The Iowa Gazette reports: State Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, announced Monday a run for the seat held by Republican Sen. Joni Ernst since 2015. Other state lawmakers, Sen. Zach Wahls from Coralville and Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, have been talked about as possible challengers for Ernst but so far Nathan Sage, an Iowa Army and Marine Corps …

Politico reports: Private insurers and state officials are warning of utter chaos in the insurance markets if a last-minute change to the House GOP’s megabill survives in the Senate. The policy could lead to higher premiums for people who shop for plans on the Obamacare exchanges and cause massive turmoil for actuaries, and leave brokers and state officials with little …

Tech Dirt reports: Picture this: You’re a researcher who has spent years developing a grant proposal, gone through layers of expert review, and received National Science Foundation (NSF) approval. Then some kid barely out of college — whose main qualification appears to be founding a company that puts ads on the blockchain — logs into a Zoom meeting, pays more …

Balls & Strikes reports: Josh Divine is Missouri’s solicitor general, a role that has allowed him to put the finishing touches on the exact sort of record that gets ambitious Republican lawyers noticed by the White House these days. Over the past several years, he has used the powers of his office to defend anti-trans legislation, fight President Joe Biden’s …

The Christian Post reports: “Sesame Street” drew fire on social media Sunday for celebrating pride month, the latest firestorm related to allegations that the publicly funded PBS children’s program is pushing LGBT ideology on children. The post, which has 14 million views as of Monday, drew scorn from many X users who accused “Sesame Street” of being part of a …

Florida Politics reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis is assigning blame for a terror attack in Colorado on the media. “I do think that there’s a lot that goes on, quite frankly, in some of the lies that get spread in the media that probably get some of these guys wound up,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Sarasota. It is …

The Associated Press reports: A man accused of using a makeshift flamethrower and an incendiary device to attack a group in Boulder, Colorado, that had gathered to bring attention to Israeli hostages in Gaza, has been charged with a federal hate crime, according to court documents filed Monday. The suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, 45, told police he planned it for …

“If no one informed Trump then the White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support and tell Lindsey Graham to come home or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. You’re stirring it up. Lindsey Graham’s over there saying: ‘Hey, forget Trump. I got the House and the Senate. We’re going to …

“Yesterday’s horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED in the United States of America. He came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly. He must go out under ‘TRUMP’ Policy. Acts of Terrorism will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. This is yet another example of why we …

The Naples Daily News reports: Home security and safety blog SafeHome.org released their annual report of the best and worst states for LGBTQ+ safety, noting hate crimes have risen for the fourth year in a row and 71% of LGBTQ+ adults have avoided a public space due to fear of discrimination or violence. Experts ranked the 50 states on a …

Just in via press release: June is Pride Month, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) stands with our fellow Americans honoring the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of all who have served our nation, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) veterans. VFW honors LGBTQ veteransIt is estimated that there are a little more than 1 million LGBTQ veterans …

Salt Lake City’s NBC affiliate reports: Law enforcement is investigating suspicious posters and flyers with similar anti-LGBTQ messages left in front of people’s homes in Providence and North Logan. Homeowner Ryan Thorell said he spotted large poster boards stapled to utility poles, facing toward his house early Sunday morning. He said the signs read, “White power,” and “man plus woman.” …

Axios reports: The Supreme Court said Monday it would take on an Illinois case challenging the validity of mail ballots that arrive past Election Day. Republicans have worked to restrict mail-in voting for years. Rep. Michael Bost (R-Ill.) challenged a state electoral regulation following his reelection. He was joined by two other presidential electors. The current Illinois election law allows …

The Hill reports: The Trump administration is proposing to restore the potential for oil and gas drilling on 13 million acres of government-owned Arctic land that had previously been restricted by the Biden administration. The acres in question are part of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, an area of 23 million acres in total that were set aside in …

The Associated Press reports: With predictions for a busy hurricane season, experts in storms and disasters are worried about something potentially as chaotic as the swirling winds: Massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to hurricanes. Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs since President Donald Trump took …

Reuters reports: The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a challenge to the legality of state restrictions on assault-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines, passing up for now cases that offered the justices a chance to further expand gun rights. The justices turned away two appeals after lower courts upheld a ban in Maryland on powerful semi-automatic rifles …

Tony Perkins writes for the Family Research Council: In Isaiah chapter 59, the prophet lamented a troubling condition in his day, declaring: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah recognized that without truth, integrity, justice, and fairness become unattainable. When truth collapses, genuine justice is compromised. …

The New York Times reports: Before being confirmed as the director of the F.B.I., Kash Patel made clear his intent to remake it in his own image, reflecting a larger desire by the White House to bend the agency to its will. “The F.B.I. has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic …

Gothamist reports: A major runway at Newark Liberty International Airport reopens Monday, nearly two weeks earlier than expected. The Port Authority and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the accelerated completion of rehabilitation work on Runway 4L-22R, which had been fully closed since April 15. The $121 million project included repaving, lighting upgrades and new drainage infrastructure as part of …

Rolling Stone reports: “I’m going to testify!” Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO and staunch Donald Trump ally, tells Rolling Stone. “Of course I’m gonna testify at my own trial! … I have nothing to hide. I am a former crack addict, I’ve always been open about that. I’ve always been open about everything! I’m as transparent as they come … …