Good morning. We begin with breaking developments. New U.S. jobs data released moments ago point to a weakening economy, raising fresh concerns about a potential downturn. At the same time, Donald Trump is implying that U.S. land strikes against drug cartels in Mexico may be imminent, a statement that could dramatically escalate tensions with a key ally. Today, Trump is also set to meet privately with top oil executives at the White House, a meeting likely to have significant implications for energy policy. Meanwhile, a closely watched Supreme Court ruling on tariffs was expected today—but it has not yet been issued.
The past week has been relentless, and the pace is not slowing. I am working around the clock to bring you verified information the moment it breaks.
The United States added just 50,000 jobs in December and about 584,000 jobs total in 2025—the weakest year for job growth outside a recession since 2003—with roughly 85% of gains occurring by April, hiring largely stalling afterward, unemployment rising to 4.4% from 4% at the start of the year, and wages growing 3.8%, slightly outpacing inflation of about 3%.
Donald Trump said he plans to meet next week with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and that he would accept a Nobel Peace Prize if she chose to share it with him, calling such a gesture “a great honor” during a Fox News interview.
During an interview with the New York Times, Donald Trump referred to aides he called “kids,” including JD Vance and Marco Rubio, said he had bought them shoes, and described Vance lifting his leg to show the president the pair he was wearing.
Donald Trump said the United States may have to choose between pursuing control of Greenland and preserving NATO, telling the New York Times he does not feel bound by international law and is constrained only by his own morality, remarks that alarmed European leaders including Mette Frederiksen and Emmanuel Macron, who warned such actions could fracture the alliance.
Over the past 24 hours, the Trump Administration has unleashed a wave of misinformation about Renee Nicole Good. After she was killed, senior federal officials and political figures publicly described her as a violent rioter and “domestic terrorist” who tried to run over officers, claimed multiple agents were injured, and framed the shooting as clear self-defense, even though no riot was taking place, video evidence did not show officers being run over or hurt, and an investigation had not yet established those facts, leading state and city leaders to accuse the administration of spreading false and misleading statements about her actions.
US border patrol agents shot a man and a woman outside a hospital in Portland during a vehicle stop, leaving both hospitalized with gunshot wounds of unknown severity; federal officials said agents fired after the driver allegedly tried to run them over, the FBI is leading the investigation, and city and state officials urged calm while calling for a pause in ICE operations amid heightened tensions. We do not have any new information this morning.
According to Axios, the White House contacted the United States Secret Service over concerns that former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene may have tipped off Code Pink protesters about an unannounced dinner outing by Donald Trump, after demonstrators confronted him at a Washington restaurant, an incident that deepened a bitter rupture between Trump and Greene and raised internal alarm about the president’s security, allegations Greene has forcefully denied.
According to Reuters, billionaire oil executive and Trump ally Harry Sargeant III is informally advising the Trump administration on restoring US oil company access to Venezuela after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, leveraging his close ties to Trump and Venezuelan officials to shape plans for reviving the country’s oil sector, managing crude sales, and potentially backing Delcy Rodríguez over opposition leader María Corina Machado as a transitional authority favorable to US energy interests.
Donald Trump said he cancelled a previously planned second wave of US attacks on Venezuela after its government began releasing political prisoners and cooperating with the US on oil and gas infrastructure, while keeping US naval forces in place and claiming major US oil companies would invest about $100 billion as talks continued.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei signaled a harsher crackdown as nationwide protests in Iran over economic collapse expanded into calls for political change, blaming the US for instigating unrest, labeling protesters “vandals” and “saboteurs,” backing mass arrests, internet shutdowns and force by security services, while demonstrations continued across major cities with dozens reported killed and thousands detained despite threats of “maximum” punishment. Read here for more.
The United States seized another oil tanker, the Olina, in the Caribbean as part of efforts to restrict oil flows linked to Venezuela, following earlier seizures of sanctioned “shadow fleet” vessels, according to NBC News.
Russia said the United States released two Russian crew members from the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, which US authorities seized in the North Atlantic for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela, Russia and Iran; Moscow said the decision was made by Donald Trump, welcomed the release, but warned that the tanker’s seizure risked escalating military and political tensions and threatening international shipping.
Russia launched a large overnight attack on Ukraine using its new Oreshnik, alongside drones and other missiles, killing civilians and striking cities including Lviv and Kyiv; Moscow said the strike was retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on a residence used by Vladimir Putin, a claim rejected by Ukraine, the US and European leaders, who condemned the attack as escalatory as the war nears its fourth year.
Pope Leo XIV warned that the growing use of military force by states is eroding global peace and the post-Second World War legal order, saying “war is back in vogue,” in a major foreign policy speech to the Holy See diplomatic corps delivered against the backdrop of the US operation in Venezuela, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and other ongoing conflicts, without naming specific countries.
Politico has confirmed that France postponed the Group of Seven summit by one day, moving it to June 15–17 in Evian-les-Bains, to avoid clashing with a planned Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on June 14—Donald Trump’s birthday—though Emmanuel Macron’s office said the change followed consultations with G7 partners.
According to NBC News, Israeli airstrikes across Gaza Strip killed at least 13 people, including a child, as Donald Trump was expected to announce appointments to his proposed “Board of Peace” to oversee the “ceasefire” (in quotations because it is not really a ceasefire anymore) between Israel and Hamas.
CNN has confirmed that Fetty Wap was released early from federal prison and transferred to community confinement after serving nearly three years of a six-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, with authorities saying he will remain in home confinement or a halfway house until a projected full release in November 2026, as the rapper said he plans to focus on community work and supporting at-risk youth.
Luigi Mangione is returning to federal court today as his lawyers seek to block the death penalty in the case accusing him of fatally shooting Brian Thompson of UnitedHealthcare in New York City, arguing that key charges should be dismissed on legal grounds, that evidence seized during his arrest was unlawful, and that a conflict of interest involving US attorney general Pam Bondi should remove capital punishment from consideration.
According to Politico, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, operating on X, restricted its image-generation tool to paying subscribers after it was used to create nonconsensual sexual deepfakes, prompting sharp criticism and an ongoing investigation by the European Commission, which said limiting access does not resolve concerns about illegal and harmful content.
