News

Reuters reports: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was in a life-threatening condition after he was shot in a “politically motivated” assassination attempt when leaving a government meeting on Wednesday, the interior minister said. The gunman shot Fico, 59, five times, leaving the prime minister in critical condition and still undergoing surgery hours later on Wednesday evening, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj …

Axios reports: A day after President Biden warned Israel that a major attack on Rafah would cross a “red line” for U.S. support, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on a rant during a meeting with his security cabinet. “We are not a vassal state of the United States!” he declared, according to three people with knowledge of his remarks, …

West Virginia Metro News reports: Two-term Gov. Jim Justice has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, a race that was called shortly after voting concluded. Justice’s most prominent competitor was Congressman Alex Mooney. Polling consistently showed Justice with a big lead over Mooney for months. MetroNews and other outlets called the race early on. The Associated Press called the …

NBC News reports: More than 50 locations of Red Lobster are being auctioned off amid questions about the stalwart seafood chain’s long-term future. In a post Monday on LinkedIn, Neal Sherman, founder and CEO of TAGeX Brands, a liquidation firm, announced he was leading the closure of more than 50 Red Lobster locations, with the restaurants’ equipment to be auctioned …

Florida Politics reports: Smart & Safe Florida is going statewide with four ads over TV, streaming, radio and digital sites, worth more than $5 million to support Amendment 3. “A smart and safe Florida means a regulated marijuana market where Floridians no longer need to turn to illicit cartel-trafficked products on the streets,” Smart & Safe Florida spokesperson Morgan Hill …

The Associated Press reports: The Netherlands’ contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest who was dramatically expelled from the competition hours before the grand finale will likely be charged for making illegal threats, Swedish police said Monday. Joost Klein had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday and the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union said that police were investigating …

Baltimore’s NBC affiliate reports: The most dramatic step yet to free the Dali cargo ship from under the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to take place today. Unified Command plans to use explosives to remove the steel beams off the ship, and that the crew members will remain on board during the detonation. Demolition crews …

The Hill reports: A major Democratic super PAC on Monday launched its first wave of ads as part of a $140 million campaign to target voters in key battleground states, using testimonials from voters to warn of the risks of a second Trump presidency. American Bridge 21st Century will air three ads in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as …

The Associated Press reports: Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday delivered some of the Biden administration’s strongest public criticism yet of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, saying Israeli tactics have meant “a horrible loss of life of innocent civilians” but failed to neutralize Hamas leaders and fighters and could drive a lasting insurgency. In a pair of …

CNN reports: Florida A&M University is putting a purported $237.75 million donation “on pause,” after media reports and college board leaders raised concerns about the actual value of the stock gift—and the details surrounding the donor’s previous donations. It’s a stunning reversal from the fanfare last Saturday at FAMU’s commencement ceremony, when the announcement of the gift made headlines as …

NBC News reports: A Dutch public broadcaster reacted angrily after the Netherlands’ contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from the competition hours before Saturday’s final over a backstage incident that is being investigated by police. The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said Swedish police were investigating “a complaint made by a female member of the production …

The Washington Post reports: After facing harsh questions about his judicial decisions and accepting lavish gifts from a billionaire, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas forcefully pushed back on his critics Friday — saying he and his wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, have endured “nastiness” and “lies.” “What you are going to find, especially in Washington, is that people are going to …

Pro-DeSantis outlet Florida’s Voice reports: A new poll conducted in Florida found that the abortion ballot initiative voters will decide on this November could have enough support to pass. Released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the poll placed the abortion initiative’s support at 61%. It found that 29% oppose, and 10% remain unsure. Amendments need 60% of the vote …

Florida Politics reports: Support for legalizing recreation remains high, but is still shy of the threshold needed to amend Florida’s Constitution. That’s according to a poll released by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which found 58% of Floridians ready to support Amendment 3 on the November ballot. About 37% of those polled oppose the measure and only 5% remain undecided. …

The New York Times reports: Amy Bernstein, a traffic court judge in Brooklyn, was heading home from work one night in late April when, she said, a young man carrying a clipboard approached her on the subway platform, asking if she would sign a petition to help place independents on the ballot in New York. The top of the petition …

CBS News reports: A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a bid by Hunter Biden to dismiss federal gun charges brought against him by special counsel David Weiss last year. The three-judge panel said in an unsigned opinion that Hunter Biden failed to show that lower court orders denying his requests to toss out the indictment are appealable before final …

Axios reports: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Thursday to President Biden’s threat to suspend military aid if Israel invades Rafah, declaring in a video: “If Israel needs to stand alone, it will stand alone.” Netanyahu’s defiance in the face of Biden’s “red line” will further exacerbate tensions between the Israeli government and the White House. Biden warned in an …

The New York Times reports: General Motors said on Wednesday that it would stop making the Chevrolet Malibu, the last sedan in its U.S. model lineup and a venerable nameplate that was introduced in the 1960s when the company was a dominant force in the U.S. economy. For years, American drivers have been gravitating toward sport utility vehicles and away …

NBC News reports: NBC News first reported that Kennedy’s campaign hired Zach Henry’s firm, Total Virality, for “influencer engagement” in March. Henry had worked as deputy communications director for Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign, as well as for Blake Masters during his Senate run in Arizona. Henry, as NBC News reported, had posted that Jan. 6 was “no MAGA insurrection …

Politico reports: In 2016, Indiana put Donald Trump on the doorstep of the GOP presidential nomination. But eight years later, the state he called “Importantville” delivered his campaign some flashing red warning signs as Nikki Haley cleaned up in the suburbs. By virtue of its late-in-the-nominating-calendar primary, the Hoosier state has always occupied a unique and occasionally powerful perch to …