Judge modifies Trump’s gag order ahead of debate

A judge has altered Donald Trump’s gag order, letting him talk about witnesses and the jury in this New York criminal case. Just ahead of this week’s presidential debate, Manhattan Judge Juan Marchan cleared the way for Trump to comment publicly about witnesses and jurors in his criminal trial that led to his felony conviction. In his ruling, the judge wrote that the gag order was meant to “protect the integrity of the judicial proceedings,” but now that the trial is over those protections are no longer necessary. However, the former president is still barred from talking about court staffers, the prosecution team and their families until he is sentenced next month.

Potential Trump VP pick supports Biden-backed CO2 pipeline

A potential Trump vice presidential pick supports a controversial project backed by Joe Biden. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is one of Donald Trump’s most visible and vocal backers, and is considered to be a possible running mate. But he’s grappling with an issue back home that makes for awkward politics. Burgum supports a huge carbon dioxide pipeline in his home state. So does Joe Biden. But Trump does not. Burgum has said the project is less about climate change and more about a business opportunity for North Dakota.

Trump campaign complains about debate host CNN

The Trump campaign and its supporters are complaining about the TV network hosting this week’s debate. Even though Donald Trump repeatedly called for a debate with Joe Biden and his team agreed to the terms of Thursday’s debate hosted by CNN, the former president and his supporters are crying foul. They’re unhappy with the selection of Jake Tapper to be one of the moderators, and they’re complaining that a Trump spokesperson’s CNN interview was cut short. Trump advisers say they expect an unfair debate, even as the network defends the journalistic experience of its two moderators.

Biden goes all in on abortion to mark anniversary of Roe reversal

The Biden campaign is doubling down on abortion rights ahead of Thursday night’s debate. President Biden marked the two-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade by emphasizing his support of abortion rights. In a series of social media posts, he repeatedly called for the restoration of Roe and blamed Donald Trump for, what he called, “this nightmare.” Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the overturning of the 50-year Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed a right to abortion. However, the former president has resisted supporting a national abortion ban.

Biden denounces antisemitic violence in Los Angeles

Biden, Trump plan to highlight opponents’ weaknesses

CNN presidential debate will be seen on most TV networks

Supreme Court upholds federal gun control law

The Supreme Court has upheld a federal gun control law. The justices ruled 8-to-1 in favor of a 1994 ban that’s intended to protect domestic violence victims. It’s a reversal of a federal appeals court ruling which struck down the law. Under the law, people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners are not allowed to own firearms. Justice Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter in the case.

RFK, Jr. fails to qualify for next week’s presidential debate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has failed to qualify for next week’s debate in Atlanta. Host network CNN said the independent presidential candidate fell short of benchmarks both for state ballot qualification and polling. As a result, next week’s debate will be solely between President Biden and former President Trump. And that’s the way both campaigns want it. Both the Biden and Trump teams fear Kennedy could play a spoiler in the election and they were hoping he wouldn’t meet the criteria to join them on the debate stage.

Biden, Trump prepping for debate differently

President Biden and former President Trump are taking different approaches ahead of next week’s debate. The president is prepping for the debate at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains this week. He’ll be spending several days with advisors, including his former White House chief of staff Ron Klain. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is said not to be engaged in formal debate prep, opting instead for more informal policy discussions. Senior adviser Jason Miller says Trump grants interviews every week and delivers lengthy rally speeches.

Biden, Trump hold competing big-dollar fundraisers

Joe Biden and Donald Trump have ramped up their fundraising efforts. The president raked in 8-million dollars for his reelection campaign at a northern Virginia event with Bill and Hillary Clinton. That’s part of a roughly 40 million dollar sum raised by Biden and his top surrogates over the last five days, according to the campaign. Trump has gained ground in the money game, raising more than 50 million at an April gathering in Florida. The former president and the GOP say they brought in 141 million dollars in May, while the Biden campaign has yet to release its May fundraising figures.

In executive action, Biden offers relief to undocumented immigrants

President Biden has announced plans to help certain immigrants who are married to U-S citizens. Using his executive authority, the president is offering relief to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U-S for 10 years and are married to an American citizen. The move could affect upwards of half a million immigrants. Republicans are critical of the Biden policy, calling it a “mass amnesty plan.”

U.S. disputes Netanyahu’s claims of withholding arms shipments

The United States and Israel are at odds over shipments of American-made weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims the U-S is withholding weapons needed for the war in Gaza. He criticized President Biden for slowing Israel’s military offensive against Hamas. But a White House spokesperson says they don’t know what Netanyahu is talking about. The administration says two-thousand pound bombs are the only weapons being withheld and Secretary of State Blinken says “everything else is moving as it normally would.”

White House says Russian-North Korean ties are “concerning”

The Biden administration is concerned about increased cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Reacting to Russian President Putin’s first trip to North Korea in more than two decades, the White House said the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is a “concerning” trend. The two countries are trying to overcome U.S.-led sanctions.U.S. and South Korean officials accuse the North of providing Russia with artillery, missiles, and other military equipment for use in the war with Ukraine.

Biden campaign ad focuses on Trump felony conviction

The Biden campaign is starting to focus on Donald Trump’s New York felony conviction.  Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has launched a new ad focusing on the first-ever presidential conviction. It’s a push to make Trump’s legal problems an election-year issue. The advertising blitz comes ahead of the first presidential debate in Atlanta next week. Trump’s campaign says the contrast between the two candidates “will be very clear on the debate stage.”

Surgeon General pushes social media warning labels

The U-S Surgeon General wants warning labels on social media platforms. In a New York Times opinion piece, Dr. Vivek Murthy writes that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. And he says it’s “time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms,” similar to labels on cigarette packages. Murthy says those warnings have changed tobacco behavior and that adding labels to social media platforms would be a step in the right direction.

IRS to close tax loophole exploited by large partnerships

The federal government is closing a tax loophole exploited by large, complex partnerships. The U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service estimate the action could raise 50 billion dollars in new revenue over 10 years. Going forward, the IRS will no longer allow partnerships to shift tax liabilities to related parties or different legal entities in order to maximize tax deductions and minimize liability. The change coincides with stepped-up enforcement by the IRS to increase audits of large, complex partnerships.

Biden arrives in France for D-Day anniversary, state visit

President Biden has arrived in France to mark an anniversary and make a state visit. The president will be among more than 20 heads of state and government in Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They’ll be joined by dozens of World War Two veterans to honor the nearly 160-thousand troops from Britain, the U-S, Canada, and other nations that landed on June 6, 1944. Later in the week, Mr. Biden will participate in his first state visit to France at the invitation of President Macron

Biden announces plan to “gain control” of southern border

President Biden is taking executive action to crack down on the number of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. With border security a top issue of concern for the American people, the president announced immediate restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. He admitted the border situation is out of control. Liberal Democrats and immigration advocates are unhappy with the White House plan, while Republicans accuse the president of election-year politics.

Biden says Netanyahu might be prolonging Gaza war for politics

President Biden says Israel’s prime minister could be prolonging the Gaza war for political purposes.
The president told Time magazine “there is every reason for people to draw [the] conclusion” that Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu may be stalling on ending the war in Gaza for political reasons. He made the comments in an interview last week, a few days before announcing a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. Mr. Biden has supported Israel’s targeting of Hamas terrorists, but has been unhappy with the high number of civilian deaths in the war.

Biden to sign executive order limiting asylum-seeking migrants

President Biden will soon take executive action cracking down on the number of migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. The president is preparing to sign off on an executive order that would shut down entries to the U.S.-Mexico border once the number of daily encounters hits 25-hundred. The impact could be immediate, since daily figures of migrants seeking asylum are already higher than that level. Mayors from border cities have been invited to the White House for an unveiling of the plan.

Jury is chosen in Hunter Biden’s trial, opening statements on Tuesday

Opening arguments are set for Tuesday in Hunter Biden’s federal trial on gun charges. Twelve jurors and four alternates were chosen after one day of jury selection, paving the way for opening statements. The president’s son has been charged with lying on federal gun purchase forms when he said he wasn’t a drug addict. He has pleaded not guilty and argues he’s being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department. In a short statement, President Biden said he and his wife love and support their son.

Biden campaign steps up LGBT efforts, media advertising

The Biden campaign is stepping up its LGBT messaging during Pride Month. Joe Biden’s re-election team is launching new organizing efforts and media advertising to mobilize LGBT voters. The campaign says it will have a presence at over 200 Pride events in 23 states during June. At the end of the month, the president and first lady will host a fundraising event in New York City. The campaign touts Mr. Biden as “the most-pro-LGBTQ+ president in American history and his record proves that.”

President Biden expresses support for Hunter as federal gun trial begins

President Biden is expressing support for his son, Hunter, who’s on trial in Delaware.  As jury selection got underway in Hunter Biden’s federal firearms case, the president said he has “boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.” In a statement, he said he and the first lady “are so proud of the man he is today.” In a show of support, Jill Biden was seated in the front row of the courtroom. Hunter Biden has been charged in Delaware with three felonies stemming from a 2018 gun purchase.