Good morning. We have major stories to cover today, and none is more important than CBS firing journalist Scott Pelley after he publicly challenged Bari Weiss. In a new statement this morning, Pelley revealed a stunning allegation: CBS executives tried to pressure him into including unverified information in his reporting to benefit the White House.
Meanwhile, Trump has not held a public event in seven days, and new swelling has appeared under one of his eyes. In recent taped interviews, he said he cursed out Netanyahu and suggested the UFC structure being built at the White House could remain indefinitely. All of this comes as the Middle East ceasefire appears to be unraveling, with new strikes reported overnight.
I cannot overstate how significant Pelley’s statement is or how alarming his firing should be. One of the most respected institutions in American journalism has been brought under political pressure. It is now our responsibility to help build what CBS is tearing down.
Unlike CBS News, I will never trade the truth for access. If you want journalism that tells the truth even when it is uncomfortable, if you want reporting that is not shaped by political favors or advertising dollars, support this work. Subscribe today, and share this with everyone you know who still believes in a free press.
Here’s the news:
Veteran journalist Scott Pelley was fired by CBS News after a heated confrontation with new “60 Minutes” executive producer Nick Bilton during a staff meeting. Pelley publicly criticized the program’s new leadership, including editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, accusing them of undermining the long-running news program’s journalistic standards and editorial independence. In response, management cited Pelley’s conduct as hostile and insubordinate, terminating his employment after nearly 40 years at CBS News. The firing highlights ongoing turmoil at “60 Minutes” following ownership and leadership changes under Skydance Media, with disputes over editorial direction and the departures of several prominent journalists. Here is Scott Pelley’s statement this morning confirming that CBS News tried to inject falsehoods into his stories to help the White House:
Rep. Madeleine Dean alleged that newly unredacted Epstein-related documents show President Donald Trump was not truthful when he denied flying on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane. She argued that the records contain evidence contradicting his public statements and accused officials of concealing important information. Her comments were made as part of broader debates over the release and interpretation of Epstein-related files.
New swelling under Trump’s eye has raised new health concerns as the President has now not held a public event in seven days:
President Donald Trump confirmed he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “crazy” during a tense phone conversation about Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. Trump acknowledged the exchange in a podcast interview, saying he was frustrated by the continued fighting and wanted it to stop. According to the report, Trump also pushed back on suggestions that Netanyahu had manipulated him into attacking Iran and said the two leaders still get along well.
Iran and the United States exchanged new military strikes that further strained a fragile ceasefire, with Iran launching missile and drone attacks that killed one person and injured dozens in Kuwait while the U.S. struck targets linked to Iranian operations. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route, contributing to rising energy prices and uncertainty about ongoing peace negotiations. This is what Kuwait’s airport looks like this morning following Iranian strikes:
Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russia, striking targets in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin’s hometown, as the city prepared to host its annual international economic forum. Ukrainian officials said the attack hit an oil export terminal, demonstrating Kyiv’s ability to reach deep into Russian territory and target infrastructure that supports Russia’s war effort. The strike came amid escalating exchanges between the two countries, following a major Russian aerial assault on Ukraine that killed at least 22 people. Analysts say the timing was intended not only to pressure Russia economically but also to embarrass the Kremlin and send a message to international guests attending the forum.
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Alabama may use a congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts, overturning a lower court decision that found the map intentionally discriminated against Black voters. The conservative majority said Alabama was likely to prevail because lower courts had not properly applied a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act and emphasized deference to states’ political redistricting decisions. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the decision undermines democratic principles and permits a map previously found to discriminate against Black voters. The ruling could have major implications for the 2026 midterm elections, as Republicans seek to protect their narrow House majority and other states reconsider majority-Black districts following recent voting-rights decisions. Here is an excerpt from Justice Sotomayor’s dissent:
Election results:
Zach Lahn won Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary, narrowly defeating Trump-endorsed Rep. Randy Feenstra in a significant upset and marking the first loss for a Trump-backed candidate in a major 2026 midterm primary. Lahn, who aligned himself with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, benefited from support among anti-establishment conservatives and endorsements from figures such as former Rep. Steve King. He will face Democratic nominee Rob Sand, Iowa’s state auditor, who ran unopposed and has built a bipartisan, anti-establishment campaign. Political observers expect the general election to be highly competitive despite Iowa’s recent Republican lean, with voter concerns about economic issues and open statewide races adding uncertainty.
California’s gubernatorial primary remains too close to call, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer competing for the two spots that will advance to the general election. With only about half the expected vote counted, Hilton held a narrow lead, while millions of ballots remained outstanding under California’s slow vote-counting process. Several other important races also remained unresolved, including competitive U.S. House primaries and the race to determine who will face Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral runoff. The outcomes could have significant implications for California politics and the balance of power in Congress, but final results may take days to emerge.
Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot and healthcare executive, won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and will face Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. in the general election. The race is expected to be highly competitive because the district is closely divided politically, with President Trump having carried it by only 1 percentage point in 2024. Kean has been absent from Congress since March due to an undisclosed medical condition, drawing criticism from Bennett, who argues he has failed to represent the district effectively. Bennett campaigned on her military and healthcare experience while positioning herself as a candidate who can appeal to Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans.
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic primary for governor of New Mexico and will advance to the general election, where she will face Gregg Hull. If elected, Haaland would become the first Native American woman to serve as a U.S. governor, a historic milestone she has emphasized throughout her campaign. Haaland, who previously served in Congress and as Interior Secretary under President Biden, has focused her campaign on economic issues, health care, and opposition to President Trump’s policies, particularly cuts to federal assistance programs. Entering the general election as the frontrunner in a state that currently has no Republicans holding statewide office, she seeks to succeed term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Other news:
Overnight, Trump suggested that he will make the UFC instillation on the White House lawn permanent, comparing it to the Eiffel Tower:
Trump said he expects acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to become the permanent attorney general, praising his work at the Justice Department. Trump also defended Blanche’s handling of several controversial issues, including a now-abandoned plan to compensate some of Trump’s allies and supporters involved in the January 6 cases. The remarks signal Trump’s continued confidence in Blanche as a key ally and suggest he is likely to remain a central figure in the administration’s legal and law-enforcement agenda.
A survey of more than 300 federal employees fired during their probationary periods found that 95% reported ongoing mental health effects, with nearly half experiencing PTSD-like symptoms after losing their jobs. Many of the workers said the terminations were unlawful, disruptive to their careers, and left them struggling financially, with some still unemployed or earning significantly less in new positions. Several former employees argued that the firings weakened the federal workforce and contributed to the loss of experienced scientists, researchers, and public servants. The findings come amid ongoing legal challenges to the Trump administration’s workforce reductions and broader concerns about their impact on government services and employee well-being.
A hostage standoff in Bakersfield, California, entered its second day after a man allegedly made bomb threats and barricaded himself inside a building that includes a Chase Bank branch, holding several people hostage. At least two hostages have been released without injuries, while FBI agents, SWAT teams, and crisis negotiators continue efforts to resolve the situation peacefully. Authorities say the remaining hostages appear to be in good health, and the FBI has assumed command of tactical operations as the area remains evacuated and roads stay closed. Officials, including Bakersfield’s mayor, are closely monitoring the incident and urging the public to avoid the area while negotiations continue.
The Trump administration has proposed new rules that would require federal grants to align with the president’s policy priorities and “American values,” giving political appointees greater authority over funding decisions for universities and nonprofit organizations. Critics, including scientists and researchers, warn that the changes could undermine independent peer review, restrict academic freedom, and make it easier to cancel grants for political reasons. The proposal would also formalize restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and limit some international research collaborations. Opponents argue the rules could slow scientific innovation, increase political influence over research, and weaken the United States’ competitiveness in science and higher education.
The European Union criticized a proposed Trump administration tariff that would impose an additional 10% duty on EU goods, calling the measure unjustified. The tariff is based on a U.S. finding that the EU has not yet fully enforced a ban on products made with forced labor, even though the EU has already passed legislation addressing the issue. European officials argue the move is an attempt to find a new legal basis for tariffs after earlier Trump trade measures faced setbacks in court. The dispute threatens a recently negotiated U.S.-EU trade truce and could complicate ongoing efforts to stabilize transatlantic trade relations.
See you soon.
— Aaron
