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With that, here’s the news you missed today:

  • Donald Trump attacked the nation’s museums as “WOKE,” specifically targeting the Smithsonian as “OUT OF CONTROL.” Trump claimed museums focus only on “how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been” instead of highlighting success, brightness, or the future. He announced he instructed attorneys to review museums in the same way as colleges and universities, where he claims “tremendous progress” was made.
  • The post followed his announcement of a thorough review of the Smithsonian Institution to ensure exhibitions align with the administration’s view of American history.
    • May be a Twitter screenshot of text
  • Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier filed a habeas corpus lawsuit after Republicans confined her in the state Capitol for refusing to sign a “permission slip” agreeing to 24-hour police escort; Collier, part of the Democrats who fled to block Trump-backed GOP redistricting adding five Republican seats, argues the detention is unlawful since the legislature can compel absent lawmakers for quorum but cannot preemptively confine present members.
  • A Sheraton hotel in Alexandria, Louisiana, part of Marriott’s chain, was reportedly used by ICE to detain immigrants—including a father and teenage son—despite Marriott’s 2019 pledge not to cooperate with such practices; the revelation, backed by phone-tracking evidence and witness accounts, raises questions about whether Marriott has a contract with ICE, and highlights broader concerns about the Trump administration’s use of hotels for deportations and the vulnerability of immigrant workers in the hospitality industry.
  • Donald Trump ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine as part of potential security guarantees, instead suggesting possible US air support; he reiterated opposition to Ukraine joining NATO while backing talks for a peace deal with Putin, as European leaders pressed for stronger security assurances for Kyiv amid ongoing uncertainty over Russia’s willingness to negotiate.
  • The White House is reportedly planning for peace talks between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin to be held in Budapest, according to Politico; press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to confirm details, while the choice of Hungary could be uncomfortable for Zelenskyy given Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s close ties to Putin.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron, after a White House meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, said he does not believe Vladimir Putin is “very willing to get peace” in Ukraine, stressing that Russia is the aggressor and more sanctions should follow if talks fail; he warned against land swaps, insisted Ukraine must receive security guarantees, and emphasized that the war threatens not just Ukraine but Europe’s security and global credibility, as Putin continues deadly strikes while demanding occupied territory.
  • The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) over allegedly manipulated crime data, following reports that commander Michael Pulliam was placed on leave in May; the probe is expected to extend beyond Pulliam to other officials, amid Trump’s claims of worsening crime despite DOJ data showing violent crime at a 30-year low.
  • Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there is no timeline for how long the National Guard will remain mobilized in DC, noting ongoing interagency taskforce meetings on the federal law enforcement surge; she cited White House statistics claiming nearly half of non-immigration-related arrests occurred in Wards Seven and Eight, while dismissing reports that few interactions have been seen in the city’s highest-crime areas.
  • White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s plan to end mail-in ballots and voting machines is a top “priority”, with discussions planned after Congress returns from recess and outreach to state legislatures; despite Trump’s claim of an executive order being drafted, the Constitution grants states authority over elections, making his push legally constrained.
  • The Trump administration revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard citing “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” and failure to follow professional standards, a move critics call unlawful and politically motivated.
  • California Republican lawmakers filed an emergency petition with the state supreme court to block Governor Gavin Newsom’s fast-tracked redistricting push, arguing Democrats are violating the state constitution’s 30-day review rule by rushing bills through in days; the move comes as part of a broader redistricting battle sparked by Trump-backed efforts in Texas, with California Democrats seeking to add five US House seats through a November special election ballot measure.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its immunization schedule to recommend Covid-19 vaccines for children six to 23 months old, diverging from Trump administration health agencies and the overhauled CDC advisory committee; the AAP says all under-18s at higher risk, in long-term care, unvaccinated, or living with vulnerable individuals should receive the vaccine, contrasting with current federal guidance of “shared clinical decision-making.”
  • House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would be “one of the first” investigated if Democrats win the midterms, citing concerns over masked raids, fast-tracked deportations, and DHS’s handling of immigrant families; Jeffries signaled that Bennie Thompson and Jamie Raskin would likely lead inquiries, as Noem faces scrutiny for mass deportation tactics, controversial housing arrangements, and a taxpayer-funded PR campaign.
  • A wave of federal detentions of delivery drivers in Washington, D.C. has alarmed immigrant communities: videos show masked Homeland Security agents arresting drivers, including an Uber Eats worker known as “Sidi” and Honduran national Josue Mercedes Franco Cerros, with witnesses reporting little explanation and no translators; the incidents have gone viral, leaving many drivers too afraid to work, restaurants seeing pickups drop to 4% of normal levels, and advocates warning of widespread fear, while DHS has not confirmed if the arrests are part of a coordinated effort.
  • Household electricity bills have risen 10% since Trump returned to the White House, with reports citing his promotion of datacenters, tariffs, and cuts to clean energy projects as key drivers; despite Trump’s promises to lower costs and his energy secretary blaming Democrats, studies show pro-fossil fuel, anti-renewable policies are inflating prices—Climate Power found electricity costs up from 15.95¢/kWh in Jan 2025 to 17.47¢/kWh in May 2025, gas prices up 56%, and some regions like New Jersey facing spikes of 20%.
  • President Donald Trump expanded his 50% steel and aluminum tariffs on Monday to cover 407 additional product categories, including auto parts, fire extinguishers, machinery, construction materials, specialty chemicals, plastics, and furniture components; the Commerce Department said the move aims to block circumvention and bolster U.S. metal industries, but experts warn it now affects at least $320 billion of imports, likely adding inflationary cost pressures as businesses and trading partners face sweeping uncertainty.
  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the U.S. will seek an equity stake in Intel in exchange for funds already committed under the Biden-era CHIPS Act, aiming to secure a “good return for taxpayers” without voting rights; the move comes as Intel struggles against Nvidia and AMD, its stock rose 7% on the news, and follows SoftBank’s $2B investment — part of Trump’s push to reshape semiconductor policy with tariffs, “golden share” deals, and government stakes, echoing crisis-era interventions, with reports suggesting Washington could take up to 10% ownership of Intel.
  • Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a tiny new moon orbiting Uranus, designated S/2025 U1; only about 6 miles wide (small enough to walk its circumference in two hours), it is the faintest and smallest known Uranian moon, orbiting 35,000 miles from the planet, and joins 28 other moons — a find that hints at Uranus’ chaotic evolutionary history and showcases Webb’s ability to detect objects that even Voyager 2 missed nearly 40 years ago.

    • Good News:

  • In Key Largo, Florida, a staghorn coral nursery spawned for the first time since a 2023 bleaching event, thrilling scientists working with the Coral Restoration Foundation; researchers captured eggs and sperm under nets to preserve genetic diversity and boost reef resilience, with samples being used both to expand local reefs and to support global breeding programs for heat-tolerant corals — a parallel nursery nearby also spawned, signaling hope for reef recovery and demonstrating the impact of hands-on conservation efforts.
  • In Skwierzyna, Poland, four Alabama National Guardsmen — Sgt. 1st Class Alicia Haggins, Staff Sgt. Jacob Roberts, 2nd Lt. Indiana Rhodes, and Sgt. Justin Fagan — saved a man’s life outside a Burger King when he collapsed from heart problems; they performed 30 minutes of CPR alongside Polish responders until his pulse stabilized and he was airlifted to a hospital, earning heartfelt thanks from his wife and commendations for embodying the Guard’s motto: “Always ready, always there.”
  • France has recorded 51 breeding pairs of Bonelli’s eagles in its Mediterranean regions — more than double the roughly 20 pairs seen in 1999 after a population collapse; decades of conservation through three National Action Plans (habitat protection, hunter outreach, chick tagging, and satellite tracking) have helped the vulnerable raptor reclaim old habitats, with 38 pairs producing 34 chicks this year, raising hopes of reaching the long-term goal of 60 breeding pairs.

    • See you in the morning.

    — Aaron