The US Supreme Court struck down long-standing campaign finance restrictions on June 30, ruling 6-3 that limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with individual candidates violate the First Amendment. The case, brought by Vice President JD Vance, removes caps on coordinated spending ahead of the November midterm elections. President Trump called the decision 'a big win for Republicans and free speech.' The ruling marks the latest in a series of Court decisions loosening campaign finance regulations.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents can fire Federal Trade Commission members at will, overturning the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent that protected independent agencies from political removal. The decision hands President Trump broad new power over two dozen federal agencies including the FTC, SEC, and FCC, reshaping the balance of power in the executive branch.
President Donald Trump is pushing Syria's government to confront Hezbollah militants operating near Syrian territory, a move that has raised alarms in both Lebanon and Israel. The administration sees the effort as part of a broader strategy to weaken Iran-aligned forces across the region, but critics warn it could destabilize Lebanon's fragile government.
Former Trump national security advisor John Bolton pleaded guilty Friday to mishandling classified documents, agreeing to pay $2.25 million and facing up to five years in prison. The plea follows revelations that Bolton retained classified materials including intelligence reports and memos after leaving the White House. Separately, Texas approved a curriculum requiring Bible stories in elementary schools, and House Republicans subpoenaed billionaire Leon Black over Epstein ties.
The US Supreme Court on June 25 issued two rulings that allow the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of immigrants and to enforce its asylum metering policy at the southern border. The decisions mark a major legal victory for the administration's hardline immigration agenda and could affect over 400,000 TPS holders from countries including Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras.
With the 2026 midterm elections just over four months away, Democratic candidates are showing stronger-than-expected performance in primary races across key swing districts. Recent polls show Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot for the first time this cycle, driven by voter frustration over inflation and concerns about Republican-backed policy proposals. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, but Democrats believe a 'red wave' reversal is possible in November.
A federal judge has permanently barred the Trump administration from implementing most of the president's first executive order on elections, which would have required voters to show proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. The ruling, which dealt a blow to one of Trump's priority voting policies, found the order likely exceeded presidential authority and conflicted with existing federal election law. The administration is expected to appeal the decision.
The U.S. Senate voted to halt military operations in Iran on Tuesday, delivering a bipartisan rebuke to the Trump administration even as Vice President JD Vance conducted direct peace talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland. The vote reflects growing congressional war fatigue and concerns over the cost of prolonged engagement. The White House signaled it would not comply, setting up a constitutional clash.
US Vice President JD Vance announced Monday that Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, marking a major step forward after the first round of US-Iran talks. Vance said a great deal of progress was made during negotiations, though core sticking points remain unresolved including a $300 billion question over sanctions relief. The development comes as the Trump administration claims the Iran deal amounts to an unconditional surrender, while critics point out that the text of the agreement falls short of ensuring Iran will never develop nuclear weapons.
President Trump faced fresh bipartisan criticism over the Iran deal as Vice President Vance took a public-facing role in negotiations. Senate Iran hawk Tom Cotton found himself in a Trump-induced jam over the agreement. Republicans fear Trump's approach could hurt their midterm chances, while a federal judge ordered Biden's audio files turned over to the Heritage Foundation.