Trump News for Friday, June 26, 2026

US judge holds prosecutor in contempt in Charlie Kirk murder case

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Judge says comments to the media by prosecutors about defendant violate rules of what can be said outside of court.

Trump’s AI power grab

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: The Trump administration is putting itself in charge o…

The Housing Solution Trump Is Avoiding

Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic

He’s applying a real-estate developer’s mindset to the nation’s highest office. But who is he building for?

Man detained after playing Imperial March to troops in D.C. wins "substantial" settlement

Rob Beschizza, Boing Boing

When troops from Ohio's National Guard were deployed to Washington D.C. to menace locals as part of President Trump's crime "emergency" there, Sam O'Hara followed them around playing The Imperial March from John Williams' score to The Empire Strikes Back. He …

5 million have dropped ACA insurance after Trump and the GOP let prices skyrocket

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR

The number of people who signed up for a health plan and then didn't pay their premium fell much more sharply than it has in years past. Trump officials blame fraud. Health policy experts blame costs.

A Minnesota man accused in a $250M fraud scheme has been taken into custody in Somalia

Associated Press, Yahoo Entertainment

Authorities say a Minnesota man charged with helping to orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme has been taken into custody in Somalia. Abdikerm Abdelahi Ei...

Trump's Great American State Fair opens with melted ice cream, empty booths

Michelle Del Rey , USA TODAY, USA Today

Trump's Great American State Fair on the National Mall opened with power outages and empty booths as many states skipped out on the event.

WATCH: Utah couple celebrates 60th wedding anniversary at Taco Bell

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Mickey and Jo-Ann Muhlstein, both 81, chose a local Taco Bell to host their vow renewal ceremony.

Trump Is Threatening 100% Tariffs Again, This Time as Retaliation for Taxes on Big Tech

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

It's a compulsion. The man just loves tariffs.

A day after Alito's testy response to Sotomayor's dissent, court says it was a 'misunderstanding'

Nina Totenberg, NPR

During Supreme Court opinions Thursday, Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the majority opinion in an asylum case, appeared to rebut Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote the dissent. The move was highly unusual — and on Friday there was a coda.

US strikes Iran in response to drone strike on commercial ship

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The new strikes come in response to an Iranian drone attack on the Ever Lovely in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN rights chief calls for probe into migrant deaths in US detention centres

Brian Osgood, Al Jazeera English

Deaths of immigrants held in US detention centres have surged during Donald Trump's second term.

Trump-shuttered climate change site back online in nonprofit hands

Brandon Vigliarolo, Theregister.com

Remove something from the internet? You can't stop the (climate change) signal, Mal

After progressive US primary wins, Trump takes aim at ‘godless communists’

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Trump has repeatedly conflated democratic socialists and communists; no communist are running on the Democratic ticket.

She posted about ICE. Five months later, DHS agents told her to take her post down

Jude Joffe-Block, NPR

In January, Paigelynne Gonyea posted about the immigration surge in Minneapolis. This week, she was visited by ICE officials who claimed one of her posts had doxxed a federal agent.

US federal judge questions DOJ decision to drop Adani charges

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Judge says DOJ's reasoning for dropping Adani charges lacks clarity; orders detailed explanation from prosecutors.

How much disaster aid will the US provide to Venezuela?

Al Jazeera English

Powerful back-to-back earthquakes leave behind destruction.

Trump threatens tariffs for countries that levy digital tax on US firms

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Republican leader has taken an aggressive stance against countries that weigh taxes or regulations on US tech firms.

Trump’s Peeling Green Gift to America

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic

The Reflecting Pool fiasco says everything about how the Trump administration operates.

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement after US-brokered talks

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews, BBC News

Previous ceasefires between Israel and Hezbollah have still seen near-daily cross-border strikes

Trump blames Iran for ‘foolish’ strike on cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz

Heba Habib, Al Jazeera English

Fragile US-Iran ceasefire tested as drone strike off Oman draws stern warning from the US president.

Stonewall's rainbow NYC crosswalk gets annual upgrade as feds try to minimize monument

Ryan Kost, Gothamist

Friday night is the annual repainting of the Stonewall crosswalk. Symbols of the LGBTQ+ community are under attack. [ more › ]

A Trump commission urges 'bridges' between church and state in sweeping draft report

PETER SMITH, Yahoo Entertainment

A new report by a Trump administration commission suggests replacing the idea of separating church and state with the idea of building bridges between them....

ChatGPT’s powerful GPT-5.6 models arrive, but not for you

Ben Patterson, PCWorld

The U.S. government ban on Anthropic’s powerful Fable and Mythos models has everybody spooked. That’s why it’s a little surprising that OpenAI, Anthropic’s biggest rival, is slowly rolling out its latest and most powerful GPT models. Yes, the GPT-5.6 ser…

Donald Trump Threatens 100% Tariff On European Countries That Implement Digital Services Tax

Ted Johnson, Deadline

Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on European countries that impose a digital services tax, as the president once again came to the defense of American tech giants that have opposed the levies. It wasn’t immediately clear under what authority Trump would …

Advocates warn of wide-ranging implications of US Supreme Court TPS ruling

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Supreme Court allows Trump to end protected status for Haiti and Syria, threatening family separation say advocates.

Trump threatens 100% tariff on any country that imposes digital services tax

Yahoo Entertainment

FAQ: What to know about birthright citizenship ahead of Supreme Court's ruling

Devin Dwyer, Abcnews.com

The ruling is one of the most highly anticipated of the year.

The beautiful shame

Gaby Del Valle, The Verge

While European tourists marvel at ranch dressing, Buc-ee's, and other wonders of Middle America, would-be World Cup attendees from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East have experienced a different American pastime: exclusion. President Donald Trump's nakedly rac…

Trump accuses Iran of ceasefire breach after Strait of Hormuz attack

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews, BBC News

A Singapore-flagged ship was struck crossing the waterway on Thursday, prompting a large-scale evacuation to be paused.

Trump administration asks US Supreme Court to endorse immigration detention policy

By Nate Raymond, Yahoo Entertainment

By Nate Raymond June 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has asked the U.S.

US announces framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the deal after talks unfolded in Washington, DC.

The Supreme Court’s Era of Meaningless Rights

Leah Litman, The Atlantic

The Supreme Court is not saying people don’t have certain rights, just that no courts can help them when those rights are violated.

Trump administration gets OpenAI to slow-track new model release over security concerns

Ryan McNeal, Android Authority

OpenAI is limiting the release of its latest AI model as the government reviews the model for safety concerns.

NYC to spend $15M for trio of new gender-affirming care youth projects

Caroline Lewis, Gothamist

Spectators watch the annual Brooklyn Gay Pride Parade, celebrating its 30th year, June 13, 2026, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City. The initiatives comes as the Trump administration has sought to restrict youth access to trans care. [ more › ]

Retailers Warn Console Demand ‘Will Likely Outstrip Supply’ Ahead Of GTA VI Launch

Ash Parrish, Kotaku

What a great time for the manufactures to start raising prices, huh?

Documentary ‘We Can’t Stay Here’ To Explore Gender Refugees, Driven To “Fight, Flee Or Go Underground” In Anti-Trans America

Matthew Carey, Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Newly established independent studio Wrong Turn Productions is backing the film We Can’t Stay Here, an upcoming documentary that follows “families under siege raising transgender children and the extraordinary lengths they will go through to protec…

Trump's "Great American" state fair opens with busted rides and a cow named Melania

Jason Weisberger, Boing Boing

The Great American State Fair, Trump's 16-day National Mall celebration of America's 250th birthday, reportedly began with empty stalls, electrical chaos, and a cow named Melania, which may be the most honest exhibit the administration has produced all year. …

OpenAI unveils GPT-5.6 amid US AI regulatory drama

Hayden Field, The Verge

Less than 24 hours after news broke that OpenAI would stagger its next model release at the request of the Trump administration, that model, GPT-5.6, is here. On Friday, the company unveiled the limited preview of its new GPT 5.6 model suite: Sol, the flagshi…

The Supreme Court Enables Trump’s Cruel Immigration Agenda

Ruth Marcus, The New Yorker

Two new rulings revoke the temporary protected status of refugees from Haiti and Syria, and make it easier for the Administration to prevent migrants from claiming asylum and to expel lawful refugees. Ruth Marcus reports.

How did Colombia’s election split a nation in two?

Al Jazeera English

Colombia elected its first right-wing president in years by a razor-thin margin.

Cash Patel: FBI Director Apparently Paying Off FBI Allies With Personal Slush Fund

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

This is not the only administration to engage in corruption. Most administrations have to some extent. It’s that corruption is the everyday, front-page business of this administration. It’s so brazen, it’s insulting. It demands Americans pretend nothing matte…

Judge holds prosecutors in Charlie Kirk murder case in contempt for comments about his guilt

MATTHEW BROWN, Yahoo Entertainment

The Utah judge in the murder case over Charlie Kirk’s killing held prosecutors in contempt of court on Friday over comments they made to media organizations...

Student-loan borrowers get new timeline for leaving a key repayment plan — and some will have 'even more time'

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

The Education Department said that student-loan borrowers enrolled in SAVE aren't required to leave the plan until September 29 at the earliest.

J.D Vance’s Dismissal of Watergate Is an Indictment of the Modern GOP

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Vice President J.D. Vance dismissed the Watergate scandal as a "deep state" plot to oust Richard Nixon, whom he said is experiencing a "renaissance."

The Government Boot Is Coming Down on AI

Webb Wright, Gizmodo.com

The Trump administration suddenly has its eye on the AI industry, and Anthropic isn't the only target.

This startup ghosted its employees. It's now staking its future on SpaceX.

Dan Whateley, Business Insider

A group of employees at Triller, a media upstart, said they haven't been paid in a year or heard from their bosses in months.

John Bolton, Trump’s Former National Security Adviser, Pleads Guilty In Classified Information Case

Ted Johnson, Deadline

John Bolton, a frequent media commentator and critic of Donald Trump who once served as his national security adviser, plead guilty on Friday to one count of retaining national defense information. Bolton entered the plea in federal court in Maryland. The ple…

Gavin Newsom backs nationwide billionaire tax and an AI equity fund: 'Every American should own a piece'

Brent D. Griffiths, Business Insider

Newsom said he remained opposed to California's proposed billionaire tax which will go before voters this November.

EU targets Somalia with visa curbs as president pushes back on returns

Faisal Ali, Al Jazeera English

President says his country will readmit genuine nationals but insists Europe must first verify deportees' identities.

Amtrak's Penn Station plan includes loads of public benches, a rarity in NYC

Ramsey Khalifeh, Gothamist

Long, wooden benches are a key feature in the Penn Station design pushed by Amtrak and the Trump administration. Seats keep disappearing from the public realm in New York City as part of a hostile architecture trend meant to discourage people — many of the…

Europe Is Fed Up and Wants Its Own AI

Steven Levy, Wired

It's a stretch to think that the continent can build a top-tier model, but it has an advantage: Donald Trump.

Why has Trump stayed away from the World Cup?

Dan Roan, BBC News

Why has Donald Trump stayed away from the World Cup? And will he appear before the final?

Newsom proposes national levy instead...

Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday proposed a national tax on billionaires that he says is the first part of an “economic reset for America” agenda, which aides explicitly say is part of his considering to launch a presidential campaign.

Ex-Trump adviser Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

This is a breaking news story.

Ex-Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified documents

https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews, BBC News

Trump's former national security adviser could face up to five years behind bars, though the plea deal may help him avoid time in prison, US media report.

Iran slams the GCC and the US for ‘interventionist’ statement: What we know

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Tehran rejects US-GCC pressure over missiles, the Strait of Hormuz and regional armed groups.

How can Democrats persuade more voters to like them?

BBC News

We speak to Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s former senior advisor

Can Dem veterans running for Congress reclaim the patriotism narrative from the GOP?

Oren Oppenheim, Gaby Vinick, Abcnews.com

Can Democrats reclaim the mantle of patriotism? They’re leaning on a slate of military veterans running for Congress in the 2026 midterms to try.

Why were Covid vaccine trials so fast?

Saloni Dattani, Clinicaltrialsabundance.blog

The timeline to develop coronavirus vaccines blew many predictions out of the water.

Of Course JD Vance’s Biggest Political Role Model Is the Guy Who Got Run Out of Office

Danielle Han, Jezebel

As part of his book tour this week, the Vice President compared himself to Nixon and accused Watergate of being a “deep state” conspiracy.

John Bolton expected to plead guilty to mishandling classified information

Alexander Mallin, Katherine Faulders, Abcnews.com

President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton is expected to plead guilty Friday to mishandling classified information.

Israel's Netanyahu faces election challenge from hawkish ex-general

By Alexander Cornwell, Yahoo Entertainment

By Alexander Cornwell TEL AVIV, June 26 (Reuters) - Israel's former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who lost a son in Gaza and boasts of his "Dahiyeh doctrine"...

How long can this “Weekend at Bernie’s” presidency go on?

Brian Karem, Salon

Trump fever is finally breaking on Capitol Hill, this time for real. What in God’s name happens now?

Surprise: CBS’ ‘Ombudsman’ Has Been A Useless Trump Lackey

Karl Bode, Techdirt

You might recall that one of the conditions of the FCC’s approval of The Ellison family’s $8 billion acquisition of CBS was that the agency would install a “ombudsman” at the network to ensure CBS journalism was appropriately feckless and deferential to our m…

The Download: brain-melting heatwaves and unprecedented OpenAI restrictions

Thomas Macaulay, MIT Technology Review

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Heat waves mess with your brain. Scientists are trying to figure out why. —Jessica Hamzelou It’s been hot in London this …

The Internet Reacts To Trump’s Crass Destiny 2 Meme

John Walker, Kotaku

On the same day as Bungie announces mass lay-offs, the White House drops its latest dank dunk

WATCH: Car explosion sparks wildfire in Arizona

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A massive car explosion caught on camera sparked a wildfire in Arizona, forcing the closure of Highway 87 outside of Phoenix.

Rescuers scramble to find Venezuela earthquake survivors. And, SCOTUS rules on asylum

Brittney Melton, NPR

Rescuers are searching for thousands of people missing after two earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday. And, the Supreme Court says the U.S. can turn away asylum seekers at the border.

UKRAINE BOMBARDS RUSSIA

The Associated Press, Associated Press

Russia says it intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones overnight over 12 Russian regions, as well as the illegally annexed Crimea, the Azov and the Black Sea. It appears to be one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia and Crimea since Russia’s full-scale invasion o…

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's Island Resort Could Bring Down Albania’s Prime Minister

Arbjona Çibuku, Wired

What began as a “flamingo revolution” to protest the $1.4 billion development on Sazan Island has spiraled into mass protests against a ruling party that thousands now want out.

Here Come Trump’s ‘Freedom Trucks’

Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic

A fleet of mobile museums is touring the country with a version of American history the administration can get behind.

Tucker Carlson is not leaving the GOP. He wants to take it over

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

The podcast host envisions a more radical Republican Party

IAEA demands verification of Iran nuclear ambitions amid ‘statement war’

Christine Maguire, Al Jazeera English

Watchdog's call for 'strong system' comes as US and Iran issue conflicting claims over ceasefire negotiations.

Who has profited most from the war on Iran?

Hanna Duggal, Al Jazeera English

Defence contractors, energy companies and investment banks saw profits soar as war and uncertainty upended markets.

Trump foe John Bolton is set to plead guilty. Here’s why the case didn’t fall apart

Katelyn Polantz, CNN, CNN

As several criminal investigations into President Donald Trump’s foes continue to flail, federal prosecutors are now ushering one of his biggest critics to a...

30-Year Sentence for Transporting Zines Is a Five-Alarm Fire for Free Speech

Seth Stern, Jeremy Busby, The Intercept

The harsh sentence for a defendant who wasn’t even at the Prairieland protest is likely only the start of the Trump administration’s efforts to outlaw free speech. The post 30-Year Sentence for Transporting Zines Is a Five-Alarm Fire for Free Speech appeared …

'We are with you, Venezuela': Houston community rallies after deadly earthquakes

Lucio Vasquez, NPR

Venezuelans living in the U.S organize donation drives in response to the devastating earthquakes.

Trump axed a Black history exhibit. Former park rangers are teaching it anyway.

Marissa J. Lang, NPR

As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, former national park rangers are hosting teach-ins and sharing history that the Trump administration has sought to erase from federal land.<br>

US interested in hosting 2038 World Cup - Giuliani

Mandeep Sanghera, BBC News

The United States could consider making a bid to host the men's 2038 World Cup, with Fifa considering expanding the tournament to 64 teams.

‘Affordability crisis’: How the Western housing crisis spiralled

Dwayne Oxford, Al Jazeera English

Rising rents and prices outpacing wages provoke global debate: Is housing a basic right or an investment asset?

North Korea conducts major weapons tests; South training ‘drone warriors’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Kim Jong Un demands a 'deadly and destructive offensive posture' as North Korea upgrades arsenal to reach all of South.

Norma Percy On ‘Brexit: A Very British Civil War’: Interviewing Boris Johnson And The Politicians Who Lived It

Stewart Clarke, Deadline

As the UK once again awaits a new Prime Minister, attention is fixed on the latest Westminster upheaval, but few political shocks in recent British history match Brexit. A decade ago this week, the UK voted to leave the European Union. Veteran documentary fil…

Iran war day 119: Israel hits Lebanon as IAEA says it will return to Iran

Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera English

Israeli and Lebanese delegations will continue their talks on Friday.

Washington gutted the office that manages your student loans. Next week, it has to reinvent them

Jacqueline Munis, Yahoo Entertainment

On July 1, the biggest student loan overhaul in decades kicks in. The agency running it lost 40% of its staff and is blocking its own watchdog from seeing th...

Labor Peace Reigns: Studios Praise “Trust” With Guilds As DGA “Overwhelmingly” Ratifies New Deal

Dominic Patten, Deadline

In a far far cry from the severe strikes of three years ago, the studios and streamers tonight heaped nothing but praise and good will on the Hollywood guilds as the DGA became the final of the Big Three to approve a new four-year contract “The AMPTP congratu…

Reflecting Pool liner was cut with a sharp knife or razor, National Park Service says

The Associated Press, NPR

A top official at the National Park Service says a liner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was cut with a sharp knife or razor this month, causing damage to the foam sealant installed as part of a $16 million rehabilitation project

US ends deportation protections (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians

Al Jazeera English

The US Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in its bid to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

Judge orders DOJ to turn over some unredacted Epstein files

James Hill, Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

A federal judge is ordering the Department of Justice to turn over unredacted versions of some of the Epstein files or explain why the materials were withheld.

Johnson says Congress will send housing bill to Trump, but doesn't say when

Fritz Farrow, Lauren Peller, Emily Chang, Abcnews.com

The president abruptly canceled a signing ceremony for the bipartisan bill.

North Korea’s Kim watches weapons tests and calls for ‘deadly and destructive’ military posture

Associated Press, Politico

Thursday's tests were meant to evaluate the power of a “special mission” warhead for a tactical ballistic missile.

Trump Mobile T1 Phone now seems to be available

Vlad, GSMArena.com

The Trump Mobile T1 Phone has been on pre-order since last year, and now it seems like it may have finally become available to purchase from the company's website, since the pre-order notice has been removed. The device will set you back $499, which is label…

Trump's DOT proposes new rules for driverless vehicles

Katherine Li, Business Insider

The NHTSA is proposing allowing the removal of pedals and steering wheels for AVs, making it easier for Tesla and Zoox to pursue alternative designs.

'It's completely out of bounds': Democrat launches Linda McMahon impeachment effort

Arthur Jones II, Abcnews.com

Bonamici wants to impeach over McMahon's dismantling the Education Department.