Senate Republicans refuse to kill Trump’s slush fund
Senate Republicans have refused to kill Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund, which would pay, among others, people who assaulted police during the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. Democrats had hoped to kill the slush fund as part of a massive $70 billion immigration enforcement funding package that was passed early this morning. The bill, which funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol through the rest of Trump’s term, now goes to the House for final passage after a marathon 18-hour voting session in which only one Republican voted against it. It passed by a vote of 52-47. The immigration bill had been stalled for weeks amid controversy over the slush fund. Trump has defended the slush fund and refused to commit to scrapping it.
Kennedy Center moves to remove Trump’s name
The Kennedy Center’s general counsel ordered staff on Thursday to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the building by June 12, according to a memo obtained by CNN, in order to comply with a recent court order. The employees also were instructed to immediately update various materials including email signatures, web pages and marketing documents to remove Trump’s name, according to the memo. “We are complying with the court’s order while evaluating all legal options to preserve this revitalization and recognize President Trump’s leadership,” Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, said in a statement.
ICE to keep some deaths of detainees secret
Donald Trump’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has changed its policy and will no longer report deaths of people it had been holding in custody and then released. A policy adopted during the Biden administration required ICE to review and report all fatalities of people it had been holding in custody, including those occurring up to 30 days after release from custody. The Washington Post reported that acting ICE director David Venturella sent a memo to employees Thursday eliminating the requirement to report deaths that occur within 30 days of people being released from its custody. Nearly 50 ICE detainees have died since Trump returned to office last year including at least 18 so far this year.
No security clearance for Pulte
Donald Trump’s choice as acting director of national intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte, did not have a security clearance granting him access to highly-classified information in addition to having no experience in intelligence, CNN learned from three sources familiar with the matter. The vetting process for Pulte to be granted security clearance did not begin until yesterday, one of the sources told CNN. In view of harsh criticism of Pulte’s appointment, Trump told reporters that Pulte would be in the job only temporarily. Sources told CNN there is no evidence that Pulte previously maintained even the lowest form of security clearance before he was tapped as acting DNI.
Chinese leader to visit North Korea
Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week for a rare visit just weeks after the Chinese leader hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin for separate, nearly back-to-back visits. Xi will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a two-day state visit starting from next Monday, state media Xinhua announced today. North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency also confirmed the trip. The visit will be Xi’s first to North Korea since 2019, and the latest overture from Beijing to warm a historical but often complicated relationship with its neighbor. It will also be Xi’s first overseas trip this year. Xi and Kim last met in September, when the North Korean leader was an honored guest among a host of global leaders at a military parade in Beijing. Putin was also at the parade, with the three autocratic leaders putting on an unprecedented show of unity.
Republicans defy Trump and approve aid for Ukraine
Eighteen Republican lawmakers in the House defied their own leadership and President Donald Trump by voting with Democrats to approve a major bill to deliver billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine while imposing steep sanctions on Russia. The House voted 226 to 195 to approve the package, which cracks down on Russia with new oil and gas sanctions, in its first big pro-Ukraine measure of Trump’s second term. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson urged his members to oppose the measure. The measure includes strict sanctions on Russian leaders and institutions, including top banks, oil and mining companies. It also includes 500% tariffs on all Russian goods imported to the U.S. and a ban on Russian crude oil from being imported into the U.S. It was not immediately known whether Republican leadership in the Senate would allow a vote on the measure.
