These are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Trump Says He Will Nominate Todd Blanche as the Permanent AG
President Trump announced at a White House dinner Wednesday night that he plans to formally nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for the permanent role. Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney, has led the Justice Department since April after Pam Bondi was fired. Read More
President Trump is facing criticism from allies and opponents alike that the Iran conflict — originally sold as a brief military incursion — has settled into an indefinite holding pattern. A tentative 60-day ceasefire extension agreed to by negotiators awaits Trump’s sign-off, but he has demanded unspecified changes, and Iran is showing no signs of yielding to new demands. Find out More
The House voted 215-208 on Wednesday to approve a war powers resolution directing Trump to halt military action against Iran, marking the first time the chamber has passed such a measure since the conflict began in February. Four Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the rebuke. Read More
Politics
Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply pushed back at a Democratic senator during a congressional hearing on Wednesday after the lawmaker asked him about his footwear, prompting Rubio to ask, "Is this a circus?" The exchange went viral on social media. Read More
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill accused federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials of denying her access to Delaney Hall, a Newark immigration detention facility, during a visit on Wednesday. Sherrill called the denial unconstitutional and vowed to pursue legal action. Source
U.S. News
U.S. Southern Command conducted a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Wednesday, killing two men described as "narco-terrorists." The strike brings the total number of people killed in such operations to at least 207 since the campaign began last September. See Details
The Federal Communications Commission announced a sweeping review of the $3 billion E-Rate program that provides schools with internet subsidies, citing concerns about student screen time. The review could reshape how billions in federal broadband funding are distributed to K-12 institutions. Source
The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is using tax revenue from legal marijuana sales to fund a "no-strings-attached" guaranteed basic income program for select residents. The program has sparked a broader policy debate about novel uses of cannabis tax funds. Read More
Business
S&P 500 futures fell 0.35% early Thursday after the index snapped a nine-day win streak, with Nasdaq 100 futures shedding 1% while Dow futures edged up 0.39%. Chipmaker Broadcom slid 13% in after-hours trading, and rising U.S.-Iran tensions pushed oil prices and Treasury yields higher. Source
JPMorgan analysts said Wednesday the accelerating pace of global oil inventory depletion is likely to force a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in June, as the economic cost of the closure becomes unsustainable. The Strait has been effectively closed since the Iran war began in late February. See Details
Broadcom shares plunged in extended trading after the chipmaker reported fiscal second-quarter revenue of $22.19 billion — a slight miss against the $22.27 billion Wall Street expected — and CEO Hock Tan declined to raise the company’s full-year $100 billion AI chip revenue target. Revenue climbed 48% year-over-year, and adjusted EPS of $2.44 beat estimates. See Details
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
| Dow Jones | DJIA | $50,916.35 | -0.76% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $7,579.35 | -0.40% |
| Nasdaq Composite | IXIC | $26,950.59 | -0.53% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $355.68 | -0.76% |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | $423.70 | -0.01% |
| Apple Inc. | AAPL | $310.26 | -1.57% |
| Microsoft Corp. | MSFT | $427.34 | -3.17% |
World News
U.S. allies in the Gulf region are growing alarmed that the prolonged standoff between the U.S. and Iran is leaving their energy infrastructure vulnerable, while critics warn that Iran appears better positioned than the U.S. to exploit the diplomatic limbo. Trump has refused to sign off on a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension, insisting he cannot accept "a bad deal." Read More
A United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeeper died Thursday morning after sustaining injuries in a mortar attack on a UNIFIL position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon. Two other peacekeepers were injured in the attack and are receiving treatment at a UNIFIL base. Source
Israeli forces and Hezbollah continued exchanging fire through Wednesday night and into Thursday despite a ceasefire framework announced by the U.S. State Department, which is contingent on Hezbollah withdrawing forces from southern Lebanon. The IDF issued fresh evacuation warnings for southern Lebanese residents. Source
Entertainment
Rapper Vanilla Ice said he will not quit the upcoming America 250 Great American State Fair concert on the National Mall, declaring he won’t let anyone tell him "he can’t be proud" of the country. Multiple other artists — including Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, and The Commodores — have withdrawn from the event, citing concerns about its political ties. Source
Netflix added several new titles Thursday, including true-crime documentary "The Murder of Rachel Nickell" and thriller series "The Witness," as the streamer continues an ambitious June slate. The month also includes the return of "Sweet Magnolias" Season 5 and the debut romantic comedy "Office Romance." Source
Paul Rudd sat for a cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on his most memorable creative partnerships — from his long-running connection to Lisa Kudrow through "Friends" to his comedic work with Will Ferrell on "Anchorman." The interview also features questions submitted by friends Olivia Colman and Adam Scott. Read More
Sports
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points — including 13 in the decisive fourth quarter — and the New York Knicks overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The win extended the Knicks’ playoff winning streak to 12 games. See Details
A spectator disrupted the fourth quarter of NBA Finals Game 1 by running onto the court at Frost Bank Center and trying to take a selfie with Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The fan was quickly removed by security, and the game continued before the Knicks prevailed 105-95. Source
The late Mike Leach has been nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame following a change in eligibility rules that opened the door for his consideration. Leach, the innovative "Air Raid" offense architect who coached at Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State, passed away in December 2022. Source
Off the Wall
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell produced one of the most unusual blunders of the MLB season when a fly ball hit off his head and bounced over the outfield fence for a home run in a loss on Wednesday. The play went viral and will likely feature prominently in this season’s blooper reels. See Details
