The Pentagon released what it called “new, never-before-seen” files on U.F.O.s on Friday, hailing the step as an example of the commitment of the department, which kicked out reporters earlier this year, to transparency, the New York Times reports.
U.S. Strikes Two Iran-Flagged Tankers
“The U.S. military said it struck two Iran-flagged unladen oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Friday, preventing the vessels from entering an Iranian port in violation of a U.S. naval blockade,” CNBC reports.
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New Virginia Map Thrown Out
The Virginia Supreme Court has invalidated the April 21 redistricting referendum, striking a devastating blow to Democrats who stood to gain four new blue seats from the voter-approved map, Punchbowl News reports.
The vote was 4-3.
The court ruled that the Democratic-controlled legislature did not follow proper procedure for enacting a constitutional amendment.
Rick Hasen: “There does not appear to be any further recourse to change Virginia’s maps before the 2026 elections, dealing a blow to Democrats in the gerrymandering wars recently supercharged by the Supreme Court’s decision in Callais.”
For members: The Map Wars Turns Against Democrats
And on this week’s Trial Balloon: Map Wars
Rubio Says U.S. Expects Iran Response ‘Today’
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the U.S. is expecting a response on Friday from Iran on the proposal to end the war,” CNBC reports.
Said Rubio: “We should know something today… We’re expecting a response from them.”
He added: “We’ll see what the response entails. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process in negotiation.”
Hiring Defied Expectations in April
Wall Street Journal: “The U.S. job market blew past expectations again in April, buoyed by gains across industries including retail, transportation and warehousing, and healthcare.”
“The U.S. added 115,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department said Friday, far exceeding expectations.”
Exchange of the Day
President Trump spoke to reporters:
REPORTER: Have you been briefed on the hantavirus?
TRUMP: Yes I have.
REPORTER: What have you learned?
TRUMP: Ahhh — it’s very much we hope under control.
REPORTER: Should Americans be concerned it’s going to spread? TRUMP: I hope not. We’ll do the best we can.
Vote Offers Snapshot of Fractured and Fractious UK
Bloomberg: “The map of English councils was lighting up in a murky gray on Friday morning, as more and more town halls returned a divided composition that spells future budget paralysis.”
“Of the 46 councils already declared, half had no overall control — up six on the last time these areas were fought, and more than the number that declared for any single party.”
Newsom and Top Democrats Move Behind the Scenes
CNN: “California Democratic leaders have shifted their strategy to prevent their party from being locked out of the governor’s race: Instead of thinking about consolidating the field, they have turned to behind-the-scenes operations and political spending aimed at tamping down Republicans and building up Democratic turnout.”
“That is letting officials like term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi avoid picking from a field of off-and-on political allies while also saving them from embarrassment if their pick doesn’t win.”
U.K. Election Results Point to Big Losses for Starmer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he took responsibility for large Labour Party losses in early results from Thursday’s elections, saying that he would “not sugarcoat” voters’ scathing verdict on his 22 months in office, the New York Times reports.
Thomas Massie Is Really In Danger of Losing His Seat
“Rep. Thomas Massie’s lead in his primary later this month is slipping and he is in genuine danger of losing his Kentucky seat,” NOTUS reports.
“Massie — best known for his defiance of President Donald Trump and advocacy for the release of files associated with notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein — is believed to still have a small edge in his race against military veteran Ed Gallrein… But his lead is shrinking under an onslaught of negative ads and steadfast opposition from a bloc of older Republicans who remain fiercely loyal to the president.”
Kash Patel Orders Staff to Take Lie Detector Tests
“FBI Director Kash Patel ordered the polygraphing of more than two dozen former and current members of his security detail, as well as other staff, and has been described as being in panic mode to save his job and find leakers among his team,” MS NOW reports.
Trump Has No Midterm Message
Playbook: “The White House is riding a high this week after President Donald Trump‘s retribution campaign in Indiana gave red-state lawmakers a bloody reminder of his iron grip on the party. But Republicans are publicly and privately fretting about their case for keeping power in November.”
“That’s raising questions like: Has traditional battleground barnstorming by the president been replaced by backroom arm-twisting for more favorable maps?”
“For as much as Trump appears focused at times on keeping the House and fending off a third impeachment and wave of subpoenas, it’s less clear how he plans to win that case outright at the ballot box. While he’s made a handful of trips to get in front of voters, including to Las Vegas last month to play up his ‘no tax on tips’ policy, such trips appear to have fallen off the schedule as the president’s attention shifts elsewhere.”
Map Wars
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The $1 Billion for Trump’s Ballroom Is in Trouble
Punchbowl News: “The White House’s $1 billion request to secure President Donald Trump’s new ballroom is getting a very frosty reception on Capitol Hill, casting doubt on whether GOP leaders can keep it in the upcoming immigration reconciliation package.”
“Several House and Senate Republicans are privately raising alarms about the money and the political pitfalls of funding anything related to Trump’s controversial ballroom, even as the White House, administration officials and GOP leaders insist the $1 billion is only for security.”
“Some of these skeptical Republicans feel the ballroom project is just too politically toxic right now, especially when Trump said for so long that it would be paid for by private funds.”
GOP Wrangles Wishlist Ahead of Midterms
“Republicans facing a grueling midterm outlook see passing a sweeping package of party priorities as their best chance to win over voters, but it won’t be easy,” Politico reports.
“In recent weeks momentum has grown for a third party-line bill Republicans can pass without Democratic support. Last year’s success enacting President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ and progress this spring on immigration enforcement spending legislation has raised expectations that a third bite at the apple may be possible in the lead up to November.”
“Lawmakers are now assembling a grab-bag style wishlist for reconciliation 3.0, ranging from affordable housing measures to a fraud crackdown to Iran war funding. But intraparty debates could easily derail the delicate budget process, especially with razor-thin majorities in both chambers.”
Staffers Make ‘Thousands’ Betting on Their Candidates
NPR: “For this campaign staffer, the method was simple. First, they’d receive a tip on an unreleased poll and compare it with the odds on a prediction market, like PredictIt or Polymarket. If the poll reported their candidate had a better chance of winning than the prediction markets, they’d use this edge to buy low-cost odds on their candidate — known as event contracts — before the poll was released.”
“On prediction markets, the price of an event contract often mirrors the market’s estimation of the probability of a given outcome — in this case the chance a candidate will win. So a contract selling for 20 cents means the market is pricing a 20% chance of success.”
“Once the poll went public, the prediction market contracts shot up in value. The staffer would then sell their contracts at a higher price and make money.”
Trump Threatens Europe with ‘Much Higher’ Tariffs
“President Donald Trump has said he will give the European Union until July 4 to ratify its trade agreement with the U.S.,’threatening to raise tariffs to ‘much higher” levels if the 27-nation bloc fails to do so,” CNBC reports.
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