President Donald Trump

President Trump claims a 'great settlement' with Iran is nearing finalization, predicting a signing ceremony in Europe soon. The deal, which Iran's Supreme Leader reportedly approved, aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office stated Israel is not part of the agreement, though the U.S. emphasized Iran's commitments.

Kharg Island, handling 90% of Iran’s oil exports, is a strategic target under the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. military options include an air assault by forces like the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 82nd Airborne Division, following prior strikes on Iranian military sites. President Trump has mentioned potential seizure of the island as a leverage point.

Senate Democrats Ron Wyden and Edward Markey accuse the Trump administration of delaying refunds for over $145 billion in unlawful tariffs, with only $20.6 billion processed. The Supreme Court ruled President Trump's global tariffs illegal, but the administration has faced criticism for slowing the refund process, leaving small businesses waiting for repayment.

The opening of a Canada-US bridge across the Detroit River, which President Donald Trump had previously threatened to block, was delayed on Thursday due to unresolved issues.

U.S. stocks surged after President Donald Trump abandoned his threat to bomb Iran, boosting market optimism. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 all posted significant gains, while oil prices declined and Treasury yields dropped.

President Donald Trump has made unfounded claims of fraud in California's June 2 primary election, citing the state's delayed vote-counting process due to mail-in ballots. The U.S. Department of Justice has joined efforts to obtain California's unredacted voter roll data, though courts have not yet granted access.

President Trump called off new U.S. military strikes on Iran, citing approved final points of an initial peace deal. Iran's Fars news agency reported that Tehran had not approved the text of any agreement.

U.S. Senate Democrats Ron Wyden and Edward Markey demanded the Trump administration refund over $145 billion in tariffs deemed unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court, criticizing delays in processing refunds for small businesses. The administration has only returned $20.6 billion, with $85 billion in processing and $60 billion unaddressed, despite court orders requiring repayment.

The Trump administration is appealing a court ruling that blocked a $100,000 H-1B visa application fee. The ruling claimed President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by implementing the fee without congressional approval.

The House failed to extend FISA spy powers, likely leading to their expiration as a bipartisan group opposed President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte to acting director of national intelligence. The Senate may attempt a vote, but the law expires Friday, risking surveillance limitations amid geopolitical tensions.

The House rejected an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, leading to its expiration. The 218-198 vote followed Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. The law, which allows warrantless surveillance of foreign targets, will lapse Friday night unless extended by Congress or an executive action.

The House failed to temporarily extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), risking its expiration by Friday due to political conflict over President Donald Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Democrats refused to support the extension unless Trump withdraws Pulte’s nomination, citing his lack of relevant experience.

Steve Sack publishes an editorial cartoon featuring a sleeping President Donald Trump on MinnPost each Thursday. The article mentions a feature story about Sack's cartooning by Eric Ringham and references Sack's Substack.

The opening of a Canada-US bridge across the Detroit River, which President Donald Trump previously threatened to block, has been delayed due to 'outstanding issues.'

The U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes for the second consecutive day, escalating tensions in the Middle East and pushing the region closer to full-scale war. This follows three incidents this week involving Iran-Israel and U.S.-Iran conflicts. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump expressed support for rising inflation, and a judge rejected a bid to block the Trump administration's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' fund.

A House Democrat criticized GOP efforts to investigate foreign donations, alleging a specific motive. The investigation aligns with a request from President Donald Trump to probe the group in April.

Scott Pelley was fired from '60 Minutes' after criticizing Nick Bilton, Bari Weiss’s choice to lead the show. Pelley defended his coverage of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, which portrayed protesters as aggressive, despite the article arguing protesters were restrained in the face of state violence.

The U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes for a second day, with the U.S. targeting Iranian military sites and Iran retaliating against Gulf states and Jordan. An Indian official reported three mariners killed in a U.S. attack on an oil tanker, while Iran claimed to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, though the U.S. disputes this. Negotiations to end the conflict remain stalled.

The article argues that dismantling climate change policies is essential for energy affordability, citing rising gasoline and electric rates linked to regulatory actions on fossil fuels. It contrasts Republican criticism of Biden's energy policies with Democratic criticism of Trump, highlighting the political conflict over energy costs and climate agendas.

US and Iran negotiations to reach a deal remain on track despite exchanging air attacks for a second consecutive day. President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if Iran does not immediately agree to a peace deal.

President Donald Trump's proposed budget would cut NOAA's funding by $1.3 billion, threatening programs critical to Great Lakes research, including weather observations, water quality monitoring, and climate change studies. Groups like the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research and the Great Lakes Observing System warn that these cuts risk losing essential data for public safety, economic activity, and understanding climate impacts on the lakes.

The United States and Iran exchanged fire for a second consecutive night, with Iran claiming to have closed the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned of new strikes if Iran does not accept his peace conditions.

The United States conducted a second day of airstrikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated by attacking Gulf States and Jordan. President Donald Trump had warned that Iran would face consequences for stalled negotiations.

The United States and Iran exchanged air attacks for a second consecutive day, with President Donald Trump threatening further strikes if Iran does not agree to a peace deal. The escalation followed the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering reciprocal attacks across Iran and U.S. regional bases.

The National Park Service estimated that construction of the 250-foot-high triumphal arch proposed by President Donald Trump near the Lincoln Memorial would require 20 hours per day, year-round to complete within three years.

A National Park Service report outlines a 20-hour-per-day, year-round construction schedule for a 250-foot-high triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, aiming for completion within three years as desired by President Donald Trump.

OpenAI reported that China likely orchestrated an online influence campaign using ChatGPT to generate social media content shaping U.S. attitudes on AI data centers. The campaign included narratives about data centers increasing electricity costs and criticizing President Donald Trump's tariffs, with accounts later banned. OpenAI noted the campaign had minimal authentic engagement but revealed China's intent to amplify anti-AI data center sentiment.

The U.S. House passed a bill to combat 'ghost' federal student aid applicants by requiring the Department of Education to implement an identity fraud detection system for FAFSA. The measure, which passed 249-172, aims to prevent fraudulent applications using stolen identities and includes provisions from a separate anti-fraud bill. The legislation aligns with broader anti-fraud efforts under the Trump administration and received bipartisan support.

The House will vote on a three-week extension of a surveillance program under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but leaders from both parties expect the measure to fail. The extension requires a two-thirds majority, but opposition from Democrats and GOP holdouts, along with President Donald Trump's choice for acting director of national intelligence, complicates passage. A failure would risk a first-ever lapse in the program as the House recesses.

President Donald Trump has selected Brian Johnson, a former CFPB official, to serve as the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

AI stocks faced a significant sell-off, dragging U.S. markets lower with the S&P 500 dropping 1.6% and the Nasdaq falling 2%. Companies like Super Micro Computer, Micron Technology, Nvidia, and Broadcom saw sharp declines, while rising oil prices due to Iran-Israel tensions further pressured stocks in fuel-dependent industries.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper faces a judicial misconduct complaint from the conservative watchdog group CASA, which alleges he failed to recuse himself from a lawsuit involving President Donald Trump's attempt to rename the Kennedy Center. The complaint cites Cooper's wife, Amy Jeffress, who has a history of representing clients opposing Trump, including Lisa Page and Joe Biden, as a conflict of interest.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is retreating from a plan to collect data on mail-in voters under President Donald Trump’s executive order, which requires states to submit voter lists to the Postal Service and faces multiple lawsuits ahead of the November midterm elections. The Justice Department now states the data-sharing plan is in early stages and dependent on a new U.S. Postal Service rule, reversing a previous stance.

A Pew Research Center survey identifies diverse political categories within the U.S. political spectrum, revealing divisions and unexpected agreements between groups. The survey highlights categories like 'leftward progressives,' 'no apologies right,' 'pragmatic and polite right,' and 'order and opportunity left,' showing bipartisan support on immigration issues and internal party disagreements on social and cultural topics.

President Donald Trump signed a bill into law that allocates nearly $70 billion to his immigration and deportation agenda for the remainder of his term. The funding is intended to support immigration enforcement efforts through the end of his presidency.

A report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that violent threats and harassment against U.S. lawmakers on Facebook quadrupled and doubled, respectively, after Meta relaxed content moderation policies. Meta stated it removed violating content and reported no increase in hate conduct in 2025.

The article highlights traffic disruptions in Washington D.C. due to a UFC event at the White House, potential depletion of Social Security funds by 2032, an $18 million cost to taxpayers from a U.S. Marshals Service operation, a $25 million water security study for the DMV region, and ICE detaining 25 babies daily at concentration camps.

CISA ordered federal agencies to prioritize vulnerability patching based on four criteria, including public exposure and automation potential. Agencies must adhere to timelines for remediation, with urgent fixes required for vulnerabilities meeting all four criteria. The directive aims to address AI-driven increases in vulnerability discovery and exploitation.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has retreated from a plan to collect data on mail-in voters under President Donald Trump’s executive order, with the Justice Department now describing the data-sharing proposal as in early stages and contingent on a new U.S. Postal Service rule. The executive order, which requires states to submit potential mail voter lists to USPS and directs DHS to compile voting-age citizen data, faces ongoing legal challenges.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has retreated from a plan to collect data on mail-in voters under President Donald Trump’s executive order, with the Justice Department now describing the data-sharing initiative as in early stages and contingent on a new U.S. Postal Service rule. The executive order requires states to submit voter lists to USPS for ballot delivery and faces ongoing lawsuits, though no court has paused it yet.