Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jul 2, 2026· Updated

Sen. Mitch McConnell Hospitalized for Weeks After June 2026 Home Medical Emergency

Former Senate Republican Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 84, was hospitalized on June 14, 2026, after paramedics were dispatched to his Washington, D.C., home for a report of an "unconscious" person; police-scanner audio indicated EMS performed CPR for a "cardiac arrest" at the address. His office has never disclosed a diagnosis or the reason for admission. As of early July 2026 he remained hospitalized for weeks, with his office saying he "continues to improve" and is working with staff on Senate and Kentucky matters while the Senate is out of session. It was his second hospitalization of the year. Senate colleagues and Kentucky officials, including Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. Rand Paul, offered well-wishes and updates on his recovery.

“The senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) · Jul 2, 2026

Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros Unseats 15-Term Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado 1st District Primary

On June 30, 2026, 29-year-old democratic socialist and first-time candidate Melat Kiros defeated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for Colorado's Denver-based 1st Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race at 10:03 p.m., with Kiros leading roughly 49.3% to DeGette's 43.5%, a margin of about six points, with Wanda James third. Kiros, a lawyer who immigrated from Ethiopia as an infant, was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Socialists of America, and Justice Democrats, and built her campaign from viral Instagram videos into a volunteer operation that knocked on roughly 100,000 doors. The upset ended DeGette's nearly three-decade career in Congress and marked one of the biggest wins to date for the DSA-aligned left. Kiros is now heavily favored in the solidly Democratic district's November general election.

“Coloradoans have once again made their voices clear. We are not going to accept Trump's broken promises and cost of living emergency, or his constant corruption.”
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) · Jul 1, 2026

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship 6-3, Strikes Down Trump Order (Trump v. Barbara, June 2026)

On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Trump v. Barbara that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship, striking down President Trump's Day-1 executive order that sought to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented or temporary-status parents. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, joined by Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Barrett, and Jackson, holding that such children are "subject to the jurisdiction" of the United States and are citizens at birth; Justice Kavanaugh concurred in the judgment on statutory grounds, while Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented. Trump called the decision "too bad for our Country" and urged Congress to pass legislation restricting birthright citizenship, promising his "Complete and Total Support." The ruling drew celebration from Democrats and calls from Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, for legislation or a constitutional amendment.

“The fact that this case was a 5-4 decision, effectively, means that the concept of birthright citizenship, which is an absurdity to the 14th Amendment, that concept is hanging by a thread.”
JD Vance (R-OH) · Jun 30, 2026

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Jun 30, 2026

Supreme Court Strikes Down Limits on Coordinated Party Campaign Spending (NRSC v. FEC)

On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC that the federal cap on "coordinated party expenditures" — how much political parties may spend in coordination with their own candidates — violates the First Amendment. Writing for the conservative majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh held that the Watergate-era limit in the Federal Election Campaign Act unconstitutionally restricts core political speech, and the Court overruled its 2001 decision in FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson, warning the ruling lets party committees act as a conduit for large donors to evade contribution limits. The decision allows national and state party committees to spend unlimited sums coordinated with candidates, reshaping the 2026 midterms and beyond.

“A BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS and, more importantly, The First Amendment!”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Jun 30, 2026

Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi Law Counting Mail Ballots Postmarked by Election Day

On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Watson v. Republican National Committee that states may count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day even if they arrive afterward, rejecting a Republican challenge to Mississippi's law allowing receipt up to five business days after the election. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three Democratic appointees, holding that federal "election-day" statutes set a deadline for casting ballots but do not bar states from counting ballots received later. Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh dissented. The RNC, the Mississippi Republican Party, and the Libertarian Party of Mississippi had challenged the grace period, which is one of roughly 18 similar state laws. The decision was a defeat for President Trump and Republicans, who had pushed to require ballots be received by Election Day.

“In light of the tremendous loss in the Supreme Court today concerning Voter's Rights, and the fact that "people's" votes are allowed to be counted LONG AFTER an Election is over, it is more important than ever to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Jun 29, 2026

Supreme Court Overturns Humphrey's Executor, Expands Presidential Removal Power While Sparing the Fed (June 2026)

On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 91-year-old precedent Humphrey's Executor v. United States, ruling 6-3 in Trump v. Slaughter that President Trump's 2025 at-will firing of Democratic FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter was lawful. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the conservative majority, held that officials exercising executive power must remain removable by the President, effectively ending Congress's ability to shield independent-agency commissioners from at-will removal. In a separate 5-4 decision in Trump v. Cook, the Court held that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook could remain in her post for now, carving out the central bank as a constitutionally distinct institution. Trump celebrated the FTC ruling as a historic expansion of presidential power, while Democrats and the affected officials warned it threatens the independence of watchdog agencies. Justice Sonia Sotomayor read a summary of her dissent from the bench, a rare signal of strong disagreement.

“We will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America!”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Jun 29, 2026

Jun 23, 2026· Updated

Trump and Pezeshkian Sign US–Iran Ceasefire Memorandum; Hormuz Standoff and Invasion Threat Follow

On June 17, 2026, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remotely signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding extending the 2026 Iran war ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and lifting the US naval blockade while negotiators pursued a final nuclear deal. The framework drew sharp bipartisan criticism in Washington, with Republican hawks calling the terms a capitulation and Democrats saying Iran had "won" the negotiation. The truce frayed on June 20 when Iran's IRGC Navy declared it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though US Central Command said traffic continued to flow. On June 21 Trump warned in a Fox News phone interview that if Iran closed the strait "you won't have a country," and separately threatened to impose US tolls on the waterway if a final deal was not reached within 60 days. On June 23 the Senate advanced a war powers resolution rebuking Trump's handling of the conflict.

“If this passes, the Iranians are going to simply stand up and walk away from negotiations.”
Jim Risch (R-ID) · Jun 23, 2026

Jun 21, 2026· Updated

Trump Announces Renewed Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire in Lebanon After Deadly Beirut Strikes

On June 19, 2026, President Trump said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to renew their ceasefire in the 2026 Lebanon war, a truce a U.S. official described as mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Iran. The agreement came after fighting flared with intense Israeli strikes on southern Beirut and across southern Lebanon that killed dozens, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict and briefly derailing U.S.-Iran talks. Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to sign a related U.S.-Iran memorandum and publicly pressed Israel to respect the peace process, while Trump called the renewed truce "a little icing on the cake." Reactions among U.S. officials ranged from praise for the de-escalation to skepticism that a diplomatic solution would hold.

“Let's try a diplomatic solution. I think it's going to fail. What happens next?”
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) · Jun 21, 2026

Jun 11, 2026· Updated

Fight Over Clean FISA Section 702 Reauthorization

A conservative revolt in the House derailed President Trump's push for a clean 18-month reauthorization of FISA Section 702, the warrantless surveillance authority set to expire April 20. After Speaker Mike Johnson pulled the procedural rule vote on April 15 when it became clear he couldn't hold his caucus, leadership tried again on April 16 — but roughly 20 Republicans joined Democrats in tanking both a 5-year and the 18-month extension. In a chaotic late-night session, the House passed a 10-day stopgap extension through April 30 via voice vote at 2 AM on April 17. Rebels demanded warrant protections for Americans' communications and attachment of the SAVE America Act. Trump called FISA 702 vital for "SUCCESS on the battlefield," while civil-liberties critics from both parties — Raskin, Davidson, Wyden, Massie, Boebert, Luna — argued the administration had dismantled oversight safeguards. The fight resumes before April 30.

“Today, we just offered a simple, clean, three-week extension of the FISA national security law. The Democrats, 199 of them, voted against a clean, three-week extension for political purposes.”
Mike Johnson (R-LA) · Jun 11, 2026

House Passes $70 Billion ICE and Border Patrol Funding Bill 214-212, Sending It to Trump's Desk

The House narrowly passed the Secure America Act (S.2) 214-212 on June 9, 2026, sending the $70 billion immigration enforcement package to Trump's desk. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), who caucuses with Republicans, was the only non-Democrat to vote against it, citing concerns about bypassing the bipartisan appropriations process. The bill funds ICE ($38.6B) and CBP ($26B) through fiscal year 2029, locking in immigration enforcement funding through the remainder of the Trump term. The Senate had passed the bill 52-47 on June 5.

“With today's vote, House and Senate Republicans have officially ended the third Democrat government shutdown of this Congress. And here's the end result of Democrats' record-setting obstruction: CBP and ICE will now be funded for the remainder of President Trump's term and Democrats will have no ability to defund these agencies in the 119th or 120th Congresses. We have three full years of funding. What we've done now by funding it for three years, we've taken away [Democrats'] ability to cut that funding, to block that funding or to take hostage the funding for the remainder of the Trump administration.”
Mike Johnson (R-LA) · Jun 9, 2026

Trump Claims California Primary Is Being "Stolen"; AG Bonta Calls Claims "Unhinged"

Following California's June 3, 2026 primary elections, President Trump repeatedly posted on Truth Social claiming Democrats were "stealing" the vote as mail ballots continued to be counted — a normal process in a high-mail-vote state. The US Attorney's office in California opened "multiple" election fraud investigations at Trump's urging with no specific evidence provided. California AG Rob Bonta called Trump's claims "truly embarrassing, unhinged, wild-eyed, dangerous, reckless, desperate," and Gov. Newsom's press office mocked the president. Analysts warned the episode previewed midterm election denial tactics.

“Truly embarrassing, unhinged, wild-eyed, dangerous, reckless, desperate. What's your evidence for the bold claim you've made? He has none. Every count, recount, hand count, audit and court case has demonstrated there is no widespread voter fraud. Trump has basically taken the position that if he wins or the person that he supports wins, the election was fair. If he lost or the person he supported lost, it was rigged. And that's just not right. The danger is the action that follows the lie.”
Rob Bonta (D-CA) · Jun 9, 2026

Iran and Israel Trade Missiles for First Time Since April Ceasefire; Trump Claims "Total Victory" Near

Iran fired approximately 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7–8, 2026 — the first such attack since an April 8 ceasefire — after Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon. Israel retaliated with strikes on central and western Iran before both sides announced a halt to hostilities on Day 100–101 of the Iran war. Trump publicly called for an "immediate ceasefire" while privately warning Netanyahu he might be "left alone," and declared "total victory" would come within two weeks. JD Vance acknowledged that US and Israeli interests had "diverged" in the conflict, and Trump told the Financial Times "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots."

“The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests. But we also have some situations where our interests diverge. The president's attitude on this is we have to verify. I don't assume that anybody is acting in good faith.”
JD Vance (R-OH) · Jun 8, 2026

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