June 1, 2026

Calendar, Jill Biden, and Robert Caro

Good morning, everyone!

A programming note: Everything Briefing will be out through Thursday and return on Friday as I tend to several personal matters.

As always, stay up to date on my Notes page, where you will find the day’s history through the lens of photos, archival footage, and notable quotes.

Today, we will look at the unfolding situation in the Middle East, election polls, and Robert Caro.

Let’s get to it.

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The Week Ahead

-The U.S. Congress will return to session today after a week-long recess.

-Colombia will assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

-Ethiopia will hold a general election.

-California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota will hold statewide primary elections on Tuesday.

-U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

-The European Union-Western Balkan Summit will commence in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday.

-Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday.

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Major Developments

-President Donald Trump has requested several changes to be made to the deal reached by U.S. negotiators and Iranian officials to end their countries’ months-long conflict.

On Friday, a tentative deal was reached between the two governments, but needed final approval from Trump.

The agreement, according to press reports, would extend the ceasefire between the two countries while reopening the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Iran would begin talks with Washington aimed at limiting Tehran’s nuclear program.

Late last night, the U.S. military announced it carried out “self-defense” strikes on Iranian targets as a final agreement remains elusive.

Meanwhile, the average U.S. gas price stood at $4.36 yesterday amid the ongoing conflict, according to AAA.

-U.S. lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill this week after a weeklong Memorial Day recess.

Before the lawmakers departed Washington for the break, several Senate Republicans broke with Trump to oppose including funding for his plans for a White House ballroom in an immigration reconciliation package.

The chamber is expected to try again this week to pass the spending bill amid the opposition.

-In an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that his intelligence services believe that Russia is preparing for a major attack on his country in the coming days.

The warning comes a week after Moscow called for foreign nationals to evacuate from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and ramped up air bombardments on the country.

At the same time, Zelenskyy sent a letter to Trump and congressional leaders to appeal for more U.S.-made air defense ammunition to counter Russia’s offensive.

In the letter, Zelenskyy wrote, “When it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States.”

View Zelenskyy’s full interview here:

-A federal judge ordered Trump’s name to be removed from the Kennedy Center.

-A federal judge agreed to review Trump’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

-Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are locked in a dead heat for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to a new Emerson College poll.

Meanwhile, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg narrowly leads the Democratic field, with California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trailing.

In the battle for control of Congress this year, Democrats hold a nine-point lead over Republicans in the generic ballot.

-Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan secured the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party endorsement for U.S. Senate at its convention over the weekend.

Just ahead of the gathering, Congresswoman Angie Craig announced she would not seek the endorsement of the party and vie for the seat without it.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobachar, who currently holds the seat, announced in January that she would mount a campaign for governor after Tim Walz withdrew his bid for a third term.

-South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn hosted Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and California Congressman Ro Khanna at his annual fish fry event over the weekend in Columbia.

The event has acted as a testing ground for potential Democratic presidential candidates in previous election cycles.

-In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday, former Vice President Mike Pence said that Trump has “departed” from the “conservative agenda” in his second term.

View the full interview here:

-Former First Lady Jill Biden sat for her first interview since leaving office last year.

View it here:

-Author Robert Caro granted a rare interview to C-SPAN to discuss his long-awaited fifth and final volume of his series on President Lyndon Johnson.

View it here:

-On this day in 1980, Ted Turner announced the launch of the Cable News Network (CNN) in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev agreed to ban the production of chemical weapons during a summit meeting at the White House.

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Other Links:

Bondi shifts responsibility for Epstein files’ release to Todd Blanche, making him Democrats’ next target - Politico

Trump floats MAGA rally instead of concert after musicians drop out of Freedom 250 - NPR

Republicans battle déjà vu as they return to tackle reconciliation bill, FISA extension - The Hill

Talarico leads Paxton in first Texas Senate poll after GOP runoff - USA Today

Platner’s wife responds to reports of the Senate candidate’s sexually explicit texts with women - AP

Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms show off head start in Georgia as Republicans battle in runoff - AP

Trump snubs Mace with endorsement of Pamela Evette for South Carolina governor - The Hill

Jerome Powell uses JFK award speech to warn against political pressure on Fed, courts and schools - Politico

Over 40 dead in Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda - NBC

Ghana’s parliament passes a bill criminalizing the promotion of LGBTQ activities - AP

South Africa made to look like fools over World Cup visa issues, says minister - BBC

U.S. and Cuban Military Officials Meet Outside of Guantánamo Base - The New York Times

Colombian presidency goes to runoff election that could redefine relations with the US - CNN

US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 3 in the eastern Pacific Ocean in fourth attack this week - AP

Lula says Brazil will not be treated like ‘tinpot country’ after US designates gangs as terrorists - The Guardian

Hegseth’s Message to Asian Partners: Do More to Get More - The New York Times

Taiwan’s Opposition Leader Comes to U.S. With a Message Straight Out of Beijing - The Wall Street Journal

Taiwan condemns China after New York Times reporter expelled after presidential interview - Reuters

Iran may have used Chinese missile to shoot down U.S. fighter jet, sources say - NBC

Concerns mount that Belarus could be a launchpad for a new Russian offensive in Ukraine - AP

Russian official warns Europe to brace for more drone incidents after Romania episode - Reuters

Polish leader wants to strip Zelenskyy of the state’s highest honour - Euronews

UN places Israel and Russia on sexual violence blacklist - Reuters

Netanyahu orders deeper Israeli incursion into Lebanon to hit Hezbollah - Reuters

Israel seizes castle in Lebanon as it expands ground offensive - BBC

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That’s all for today. See you on Friday.

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Notes:

https://scowcroft.substack.com/p/tsg-weekly-calendar-june-1-7