Pam Bondi, President Donald Trump’s former attorney general, testified before the House Oversight Committee about how the Justice Department handled documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Her statements about who was responsible for releasing the files have caused disagreement between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
Key Facts
Pam Bondi gave a closed-door interview about the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Bondi said Todd Blanche, Trump’s nominee for attorney general and acting attorney general at the time, was in charge of releasing the Epstein-related documents.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act covers about 6 million documents, but about half have not been released yet.
Bondi said the remaining unreleased documents are either duplicates or protected information.
Democrats argue Bondi’s testimony conflicts with her earlier public statements and that the Justice Department made errors exposing victim information.
Republicans say Bondi praised Blanche’s leadership and did not blame him for mistakes.
Bondi refused to discuss her conversations with President Trump, citing legal privileges.
The disagreement has led to calls for more hearings and for Blanche to testify about the document release process.
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The Kennedy Center is removing references to President Donald Trump after a federal judge ruled that adding his name was illegal. The center must complete these changes by June 12 and is also reviewing legal options regarding renovations and recognition of President Trump’s role.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center added President Trump’s name to the venue illegally, according to a federal judge.
The center is removing references to President Trump from email signatures, letterhead, and other documents.
The venue’s official name will return to “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” or simply “Kennedy Center.”
The changes must be finished by June 12.
The judge also blocked planned major renovations at the center scheduled to start in July.
President Donald Trump said he would back away from the renovation plans.
The center is considering legal options to both comply with the court order and recognize President Trump’s leadership.
This issue arose during President Donald Trump’s second term, after which the center was renamed.
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The Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can issue fines to companies like AT&T and Verizon for selling location data without user permission without violating the companies’ right to a jury trial. The court confirmed that the fines are not binding until enforced by a court, preserving the FCC’s ability to investigate and impose penalties.
Key Facts
AT&T and Verizon were fined a total of $104 million in 2024 for selling customers’ real-time location data without consent.
The fines were issued by the FCC after an investigation revealed the violations in 2018.
Both companies challenged the fines, claiming the process denied their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial.
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the FCC’s process does not violate the right to a jury trial.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that companies can choose to pay the fine and challenge it in higher courts or refuse payment and face a jury trial in court enforcement.
The ruling reversed a previous appeals court decision that favored AT&T.
Justice Clarence Thomas was the sole dissenter in the ruling.
The decision allows the FCC to continue investigating and proposing fines to help protect consumer privacy.
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The U.S. House of Representatives voted against a war powers resolution that aimed to force President Trump to end military involvement in Lebanon. The resolution did not pass, with a bipartisan majority voting against it.
Key Facts
The House voted 324 against, 92 in favor, and 2 abstentions on the resolution.
The resolution called for President Trump to remove U.S. troops from Lebanon.
The military action in Lebanon was not explicitly approved by Congress.
207 Republicans opposed the resolution.
117 Democrats also opposed the resolution.
One independent, Rep. Kevin Kiley from California, voted against the resolution.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, voted in favor of the resolution.
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The U.S. government has put sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife, and three other people, including Alejandro Castro Espín, the son of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. These sanctions follow President Donald Trump’s earlier moves to increase pressure on Cuba, including expanding sanctions and threatening military action.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife.
Alejandro Castro Espín, son of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, was also sanctioned.
Alejandro served as an advisor to Cuba’s Defense and National Security Commission.
President Trump previously signed an order that expanded sanctions against Cuba.
Trump has threatened military action towards Cuba and ordered an energy blockade.
The blockade caused major power outages, food shortages, and economic problems in Cuba.
U.S. officials have also charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with crimes.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed doubt about reaching a diplomatic deal with Cuba’s current government.
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Republican strategist Karl Rove said that even though polls show Democrats slightly ahead of Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections, this may not lead to a large Democratic victory known as a "blue wave." He spoke about a recent Marquette poll showing Democrats have a 1-point lead over Republicans.
Key Facts
Karl Rove is a Republican political strategist.
He appeared on Fox News to talk about midterm election polls.
A Marquette poll shows Democrats leading Republicans by 1 point.
Rove said this small lead might not cause a big Democratic win in the midterms.
The term "blue wave" refers to a significant victory for the Democratic Party.
Polls measure public support but do not always predict final election results.
Midterm elections happen halfway through a president’s term and decide many seats in Congress.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started new investigations into 15 medical schools. They want to check if these schools are using race improperly in their admissions processes.
Key Facts
The DOJ announced new civil rights investigations on Thursday.
These investigations focus on 15 medical schools.
The schools are suspected of racial discrimination in how they admit students.
This expands previous probes into race-based admissions at medical schools.
Each school receives millions of dollars in federal government funding.
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division is leading the investigations.
The goal is to see if the schools are following the law in their admissions policies.
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) is investigating 15 medical schools for possible racial discrimination in their admissions. This follows earlier findings that UCLA and Yale used race illegally in their admissions. The investigations are part of President Trump’s broader effort to stop what his administration calls unlawful race-based decisions in college admissions.
Key Facts
The DoJ’s civil rights division is investigating 15 medical schools for possible race discrimination in admissions.
UCLA and Yale were recently found by the DoJ to have used race illegally in their admissions decisions.
The investigations will check if the schools follow Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination by federally funded institutions.
The DoJ has not named the 15 schools under investigation and has not made any final conclusions.
UCLA and Yale say their admissions are based on merit and comply with laws.
President Trump’s administration is closely monitoring college admissions after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling banned affirmative action (race-based admissions).
The administration claims schools are using essays and background checks to indirectly consider race, which they say is illegal.
The DoJ is investigating other universities like Stanford and Ohio State for similar issues as part of this effort.
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The House Oversight Committee shared the transcript from a private interview with former Attorney General Pam Bondi about how she handled files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In the nearly four-hour session, Bondi refused to answer some questions and said that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was responsible for certain matters.
Key Facts
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released the transcript of a private interview.
The interview was with former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The discussion focused on how Bondi handled files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The interview lasted about four hours.
Bondi declined to answer several questions during the meeting.
She pointed to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for responsibility on some issues.
The release of the transcript provides more transparency about the committee’s investigation.
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President Donald Trump proposed new tariffs on imports from 60 countries, including key trade partners like Canada and China. These tariffs target goods made with forced labor and aim to create fairer competition for American workers, but some exemptions are included to reduce the overall impact.
Key Facts
The proposed tariffs would charge at least 10% on imports from 60 countries.
54 countries, including India and Brazil, would face a 12.5% tariff for not stopping forced labor goods.
Canada and Mexico would face a 10% tariff due to enforcement concerns.
The tariffs come after an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The tariffs aim to address unfair competition caused by forced labor in other countries.
The proposal excludes imports covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Many agricultural, apparel, and energy products are exempt from the tariffs.
Overall tariff levels will rise but remain below previous highs before a Supreme Court ruling stopped earlier tariffs.
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President Donald Trump said that Bill Pulte will not be the permanent director of national intelligence. Some Republican and Democratic senators opposed Pulte's appointment as acting director, and Trump clarified that Pulte would not be nominated to lead the national intelligence agencies permanently.
Key Facts
President Trump named Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
Pulte currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Some senators from both parties expressed opposition to Pulte's appointment.
Trump said Pulte is not being considered as the permanent national intelligence chief.
The national intelligence director coordinates 18 federal agencies involved in security.
Trump made these remarks in response to a question in the Oval Office.
The director role is important for overseeing national security work across the government.
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Renovations on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. are nearly finished, and water is being refilled after resealing. President Donald Trump also mentioned plans for a new nearby promenade, which might be named after him.
Key Facts
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is over 2,000 feet long.
The pool is being refilled with water after repairs and was resealed with a blue coating called "American flag blue."
The pool holds about 6.5 million gallons of water.
President Trump suggested creating a new promenade behind the Lincoln Memorial near the pool.
There is a possibility that the new promenade could be named the "Trump Promenade," but the president seemed unsure about the name.
Contracts awarded for the reflecting pool project total about $14.8 million, though the president previously estimated the cost at $1.5 to $2 million.
Other recent initiatives by President Trump in Washington include plans for a White House ballroom, a memorial arch, and renaming the Kennedy Center, though a court blocked the latter.
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President Donald Trump said Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence but will not be nominated for the permanent job. The White House is interviewing other candidates, and Pulte’s appointment has raised concerns due to his lack of national security experience.
Key Facts
Bill Pulte is currently the acting director of national intelligence.
President Trump does not plan to nominate Pulte for the permanent position.
The administration is interviewing other people for the permanent role.
Pulte has no known experience in national security but has led investigations into Trump’s opponents for mortgage fraud.
Senate Republicans are divided, and some Democrats oppose Pulte’s leadership of intelligence agencies.
President Trump believes Pulte’s intelligence comes from being smart, despite limited experience.
Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was involved in an FBI search of an election center in Georgia earlier this year.
Gabbard’s visit to the FBI search was reportedly at the insistence of former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
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The U.S. Senate is currently holding a "vote-a-rama," a session where many amendments can be proposed and voted on one after another. This is happening as senators decide on funding for ICE and consider a Democratic effort to block money for an "anti-weaponization" fund.
Key Facts
The Senate is conducting a "vote-a-rama," which allows many quick votes on amendments.
Funding for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is part of the legislation under review.
Democrats are working to block funding for a program called the "anti-weaponization" fund.
A "vote-a-rama" is a common part of budget discussions in the Senate.
CBS News reporter Taurean Small provided recent updates on the situation.
The vote-a-rama requires senators to cast many votes one after another, without long breaks.
This legislative process can influence how government agencies receive money to operate.
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The House of Representatives voted against a resolution that would have ordered President Trump to remove U.S. troops from Lebanon within seven days. Most Democrats joined Republicans to defeat the measure, showing disagreements within the party about U.S. policy in the Middle East.
Key Facts
Rep. Rashida Tlaib introduced a resolution to remove U.S. forces from Lebanon within seven days.
The House voted 324 against and 92 in favor of the resolution.
117 Democrats voted against the resolution, and 91 Democrats supported it.
One Republican voted for the resolution, and two Democrats did not vote either way.
House Democratic leaders oppose the resolution, saying no U.S. troops are engaged in combat in Lebanon.
Leaders support U.S. cooperation with Lebanese Armed Forces to fight Hezbollah.
The vote shows a split between progressive and centrist Democrats on Middle East policy.
The vote took place one day after the House passed a measure limiting President Trump’s war powers in Iran.
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President Donald Trump said he did not notice any signs of mental decline in President Joe Biden when they met after the 2024 election. Trump told reporters that Biden appeared the same as he had in the past.
Key Facts
President Trump met with President Biden in November 2024 after winning the election.
Trump was asked if he noticed any mental or cognitive decline in Biden.
Trump responded that he did not see any decline.
He described Biden as the same person he has observed over time.
This statement was made during a press interaction on a Thursday.
The meeting happened during the transfer of power after the 2024 election.
Cognitive decline refers to a decrease in mental abilities like memory and thinking.
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A Labor MP, Julian Hill, said the government has won the debate on changes to property tax rules, like negative gearing and capital gains tax. At the same time, homelessness in New South Wales has increased by 75% over six years.
Key Facts
Julian Hill is a member of the Labor Party in Australia.
He stated the government is winning the debate about housing tax changes.
The tax changes involve negative gearing and capital gains tax on property.
Negative gearing is a tax strategy related to investment properties.
The goal of these changes is to help young Australians afford homes.
Homelessness in New South Wales has risen by 75% in six years.
The homelessness data comes from a report by Homelessness NSW using street counts.
The discussion took place during a parliamentary session and later on an ABC news program.
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California's vote counting after the primary election is slow, which is normal and often takes days or weeks to finish. President Donald Trump criticized the delay and claimed fraud, announcing that his Department of Justice is investigating, but this slow pace does not mean the election is rigged.
Key Facts
California's election results often take a long time to count fully.
Voters are still waiting for outcomes in key races like governor and Los Angeles mayor.
Some congressional races in California are also very close and undecided.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about slow vote counting in the past.
On this occasion, President Trump posted on social media about the delay and alleged fraud.
He said that the Department of Justice is looking into the vote counting process.
Election officials say a slow count does not mean the election is unfair or rigged.
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Senator Susan Collins from Maine voted for a Democratic plan to send a $70 billion budget package back to a Senate committee. This will allow the committee to investigate insurance companies that might be denying medical care to patients.
Key Facts
Senator Susan Collins is a Republican from Maine.
She voted against the majority of her Republican colleagues.
The vote was on a Democratic amendment.
The amendment aims to send a $70 billion budget package back to the Judiciary Committee.
The purpose is to investigate insurance companies.
The investigation will look into whether insurance companies are refusing necessary medical care to patients.
The $70 billion package is part of the budget reconciliation process.
Senate Republican leaders opposed this amendment.
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President Trump said that Bill Pulte will be a temporary director of national intelligence (DNI). Pulte, who now leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was described by Trump as smart and honest amid concerns from both political parties about his appointment.
Key Facts
President Trump chose Bill Pulte to be the director of national intelligence.
Bill Pulte currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Trump said Pulte’s role as DNI will not be permanent.
Both Democrats and Republicans expressed concerns about Pulte’s nomination.
Trump praised Pulte’s intelligence and honesty during a news event.
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