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Republican senators want more answers on $1.8 billion settlement fund as Trump considers its future

(AP) Senate Republicans will meet Tuesday to discuss next steps after the Justice Department said it would comply with a court order pausing the implementation of a $1.776 billion settlement fund designed to compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies. GOP senators who revolted against the settlement before leaving for a Memorial Day recess two weeks ago say they want more information from the administration about the future of the fund, which could potentially go to Trump supporters who beat police and attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Emile

Tuesday is a big primary day. Here are key races to watch.

(NPR) Six states — California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico — hold elections on Tuesday. Most of the attention is on California and Iowa, where there are competitive primaries for governor. In both states, the Democratic Party also sees a road map to control of Congress in the fall.

OKIsItJustMe

Pentagon press office is now a classified area and off-limits to reporters

(Politico) Journalists are no longer allowed in the Pentagon press office. The office where journalists have long been able to seek information from military officials has been deemed a classified space and off-limits to the press to make room for speechwriters who handle sensitive material, the Defense Department said Monday. "As a result, journalists will no longer be permitted to enter the office space," Joel Valdez, the acting press secretary, said in a statement. "There's nothing controversial about that."

Dulcinea

How Trump has used the presidency to benefit himself and his allies

(AP) President Donald Trump tried to create a near $1.8 billion fund that could be funneled to his supporters as a means of settling a lawsuit he filed against his own government — even arguing that he “gave up a lot of money in allowing” it. After drawing outcry in Congress and the courts, however, the White House is reconsidering the fund. That potentially means the suit — and the possibility that the president could still cash in — might be back on.

KS Toronado

Tuesday's Condensed News Cartoons

marmar

In Trump's Cabinet, flattery is the job. Governing is secondary

(Salon) Donald Trump has the title and the great powers of the presidency. But it is not enough for him. His real goal is to be America’s first dictator or king. The presidency is a skin suit that barely conceals this ambition. His Cabinet and senior staff consist of extremist ideologues. Regardless of category or position, their most important qualification is loyalty to Trump and MAGA rather than to the Constitution, the American people and the nation. For them, there is no contradiction or tension — Trump is the State. This is the logic of political personality cults and authoritarianism.

Omaha Steve

Sen. Bernie Sanders stands by Graham Platner after controversy over sexually explicit texts

(AP) Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday that he is standing by Graham Platner in the wake of media reports that the Maine Senate candidate previously exchanged sexually explicit text messages with several women while he was married. Platner, a Democrat, posted a video over the weekend taken by his wife, Amy Gertner, who reportedly told his campaign of the text messages last year. In the video, Gertner decried coverage of the issue as “gossip” and said “being married is hard.”

Attilatheblond

Trump names William Pulte as acting intelligence head

(The Hill) President Trump named William Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as the acting head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In tapping Pulte, Trump turns to an ally who has been behind referring several of his foes for prosecution for alleged mortgage fraud. Pulte would replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month.

SamuelTheThird

Philly Cops Admit That They're Tracking "First Amendment Activity" Critical of AI

(The Intercept) The Intercept obtained the Philadelphia report as part of a larger cache of such documents from local fusion centers. It adds to growing evidence that counterterror officials are putting data center skeptics under a microscope. Last week, Wired magazine reported on other notices from local intelligence agencies warning about “anti-tech extremism.” Journalists Ken Klippenstein and Dan Boguslaw also reported on a document from the U.S. Capitol Police Intelligence Services Bureau warning of the potential for anti-data center violence.

mahatmakanejeeves

Inside MAGA's Fake Gay Motorcycle War

(The Bulwark) The conservative influencers have spoken: Harley-Davidson—whose motorcycles helped create the paradigm of American masculinity—is in fact woke and gay. The past week has seen wave after wave of MAGA personalities and meme accounts decide, seemingly out of nowhere, that Harley-Davidson was company non grata. MAGA influencer Priya Patel declared the manufacturer “fundamentally anti-American,” while Hercules actor-turned-tweeter Kevin Sorbo said his friends were abandoning Harley-Davidson en masse.

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Gold overtakes US Treasuries in global reserve shift: [European Central Bank]

8 min ago - Gold overtakes US Treasuries in global reserve shift: ECB The ECB reports that central banks' gold buying and rising prices have outpaced US Treasuries in global reserves. By Canadian Mining Journal Staff June 2, 2026 At 9:28 am Gold has surpassed ... (Canadian Mining Journal)

SpaceX valued at just $780 billion by Morningstar, less than half its IPO target

1 hr ago - SpaceX (SPAX.PVT) just got slapped with a bearish valuation ahead of its monster IPO coming up later this month. The report signals that one of the most anticipated offerings in years may be significantly overpriced, just as CEO Elon Musk tries to ju ... (finance.yahoo.com)

Trump's financial ties face scrutiny after moves benefiting allies and family

1 hr ago - President Donald Trump tried to create a near $1.8 billion fund that could be funneled to his supporters as a means of settling a lawsuit he filed against his own government — even arguing that he “gave up a lot of money in allowing” i ... (AP News)

Acting AG Blanche says Trump administration is nixing 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

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Hegseth blocks promotion of several Navy officers to 1-star rank

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From festering infections to untreated cancer, ICE detainees across the US describe medical neglect

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Bahrain spy agency officer is sentenced to life over in-custody death

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Takeaways from AP-KFF investigation into allegations of medical neglect by detainees in ICE custody

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Trump to get audit immunity as $1.8 billion fund in doubt

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Koch-aligned PAC launches first big Senate ad buy -- and includes Montana

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New Jersey Sues Delaney Hall Operator After It Refuses Full Access to Health Inspectors - New Jersey Office of Attorney

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Trump administration proposes 25% tariffs on Brazil, citing "unreasonable'' trade practices

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The NRA Is Going Through a Messy Breakup as Charitable Arm Splits and Rebrands

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Trump names William Pulte as acting intelligence head

8 hrs ago - President Trump named William Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as the acting head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In tapping Pulte, Trump turns to an ally who has been behind referring several of ... (The Hill)

As A.I. Makes Strides in Mathematics, Mathematicians Urge Caution

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Hospitals See Diseases Resurge as Vaccinations Decline

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Six people killed in Iowa domestic dispute, police say

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Kenyan president defends US Ebola quarantine center amid protests

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South Carolina jury finds store owner not guilty of murder in killing of Black teen

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Russian attack on Ukraine kills at least 16 and traps others in damaged buildings

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