Trump is using a $500M no-bid contract to build his White House ballroom  —  The secret agreement was routed through a White House office that typically handles repairs and furnishings and is exempt from competitive bidding requirements.  —  Summary  —  White House officials …

Johnson-backed plan to combine Pentagon and election bills advances to floor  —  The House Rules Committee advanced a procedural measure aimed at breaking an intra-Republican deadlock Monday night.  But GOP leaders are still facing a major battle Tuesday to regain control of the House floor.

Putin Faces Increased Pressure as Moscow Is Again Attacked by Drones  —  The Russian authorities said 419 drones were shot down across Russia, including in the capital, and in Crimea.  —  President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia faced a fresh round of pressure on Tuesday as Ukraine launched another attack …

Trump's “Swiss Army” tools on Iran: Vance and Rubio  —  As he tries to hammer out a peace deal with Iran, President Trump has a dovish adviser in Vice President Vance perched on one figurative shoulder — and a hawkish Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the other.

Trump's Supreme Court wins hit one wall: the economy  —  The Supreme Court this term gave President Trump powers over the federal government that no modern president has held.  But it blocked his administration on two of the biggest issues for markets: the Fed and tariffs.

The Supreme Court justices to watch today  —  With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner  —  Good Tuesday morning.  This is Jack Blanchard, alarmed to see we're already halfway through 2026.  Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. … — How to watch today's Supreme Court rulings like a pro.

University of Tennessee to pay $1.9M to professor fired over Charlie Kirk comment  —  The University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees approved a settlement with former assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, agreeing to pay the fired faculty member $1.9 million.

Trump begins construction of unannounced White House helipad  —  The project, funded with a Lockheed Martin donation, is intended to resolve a years-long problem with the new Marine One helicopters: They run the risk of scorching the White House's grass.  —  President Donald Trump …

Can Democrats outrun their party's brand problem?  I tested three proposed fixes  —  A new survey experiment finds Democrats outrun the party baseline by showing they're independent of it — using issue positions, biography, or otherwise  —  The Democratic Party has a brand problem.

Chris Rufo, MAGA's Top Activist on the Right, Has a Conspiracy Problem  —  This is an edited transcript of “The Ezra Klein Show.”  You can listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.  —  You could really make a case that Christopher Rufo is the most successful activist of this era, certainly on the right.

The Christian right is emboldened and on the march  —  This edition of PN is made possible by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  🤝 Subscribe to PN 🤝  —  Last Friday, the right-wing majority on the Texas board of education voted to approve new social studies standards …

‘Fiscal Responsibility’ Congressman Plans to Stiff Two-Dozen Campaign Creditors  —  As a congressional candidate, former Rep. Robert Pittenger, a North Carolina Republican, promised “fiscal responsibility” and a conservative approach to government finances.  —  But the ex-congressman's old …

Trump posts apparent AI-generated image of large, golden eagle affixed to Truman Balcony  —  President Donald Trump Monday evening posted what appeared to be an AI-generated image of a large, golden eagle affixed to the Truman Balcony of the White House.  —  “A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year!”

Clash Unfolds as Trump Administration Pushes Intelligence Agencies to Share Foreign Espionage Targets  —  The clash reflects increasing skepticism of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which has been willing to pursue President Trump's priorities.

Democratic primaries in Colorado mark latest fight over party's direction amid push by insurgents  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  Washington — One week after Democratic insurgent victories in New York, the focus is now moving to Colorado, where challenges in a trio of races …

A Tied Senate Race Gives Democrats a Shot in Deep Red Texas, Poll Finds  —  James Talarico, a Democratic state lawmaker, is tied with Ken Paxton, the Republican state attorney general, according to a New York Times/Siena poll.  —  The Democratic Party has a serious chance to win a Senate seat …

Cross-Tabs: June 2026 Times/Siena Poll of the Likely Electorate in Texas  —  Results of a New York Times/Siena poll of 656 likely voters conducted from June 19 to 27, 2026. … ‹ ›  —  Do you think the United States is on the right track, or is it headed in the wrong direction?

Self-exiled Chinese billionaire gets 30 years in US prison for fraud conviction … “When I came here, I said: 'I have a tummy ache, I need to go to the bathroom, I don't feel well,'” Guo said through an interpreter of his courthouse arrival.  Later, Guo wiped his mouth repeatedly with a tissue.

Trump now ‘hates’ his own trade deal.  But he'll have a hard time killing it. … When Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in early 2020, he called it “the largest, most significant, modern, and balanced trade agreement in history.”  Congress approved the pact …

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan can face challenge from other Dan Sullivan, court says … The senator's campaign swiftly panned the outcome.  —  “We're disappointed in the court's decision because as the sham candidate Dan J. Sullivan's lawyers made clear in their legal arguments …

Hegseth, Rubio, and Caine Had an Auto-Deleting Signal Chat  —  New records reveal that officials kept using the app, even after the president suggested they stop.  —  President trump drew a simple lesson after his top national security advisers accidentally texted war plans to The Atlantic's editor …

Energy experts said gas prices would stay high.  Why were they wrong? … For now, they've been proven wrong for a litany of reasons, including a surprisingly weak Chinese economy and a failure to imagine how handily the president could bully the markets into submission.

Gallego spokesperson says Trump is ‘targeting’ the Democratic senator with DOJ investigation  —  Congressional news Federal agencies Donald Trump  —  A spokesperson for Sen. Ruben Gallego said Monday that President Donald Trump is “targeting” the Arizona Democrat with a Justice Department investigation into his campaign finances.

Kash Patel draws flak for posting FBI case details on social media ‘to make himself look good’  —  FBI veterans believe director may have flouted legal rules by prematurely divulging details of UFC attack plot inquiry  —  Kash Patel may have flouted legal constraints and the FBI's disciplinary code …

Democratic Centrists Need to Stop Saying “Both Sides” Have “Extremes”  —  In the wake of victories by candidates whom New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed, former Senator Joe Manchin complained, “The extremes are driving the conversation while the majority of Americans are being left behind.”

Monaco bombing suspect flees to France as police probe attempted murder  —  Police in Monaco and France launched a manhunt for a suspected bomber on Tuesday after three people were wounded by an explosion in the wealthy principality, including Ukrainian-born oligarch Vadym Yermolaiev.