Good evening, everyone. It was a busy news day with a lot to cover. From Italy’s leader publicly calling out Donald Trump in a way we rarely see from a close American ally, to Trump demanding jail time for people he says interfered with his Reflecting Pool project, including an Olympian arrested today. Meanwhile, Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz as negotiations continue to face obstacles. And much more.
As I mentioned earlier, tomorrow’s Good News Update is still coming as scheduled. After that, I’ll likely take most of the day off to celebrate my first Father’s Day.
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Here’s what you missed:
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni fired back after Trump doubled down on his attacks, telling him that his “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless” and rejecting his claims about her popularity and Italy’s military cooperation with the United States. “Italy remains a sovereign nation,” Meloni wrote, before ending with a pointed message to Trump: “My popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours.”
This came in response to Donald Trump doubling down on the notion that Meloni begged him to take a picture with her:
Iran announced that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil-shipping routes, claiming that continued Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon violated the terms of a recent U.S.-Iran peace agreement. Iran warned ships to stay away from the waterway, although U.S. Central Command said dozens of merchant vessels were still transiting the strait and that American forces remained in place to help enforce the deal.
The crisis stems from Israeli strikes in Lebanon that reportedly killed dozens of people after a ceasefire was announced. Israel says it acted in response to attacks by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, while Hezbollah denies violating the ceasefire and accuses Israel of trying to undermine the agreement.
Despite Iran’s declaration, U.S. Central Command said dozens of commercial ships were still transiting the strait and that American forces remained in the area to help enforce the agreement. The dispute centers on Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, which Israel says were a response to attacks by Hezbollah, while Hezbollah denies violating the ceasefire and accuses Israel of undermining the deal. The renewed fighting threatens broader U.S.-Iran negotiations over issues including Iran’s nuclear program, with talks expected to continue in Switzerland and with mediators from Qatar and Pakistan. The situation has also exposed tensions between the administration of President Donald Trump and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over how to handle the conflict in Lebanon.
At the same time, Trump was polling his followers on Truth Social about whether they prefer “Dumocrat” or “Dumbocrat” as a nickname for Democrats:
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least six people on Saturday, including two young sisters, ages 4 and 14, and an Al Jazeera cameraman, according to Palestinian officials. One strike hit a Gaza City apartment building overnight, while later strikes targeted a refugee camp and a tent encampment, causing additional deaths and injuries. The Israeli military said it was investigating the strike that killed the children and stated that the Al Jazeera cameraman, Ahmed Wishah, was killed in a targeted attack because it alleged he was affiliated with Hamas, a claim reported by Israel and disputed by his employer.
The 35 retired fed judges escalate challenge against Trump $1.7 billion slush fund and IRS deal. They say Trump Admin's latest filing "underscores the need to investigate whether the parties have perpetrated a fraud on this Court & corrupted the integrity of the judicial process."
Trump acknowledged problems with the recently renovated Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, including an algae bloom and peeling blue paint after a $14.2 million makeover. Trump blamed the issues on alleged vandalism and claimed, without presenting evidence, that chemicals had been used to damage the pool and surrounding grounds. The renovation was part of a broader effort to refurbish monuments in Washington, D.C., and included plans to make the pool “American flag blue” ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Critics have questioned both the effectiveness of the project and the contracting process, while National Park Service workers continue efforts to remove algae and improve water quality.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympian, was arrested at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and charged with destruction of government property after police alleged he damaged the pool’s newly installed liner. Hearn denies vandalizing anything, saying he only touched a section of liner that was already peeling and never removed or damaged it. His arrest became a political flashpoint after President Donald Trump and allies blamed opponents for problems with the recently refurbished pool, including peeling material and algae growth. Hearn was detained for nearly five hours before being released and is scheduled to appear in court on July 9.
Trump called for jail sentences for those who he believes vandalize the pool:
A forthcoming book by journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan claims that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately compared President Donald Trump to billionaire investor George Soros, reportedly saying that the two men are “the same animal.” The comparison is notable because Soros is a frequent target of criticism and conspiracy theories among many conservatives, including Trump himself. Bessent previously worked for Soros for many years, helping manage major investment strategies that generated billions of dollars in profits. The article notes that neither the White House nor the Treasury Department immediately commented on the reported remarks, which come from an advance excerpt of the upcoming book.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to step down after a report claimed he may announce his resignation timeline as early as Monday. The speculation intensified after political rival Andy Burnham won a seat in Parliament, giving him the ability to formally challenge Starmer’s leadership. According to the report, more than 100 Labour lawmakers have publicly called for Starmer to resign or set a departure date. However, a government source denied that a resignation decision had been made, saying Starmer remains focused on governing and intends to fight any leadership challenge.
Thousands of people attended a UFC watch party on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday at the White House grounds, leaving large sections of the Ellipse park badly damaged. Aerial photographs showed extensive destruction of the grass after the event, prompting criticism online. The damage came shortly after separate controversy over problems with the renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including algae growth and peeling paint. The UFC and Scotts Miracle-Gro have pledged to pay for repairs to the South Lawn, though it is unclear whether the Ellipse will also be restored. Despite the criticism, Trump praised his administration’s efforts to beautify Washington, D.C., in a social media post.
Trump unexpectedly endorsed both South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff candidates, Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson, after initially backing only Evette. The move comes after several Trump-endorsed candidates recently lost key Republican governor primaries in Iowa and Georgia, raising questions about the strength of his endorsements. Although Evette led the first round of voting, Wilson has gained momentum with endorsements from prominent Republicans, including Tim Scott. By endorsing both candidates ahead of the runoff, Trump effectively ensures that the eventual winner can claim his support, reducing the political risk of another endorsement loss.
A report by Pogo Investigates alleges that a political action committee linked to Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan received $250,000 in undisclosed “dark money” from The GEO Group, a major ICE detention contractor that has benefited from expanded immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Critics argue the donation raises potential conflict-of-interest concerns because GEO Group derives substantial revenue from federal immigration detention contracts and reportedly saw profits increase significantly after new immigration funding and contracts were approved.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced that he will revoke Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s highest Polish state honor, the Order of the White Eagle, because Zelenskyy named a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist force accused in Poland of massacring tens of thousands of Poles during World War II. Ukrainian officials strongly condemned the move, arguing it benefits Russia by creating tensions between Ukraine and one of its key allies. Nawrocki insisted that the decision does not change Poland’s support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged both sides to avoid escalating the dispute, warning that such divisions please Russian President Vladimir Putin and concern Western allies. The controversy comes despite recent progress between Poland and Ukraine on addressing historical grievances and improving reconciliation over wartime atrocities.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, has been ordered to stand trial on corruption-related charges and is barred from leaving Spain while the case proceeds. Prosecutors allege that she used her position as the prime minister’s spouse to help secure business contracts; Gómez denies the accusations and notes that the case was initiated by far-right groups. Investigating judge Juan Carlos Peinado required her to surrender her passport and report to court twice monthly.
A Louisiana pastor, Terry Reed, was sentenced to 80 years in prison after being convicted of raping and molesting two boys whom he had taken into his home after gaining their families’ trust. Prosecutors said Reed used his position as a religious leader and cited scripture to manipulate the victims into believing the abuse was normal. The case marked Reed’s third conviction involving sexual crimes against minors, following guilty pleas in 1997 and 2017 for similar offenses. During sentencing, the mother of one victim described feeling profoundly betrayed and called Reed “an utter failure and a sorry excuse for a man,” while the judge imposed the maximum sentence for the molestation convictions.
An 85-year-old Florida man, William Bosworth, was arrested after deputies said he was racing a sports car at speeds exceeding 100 mph late at night in Leesburg. Authorities alleged that Bosworth was driving a gray Nissan sports car at about 110 mph while a red Corvette involved in the incident reached roughly 125 mph. When questioned by police, Bosworth denied racing, claiming he sped up to get away from another driver and was simply “having a little ride in my favorite car.” Body-camera footage reportedly showed him smoking a cigarillo during the traffic stop. He was charged with street racing and excessive speeding.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency due to a stubborn commercial fire that has been burning since Wednesday at a cold-storage facility in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The fire has repeatedly flared up, produced significant smoke, and affected air quality across the area, prompting officials to seek additional state resources. Authorities are also concerned that large quantities of frozen meat and bread stored at the facility could decompose, creating unpleasant odors and potential biohazard risks. Fire officials say hazardous refrigerants such as ammonia have already been removed, but crews continue to monitor conditions and fight the blaze. Temporary shelters have been opened for residents affected by the ongoing emergency.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced that he will take a two-month break from hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! and will be replaced by a rotating lineup of guest hosts. The guest hosts will include Tiffany Haddish, Anthony Anderson, Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Jelly Roll, and Rosie O’Donnell. Kimmel joked that O’Donnell’s appearance was a special gift for President Donald Trump, with whom she has had a long-running public feud. The announcement also referenced Kimmel’s brief suspension in 2025 after controversial comments following the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel said he is taking the break voluntarily and urged viewers to keep watching while he is away.
See you soon.
— Aaron
