Former president Donald Trump speaks during the Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
HOUSTON (AP) — One by one, they took the stage at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston and denounced the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state. And one by one, they insisted that further restricting access to firearms was not the answer to preventing future tragedies.
Trump election interference grand jury in Georgia to hear from Raffensperger
The Georgia secretary of state has been summoned to appear before a special grand jury Thursday.
www.cbsnews.com
Russia takes small cities, aims to widen east Ukraine battle
Russia has claimed the capture of a key railway junction as its forces fight to seize all of eastern Ukraine's contested Donbas region.
apnews.com
Official: Girl told 911 'send the police now' as cops waited
Students trapped inside a Texas classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 as officers waited more than an hour to confront the shooter.
apnews.com
Trump: US should fund safe schools before Ukraine
Mr Trump rejects calls for gun control, saying Americans must be allowed to defend themselves from "evil".
www.bbc.com
McCarthy, GOP lawmakers escalate standoff with Jan. 6 panel
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is making it clear that he will likely defy a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
apnews.com
Officials: Texas shooter talked about guns in private chats
Texas authorities say the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers inside an elementary school discussed his interest in purchasing a gun on private social media conversations.
apnews.com
Feds entered school to kill gunman after local cops asked them to wait
Two senior federal law enforcement officials said the federal agents decided after about 30 minutes not to wait any longer and entered the school to find gunman Salvador Ramos.
www.nbcnews.com
Supreme Court may soon loosen gun laws as nation reels from massacres | CNN Politics
While the Supreme Court has been working behind closed doors on its first major Second Amendment opinion in more than a decade, three mass shootings have broken the country, including Tuesday’s massacre of 19 schoolchildren in Texas.
www.cnn.com
'It's straight out of a playbook': At NRA convention, conspiracy theories abound
To many attendees, the mass shooting in Uvalde was about mental illness and dark forces pushing their own agendas.
www.politico.com
Ukraine pushed Russia back from its second city. Missiles keep coming.
“What they [the Russians] can’t take, they just ruin,” said Roman Dudin, the head of the Kharkiv branch of Ukraine’s Security Service.
www.nbcnews.com
Outside the NRA convention: Fury. Inside, a celebration and defense of guns.
While NRA members browsed aisles of AR-15 inspired merchandise, children held signs reading “How many more kids?” and “Am I next?”
www.nbcnews.com
Jury begins deliberations in trial of former Hillary Clinton lawyer Michael Sussmann | CNN Politics
The jury in the trial of Michael Sussmann, the Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer charged by special counsel John Durham as part of his inquiry into the origins of the FBI’s Trump-Russia probe, will resume deliberations on Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
Texas law enforcement official provides detailed timeline of deadly school shooting and police response
A top law enforcement official provided the most detailed description yet of what happened during the deadly Texas school shooting.
www.cbsnews.com
Governor saw deadly arrest video months before prosecutors
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — With racial tensions still simmering over the killing of George Floyd, Louisiana Gov.
apnews.com
Live updates | Communist deputy demands Russian withdrawal
Breaking with the party line in a rare show of opposition to his country’s war in Ukraine, a Communist Party legislative deputy in Russia’s Far East demanded an end to the military operation and withdrawal of Russian forces.
apnews.com
What went wrong as police in Uvalde waited to breach classroom
The head of Texas' Department of Public Safety walked through several missteps in the response to the school shooting in Uvalde.
Nina Jankowicz claims disinformation board could have helped prevent mass shootings - Washington Examiner
Nina Jankowicz, the author who resigned as the director of the Department of Homeland Security's Disinformation Governance Board, said that controversial government operation could have helped prevent mass shootings such as the ones carried out this month in New York and Texas. One...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says Trump ran for president to ‘get them all back’ after failed Bills bid
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said Thursday on the network that former President Trump called him during his bid to buy the NFL’s Buffalo Bills in 2014 and threatened to run for president if he did…
thehill.com
Prepare for sticker shock if you are traveling this summer
DALLAS (AP) — Airlines and tourist destinations are expecting monster crowds this summer as travel restrictions ease and pandemic fatigue overcomes lingering fear of contracting COVID-19 during travel.
apnews.com
Trump champions gun rights in NRA speech days after Uvalde school shooting
The former president stressed the importance of added school security measures such as metal detectors and arming teachers.
www.politico.com
NRA leader calls gun ownership ‘fundamental human right’
National Rifle Association (NRA) officials dismissed calls for stricter gun laws on Friday during their annual convention, which is taking place in Houston, a city less than 300 miles from the Texa…
thehill.com
Quad launches ‘anti-China’ maritime surveillance plan
Quad’s initiative is designed to enable Indo-Pacific nations to track illegal fishing and incursions by Chinese vessels.
‘Let’s get this done’: Border agents took matters into their own hands to stop Texas school killer hiding in closet - Washington Examiner
Federal agents ignored orders from local police and went after the shooter who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, according to reports Friday.Border Patrol agents took matters into their own hands after waiting roughly 30 minutes to lead a...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Texas school shooting: Suspect's grandmother upgraded to good condition
Live updates on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Official: Girl told 911 'send the police now' as cops waited
Students trapped inside a Texas classroom with a gunman repeatedly called 911 as officers waited more than an hour to confront the shooter.
apnews.com
Trump loses bid to thwart New York AG's probe of his businesses
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday lost a bid to stop New York state Attorney General Letitia James' probe of his business practices, allowing the three-year investigation to move forward.
Uvalde gunman threatened rapes, school shootings on Yubo app in lead up to the massacre, users say | CNN
Salvador Ramos told girls he would rape them, showed off a rifle he bought, and threatened to shoot up schools in livestreams on the social media app Yubo, according to several users who witnessed the threats in recent weeks.
www.cnn.comWhy is O.C. Republican Rep. Young Kim suddenly spending more than $1 million in her primary?
GOP Rep. Young Kim is running in a new, more conservative Orange County district. Her sudden spending reflects new challenges posed by redistricting.
4 children among 5 killed in Pennsylvania house explosion
The blast in the borough of Pottstown, northwest of Philadelphia, also left two people in critical condition, officials said. A cause is under investigation.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump calls for more guns to stop ‘evil’ during NRA speech in wake of Uvalde massacre - Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump called for more guns and a security overhaul at public schools during the National Rifle Association convention Friday in Houston, mere days after a shooting at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school killed 19 children and two teachers. In his proposal, Trump called for...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Prosecution: 'Overwhelming' evidence of guilt for Clinton campaign attorney
Jury began deliberations Friday in false-statement case against lawyer Michael Sussmann
www.politico.com
Analysis: Herschel Walker and the record-setting year for Black Republicans | CNN Politics
It’s been a record-setting year for the Republican Party, which is fielding 81 Black candidates in the 2022 primaries, according to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
www.cnn.com
Belarus sending troops to Ukraine border; Finland prime minister visits Ukraine: Live updates
Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out how the White House aims to use the bloc opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to compete with Beijing.
www.usatoday.com
Biden zeroes in on plan to cancel $10,000 in student loans per borrower
President Biden is nearing a decision on student loan debt forgiveness, with the president and his team zeroing in on canceling $10,000 per borrower, with some potential caveats. White House offici…
thehill.com
Texas school shooting: At NRA convention, Abbott says gun laws don't stop 'madmen' from killing
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that gun laws don't stop 'madmen' intent on killing people, days after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Trump, other Republicans reject gun reforms at NRA convention that showcases nation's split
Former President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders rejected efforts to overhaul gun laws and mocked Democrats and activists calling for change Friday at the National Rifle Association's annual convention.
www.cnn.com
Iran seizes 2 Greek tankers in Persian Gulf as tensions rise
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says it has seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.
apnews.com
5 Republican candidates for Michigan governor barred from ballot over invalid signatures
A Michigan business owner has filed a lawsuit to try to get on Michigan's August primary ballot.
www.cbsnews.com
Abbott: New laws will come from school shooting
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Friday said he expects new laws to be enacted in response the shooting this week that killed 21 people at an elementary school. “Do we expect any laws to come out of t…
thehill.com
U.S. prosecutors get guilty verdict in Capitol riot case, extending win streak
The U.S. Justice Department on Friday extended its streak of victories in jury trials against rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, securing a guilty verdict in its prosecution of a New Jersey man facing a felony charge.
U.S. Senator Manchin could back climate provisions in slimmer spending bill, sources say
Key Senate Democrats are working to revive U.S. President Joe Biden's legislative agenda with a current focus on energy, environment, climate and tax reform rather than the social safety net, according to three people familiar with the matter. Plans to revive the "Build Back Better" legislation...
White House says no decision made on student loan forgiveness
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The administration of President Joe Biden has not made a final decision on student loan cancellation, a White House spokesperson said on Friday, after a news report said it was planning to cancel $10,000 in student debt per borrower. Two of them said the $10,000 debt...
Putin: Western arms to Ukraine risk ‘further destabilisation’
Ukraine news from May 28: French and German leaders urge Putin to hold ‘serious negotiations’ with Zelenskyy.
Uvalde shooting: Texas shooting response was wrong, says official
"Please send the police now," one girl pleaded as officers waited over an hour to storm the classroom.
www.bbc.comBelarus sending troops to Ukraine border; Finland prime minister visits Ukraine: Live updates
Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out how the White House aims to use the bloc opposed to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to compete with Beijing.
www.usatoday.com
Liberal Los Angeles could take right turn in mayor's race
Los Angeles is a heavily Democratic city, but voters this year could take a turn to the political right.
apnews.com
Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing
Updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
As U.S. states restrict abortions, pro-choice lawmakers look to Mexico
Pro-choice U.S. lawmakers visiting Mexico said Americans are turning to their southern neighbor to access abortions as some states tighten restrictions on the procedure and with the Supreme Court expected to strike down the right to an abortion.
Texas school shooting: At NRA, Cruz urges 'single point of entry' in schools
Sen. Ted Cruz called for schools to be hardened, including with armed guards, after the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Kevin McCarthy refuses to comply with January 6 committee subpoena as it stands and issues demands | CNN Politics
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter via his lawyer to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, outlining why he will not comply with his subpoena as it stands and delivering a list of demands in order to move forward.
www.cnn.comArming teachers is hard, even in gun-loving Texas
Texas has allowed teachers to sign up as campus “marshals” since 2013 through a program created after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.
www.politico.com
Waiting to confront Texas school shooter was ‘the wrong decision,’ police admit along with string of other failures
Authorities also admitted Friday to driving past the gunman and other failures in responding to the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
www.nbcnews.com
Tucker Carlson Calls Him the Future of the GOP. First He Has to Get Elected.
Blake Masters is running on a hard-line nationalist agenda to reshape the Republican Party. But can the Peter Thiel protégé make it to the Senate?
www.politico.com
Sussmann-Durham trial: Jury deliberating, judge says verdict to come next week
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper sent jurors into deliberations Friday, but said he will not “take a verdict” in the trial of Michael Sussmann until next week.
Judge dismisses Trump's lawsuit, allowing NY probe to go on
A federal judge on Friday dismissed Donald Trump’s lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, allowing her civil investigation into his business practices to continue
Biden says Putin trying to 'wipe out' Ukrainian culture; Zelenskyy speaks to Stanford grads: Live updates
Russian forces have made slow but persistent advances as they bombarded and sought to encircle both Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk.
www.usatoday.com
Texas officials say officers should have confronted school shooter earlier
Texas law enforcement officials now say local police were wrong to have waited to engage with the gunman at an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers de…
thehill.com
Many back strict gun laws, but opposition tends to be louder
Polling shows majorities of Americans think mass shootings would occur less often if guns were harder to get.
apnews.com
Ukraine war: Troops could quit Severodonetsk amid Russian advance - official
Russian forces are in part of Severodonetsk and could surround local troops, an official says.
www.bbc.comWhat did the May primaries teach us about the future of the US Senate?
In May Senate primaries, GOP newcomers with ties to former President Donald Trump replaced more establishment Republicans running for Congress.
Politicians offer solutions to stop gun violence. Here's what experts think
Gun control is the most effective but other proposals can help, experts said.
Madison Cawthorn reaped profits with crypto ‘pump and dump’ scheme, filing shows - Washington Examiner
Outgoing Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) revealed Friday he sold upward of $250,000 of the Let's Go Brandon meme cryptocurrency on Dec. 31, 2021, the day it saw its market value peak. Less than a month later, the meme coin had lost 100% of its value. Multiple watchdogs told the Washington Examiner...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Bubs Australia to ship at least 1.25 mln baby formula cans to United States
Bubs Australia Ltd plans to ship at least 1.25 million cans of its baby formula to the United States to help ease a nationwide shortage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday.
Students who survived Texas school attack describe scene
A young survivor of the massacre at a Texas elementary school says she covered herself with a friend’s blood and pretended to be dead while she waited for help to arrive.
apnews.com
Alleged Nazi sympathizer convicted for role in January 6 US Capitol riot | CNN Politics
One juror told CNN that Hale-Cusanelli’s testimony came off as “damage control,” and that it was his comments on the stand that “did him in.”
www.cnn.com
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott 'livid' about being 'misled' on police response to Uvalde shooting
But he rejected calls for gun control legislation, claiming long guns are a part of the Lone Star State's history.
www.nbcnews.com
The names: 19 children, 2 teachers killed in Uvalde school
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — Nineteen children were looking forward to a summer filled with Girl Scouts and soccer and video games.
apnews.com
First on CNN: Georgia district attorney investigating Trump has subpoenaed officials from secretary of state’s office | CNN Politics
An Atlanta-area district attorney investigating Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results has subpoenaed half a dozen officials from the Georgia secretary of state’s office, according to copies of the documents obtained by CNN.
www.cnn.com
‘Gray time’: Finland’s FM worries about slow NATO process
Finland is qualified, determined and eager to join NATO — and the foreign minister would like Washington to put its foot on the gas.
www.politico.com
Trump says 'existence of evil' is why law-abiding Americans need Second Amendment
Former President Trump offered remarks Friday at the 2022 NRA convention in Houston as he touted his administration's work to preserve the Second Amendment.
Progressive ousts Biden-backed Schrader in Oregon primary
Seven-term U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader has lost the Democratic primary in Oregon to progressive challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner.
apnews.com
Rep. Madison Cawthorn discloses 2021 'Let's Go Brandon' cryptocurrency purchase days after ethics probe announced
Cawthorn bought up to $250,000 worth of "Let's Go Brandon" cryptocurrency a week before suggesting its price would "go to the moon."
Orphaned children of teacher killed in Texas elementary school shooting attend church service
The four children of Irma and Joe Garcia attended a service at a Catholic church in Uvalde, Texas, following their parents’ deaths.
Barack Obama catches up with the boy who asked to touch his hair in Pete Souza's iconic Oval Office photo
"You said your hair would be gray next time," Jacob Philadelphia told the former president in a video call. "And I was not lying," responded Obama.
www.cbsnews.com
Wisconsin's Evers prays GOP investigator not named to panel
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Friday he can't think of anyone worse to fill a vacancy on Wisconsin's bipartisan elections commission than a Republican-hired election investigator and he prays that the former state Supreme Court justice isn't named to the panel.
apnews.com
At NRA forum, Trump mocks GOP leaders who didn't attend
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. John Cornyn and other politicians and musicians decided not to go to the NRA event after the mass shooting in Uvalde on Tuesday.
www.cbsnews.com
‘We didn’t ban planes’: Boebert invokes 9/11 during pro-gun rant - Washington Examiner
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) went viral after invoking 9/11 while arguing against gun control just days after the Uvalde, Texas, massacre that saw a gunman murder 21 people, including 19 children and two teachers. "When 9/11 happened, we didn't ban planes," Boebert said Thursday on Fox News. "We...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Inside the Forecast: Trump’s endorsement record, explained
POLITICO’s Steve Shepard demystifies this week’s election data in a video series.
www.politico.com
Forest Service says it started all of New Mexico's largest wildfire
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham demanded that the federal government take full responsibility for the disaster.
Days after Uvalde massacre, Trump rejects gun reforms at NRA event
Former President Donald Trump spoke at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association on Friday in Houston, about 300 miles from Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman massacred 21 people, including 19 children, in an elementary school.
US preparing to approve advanced long-range rocket system for Ukraine as Russian TV host warns of crossing a ‘red line’ | CNN Politics
The Biden administration is preparing to step up the kind of weaponry it is offering Ukraine by sending advanced, long-range rocket systems that are now the top request from Ukrainian officials, multiple officials say.
www.cnn.com
Innocents lost: Uvalde attack leaves broken lives, fractured public trust in law enforcement
America's latest school shooting — this one in Uvalde, TX — devastated a community and raised questions about the law enforcement response.
www.usatoday.com
Democrats pledge to press gun control to forefront of 2022 midterm elections
Will the issue of gun violence and stricter gun laws take center stage in the midterm elections in the wake of two horrific mass shootings this month? Democrats plan to make it a forefront issue.
Analysis: Key Republicans pull out of NRA forum as political pressure mounts | CNN Politics
Even some of the most pro-gun politicians in Texas are realizing the devastating political optics of appearing at a major gun lobby forum just days after a horrific school massacre.
www.cnn.com
Fed unit was asked by police to wait before entering Robb Elementary: report
A Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) unit at the scene of the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting was told not to enter the school and instead wait, according to a report from NBC News. Two fede…
thehill.com
US wins latest legal battle to seize Russian yacht in Fiji
The United States has won the latest round of a legal battle to seize a $325-million Russian-owned superyacht in Fiji, with the case now appearing headed for the Pacific nation’s top court.
apnews.com
Inflation blame game: Sorting out the culprits
The truth about who or what is actually at fault for inflation numbers not seen since the 1980s is more complex than any political talking points or anti-Fed screeds.
www.politico.com
The National Rifle Association's lobbying machine is still potent despite financial woes that reduced its clout
The National Rifle Association still has a bevy of assets that it can use to influence the gun policy debate despite financial and internal turmoil.
Texas workers travel to Uvalde to help after school shooting
Workers at chain restaurants, retail stores from across Texas provide respite for residents after deadly mass shooting.
Navajo sign water rights settlement with Utah and feds
Federal officials signed an agreement with leaders of the Navajo Nation on Friday that provides funding for clean drinking water infrastructure for reservation residents and resolves questions about longstanding Navajo claims to water rights in the drought-stricken U.S. West. The signing...
Johnny Depp lawyer Camille Vasquez: Amber Heard’s ‘friends don’t show up for her’ - Washington Examiner
Lawyers representing celebrity exes Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in their defamation suits against each other met with the jury one last time on Friday before the jurors began deliberations. Initial closing arguments from each side were given in the morning, and both sides presented a rebuttal in...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Moderate Democratic congressman Schrader loses to left-wing challenger in Oregon primary
Moderate U.S. congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon, who at times angered fellow Democrats by opposing pieces of President Joe Biden's agenda, has been defeated by left-wing primary challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner.
Armed female bystander kills man firing at party in West Virginia
A woman at a birthday party drew her pistol and left the gunman with multiple wounds, police say.
www.bbc.com
Wall Street breaks 7-week losing streak, longest since 2001
Stocks rose on Wall Street Friday and closed higher for the week, breaking a seven-week losing streak, the longest such stretch since 2001.
apnews.com
Accelerated approval: unfulfilled promises for FDA’s expedited review program
As practicing physicians, approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reassures us that the treatments we prescribe our patients have been rigorously vetted as effective and safe. For a…
thehill.com
Uvalde police chief who delayed officer response to shooting to join City Council
Peter Arredondo, chief since 2020, campaigned on communication and outreach “to those in need,” the local newspaper reported.
www.nbcnews.com
West mulls having Russian oligarchs buy way out of sanctions
Government officials say Western allies are considering whether to allow Russian oligarchs buy their way out of Western sanctions and use the money to rebuild Ukraine.
apnews.com
McCarthy questions Jan. 6 panel’s legitimacy in response to subpoena
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) responded to a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack in a letter from his lawyer on Friday that questioned the pan…
thehill.comFact check: The Secret Service, not the NRA, is prohibiting attendees of Trump speech from carrying guns
Visitors to the NRA's annual conference can carry firearms, but the Secret Service is prohibiting firearms from a forum featuring Donald Trump.
Prosecutors urge jury to convict ex-Clinton campaign lawyer for lying to FBI over Trump tip
Federal prosecutors on Friday presented closing arguments to a Washington jury in a criminal case against a former attorney for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, urging them to convict him for lying to the FBI in a bid to harm Donald Trump.
Trump digs at politicians who canceled NRA appearances: 'Got to show up'
Former President Donald Trump criticized politicians who did not show up at the NRA convention in Houston after the school shooting in Texas.
Key inflation gauge slowed to still-high 6.3% over past year
An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve rose 6.3% in April from a year earlier, just below a four-decade high set in March and the first slowdown since November 2020.
apnews.com
Bloomberg-backed group targets NRA, pours millions into campaign coffers of candidates running on gun control - Washington Examiner
As thousands of National Rifle Association members head to Houston this weekend for the group's annual convention, a nonprofit group backed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg has the gun lobby in its crosshairs. Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety was created in 2013 after two groups, Mayors...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Rep. Joaquin Castro asks FBI to investigate police response timeline in Texas school shooting as controversy grows
The police version of what happened during the shooting at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, has changed since Tuesday.
Oz says he’s earned ‘presumptive Republican nomination,’ even as Pennsylvania Senate primary recount kicks off | CNN Politics
Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz released a video on Friday in which the celebrity doctor calls himself the “presumptive Republican” nominee on the same day counties can begin recounting ballots in the commonwealth’s tight GOP primary.
www.cnn.com
'Good night': Uvalde school shooting survivors describe gunman's words before opening fire
Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in the carnage. Another 17 people were injured. Texas investigators said victims were found in four classrooms.
www.nbcnews.com
California, New Zealand announce climate change partnership
The leaders of California and New Zealand have signed a pledge agreeing to help fight climate change. California Gov.
apnews.com
US, Japan, South Korea condemn N Korea tests; US widens sanctions
Moves come after China and Russia vetoed a US-led push to tighten UN sanctions on North Korea over missile launches.
Owner of besieged Ukrainian steel plant adds PR help, Ferox signs Qatar
Close to a dozen Qorvis staffers will work to highlight the “operations and humanitarian efforts” of System Capital Management.
www.politico.com
Senate GOP signals an openness to talking about gun legislation
Senate Republicans are signaling an openness to talks with Democrats on gun violence in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings. As pressure builds around gun reform on Capitol Hill following …
thehill.comInside the frenzied negotiations to salvage a controversial real estate tax break
With just five days left in Albany’s legislative session, most people involved in negotiations say a deal to extend 421-a is highly improbable.
www.politico.com
Trump urges end to gun-free school zones, easier confinement of 'deranged' people
Former President Donald Trump on Friday argued the United States should make it easier to confine "deranged" people and eliminate gun-free school zones after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers this week at a Texas school.
NRA's LaPierre says gun control not the answer to Texas massacre
NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre pushes back against calls for gun control as he kicked off the 2022 NRA convention in Houston.
Mike Pompeo endorses Nevada candidate David Brog in bid for U.S. Congress
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is endorsing David Brog in Nevada's 1st Congressional District. Brog says he's a leader in America's national conservative movement.
White House says Russia will likely default on debt; U.S. official says Moscow making 'incremental progress' in Donbas
Russian forces have for weeks blocked Ukrainian ports, contributing to a global food security crisis.
Both sides accuse each other of magic tricks in Sussmann closing arguments - Washington Examiner
Both sides gave their closing arguments in the false statements trial of Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann on Friday, with each accusing the other of using “magic tricks” to try to sway the jury. Sussmann, a former Perkins Coie lawyer, has been charged by special counsel John Durham with...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Blinken stresses importance of concluding Israeli probe into reporter's killing
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Friday to Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and stressed the importance of concluding Israel's probes into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
NRA speakers unshaken on gun rights after school massacre
One by one, speakers took the stage at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston and denounced the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state.
apnews.com
Biden repeats false claim about trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, this time to graduating midshipmen
President Biden said he'd been to the Iraq and Afghanistan nearly 40 times Friday, but the correct number is 21, according to the NSC.
Johnny Depp: Jury deliberations begin in Amber Heard defamation trial
The high profile celebrity defamation case comes to a close six weeks after it began.
www.bbc.com
Biden tells Naval Academy grads Putin 'NATO-ized Europe'
President Joe Biden has told Naval Academy graduates that they will be “representatives and defenders of our democracy” because free societies are under threat from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to China’s maritime expansion.
apnews.com
Memorial Day weekend could kick off long, hot summer for gas prices
Soaring gas prices have Americans bracing for an expensive Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer when vacation-related travel typically spikes. Despite the inc…
thehill.com
Will ‘extremism’ fracture the GOP? Cheney vs. Trump in Wyoming
Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza is in Wyoming this week talking to Victoria Eavis of the Casper Star-Tribune and Joseph McGinley, a Casper physician who led the Natrona County GOP for four years until 2021, and has repeatedly butted heads with a group of Trump-aligned activists.
www.politico.com
Ukraine nuclear inspectorate accuses IAEA of falling for Russian propaganda
Ukraine's state nuclear inspectorate on Friday accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of falling for Russian propaganda and demanded it back efforts by Kyiv to expel Moscow's forces from a major power plant.
Broken heart syndrome: What are the symptoms and causes?
Joe Garcia, whose wife was killed in the Texas school shooting, died Thursday. Doctors said he showed signs of broken heart syndrome, which mimics a heart attack.
www.nbcnews.com
Keep the South China Sea free, Biden tells Navy graduates
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempt to divide Europe by invading Ukraine had backfired and told Naval Academy graduates their job will be ensuring maritime freedom in the South China Sea.
Ukraine fears repeat of Mariupol horrors elsewhere in Donbas
Moscow-backed separatists have been pounding eastern Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region, and claim to have captured a railway hub, as Ukrainian officials plead for the sophisticated Western weapons they say they need to stop the onslaught
Sen. Ron Johnson: Report on tax dollar use for vacation travel ‘a fully coordinated attack’
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Thursday took to Twitter to push back on a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the senator has been using tax dollars to travel between Washington, D.C., an…
thehill.com
Russia pummels eastern towns in bid to encircle Ukraine forces
Russian forces stepped up their assault on the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday after claiming to have captured the nearby rail hub of Lyman, as Kyiv intensified its calls for longer-range weaponry from the West to help it fight back in the Donbas region.
Senators talk expanded gun background checks, red flag laws
A bipartisan group of senators is considering how Congress should respond to the horrific shooting of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas.
apnews.com
Boy found in suitcase in Indiana woods died of electrolyte imbalance, authorities say
The 5-year-old boy, found in a "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" suitcase, had likely contracted a stomach virus, police said.
www.nbcnews.comAs Cheney files for reelection, poll from rival group shows her trailing badly
The survey, conducted by the Club for Growth, is consistent with other data out of Wyoming in the last year.
www.politico.com
Grief counselors from Columbine, Parkland, Sandy Hook describe what happens after a school shooting
At least 19 children and two adults were killed Tuesday in a shooting at a Texas elementary school.
Deliberations underway in trial linked to Trump-Russia probe
Jury deliberations have begun in the Washington trial of a lawyer for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign who's charged with lying to the FBI early in the Trump-Russia probe.
apnews.com
Judge throws out Trump’s suit to block NY AG probe
A federal judge on Friday threw out a lawsuit filed by former President Trump seeking to block the New York attorney general from investigating his business practices. The ruling from U.S. District…
thehill.com
China's interest in US agriculture poses security threat, federal report warns
A federal report warned Friday that China's determination to be agriculturally dominant poses a significant economic and security threat to the United States.
Wisconsin Senate race tightens as rivals close in on Barnes
Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, who has loaned millions out of his own pocket to his campaign, is a close second to the Wisconsin lieutenant governor.
www.politico.com
Oregon ballot fiasco highlights 'invisible' election chiefs
Voters in an Oregon county where a ballot-printing error delayed primary results for nearly two weeks have elected the same county clerk five times in the past 20 years despite missteps that impacted two previous elections and cost taxpayers $100,000.
apnews.com
Democrats ask Apple, Google to prohibit apps from using data mining to target people seeking abortions
A group of Senate Democrats asked Apple and Google to prohibit apps available in their app stores from using data mining practices to target people seeking abortion services in letters sent to the …
thehill.com
What we know about monkeypox cases in the US
Nine likely cases of monkeypox have been identified in the U.S. so far as the virus continues to spread throughout Western countries, outside of the central and western African regions where it typ…
thehill.com
Period pain: Women in Myanmar struggle with menstrual hygiene
Women displaced by conflict after the February 2021 military coup lack access to sanitary pads, clean water and privacy.
Sussmann defense, in closing argument, slams Durham case as 'misdirection'
Michael Sussmann's defense attorneys in theirtheir closing argument Friday cast Special Prosecutor John Durham's case against their client as weak and one of “misdirection."
She smeared blood on herself and played dead: 11-year-old reveals chilling details of the massacre | CNN
An 11-year-old survivor of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas, feared the gunman would come back for her so she smeared herself in her friend’s blood and played dead.
www.cnn.com
'Please send the police now': Uvalde student called 911 multiple times during shooting
Another child also called 911 and hung up when a student told her to, Texas authorities said.
www.nbcnews.com
Missteps in Uvalde shooting response echo Pulse massacre, where 49 died
"We know a similar horror," says Pulse shooting survivor and gay activist Brandon Wolf.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden says Putin 'NATOized' Europe with war in Ukraine
President Biden visited the U.S. Naval Academy to give a commencement address Friday morning, where he said Russian President Putin 'NATOized' Europe
For every person killed in a mass shooting, another 6 are seriously injured, study shows
Mass public shootings have a cost beyond lives lost, including immense physical and financial burden for those who have sustained injuries and survived.
US levels new sanctions after North Korea missile launches
The U.S. is targeting two Russian banks in sanctions over their alleged support for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
apnews.com
A Gun-Control Activist Said ‘Yes’ to the Texas Governor’s Invitation. Here’s What Happened Next.
Gov. Greg Abbott invited Ed Scruggs to be part of two Texas task forces on gun safety. He started optimistic. He left feeling like a prop.
www.politico.com
Around 100,000 ‘Dreamers’ to graduate without shot at work permits
Around 100,000 undocumented immigrants will graduate high school in 2022 without a shot at work permits, the first time in a decade that a majority of so-called Dreamers will not be eligible. Mos…
thehill.com
Shooter warning signs get lost in sea of social media posts
The 18-year-old man who slaughtered 19 children and two teachers in Texas left a digital trail that hinted at what was to come.
apnews.com
O’Rourke: People at NRA convention ‘not our enemy’
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke spoke at a pro-gun control rally outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention on Friday, where he urged NRA supporters and the protesters…
thehill.com
Tribal request to halt Arizona copper mine work is denied
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request by Native American tribes to stop Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals Inc. from preparing a planned new Arizona copper mine's site in the Santa Rita Mountains near Tucson.
apnews.com
Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial: Key points from closing arguments
Closing arguments in the high-profile dual defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were presented Friday.
Biden to attend Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles next month
President Biden will travel to Los Angeles next week to host the Summit of the Americas even as it remains uncertain which countries will attend. The summit, which typically takes place every few y…
thehill.com
Biden renews sanctions license for Chevron in Venezuela
The Biden administration has renewed a license partially exempting Chevron from sanctions on Venezuela so it can keep operating in the oil-rich, socialist-run nation.
apnews.com
Israeli forces injure dozens in West Bank protests, Palestinian medics say
Israeli forces injured almost 90 people in protests in the occupied West Bank on Friday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said.
The GOP’s 2 favorite Dems try to turn their cred into a guns deal
Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have cut a huge infrastructure deal with Republicans and helped preserve the filibuster. Can that give them bipartisan progress on the thorniest of issues?
www.politico.com
Fitch Ratings warns of elections' impact on Lebanese economy
BEIRUT (AP) — A leading international credit ratings agency warned Friday that the results of this month’s parliamentary elections in Lebanon make it difficult for any coalition to have a governing majority, potentially complicating implementation of reforms.
apnews.com
Photos show chaotic scene as Uvalde students escape | CNN
Chilling details emerged about the mass shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
www.cnn.com
House Democrat introduces bill calling to withhold pay for Congress after mass shootings
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) introduced a bill Thursday that would withhold congressional pay in the aftermath of a mass shooting. The No Pay Until Peace Act would withhold a month of pay fro…
thehill.com
Al Jazeera says it will go to ICC over killing of journalist
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Al Jazeera news network says it will submit a case file to the International Criminal Court on the killing of reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead earlier this month during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.
apnews.com
Republican senators seek FBI update on Afghan vetting after Pentagon IG raised security issues
Top Republican senators are requesting an update from the FBI about the vetting and screening of Afghan evacuees, after the Pentagon’s inspector general raised a number of issues with the vetting of those being evacuated out of Afghanistan.
UK's Dunblane grieves for Uvalde, fears nothing will change
A 1996 school shooting that killed 16 children in Dunblane, Scotland was Britain's deadliest school shooting — and also the only one.
apnews.com
'Potentially hazardous' asteroid zooms close to Earth
A "potentially hazardous" astroid zoomed past the Earth Friday.
US: Turkey's NATO issues with Sweden, Finland will be fixed
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he's confident Turkey’s objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO can be overcome swiftly.
apnews.com
The Plot to Out Ronald Reagan
A group of Republicans tried to stymie what they alleged was a nefarious homosexual network within the campaign of their own party’s standard-bearer. More than 40 years later, the story can finally be told.
www.politico.com
Asphyxiation death of Black man seen held in "gas chamber" police vehicle sparks outrage in Brazil
A relative told local media that Brazilian Federal Highway Police trapped Genivaldo de Jesus Santos in their SUV with a tear gas bomb during "a torture session."
www.cbsnews.com
Ford Foundation's Darren Walker gets France's highest honor
The president of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, has received France’s highest cultural honor in recognition of his support of the arts and artists.
apnews.com
San Francisco Giants manager: ‘I don’t plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country’ | CNN
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler told reporters ahead of his team’s Friday game against the Cincinnati Reds that he intends to forgo the pregame US national anthem moving forward.
www.cnn.com
Medicare recipients to see premium cut — but not until 2023
Medicare recipients will get a premium reduction — but not until next year. That reflects what Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says was an overestimate in costs of covering a controversial new Alzheimer’s drug.
apnews.com
Southern Texas school district cancels classes after police foil 'credible threat of violence'
Police received an anonymous tip Tuesday about a threat targeting the Donna Independent School District.
www.nbcnews.comEx-veterans hospital worker sentenced in theft of HIV meds
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A former pharmacy technician involved in the theft of more than $8.2 million worth of prescription HIV medication from a Veterans Affairs hospital in northern New Jersey has been sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison.
apnews.com
Texas school shooting: Could Israeli school security methods serve as model for US schools?
Following the Texas school shooting in Uvalde, observers say Israel's security approach could be useful to schools in the U.S.
Man pleads guilty in plot to firebomb California Democratic HQ after Donald Trump lost 2020 election
Ian Rogers, 46, of Napa faces up to nine years in federal prison after conspiring to attack Democratic targets following Donald Trump's 2020 loss.
WHO: Nearly 200 cases of monkeypox in more than 20 countries
The World Health Organization says nearly 200 cases of monkeypox have been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks of the unusual disease, but described the epidemic as “containable” and proposed creating a stockpile to equitably share the limited vaccines and drugs av
apnews.com
Severe storms strike East Coast as Memorial Day weekend begins
A tornado watch has been issued from North Carolina to Virginia to Maryland as Memorial Day weekend travel begins.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declines to endorse new gun laws after Uvalde school shooting
At a press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said the state would consider a slew of new laws — but not necessarily any about guns.
Ex-rebel frontrunner in Colombian vote, could shake US ties
Colombians will pick from six candidates in a presidential ballot being held Sunday amid a generalized feeling the country is heading in the wrong direction.
apnews.comHow an Organized Republican Effort Punishes Companies for Climate Action
In West Virginia, the state treasurer has pulled money from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, because the Wall Street firm has flagged climate change as an economic risk. In Texas, a new law bars the state’s retirement and investment funds from doing business with companies that the...
Woman gets 15 months in prison for punching flight attendant
A California woman who punched a flight attendant in the face during a flight and broke her teeth has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.
apnews.com
The real COVID surge is (much) bigger than it looks. But don't panic
Thanks to at-home testing, official reports are missing a lot of the COVID cases circulating now. Is the U.S. in the midst of an invisible surge? Here's how to assess the situation where you live.
www.npr.org
Widespread disbelief over N. Korea's tiny COVID death rate
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — According to North Korea, its fight against COVID-19 has been impressive: About 3.3 million people have been reported sick with fevers, but only 69 have died.
apnews.com
North Korea says new fever cases under 100,000 as virus fight heats up
The country first acknowledged a COVID-19 outbreak less than three weeks ago. Experts have said it is hard to assess the actual scale of the situation.
Shanghai lockdown: Residents demand release, and some get it
Residents in China's largest city of Shanghai have become bolder in demanding the lifting or easing of coronavirus restrictions that have left millions locked up in their compounds for almost two months.
apnews.com
COVID-19 Treatment Options
People with certain medical conditions who test positive for COVID-19 may be eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatments.
ICE did not ensure migrants were tested for COVID-19 before boarding domestic flights: DHS OIG
ICE failed to ensure that migrants were tested for COVID-19 before boarding domestic flights, according to a new DHS Office of Inspector General report.
Cyprus gets rid of required COVID-19 tests for visitors
Travelers to Cyprus will no longer be required to show either a valid COVID-19 vaccination or a recovery certificate as of June 1 to enter the Mediterranean island nation.
apnews.com
"The Takeout": For the first time during the pandemic, I tested positive for COVID-19. So, Dr. Fauci and I had a chat
"If you were not vaccinated and double-boosted, then you would have had a much more severe outcome than you have right now," he told me.
www.cbsnews.com
COVID lockdown in China's largest city nearing end
China's largest city moved a step together towards ending its weeks-long COVID lockdown, as a Beijing outbreak has forced officials to order mass testing.
Fired data scientist’s claims of Covid-19 data manipulation ‘unsubstantiated,’ Florida IG report finds | CNN
Allegations the Florida Department of Health fired an employee because she objected to manipulating coronavirus data were “unsubstantiated,” according to a state inspector general report.
www.cnn.com
Half of Florida at ‘high’ risk of COVID; infections keep climbing
The COVID-19 pandemic by the numbers in Florida covering the period of May 21-27:
