President Donald Trump will wait as much as two weeks to decide on striking Iran.
“The latest: Trump dialed back his war talk yesterday, saying there is a ‘substantial chance of negotiations’ with Iranian leaders. Follow live updates here.
Zooming out: If the U.S. strikes Iran, these U.S. bases could become targets. And Israel’s air defense system is fending off most Iranian missiles — these graphics show how it works.”
Read this story at Washington Post
“A federal appeals court in California has ruled that President Trump can maintain control over 4,000 California National Guard troops in Los Angeles. The decision blocks, at least temporarily, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to regain control of the Guard. The Trump administration deployed the troops nearly two weeks ago in response to protests in LA, which were sparked by immigration raids in the area.
Richard Vogel/AP
The unanimous ruling from the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit doesn’t come as a surprise since the judges seemed skeptical of the state’s arguments during Tuesday's hearing, Laura Fitzgerald of CapRadio, an NPR network station, tells Up First. The 38-page ruling says the situation in LA likely warranted the president using the California National Guard to ensure federal immigration laws were enforced. The court emphasized the decision only pertained to Trump’s authority to deploy the Guard and not what he could do with the troops once deployed. The president called the decision a big win that would have an impact, not just in California, but in any other state where he decides to call in the National Guard.” [NPR]
Dodger Stadium becomes a ICE flashpoint
“The Los Angeles Dodgers say Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were denied entry to the stadium grounds – while ICE says the agency was ‘never there’ and the Department of Homeland Security claims the masked agents were with Customs and Border Patrol. The Dodgers were supposed to make an announcement about their ‘plans for assistance to immigrant communities’ but club president Stan Kasten said the organization would be delaying an announcement after the federal agents showed up. The simmering dispute comes as protesters showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday to decry Dodgers’ silence amidst immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.” [USA Today]
Protester Al Aguilar holds a sign outside Gate A of Dodger Stadium.
Jill Connelly, Reuters
The Minnesota Shooting Suspect's Background Suggests Deep Ties to Christian Nationalism
BY TESS OWEN | 5-MINUTE READ
“Experts say that the suspect in the shootings of Democratic Minnesota lawmakers this weekend showed clear ties to forms of so-called charismatic Christianity that views abortion as a sacrifice to demons and seeks the end of secular democracy.” [Wired]
Minnesota shooting
“Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, shared details of the harrowing attack that left them critically injured. Around 2 a.m. last Saturday, the Hoffmans were asleep at home when they heard someone pounding on their front door who identified himself as a police officer. But when the couple and their adult daughter, Hope, opened the door, the man began shooting. The state senator lunged at the gunman and was shot nine times. When his wife tried to push the man and shut the door, she was shot eight times. Hope Hoffman managed to get the door closed and locked, then called 911. After undergoing several surgeries, John Hoffman is now in critical but stable condition; Yvette Hoffman is in stable condition as well. The gunman also shot and killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, that same night. Authorities later arrested Vance Boelter for the attacks.” [CNN]
A man was accused of knocking on the Memphis mayor’s door with a Taser.
“What to know: The suspect allegedly scaled a wall to get to the mayor’s home and had rope and duct tape in his car. He was charged this week with attempted kidnapping.
The bigger picture: Threats to politicians are on the rise. Some fear a narrowly divided Congress could inspire an attacker to target federal lawmakers.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Trump's Juneteenth jab
“On Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the end of slavery, President Trump declared on Truth Social that there are ‘ [t]oo many non-working holidays in America.’
‘Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year.’”
INTERNATIONAL
Bedouin men stand near a bridge they use as a shelter in case of a rocket siren alert for a missile strike from Iran on Israel, in southern Negev, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Iran-Israel
“Iran said it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under Israeli attack, as Europe sought to draw Tehran back to the negotiating table, with a decision on potential US involvement expected within two weeks. Meanwhile, Israeli official says 'it was a mistake' to say Bushehr was hit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to discuss the possibility that Israel and the US could kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei. Reuters Executive Editor Simon Robinson shares details of his Thursday interview with Putin in St. Petersburg on the Reuters World News podcast.
Iran's fragmented opposition groups think their moment may be close at hand, but activists involved in previous bouts of protest say they are unwilling to unleash mass unrest, even against a system they hate, with their nation under attack.” [Reuters]
“The dysfunction of Thai politics — responsible for roughly a dozen coups since 1932 — is again on full display, with the government at risk of losing control over parliament less than a year after taking power.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest prime minister and the third member of her family to lead the country, lost her coalition’s second-largest party this week, leaving her with a razor-thin majority.
After weeks of infighting over cabinet posts, Bhumjaithai pulled the plug, citing a leaked phone call in which the 38-year-old criticized the role of Thailand’s military in a border dispute with Cambodia.
The fact that the call was with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, fueled the controversy, sparking opposition calls for Paetongtarn to resign and sending hundreds of activists onto the streets.
What was once a formidable coalition has been whittled down to an alliance on the brink.
Paetongtarn’s bloc now controls about 255 seats in the 495-member House of Representatives and can’t afford further defections. Yet the conservative United Thai Nation Party could walk if she refuses to step down, according to local media reports.
The political chaos couldn’t come at a worse time. The economy is on the edge of a technical recession and bracing for fallout from US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught.
Even if Paetongtarn survives, analysts warn the damage could linger — stalling key legislation, undercutting trade talks with Washington and shaking investor confidence in already-weak Thai assets.
Then there’s the armed forces. Thailand’s most-recent military coups, in 2006 and 2014, toppled governments led by Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin, and her aunt, Yingluck.
Despite assurances from the army chief about safeguarding democracy, fears of another intervention are rising.
For now, Paetongtarn appears stuck — with few good options and even fewer allies.” — Philip Heijmans [Bloomberg]
Paetongtarn at an army base near the border with Cambodia today. Source: Thailand Government Spokesman Office/AP Photo
“Domestic problems piling up for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are threatening to spill into next week’s NATO summit after he emerged as the only leader from the alliance refusing to sign up to a new target for military spending of 5% of output. As many governments embark on an unprecedented expansion of defense outlays, Europe’s arms manufacturers are duking it out with American rivals to win their slice of the pie.” [Bloomberg]
“China sent the most warplanes toward Taiwan since October, a move that follows US lawmakers visiting a top military figure in Taipei and both the UK and Japan sailing warships through the strait separating the island from the Chinese mainland. Beijing defended the flights, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun saying that ‘the Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’” [Bloomberg]
“The EU is continuing intensive trade talks with the US ahead of a July 9 tariff deadline and is ‘making progress,’ according to the bloc’s economy commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis. Meanwhile, a source says the EU plans to restrict access for Chinese medical-device manufacturers to public-procurement contracts worth more than €5 million ($5.7 million), threatening to add another irritant to already testy relations.” [Bloomberg]
“Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva insisted that he will run for reelection next year provided he remains healthy, pledging to block the far right from regaining power in Latin America’s largest nation.
A Turkish court arrested a lawyer for jailed Istanbul Mayor — and potential presidential candidate — Ekrem İmamoğlu, intensifying a widespread crackdown on the opposition.
Denmark’s annual democracy festival typically reflects what’s top of mind in Danish politics: this year, as our dispatch shows, the war in Ukraine and fears of Russian aggression loomed over the event on the island of Bornholm.” [Bloomberg]
“One person was killed and at least 14 were injured when Russian drones attacked the city of Odesa overnight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, local authorities and prosecutors said. Meanwhile, Russia sentenced an activist who helped Ukrainians flee war to 22 years in prison.” [Reuters]
“British lawmakers will vote on whether to proceed with a bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill people, in what would be the biggest social reform in the country for a generation.” [Reuters]
As death toll rises, Gazans make life-risking journeys to seek food
Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
“Like thousands of other Palestinians in Gaza, Hind Al-Nawajha takes a dangerous, miles-long journey every day to try to get some food for her family, hoping she makes it back alive.
In the past two days, dozens of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they tried to get food from aid trucks brought into the enclave by the United Nations and international relief agencies, Gaza medics said.”
Read more at Reuters
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Cybercriminals breach Aflac as part of hacking spree against US insurance industry
“Cybercriminals have breached insurance giant Aflac, potentially stealing Social Security numbers, insurance claims and health information, the company said Friday, the latest in a spree of hacks against the insurance industry.
With billions of dollars in annual revenue and tens of millions of customers, Aflac is the biggest victim yet in the ongoing digital assault on US insurance companies that has the industry on edge and the FBI and private cyber experts scrambling to contain the fallout.”
Read more at CNN
Three people died in a listeria outbreak linked to packaged meals.
“What to know: Premade chicken fettuccine alfredo meals sold at Walmart and Kroger were recalled by their maker, FreshRealm. More than a dozen people were hospitalized.
Stay safe: Listeria is particularly dangerous for newborns and people who are pregnant, older or have weakened immune systems. Learn how to protect yourself here.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Plastic bag fees and bans help limit coastal litter, a new study found.
“How much? By 25% to 47% compared to places without bans. But even areas with bag policies are seeing a greater prevalence of plastic bags on beaches and riverbanks.
In other environmental news: The U.S. invested in electric vehicle battery plants. Now, as EV sales slow and Republicans take aim at tax credits, they may be stranded.”
Read this story at Washington Post
TECH
Mega rocket explodes another SpaceX setback
“In what the company called ‘a major anomaly,’ SpaceX's Starship exploded late Wednesday, shooting a massive fireball and giant debris into the Texas night sky. The explosion is not the first for SpaceX and comes on the heels of a string of set backs for the 400-foot rocket system this year. Founder Elon Musk said via social media no hazards are posed to residents in the communities surrounding Brownsville, and initial inspection suggest the incident ‘is the first time ever for this design.’ The last Starship explosion was less than a month ago.” [USA Today]
The moment Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship 36 exploded during testing in Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday.
TheRocketFuture via X
HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Abortion clinics are closing, even in states where abortion is legal
“The abortion funding system across the U.S. is battered three years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to enforce bans. An initial surge of donations has subsided, scores of clinics have closed and advocates fear federal policy changes will result in more shutting down. Read more.
Why this matters:
Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, advocacy group I Need An A, which operates a website providing information about abortion options, has tallied 105 clinics closing. There were 29 closures in states where abortion is now banned at all stages of pregnancy and 11 in states where the procedure is banned at about six weeks’ gestation, before many women realize they are pregnant. But 65 of the closures were in other states. At the same time, 34 clinics have opened or moved to states where abortion is legal.” [AP News]
Poll: Americans want presidential health records
Data: Axios/Ipsos poll. Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals
“Eight in 10 Americans want legally required and publicly released cognitive tests and disease screenings for U.S. presidents — and age limits on the presidency, according to the latest Axios-Ipsos American Health Index.
About 3 in 4 say politicians aren't honest about their health, and that presidents should be legally required to share their medical records with the public, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Margaret Talev write.
Why it matters: The issue of presidents' health has become particularly poignant in light of the decline of Joe Biden, who was 82 when he left office, and the return of Donald Trump, who's now 79 and was the oldest president to be inaugurated in U.S. history.
Trump rarely has offered glimpses into his health records. His team released a memo after his physical in April that pronounced him in ‘excellent health,’ but political foes such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom have questioned Trump's mental fitness and whether he's up to the job.
The big picture: The balance between public officials' medical privacy and the public's right to know has swung sharply toward more disclosure, the poll showed.
It found strong bipartisan appetite for increased transparency about public officials' health, and for a maximum age at which officeholders and Supreme Court justices can serve.” [Axios]
Cannabis risks
“Marijuana use dramatically increases the chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke, according to a new analysis. Experts say weed’s higher potency is a growing concern when it comes to potential health problems.” [CNN]
SPORTS
THE INDIANA PACERS
“We're getting the best two words in sports -- Game 7 -- and there's hardly a team more deserving of forcing one. The Pacers staved off elimination with a rollicking 108-91 domination of the Thunder. Indiana led by 30 after three quarters, when Oklahoma City pulled its starters.
Normally this is where I put the significant stats, but last night's performance transcended stats. I mean this sincerely: If you have no rooting interest, how can you not enjoy what the Pacers are doing?
Tyrese Haliburton played a historically poor Game 5 and was questionable to play in Game 6 due to a calf strain. After a slow start, he found his rhythm and finished with 14 points and five assists in just 23 minutes. Watch how he leads the offense with precision, poise and joy.
Pascal Siakam had 16 points and 13 rebounds. He's such a smooth scorer that you rarely realize how explosive of a scorer he is, too. Watch him work in the mid-post, using his size and versatility to go on scoring binges.
Watch how hard Andrew Nembhard (17 points) and Aaron Nesmith (10 points) work on both ends, tirelessly navigating screens, recovering and bodying up against Oklahoma City's best players and then sprinting to the other end.
Watch how Obi Toppin can blossom when he's playing confidently. He finished with a team-high 20 points.
But most of all, watch T.J. McConnell. He, like Nesmith and Toppin, all Eastern Conference cast-offs, was knocked for plenty of purported weaknesses. But he, like everyone on this roster, has found a way to thrive, his strengths exacerbated in Indy. He had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals -- just the third player to do that off the bench in a playoff game. He got rebounds against guys a foot taller than him. There have been stretches in this series where he has been the best player on the floor, bar none.
Now maybe, as Brad Botkin writes, he can be the hard-charging bull because he's coming off the bench and not having to play starter minutes every night. But that does beg the question: if this guy can be this effective, why can't every backup guard play like this?
Botkin: ‘Suffice it to say, McConnell is doing his job. And then some. Imagine, a guy who wasn't even drafted a decade ago is registering on Finals MVP boards. He's a 140-1 long shot at FanDuel (as if long odds are anything new to him), but he's on the board, and he's honestly not a bad bet if you want to take a flier on a crazy Game 7. ‘
Like McConnell, the Pacers are the ultimate underdog, Sam Quinn writes.
OK, enough of a lovefest. The keys to this one were Indiana having just 10 turnovers (after a whopping 23 in Game 5) and forcing 21 Oklahoma City turnovers. That, plus 11 offensive rebounds resulted in the Pacers attempting 18 more shots than the Thunder. James Herbert examined how Indiana dominated OKC.
And let's not forget: We're all winners, too. This is the first NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016. I can't wait for Sunday.” [The Athletic]
CULTURE
Archaeologists spent three months piecing together a huge Roman “puzzle.”
“Why? To reassemble an enormous collection of ancient frescoes not seen for more than 1,800 years. They were uncovered at a building site in London.
A laborious task: The decorative plaster, smashed when the Roman building was demolished, was amazingly well preserved. It just needed to be put back together.”
Read this story at Washington Post
“Jaws” was released 50 years ago today.
Moviegoers in Ann Arbor, Michigan, line up on July 14, 1975, outside the State Theatre when it was showing “Jaws.” (Steve Kagan/Getty Images)
“Duhhh-nuh: Steven Spielberg’s movie terrified audiences and gave us the scariest two notes in film. Most critics loved it back in 1975, but not all. Let’s just try to forget the sequels.
Its legacy: Some people think it ruined movies — our critic disagrees. It did harm the image of sharks, but it may also help to save them. Hate sharks? This quiz will make you rethink.”
Read this story at Washington Post