June 5, 2026
Rebuke of Trump, RFK, the Weekend
Good morning, everyone!
Over the weekend, be sure to stay up to date on my Notes page.
I think of the page as a museum wall, where you will find historical events, archival footage, and notable quotes.
I will see you there.
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Today, we will look at the previous week’s news and a series of historical snapshots.
Let’s get to it.
United States
-The average U.S. gas price stood at $4.24 yesterday amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-California’s gubernatorial election remains too close to call following Tuesday’s vote, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading the packed jungle primary.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and Republican Spencer Pratt advanced to the general election.
On Tuesday, California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota held statewide primary elections.
View full results here.
-The Senate advanced an immigration enforcement funding bill after a marathon amendment vote yesterday.
Notably, six Republican senators broke with President Donald Trump and voted against funding for his plans for a White House ballroom in the package.
-The House passed a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s ability to authorize further strikes against Iran.
Meanwhile, the chamber also passed a bill to boost U.S. support to Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russia.
-Trump named the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence.
The move was immediately met by pushback from congressional Republicans, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune saying that his members did not want a “weaponized” director.
Trump later said that he would not nominate Pulte to serve in the post on a permanent basis.
-Trump nominated Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve in the post in a permanent capacity yesterday.
Hours later, Thune said it was uncertain whether Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, could secure Senate confirmation.
-Trump signed an executive order that urges artificial intelligence companies to provide early access to their latest models before they are released to the public.
-Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week.
View his testimony here:
-More than half of the world’s countries are currently without a U.S. ambassador, according to a tally by NBC News.
-Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner appeared on MS Now’s Chris Hayes’ show to discuss recent allegations against him reported in The New York Times.
View the interview here:
-There are now more job openings than job seekers in the United States for the first time since June of last year, according to new data.
-Scott Pelley of CBS’ 60 Minutes was fired after clashing with the network’s management.
-Former President Barack Obama wrote an essay on Abraham Lincoln.
Read it here:
-On this day in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan just moments after declaring victory in the California Democratic presidential primary.
The 42-year-old Kennedy would die 26 hours later.
In 2004, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, died at the age of 93.
Other Links:
Supreme Court allows Alabama to use congressional map that eliminates a majority-Black district - NBC
Justice Department Eyes Alternative ‘Weaponization’ Payouts After Fund Pushback - The Wall Street Journal
Sen. Bill Cassidy signs onto brief calling ‘anti-weaponization’ fund a ‘dire threat’ - CNBC
Ex-national security adviser John Bolton will plead guilty in classified information case - AP
Kennedy Center memo directs staffers to remove Trump’s name from the arts center - Politico
Water begins refilling Reflecting Pool after Trump’s renovation to repaint it ‘American flag blue’ - AP
MAGA isn’t sold on Trump’s face on the $250 bill - Axios
Bondi invoked privilege, declined to answer questions about interactions with Trump about Epstein files - ABC
Hegseth Blocked Nine Air Force Senior Officer Promotions, Delayed Dozens More - The Wall Street Journal
Scott Bessent testifies he told Bill Pulte he was “going to kick his a**,” not punch him in the face - CBS
Trump Offers Funds for First New U.S. Coal Plants in 13 Years - The New York Times
MAHA candidate beats Trump’s choice in Republican primary for Iowa governor - AP
Senators Privately Ask Platner Whether New Allegations Will Emerge - The Wall Street Journal
Johnson on ‘untoward’ homosexuality post: ‘We’re supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves’ - The Hill
President Donald Trump hosts Ken Paxton as Texas Senate race heats up - USA Today
Florida sues OpenAI, alleging it’s unsafe for children - CNN
Africa
-The World Health Organization said this week that the global response to the latest outbreak of Ebola in east Africa is catching up.
Since the global health body declared the spread of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency last month, there have been 344 confirmed cases and 60 confirmed deaths.
-Ghana President John Maham said this week that he would review a bill that would criminalize LGBTQ activities before signing it.
The bill was approved by lawmakers last week, making the West African country the latest on the continent to adopt legislation limiting same-sex acts in recent years.
-The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on commanders of several rebel groups it says are fueling ongoing fighting in Congo’s eastern region.
-Mozambique’s government said that five of its citizens were killed in what it called “xenophobic attacks” in South Africa.
-The U.S. State Department is planning to slash the numbers of embassies in Africa that can process visas.
-On this day in 1977, insurgents in Seychelles led a coup to oust President Sir James Mancham.
Today, the date is celebrated as the archipelago nation’s Liberation Day.
Other Links:
Heavy gunfire in Somali capital as row over election delay escalates - BBC
Niger’s General Tchiani welcomed by President Erdogan during state visit to Turkey - Africa News
Mali offers millions for information on attackers - Reuters
Africa’s leverage with China is growing - Semafor
African EV firm Spiro raises $215 million for electric mobility expansion - AP
Americas and the Caribbean
-Raul Castro, Cuba’s former leader, celebrated his 95th birthday on Wednesday, just two weeks after the United States charged him with murder in connection to the downing of civilian airplanes in 1996.
His whereabouts have been unknown ever since.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel as Washington continues to ramp up its pressure campaign on the Communist-run island nation.
-Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accused the United States of “interventionist and unscrupulous practices” to aid right-wing opponents of his leftist political movement.
López Obrador left office in 2024, with his protégé Claudia Sheinbaum succeeding him.
While scorning Washington, the 72-year-old retired politician praised Sheinbaum as the “best president Mexico has had in our time.”
-On this day in 1939, Joe Clark, who in 1979 became Canada’s youngest-ever prime minister, was born.
Other Links:
Canada calls to renew trade deal with U.S. and Mexico as Trump revives ‘51st state’ talk - NBC
Trump administration proposes 10 percent tariff on Canada, Mexico and the EU over forced labor - Politico
Trump Targets Brazil With 25% Tariff, Citing Unfair Trade Practices - The New York Times
‘I will sell to someone else’: Brazil’s Lula hits back at US after China beef win - South China Morning Post
A garbage crisis engulfs Havana as fuel shortages stall trash pickup - AP
Leftist Sanchez gains traction ahead of Peru runoff vote, Ipsos poll shows - Reuters
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-On the 37th anniversary of Beijing’s crackdown on democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square, Taiwanese President William Lai said the Chinese government should “acknowledge the truth” about what happened.
The crackdown, which occurred on June 4, 1989, is not acknowledged by the Chinese government, which goes to great lengths to suppress public remembrances.
On that day, the Chinese military killed thousands of protesters when it opened fire on the demonstrators who had assembled in the square for weeks to demand political reforms.
-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez in New Delhi yesterday as his government seeks to deepen ties with the oil-rich Latin American nation.
-South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party swept to victory in municipal elections held on Wednesday, although it lost to a conservative challenger in Seoul’s mayoral race.
-Bangladesh said it had foiled multiple attempts by the Indian government to move migrants into the country by force.
The two countries share a 2,545-mile border, one of the longest in the world, making it difficult to surveil.
-Brunei’s ruler announced a major cabinet reordering yesterday and named two of his sons as ministers.
Other Links:
Five Eyes security alliance warns of Chinese spy threat on job sites - NBC
China bans four New Zealand MPs over Taiwan visit - BBC
Chinese satellite company releases images of Nvidia, Apple HQs - South China Morning Post
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra freed early from parole after receiving royal pardon - AP
Another day passes with Auburn student still missing in Japan, parents say - NBC
Europe
-In an open letter to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed the two leaders meet to negotiate an end to more than four years of fighting between their two countries.
Read it here:
In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up drone and missile attacks on the country.
-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that all 27 members of the European Union had agreed to open the first stage of accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova, adding that the move brings Kyiv “one step closer” to membership in the continental bloc.
-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for Elon Musk to cease “interfering” in his country’s politics as the tech tycoon has ramped up his posts on X about a murder that has caused public outcry and violent protests.
-On this day in 1944, U.S. troops entered Rome, making it the first European capital reached by Allied forces during World War II.
Other Links:
Putin says Russia will bolster its air defenses in response to Ukrainian drone attacks - AP
Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg as Putin’s flagship economic forum opens - BBC
Pentagon likely to cancel missile deal with Germany over fears of Russia - Politico
Germany blames Russia for ‘bitter defeat’ in UN Security Council bid - BBC
Ireland, Seen as a Weak Link in Europe’s Defense, Is Trying to Bulk Up - The New York Times
Middle East
-Negotiations between the United States and Iran to end their months-long conflict remained stalled yesterday.
-Trump reportedly held a tumultuous phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he scorned him over his moves to escalate Israel’s war in Lebanon, saying, “You're fu***** crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
In an interview, Trump confirmed the reporting, adding that he told the Israeli leader, “You know, at some point I said we’re going to stop this.”
In response, Netanyahu said that he and Trump had “tactical disagreements” but maintained a “great relationship,” adding that Trump has been “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.”
-Hackers infiltrated a senior U.S. Space Force official’s Instagram account and posted pro-Iran and anti-U.S. propaganda.
-Israeli and Lebanese officials agreed to renew a ceasefire agreement yesterday in Washington without Hezbollah’s participation.
The terrorist group is a primary combatant in the conflict and promptly rejected the plan.
-On this day in 1967, Israel launched a major preemptive airstrike against Egypt, launching what would become known as the Six-Day War.
Israeli forces resoundingly defeated a coalition of Arab states, capturing the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights.
Other Links:
Trump says he could meet Iran’s supreme leader ‘if it was to make a deal’ - CNBC
UN peacekeeper killed, two wounded in shelling in Lebanon - Reuters
Senior Hamas officials killed in Gaza strikes, IDF says; 9 Palestinians reported dead - The Times of Israel
Israeli Supreme Court strikes down ban on Red Cross prison visits - Reuters
Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Riot Against Military Draft Outside Judge’s Home - The New York Times
That’s all for today. See you next week.