Senate grinds to a standstill as Republicans struggle with Trump’s big bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has come to a standstill as Republicans struggle to wrap up work on President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts. Vice President JD Vance is at the Capitol if needed for a tie-breaking vote. But nothing has been set. Senators slogged through a tense overnight session as negotiations dragged. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota is trying to satisfy Republicans worried the bill’s reductions to Medicaid will leave millions more people without care and a conservative flank seeking steeper cuts to hold down deficits. Trump says he has to see the final product but doesn’t like cuts.
What’s in the latest version of Trump’s big bill moving through the Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — At some 940 pages, the legislation is a sprawling collection of tax breaks, spending cuts and other Republican priorities, including new money for national defense and deportations. Now it’s up to the Republican-controlled Congress to decide whether President Donald Trump’s signature’s domestic policy package will become law. The bill is nearing a final Senate vote. If it passes, it would then move to the House. Democrats are united against it. The bill would make permanent many of the tax breaks passed in Trump’s first term while adding new ones such as no tax on tips or overtime.
Tesla shares take a hit as feud between Trump and Musk reaches a boil
Shares of electric vehicle maker Tesla, which is headed by Elon Musk, are slumping as the war of words between billionaire and President Donald Trump over the big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts is heating up again, with Musk claiming he may form a new political party. Shares of Tesla have already tumbled more than 20% this year as sales of the company’s vehicles erode amid a backlash against Musk and his association with the Trump administration. Tesla sales are plummeting in Europe and China as well. Tesla’s stock fell nearly 6% in early trading Tuesday.
Iran assesses the damage and lashes out after Israeli and US strikes damage its nuclear sites
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran is assessing the damage and lashing out over the American and Israeli airstrikes that damaged its nuclear sites. But the Iranian government kept open the possibility Tuesday of resuming talks with Washington over its atomic program. The comments by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also included another acknowledgment that key sites within Iran’s program that were targeted by the American strikes had been “seriously damaged.” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted Mohajerani as making the remarks at a briefing for journalists.
Mystery surrounds the Jeffrey Epstein files after Bondi claims ‘tens of thousands’ of videos
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi’s comments about evidence the Justice Department is reviewing from its Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation have fueled anticipation about the expected release of more files related to the New York financier. But weeks after Bondi’s claim about “tens of thousands” of Epstein videos, it’s unclear what she was referring to. The Associated Press spoke with lawyers and law enforcement officials in criminal cases of Epstein and ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who said they hadn’t seen and didn’t know of recordings like what Bondi described. One of Maxwell’s lawyers says salacious videos of Epstein with children never surfaced. The department has declined AP requests to speak with officials overseeing the Epstein review.
Ukrainian drone hits a plant deep inside Russia after record Russian drone attacks in June
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Officials say a Ukrainian drone has struck an industrial plant deep inside Russia, injuring several people and causing a fire. Ukrainian officials say the plant produces drones and air defense systems. The attack Tuesday came as Ukraine prioritizes drone development to counter Russia’s expanded drone attacks. Both nations are ramping up drone capabilities, turning the war into a testing ground for advanced unmanned weaponry. In June, Russia launched a record 5,438 drones at Ukraine, according to data collated by The Associated Press. Ukraine has been using long-range drones to target Russian facilities deep inside its territory. Meanwhile, Russian drones struck a large southern Ukrainian city, leaving many without power.
The man accused of killing 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A 20-year-old man’s life appeared to have begun to unravel in the months before law enforcement say he fatally shot two firefighters and severely wounded a third as they responded to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Wess Roley was living out of his vehicle and his former roommate, T.J. Franks Jr., said he shaved off his long hair and started to “kind of go downhill.” Authorities say the man had set a fire and the firefighters who rushed to put out the blaze instead found themselves under fire. They took cover behind fire trucks. Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris says it appears the man later killed himself.
Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty to murder in Idaho student stabbings to avoid death penalty
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. Shanon Gray, an attorney for the family of victim Kaylee Goncalves, has confirmed that families of the victims received the news in a letter from prosecutors Monday. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday. Kohberger, 30, is accused in the stabbing deaths of Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the killings. He had been a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University.
Court suspends Thailand’s prime minister to investigate a leaked phone call
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. That is pending an ethics investigation over accusations that she was too deferential to a senior Cambodian leader when the two discussed a recent border dispute in a phone call that was leaked. Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the dispute. It involved an armed confrontation on May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. Paetongtarn attempted to defuse tensions in a call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. But she instead set off a string of complaints and public protests by critics who accused her of being too fawning. Paetongtarn’s suspension on Tuesday raises the possibility of renewed instability in Thailand.
Jury returns to deliberate for a second day at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial
NEW YORK (AP) — A jury returned to deliberate for a second day Tuesday at the sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Jurors deliberated over five hours on Monday after they received instructions on the law from the trial judge. They are deciding whether prosecutors have proven racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges during a trial that began in early May. Defense lawyers say prosecutors are unjustly basing federal crimes on what Combs did in the bedroom with his girlfriends as they participated in the swinger lifestyle and on acts of domestic violence involving their client.
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