Trump news at a glance: president tests out a new ‘red scare’ ahead of midterms
Republican strategists believe rise of Mamdani could present opportunity to tag Democrats with most extreme views of the left – key US politics stories from Friday 26 June
TL;DR
- Republicans plan to label Democrats as extremists by highlighting progressive wins in New York, with President Trump framing them as 'godless communists'.
- Trump addressed religious conservatives, asserting that communists attack Christianity and citing military intervention in Nigeria.
- The US conducted strikes in Iran targeting missile and drone facilities near the Strait of Hormuz in response to a prior drone strike on a cargo ship.
- Former US national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information.
- Environmental groups are calling for an investigation into damage caused by the closed Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center.
- FDA advisors will meet to discuss easing restrictions on research peptides.
- The UN high commissioner for human rights raised concerns about deaths in US immigration custody and called for investigations.
- The Texas education board approved a new reading list making Bible passages required for public school students.
- A mistrial was declared in the arson case related to the Palisades fire in Los Angeles.
- Billionaire Leon Black's testimony before a committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein ended abruptly.
- Pete Buttigieg reported a meritless accusation led to Child Protective Services investigating his family.
- A Utah judge held a prosecutor in contempt for speaking to the media about a murder case but did not bar the death penalty.