United States.
He will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting comes after lawmakers questioned DOJ officials during hearings on Capitol Hill this week.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The source of this information is a DOJ insider who spoke to NewsNation, The Hill’s broadcast partner.
The meeting will take place at the Department of Justice.
Senator Thom Tillis pressured DOJ officials to engage with Epstein survivors.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to move forward with a Senate vote on a bill that would give $1.3 billion to help Ukraine with security and increase sanctions on Russia. The House of Representatives already approved this bill last month, though some Republican leaders opposed it.
Key Facts
The bill would provide $1.3 billion in security aid to Ukraine.
It includes measures to expand sanctions against Russia.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 226-195.
Some Republican leaders in the House opposed the bill.
Eighteen House Republicans voted in favor despite their leaders’ opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to bring the bill to the Senate calendar for consideration.
The bill aims to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict involving Russia.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that 20 additional polluting factories will be exempt from clean air rules introduced during President Biden’s administration. These rules aimed to reduce harmful chemicals that cause cancer near many facilities.
Key Facts
President Trump exempted 20 more polluting factories from clean air regulations.
The regulations were created during President Biden’s time in office.
The rules are designed to limit toxic chemicals released by industrial plants.
These chemicals can increase cancer risks for people living within about 31 miles of the plants.
Environmental groups criticized the move to remove these factories from the rules.
About 200 facilities were originally covered by the Biden-era regulation.
The exemptions reduce the number of factories subject to these cancer-preventing rules.
The announcement was made through an official proclamation signed by President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that all military members aged 30 and older will be tested for low testosterone during their annual health checkups. This screening aims to monitor natural declines in testosterone levels as people age.
Key Facts
The new testosterone tests will apply to military personnel aged 30 and above.
Testing will be part of the yearly health screening for these troops.
Testosterone levels typically drop naturally with age.
The announcement was made publicly by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The goal is to better understand and manage the health of service members.
The announcement was shared in a video post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The term "testosterone deficiency" refers to lower than normal levels of this hormone.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, is on unpaid leave after reports said he used his inside knowledge to place bets on what the president would say in speeches on the online market Kalshi. Kalshi alerted federal regulators about the bets, which may violate ethical rules about using job information for betting.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump's teleprompter since 2016.
Perez allegedly used knowledge from his job to win over $100,000 betting on Trump's speeches.
The betting took place on Kalshi, an online prediction market that allows betting on speech phrases.
Kalshi’s enforcement team flagged and reported the suspicious activity to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The White House said Perez is on unpaid leave and emphasized strict ethical rules.
Kalshi requires users to disclose their jobs and forbids bets based on inside information.
President Trump is aware of the situation and his spokesperson called it "unfortunate" and "a disgrace."
Trump has reported making significant profits from his crypto and business ventures according to ethical disclosures.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
