Washington Today

President Donald Trump says the leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report suggesting Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months after the recent U.S. bombings is wrong, the nuclear sites have been destroyed – in his word 'obliterated' - and the reporters who published the DIA reports finding are 'bad people', 'sick' and are demeaning the hero pilots who carried out the U.S. attack; CDC Director nominee Susan Monarez says at a Senate confirmation vaccines are "life-saving" and she has not seen evidence linking them to autism; Senate Commerce Committee approves Bryan Bedford, CEO of a regional airline, to be FAA Administrator; Claims of a Justice Dept whistleblower who says the Trump Administration planned to disregard court orders that would hinder immigrants deportations come up at several Senate hearings today, with the Attorney General Pam Bondi and former top Justice Dept official Emil Bove, nominated for a federal appeals court judgeship; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell again points to the threat of inflation from President Trump's tariffs for not cutting interest rates; surprise win in the New York City Mayoral Democratic primary by Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says a ceasefire between Israel & Iran is "in effect", after expressing frustration with both countries for apparently violating the agreement he mediated; President spoke before flying from Washington to The Hague, Netherlands for a NATO leaders' summit; House & Senate Democrats upset today that scheduled classified briefings by Trump Administration officials about the U.S. military attacks on Iran's nuclear sites have been postponed until later this week; House votes down an impeachment resolution against President Trump introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-TX) over the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. A majority of House Democrats voted against the impeachment resolution; As Senate Republicans are still putting together the final text of tax cut and spending cut One Big Beautiful Bill, with debate and votes that could run into the weekend, Senate Parliamentarian has been knocking out bill provisions that violate budget reconciliation procedures – known as the Byrd Rule. We will talk about what is no longer in and how Senators could restore them if they want with Forbes Senior Writer Kelly Phillips Erb (32); Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tells a House committee that an interest rate cut in July is not likely; Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) wins a House Democratic Caucus secret-ballot vote to be the next ranking member of the Oversight & Reform Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump responds on social media, "Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered….There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was “set free,” because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done." On Capitol Hill, two bipartisan war powers resolutions are moving their way through Congress. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are leading one that blocks U.S. involvement in the conflict. In the Senate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) says he plans to push for a vote this week on a similar resolution and that Republican lawmakers in his chamber have expressed support for it. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European leaders urged Iran to return to the negotiating table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion about the history – and future -- of Iran's nuclear program - with Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association. Then, Axios Politics Reporter Steph Kight (like kite) discusses members of Congress receiving security briefings following the Minnesota lawmaker shootings. Finally, CNN's Jake Tapper discusses former President Biden's declining health during the last year of his term in his book "Original Sin." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says two more weeks he is waiting to decide to whether to attack Iran over its nuclear weapons program is “a time to see whether or not people come to their senses"; United Nations Ambassadors from Iran and Israel trade accusations at a UN Security Council meeting as their countries continue their military campaigns against each other; head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warns the Security Council of the dangers of a military campaign targeting nuclear facilities; federal appeals court in California rules President Trump likely had the authority to deploy National Guard troops to deal with protests against immigration raids without Gov. Newsom's consent but the courts do have a role in reviewing the specific actions the troops will be doing; Federal Reserve board member thinks interest rates should be cut as early as next month; Supreme Court releases decisions, including one allowing a lawsuit from fuel producers against California vehicle emissions standards to continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises revenge against Iran after an Iranian missile hits an Israeli hospital and is asked by reporters about the prospect that the U.S. will become more directly militarily involved in the conflict; White House says President Trump believes this is "substantial chance" of U.S. negotiations with Iran and therefore he will decide within two weeks the U.S. path will be, diplomacy or strikes; President extends for a third time by 90 days the requirement in U.S. for the TikTok short-video app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance to a non-Chinese entity or be banned from the U.S.; celebrations on this Juneteenth National Independence Day federal holiday; Vice President JD Vance announces a long-term health study in East Palestine, OH on the effects of the 2023 toxic train spill; U.S. Conference of Mayors meet in Tampa, FL, discussing immigration and ICE raids across the country and deployment of National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles ad tax provisions in the budget reconciliation bill moving through Congress. We will talk with Wall Street Journal technology & cryptocurrency reporter Amrith Ramkumar about the Senate this week passing a bill on stablecoins, first ever federal crypto regulation bill (38); Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) gives more details about confronting Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) over his posts following the fatal shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers, seeming to blame the violence on Democrats and their allies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says he has not decided whether to attack Iran's nuclear and military facilities alongside Israel, which has been doing so for the past week; Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady again. We will talk with MarketWatch Economics Editor Greg Robb (25); Supreme Court upholds Tennessee's law banning transgender medical treatments for minors; Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on former President Joe Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office; Senate passes a resolution congratulating C-SPAN2 for four decades of live gavel-to-gavel Senate coverage and calling on all TV providers, including streaming services, to carry C-SPAN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is back in Washington, DC, returning early from the Group of 7 leaders' summit in Canada, posting and commenting about the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, including he wants 'better than a ceasefire', "I have not reached out to Iran for “Peace Talks” in any way, shape, or form", calling that Fake News, and on Iran's Supreme Leader, "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now"; U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco hears oral argument in Newsom v. Trump, case where Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is challenging President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in response to immigration protests with the governors' consent. We will talk about it with The Hill's Legal Affairs Reporter Zach Schoenfeld (23); Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) deletes social media posts in which he blamed Democrats and Marxists for the fatal shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and the wounding of another lawmaker and his wife; latest on proposed Medicaid changes in the Senate Republican version of the budget reconciliation bill – the one big beautiful bill – which are different than the House-passed version. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First court appearance for Vance Boelter after federal and state authorities file several charges in connection with the murder of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and attempted murder state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. President Trump is in Canada at the G7 summit where he talked about global economic issues and the widening Israel/Iran conflict. Israeli officials have say their operation in Iran is expected to take “weeks, not days”. Meanwhile, Iranian President said that his country does not want to expand the conflict with Israel but it will respond “in proportion” to any attack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, with a federalized national guard and the Marines on the streets of Los Angeles – a conversation with Mary McCord of Georgetown Law about the legal and Constitutional issues surrounding the domestic deployment of the U.S. military. Then, Former NIH Director Dr. Harold Varmus (VARR-muss) discusses how spending cuts to his former agency is impacting the future of federal medical research. And finally we chat with Wall Street Journal trade reporter Gavin Bade on the latest in U.S.-China trade talks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United Nations Security Council meets on the military exchanges between Israel and Iran. Iran announces it is pulling out of nuclear talks with the U.S. President Trump posts, "Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to “make a deal”…Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!" Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant who was deported from Maryland to El Salvador, then brought back after an indictment, pleads not guilty in federal court in Tennessee to human trafficking charges. More Republican governors call up the National Guard ahead a weekend of expected protests against Trump Administration policies; Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) talks about the future of his party and young people; former President Bill Clinton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) give eulogies at today's funeral service of the late Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) is forcibly removed from a news conference in Los Angeles being held by Homeland Security Sec Kristi Noem on federal immigration enforcement operations; three Democratic governors testify before U.S. House Oversight Committee about sanctuary policies to limit local cooperation with Immigration & Customs enforcement; U.S. House passes a bill to rescind $9.4 billion in federal spending on foreign aid and money to support National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Senate confirms a new IRS Commissioner, former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO); President Donald Trump signs bills overturning California's rules mandating electric vehicle sales and setting tailpipe emissions standards; President Trump is asked about reports Israel may soon attack Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent questioned at a House committee on a U.S.-China trade agreement announced by President Donald Trump; House considers a resolution to make changes to the tax cut & spending cut Budget Reconciliation bill (aka One Big Beautiful Bill) but Republicans and Democrats disagree about how significant today's vote really is; House also debates a bill to classify fentanyl permanently as schedule one, reserved for the most dangerous drugs; House debates a bill to revoke Washington, DC's "sanctuary city" law; Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration is not afraid of going further than using the Marine Corps and California National Guard when dealing with anti-federal immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom says, "Democracy is under assault before our eyes. This moment we have feared has arrived"; FAA Administrator nominee Bryan Bedford testifies before a Senate committee; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is questioned by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Ukraine war policy; tonight is the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends the deployment of hundreds of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles after protests have turned violent and tells a House subcommittee it will cost $134 million to troops on the ground for 60 days; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemns the violence, but also the mass arrests by federal immigration authorities in her city that sparked the protests; President Donald Trump warns any potential protestors at this weekend's military parade in Washington, DC will be ‘met with very big force’; U.S. House debates bill to overturn some DC local laws, including one concerning lack of cooperation with the feds on immigration, so-called 'sanctuary city' status; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. removes the entire expert panel of vaccine advisers, saying they all are “plagued with conflicts of interest”; National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is questioned by Senators on proposed deep cuts to NIH medical research grants; U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says the U.S. is no longer pursuing the goal of an independent Palestinian state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration orders about 700 Marines to Los Angeles to support National Guard troops in the wake of protests this weekend over immigration. California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) says he is suing the Trump administration over the deployment of those National Guard troops. Senate Republican leaders are continuing to focus their energy on their budget reconciliation package, while the divisions over Medicaid changes and debt and deficit reduction remain. Meanwhile, House Republicans are starting their efforts this week to lock in as much as $9 billion in spending cuts. We are less than a week away from a military parade marking the 250th birthday of the US Army. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget discusses his organization's recent analysis of the Republican tax cuts and spending cuts bill. Then, a discussion with McCain Institute's Evelyn Farkas about the latest in efforts to forge a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine -- and the future of U.S. involvement. Finally, Former FEMA Chief of Staff Michael Coen discusses FEMA's readiness as the 2025 hurricane season kicks off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Kilmar Abrego Garcia being returned to the U.S. from a prison in El Salvador to face criminal charges of allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S; House passes a bill to require proof of U.S. citizenship to get a Small Business Administration loan; President Trump tells various news organizations that he does not plan to speak to Elon Musk anytime soon, and says Musk has 'lost his mind,' a day after the war of words online over spending levels in the budget reconciliation bill in Congress; Labor Department issues its jobs report for May: 139,000 jobs created, a little lower than the month before, unemployment rate stays at 4.2%; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the American cemetery in Normandy, France on this 81st anniversary of the D-Day military landing by Allied troops during World War II; veterans, lawmakers and activists attend a "Unite for Veterans" rally in Washington, opposed to what they say are Trump administration's actions harming veterans and the benefits they have earned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump and Space X & Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former head of the Dept of Government Efficiency, trade online insults and threats, while Musk continues to call for the defeat of the tax cut & spend cut budget reconciliation bill because he says it will increase the nation's debt substantially; Interview with The Hill's Congressional Reporter Alex Bolton on challenges facing the budget reconciliation bill in the Senate (6); President Trump asked about his phone call today with Chinese President Xi Jinping about trade and tariffs and his travel ban on 12 countries, with restrictions on immigration from seven more; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the NATO defense minister's meeting in Brussels speaks about President Trump's goal of NATO countries spending at least 5% of GDP on defense; Jared Isaacman talks about getting a phone call last week from the White House that his nomination for NASA Administrator has been withdrawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House Budget Director Russell Vought testifies before a House subcommittee on the President's FY2026 budget request and the budget reconciliation bill, the one called the One Big Beautiful Bill on taxes & spending; He disputes a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prediction that the House-passed version will add $2.4 trillion in budget deficits over 10 years; Senate is on path to confirm the second highest spot in the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, vice chair for supervision; Tariffs on imported steel & aluminum double from 25% to 50%. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick goes before a Senate subcommittee defending President Trump's tariff policies; FAA Acting Administrator Christopher Rocheleau tells a House panel about the administration's plans to completely rebuild the nation's air traffic control operation; President Trump says he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine and nuclear talks with Iran; U.S. vetoes United Nations Security Council Gaza war ceasefire resolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk calls the budget reconciliation bill that contains a lot of the President and Congressional Republicans' tax & spending agenda – the one known as the One Big Beautiful Bill -- "massive, outrageous, pork-filled" and a "disgusting abomination"; Some Senate Republicans see it that way, as well, and it could jeopardize passage. Meetings are reportedly scheduled this week to try to work it out; Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies about proposed budget cuts at her department, including zeroing out programs designed to help those from disadvantaged communities access higher education; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is asked about a report that the FEMA Acting Administrator said at a staff meeting that he did not know there was a 'hurricane season'; Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) calls for an investigation after one of his staff members was put in handcuffs by Homeland Security Department officers who entered the congressman's office in NYC, they said to look for rioters. The Congressman says they had invited immigration rights advocates who had witnessed federal agents detaining migrants outside courtroom in the same building; more reports of Palestinians shot and killed near humanitarian aid stations in Gaza. House passes a bill to honor the late Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-VA). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices