House Passes Defense Authorization

The House Rules Committee on Monday advanced the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a must-pass defense bill, sending it to the floor for consideration. (Correspondent Bernie Bennett reports.)

VERBATIM:
The committee reported out a rule along party lines by a vote of 8-4 that would merge the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act to the NDAA in a special process known as MIRVing.

Several conservative hardliners previously said they would oppose a procedural rule that would tee up a debate and final vote on legislation until action is taken on the SAVE America Act – and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced the plan as a way to appease the holdouts.

But the real test will be whether conservatives will support the procedural rule today. Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna, a vocal advocate of the SAVE America Act, says the Senate could strip out the voting rights measure from the NDAA.

Bernie Bennett, Washintgon.

Supreme Court Rules on Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court has upheld a broad conception of birthright citizenship, rejecting President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring that children born to people in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens.

TAG: That’s correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: The justices in their decision in a New Hampshire case Tuesday relied on a long-settled understanding of the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, and more recent federal laws in ruling anyone born in the country is a citizen, with limited exceptions.

The Republican president’s restrictions had been blocked by several lower courts and had not taken effect.

Three conservative justices would have allowed the restrictions to take effect.

Supreme Court Rules on Transgender Rights in Sports

The Supreme Court upholds state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams. Bernie Bennett has more.

VERBATIM:
The court’s conservative majority has repeatedly ruled against transgender Americans in the past year.

It rules Tuesday that state bans in Idaho and West Virginia don’t violate the Constitution or the federal law known as Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.

More than two dozen other Republican-led states have adopted bans on female transgender athletes.

Left unresolved by the outcome are lawsuits challenging state laws and regulations in Connecticut, California and elsewhere that permit transgender athletes to compete consistent with their gender identity.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Supreme Court’s Agenda for Session’s End

The Supreme Court will wrap up its term this week, with eight cases still awaiting rulings, including some of the most intensely debated of the past year. Bernie Bennett reports.

VERBATIM:
The court’s next release of decisions will take place this morning at 10 a.m., when rulings in some of the remaining cases will be announced. The next decision day will be revealed after that. Yet to be decided?

Arguably the most anticipated ruling is on President Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship, which was one of his first acts after returning as president last year.

We’re also awaiting decisions on removal of protections for the Federal Trade Commission, the independence of the Federal Reserve a ban on men playing women’s sports and mail-in ballots.

Bernie Bennett in Washington.

Fires Ravage Utah

Utah is restricting fireworks as the largest wildfire in the nation grows, fueled by dry conditions and gusting winds. This report from Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: The Cottonwood Fire in southern Utah was burning unchecked Friday across more than 112 square miles. The National Weather Service issued a rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” for a section of Utah on Friday, urging preparation for rapid fire growth.

Red flag warnings also are in effect for parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho. Authorities are urging caution as extreme conditions persist around the West.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Storms Heading for Japan

TOKYO (AP) – Heavy downpours triggered flooding in parts of western Japan on Friday as two approaching tropical storms added to a seasonal rain front already stuck above the country.

VERBATIM: The Japan Meteor-ological AGENCY said Storm Mekk-hala was off the western coast of Japan’s southern remote island of Amami as of late afternoon Friday as it headed northeast.

Another storm, Higos, was traveling nearby… and the two storms are expected to reach the Tokyo region Saturday while dumping heavy rain.

According to Japan’s NHK public television, a man was injured as he fell into a waterway in Nara earlier Friday.

Television footage from Kyoto showed the Kamo River swollen with muddy water. A flooding alert was issued in parts of Kyoto, Osaka and other areas in western Japan.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

AI Firms Meet Fed Standards on Cyber Security

OpenAI has restricted the release of its new AI model at the request of President Donald Trump’s administration. More from correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: This move is part of a government effort to vet AI products for cybersecurity risks. OpenAI’s rival, Anthropic, announced that the administration has approved a limited release of its cybersecurity model.

Both companies will only provide access to small groups of trusted partners. OpenAI’s new model, GPT-5.6 Sol, will be available to about 20 customers approved by the administration. The government’s actions have sparked criticism, with some experts warning that unpredictable intervention could hinder U.S. companies.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Lawmakers Subpoena Billionaire Affiliated with Epstein

Lawmakers subpoena billionaire investor Leon Black after a contentious interview on payments to Jeffrey Epstein.
Correspondent Bernie Bennett reports.

VERBATIM: The House Oversight Committee served subpoenas to Black on Friday after lawmakers say he refused to answer some questions about his years-long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a time in which he paid the disgraced financier at least 158 million dollars.

Black is the co-founder and former chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management who stepped down in 2021 amid fallout over his ties to Epstein. He became the 16th person to appear before the committee as part of their broader investigation into the web of wealth and influence around Epstein.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

President Trump Urges Congress to Pass the SAVE Act

President Donald Trump said that his Wednesday luncheon with senators will focus on ways to pass the SAVE America Act.

POSSIBLE TAG: Sen. Scott said the Senate needs to stay in session to pass the package as quickly as possible.

VERBATIM: Speaking with reporters, President Trump said, “We have to pass the SAVE America Act, which is voter ID, which is proof of citizenship, etc.”

Mr. Trump is attending the closed-door Senate luncheon at the invitation of Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott.

The SAVE America Act would mandate photo identification and proof of citizenship in federal elections, terminate vote-by-mail, and require local governments to regularly purge their voter rolls. It would also ban men from women’s sports and prohibit transgender procedures for children.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

General Motors Fires Workers

General Motors fired over 1,000 Factory Zero workers and installed 50 robots to replace them. Bernie Bennett has the story.

VERBATIM:
General Motors is facing renewed scrutiny over automation at its flagship EV assembly plant after adding dozens of robots to the production line months after cutting more than 1,000 jobs.

The changes at Factory Zero in Detroit highlight the growing tension between automakers seeking greater efficiency and workers concerned about the future of manufacturing employment.

The move reflects a trend seen across the automotive industry, where manufacturers are increasingly turning to robotics and artificial intelligence to improve productivity, reduce costs, and streamline vehicle assembly operations.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Reflecting Pool

Why the paint is peeling off the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool? Experts try to explain.

VERBATIM: President Donald Trump ordered the pool’s renovation in April, and that order included painting its floor and walls blue. Yet within weeks of the work’s completion, photographs and videos of floating chunks of a cerulean material that appears to have detached from the pool’s walls have gone viral.

This material is polyurea coating: a fast-curing and durable surface membrane that can seal in water and is often used to coat swimming pools.

David McFayden, CEO of the paint and coating inspection company KTA-Tator, pinning the blame for the floating coating on any one factor would be premature.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Pentagon Budget Request

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon tells senators it needs roughly 80 billion dollars, mostly to cover the cost of the war in Iran. Details from reporter Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM:
The White House Office of Management and Budget has yet to make a formal request to Congress.

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill. A top deputy defense secretary told senators about the Iran funding request last week.

Some lawmakers are skeptical of the deal President Donald Trump struck with Iran to end the war, and wary of next steps. The White House has requested a remarkable $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon – a nearly 50% increase over the current fiscal year’s funding levels.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Acting NDI Bill Pulte is on the Job

The President’s acting director of National Intelligence started working early

VERBATIM:
Bill Pulte showed up at his new job a day early on Thursday after asking for a list of every employee in the office so he could assess whether to fire them, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The sources said Pulte is eyeing to cut hundreds of jobs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

Pulte’s appearance at ODNI on Thursday caught staff off-guard, including the outgoing director, Tulsi Gabbard, who was given a brief heads up on the visit. President Trump himself has said that Pulte would start his job on Friday.

Bernie Bennett in Washington.

New Air Force One

White House officials bade farewell on Thursday to one of the two jets that have been used to transport US presidents for more than 30 years. Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM:
The goodbye messages fueled speculation that a Boeing 747 gifted to President Donald Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar is now due to enter service.

Mr. Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. ‘The Last Ride,'” with a picture of the iconic white and blue jet after returning from the G7 summit in France.

US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley also posted a photograph of the same plane on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews near Washington.

The aging aircraft is one of two heavily modified 747s that entered service in 1990 and are designated Air Force One when the president is aboard.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Starmer Stays

LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will fight attempts by rival Andy Burnham to oust him from office. Reporter Bernie Bennett explains.

VERBATIM:
Starmer says he will not “walk away” and will run in a leadership contest if one is triggered.

Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, won a seat in Parliament in a special election and is looking to replace Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and the country. Burnham’s victory speech left no doubt that he wants to lead the country.

Burnham has led Manchester since 2017, overseeing rapid regeneration for the city where the Industrial Revolution was forged. He is pledging to repeat his successes on a national scale.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

New Flu Vaccine

U.S. health advisers are debating a new kind of flu vaccine. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has the story.

[VERBATIM: The new shot is made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moderna is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for mFlusiva as an option for people 50 and older.

The FDA advisory panel is meeting Thursday to consider it. There already are numerous types of flu vaccines to choose from, but experts say adding a faster-to-manufacture mRNA option could be useful. FDA’s advisers are being asked if there’s enough evidence for the shot in both 50- to 64-year-olds and those 65 and older.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Strait of Hormuz Open to Shipping

Maritime data company Lloyd’s List Intelligence says major shipowners have begun moving vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Reporter Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: For the first time in 110 days, ships owned by major companies are transiting the strait after effectively being marooned there since February. The strait is a critical passageway for the world’s oil and natural gas. Its closure has created a historic energy crisis.

Tankers controlled by major ship owners Grimaldi Group, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK have passed through the strait. Lloyd’s List estimated that 550 merchant ships will need to prepare to exit the Persian Gulf, including 160 tankers, 200 bulk carriers, 60 container ships and 10 vehicle carriers.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Meet Merlin, FiFA Mascot!

Meet Merlin the duck, a Mexico City streetside regular turned World Cup mascot.

VERBATIM:
As Mexico celebrated its World Cup-opening victory over South Africa on Thursday, Merlin, a 2-year-old duck dressed in the national team’s colors, became an unlikely internet sensation and the tournament’s first unofficial mascot.

Images of Merlin parading through Mexico City, wearing a Mexican national team jersey – and socks – as thousands of fans celebrated, quickly went viral, racking up millions of views across social media. Overnight, and as if by the magic of the famous wizard who inspired his name, Merlin had captivated the internet.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Iran-Lebanon

Iran says the deal to end the war with the U.S. requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
Reporter Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: Iran’s top diplomat said Tuesday that the tentative deal to end the war would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon – a condition Israel has already rejected. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the deal.

The contradictory interpretations threatened to sink the agreement and lead to the resumption of all-out war. The U.S. has not said whether Lebanon was part of the final agreement. It remains unclear what is in the agreement as it has yet to be released publicly in full.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Georgia Changes Rules for Counting Votes

ATLANTA (AP) – When Georgia lawmakers return to the Capitol this week for a special session, they are expected to try to clean up an election mess of their own making. Correspondent Bernie Bennett reports.

VERBATIM:
The election system used throughout the political battleground state relies on a QR code printed on ballots to tally the votes. Legislators passed a law two years ago barring the use of that barcode for the official vote count beyond July 1 of this year, but no replacement method of tabulating votes was ever implemented.

One of the instructions Republican Gov. Brian Kemp laid out for lawmakers when he called the special session is to “address issues created” by that law. Meanwhile, the secretary of state’s office and the State Election Board have further muddied the waters by issuing conflicting guidance for county election officials about how votes should be cast and counted.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

President Trump Endorses Candidate in Georgia’s U.S. Senate Race

In Georgia, Senate hopeful Mike Collins celebrates being President Donald Trump’s latest ‘MAGA’ pick in GOP primaries. More from reporter Bernie Bennett.

[VERBATIM:
In the closing stretch of Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senate runoff, Rep. Mike Collins celebrated his 11th-hour endorsement from President Trump on Sunday and dismissed any ideas that the Republican president’s stamp of approval is a risky bet in a potential showdown with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.

Mr. Trump disclosed his choice of Collins over former football coach Derek Dooley in a middle-of-the-night social media post that praised the second-term congressman for his loyalty.

The Republican candidates are competing Tuesday for the chance to unseat Ossoff in one of the most closely watched campaigns in the November midterm elections.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

USA Wins Their World Cup Opening Match!

The US opens its home World Cup with a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay, sparked by Balogun’s 2 goals.

VERBATIM:
Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half, and the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead – the team’s largest in any World Cup game.

Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Anthropic Takes AI Offline

WASHINGTON (AP) – AI giant Anthropic said Friday it has taken its latest artificial intelligence models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, offline to comply with a directive from the Trump administration to prevent their use by foreign nationals.

VERBATIM:
The export controls mark the U.S. government’s most significant step to date to restrict access to the most advanced AI models. Anthropic released Fable widely this week. That model is a limited version of the even more advanced Mythos, to which the company has tightly limited access due to cybersecurity fears.

In a statement, Anthropic said it disagrees with the government’s handling of the matter, saying it received the directive from the U.S. government Friday afternoon and it did not specify the national security concerns.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

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President Trump Announces New DNI Nominee

President Donald Trump plans to nominate US Attorney Jay Clayton to be his news national intelligence director. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM:
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, as director of national intelligence.

Trump announced the nomination on social media amid pressure from Congress to name a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month. Trump faced intense pushback over his decision to name Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director. The job oversees the coordination of 18 intelligence agencies.

Bernie Bennett in Washington