On Thursday evening, President Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with news he did not want to hear: He expected to sign a deal with Iran within days.
"This is the deal. It's a great deal, and it's time to end this war," Trump told Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. official.
Why it matters: When Netanyahu went to war alongside Trump, this is not how he envisioned it ending.
Elon Musk's almost inconceivable fortune has expanded the Overton window of wealth.
Why it matters: Big, round numbers have a remarkable way of focusing minds and setting narratives.
The first trillionaire — much less a trillionaire known for erratic personal behavior, online trolling and support for global right-wing politics — will likely reignite discussion of the diverging fortunes of wage earners and those with market-based wealth, as well as their growing political power.
ICE has empty detention bed space and the average daily number of detainees has slid to 58,000, Axios has learned from twosources familiar with the data.
Why it matters: ICE went on a $38 billion buying spree to rapidly expand the number of available beds. But after its detention population more than doubled in President Trump's first year in office, the numbers have gone in the other direction.
The Washington National Opera sued the Kennedy Center on Thursday, alleging the center withheld $17 million in donations that belong to the opera company.
Why it matters: It's the latest controversy facing the performing arts center since President Trump took over as The Kennedy Center board chairman and began reshaping the institution.
A federal judge on Friday extended her block on President Trump's nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund but signaled she'd let the case go if administration officials swore under penalty of perjury that the plan was dead.
Why it matters: While the DOJ has said the fund, which faced legal challenges and bipartisan blowback, is not moving forward and argued the challenge is moot, the president has maintained that it's "a great idea."
A judge has denied President Trump'srequest to pause a ruling ordering his name removed from the Kennedy Center.
Why it matters: The request was a last-minute bid to avoid removing the president's name from the building and accompanying signage, as ordered in late May. The deadline for compliance is Friday.
Most Americans say the country's best days are behind it as the U.S. approaches its 250th birthday, even as they're personally hopeful about the future.
Why it matters: A new Pew Research Center analysis reveals national pessimism, fueled by political polarization and institutional distrust. But the findings also show the American spirit isn't completely broken.
The Trump administration released a sweeping cache of government records and videos Friday that include colorful UFO-like orbs flying across the sky in seemingly impossible ways.
Why it matters: The disclosure is part of a wave of releases aimed at shedding light on the U.S. government's examination of such sightings, which have been the subject of many conspiracy theories.
Oil prices have defied predictions of even bigger increases than we've seen — but the markets' shock absorbers could easily wear out later this summer unless the Strait of Hormuz opens soon, analysts warn.
Why it matters: If the stockpiles run too low and oil prices surge, prices at the pump — which have been falling lately — could spike again as the midterm elections approach.
Dana White likes to say he sells "holy sh*t moments for a living."
Sunday night, the UFC CEO will attempt his magnum opus on the biggest stage in combat sports history.
Why it matters: The UFC and President Trump have forged one of the most successful cultural alliances in modern politics, carrying mixed martial arts (MMA) from the fringe of American sports to a starring role in the country's 250th anniversary.
U.S. health officials are deploying emergency measures against New World screwworm while monitoring other infectious disease risks ahead of the World Cup and America250 celebrations.
Why it matters: Health experts warn existing and proposed federal funding cuts could weaken disease surveillance and outbreak response ahead of major U.S. events.
The Kennedy Center plans to appeal a judge's order requiring President Trump's name to be removed from the performing arts center, according to multiple reports.
Why it matters: An appeal could extend the controversy over Trump's name and the future of the famed center.
