Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ stalls in House amid conservative mutiny threats
President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda temporarily ground to a halt in the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. Plans for an early afternoon vote to begin debate on Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” slipped away as both conservative concerns and weather delays led to issues in passing two procedural votes ahead of the critical measure. It’s not clear if the key vote will proceed today at this point. House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., one of the bill’s biggest critics, told reporters a vote was still “possible.” “No, not yet,” he said when asked if he was getting what he needed from the White House to support the measure. “But the evening is so young.” THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP House GOP leaders had hoped to vote to begin debate on the vast tax and immigration bill, a maneuver known as a “rule vote,” with the goal of teeing up a vote on the legislation’s final passage by late Wednesday or early Thursday at the latest. The president has directed Republicans to get a bill to his desk for a signature by the Fourth of July, though he’s suggested in some recent comments he would not mind a delay of a few days. The rule vote was meant to be the third in an early afternoon series of three votes. As of early evening Wednesday, that vote is still being held open, and the House floor is effectively paralyzed. Lawmakers who expected a vote were told to return to their offices to await further instructions. Multiple House Freedom Caucus members who left a meeting next to the House floor declined to comment on what they discussed, but several have made clear in recent days that they have serious issues with the Senate’s version of Trump’s agenda bill. The mammoth piece of legislation includes Trump’s agenda on taxes, the border, energy, defense and the national debt. Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was seen briefly entering and exiting the room where the fiscal hawks were gathered. He said little to reporters other than announcing they were “making good progress” on his way out of the room. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, suggested that conservatives were speaking with the Trump administration about how Republicans could make up for what they saw as deficiencies in the current version of the bill. Fiscal hawks were angered by last-minute moves made to placate Senate GOP moderates who were uneasy about the bill’s near-immediate phase-out of most green energy tax subsidies in former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). SENATE PASSES TRUMP’S ‘BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMA They’ve also argued the Senate’s bill would add more to the federal deficit than the House’s earlier version, though Senate Republicans have pushed back. “We were not happy with what the Senate produced. We thought there was a path forward as of late last week, even though I had concerns in public about them. But then they jammed it through at the last minute in a way that, you know, we’re not overly excited about,” Roy said. “So, now we’re trying to understand what our options are from this point.” Other representatives, like Keith Self, R-Texas, and Josh Brecheen, R-Okla., declined to comment about the meeting to reporters. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who is not a member of the Freedom Caucus but had some concerns about the bill, told reporters when leaving the meeting, “I’m just waiting to see what’s going on honestly. Everybody’s just discussing what’s going on and trying to get to some [resolution].” Burchett told reporters earlier he was leaning in favor of voting to debate the bill. But Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can afford just three defections to still pass the bill along party lines. “We’re going to get there tonight,” Johnson told reporters.
Former FBI Director Comey’s daughter suffers high-profile loss as prosecutor in Diddy trial
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey played a leading role on the eight-member team that prosecuted rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in a sex trafficking and racketeering trial that came to a close Wednesday with mixed results. The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, Maurene Comey faced a setback when the jury found the performer not guilty of some of the most serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. However, the jury did side with prosecutors on two counts, finding Combs guilty of violating the Mann Act of 1910 by transporting women across state lines for prostitution. MISSING KEY WITNESS CRIPPLES DIDDY PROSECUTION AS TRIAL HITS ROADBLOCKS BEFORE IT BEGINS: EXPERT Maurene Comey was a prosecutor in the Jeffrey Epstein trial prior to his death in prison and also had a lead role in Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial. She leads the violent and organized crime unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY). DIDDY JURORS FACE ‘BATTLEGROUND’ AS DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN RAPPER’S FEDERAL TRIAL: EXPERT SDNY is the same stepping stone her father, James Comey, used to catapult himself to national prominence. The ex-FBI director and prominent Trump foe worked similarly as a federal prosecutor there in the 1980s, when noted Trump ally Rudolph Giuliani was the Reagan-appointed U.S. attorney. He returned to Manhattan in the 2000s after former President George W. Bush appointed him to the role once held by “America’s Mayor.” Lately, the elder Comey received blowback for posting a photo of stones on a beach in the shape of “86 47,” which many observers considered to be a wish for President Donald Trump’s death – with “86” being a cipher for “kill” and “47” denoting Trump as the 47th president. DIDDY PROSECUTORS ARGUE RAPPER USED INNER CIRCLE, MONEY TO COVER UP ALLEGED SEX CRIMES IN CLOSING ARGUMENTS In court, Maurene Comey offered the prosecution’s rebuttal prior to the jury being sent off to deliberate the charges against Combs. Maurene Comey argued from the dais that Combs “never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them,” and suggested the rapper believed he was “untouchable.” She also offered arguments that Combs had been involved in firebombing a Porsche owned by rapper Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, according to TMZ. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP At the close of the trial, Maurene Comey argued to Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs should be denied the bond requested by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo. “There is serious relevant conduct here that will merit a lengthy period of incarceration,” she said, according to the New York Post. While occupationally a proverbial chip off the old block, Maurene Comey has remained largely silent during James Comey’s recurring controversies, from his “86 47” post that drew demands for investigation by the Secret Service to his rhetorical battles with Trump.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Inside Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… – Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says – Trump could arm Israel with US’ most effective weapons against Iran’s nuclear threat under new proposal – Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans ‘Project 2029‘ while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primary President Donald Trump on Tuesday visited “Alligator Alcatraz” — the newest illegal immigrant detention facility in the nation that’s located in the Florida Everglades and surrounded by swamplands teeming with alligators and pythons. “It’s known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that’s not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon,” Trump said Tuesday during his tour. “But very soon this facility will have some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.” “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” the president added. “And a lot of these people are self-deporting back to their country where they came from…” READ MORE. CLOCK STARTS NOW: Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says ‘LOT OF RESPECT’: Trump says his relationship with one-time rival DeSantis now a ‘9.9’ EXCEEDS AUTHORITY: Judge strikes down Trump order preventing asylum requests, protections for illegal immigrants ‘TRADECRAFT CONCERNS’: Ex-Obama intel boss wanted anti-Trump dossier included in ‘atypical’ 2016 assessment despite pushback ‘CREDIT IS DUE’: Elon takes a break from slamming BBB, doles out praise for Trump amid Israel ceasefire announcement NUCLEAR DETERRENCE: Trump could arm Israel with US’ most effective weapons against Iran’s nuclear threat under new proposal GREEN LIGHT: Pentagon’s weapons pause to Ukraine could ‘encourage’ and ‘escalate’ Putin’s war ambitions: security experts ‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT’: Bernie Sanders blasts Paramount, says lawsuit settlement will further embolden Trump to attack media ‘ENCOURAGING’: Blue state GOP lawmaker says major sanctuary city lawsuit is ‘encouraging,’ but urges further crackdown ‘GO HOME’: ICE flips script on Los Angeles mayor after telling authorities to ‘go home’ $100M DECISION: Wisconsin Supreme Court decides abortion case that prompted most expensive judicial election in US history WHITE HOUSE APPROVED: Colorado Capitol replaces ‘distorted’ Trump portrait following monthslong backlash POTUS PROMISE: Trump vows to ‘save New York City’ from Zohran Mamdani: ‘I hold all the levers’ DEMOLITION PLAN: Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans ‘Project 2029’ while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primary POWER PLAY ESCALATES: New York Democrats unite in defense of socialist NYC mayoral nominee after Trump threatened his arrest ‘READY TO SWEEP?’: ‘Don’t Maryland my Virginia’: Youngkin, 2025 GOP ticket rallies together for first time ahead of key election Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
At least eight people die in record-breaking heatwave across Europe
Scientists say heatwaves and storms are becoming more intense due to human-driven climate change. At least eight people have died across Europe as an early summer heatwave grips much of the continent, triggering health alerts and forest fires and forcing the closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant. Authorities in Spain’s Catalonia region said about 14,000 people were ordered to stay indoors due to two wildfires that broke out almost simultaneously in the province of Lleida. In one of the blazes near the city of Cosco, “two people were found lifeless by firefighters,” the fire and emergency service said in a statement on Wednesday. The exact cause of the fire was unclear, but the service said the recent heat, dry conditions and strong winds increased the intensity of the flames. Tuesday’s fire in the Catalonia region burned several farms and affected an area stretching about 40km (25 miles) before being contained, officials said. On Wednesday, Spanish officials reported two more people died due to the heatwave in Extremadura and Cordoba. Spain is in the midst of an intense heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many places, and several heat records were set for the month of June. France also experienced its hottest June since 2003. Its energy minister reported two deaths linked to the heat with 300 others taken to hospital on Wednesday. Weather forecaster Meteo France said red alerts remained for several areas of central France, and Catherine Vautrin, the health and families minister, said authorities should remain vigilant. Advertisement “In the coming days, we’ll see the consequences, particularly on the most vulnerable, and I’m thinking particularly of the elderly,” she said. Two men over the age of 60 also died from the heat on beaches in Sardinia in Italy, the ANSA news agency reported. In Germany, temperatures were forecast to peak at 40C (104F) in some areas, making it the hottest day of the year. Fire brigades were also tackling several forest fires in the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony on Wednesday. Storm warnings issued Italy, France and Germany have also warned of the risk of powerful storms due to excessive warming in unstable atmospheres. Violent storms in the French Alps late on Monday triggered mudslides, disrupting rail traffic between Paris and Milan. The Swiss utility Axpo shut down one reactor at the Beznau Nuclear Power Plant and halved output at another on Tuesday because of the high temperature of river water. Water is used for cooling and other purposes at nuclear power plants, and restrictions were expected to continue as temperatures are monitored. Scientists said heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C (50F) in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels are a cause of climate change, they said, with deforestation and industrial practices being other contributing factors. Last year was the planet’s hottest on record. “Extreme heat is testing our resilience and putting the health and lives of millions at risk,” Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, told the Reuters news agency. “Our new climate reality means we can no longer be surprised when temperatures reach record highs each year,” she added. Adblock test (Why?)
Who is Siddharth Kaushal? Senior IPS officer quits after 13-year service due to…
Siddharth Kaushal, a senior officer in the Indian Police Service, has announced that he is taking voluntary retirement, ending a career of over 13 years in law enforcement across Andhra Pradesh. Read on to know more about him.
Ex-Obama intel boss wanted anti-Trump dossier included in ‘atypical’ 2016 assessment despite pushback
Former CIA Director John Brennan, who served under former President Barack Obama, pushed for the so-called “Steele dossier,” which featured salacious material and unfounded allegations about President Donald Trump’s connections to Russia, to be included in an assessment evaluating Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to a review declassified Wednesday. The CIA, FBI and National Security Agency’s Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) evaluating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election diverted from intelligence standards and featured some “procedural anomalies,” according to a new lessons-learned review of the assessment that CIA Director John Ratcliffe ordered for declassification Wednesday. The lessons-learned review determined that the “decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment.” TRUMP ‘MISREPRESENTED’ HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP LETTER, JOHN BRENNAN COMPLAINS AFTER LOSING SECURITY CLEARANCE Specifically, the new review found that the CIA’s deputy director for analysis said in a December 2016 email to Brennan that including the dossier in any capacity jeopardized “the credibility of the entire paper.” “Despite these objections, Brennan showed a preference for narrative consistency over analytical soundness,” the new review stated. “When confronted with specific flaws in the Dossier by the two mission center leaders—one with extensive operational experience and the other with a strong analytic background—he appeared more swayed by the Dossier’s general conformity with existing theories than by legitimate tradecraft concerns. Brennan ultimately formalized his position in writing, stating that ‘my bottomline is that I believe that the information warrants inclusion in the report.’” Brennan served as director of the CIA from March 2013 to January 2017 under the Obama administration. The dossier originated after law firm Perkins Coie hired opposition research firm Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research into then-presidential candidate Trump in April 2016 on behalf of Trump’s opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS hired former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, who composed the so-called “Steele dossier.” The document included scandalous and mostly unverified allegations, including details that Trump engaged in sex acts with Russian prostitutes. Trump has denied the allegations included in the dossier. DNI DECLASSIFIES BRENNAN NOTES, CIA MEMO ON HILLARY CLINTON ‘STIRRING UP’ SCANDAL BETWEEN TRUMP, RUSSIA Brennan could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital. The lessons-learned review also found fault with other tradecraft employed while drafting the ICA, including a rushed timeline and atypical involvement of agency heads while compiling the assessment. “While agency heads sometimes review controversial analytic assessments before publication, their direct engagement in the ICA’s development was highly unusual in both scope and intensity,” the review said. “This exceptional level of senior involvement likely influenced participants, altered normal review processes, and ultimately compromised analytic rigor.” Additionally, the review said that Brennan sent a note to intelligence community analysts one day before their only session coordinating on the ICA that he had met with then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and then-FBI Director James Comey. The review said that Brennan told the CIA workforce that “there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our recent Presidential election.” COMEY SAYS NEW INFORMATION THAT HILLARY CLINTON DRUMMED UP RUSSIA CONTROVERSY TO VILIFY TRUMP ‘DOESN’T RING A BELL’ “While officers involved in drafting the ICA consistently said they did not feel pressured to reach specific conclusions, Brennan’s premature signaling that agency heads had already reached consensus before the ICA was even coordinated risked stifling analytic debate,” the review said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Ratcliffe ordered the “lessons-learned” review of the ICA earlier in 2025 specifically focused on the ICA’s assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin “aspired” to assist Trump win the 2016 election, and declassified the results Wednesday in an attempt to promote transparency, according to a CIA news release. “Agency heads at the time created a politically charged environment that triggered an atypical analytic process around an issue essential to our democracy,” Ratcliffe said in a Wednesday statement. “Under my watch, I am committed to ensuring that our analysts have the ability to deliver unvarnished assessments that are free from political influence.”
Wisconsin Supreme Court decides abortion case that prompted most expensive judicial election in US history
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s newly elected liberal majority on Wednesday voted to strike down a near-total state abortion ban, voting 4-3 to overturn the stringent, 176-year-old law. The decision reflected a deeply partisan split, with all four liberal justices voting to invalidate the 1849 abortion law and the three conservative justices dissenting. It also crystallized the impact of the state’s Supreme Court election earlier this year that raked in millions of dollars in donations, the highest amount in U.S. history for a judicial race. It included involvement from then-Trump ally Elon Musk, former President Barack Obama and others. Writing for the majority, Justice Rebecca Dallet said the law had been superseded by more recent precedent, including a 1985 statute that allowed for abortions up to the point of fetal viability, or around the 20-week mark. AFTER STINGING ELECTION DEFEATS, DNC EYES RURAL VOTERS AS KEY TO 2026 MIDTERM SUCCESS “We conclude that comprehensive legislation enacted over the last 50 years regulating in detail the ‘who, what, where, when, and how’ of abortion so thoroughly covers the entire subject of abortion that it was meant as a substitute for the 19th century near-total ban on abortion,” Dallet wrote. “Accordingly, we hold that the legislature impliedly repealed [the 1849 ban] to abortion, and that [that law] therefore does not ban abortion in the State of Wisconsin.” Conservative Justice Annette Ziegler, in a dissent, described the ruling as “a jaw-dropping exercise of judicial will” and charged that the liberal justices ruled on the matter based on their personal preferences. The 1849 law, and efforts to revive it, came to the fore in Wisconsin in 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade — effectively snapping back into place the state law that had been dormant for decades. JUDGES V, TRUMP: HERE ARE THE KEY COURT BATTLES HALTING THE WHITE HOUSE AGENDA The Wisconsin law made it a felony for individuals in Wisconsin to perform abortions, including when the health of the woman was at risk, and without exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Though the law was not enforced by the state in recent years, at least some Republicans had urged the state Supreme Court to keep it in place, prompting opponents to push more urgently for it to be struck down. The 4-3 decision puts to rest the possibility that it could be revived. NINTH CIRCUIT REJECTS TRUMP’S BID TO REINSTATE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ORDER It’s also the clearest sign to date of the impact that liberals on the bench could have after they regained the court majority in 2023 for the first time in 15 years. The closely watched state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin was the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, attracting more than $100 million in donations and far eclipsing the $56 million spent on the state Supreme Court race just two years earlier, according to figures compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice. Susan Crawford ultimately beat out conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who was backed by President Donald Trump and Musk. Musk personally donated $3 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party earlier this year, while his two super PACs spent more than $17 million on Schimel’s behalf. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers praised the state Supreme Court decision Wednesday, describing it as a win “for women and families” and healthcare professionals in the state. “Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court upended five decades of precedent and threw reproductive freedom in Wisconsin and across our country into chaos,” Evers said in a statement. “I promised then to fight like hell to ensure every Wisconsinite has the freedom to consult their family, their faith and their doctor and make the reproductive healthcare decision that is right for them, and I’ve never stopped. “Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld that basic freedom.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs convicted on two of five counts in sex abuse trial
A jury in the United States has found musician Sean “Diddy” Combs guilty of prostitution-related offences but cleared him of more serious charges after a federal criminal trial. Combs, a celebrated figures in hip hop music, was convicted on Wednesday of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking. The verdict culminates seven weeks of trial in which two of the music mogul’s former girlfriends – singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and a second woman referred to as “Jane” – testified that Combs physically and sexually abused them. The jury’s decision also represents a partial win for the former billionaire known for elevating hip hop in US culture, through his work with artists like Notorious BIG and Usher. After the jury read its verdict, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo asked US District Judge Arun Subramanian to release Combs on bail. “This is his first conviction and it’s a prostitution offence, and so he should be released on appropriate conditions,” Agnifilo said. Subramanian will determine Combs’ sentence at a later date. The acquittals on the sex trafficking counts mean he will avoid a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. He could have faced life in prison if he were convicted of sex trafficking or racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors say that, for two decades, Combs used his business empire to force his romantic partners to take part in drug-fuelled, days-long sexual performances with male sex workers in hotel rooms. These performances were sometimes referred to as “freak-offs”. Advertisement During raids of Combs’s homes, authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant that he would use in the performances, prosecutors said. Combs, 55, had pleaded not guilty to all five counts. His lawyers acknowledged that the Bad Boy Records founder, once famed for hosting lavish parties, was at times violent in his domestic relationships. But they argued the sexual activity described by prosecutors was consensual. The musician has previously faced a number of civil lawsuits accusing him of abuse. Ventura, for example, sued Combs in November 2023 for sex trafficking. Combs, also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, settled with Ventura for $20m. He has denied all wrongdoing. At the trial, jurors saw surveillance footage from 2016 showing Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in the hallway of an InterContinental hotel in Los Angeles, where she said she was trying to leave a “freak-off”. Jane later testified that Combs, in June 2024, attacked her and directed her to perform oral sex on a male entertainer, even though she told him she did not want to. That alleged attack took place a month after Combs apologised on social media for his 2016 attack on Ventura, footage of which had been broadcast on CNN. “The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said in her closing argument on June 26. “He doesn’t take no for an answer.” Combs’s defence lawyers argued that, while he may have committed domestic violence in the context of volatile romantic partnerships, his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking. His defence team said Ventura and Jane were strong, independent women who voluntarily took part in the sexual performances because they wanted to please Combs. They also suggested that Ventura and Jane were retrospectively accusing Combs of forcing their participation in the performances because they were jealous he was seeing other women. Both women testified they spent time with Combs and took part in sexual performances after he beat them. “If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn’t all be here,” defence lawyer Agnifilo said in his closing argument on June 27. “He did not do the things he’s charged with.” Ventura’s lawyer Doug Wigdor, meanwhile, praised his client’s courage to speak up, saying she “paved the way” for Combs’s conviction. “By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice,” Wigdor said in a statement. Advertisement Separately, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York published remarks underscoring the lasting impact of sexual violence. “Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society,” the statement read. “New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.” Adblock test (Why?)
Sailing to break the siege on Gaza
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Al Jazeera Mubasher’s Omar Faiad recounts life aboard the Madleen aid ship headed to Gaza.
Can the DRC-Rwanda deal deliver peace?
The US-brokered peace agreement comes after years of conflict, displacing 7 million people. The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) involving a long history with neighboring Rwanda has created one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. With a United States-brokered agreement between the DRC and Rwanda to end the war, will there be peace? Adblock test (Why?)