
Former President Donald Trump speaks. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Making his first public appearance since the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection began its hearings laying bare his desperate attempts to subvert democracy and remain in power, former President Donald Trump on Friday lashed out at the committee as he continued to tease his plans for a third presidential run.

Russian TV shows videos of 2 US vets captured in Ukraine
Russian state television has shown video of two U.S. military veterans who went missing last week while fighting in Ukraine.


House Democrat calls for Clarence Thomas to resign following report of wife’s email with Eastman
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) called on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to resign on Thursday after news that his wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, emailed with conservative lawyer John Eastman, w…


Twitter reacts to Colbert staffer arrests at Capitol: 'Insurrection'
Twitter users are voicing their opinions about the arrest of a group of staffers associated with CBS's "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" for unlawful entry near the U.S. Capitol Building on Thursday.

Russia frees captive medic who filmed Mariupol's horror
A celebrated Ukrainian medic whose footage was smuggled out of the besieged city of Mariupol by an Associated Press team was freed by Russian forces.


‘Impeachment No. 3’: Jan. 6 panel isn’t swaying these swing-state Republicans
For some in politically volatile Washoe County, Nevada, the committee has hardened partisan views, spawned more conspiracies or deepened fealty toward Trump.


Screams, threats as New Mexico counties certify vote
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A standoff over the security of voting machines between a Republican-leaning county in New Mexico and Democratic state officials that threatened to erupt into a wider political crisis was defused Friday after local commissioners voted to certify their election results.


Production crew for Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" detained in congressional building near U.S. Capitol
They were part of a team filming a comedy segment for "Triumph the Insult Comic Dog."

Biden said Putin's goal of weakening NATO by invading Ukraine backfired spectacularly
"I've done foreign policy my whole career. I'm convinced that if we let Russia roll and Putin roll, he wouldn't stop," Biden said.

Gunman kills 3 seniors over potluck dinner at Alabama church
Police say a 70-year-old man who fatally shot three elderly people at a church potluck dinner in Alabama had attended services there previously.


Trump's political operation, Republican groups paid millions to Jan. 6 organizers: watchdog
According to an analysis from OpenSecrets, Trump's political operation paid more than $12.6 million to Jan. 6 rally organizers since the 2020 cycle.
www.usatoday.com

Official in election standoff avoids prison in Capitol riot
An elected official who was a central figure in a New Mexico county’s refusal to certify recent election results based on debunked conspiracy theories about voting machines has avoided more jail time for joining the mob that attacked the U.S.


Trump blasts Jan. 6 committee, Mike Pence in speech to Evangelical Christian groups
Donald Trump called on Republicans to investigate the Jan. 6 committee's 'egregious abuse of power' and bitterly responded to hearings this week in a Friday speech

Trump fires back at Jan. 6 committee, calls hearings 'disgraceful performance'
The House committee is laying out what it says was a "sophisticated, seven-part plan" by Trump to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss.

Iowa doors swing open for Republicans eyeing White House run
At least a half-dozen GOP presidential prospects are planning Iowa visits this summer now that the state's June primary has come and gone.

For Mike Pence, Jan. 6 Began Like Many Days. It Ended Like No Other.
WASHINGTON — He started the day with a prayer. Vice President Mike Pence, preparing to withstand the final stage of a relentless campaign by President Donald Trump to force him to illegally try to overturn the results of the 2020 election, began Jan. 6, 2021, surrounded by aides at his official...

Post-Watergate reforms may frame DOJ decision over prosecuting Trump
The break-in at the Watergate complex 50 years ago today led to a sweeping government ethics overhaul that included a push to insulate the Department of Justice (DOJ) from politics. In …


Evangelical activists reinforce Trump’s dominance of the GOP
President Donald Trump received a warm reception at the Road to Majority conference in Nashville, with many Evangelical voters saying they would support him for president in 2024

Ukraine latest updates: Russian reserves heading to Luhansk
Ukraine news from June 18: Luhansk governor says reserves are coming from other battle areas to Severodonetsk.

Wall Street closes worst week since 2020 with slight gain
Wall Street closed out its most punishing week since the 2020 coronavirus crash with a meandering day of trading Friday that left it a bit higher. The S&P 500 rose 0.2%.


Ukraine vows to prevail as it battles Russian assaults
The industrial city of Sievierodonetsk, a prime target in Moscow's offensive to seize full control of the eastern Luhansk region, meanwhile was under heavy artillery and rocket fire, the Ukrainian military said.
Minn. Republican threatens retaliation against medical board
Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen has threatened to retaliate against the Minnesota board that oversees doctors, which is investigating him for the fifth time, vowing that “this juggernaut will be dealt with” if he's elected. Jensen is a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic who has called for...

Oil prices tumble on recession fears
Oil prices fell by roughly 6% on Friday, tumbling to a more than four-week low amid fears that rate hikes implemented by the Federal Reserve could touch off a recession.


Trump criticizes Pence's actions on Jan. 6, 2021, says he lacked 'courage'
The day after the latest U.S. congressional hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters, the former president criticized Mike Pence's actions that day, saying that his vice president had lacked courage.
Ex-Trump aide Navarro pleads not guilty to contempt charges
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro pleads not guilty to contempt of Congress after refusing to cooperate with the House Jan. 6 investigation.
'Cowboys for Trump' founder dodges additional jail time for Jan. 6 conviction
The judge blistered Couy Griffin for continuing to claim that he was innocent, but also gave him credit for time-served.

Navarro Seriously Cites His Jan. 6 Book Tour in Bid for Trial Delay
Joe Raedle/GettyFormer Trump White House official Peter Navarro, who faces criminal charges for not testifying before Congress about his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection, tried on Friday to delay his upcoming trial because he’ll be too busy on a book tour discussing—no joke—his role in that very...

Five ways the Fed’s interest rate hikes will impact Americans
The Federal Reserve Bank announced a 75 basis point interest rate hike on Wednesday, a 50 percent greater increase than the central bank had initially signaled it was going to make for June. &…


Senate gun group eyes finish line as 'boyfriend loophole' remains a big hurdle
The four key senators met for hours Thursday without a resolution on the last major sticking point: how to go about keeping firearms away from abusive dating partners.

Takeaways from Day 3 of Jan. 6 hearings: Lawyer Eastman told Trump election plot wasn't legal
John Eastman acknowledged the plot to block certification of Joe Biden’s election victory wasn't legal but, ultimately, aggressively pushed it anyway.

The House’s endangered species: Republicans who break from the base
GOP lawmakers who step out of party line, on issues from Donald Trump’s impeachment to investigating Jan. 6 to guns, are struggling to survive.


Ex-Trump aide Navarro pleads not guilty to contempt charges
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro has pleaded not guilty to contempt of Congress after he refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S.


Biden races against time to unlock Ukraine’s trapped grain
Western governments are scrambling to bolster a patchwork of land routes to export the grain before the summer harvest.


What is Operation Lone Star? Inside Texas' state border policy
Gov. Greg Abbott launched Operation Lone Star to combat crime along the Texas-Mexico border

Trump asks conservative conference whether he should run for president in 2024
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Former President Donald Trump teased another White House bid, polling a conservative conference on whether he should launch a 2024 campaign.


Four ways to fight soaring teacher burnout
Story at a glance Teachers are facing stressors that range from disrupted student learning, to managing student behavior to dealing with staff shortages to addressing students’ mental health. …


Putin: Russian economy to overcome 'reckless' sanctions
President Vladimir Putin has said at Russia’s showpiece investment conference that the country’s economy will overcome sanctions that he called “reckless and insane.”


Biden defends meeting with Saudi prince, says talks part of broader meeting
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he was not traveling to Saudi Arabia's explicitly to meet de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman during a trip next month and said he was seeing the Saudi crown prince as part of a broader "international meeting."

Election standoff ends in New Mexico county after false fraud claims threw primary certification into question | CNN Politics
The majority of a county commission in a rural swath of New Mexico on Friday voted to certify the results of the June 7 primary, ending a standoff with state officials that had set off national alarms about potential election subversion.


Russia's Putin condemns 'mad and thoughtless' Western sanctions
The Russian president says the economic restrictions are "more harmful" to those who imposed them.
www.bbc.com

Watergate and 'E=MC2' of politics
On the 50th anniversary of Watergate, it's clear that leaks are the currency of Washington politics from Congress to the White House — for better or worse
Investor, advocates sue Florida medical marijuana regulator
Plaintiffs cite "a blatant violation of the regulations."


US TikTok user data accessed in China despite denials, report suggests
Private information from TikTok users in the United States may have been accessed in China, according to a report Friday.


Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 115
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its 115th day, we take a look at the main developments.

Jan. 6 hearings: What we’ve learned, and what’s next
In its first three hearings, the House panel investigating the Capitol insurrection has laid out the beginnings of its case against former President Donald Trump.


Trump slams Jan. 6 committee, denies he called Pence a "wimp"
At a speech in Nashville, Trump blasted the committee's efforts as politically motivated, and insisted he'd done nothing wrong.


IRS rolls out artificial intelligence to help callers make payments, resolve simple tasks
The IRS unveiled a new artificial intelligence system it says will cut wait times to resolve simple tasks and improve customer service.

Brazil police: Remains found those of British journalist
Federal police say that some of the human remains found deep in Brazil’s Amazon have been identified as belonging to British journalist Dom Phillips.

'Steely, determined, grim': Former aide tells story of Pence on Jan. 6
The testimony from Greg Jacob, former White House counsel for then-Vice President Mike Pence, before the House select committee may be the closest the public comes to hearing from one of the key players in stopping the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Uvalde officer passed up shot at gunman before shooter entered school: Report
A report published Friday offered new details about the law enforcement response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last month that killed 21 people, including 19 children, and injured 17 others.


New York may partially ban cryptocurrency mining if Hochul doesn't veto it
In the middle is Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is seeking her first full term this year and hasn't signaled whether she will sign the groundbreaking bill into law.


Democrat to Biden: Don’t suspend gas tax
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) asked President Biden to oppose a suspension of the federal gas tax in a letter Thursday, warning of “severe unintended consequences” for infrastructure. Biden i…


UK govt orders Julian Assange's extradition; appeal planned
The British government has approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face spying charges. WikiLeaks said it would appeal.


Montana governor returns home to historic flooding, and criticism
Greg Gianforte and wife, Susan, were on a "personal trip" when disaster struck, causing millions of dollars in damage and forcing the closure of Yellowstone National Park.


Despite push, states slow to make Juneteenth a paid holiday
The effort to officially celebrate Juneteenth as a paid holiday has faced skepticism inside legislatures that have largely chosen symbolic gestures to recognize the holiday while curtailing certain conversations on race and racism.


As abortion ruling nears, U.S. Supreme Court erects barricades to the public
Encircled by an ominous security fence and off-limits to the public since March 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court is poised in the coming weeks to issue a major ruling that could dramatically curtail abortion rights from behind closed doors with not a single justice in sight.

Slack bans conservative immigration group from tech platform
The tech platform Slack this week shut down the account of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) -- a group that advocates for less immigration.
Biden's LGBTQ protections order will have an 'enormous' impact on families of queer youth, says conversion-therapy survivor
The president's order aims to challenge recent legislation targeting queer youth.

Florida rule would eliminate Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care
Story at a glance Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration on Friday published a notice for a proposed rule that would eliminate Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming health care. The rule …


January 6 committee says it 'won't be an obstacle' to Justice Department prosecution | CNN Politics
The House January 6 committee “won’t be an obstacle” to Department of Justice prosecutions, the committee spokesman said in a statement Friday.


Hungary vetoes EU adoption of global corporate minimum tax pushed by Biden
Hungary has thrown cold water on the European Union’s plan to adopt a 15% corporate minimum tax, dealing a blow to EU leadership and the Biden administration.


Rep. Bobby Rush asks DOJ to investigate Idaho white supremacists
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) is urging the Department of Justice to investigate whether the 31 white nationalists arrested by Idaho Police for conspiracy to riot at an Idaho Pride event violated federa…


Jan. 6 hearings, Western wildfires, gun violence rally; This Week in Pictures
Find this week's top photos from around the globe in ABC News' This Week in Pictures slideshow

Group associated with Stephen Colbert arrested and charged with unlawful entry at Capitol
A production team associated with Stephen Colbert's late-night comedy show was arrested on Capitol grounds Thursday night.


Ukraine introduces visa regime for Russians amid war
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian cabinet approved a resolution on Friday to bar Russian citizens from entering Ukraine without a visa.


Biden downplays upcoming meeting with Saudi's Mohammed bin Salman
President Biden is heading to Saudi Arabia next month.


Deputy: 2 officers had chance to shoot Uvalde school gunman
Two Uvalde city police officers told a sheriff's deputy that they passed up a fleeting chance to shoot the gunman for fear of hitting children outside an elementary school where the gunman killed 21 people.


John Cornyn, top Republican negotiator on gun package, booed at Texas GOP convention | CNN Politics
Sen. John Cornyn, the lead Republican negotiator on the bipartisan gun safety package, told a home-state crowd at the Texas GOP convention on Friday that he had “fought and kept President Biden’s gun grabbing wish list off the table,” yet still received boos from the crowd as he talked about...


Bill Cosby civil trial jury must start deliberations over
After two days of deliberations, jurors in a civil trial deciding on sexual abuse allegations against Bill Cosby will have to start from scratch on Monday.


Under court order, GOP officials in New Mexico county certify election results
The New Mexico Supreme Court intervened after the GOP-led commission in Otero County refused to certify the results.


Thousands of flights canceled as busy summer travel season heats up
Thousands of flights have been canceled this week as a busy summer travel season heats up.

Biden approval rating founders in multiple polls amid Democratic doubts about 2024
President Biden's approval rating sunk to 39 percent in the latest USA Today/Suffolk poll that found that nearly half of Americans disapprove of the president's job so far.
Mitch Daniels weighing return to politics
The former Indiana governor and Bush Cabinet member is thinking of running for state office again after a decade in academia.


Flight cancelled? Pete Buttigieg is telling airlines to step up their game
The transportation secretary is one of the many travelers who had their flights cancelled in recent days. His happened the day after he met with airline CEOs about their operational struggles.


Texas military and police practicing how to deter migrant caravan at border
The state of Texas is ramping up security operations along its southern border with Mexico, shoring up military and police forces in anticipation of the arrival of a migrant caravan, the state's governor announced Friday afternoon.


7 arrested in House office building linked to Colbert show
U.S. Capitol Police say officers arrested seven unauthorized people in a congressional office building Thursday night and charged them with unlawful entry.

Biden defends helping Ukraine despite triggering higher gas prices: 'It's not about my political survival'
President Biden says he feared that if the United States had not stepped up to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s military invasion, there would have been “chaos” in Europe — and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war would have continued westward.

Ukraine moves closer to EU candidacy; Families of 2 missing American veterans speak out: June 17 recap
On Friday, President Joe Biden said he'd been briefed on the Americans missing in Ukraine and urged others not to travel there. Latest updates.
www.usatoday.com

Attacker injures 3 at San Francisco International Airport
Authorities say a man armed with an “edged weapon" has attacked passengers at San Francisco International Airport, leaving three with cuts and scrapes

Palestinian rocket fire draws Israeli air strikes in Gaza
Palestinian militants fired a rocket toward a city in southern Israel on Saturday, drawing Israeli air strikes, the Israeli military said, after months of relative calm in the area.

Members of Congress tour squalid 'third world' colonia settlements near the southern border
Members of Congress Friday heard from residents of poor communities in southern Texas called colonias, which often don't have running water or sewage.

Montana governor under fire for vacationing during flood
Montana's governor was not in Montana — or in the U.S. at all — when punishing floods hit Yellowstone National Park and communities on its fringes this week.


U.S. drone sale to Ukraine hits snag
The Biden administration's plan to sell four large, armable drones to Ukraine has been paused on the fear its sophisticated surveillance equipment might fall into enemy hands, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Russia sentences US teacher to 14 years for cannabis smuggling
Former US embassy employee Marc Fogel was detained in mid-August at Sheremetyevo airport.
www.bbc.com

Pence skips Faith & Freedom conference. Is attacked by Trump anyways.
The ex veep finds himself at a crossroads, unable to lean on his once bedrock constituency.


Hillicon Valley — YouTube removes Jan. 6 panel video with Trump clip
YouTube announced Friday it had taken down a video released by the Jan. 6 House select committee that featured a clip of former President Trump making baseless claims about the election. Meanwhile,…


EPA-approved flea collar correlated with over 2,500 pet deaths: Report
The Seresto flea and tick collar has been linked to 2,500 pet deaths and remains on the market without interference from the Environmental Protection Agency.


Biden says he's been briefed on Americans missing in Ukraine and urges against travel to the nation | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden said Friday he has been briefed on the three Americans who have gone missing in Ukraine after they traveled to the country to fight alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia.


Rubio-Demings Florida Senate battle puts crime and policing front and center
Democratic Rep. Val Demings of Florida, who's challenging GOP Sen. Marco Rubio,calls defunding the police ‘crazy’ in new ad, but Rubio slams her past comments on issue

Miners rescued after being trapped underground in east Ukraine, local officials say
Seventy-seven miners were rescued on Saturday after being trapped underground during a power outage and shelling of territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, local officials said.

County official in New Mexico election standoff avoids more prison time in Jan. 6 riot
Couy Griffin, founder of Cowboys for Trump, was sentenced to 14 days behind bars but had already served 20 days in jail.


As Po dries up, Italy's food and energy supplies are at risk
Water is so low in large stretches of Italy’s largest river that local residents are walking through the middle of the expanse of sand and shipwrecks are resurfacing, but authorities fear there’ll be far greater consequences for farmers and local populations.


Everything you need to know about the first Jan. 6 hearing
Members of a House Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol outlined their case that the insurrection was part of an intricate scheme orchestrated by former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election.


New Mexico county commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin sentenced for Jan. 6 conviction
In March, Griffin was convicted on the misdemeanor charge of entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021.


Bill Cosby civil trial jury must start deliberations over
After two days of deliberations, jurors in a civil trial deciding on sexual abuse allegations against Bill Cosby will have to start from scratch on Monday
Ukraine moves closer to EU candidacy; Families of 2 missing American veterans speak out: June 17 recap
On Friday, President Joe Biden said he'd been briefed on the Americans missing in Ukraine and urged others not to travel there. Latest updates.

'Political suicide': GOP representatives backed by teachers unions fall in primaries
Republican state lawmakers in several states who opposed school choice initiatives with teachers union support are consistently losing their primary elections.


US adds $103M for wildfire hazards and land rehabilitation
The U.S. is adding $103 million this year for wildfire risk reduction and burned-area rehabilitation throughout the country as well as establishing an interagency wildland firefighter well-being program.


What the interest rate hike means for homebuyers
A difficult year for many homebuyers became even tougher, experts said.

Georgia officials set to testify at Tuesday's hearing before January 6 committee | CNN Politics
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his deputy Gabe Sterling will testify publicly at the next hearing held by the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, multiple sources familiar with the plans tells CNN.


Energy & Environment — Trump, Biden appointees clash at safety board
Getty Images Biden and Trump officials clash at the chemical safety board, while President Biden announces new global climate initiatives as part of a meeting with major economic powers. Thi…


Bayer wins fourth Roundup weedkiller case in U.S.
A U.S. jury found Bayer's Roundup weedkiller did not cause an Oregon man's cancer, the German agriculture and pharmaceuticals company said on Saturday, handing the firm its fourth consecutive trial victory over such claims.

Early voting starts in New York gubernatorial primary
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New Yorkers began going to the polls Saturday to cast early votes in a primary election that could determine whether Gov. Kathy Hochul keeps her job.


Tim Scott predicts GOP will flip House, Senate, says Republicans 'party of inclusion'
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., predicted the House and Senate will flip into Republican control after the 2022 midterms while touting the GOP as the "party of inclusion"

Four sentenced for murder of Paraguayan prosecutor in Colombia
Four people who confessed to taking part in the murder of a Paraguayan prosecutor were each sentenced to 23 years and six months in jail on Friday.

Migrants: Some due for removal from the UK could be electronically tagged
Asylum claimants who challenged their removal to Rwanda could be among the first to be monitored.
www.bbc.com

Residents say China used health tracker for crowd control
Angry bank customers who traveled to a city in central China to retrieve their savings from troubled rural banks have been stopped by a health app on their cellphone.

Trump boasts he's been impeached twice and screams 'nothing matters!' amid ongoing January 6 hearings
Trump's comments came a day after a conservative federal judge warned Congress the former president poses a "clear and present danger" to US democracy.

House GOP bill would reimburse Texas for operation to crack down on illegal immigration
A bill introduced by Republicans would reimburse Texas for the costs of Operation Lone Star.

Russian outlets share videos claiming to show 2 Americans reported missing in Ukraine
Russian outlets have released footage that they said shows two Americans who were reported missing in Ukraine this month.

‘How many more must die?’ Nigeria church attack anger seethes
Nigeria holds state funeral for those killed by gunmen at a church on June 5 as church officials demand accountability.

Atom-smashing CERN to 'terminate' work with Russia, Belarus
The scientific lab that’s home to the world’s largest atom-smasher says it plans to terminate all cooperation with Russia and Belarus over their roles in the war in Ukraine.


Louisiana woman says her rapist was given custody of her child in ongoing court dispute
"It should never have gotten this far," the woman said.


New Mexico county commissioner who refuses to certify recent election results sentenced for role in January 6 attack | CNN Politics
Couy Griffin, a New Mexico county commissioner, ardent election-fraud conspiracy theorist and founder of Cowboys for Trump, avoided more jail time on Friday for his role in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.


GOP mapmakers' defiance of Ohio high court divides parties
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State leaders continued to spar on Friday over whether the Ohio Supreme Court should force the state's Republican-dominated political mapmaking panel to answer for defying a court order to redraw unconstitutional Statehouse maps.


DeSantis defends Florida's decision to be only state not to preorder Covid vaccines for kids under 5 | CNN Politics
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday defended his state’s decision not to preorder Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5 years old ahead of federal vaccine regulators’ long-awaited, expected authorization.


Analysis: With record pump prices, Biden hard-pressed to ramp up Russia sanctions
As the Biden administration contemplates expanding punitive measures on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, a big hurdle lies closer to home: the American consumer.

Woodward and Bernstein reminisce, bash Trump on Watergate's 50th anniversary
Watergate sleuths Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein reminisced about the scandal that brought down the Nixon administration on the 50th anniversary of the break-in that launched it — and continued taking shots at former President Donald Trump along the way.


Black Death's ancient origins traced to lake in Central Asia
Scientists in Europe say they have figured out the origins of the Black Death, a bacterial plague that wiped out half of the continent’s population in the 14th century.


Male Juror in Heard-Depp Trial Denies Social Media Influence—so It Was Just Plain Old Misogyny
The juror's appraisals of Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's "sincerity" echo familiar ways of delegitimizing women who say they've been harmed.


FBI official may have violated Hatch Act with anti-Trump posts: DOJ watchdog
The Justice Department’s watchdog said an FBI official handling sensitive criminal cases in the nation’s capital may have violated the law due to his partisan social media posts, many of which criticized then-President Donald Trump and then-Attorney General William Barr.

Trump Slams ‘Human Conveyer Belt’ Pence for Lacking ‘Courage’ to Steal Election
NewsmaxFormer President Donald Trump lashed out at Mike Pence on Friday for not having the “courage” to overthrow President Joe Biden’s election victory—just a day after the Jan. 6 committee hailed the ex-veep as a hero for not participating in Trump’s failed coup attempt.Additionally, the...
Washington Post’s New Leader, One Year In: Mean Tweets, Internal Battles, Finding Direction
Executive Editor Sally Buzbee took over the famed D.C. publication amid a backdrop of staffing challenges and directing coverage in a post-Trump world.


Ecuador should follow its own path, not IMF's, says protest leader
Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso should be less focused on following International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies if he is to fix the economic and social problems his people live each day, indigenous protest leader Leonidas Iza said on Friday.

Russia pressures Europe by slashing its natural gas supply
Europe is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian gas but the supply cuts could create an energy crisis in coming months.


Big Tech must deal with disinformation or face fines, says EU
Tighter EU rules will demand firms such as Google and Meta tackle disinformation on their platforms.
www.bbc.com

After Yellowstone, floodwaters menace Montana's largest city
Floodwaters that rushed through Yellowstone National Park and surrounding communities earlier this week are moving through Montana’s largest city, flooding farms and ranches and forcing the shutdown of its water treatment plant.


70-year-old allegedly kills 3 at church meeting in Alabama
An 84-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were shot dead at a small church group meeting in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Thursday night, authorities said.

Migrant rescues along US-Mexico border climb amid sweltering heat and high water levels | CNN Politics
Authorities say there have been eight deaths here in the span of a week, a grim outlook for the summer as migrants head to the border in extreme conditions.

Sonia Sotomayor says Clarence Thomas 'cares deeply about the Court' as some Democrats call for his resignation over his wife's push to overturn the 2020 election
Sotomayor defended Thomas the same day that a House Democrat demanded the "corrupt jurist who has poisoned the High Court" resign.

Wallowing in Watergate 50 years later: A political quiz
WASHINGTON (AP) — For half a century, every major Washington scandal started with some form of this question: Is this another Watergate?


Exclusive: Inside Space Force boot camp with recruits to US military's newest branch | CNN Politics
The US Space Force has hit a critical milestone: dedicated basic training for its early recruits.


2 Mississippi businessmen indicted in pandemic fraud case
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Two Mississippi businessmen, including one who served on the governor's economic recovery advisory commission, have been indicted on charges connected to the fraudulent receipt of more than $2 million in pandemic relief money, prosecutors said Friday.


Southwest Airlines pilots share frustrations ahead of summer travel
“We’ve been under a lot of stress for the past year," a union representative said.


Border overshadows Democratic-planned economic focus in South Texas House hearing
Discussion of the situation at the southern border overshadowed a committee hearing on the economy and infrastructure held in the South Texas district of an endangered Democratic incumbent.


Australia fire victims struggle to rebuild as material costs rise
Many communities devastated by fires two years ago are also struggling to find construction workers to build new homes.

Court rejects Trump-era EPA finding that weed killer safe
A federal appeals court has rejected a Trump administration finding that the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup does not pose a serious health risk and is “not likely” to cause cancer in humans.


Expectant Black mothers, facing higher mortality rates, turn to doulas and midwives for support
Doulas and midwives are helping mothers reclaim their child birthing processes.

The Navy has fired a dozen leaders but won't explain why
A total of 13 commanding officers have been fired so far this year, including five in one week, the Navy said.


Brazil Indigenous expert was 'bigger target' in recent years
SAO PAULO (AP) — Before disappearing in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, Bruno Pereira was laying the groundwork for a mammoth undertaking: a 350-kilometer (217-mile) trail marking the southwestern border of the Javari Valley Indigenous territory, an area the size of Portugal.


20 Oxford High School students to file federal lawsuit against school district months after shooting
Months after four students were killed in a school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, 20 students announced Friday they will file a federal lawsuit.

Production crew for Colbert show arrested, charged with unlawful entry at Capitol
CBS confirmed on Friday that Capitol Police detained a production team from “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The network told The Hill in a statement that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog an…


EXPLAINER: How did Russia-Ukraine war trigger a food crisis?
Russian hostilities in Ukraine are preventing grain from leaving the “breadbasket of the world.” That is making food more expensive across the globe and threatening to worsen shortages, hunger and political instability in developing countries.


'I couldn't be party to potential law-breaking' - Boris Johnson's former ethics adviser explains resignation
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former ethics adviser said on Friday he resigned his post because he "could not be a party to advising on any potential law-breaking".

Here's what the Fed rate hike means for your salary | CNN Business
American workers have seen their wages climb faster than at any time since the mid-1980s. But high inflation means workers have been handed a pay cut.


Witnessing war crimes in Kharkiv
Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig on the harrowing scenes in Ukraine’s second city, including apparent abuses by both sides.

Gaza rocket into Israel breaks 2-month lull, Israel responds
JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants fired a rocket into southern Israel early Saturday, shattering a two-month lull in violence at the Gaza-Israel border in contrast to soaring tensions in the occupied West Bank.


Marcelo Pecci: Killers who shot Paraguayan prosecutor on honeymoon convicted
Officials say Marcelo Pecci, a famed anti-mafia prosecutor, was likely targeted by drugs gangs.
www.bbc.com

Supreme Court family members' extended security under new law Biden signed
After President Joe Biden signed the Supreme Court Police Parity Act, around-the-clock security may now be allotted to the families of high court justices amid heightened threats of violence to their homes.


Russia sentences American teacher Marc Fogel to 14 years in prison for "large-scale" cannabis smuggling
Marc Fogel has said he didn't know it was illegal to bring the cannabis he'd been prescribed for medical reasons into Russia.


Eight countries are updating their 2030 climate goals
Eight countries are updating their 2030 climate goals, a U.S. senior administration officials confirmed to The Hill. The official told The Hill Friday that Australia has shared an updated target, a…


NC justices: Young offenders are parole-eligible at 40 years
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Juvenile offenders in North Carolina sentenced to long prison terms for deadly and violent crimes must be eligible for parole after 40 years behind bars, a sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled on Friday.


What's behind threats to LGBTQ events? 'A very orchestrated attack machine'
The threats mostly aimed to shut down events for transgender rights and drag performances, which have become frequent targets of extremists, militias and far-right personalities during June, which is Pride Month.


‘Lock it down right now’: Abortion rights advocates prepare for a new wave of digital security threats
Advocates and abortion providers are reassessing their digital security practices ahead of an expected rise in cyberattacks and surveillance.


Putin speech in Russia delayed over an hour due to cyberattack
Russian President Vladimir Putin was forced to delay his speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum by more than an hour on Friday due to a cyberattack.


California pair charged with smuggling drugs to 5 states
Federal authorities say a Northern California pair repeatedly impersonated federal law enforcement officers as part of a nationwide scheme in which they smuggled drugs nationwide.


Massachusetts court grants temporary protection order against actor Ezra Miller
The actor has now been asked to appear in court in two states after parents accused them of grooming, abuse and intimidation involving a nonbinary child, 12, and a nonbinary adult, 18.


Former Honolulu prosecutor indicted on bribery allegations
HONOLULU (AP) — A U.S. grand jury has indicted Honolulu’s former top prosecutor and four others, alleging that employees of an engineering and architectural firm bribed Keith Kaneshiro with campaign donations in exchange for Kaneshiro’s prosecution of a former company employee.


Analysis: What does Ukraine joining the EU really mean?
European Commission green-lit Ukraine for EU candidate status, but becoming a member might take years.

Man, woman allegedly held at gunpoint by kidnapping suspect while hiking in Colorado
A man allegedly held a husband and wife at gunpoint and led them off a Colorado trail before they managed to escape, authorities said.

Extreme heat is bad for everyone's health -- and it's getting worse | CNN
Of all the natural disasters, heat is the No. 1 killer, studies show. And as temperatures continue to rise because of the climate crisis, scientists expect it to make even more people ill.


Verizon, AT&T delay some 5G service over airlines' concerns
Verizon and AT&T won't power up some wireless towers near airports until next summer to give airlines more time to make sure the new service won't interfere with planes.


Europe heatwave: Outdoor events banned in parts of France
France forced to import electricity as air-conditioners and fans switched on for record heatwave.
www.bbc.com

Trump accuses the Jan. 6 committee of selective editing
The former president hinted at a 2024 campaign in a speech Friday and said he would look at pardoning those involved in the Capitol riot if reelected.


Congo's president says Rwandans waging 'economic war'
Congo's president is accusing Rwanda of trying to occupy his country’s land for its vast mineral wealth.


Inmates at a Florida county jail helped save a deputy who was assaulted by other inmates, officials say | CNN
Inmates at a county jail in Florida are being commended for helping save a deputy who was attacked by another inmate last week, police said.


Campaign mailer photo draws ire of Missouri Supreme Court
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court said Friday that judges were “disappointed” that a mailer sent in support of Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s U.S.


More victims suspected after California man charged with kidnapping, torturing woman
Authorities believe there may be more victims after a woman reportedly told police she was held captive and tortured and raped for six months.

Thousands of Kentucky, Tennessee residents left without power after storm
Thousands were left without power in Tennessee and Kentucky on Friday following a storm in the area. An outage map offered by Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities showed that around 9…


Man gets more than 3 years in prison for $13M COVID-19 fraud
BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts businessman convicted of fraudulently seeking more than $13 million in federal coronavirus pandemic relief loans has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.


In Dozens Of Cases, Courts Punish Men for Failing to Control Pregnant People's Actions
A stunning new report finds that family courts are penalizing men who don't act as their woman's keeper.


DOJ blocks GOP effort to get answers on Hunter Biden investigation
Republican senators appear to have been blocked by the Department of Justice from getting answers about the Hunter Biden investigation from the U.S. attorney’s office in Delaware.


Companies are selling Juneteenth branded products. Here's why that's a big problem
Brands and companies are working to remove their Juneteenth items from shelves, as experts say those who are selling Juneteenth-branded products are "tone-deaf."


Pakistan to stay on terror financing watchdog's 'gray list'
ISLAMABAD (AP) — An international watchdog said Friday it will keep Pakistan on a so-called “gray list” of countries that do not take full measures to combat money laundering and terror financing but raised hopes that its removal would follow an upcoming visit to Islamabad to determine its progress.


Trans kids and advocates blame culture war for debate over adolescent health care
Upcoming guidance from the leading professional association for transgender health care perpetuates problematic ideas about transgender youth, some advocates say.


12K marijuana plants, 3K pounds of pot seized in Oregon
EAGLE POINT, Ore. (AP) — More than 12,000 marijuana plants in 32 greenhouses were seized from a marijuana grow site in southern Oregon on Thursday, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.


Man with 'edged weapon' attacks 3 people in San Francisco airport, police say
The suspect was detained and the three victims were treated for their injuries and released, police said.


As presidential cat, Willow Biden has privileges | CNN Politics
In the dog days of summer, Willow the cat rules the roost.


How Texans have coped without water in US heat wave
A water outage has affected about 165,000 people in the western city of Odessa.
www.bbc.com

In extreme heat, here are 14 ways to keep your body and home cool without AC | CNN
No air conditioning? Here are 14 methods for cooling your body and buffering your house from the outside heat.


Alaska school contractor mistook sealant for milk after finding it in food storage warehouse
The Juneau School District summary of findings says the floor sealant was mistakenly delivered to the warehouse and was in an area with shelf-stable milk.


Inside the contentious Trump-Biden appointee fight on the chemical safety board
The Trump-appointed head of the government’s chemical safety board is making her way to the exits amid high tensions with her colleagues, who were appointed by President Biden. The U.S.…


Montana governor was vacationing in Italy when his state was flooded
Gov. Greg Gianforte is back and plans to "survey damage and meet with residents," his office said.


Afghanistan: Two killed as blast hits Sikh temple in Kabul
ISIL claimed responsibility for the explosion that also left seven people injured.

EBay seller says coins depicting Haitian migrant incident at border may be sold again
The coins depict the now-infamous, real-life incident of a Border Patrol agent on horseback chasing down Haitian migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border last year.


Will Julian Assange be extradited to the U.S.? Where his case stands now
The WikiLeaks founder will face 18 federal counts — whenever he's brought to a U.S. courthouse in Virginia. For now, he has at least one more avenue of appeal.



White House: Florida doctors can order under-5 COVID shots
The White House says Florida doctors will be able to order COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government.


COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5: Pediatricians answer parents' questions
Kids under 5 are the last remaining group to be authorized for a vaccine.

FDA authorizes 1st COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers
U.S. regulators have authorized the first COVID-19 shots for infants and preschoolers. That paves the way for vaccinations for children under 5 to begin next week.


Trends are shifting, but Covid-19 and its effects are still not equitable | CNN
Through the many phases of the Covid-19 pandemic – nearly a dozen variants, the introduction of vaccines, the dropping of prevention measures and more – one thing has remained constant: The virus and its effects are not one-size-fits-all.


CDC gives the go-ahead for Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines for kids as young as 6 months
It's been a long wait for the last remaining age group yet to be vaccinated.

The (potential) good news about the Covid wave


Shanghai surprise: How I survived 70 days confinement in the world's strictest Covid lockdown | CNN
In Hong Kong, Omicron was running amok, but in Shanghai cases were still in the single digits and with China’s iron-fisted approach to infections it seemed reasonable to think things would stay that way. That was my first mistake.


A primer for parents on Covid vaccines for kids under 5: timing, side effects and efficacy
Young children could start to receive Pfizer and Moderna vaccines next week, pending the CDC's recommendation.


Health Care — COVID vaccines for kids take another step forward
The Hill illustration, Madeline Monroe/iStock One beloved aardvark may have left us earlier this year when “Arthur” ended its 25-year run on PBS, but the San Diego Zoo has us covered with the arriv…


U.S. FDA opens way to COVID vaccines for kids under 5, CDC up next
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5, opening the door to vaccinating millions of the country's youngest children once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees.

COVID cases are upending cycling, and the Tour de France starts in 2 weeks
"It's just crazy," Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas said at the Tour de Suisse on Friday, after around 30 riders were forced to abandon the race.
