A new bipartisan housing bill called the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act" is set for a Senate vote. It aims to make buying a home easier and cheaper by increasing the supply of affordable housing and limiting how many single-family homes investors can buy. President Trump supports the bill and plans to sign it into law if passed.
Key Facts
The bill aims to increase affordable housing by removing building rules and encouraging more home construction.
It would limit institutional investors to owning no more than 350 single-family homes nationwide.
Investors who already own more than 350 homes would not have to sell any if the bill becomes law.
The bill includes a $200 million per year grant fund for five years to help local governments build more homes.
It also proposes programs to convert empty commercial buildings into affordable homes and support factory-built housing.
Home prices in the U.S. have risen sharply since 2011 due to more demand than homes being built.
The median home price is about $403,000, and many Americans need a high income to afford this.
Institutional investors own a small share of all homes but a bigger share in some cities, such as Jacksonville, Florida.
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Starting July 1, millions of Americans with federal student loans will face major changes in how they repay their loans and qualify for forgiveness. These changes include new repayment plans, ending older programs, and stricter borrowing limits for students and parents.
Key Facts
A new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) will start, setting payments at 1% to 10% of income and offering loan forgiveness after 30 years.
The Biden-era SAVE repayment plan will end, requiring about 7 million borrowers to switch plans or face higher payments.
Several older income-driven repayment plans like PAYE and ICR will stop accepting new borrowers as they phase out by 2028.
New borrowing limits will cap Parent PLUS loans at $20,000 per year and $65,000 lifetime per student, and graduate student borrowing at about $20,500 per year with a $100,000 lifetime limit.
Grad PLUS loans will no longer be available for new graduate students starting July 1.
If borrowers do not select a new repayment plan after SAVE ends, they will be moved to a standard repayment plan with likely higher monthly payments.
Changes will also affect the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, impacting eligibility and rules.
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Leaders of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee reached a bipartisan deal to create rules that require social media companies to protect children and offer helpful tools for parents. The agreement aims to improve online safety for kids but leaves out a "duty of care" rule that would force companies to design safer platforms specifically for children.
Key Facts
The deal was made by Chair Brett Guthrie (Republican) and top Democrat Frank Pallone.
The legislation focuses on making social media safer for children and providing parental controls.
The "duty of care" provision, which would legally require child-focused safety in platform design, was not included.
States can make their own laws that provide stronger protections than the federal agreement.
Social media companies like Meta, Google (YouTube), Snapchat, and TikTok did not comment on the agreement.
These companies face many lawsuits accusing them of causing harm to young people through their apps.
The deal still needs approval from the Senate and President Donald Trump before becoming law.
At least 20 states passed laws last year addressing children’s social media use because there was no federal law.
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Comedian Bill Maher joked about the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago during his HBO show. He compared the building’s design to something alien and mentioned its $850 million cost.
Key Facts
The Obama Presidential Center recently opened in Chicago.
Bill Maher made comments about the center on his HBO show, “Real Time.”
Maher said the building looks like something aliens built in Dubai.
He noted the center cost $850 million to build.
Maher discussed the center while talking with Congressman Ro Khanna and journalist Jonathan Martin.
The discussion took place on a Friday episode of the show.
The center is a library and museum related to President Barack Obama’s time in office.
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President Donald Trump has started many projects to change and improve Washington, D.C., including renovations of famous landmarks. However, several projects have been delayed or stopped by court cases because groups say the projects did not follow laws about historic preservation or congressional approval.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to renovate places like the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Kennedy Center, and a public golf course in Washington, D.C.
Lawsuits claim the projects broke rules meant to protect historic sites and did not properly involve Congress or public experts.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation faced a lawsuit seeking to stop it, with concerns over law compliance and project problems like peeling materials.
A judge said only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center and blocked plans to close it for two years for renovations.
The courts have partially blocked or delayed several Trump administration projects related to D.C. landmarks.
Preservation groups argue the government should follow legal steps and get public input before making big changes to historic places.
The Department of the Interior was ordered to respond to the court about the Reflecting Pool issues.
President Trump said vandalism, not contractors, caused some problems with the Reflecting Pool renovation.
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Democratic strategist James Carville urged people working in President Donald Trump’s White House to share inside information about secret meetings. He said doing this might help them protect their jobs because he expects President Trump and Republicans to lose power after the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
James Carville is a Democratic political strategist.
He encouraged Trump White House staff to leak information about private discussions.
Carville believes sharing leaks could help staffers save their careers.
He predicts President Trump and Republicans will lose power in the midterm elections.
The encouragement to leak has caused strong reactions from people close to President Trump.
The article focuses on events in the United States government and politics.
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A new CBS News poll shows that most Americans want the war with Iran to end. The poll also finds that few people think the United States gained an advantage from the recent agreement related to the conflict.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by CBS News.
Most Americans want the ongoing war with Iran to come to an end.
Few Americans believe the U.S. was successful or benefited from the new agreement.
Anthony Salvanto, CBS News executive director of elections and surveys, presented the poll results.
The poll highlights public concern about how President Trump is handling the Iran conflict.
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Alan Greenspan, who led the U.S. Federal Reserve for many years, died at age 100. In 1996, he used the phrase "irrational exuberance" to warn about overly high optimism, and this idea is now connected to current political behavior in the United States.
Key Facts
Alan Greenspan was the chairman of the Federal Reserve for four U.S. presidents.
He passed away at the age of 100.
In 1996, Greenspan coined the term "irrational exuberance" to describe overly optimistic market behavior.
The term warned about the risk of economic bubbles caused by too much optimism.
This phrase is now used to describe some attitudes and actions in U.S. politics today.
CBS News explained this connection in a report by correspondent Major Garrett.
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The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear arguments about whether to hold the Trump administration in contempt of court. This relates to the deportation of over 100 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s large CECOT prison last year.
Key Facts
More than 100 Venezuelans were deported to the CECOT mega-prison in El Salvador.
The deportations happened during President Donald Trump’s administration.
A federal judge attempted to hold the administration in contempt over these deportations.
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed to review this contempt inquiry.
CECOT is a large prison facility located in Tecoluca, El Salvador.
The issue is part of ongoing legal and immigration debates.
Additional details and updates are expected as the case develops.
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A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in Alaska during a training flight with four people onboard. The accident happened near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, close to Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
Key Facts
The helicopter was a MH-60 Jayhawk, used for search and rescue missions.
The crash occurred on a Monday during a training flight.
Four people were onboard the helicopter at the time of the crash.
The crash site was near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska.
Sitka Fire and Rescue teams responded to the accident around 11 a.m.
The Coast Guard made the announcement about the crash.
Sitka is located near Juneau, the capital city of Alaska.
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The Senate is about to pass a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing the supply of homes and lowering prices. The bill bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes and reduces federal rules to give more control to local authorities.
Key Facts
The bill is a rare bipartisan effort addressing housing costs in an election year.
It bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes to prevent Wall Street from dominating housing.
The bill removes many federal regulations and increases local control over housing issues.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, a Republican, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, both supported the bill.
The House is expected to approve the bill soon and send it to President Donald Trump for signing.
The bill aims to lower housing prices, increase supply, cut red tape, and support homeownership.
Housing prices have been high due to a shortage of affordable homes, worsened by rising mortgage rates since 2022.
Experts report a shortage of 10 million homes and very low home sales compared to historical norms.
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A U.S. judge blocked subpoenas issued by President Donald Trump’s administration against Minnesota state officials. The judge said these subpoenas aimed to pressure and punish officials for opposing federal immigration raids.
Key Facts
The subpoenas targeted Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz.
The subpoenas were part of a Justice Department investigation into opposition to mass deportation raids.
U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz ruled the subpoenas were meant to coerce and harass officials.
The subpoena order was issued on June 17 and made public recently.
The Trump administration accused Minnesota activists of political violence related to the raids.
The raids led to widespread protests after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens.
Governor Walz called the judge’s decision a victory for the rule of law and democracy.
Walz said he will keep defending the rights of Minnesotans and American freedoms.
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Rep. Joyce Beatty and her lawyers criticized the tarp covering the Kennedy Center’s exterior after President Trump’s name was removed, calling it a “petty defiance.” Beatty, who is on the board, initially sued over the name removal and her lawyers have now taken legal action at the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Key Facts
Rep. Joyce Beatty is a Democratic representative from Ohio.
She serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, meaning she is a member because of her role in government.
The Kennedy Center removed President Donald Trump’s name from its exterior.
After the name removal, a tarp was placed over the spot where the name had been.
Beatty and her lawyers said the tarp was meant to show defiance against the President.
Beatty originally filed a lawsuit about removing President Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center.
Her lawyers recently filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals related to this case.
The issue centers on the legality and symbolism of removing and covering President Trump’s name.
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President Donald Trump commented on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation during a press event at the White House. He said Starmer faced problems with energy and immigration policies and believed decisions on North Sea oil and renewable energy affected Starmer politically.
Key Facts
President Trump was asked about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Trump said Starmer had two main problems: energy and immigration.
He criticized the UK’s management of North Sea oil and renewable energy decisions.
Trump linked these issues to Starmer’s political difficulties.
The comments were made during a press gathering in the Oval Office.
Trump did not specify who he wanted to replace Starmer as UK Prime Minister.
The article includes additional unrelated US news stories from the BBC.
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Voters in Maryland are voting in primary elections to choose candidates for the House of Representatives. The 5th Congressional District seat is open because Representative Steny Hoyer is retiring after more than 40 years. Adrian Boafo and Rushern Baker are currently leading for the Democratic nomination.
Key Facts
Maryland is holding primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Representative Steny Hoyer is retiring from the 5th Congressional District seat.
Hoyer has held this seat since 1981.
The 5th District is expected to remain with the Democratic Party in November.
Adrian Boafo, a state delegate, is one of the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Rushern Baker, former Prince George’s County Executive, is also leading in the Democratic primary.
The primary results will decide which candidates will run in the general election this fall.
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Horse-drawn carriage rides in New York City's Central Park, a tradition since the 1800s, face possible bans after recent accidents, including the death of an 18-year-old tourist. A new bill called Ryder's Law seeks to end these rides and replace horses with electric carriages, citing safety concerns for both animals and people.
Key Facts
Horse-drawn carriages have been a New York City attraction since the mid-1800s.
Ryder's Law is a proposed bill to ban horse-drawn carriages and replace them with electric vehicles.
The law is named after Ryder, a horse that died after collapsing in Central Park in 2022.
The bill was introduced in 2024 and will have a hearing in July.
An 18-year-old tourist, Romanch Mahajan, died in a carriage accident when a horse bolted in June 2024.
Animal welfare groups and some officials support the ban due to safety concerns.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports phasing out horse-drawn carriages.
Incidents with horses getting sick or spooked in Central Park have raised worries about public safety.
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A federal judge ruled that a new version of a government database called SAVE, used to check voters' citizenship, is illegal and must stop being used. The judge said the program risks wrongly removing eligible voters by collecting too much personal information and breaking privacy laws.
Key Facts
The SAVE program verifies citizenship to prevent noncitizens from receiving government benefits and checking voter rolls.
The Trump administration expanded SAVE’s ability to scan voter registrations starting in April 2025.
At least 25 states have used SAVE for voter roll checks, affecting about 67 million registrations.
Advocacy groups sued, saying SAVE violated privacy rights and could wrongly purge voters.
U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ruled the program violates laws against centralizing personal data.
The ruling halts the federal use of SAVE for voter verification and challenges President Donald Trump’s election integrity efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the ruling, but the Department of Justice has not commented.
The revamped SAVE system was part of an executive order on improving election security signed by President Donald Trump.
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Senator Tim Sheehy expressed strong concerns about Iran’s leadership, saying they want to destroy Western civilization. His comments came after recent peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. Sheehy hopes U.S. officials can persuade Iran to change its approach and become more cooperative.
Key Facts
Senator Tim Sheehy is a Republican from Montana.
He said Iran’s leaders want to eliminate Western civilization.
These remarks were made after peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.
U.S. officials involved in talks include Vice President Vance, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff.
Sheehy hopes these officials can convince Iran to act like a normal country.
The goal is for Iran to open its mind and stop hostile actions.
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More than 220 military members at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have caught the flu. This outbreak happened after the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the rule requiring soldiers to get flu shots.
Key Facts
Over 220 troops at Lackland Air Force Base have flu infections.
Last week, there were 160 cases reported, showing a sharp increase.
The flu outbreak began less than two months after the flu vaccine mandate was removed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the mandatory flu vaccination for service members.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, who represents the area including Lackland, is involved and made a statement on the issue.
Lackland Air Force Base is located in Texas.
The flu outbreak is considered major due to the number of cases reported.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is appealing a federal judge's decision to dismiss the human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The appeal was filed by the federal prosecutor in Tennessee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
Key Facts
The DOJ is challenging a judge’s order that dropped the human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
The case is being handled in Tennessee.
Federal prosecutor Robert McGuire filed the notice of appeal.
The appeal was submitted to U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw.
The appeal will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
Human smuggling involves illegally helping people cross borders.
This is a current, developing legal case.
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