Good morning! With the United States on the verge of entering the conflict in Iran, today is going to be a very long news day. Additionally, at 2:30 PM EST today, I will be going live for an exclusive interview with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Substack, so look out for that notification!
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Here’s the news of the day:
President Donald Trump stated he is seeking a “real end” to the Israel-Iran conflict, not just a ceasefire, emphasizing a “complete give-up” by Iran rather than temporary peace.
Trump denied leaving the G7 summit in Canada early to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, dismissing French President Emmanuel Macron’s claim as “publicity seeking” and saying the real reason for his return was “much bigger.”
Trump also clarified on Truth Social that he had not initiated any peace talks with Iran and criticized the country for not accepting a prior deal.
U.S. intelligence assessments, according to CNN, indicate Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon and was potentially up to three years away from being able to deliver one—contradicting Israel’s claims of an imminent threat.
Despite Israeli airstrikes aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear progress, U.S. officials believe the strikes may have delayed the program by only a few months; Trump has previously dismissed similar intelligence findings.
Donald Trump dismissed congressional testimony from U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who stated in March that Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.
“I don’t care what she said, I think they were very close to having it,” Trump said, rejecting the intelligence community’s assessment reported by the Associated Press.
Thailand has ordered its military to prepare evacuation flights for its citizens in Israel and Iran, where missile exchanges have continued for a fifth day; around 40,000 Thais are in Israel and 300 in Iran, according to AFP.
A Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Tuesday killed at least 14 people and injured 55, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “one of the most horrific attacks” on the capital since the full-scale invasion began in 2022; a direct hit on a nine-storey apartment building destroyed 30 units, with fears the death toll could rise.
In a historic break from tradition, the NAACP has decided not to invite President Donald Trump to its national convention—the first time in the organization’s 116-year history that a sitting U.S. president has been excluded
NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated the decision stems from Trump’s actions, which he said are “antithetical to our mission,” citing “attacks on American democracy and civil rights,” while Trump’s White House dismissed the move as divisive.
When asked if he had called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Trump responded, “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out… Why would I call him?” adding, “The guy doesn’t have a clue.”’
The Department of Homeland Security reversed recent guidance limiting immigration raids at farms, hotels, and restaurants, instructing ICE to resume workplace enforcement as part of President Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda.
ICE is under pressure to meet a White House quota of 3,000 arrests per day, with Trump citing Democratic-led inner cities as primary targets and acknowledging the chilling effect on industries that depend on immigrant labor.
U.S. retail sales dropped 0.9% in May—steeper than expected—due to declining gas sales, reduced auto purchases, and growing economic uncertainty, according to the Commerce Department.
While core sales used to calculate GDP rose 0.4%, major sectors like motor vehicles (-3.5%), gas stations (-2%), and restaurants (-0.9%) declined, reflecting consumer caution amid tariff concerns and geopolitical tensions.
The American Bar Association has filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s so-called “Law Firm Intimidation Policy,” accusing his May–June 2025 executive orders of coercing firms into dropping clients, revoking security clearances, and discouraging representation of plaintiffs challenging the federal government, actions they say violate constitutional protections
Former ABC News correspondent Terry Moran said he deliberately used strong language in a now-deleted social media post describing White House aide Stephen Miller as someone who “eats his hate,” asserting the comment reflected his honest belief; ABC suspended and later dismissed him over the post, citing policy violations.
After over two years of delays and legal battles, two Georgia Public Service Commission members will finally face primary voters Tuesday; the commission regulates utilities statewide, though its members are elected at-large—a system critics argue dilutes Black voting power.
Legal challenges led to canceled elections in 2022 and 2024, with incumbents remaining in office; Commissioner Tim Echols faces GOP challenger Lee Muns, while Fitz Johnson is unopposed in the primary but will face one of three Democratic challengers in District 3.
Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug with the potential to help end the HIV pandemic, is expected to be approved in the U.S. this week; researchers say it could be produced for just $25 per patient annually.
Campaigners are urging manufacturer Gilead to make the drug affordable and widely accessible, as its expected market price could reach $25,000 per year—1,000 times higher than its estimated production cost.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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