President Trump Spoke with GOP Holdouts Before Vote

President Trump spoke on the phone with a handful of Republican lawmakers blocking his “big, beautiful bill” in the early hours of Thursday morning, as GOP leaders race to coalesce the conference around the sprawling package. Reporter Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: The phone call came as a key procedural vote for the mega bill remained open for almost four hours, with hardline conservatives and one moderate Republican keeping the bill from moving forward.
As of 2 a.m. Thursday, the vote was 207 to 217, with five Republicans voting “no” and eight voting present. The combination has threatened to tank the rule, since Democrats are united against it, and a vote on the final package can’t proceed without that rule.
President Trump spoke to some of those holdouts, who were seen entering the room shortly before the call began.
Bernie Bennett in Washington.

House Advances “Big, Beautiful Bill” to it’s Final Phase in Congress

The House passed a test vote to begin debating President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has the story.

VERBATIM: The House of Representatives has voted to advance President Donald Trump’s $3.3 trillion “big, beautiful bill” to its final phase in Congress, overcoming fears of a potential Republican mutiny.
It’s a significant victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, though the fight is not over yet.
Lawmakers voted to proceed with debate on the mammoth-sized Trump agenda bill in the early hours of Thursday – a mechanism known as a “rule vote” – teeing up a final House-wide vote sometime later Thursday morning.
The House adopted the rules for debate on the measure in a dramatic 219 to 213 vote.
Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Canada Wildfires Send Smoke to the U.S.

Thousands of residents in Canada have been evacuated due to dozens of active wildfires that are also diminishing air quality in parts of the U.S. Bernie Bennett has this report.

VERBATIM: As of Sunday afternoon, swaths of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa were experiencing “unhealthy” air quality levels, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow page.

At the “unhealthy” level, the EPA warns that some may experience health effects, while those who are considered more sensitive – children, the elderly, those who are pregnant, and those with health complications – may experience more serious health effects.

The EPA’s AirNow page forecast for Monday suggests the smoke could move slightly east, bringing a greater impact to much of Minnesota and Wisconsin and the northern portion of Iowa. Air quality could drop to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in those areas.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Hurricane Season is Here

WASHINGTON (AP) – With predictions for a busy hurricane season beginning Sunday, experts in storms and disasters are worried about something potentially as chaotic as the swirling winds: Massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to hurricanes. Reporter Bernie Bennett explains.

VERBATIM: Experts are alarmed over the large-scale staff reductions, travel and training restrictions and grant cut-offs since President Donald Trump took office at both the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which prepares for and responds to hurricanes, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which tracks and forecasts them.

Representatives of both NOAA and FEMA say the agencies are prepared.

Scholars who study emergency management are concerned by both the reduction in capacity and the “brain drain” of experienced staff.

Boulder Attack Update

BOULDER, CO – Multiple injuries were reported Sunday in Boulder, Colorado as people were attacked during a rememberence of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has an update.

(POSSIBLE OUTCUE:
Run For Their Lives, which organized the walk, said, “This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release.”)

VERBATIM: Witnesses claim that the suspect attacked people with Molotov cocktails who were participating in a walk to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza.

FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino described the incident as a terrorist attack. Boulder police said the attack is under investigation and are working to determine if that is the case, and that it’s too early to speculate on the attacker’s motive.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on X, “While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation.”

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Boulder, CO Suspect in Custody

Authorities said a male suspect was taken into custody on June 1 after multiple people were set on fire at a pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado, in what the FBI director described as a “targeted terror attack.” Reporter Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: In a Sunday social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel the bureau is investigating an attack after a suspect reportedly threw at least one incendiary device at a crowd of people who expressed solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn confirmed that an assailant appeared to set people on fire at around 1:26 p.m. mountain time. One man who authorities did not immediately identify was taken into custody. Video from the scene showed a witness shouting, “He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails,” as a police officer with his gun drawn advanced on a bare-chested suspect with containers in each hand.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement that the attack appeared to be a “hate crime given the group that was targeted.”

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Critical Week in the House

WASHINGTON – House Republicans are barreling into a crucial week in their effort to pass President Trump’s legislative agenda, with key policy hang-ups threatening to upend leadership’s timeline for approving the sprawling package. Details on this from Correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: Those disagreements have already prompted delays as lawmakers haggle over how to address contentious issues while meeting deficit reduction targets.

The Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees areas including Medicaid and green tax credits, postponed a markup on its portion of the Trump agenda bill as lawmakers remain at odds over how to handle potential cuts to the social safety net program. Hard-line conservatives are calling for steep slashes that moderates have drawn red lines around, all as Trump insists that Republicans not cut Medicaid benefits provided to low-income individuals.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Prime Minister Netanyahu on the Iran Deal

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign against Iran’s nuclear program is muted with U.S. President Donald Trump in power. More on this from reporter Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: When the U.S. and Iran met for nuclear talks a decade ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against an emerging deal from the world’s most public stages, including in a fiery speech to Congress seen as a direct challenge to the Obama administration as it was wrapping up the talks.

Now, as the sides sit down to discuss a new deal, Netanyahu has fallen silent.
Netanyahu sees an Iran with nuclear weapons as an existential threat to Israel, and he is just as wary of any new U.S. agreement with its archenemy that may not meet his standards.

Netanyahu is unwilling to publicly criticize a president who has shown broad support for Israel, whom he deems to be Israel’s greatest friend.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

China-Tariffs

China’s Commerce Ministry said Friday that Beijing is evaluating multiple approaches by the Trump administration for trade talks, but steep tariffs imposed by Washington must go. Bernie Bennett explains.

VERBATIM: A ministry statement reiterated China’s stance that is open to talks, but also that Beijing is determined to fight if it must. It said one-sided tariffs of up to 145% remain an obstacle, undermining trust.
The statement cited an unnamed ministry spokesperson as saying that Beijing had taken note of various statements by senior U.S. officials indicating a willingness to negotiate over tariffs. But it emphasized that China would regard overtures without a change in President Donald Trump’s sharp tariff hikes as insincere.
Bernie Bennett reporting.

The Six-Triple-Eight to receive Congressional Gold Medal

The only Black, all-female unit to serve in Europe during World War II, commonly known as the Six Triple Eight, will be presented Tuesday with the Congressional Gold Medal, following a long-running campaign to recognize its efforts. At a ceremony Tuesday in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other lawmakers will present the medal to the family of unit commander Lt. Col. Charity Adams Earley. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is credited with addressing a mail crisis during its stint in England and, upon its return, serving as a role model to generations of Black women who joined the military. The unit toiled around the clock, processing 65,000 pieces of mail in each of three shifts, to ensure mail was delivered. The effort boosted morale among American forces.

House GOP Won’t Take Up DC Funding Bill

House GOP leaders won’t bring up the District of Columbia funding fix bill on the floor this week. Details from reporter Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: Speaker Mike Johnson and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke Monday on a call to discuss a path forward on legislation to restore the capital city’s full spending powers, according to one person granted anonymity to share details of the private conversation.

Still, there are no plans to bring the bill to the House floor in the coming days before the chamber leaves for a two-week recess.

President Donald Trump says that he wants the House to take up the funding fix, saying the chamber should vote on it “IMMEDIATELY” to “clean up our once beautiful Capital City, and make it beautiful again.”

Bernie Bennett in Washington.

Nightclub Roof Collapses in Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – The roof of an iconic nightclub in the Dominican capital collapsed early Tuesday during a concert attended by politicians, athletes and others, leaving at least 98 people dead and 160 injured. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has this report.

VERBATIM: Juan Manuel Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations, said crews were searching for potential survivors in the rubble at the one-story Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo.

Nearly 12 hours after the top of the nightclub collapsed onto patrons, rescue crews were still pulling out survivors from under the debris, shushing those around them so they could listen for faint cries for help.

Officials said at least 160 people were injured, among them national lawmaker Bray Vargas.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

GOP Senators Express Concerns Over Tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican senators are confronting the Trump administration with a bevy of worries about the economic impacts of the president’s sweeping tariff strategy.

OUT CUE: That’s Bernie Bennett reporting.
VERBATIM: In a Senate hearing and interviews with reporters this week, Republican skepticism of President Donald Trump’s agenda reached a level unseen since he won the GOP presidential nomination last year.
While GOP lawmakers made sure to direct their concern at Trump’s aides and advisers, it still amounted to a rare Republican break from Trump. Lawmakers are worried about warnings that the plans could lead to a recession.

Northern Virginia Hit by Federal Layoffs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) – Northern Virginia leaders are urging lawmakers to enact emergency legislation to help stabilize their local economy as the White House cuts federal jobs.

OUT CUE: Correspondent Bernie Bennett reporting.
VERBATIM: Local officials on Tuesday argued that the changes are sharply impacting the dense cluster of government employees and contractors based in the suburbs of the nation’s capital.
Roughly 1,300 federal employees and contractors have filed unemployment insurance claims with the Virginia Employment Commission since the end of January. And experts are saying federal jobs account for roughly 6% of the workforce in northern Virginia and about 5% of jobs for the entire state.

Houston Loses NCAA Tournament

Houston loses the NCAA Title Championship to the Florida Gators. Details from Correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM:
The end of national championship game was gritty and ugly, just the way Houston usually likes it. Except this time Florida was forcing bad shots and turnovers against Houston when it counted.

The Cougars had four turnovers in the final 1:21 of their 65-63 loss. The last one ended the game when trying to get off a 3-pointer. Emanuel Sharp could only let the ball fall to the floor after he went up in the air and couldn’t get off the shot with Walter Clayton Jr. running toward him and leaping with his left arm extended.

Florida scrambled for the loose ball as time ran out. Houston fell just short of its first national championship.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Florida Wins the Final Four

Florida has won its first national championship since 2007 and its third overall after beating Houston 65-63 in the 2025 men’s NCAA title game. Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: Houston was in front for the majority of the game, leading by as many as 12 points, but Florida stormed back in the second half. Down two with 19.7 seconds left, the Cougars then had a chance to tie or take the lead but failed to get a shot off with their final possession.

On a night when the Gators’ leading scorer Walter Clayton Jr. struggled, scoring just 11 points on 3 of 10 shooting, Will Richard stepped up to lead Florida’s offense. The senior scored 18 points including four 3-pointers in the first half.

Houston has now appeared in three national championship games and seven Final Fours but has still never won the Tournament.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Republicans May Premote “Child-Tax Credits” in Their Budget Plan

Republicans may steal Democrats’ thunder on one of their favorite issues: the Child Tax Credit. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has details.

VERBATIM: Lawmakers are eyeing an increase in the hugely popular $2,000-per-child credit as part of the GOP’s sweeping tax legislation, with some also pushing for a big hike in a related break dubbed the babysitter credit.

Picking up the issue now would help Republicans appeal to working class voters who powered their electoral sweep in November. At the same time, it would help rebut complaints from Democrats that the broader tax plan they are assembling caters too much to the wealthy.

The push appears to be getting some traction, with the Senate’s top tax writer saying any agreement on the broader GOP plan is “likely” to include some kind of expansion. House Republicans, who have been mum on their plans, are also in favor of expanding the break.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Speaker Johnson Reacts to the Senate Budget Passage

WASHINGTON – Speaker Mike Johnson posted a reaction to the passage of a budget in the Senate on Saturday. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has this report.

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VERBATIM: Speaker Johnson posted on the Social Media site X, “The Senate passed its version of the budget resolution… and is sending it to the House for consideration.”

He wrote, “Getting the two chambers together will allow us to finally begin the most important phase of this process: drafting the reconciliation bill that will deliver on President Trump’s agenda and our promises to the American People.”

Johnson says the budget resolution is not the law itself, but “only the necessary kickof for reconciliation to begin.”

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Speaker Johnson Negotiates on Proxy Voting

WASHINGTON – Speaker Mike Johnson has reached a deal with Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida over her push to allow new parents to vote by proxy, a development that is set to unlock the House floor after the explosive issue brought the chamber to a standstill. Details from Correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: Under the agreement being worked out, the House would formalize “vote pairing.” The procedure allows a member – in this case, a new mother – who must be absent for a vote to coordinate with a lawmaker voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote, that way the new mother’s absence is canceled out.

Additionally, Johnson is still looking at increasing accessibility for young mothers in the Capitol, a prospect that the Speaker revealed last week.

Johnson announced the deal on a conference call with GOP lawmakers Sunday afternoon while also making the case for lawmakers to support the budget resolution adopted by the Senate in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Bernie Bennett in Washington.

Senate Republicans Want House Financial Hawks to Agree with Their Budget Plans

Some Senate Republicans already have a message for deficit hawks in the House: You’ll have to answer to President Donald Trump about why you won’t support a full extension of his tax cuts. Bernie Bennett explains.

VERBATIM: Senate Finance Committee member Thom Tillis, when asked about recent complaints by some House Republicans about the Senate’s tax plan said, “At the end of the day, President Trump’s going to have to be involved, particularly in the House.”

Any arm-twisting by Trump on holdouts in the House would have to begin soon if GOP leaders want to unlock the first step for their party-line border, energy and tax bill this week.

Deficit hawks in the House pose the greatest challenge to that timeline. Budget Chair Jodey Arrington complained that Senate Republicans’ tax plan would be fiscally irresponsible and erase months of painstaking negotiation in the House.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

A House Republican Calls for Safeguards on Defense Calls

WASHINGTON – A House Republican calls for ‘safeguards’ to be used after a war plan text chat was leaked to the public. Details from correspondent Bernie Bennett.

VERBATIM: GOP Congressman Mike Lawler of New York called for “safeguards” to be implemented to ensure the leaking of war plans doesn’t happen again after a journalist was included in a Signal group chat discussing them.

Lawler said Monday in a post on the social platform X, “Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels – and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period.”

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the messages in the chat appear to be “authentic,” adding that the success of the attack on the Houthis shows there were no threats to U.S. troops or national security.

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Trump Requests Portrait Removed from Statehouse

DENVER (AP) – A painting of Donald Trump hanging with other presidential portraits at the Colorado state Capitol will be taken down after Trump claimed that his was “purposefully distorted.” Bernie Bennett has this report.

VERBATIM: House Democrats said in a statement that the oil painting would be taken down at the request of Republican leaders in the Legislature. Colorado Republicans raised more than $10,000 through a GoFundMe account to commission the oil painting, which was unveiled in 2019.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said that he requested for Trump’s portrait to be taken down and replaced by one “that depicts his contemporary likeness.”

The portrait was installed alongside other paintings of U.S. presidents. Before the installation, a prankster placed a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin near the spot intended for Trump.

Bernie Bennett reporting.

Speaker Johnson Quiet on Budget Fix

Speaker Mike Johnson would not commit Monday to allowing a floor vote on legislation that would fix a funding shortfall for the District of Columbia. Correspondent Bernie Bennett has the story.

VERBATIM: Stayed tuned. I’m not sure yet,” is what Johnson told reporters on whether he would bring up the Senate-passed bill, which would restore as much as $1.1 billion in local funding, according to District officials.

Government funding bills typically include language permitting the District of Columbia to spend its own money, but that provision was omitted in the stopgap measure that originated in Johnson’s office.

The Senate approved a bill to restore that provision, and President Donald Trumphas signaled he’s willing to put pressure on House Republicans to follow suit.

Johnson said Monday there’s been “no decision yet,” but they’re “talking about it.”

Bernie Bennett, Washington.

Poll Shows People Opposed to Violence Against Tesla

A majority of voters reject the wave of vandalism that has emerged since President Donald Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Bernie Bennett explains.

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VERBATIM: The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of the protests against Tesla because of Musk’s role in the Trump administration, including 36% who Strongly Approve. Thirty-nine percent (39%) disapprove of the anti-Tesla protests, including 28% who Strongly Disapprove.

The survey of 1,219 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on March 12-13 and 16, 2025 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Bernie Bennett reporting.