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June 30, 2026
Supreme Court set to hand down final rulings of this term
(Scripps) The Supreme Court is set to hand down the final rulings of its term Tuesday, with four major cases on the docket — including a challenge to President Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship. The court begins releasing opinions at 10 a.m. Eastern. The biggest case of the day centers on an executive order from President Trump that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented immigrants or people in the country on a temporary visa.
Go to discussionDC's record-breaking fireworks delayed as Trump turns July 4 celebration into another MAGA rally
(The Independent) A record-breaking firework show in Washington, D.C., will be delayed as President Donald Trump turns the July 4 celebration into a campaign-like rally. Not only will it be the biggest July 4 fireworks show in D.C., but the longest. It will last about 40 minutes, about twice as long as usual, according to event organizers. “On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA,’” the president wrote on Truth Social earlier this month.
Go to discussionOil stocks in US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fall by 5.5 million to lowest level since 1983
(Reuters) Stocks of crude oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 5.5 million barrels to 325.7 million barrels, the lowest level since May 1983, according to data from the Department of Energy. The drawdowns are a part of a U.S. agreement to release 172 million barrels from the facility to plug a gap in global inventories after the Iran war and help push down fuel prices. U.S. crude stocks have rapidly declined in recent weeks due to strong export and refining demand for American oil.
Go to discussionTrump is using a $500M no-bid contract to build his White House ballroom
(Washington Post) White House officials last year secretly awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million for the construction of the East Wing ballroom in an unusual arrangement that sidestepped typical contracting procedures designed to control costs, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Washington Post. The White House routed the contract through the Executive Residence, the document shows, an office that is exempt from rules that require federal agencies to solicit competitive bids and disclose details to the public.
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Key panel advances Johnson's plan to merge SAVE America Act with NDAA
(The Hill) The House Rules Committee on Monday advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a must-pass defense bill, sending it to the floor for consideration. The committee reported out a rule along party lines by a vote of 8-4 that would merge the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to the NDAA in a special process known as MIRVing. Several conservative hardliners previously said they would oppose a procedural rule that would tee up a debate and final vote on legislation until action is taken on the SAVE America Act – and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced the plan as a way to appease the holdouts.
Go to discussion"Flagrantly illegal": Judge kills Trump's effort to halt NY rail tunnel
(New York Times) A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to permanently abandon its efforts to suspend funding for a $16 billion rail tunnel under the Hudson River, describing those attempts as “flagrantly” illegal. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the Southern District of New York said that the administration violated federal guidelines when it stopped reimbursing the tunnel’s builders for their expenses in September.
Go to discussionTrump whines it 'does not count' after Supreme Court demands $5 million payout
(Dagens) Donald Trump just lost his attempt to block a multimillion-dollar payout. The Supreme Court decided on Monday to ignore his appeal. That decision locks in a prior civil verdict against the president. A jury previously found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. The money is already waiting in a court-controlled bank account. Because he deposited the funds last year, the author should receive her payment shortly. The legal defeat triggered an immediate outburst online.
Go to discussionGallego spokesperson says Trump is 'targeting' the Democratic senator with DOJ investigation
(CNN) A spokesperson for Sen. Ruben Gallego said Monday that President Donald Trump is “targeting” the Arizona Democrat with a Justice Department investigation into his campaign finances. Reacting to a report of the inquiry in Axios, the spokesperson accused the Justice Department of having been “weaponized” and said the administration was effectively trying to quiet those who criticize it.
Go to discussionRepublican Tom Kean Jr. Set to Return to Congress After Long Unexplained Absence
(US News & World Report) Tom Kean Jr., the New Jersey Republican who's been away from Congress for almost four months, is expected to re-emerge in public after months of speculation about the unspecified medical condition he says has kept him away from Washington. Kean, 57, a second-term lawmaker and scion of a New Jersey political family, represents a battleground district that includes President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club. He's missed more than 100 votes in Congress this year and hasn't been seen publicly in Washington or his district despite winning the Republican nomination to serve another term.
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