Trump News for Friday, June 5, 2026

OpenAI will voluntarily comply with Trump's new AI reviews order

Ivan, GSMArena.com

OpenAI's head of countries, George Osborne, said that it will voluntarily comply with President Trump's new AI executive order. The order, signed by Trump on Tuesday, requests (not orders) access to the latest AI models 30 days before their release. The orde…

Bitcoin Price Hits Lowest Level Since Before Trump’s 2024 Election Win

Kyle Torpey, Gizmodo.com

As the whole market suffers, Zcash saw a 60% drop in the last two days.

DOJ lawyer says in court filing that 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' is 'not going forward'

Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

A DOJ attorney said in a court filing Friday that the Trump administration's "Anti-Weaponization Fund," has "not been set up and is now not going forward."

ICE’s Reliance On Masked Thugs Is Predictably Resulting In Masked Thugs Claiming They’re ICE Officers

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

ICE never needed officers to disguise themselves with masks and strip themselves of identification before Trump took office for the second time. What ICE is doing now isn’t what ICE was doing during Trump’s first term, even though it’s the same hateful bigot …

Congress still can’t decide what to do about warrantless surveillance

Gaby Del Valle, The Verge

The deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is coming up a week from now on June 12th, and legislators seem no closer to reaching a deal. If this sounds like deja vu, it's because we've been here before. Congress reaut…

What Do We Do With the Latest Revelations About Graham Platner?

Christina Cauterucci, Slate Magazine

The latest revelations have left Maine's voters in an unenviable position.

Trump makes pitch to farmers hard-hit by tariffs, high prices in Wisconsin

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump seeks to shore up support among rural voters hard-hit by tariffs, economic fallout of war with Iran.

Iran's World Cup players granted visas to play in the US

Shannon K. Kingston, Patricio Chile, Abcnews.com

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last week the Trump administration had "no problem" with providing visas to Iran's team.

NASA’s X-59 Aircraft Flies Supersonic for First Time

Jim Banke, NASA

NASA’s experimental X-59 aircraft marked a major milestone Friday, June 5, when it flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time, setting the stage for demonstrating its quiet supersonic capabilities later this year.  NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less …

Trump hails jobs surge, says Iran talks ‘going well’

Al Jazeera English

Trump hailed jobs growth before pivoting to Iran, saying negotiations with Tehran "seem to be going quite well".

Elon Musk’s X Is a Freak Show

John Gruber, Natesilver.net

The ecosystem is incredibly unhealthy, especially on Twitter. But if it dies, good riddance.

It Sure Seems Like Pete Hegseth Is Losing His War Against Anthropic

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Does the U.S. government need Anthropic more than it's willing to admit?

DOJ Investigates California for “Voter Fraud” in Middle of Election

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

The Trump administration says it’s looking at election fraud in California.First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Friday that his office is investigating multiple instances of election fraud in the state as it continues to count votes from Tuesday’s …

Anthropic urges AI labs to pause, warns humans risk losing control

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

It warned that rapid advances in technology could soon allow AI systems to improve themselves faster than human control.

Trump to meet AI leaders to discuss US investment in their companies

BBC News

The US president said on Friday he expects to meet the leaders of top AI companies next week.

Nobody Knows Anything, SpaceX IPO edition

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

Of all the dumb things Wall Street is infamous for, perhaps none is sillier than the all too regular forecasting game. Quarterly earnings, Non-farm payrolls, annual S&P predictions, oil prices, inflation rates, FOMC cuts — its a never-ending parade of predict…

Underwater tunnel from Russia to Alaska will be built: Putin envoy

Josie Fischels, Newsnationnow.com

Russia estimates construction could cost up to $65 billion,, or under $8 billion using technology from Elon Musk's tunnel-digging venture.

WATCH: How concerned should we be about the 'screwworm?'

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, senior veterinarian and director of pet health information at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, discusses more about the "new world screwworm" detected in a baby cow in Texas.

Judge strikes down Trump bar on asylum, visa processing for 39 countries

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Judge says restrictions put lives of immigrants in 'indeterminate legal limbo', motivated by 'anti-immigrant sentiment'.

How paid influencers hype Polymarket's odds: 'Unbelievable how accurate'

Insider Inc., Business Insider

Polymarket paid influencers, including Nick Shirley, to boost the prediction market's profile without disclosing the payments to followers.

D.C.’s AI Honors Reflect Innovation Breakthroughs — But Also Public Anxiety And Concern

Ted Johnson, Deadline

When the Trump administration’s Mehmet Oz spoke to this year’s AI Honors Gala, he referenced what numerous polls have shown: the AI revolution is being met with public skepticism and fear. “When was the last time you saw a fictional movie where AI was the her…

Trump admin’s cancellation of wind energy projects causes business turmoil

Saumya Roy, Al Jazeera English

Seven northeastern states have sued US gov't for paying TotalEnergies to withdraw from offshore wind projects.

Why This Activist Tennessee Politician Crashed CMA Fest

Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone

Rep. Justin J. Pearson delivered an impassioned speech during liberal country singer Bryan Andrews' set about exercising the right to vote: "That's our power"

Republicans 'Past the Boiling Point'...

Igor Bobic, Al Weaver, Notus.org

Republicans 'Past the Boiling Point'... (First column, 10th story, link) Related stories:Senate Passes $70 Billion Border Bill WITHOUT Killing 'Slush Fund'... Ballroom donors won $50 BILLION in contracts after giving to project... Whit…

Back-and-forth on U.S. troops in Europe potentially costs millions...

Emma Burrows, Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

The U.S. military is waiting for clarity from the Pentagon following President Donald Trump’s back-and-forth on troop levels in Europe. That's upending the lives of military personnel and potentially costing taxpayers millions of dollars. That's according to …

Lawsuit challenges US ‘third-country’ deportations to Equatorial Guinea

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Complaint filed to African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights challenges controversial expulsion practice.

Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week in first visit since 2019

The Associated Press, NPR

The announcement was made by both countries Friday a day after North Korea unveiled a new facility to produce nuclear fuel.

The Old Campaign Playbook Is Dead

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic

How influencers, podcasts, and AI are rewriting the rules of political campaigns

Ukraine slows Russia’s army but struggles to down ballistic missiles

John T Psaropoulos, Al Jazeera English

Russia’s performance since December shows it can contest territory but cannot hold it, say battlefield observers.

US Senate passes $70bn ICE funding bill: What comes next?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Republicans pass key Trump initiative after marathon vote-a-rama, avoid barring controversial 'anti-weaponisation' fund.

Former Cop Arrested For Not Being Sufficiently Reverential Of Charlie Kirk’s Corpse Scores $835K Lawsuit Settlement

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

MAGA got itself a martyr when Charlie Kirk was killed. The “violent left,” etc. as they say. One of it’s own practiced what he preached and his life was ended prematurely by someone practicing what Kirk preached. I mean, this is a direct quote of Charlie Kirk…

Nadler, Dems urge NYC hospitals to fight DOJ push for gender affirming care records

Caroline Lewis, Gothamist

Lawmakers are urging hospitals like NYU Langone to reject records requests from the DOJ on gender-affirming care. Gothamist reported this week that the Trump administration subpoenaed hospitals. [ more › ]

Exclusive: Iran supreme leader’s adviser says talks deadlocked over $24 billion and warns of wider war

Frederik Pleitgen and Claudia Otto, CNN, CNN

A potential peace deal between the United States and Iran hinges on the Trump administration agreeing to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, a top...

Jobs report sparks inflation fears; Trump responds

Yahoo Entertainment

What happens when your phone is confiscated at the airport

Gaby Del Valle, The Verge

Even if you've done nothing wrong, it's never a good idea to hand your phone to the cops. But international travelers at American airports often have no choice - even if they're US citizens. When Minnesota labor organizer Janette Zahia Corcelius returned home…

Why Washington is reducing visa processing across Africa

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US plans to centralise visa processing across Africa could increase cross-border travel for visa applicants.

Thank You to Whoever Unlocked Hunter Biden’s Chaos Mode

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Evidently, the former president’s younger son just doesn’t give a fuck anymore.

More than half of Latin Americans deported from US to Congo are now back home

MARK BANCHEREAU, Yahoo Entertainment

More than half of the 15 Latin Americans deported in April to Congo under the Trump administration’s widely criticized crackdown on migrants have returned to...

Recent tunnel fires stoke fears about a World Cup transit meltdown

Stephen Nessen, Gothamist

MetLife Stadium will host its first World Cup match next Saturday. Amtrak train tunnels that connect MetLife Stadium through Penn Station have been on fire in the last month. Twice. [ more › ]

The FDA is Moving Forward With a Needless Investigation of a Medication That More Than 7.5 Million Americans Have Used

Danielle Han, Jezebel

“The Trump administration is bulldozing the overwhelming body of medical research and evidence to try to make it harder for everyone, everywhere to get an abortion,“ Alexis McGill Johnson of Planned Parenthood told Jezebel in a statement.

Report: FDA just launched a study on the abortion pill

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American

The FDA’s ongoing review of mifepristone could skip over established science, health experts warn

Trump administration asks banks to monitor employers paying unlawful workers

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - The U.S.

Are the US and Iran closer to war or to a deal?

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

As US and Iran pursue talks, both signal they are still ready to use force against each other.

Anthropic warns AI could soon build itself without human involvement—and urges a global pause on development

Beatrice Nolan, Yahoo Entertainment

The AI lab valued at $965 billion is urging a pause on AI development, just as it heads toward an IPO.

The U.S. adds 172,000 jobs as the labor market picks up steam

Scott Horsley, NPR

U.S. employers added jobs for the third month in a row in May, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%. But wage gains softened and likely failed to keep pace with rising prices.

Gaza, Iran, Lebanon: If ceasefires are in place, why do strikes continue?

Mariem Bah, Al Jazeera English

International law sets rules for ceasefires, but who enforces them when violations continue? Three experts explain.

Israel maintains attacks despite US-brokered deal with Lebanon

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Israeli army also issues new forced displacement orders for several towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Why isn’t the Trump phone made in the USA?

Dominic Preston, The Verge

Where's the Trump phone? We're going to keep talking about it every week. We've reached out, as usual, to ask about the Trump phone's whereabouts. This week, I'm investigating where it might have been built - and why it definitely wasn't the US. Almost a year…

Fujimori vs Sanchez: What to know about Peru’s presidential run-off election

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The run-off follows a tumultuous first round of voting, which saw long lines, delayed results and accusations of fraud.

Democrats ramp up plans to investigate Trump through corporate America

Nicholas Wu, Semafor.com

The party is notably united, and foreign dealmaking won’t be spared. They just have to win the House first.

WATCH: $200,000 LEGO collection sparks legal battle

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The dispute involves Bryan Mansell, the owner of a LEGO collection worth roughly $200,000, and Chrystal Law, a former toy store owner.

Christianity is profoundly queer

Su Yon Pak, Kathleen T. Talvacchia, Salon

The Christian right acts like LGBTQ+ people are religious outcasts. They are wrong

Top Paramount Lawyer Claims Opposition To Warner Brothers Merger Is ‘Antisemitic’

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Paramount is clearly getting nervous about the growing opposition to its $111 billion merger with Warner Brothers, which is being intensely criticized for dodgy overseas funding, its dire impact on journalism, and the inevitable mass layoffs, consumer price h…

WATCH: Woman rescued from burning car speaks out

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Police body camera video shows a South Carolina deputy rescuing Carlette Bush from a burning vehicle.

Senate passes immigration bill. And, Jill Biden discusses her husband's 2024 campaign

Brittney Melton, NPR

The Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill after an overnight vote. And, former first lady Jill Biden discusses her husband's 2024 campaign with NPR's Newsmakers.

WATCH: New lung cancer discovery may aid prevention

ABC News, Abcnews.com

ABC News’ Dr. Tara Narula explains a discovery that could help doctors predict and prevent the world’s deadliest cancer.

Hamas says won’t surrender arms but only police will carry weapons in Gaza

Mohammad Mansour, Al Jazeera English

Hamas official Husam Badran, in an exclusive interview, lays out what the group is ready to do ahead of Cairo talks.

Will This Be The Donald Trump World Cup? (With Football Daily, Part 1)

BBC News

And what’s going on with the Infantino bromance?

Zelenskyy asks Putin for meeting: What’s he offering, could Russia accept?

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

Russia and Ukraine have been holding peace talks since the war began in 2022, but with no concrete outcome.

Transcript: Angry Trump Privately Realizing Obama Outdid Him on Iran

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, The New Republic

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the June 5 episode of the Daily Blast podcast. Listen to it here.Greg Sargent: This is The Daily Blast from The New Republic, produced and presented by the DSR Network. I’m your host, Greg Sargent.After the Hous…

JD Vance goes all in on immigrant fraud hoax

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

The vice president and Stephen Miller hope Nick Shirley's dubious "exposés" will distract from Trump's failures

Senate Republicans pass immigration funding after overnight vote

Barbara Sprunt, NPR

After a marathon 18-hour vote, the Senate has funded immigration enforcement. The GOP bill funds ICE and the Border Patrol for three years.

10 Friday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My end-of-week morning train WFH reads: • Congrats. You’re About to Unwittingly Make Elon Musk a Trillionaire. SpaceX is IPOing next week. And there’s a good chance you’re gonna own a portion of it—whether you like it or not. (The Bulwark) • Oil industry warn…

The Democratic Party is pushing for more conservative voices — with mixed success

Russell Payne, Salon

One of the DCCC’s favored candidates was a Republican as recently as 2018

Vietnam’s Online Piracy Failures Trigger Section 301 Investigation, Tariffs on the Table

Ernesto Van der Sar, Torrentfreak.com

A month after designating Vietnam as a "Priority Foreign Country" over its failure to deter online piracy, the U.S. Trade Representative has formally opened a trade investigation, opening the door to potential sanctions. Rightsholders are invited to submit co…

Nearly 100 of the Jan. 6 Rioters Trump Pardoned Were Re-Arrested For New Crimes, New Report Says

Danielle Han, Jezebel

The nefarious track record of those Trump granted clemency in his first day back in office is much worse than previously thought.

Lawmakers accuse Trump admin of “staggering” corruption over Don Jr.-linked deal

Robert Faturechi, Salon

Democrats want answers after the White House initiated a $620M loan to a firm tied to Donald Trump Jr.

The Changing Face of “Authenticity” in Politics

Jon Allsop, The New Yorker

What Graham Platner’s scandal-plagued Senate run says about a tired cliché. Jon Allsop on Platner, Zohran Mamdani, Donald Trump, and the matter of politicians being themselves.

“Warehousing Human Beings”

The Intercept Briefing, The Intercept

Former immigration judge Andrea Sáenz and American Immigration Council’s Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on the conditions at Delaney Hall and other ICE detention centers across the U.S. The post “Warehousing Human Beings” appeared first on The Intercept.

It’s Only a $13 Billion Aircraft Carrier, Why Would We Expect the Toilets to Work?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Call us crazy, but "a single loose valve can cause all toilets to fail" seems like a pretty significant design bug for an aircraft carrier.

US visa rejections, war on Iran keep fans away from World Cup

Anushe Engineer, Al Jazeera English

High visa application fees, equally high rejection rates, an unwelcoming America, and the war combine to deter fans.

Donald Trump Can’t Stop Giving Everyone Around Him the Same “Gifts.” I Got Some Myself—and Quickly Saw What’s Going On Here.

Ian Prasad Philbrick, Slate Magazine

I understand the president better now. I hate it.

US raises pressure on Cuba as it sanctions President Diaz-Canel

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Measures come as Cuba continues to experience food shortages and blackouts.

Senate passes $70B immigration enforcement bill without limits on Trump settlement fund

The Associated Press, NPR

The Senate passed legislation to fund President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agencies early Friday morning, after weeks of delays and fierce backlash to an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that threatened to derail the bill.

Appeals court to hear arguments over whether Trump's ballroom plans can continue

Steven Portnoy, Abcnews.com

President Trump's White House ballroom plans are in the hands of three appellate judges who will hear arguments over whether construction should be allowed to continue.

NBA chief warns fans after 'stupid' court invasion

Ben Collins, BBC News

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says major sports events present an "enormous platform to do stupid things" and warned fans the "consequences are dramatic".

The quiz tracked Trump's wins and losses this week. Can you win bigly?

Holly J. Morris, NPR

Plus, Serena Williams, Peabo Bryson, Kalshi and United Airlines make an appearance. Have you been paying attention?

UN envoys call on Trump to stop Israeli annexation

Al Jazeera English

UN envoys call on Trump to stop Israeli annexation

Kushner Island? Why a planned resort has provoked protests in Albania

Urooba Jamal, Al Jazeera English

Government hopes the project can boost Albania as a global tourism destination - but environmental concerns are rife.

Iran war day 98: Tehran raises doubts on deal as Lebanon fighting continues

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Israel strikes Lebanon despite ceasefire, while Hezbollah rejects deal as death toll tops 3,500.

Trump Scraps Failed Freedom 250 Concerts, Makes Himself Headliner of ‘Greatest Rally, EVER’

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

After a slew of artists dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert, Trump announced that he would be replacing it with a rally headlined by himself.

Bondi declined to answer questions about interactions with Trump about Epstein files

Peter Charalambous, James Hill, John Parkinson, Abcnews.com

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi said then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche handled the release of the DOJ's Epstein files.

ICE will stop reporting deaths of newly released detainees

Laura Romero, Abcnews.com

The policy, issued during the Biden administration, directed the agency to review and report all detainee fatalities, including those that occurred post-release.

Several Republicans vote with Democrats to pass Ukraine aid, Russia sanctions package

John Parkinson, Lauren Peller, Abcnews.com

The House of Representatives voted 226 to 195 to pass a sweeping Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions package on Thursday.

Olivia Rodrigo Was “Enraged” By ICE Video Using Her Song: “So Deeply Disturbing”

Glenn Garner, Deadline

After calling out the DHS last year for using her song, Olivia Rodrigo recently reflected on the experience. The 3x Grammy winner recalled feeling “enraged” at seeing a “deeply disturbing” ICE propaganda video in November that featured her 2023 song ‘All-Amer…

Trump appointees vote to address gaps in 'triumphal arch' plan in heated meeting

Fritz Farrow, Abcnews.com

The National Capital Planning Commission voted Thursday to approve a list of concerns about the president's proposed 250-foot “triumphal arch.”