These are the top stories for this week.
Headlines
Mamdani Sweeps Primaries
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Tuesday’s Democratic congressional primaries, with Brad Lander defeating Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10), Darializa Avila Chevalier ousting Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Claire Valdez winning the open NY-7 seat. Seven Democratic incumbents in total fell on Tuesday, including five state lawmakers. Trump celebrated Goldman’s defeat on Truth Social; Republicans quickly moved to brand the results as proof that Democrats are surrendering to socialists. Source
Twin Earthquakes Rock Venezuela. The Death Toll is Feared to be in the Thousands
Twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck Venezuela within 40 seconds of each other late Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings across Caracas and several coastal states, with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declaring a state of emergency and the USGS warning of potentially catastrophic casualties. The United States pledged immediate deployment of search-and-rescue teams and humanitarian aid, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying assistance was “immediately deploying.” See Details
Vance Arrives in Switzerland for Iran Talks
Vice President JD Vance joined Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland Sunday for direct face-to-face talks with Iranian officials — a rare meeting as both nations work toward a lasting nuclear agreement. Iran has warned that progress on Lebanon’s ceasefire must be addressed before broader nuclear talks can advance. Read More
President Trump said Saturday night that the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will “probably” be drained for repairs after an algae bloom and peeling blue paint emerged just weeks after a $14.7 million renovation. Trump also blamed “radical left lunatics” for alleged vandalism at the pool, and a former Olympic canoeist was among those arrested for allegedly tampering with the structure. Source
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday morning outside 10 Downing Street, becoming the U.K.’s seventh prime minister in the past decade after his Labour Party withdrew confidence following disastrous May local elections. Starmer said he will serve as caretaker until the party selects a new leader by September 1, with former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham the overwhelming frontrunner to succeed him. Link
Prominent conservative media figure Tucker Carlson declared Monday that he will no longer support the Republican Party, saying the GOP “betrayed” Americans by prioritizing loyalty to Israel over U.S. interests and backing what he called a losing war with Iran. Carlson made the announcement during a podcast appearance, potentially signaling a deeper fracture in the American right ahead of the midterms. Link
Taylor Swift made an unannounced appearance Tuesday night at Travis Kelce’s Tight End University charity concert in Nashville, closing the show with “Shake It Off” and “Love Story” alongside country stars Kane Brown and Lainey Wilson. Other performers included Dan + Shay and Chase Rice. The surprise set came less than two weeks before the couple’s reported July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden, with about 1,000 guests expected. Read More
Politics
The Senate approved a war powers resolution Tuesday directing President Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the Iran conflict, with Sens. Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Bill Cassidy joining Democrats in a 50-48 vote. The measure is largely symbolic — it does not go to Trump’s desk for signature — but marks the first time both chambers have put themselves on record against the war. Trump called it “meaningless” and “poorly timed.” See Details
The House returned from recess this week facing a strained relationship with the White House, a lapsed Section 702 spy powers authority, and pressure to act quickly on the Senate’s housing bill, according to Roll Call’s weekly legislative preview. Proponents of the surveillance program say key intelligence has gone “dark” since it lapsed 10 days ago, adding urgency to an already jam-packed schedule. Find out More
The Trump White House is deploying Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a campaign surrogate on the road to shore up support ahead of November’s midterm elections, according to The Hill. Kennedy’s role reflects Republican efforts to energize non-traditional voters and broaden the party’s coalition heading into what could be a difficult election cycle. Link
House conservatives led by Rep. Chip Roy rallied Thursday to intensify pressure on the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, blasting their counterparts as the upper chamber adjourned for a two-week recess without acting on the election security measure. The House Freedom Caucus drew parallels to the Civil Rights Act debates, accusing Senate Republicans of hiding rather than fighting for a Trump priority. Link
A federal judge blocked a key provision of President Trump’s election integrity executive order on Thursday, ruling that the administration cannot compel states to hand over voter registration data to create a centralized federal voter list. The ruling dealt a fresh legal setback to the White House’s election reform agenda, as did the stalled SAVE America Act. Source
President Trump is set to attend a lunch with Senate Republicans as friction between the two grows. An increasing number of Republican Senators have shown a willingness to buck Trump on key agenda items. Link
The White House on Thursday formally asked Congress for $87.6 billion in emergency supplemental funding, the bulk of which would go toward military operations in Iran, along with additional allocations for farmers affected by trade disruptions and a public health package. The request came a day after the Senate passed a war powers resolution calling for troop withdrawal, compounding tensions between the administration and Capitol Hill. Link
A federal judge on Wednesday permanently blocked several central provisions of President Trump’s March 2025 executive order on election administration, including the proof-of-citizenship requirement for federal voter registration, ruling that only Congress has the authority to adjust state election rules. The decision came just hours after Trump canceled the housing bill signing ceremony and cited the SAVE Act as a national emergency, adding a significant legal setback to his push for voter ID legislation. See Details
U.S. News
Newly released police body cam and surveillance footage shows the moments after Karmelo Anthony stabbed Austin Metcalf. Link
A three-time Olympic canoeist was arrested Friday after allegedly reaching into the freshly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and touching its new “American flag blue” coating, which has already begun to peel, according to USA Today. President Trump announced that “multiple arrests” had been made at the pool and vowed that the basin would be drained for repairs. Find out More
Investigators now believe the ransom notes in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case were genuine and suggest the kidnappers killed Guthrie. Read More
Socialist candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Democratic primary races across New York on Tuesday, including in several congressional districts, with New York Attorney General Letitia James saying she is “disappointed” in the mayor for backing candidates she sees as out of step with the mainstream party. The results signal a leftward shift in New York Democratic politics entering a critical midterm cycle. See Details
Riders were left dangling 250 feet in midair after the ride at Six Flags Amusement Park stopped working. Find out More
Business
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh faces competing pressures from President Trump to lower interest rates and from nagging inflation to potentially raise rates. Find out More
Alphabet dropped nearly 5% Monday amid concerns over departures of key artificial intelligence researchers, while Amazon and Meta Platforms also fell as investors rotated away from the mega-cap technology names that have driven the market’s recent run. The losses stood in contrast to gains from Caterpillar and other industrials, pointing to a broadening of the rally beyond the AI-linked names. See Details
S&P Dow Jones Indices announced Tuesday that Alphabet will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon in a significant reshuffling of the blue-chip index that reflects the tech giant’s central economic role. The change takes effect on Friday. The announcement came even as Alphabet’s stock had dropped sharply amid concerns about AI talent, suggesting index managers are positioning for the company’s long-term dominance rather than its near-term stock performance. Link
President Trump on Wednesday ordered the Justice Department to open an investigation into major oil companies, accusing them of price gouging as crude prices remain elevated following months of Strait of Hormuz disruptions tied to the Iran war. The directive came as Brent crude futures settled at $73.74 per barrel, their lowest level since before the conflict began in February, following news that ships have begun transiting the reopened strait. Read More
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, rose 3.4% year-over-year in May on a core basis, the highest reading since 2023 and a sign that price pressures remain elevated despite declining energy costs from the Iran ceasefire. The report added complexity to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish posture, as economists debated whether lower oil prices would ultimately reduce inflation or fuel more consumer spending. See Details
Oil prices drop after a deal with the U.S. clears the way for Iran to sell oil again. Find out More
World News
Abelardo de la Espriella, a nationalist lawyer who styled himself after leaders like El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, narrowly won Colombia’s presidential runoff Sunday, beating his progressive opponent as Latin America continues to tilt rightward. President Trump congratulated de la Espriella on Truth Social, posting that he “won BIG!” — adding Colombia to a growing list of U.S.-aligned conservative governments in the region. Link
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer is set to resign, throwing the Labor government into chaos. Link
A historic heat dome has pushed France, Britain, and Spain to record temperatures this week, with Britain logging its hottest June temperature in recorded history at 96.4°F in West Sussex, France closing 6,000 schools, and a nuclear plant restricting operations because river cooling water has become too warm. At least 40 people have drowned seeking relief from the heat across France since June 18, the French prime minister confirmed Wednesday. Source
Entertainment
Warner Bros.’ DC superhero film Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, is projected to debut with $47–50 million at the domestic box office this weekend, while Paramount’s Jackass: Best and Last targets $10–12 million — but neither is expected to dethrone Toy Story 5, which hauled in a franchise-record $160 million in its opening weekend last week and should bring in another $80–90 million in its sophomore frame. See Details
Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” opened to an estimated $71 million on its first day, tracking toward a $160–$170 million domestic opening weekend — the biggest animated debut of 2026 to date and the second-largest ever for an animated film. The film, directed by Andrew Stanton, stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack returning to voice Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. Source
Travis Kelce capped what appeared to be a bachelor party weekend Sunday night by attending Dave Chappelle’s sold-out show at Viejas Arena in San Diego with brother Jason Kelce and a crew of friends, with TMZ capturing video of the group departing on a party bus. The weekend also included stops at an LA dive bar, a Chris Lake concert, and a NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado, as Taylor Swift was simultaneously seen hosting what fans speculated was a bachelorette gathering at her Rhode Island estate. Source
Country music legend Dolly Parton, 80, made a surprise appearance Wednesday at the grand opening of her new Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee, just a month after canceling her Las Vegas residency to focus on her health. Parton drew cheers quipping, “I couldn’t leave it to beavers,” while cutting the ribbon in a blue-and-pink fringed outfit, and told the crowd she “could not be prouder” of the new venture. See Details
The Hollywood Reporter’s critic gave DC’s “Supergirl” a mixed assessment, calling Milly Alcock’s performance as Kara Zor-El a genuine standout and crediting the film’s Mad Max-inspired intergalactic tone as a distinctive departure from standard superhero fare, while faulting the villain and narrative momentum. The review noted the film’s June 26 release date positions it for a successful but not blockbuster opening. Find out More
Invites to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding party at Madison Square Garden become the hottest tickets in town. Source
Music legends offer their condolences for Clive Davis, the iconic producer who passed away at the age of 94 and was known for discovering stars like Whitney Houston. See Details
Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies became the first team in Major League Baseball history to have a pair of teammates hit for the cycle and smack three home runs in the same game as the Phillies downed the New York Mets 15-3. Source
Argentina star Lionel Messi broke the record for most goals scored in World Cup history, tallying his 17th and 18th career competition goals in his country’s 2-0 win over Austria. Link
In one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed Monday night to send two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, three first-round picks, a pick swap, and additional players, including Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. The deal ends Antetokounmpo’s 13-year tenure in Milwaukee and pairs him with Bam Adebayo in Miami, instantly making the Heat Eastern Conference contenders. Find out More
Bleacher Report detailed Tuesday’s PGA Tour announcement: the Championship Series will launch in 2028 with at least 10 confirmed events, all with purses of $20M+; a reimagined postseason will feature new match play elements; and players can earn automatic promotion from the Challenger Series by winning a major or multiple Challenger events within a single season. Tiger Woods called the new model “the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour for future generations.” See Details
The 2026 NBA Draft wrapped Wednesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn with BYU forward AJ Dybantsa going first overall to the Washington Wizards and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson second to the Utah Jazz, capping what scouts had called one of the deepest and most anticipated draft classes in years. Duke’s Cameron Boozer went third to Memphis and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson went fourth to Chicago in a lottery that largely matched predictions. See Details
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male player to score in six different World Cups with a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. Find out More
Major League Baseball submitted a new proposal for a collective bargaining agreement that would limit player contracts to five years. The two sides are locked in labor negotiations that could see a work stoppage following the 2026 season as the owners seek to impose a salary cap. Read More
Off the Wall
Residents of the Mauriceville, Texas area were warned to stay indoors on Sunday after a semi truck overturned and released an estimated 2 million bees — roughly 50,000 pounds of the insects — into the roadway, sending beekeepers scrambling from around the region to round them up. The driver was uninjured, and a local honey farm ultimately took in the escapees after an hours-long wrangling operation. Find out More
Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey was ejected in the top of the ninth inning after going ballistic on First Base umpire Tyler Jones following a check swing call that went against the Red Sox. Link
