Trump News for Monday, June 22, 2026

WATCH: Severe storms in the Northeast after deadly tornado outbreak in the Midwest

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The storms bring the possibility of dangerous thunderstorms, large hail and damaging winds. More than 50 reported tornadoes tore across the Midwest, killing three.

Trump doubles down on Reflecting Pool vandalism claims without providing evidence

Nicholas Kerr, Elise Spenner, Emily Chang, Abcnews.com

Interior Department says it has made arrests and is investigating Trump's claim.

DHS proposes 75% increase in fees for US citizenship paperwork

Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

It might cost more to apply to become a United States citizen if a rule proposed by the Trump administration is enacted.

Trump Just Signed Two Executive Orders Aimed at Hastening the Arrival of the Quantum Computing Era

Mike Pearl, Gizmodo.com

The order creates a policy framework for moves that had already been made.

A federal judge finds a Trump data system to verify voters is unlawful

Jude Joffe-Block, NPR

Tens of millions of voters have had their data run through the Trump administration's revamped SAVE tool. A judge just found it unlawful.

Trump’s Reflecting Pool debacle deepens

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: President Donald Trump’s Reflecting Pool mess is only …

US House committee reaches bipartisan deal on social media rules for kids

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Committee leaders did not release details but said the legislation would 'hold Big Tech accountable'.

What does Trump want from a new UK prime minister?

BBC News

The US president was once considered to have a close friendship with Keir Starmer, but that quickly fell apart with the war in Iran.

Full appeals court to hear arguments over contempt inquiry into CECOT deportations

Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

An appeals court will arguments over a judge’s attempt to hold the Trump administration in contempt for the deportation of Venezuelans to an El Salvador prison last year.

US judge blocks Trump administration subpoena against Minnesota officials

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Ruling represents setback for investigation that targeted state Democratic officials who criticised immigration raids.

First the Kennedy Center, Now the Smithsonian

Clint Smith, The Atlantic

How long can the museum system’s leader, Lonnie Bunch, survive?

The race splitting Zohran Mamdani’s coalition

Astead Herndon, Vox

The gradations of Democratic blue are on display in New York’s congressional primaries this Tuesday, where high-profile races are already highlighting the party’s emerging divisions over how to regulate artificial intelligence, immigration enforcement, and th…

Trump Still Wants His MAGA Slush Fund… And His Cabinet Refuses To Sign Declarations That It’s Gone

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

In mid-May, the Todd Blanche-run DOJ agreed to “settle” the fake case Donald Trump had brought against his own IRS. The “settlement”? A $1.776 billion fund to pay reparations to the MAGA faithful. Much of that money was expected to flow to January 6th insurre…

Judge Blocks Trump’s “Voter Database” of Americans and Their SSNs

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

A federal judge has blocked the Department of Homeland Security from continuing to “haphazardly” create a database of millions of Americans they knew was “inaccurate” in order to purge noncitizens off voter rolls.U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan on Monda…

Forget Mars, SpaceX Is Becoming a Data Center Company

Webb Wright, Gizmodo.com

The company's new deal with AI startup Reflection also hints at a bright future for open source AI.

The National Guard Is Now Patrolling the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool After Trump’s $14.7 Million Paint Job Started Peeling Off

January Nelson, Thoughtcatalog.com

The new blue paint started peeling off the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool less than two weeks after Trump declared the $14.7 million renovation complete on June 6. The 2,000-foot pool has also turned green from an algae bloom.

Why the paint is peeling off the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—experts explain

Adam Kovac, Scientific American

Poor preparation and a failure to properly apply the coating may be just a few of the reasons why the Reflecting Pool’s new paint job appears to be peeling off

Top Intel Agencies Say AI-Driven Cyber Catastrophes Are Imminent: ‘The Timeline Is Not Years, It Is Months’

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

"Breaches will occur," the intelligence alliance warns org leaders.

NASA Invites Media to Botswana Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony

Lauren E. Low, NASA

The Republic of Botswana will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, June 25, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Botswana’s Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tsher…

Mossad ramps up plans to topple Islamic regime...

YONAH JEREMY BOB, The Jerusalem Post

Mossad ramps up plans to topple Islamic regime... (First column, 6th story, link) Related stories:Vance says Iran agrees to nuke inspections -- same, as Obama deal that Trump threw out...

The Deadliest Kind of Wildfire Now Dominates California’s Forests

Ellyn Lapointe, Gizmodo.com

New research suggests high-severity wildfires are overtaking California's forests and killing some of the world's oldest trees.

How AOC and Ro Khanna’s midterm endorsements could influence the Democratic Party

Juhi Doshi, Hannah Demissie, Abcnews.com

The endorsement strategies of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ro Khanna offer insight into the political coalitions, messaging and strategy they might embrace in 2028.

Judge says Trump DOJ subpoenas of Tim Walz and other Democrats are unconstitutional

Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN, CNN

A federal judge on Monday blocked the Justice Department from forcing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other officials to turn over records in its probe of Democr...

A leftward lurch? What to know about the Democratic primaries in New York

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Democratic socialist candidates push for an edge in US races that hinge on issues like Israel policy and inequality.

Judge blocks Trump administration's 'haphazard' voter-screening database

Laura Romero, Abcnews.com

A judge has blocked a Trump administration voter-screening database that she said consolidated "private information" in an effort to purge non-citizens from voter rolls.

As Suspected, The ‘Trump Phone’ Is Just A Cheap Overseas Knockoff With Some Garish Yellow Paint

Karl Bode, Techdirt

The Trump Organization still hasn’t shipped their promised Trump “made in America” phone to most of the customers who laid down a $100 deposit a year ago. But they did recently start to ship early review copies to a handful of outlets and preferred cultists. …

35 Retired Federal Judges Slam Trump's 'Laughable' Defense of His 'Obviously Collusive' IRS Settlement

Jacob Sullum, Yahoo Entertainment

The DOJ's unilateral abandonment of the Anti-Weaponization Fund "makes it crystal clear that these parties were never adverse," the former judges argue.

Even Fox News is panning JD Vance’s Iran clean-up act

Sophia Tesfaye, Salon

MAGA media is attacking the administration's deal with Iran — and the vice president is the primary target

Jimmy Kimmel announces longtime Trump adversary Rosie O’Donnell to guest host during two-month hiatus

CBC News

Jimmy Kimmel is taking a two-month break away from his late-night show and has tapped none other than comedian and Donald Trump’s longtime nemesis Rosie O’Donnell as one of several guest hosts taking the reins during his hiatus.

Trump allies defend him to Israelis anxious over Iran deal

By Alexander Cornwell and Benjamin Raab, Yahoo Entertainment

By Alexander Cornwell and Benjamin Raab JERUSALEM, June 22 (Reuters) - American allies of President Donald Trump this week defended him to an Israeli public...

Judge Smacks Down Trump’s Attempt to Get Maryland’s Voter Rolls

Rachel Kahn, The New Republic

President Donald Trump has struck out nine times in court in his quest to obtain voter registration data from states, reports Democracy Docket.On Thursday, a federal judge threw out the Department of Justice’s lawsuit seeking voter data from Maryland.“This Co…

JD Vance “Humiliates” Wife Usha With Another Confession About Marriage: “Why Is She Putting Up With This?”

Gabija Saveiskyte, Boredpanda.com

“Imagine your wife finding out she’s tied for first place with a Field Marshal.”

Trump Hands Iran Unbelievable Sanctions Win in Exchange for Promises

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Trump’s Treasury Department says that Iran can now sell its oil, stripping decades of U.S. sanctions policy in one fell swoop—and it’s not clear that the United States is getting anything in return. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Monday that the U…

US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions amid ‘encouraging’ talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The move, expected under the MoU, comes as Vice President JD Vance says there's a 'good foundation' for a final deal.

Why Washington’s reflecting pool has gone from ‘US blue’ to algae green

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump, who spent $14m relining the iconic pool, claims it has been vandalised by 'radical left lunatics'.

Why Would Amazon’s CEO Try to Kneecap Anthropic by Tattling to Trump?

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

Petty, vindictive, or pragmatic?

Ousted Republican Senator Says Trump Likes to “Revel in Chaos”

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Outbound Senator John Cornyn is getting candid about Donald Trump.The former GOP whip described the instability fueled by the White House in a Semafor interview published Monday, lamenting about how talking with the president isn’t “particularly useful” becau…

ABC Launches On-Air Campaign Warning Viewers Of FCC Actions And Urging Public Comment

Ted Johnson, Deadline

ABC is taking to the airwaves to warn viewers of the FCC’s crackdown on The View and the agency’s unusual demand that the network’s stations seek early renewal of their broadcast licenses. The spots, which will start airing on Monday, are the latest pushback …

Does race impact if you can walk away from police? Supreme court won’t decide

Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, USA Today

The Supreme Court declined to decide if a person's race can be a factor in determining whether they felt free to walk away during police interaction.

The Man Who Couldn’t Do It

Helen Lewis, The Atlantic

Keir Starmer joins the growing list of prime ministers who failed to address the country’s troubles.

JD Vance Whines About Iran’s ‘Trash Talk’ of Trump

Rachel Kahn, The New Republic

JD Vance blamed Iran’s “trash talk” for nearly torpedoing peace talks on Sunday, after aggressive comments from President Donald Trump caused Iran to pause negotiations.“What we told the Iranians yesterday is that when you guys engage in what us millennials m…

Vance Claims Nuclear Victory in Iran Deal—But There’s One Big Problem

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Vice President JD Vance announced Monday that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors would be allowed back into Iran in a “major milestone and a first step in permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran.” There’s just one problem.Speaking at a…

D.C. Hit With Prank Projections Ahead of Trump’s July 4 Celebrations

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

Multiple images mocking President Trump and his cabinet have been projected onto walls and sidewalks all over Washington, D.C. as the nation’s capital continues to reject the leadership on Pennsylvania Avenue ahead of the president’s Independence Day celebrat…

De la Espriella's law-and-order platform wins Colombia vote after earning Trump's support

CBC News

Abelardo de la Espriella, characterized by critics as far right, had earned the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump, who had said he would stop illegal immigration and crack down on crime and drugs.

What Will Happen to Birthright Citizenship?

Adam Harris, The Atlantic

The Supreme Court considers the Fourteenth Amendment.

China adds 10 US firms, including rare-earth miner, to export control list

Erin Hale, Al Jazeera English

Export ban follows move by Pentagon to blacklist major Chinese companies such as Alibaba and Baidu.

Far-right de la Espriella elected Colombia president: What’s next?

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Election results show Trump-endorsed millionaire Abelardo de la Espriella wins by razor-thin margin.

JD Vance touts progress on key issues in US-Iran negotiations

Al Jazeera English

JD Vance touts progress on key issues in US-Iran negotiations.

US strike on an alleged drug boat in eastern Pacific kills two

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

SOUTHCOM said it notified the US Coast Guard about the 'six male survivors' without providing details of their rescue.

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo to co-chair joint venture between NYSE owner and crypto exchange OKX

Ben Weiss, Yahoo Entertainment

“This blockchain has potential that we have not even realized,” said Cuomo, who has advised OKX since 2023.

Transcript: Krugman on Trump Mental Breakdown and a Nation in Decline

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, The New Republic

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the June 22 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.It’s now beco…

Trump Says Reflecting Pool Will Likely Need to Be Drained

NBC, Yahoo Entertainment

Despite a recent $14 million renovation, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been plagued with algae blooms that turned the water green and peeling pain...

Amtrak calls for MTA to partner on the Penn Station rebuild it once led

Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist

Amtrak senior adviser Andy Byford should look familiar to New Yorkers. He earned the nickname "Train Daddy" while he was NYC Transit President. He resigned from the job in 2020 amid a public feud with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Amtrak senior adviser Andy Byfo…

UK PM Keir Starmer resigns. And, US and Iran agree to roadmap for final deal

Brittney Melton, NPR

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday. And, the U.S. and Iran have agreed to a "roadmap" to reach a final deal within 60 days.

Iran War: Iran Snubs US, Walks Out of Direct Talks Due to Trump Threats; Israel Still Refusing to Exit Lebanon; Strait of Hormuz Transits Expected to Stay Low Due to Scrapping

Yves Smith, Nakedcapitalism.com

Today's Iran war post: Ugly antics by Trump led to hard pushback by the negotiators, boding ill for fast progress the US so badly needs.

The military helped Black Americans find belonging. Pete Hegseth wants to reverse course

Chauncey DeVega, Salon

The military has been a powerful force for social progress in the US. Under Trump, it is being used to undo it.

Vance’s warning to Israel signals a new phase in US-Israeli relations

Said Arikat, Al Jazeera English

There won’t be a rupture, but there won’t be business as usual, either.

WATCH: Teens struggle to find summer jobs

ABC News, Abcnews.com

One report predicts this summer could mark the lowest level for teen employment since 1948, when the U.S. government began tracking the data.

Trump admin wants 'self-sufficiency,' but funding cuts could make NYers homeless again

Karen Yi, Gothamist

People walk through a shopping district in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn on May 12, 2026, in New York City. HUD overhauled the way it funds the nation’s largest homeless prevention program, putting 2,800 New Yorkers at risk of losing housing. [ more › ]

10 Monday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My back-to-work morning train WFH reads: • The impact of the AI capex boom on S&P 500 return on equity: Record profitability has been one of the factors supporting high S&P 500 valuations. S&P 500 ROE has surged by 150 bp during the past four quarters, driven…

AI doomerism is misplaced. Here’s what it will take to pop the bubble

Troy Farah, Salon

Cory Doctorow argues AI dominance is not inevitable. How we fight back matters

British parliament to debate Israeli influence on UK politics: What we know

Priyanka Shankar, Al Jazeera English

The debate comes after a petition expressed concern over Israeli lobbies' influence in the UK.

Trump-backed populist wins tight Colombia presidential vote, sparking protests

Yahoo Entertainment

He profits off raw milk that’s making people sick. The government isn’t stopping him

Annie Waldman, Salon

Top officials are championing the dangerous industry’s expansion rather than curbing the danger.

Vandalism at the Reflecting Pool? Yes—It Was Committed by Donald Trump

Michael Tomasky, The New Republic

Add David Hearn to Donald Trump’s ever-growing list of enemies of the state. The Bethesda man was out for a bike ride in Washington, D.C., last Friday and decided to spin over to the Reflecting Pool see how its new, Trump-ordained “American flag blue” color s…

Republicans Are Dismantling a Key Tool in the War Against Kleptocrats

Casey Michel, The New Republic

For the past 18 months, nearly all of the efforts to demolish America’s anti-corruption architecture have come from one source: the White House. Under President Trump, it was the White House that announced both the elimination of task forces specifically task…

Democrats Begrudgingly Agree That It Is Good to End a War They Oppose

Kate Aronoff, The New Republic

The United States and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, or (MOU), to end an Iran War that—when it began—Congressional Democrats widely denounced as a reprehensible and illegal “war of choice.” One might logically expect those same Democrats to w…

Keir Starmer went from election landslide to downfall after his supporters deserted him

JILL LAWLESS and PAN PYLAS, Yahoo Entertainment

Dutiful rather than dynamic, Keir Starmer was elected Britain’s prime minister to be a safe pair of hands who would end years of political chaos under the Co...

Krugman: Trump’s Unnerving Mental Breakdown Signals Nation in Decline

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, The New Republic

Donald Trump’s war with Iran is making it clear this presidency could have much worse long-term consequences than we expected. Yet Trump is spending his nights indulging his crazed obsessions. In one early-morning tirade, he raged about “fools” who criticize …

Keir Starmer announces resignation, becoming 6th U.K. prime minister to leave office in the past 10 years

Stuart Henderson, Yahoo Entertainment

Starmer becomes the sixth British prime minister to resign in just the past 10 years.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Resigns, Signaling Period Of Political Turbulence

Max Goldbart, Deadline

The UK has been plunged into yet another political crisis as Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigns under intense pressure from his fellow lawmakers, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and the wider electorate. With his poll ratings rendering him one of the most unpopular…

US, Iran agree on ‘roadmap’ towards final deal in Switzerland talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Technical talks to continue in the resort of Burgenstock after progress on issues of Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon.

Far-right lawyer De La Espriella wins Colombia’s tight presidential race

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Far right lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella, who won backing of Donald Trump, seals narrow victory in run-off election.

Iran war day 115: Lebanon truce appears to hold as Switzerland talks end

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan hail 'encouraging progress' on the first day of Iran-US talks.

Analysis-De La Espriella win in Colombia cements Latin America's rightward shift

By Alexander Villegas, Yahoo Entertainment

By Alexander Villegas BOGOTA, June 22 (Reuters) - Colombia has swung to the right, electing nationalist lawyer and political newcomer Abelardo De La Espriell...

China hits back at U.S. sanctions restricting its exports to American defense firms

The Associated Press, NPR

China on Monday announced sanctions on 10 American military-related companies in response to a recent U.S. move that bars some leading Chinese tech companies from defense contracts.

Oil Price Today (June 22): Crude oil rises above $80 as Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz again. What are experts saying?

Veer Sharma, The Times of India

Brent crude futures rose 54 cents, or 0.67%, to $81.11 a barrel, after briefly touching $82.30 at the start of trading. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $2.02, or 2.64%, to $78.62 a barrel ahead of the contract's expiry later on Monday.

Shipping stalls in Strait of Hormuz after Iran declares key waterway shut

John Power, Al Jazeera English

Ship tracking data shows sharp fall in transits as US and Iranian officials hold talks to save fragile peace framework.

Olympian arrested at Reflecting Pool says 'I did not damage' anything

Selina Wang, Abcnews.com

Three-time U.S. Olympian David Hearn said police arrested him after he touched a piece of blue coating partially detached from the Reflecting Pool.

Trump-backed outsider wins Colombia election, initial count shows

BBC News

Lawyer and businessman Abelardo de la Espriella has promised a military crackdown on armed groups.

US and Iran meet for ‘tense’ but ‘constructive’ ceasefire talks

Al Jazeera English

Negotiators from the US and Iran wrapped a day of talks in Switzerland.

WATCH: Dangerous sneaker waves in Northern California

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A fisherwoman is speaking out after being swallowed by a terrifying wave outside of San Francisco.

Trump-backed right-wing lawyer appears to win Colombia's presidential election

Laura Romero, Abcnews.com

Abelardo De la Espriella appears to be Colombia’s next president, according to preliminary results from Sunday’s runoff election.

WATCH: Crowd holds carjacking suspect

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Chaos on the streets of Boston as a crowd takes matters into their own hands, restraining a carjacking suspect. The individual allegedly fled the scene of a fatal crash.

Iran war live: First day of US talks covers Lebanon, Hormuz, frozen assets

Daniel Khalili-Tari, Lyndal Rowlands, Al Jazeera English

Trump threatens to hit Iran 'very hard' amid talks, prompting Ghalibaf to warn the US to take care with its rhetoric.