Trump News for Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Trump to Netanyahu: Use a ‘softer’ touch on Lebanon

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to use a ‘softer touch’ in Lebanon.

Trump says it’s ‘unfair’ for Iran to lack ballistic missiles

Al Jazeera English

President Donald Trump says it’s ‘unfair’ for Iran to lack ballistic missiles if other regional countries have them.

The Israeli Ultra-Hawks Who Feel Betrayed by Trump’s Iran Deal

Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker

Isaac Chotiner interviews Shimon Riklin, an anchor on Israel’s right-leaning Channel 14, and a Benjamin Netanyahu ally, who feels stabbed in the back by Trump’s Iran deal.

Diplomat confirms that US and Iran have signed MoU electronically

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says the agreement has been finalised and signed with the US.

What Did You Expect?

Daniel B. Shapiro, The Atlantic

Perhaps this was always how Trump’s ill-conceived war was destined to end.

The Korean Telecom Giant at the Center of Anthropic’s Mythos Controversy

Louise Matsakis, Maxwell Zeff, Wired

Days before Anthropic took its most advanced AI models offline, the White House ordered the company to revoke SK Telecom’s access to Claude Mythos over claims of alleged ties to China.

Diversity in Streaming Movies Is Shrinking and Trump’s Anti-DEI Crusade Could Make It Worse

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The share of BIPOC leading actors in streaming movies fell to 36% in 2025, down from 51% in 2024.

Key takeaways from the 14-point memorandum of understanding between US, Iran

Justin Fishel, Molly Nagle, Hannah Demissie, Abcnews.com

Days after it was first announced by President Donald Trump, U.S. officials on Wednesday finally detailed what is in the memorandum of understanding with Iran.

Why Trump is sabotaging his own nominee

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trump is still set on getting his unqualified p…

As western fires erupt, Trump's Forest Service says it's now fully staffed

Kirk Siegler, NPR

The Forest Service says it's fully staffed with seasonal firefighters going into summer but there are still questions about whether the government is prepared if major wildfires get out of hand.

Nominee for DOJ watchdog says violence on January 6 wasn’t an ‘attack’ on the Capitol

Tierney Sneed, CNN, CNN

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department’s internal watchdog office repeatedly refused in his confirmation hearing to use the word “at...

‘Don’t meddle’: Lula calls on Trump to stay out of Brazil’s elections

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Lula is currently in a tight race for re-election against right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, an ally of Trump.

Krugman: Musk, a Human Ponzi Scheme

Paul Krugman, Substack.com

With Wall Street’s help, you’re about to be forced to buy stock in SpaceX

Read the US account of unreleased 14-point Iran ceasefire memorandum

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US official gives clearest account yet of deal set to be signed by US and Iran Friday; Iran has not confirmed text.

Feds’ Legal Basis for Ban on Anthropic’s Most Powerful Models Looks Increasingly Shaky

Webb Wright, Gizmodo.com

Of course, whether the administration cares about the legal basis is an open question.

Kevin Warsh looks ready to rewrite the Fed's rules

Allie Kelly, Business Insider

Trump pick Kevin Warsh oversaw his first meeting as chair of the Fed. Here are Business Insider's biggest takeaways.

You Have Less Than A Week To Tell The FCC That Carr’s Censorial Attack On ABC Is Nonsense

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

You have less than a week to weigh in on Brendan Carr’s obviously bullshit retaliatory censorial attack on Disney. While it’s quite clear that Carr is likely to ignore the comments, they still very much matter. It needs to be in the public record that the pub…

Biden’s flip-flopping on student loan promises made borrowers increase discretionary spending, and were 7.5% more likely to default as a result

Catherina Gioino, Yahoo Entertainment

When the government hints at doing something big, like canceling student loans, people start acting as if it's already happened, even if it's not guaranteed.

Trump eyes US-Iran ‘peace deal’ signing

Al Jazeera English

An US-Iran agreement aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz is set to be signed Friday.

The Text of Trump’s Iran Deal Is Out. It’s Worse Than I Thought.

Fred Kaplan, Slate Magazine

It’s more like a memorandum of little understanding!

Tehran says considering plan for Iran, US presidents to sign deal

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump says he expects the agreement with Iran to be signed 'shortly' without specifying the exact date.

Former Binance CEO Says Hyperliquid Is ‘Awesome’—Assuming They Have Good Lawyers

Kyle Torpey, Gizmodo.com

CZ knows a thing or two about lax anti-money laundering standards.

Trump’s pitch to voters: “I love the inflation”

Hady Mawajdeh, Noel King, Vox

President Donald Trump has spent years testing the boundaries of what politicians can say publicly. During his first presidential campaign, he famously said that he could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” without losing supporters. It w…

On Iran, Trump is committing the cardinal sin from the ‘Art of the Deal’

Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNN, CNN

Toward the end of the Obama administration’s negotiations over its Iran nuclear deal in 2015, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump chimed in with some ad...

EU plans to strengthen passenger rights, compensation rules: What travelers need to know

Sean Cudahy, The Points Guy

The European Union is strengthening passenger protections and airline rules when it comes to delays. TPG digs into the changes and what it means.

Trump: World will ‘find out pretty soon’ if Iran MOU signing will happen

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Trump suggests deal signing on Friday could still fall through, vows to bomb Iran if they don't 'behave'.

US Federal Reserve holds rates steady under new chair Warsh

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Heightened energy prices because of the US-Israel war with Iran has pushed US inflation to a three-year high.

Military Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Murdered Human Trafficking Victims

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

The US military has engaged in extrajudicial killings via drone strikes since it was first shown this tech could be used to murder people. The War on Terror has given us more than two decades of drone strikes — all of which have used war-related justification…

Snazzy Labs answers the question: is the Trump Mobile T1 Phone spying on you?

Peter, GSMArena.com

Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs is one of the first people to receive the Trump Mobile T1 Phone – and one of the funniest to review it. The video below is quite long, but it goes into great detail in examining the hardware and software of the phone. That said, t…

Trump pushes to delay appointment of new spy chief in legislative standoff

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump says plan to keep controversial acting DNI head, Bill Pulte, in role as he pushes for surveillance, voter ID law.

Trump: ‘Very strong’ Iran deal is a ‘wall to a nuclear weapon’

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump claimed that the scheduled signing of his Iran “peace deal” in Geneva on Friday would be succe

FISA 702 Surveillance Authority Expires Because Donald Trump Tried To Tie It To A Voting Bill He Couldn’t Pass

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

On Friday, the government’s Section 702 surveillance authority lapsed! It may be temporary, but it’s still an important milestone. Section 702 was one of the surveillance programs Ed Snowden exposed in 2013 — and even after the exposure, the NSA has continued…

“The View” exposes the big flaw in JD Vance’s act

Sophia Tesfaye, Salon

The appearance suggests Vance's pre-2028 rebrand is more performance than substance.

Trump Zeroes in on Iran Peace Deal With Threat to ‘Drop Bombs on Their Head’

Nikkimccannramirez, Rolling Stone

President Donald Trump threatened to resume bombing Iran if they did not agree to his proposed ceasefire plans during a G7 press conference.

GOP senator says Clayton DNI hearing still on despite Trump's push for cancellation

Rachel Scott, Fritz Farrow, Lalee Ibssa, Abcnews.com

Sen. Tom Cotton said the confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton for DNI will continue as planned despite Trump announcing it would be canceled.

Trump’s Spaghetti-Against-the-Wall Indictment Against ICE Protesters — and How to Fight It

Natasha Lennard, The Intercept

Trump’s indictment against ICE protesters in Minneapolis is part of an attempt to criminalize organizing as a “conspiracy.” The post Trump’s Spaghetti-Against-the-Wall Indictment Against ICE Protesters — and How to Fight It appeared first on The Intercept.

Why Israel could still derail the Iran-US deal

Al Jazeera English

Trump called it a historic deal. But with nuclear talks and Israel all unresolved, what did either side actually win?

Trump calls Modi a ‘killer’ and an ‘angel’

Al Jazeera English

President Donald Trump praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “killer” and an “angel" at the G7 in France.

The Trump Admin Is Calling Frozen Embryos ‘Children’ Now

Danielle Han, Jezebel

“IVF becomes impossible if embryos are defined as human beings,” Katie O’Connor at the National Women’s Law Center told Jezebel in a statement.

The FBI "Foiled" an Incredibly Incompetent Right-Wing Christian Terror Attack on Trump's UFC Event

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

The FBI discovered a planned attack from what might be the dumbest group of right-wing terrorists we've ever encountered.

Indigenous Activists Are Trying to Save Our Planet. We Have to Listen

Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone

The People of the Sun event this September will bring together climate activists, philanthropists, and anyone seeking to experience the wisdom of Native people

Anthropic's Dario Amodei and OpenAI's Sam Altman are attending the same CEO lunch today

Insider Inc., Business Insider

Anthropic's ongoing dispute with the White House over Fable 5 and Mythos 5 will be the "elephant in the room," POLITICO reports.

How Did the Feds Get Into Anti-ICE Activists’ Signal Messages?

Nikita Mazurov, The Intercept

ICE investigators leaned on Signal communications to build their case against protesters. Take these steps to keep your chats safe. The post How Did the Feds Get Into Anti-ICE Activists’ Signal Messages? appeared first on The Intercept.

Strait of Hormuz reopens: But can ships’ safety be assured?

Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera English

Shipping operators and insurers prefer to wait and watch from a distance for now.

ICE Appears to Be Buying Immigrants' Tax Identifiers from a Data Broker

Joseph Cox, 404media.co

A $10 million procurement reviewed by 404 Media indicates ICE is buying records related to immigrants’ tax identifiers. “It looks for all the world like Trump is trying to skirt the law and a court order to fuel his mass-deportation campaign,” Senator Ron Wyd…

Americans Are Increasingly Skeptical of AI, but We're Using It More Than Ever

Katelyn Chedraoui, CNET

That lack of faith matters as AI becomes increasingly inescapable.

Trump accuses Obama of ‘bribing’ Iran in 2015 nuclear deal at G7 summit

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has accused his predecessor Barack Obama of ‘bribing’ Iran to agree to the 2015 nuclear deal.

WATCH: Record travel predicted for Fourth of July

ABC News, Abcnews.com

AAA’s July 4th forecast projects more than 72 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday.

Are You There, God? It’s Me, J. D. Vance, and I Have Some Notes.

Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic

A convenient conversion story

The Foiled White House Drone Plot Points to “Accelerationists,” Extremists Who Want to Push the Country Toward Collapse, an Expert Says

January Nelson, Holden Desalles, Thoughtcatalog.com

The accused 19-year-old ringleader, Tycen Proper of Knox County, Ohio, was turned in by his own mother, who called local police on June 10 after spotting his firearms purchases and online activity.…

CNN Resident Fact Checker Disappeared From Air As Company Waited For Trump Merger Approval

Karl Bode, Techdirt

CNN brass have been waiting to get federal approval of their problematic $111 billion merger with Paramount. As we’ve detailed exhaustively, the high debt load from the CBS/Paramount and Warner Brothers merges is going to result in mass layoffs, higher consum…

What Does JD Vance’s 1.27-Star Rating on Goodreads Have in Common With His Interview on ‘The View’?

Danielle Han, Jezebel

For a majority of the 37-minute interview, the vice president found himself caught in embarrassing moment after another.

After Trump name fight, judge orders Kennedy Center plans on staying open

Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, USA Today

A federal judge ordered Trump to provide his plans for keeping the Kennedy Center open beyond July 5, after removing his name from the facade.

Inside Canada’s ‘troubling’ shift on migrant, refugee rights

Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera English

Experts say Canada 'closing the doors' as socioeconomic issues upend decades-long consensus on immigration.

AI Use by the US Government

Bruce Schneier, Schneier.com

On 14 April, the Trump administration quietly acknowledged the widespread use of AI to automate government processes. The office of management and budget (OMB) disclosed a staggering 3,611 active or planned use cases for AI across the federal government. The …

UFC fight can’t hide MAGA male weakness

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

Calling Michelle Obama a “man” won't make up for losing the Iran war

10 Wednesday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My mid-week morning train WFH reads: • A Good Family: Fight Warsh says he wants one, inflation demands it, and the dot plot is how we’d see it. All eyes will be on Kevin Warsh this week as he chairs his first FOMC meeting. However, with PCE inflation on track…

When the White House becomes a fight club

Chauncey DeVega, Salon

A cage fight on the South Lawn helps us understand violence, politics and spectacle in the Age of Trump

Are Jeffies and Schumer Getting Ready to Greenlight Domestic Spy Power for Trump?

Matt Sledge, The Intercept

Democrats balked at handing Bill Pulte spy powers. Will they stay strong against Trump’s new pick for intel chief? The post Are Jeffies and Schumer Getting Ready to Greenlight Domestic Spy Power for Trump? appeared first on The Intercept.

Park Service continues to battle algae in renovated Reflecting Pool

Elise Spenner, Abcnews.com

National Park Service continues push to eradicate algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as tourists and locals gathered to view the green-tinged water.

Republicans want Trump spy nominee confirmed now but Democrats hesitate

Yahoo Entertainment

Talarico super PAC wants to give GOP voters “permission to defect”

Kayla Guo, Salon

Moment of Truth PAC is aiming to spotlight Ken Paxton’s controversies.

I was using Anthropic's Fable when it disappeared mid-project. It taught me a lesson about AI and business.

Charissa Cheong,Agnes Applegate, Business Insider

A UK founder was mid project with Anthropic's Fable 5 model when a US government order halted foreign access. Luckily, he had a backup plan.

The White House App Is Reportedly About to Automatically Load Onto All DHS Mobile Devices

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

The White House says it provides "unfiltered, real-time updates straight from the source."

Trump's Iran agreement dominates G7 but big questions remain

Deepa Shivaram, NPR

The U.S.-Israel-led war in Iran has rocked the global economy and decimated Trump's standing at home

3 things to know about the new Fed chief's first meeting

Scott Horsley, NPR

Kevin Warsh takes questions from reporters for the first time since taking over as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Warsh and his colleagues are expected to hold interest rates steady today.

Iranian tankers exit US blockade zone before talks to end war

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

As US, Iran prepare to sign MoU and start more talks, TankerTrackers monitor says Iran exports first oil in two months.

G7 leaders to boost Ukraine air defences, tighten sanctions on Russia

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

A statement from the G7 summit in France says leaders are united in their 'unwavering support for Ukraine'.

Education Department's two biggest responsibilities shifted to other federal agencies

Cory Turner, NPR

The Trump administration says it is moving some of the Education Department's most important responsibilities, including oversight of special education and student civil rights, to other agencies.

US primaries in Oklahoma, Georgia, others: Key takeaways from the results

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Trump-backed candidates fall short in primary results in the US ahead of crucial midterms in November.

Blood-red, white and blue: My wild night at Trump's White House-hosted UFC fight

Zak Jason, Business Insider

I spent 9 unhinged hours among the fans at the UFC White House spectacle.

Georgia Republican primary delivers mixed results for Trump

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president has been at the centre of this year's midterm campaigns in a test of his influence.

Iran war day 110: Tehran says Israeli attacks on Lebanon threaten US deal

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Iran warns of a 'harsh response' as Lebanon attacks test the US deal and strain Trump-Netanyahu ties.

U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat kills 1, leaves 2 survivors

The Associated Press, NPR

The U.S. military attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, killing one man and leaving two survivors. This brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes to at least 208.

The Trump Administration Seriously Considered Unilaterally Suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus

Jacob Sullum, Yahoo Entertainment

The proposal was nixed only after White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf explained why it was legally dubious.

Trump administration seeks to halt air pollution lawsuit against xAI data

John Power, Al Jazeera English

US Department of Justice claims NAACP lawsuit threatens 'national, economic, and energy security'.

'Scientists were dead right': Al Gore says 20 years after 'An Inconvenient Truth'

Julia Jacobo, Abcnews.com

The scientists have been right about climate change all along, says former Vice President Al Gore on the 20th anniversary of the release of "An Inconvenient Truth."

Georgia Rep. Collins will challenge Ossoff in high-profile Senate matchup

Stephen Fowler, NPR

The Collins-Ossoff matchup will be closely watched nationally as the major political parties vie for control of the Senate.

Iran war live: Israel kills four in Lebanon as Trump criticises Netanyahu

Lyndal Rowlands, Zaid Sabah, Al Jazeera English

Warning comes as Trump also criticises Netanyahu over Israel's attacks on Lebanon.