Politics

The New York Times reports: President Trump announced on Tuesday that he would end sanctions on Syria, saying at the start of his four-day tour of the Middle East that he had decided to do so after consulting with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and the President of Turkey. Mr. Trump’s announcement drew rousing applause from the crowd at an investment …

The Guardian reports: Canada’s Liberal party has inched closer to a majority government after a judicial recount found the party had won an electoral district by just a single vote. But a voter has also claimed her ballot wasn’t counted, throwing the result once more into disarray. Officials at Elections Canada at the weekend finished a recount for the Quebec …

Axios reports: The DNC is moving forward with a challenge to David Hogg’s election and that of another DNC vice chair just months after they attained their roles. Hogg, 25, is alleging it is connected to his plans to spend $20 million trying to oust older Democratic members of Congress in primaries. The DNC’s credentials committee voted 13 to 2, …

The Daily Beast reports: Senators have raised ethical concerns about the U.S. president replacing Air Force One with a plane supplied by a foreign government. Others have expressed worries about safety issues and potential legal complications. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said: “If Qatar gives a plane to the president of the United States, it seems to me that raises …

San Francisco’s ABC affiliate reports: Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday urged California’s local governments to clear homeless encampments, escalating the state’s efforts to ban the growing number of makeshift camps on sidewalks and in parks that are the most visible signs of the crisis of people living on the streets. The announcement of a new model ordinance for counties, cities …

Punchbowl News reports: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) trails Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by 16 points in a new poll commissioned by the Senate Leadership Fund, the GOP-leadership backed super PAC. SLF is supporting Cornyn. Their poll has Cornyn trailing Paxton 56-40, according to two people briefed on the survey. In a three-way contest with Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who …

Sen. Josh Hawley writes for the New York Times: Polls show Democrats down in the dumps at their lowest approval level in decades, but we Republicans are having an identity crisis of our own, and you can see it in the tug of war over President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill.” The nub of the conflict: Will Republicans be a …

Politico reports: State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who recently proclaimed the Florida Democratic Party “dead” before leaving the party, said Friday he will run for governor as an independent in 2026. Pizzo has been hinting for months that he planned to mount a run to succeed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot run again due to term limits. The Miami state …

ABC News reports: Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, a lifelong public servant, judicial moderate and advocate for humanities and civics education, has died. He was 85 years old. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said of Souter: “Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a …

New York City’s NBC affiliate reports: Kehlani ‘s planned concert in Central Park next month has been canceled after New York City’s mayor raised security concerns about the R&B star’s performance during Pride month, organizers announced Monday. The “After Hours” singer had been set to headline a June 26 concert billed as “Pride with Kehlani” at the Manhattan park as …

Axios reports: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) joined a group of Democratic lawmakers to urge Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. not to make the “reckless” move of eliminating LGBTQ+ youth crisis services. “Given the Administration has claimed addressing youth mental health as a priority, elimination of specialized services specifically designed for at-risk youth is irresponsible,” …

Politico reports: C-SPAN asked the Supreme Court to broadcast upcoming oral arguments on the federal government’s challenge to rulings blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order challenging birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court has a long-standing rule against allowing cameras in the courtroom. But during the 2020 pandemic, the court provided a live audio stream of arguments — a practice the high …

Gothamist reports: New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that he will run on a new third-party ballot line in the general election, despite his sizable lead in the run-up to the Democratic primary. The move would allow the former governor to compete in November even if he loses the June primary. And it could help him appeal …

The BBC reports: Germany’s conservative leader has unexpectedly fallen short of a majority in a parliament vote to become chancellor. Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but only secured 310, in a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, two and a half months after winning Germany’s federal elections. His coalition with the centre left has enough …

The New York Times reports: The Trump administration on Monday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to sharply restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone — taking the same position as the Biden administration in a closely watched case that has major implications for abortion access. The court filing by the Justice Department is striking, given …

“For the last 26 years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of representing the 9th Congressional District of Illinois, my lifelong home and the best district in the nation. Today, it is with profound gratitude and the utmost appreciation for my constituents that I announce my decision not to seek reelection at the end of my current term. …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Gov. Brian Kemp will not run for U.S. Senate in 2026, dashing the hopes of Republicans in Georgia and Washington who saw him as their strongest shot to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff. Kemp told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of his decision on Monday after a monthslong pressure campaign from state and national GOP leaders. “After those …

The Texas Tribune reports: Two years after Texas lawmakers enacted a sweeping law aimed at sapping authority from the state’s urban areas, GOP legislators once more have advanced bills intended to stop local governments from adopting progressive policies. Republicans in the Texas Legislature want to give the state the authority to effectively torpedo cities’ budgets if they pursue local rules that …

The Associated Press reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday will receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his refusal to go along with President Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election. The award recognizes Pence “for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of …

The Hill reports: Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) joined CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, where host Jake Tapper asked about the recent shuffle in the administration, after it was revealed Waltz was ousted as national security adviser following the Signal group chat scandal, among other reported tensions. “Do you have faith in him to be UN ambassador?” Tapper asked. …