Here are today’s top stories
Headlines
Cassidy Ousted
Sen. Bill Cassidy has lost his bid for a third term in a remarkable defeat, after two primary challengers — including Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow — finished ahead of him in Saturday’s primary and headed to a June 27 runoff, making Cassidy the first elected Republican senator to lose renomination since Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana in 2012. Cassidy was one of seven Republican Senators who voted to convict President Trump in the January 7 impeachment. See Details
President Trump announced that U.S. and Nigerian military forces had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a leader of the Islamic State group, in a “meticulously planned and very complex mission,” describing him as ISIS’s second-in-command globally and “the most active terrorist in the world.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed al-Minuki was responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage-taking, and managing financial operations for ISIS globally; no U.S. service members were harmed. Source
Politics
U.S. officials are discussing options for military escalation to break the Iran nuclear deadlock, while recognizing the risk of exacerbating economic turmoil; one option is to resume “Project Freedom,” with the Navy attempting to break the logjam in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran has “no trust in Americans,” calling it “the main obstacle in the way of any diplomatic effort.” Source
The Louisiana primary comes in the middle of a month of Trump campaigns to exact retribution on politicians who have crossed him, following his move on May 5 to help dislodge five of seven Indiana state senators who rejected his redistricting plan. Whoever wins the Republican runoff will be a heavy favorite in the fall general election. Source
U.S. News
South Carolina’s attorney general said he “respectfully” disagreed with the high court’s decision to overturn Murdaugh’s murder convictions and vowed to “aggressively seek to retry” Murdaugh as soon as possible, saying “no one is above the law.” Murdaugh remains in prison on separate financial crimes convictions while awaiting retrial. Source
The northern lights are expected to be best observed on Saturday and Sunday nights across a wide portion of the United States, giving millions of Americans a rare opportunity to see the aurora borealis without traveling north. Read More
Business
Kevin Warsh is preparing to take over the Federal Reserve as Chairman Jerome Powell’s term ended Friday; chances of a Fed rate hike sometime this year have climbed to 45%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, up from just 1% a month ago, as war-fueled inflation pressures mount. Read More
SpaceX is planning to disclose its prospectus as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the matter, as Elon Musk’s reusable rocket company nears what’s expected to be a record share sale; the company is aiming to kick off a roadshow on June 8 and is targeting a valuation of $1.75 trillion. See Details
World News
Health officials are working to contain a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo of a virus strain with no known vaccine, raising alarm among global public health authorities monitoring the situation closely. See Details
Iran will reopen its stock market on Tuesday after suspending trading during the country’s conflict with the U.S. and Israel, with Iranian state media reporting the suspension was intended to protect investors and avoid panic-driven market activity during the conflict. Read More
Bulgaria’s Dara triumphed at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday, finishing 173 points ahead of second-placed Israel’s Noam Bettan — the biggest winning margin in the contest’s history — with her dance-pop anthem “Bangaranga,” marking Bulgaria’s first-ever Eurovision victory. See Details
Entertainment
Jackson said at Cannes that Colbert pitched the new Lord of the Rings movie before he knew The Late Show was going to be canceled, and that working on the script “helped him process” the shocking cancellation — going from “a late-night talk show host” to “a Tolkien scriptwriter” overnight. Read More
Drake dropped three new albums over the weekend, generating massive online buzz alongside considerable “beef” with rivals, in a surprise release strategy that instantly dominated streaming charts. Read More
Sports
Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness Stakes on Saturday, overtaking the favorite Taj Mahal down the stretch and holding off Iron Honor by a length at Laurel Park in Maryland, in a surprising win for a horse that had finished fifth in both of his starts this year. With no Triple Crown on the line — Derby winner Golden Tempo sat out — the Belmont Stakes is set for June 6 at Saratoga. Source
Nearly a decade after her unceremonious exit from the UFC, Ronda Rousey needed just 17 seconds to submit fellow pioneer Gina Carano with her signature armbar Saturday atop the first MMA event ever broadcast live on Netflix, after which Rousey confirmed her second retirement from the sport. Find out More
Aaron Rodgers, 42, has signed a new one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth up to $25 million, including a base salary of $22-$23 million plus incentives, marking his second year in Pittsburgh; he is expected to report to team activities on Monday. Source
Off the Wall
An impromptu rodeo broke out in a Denver park after an escaped cow made its way into the city from a nearby suburb, drawing a crowd of bewildered onlookers as locals and eventually animal control attempted to wrangle the animal. Source
