In our news wrap Friday, a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove Donald Trump’s name from the building, the U.S. and Iran appear to still be far apart on a potential deal to end the conflict and Romania says that a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building near its border with Ukraine, the first known time that’s happened on NATO soil since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Amna Nawaz:
President Trump huddled in the White House Situation Room for roughly two hours today to, in his words, make a final determination about a potential deal to end the war. The president made no announcement and that meeting has ended.
U.S. officials describe the possible agreement as a memorandum of understanding that would open the Strait of Hormuz and then kick-start a second phase of negotiations over limiting Iran’s nuclear program and lifting U.S. sanctions.
But today, in public, Tehran insisted that current negotiations did not include the nuclear issue. And a key negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, struck a hard-line tone on X, saying: “No step will be taken before the other side acts.”
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s so-called anti-weaponization fund, a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim they have been targeted by the justice system. The order stops the fund’s formation and any potential payouts for at least the next two weeks.
Since it was announced last week, the fund has been challenged in at least three lawsuits. It’s also drawn bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill, including from Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Meantime, in another legal setback for the president, a federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to remove Donald Trump’s name from the building. Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the venues board violated the law, writing — quote — “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”
In response to the judge’s ruling and in a major concession, President Trump said he will pursue a full and complete transfer of responsibility for the Kennedy Center to Congress.
In Louisiana, Republican state lawmakers have approved a new congressional map that could help the GOP pick up another House seat in the upcoming midterms. Just one month ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander.
The new boundaries would eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black districts, leaving just one Democratic stronghold around New Orleans. The state’s U.S. House primary was postponed until the summer so the map could be redrawn.
Turning overseas to Lebanon, Israel says its troops have pushed deeper into Lebanese territory, widening its offensive against Hezbollah, in spite of a cease-fire that’s had little effect. Israeli forces entered the village of Dibbin today, crossing the Litani River, a longtime cease-fire boundary between the two countries.
The IDF’s advance came as Israeli airstrikes killed at least six people across Southern Lebanon, according to state media. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops on a visit to the northern border that the fighting will remain relentless.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):
We are operating in Beirut, in Bekaa, across the entire width of the front, and we are both eliminating Hezbollah and causing them to flee.
Amna Nawaz:
In the midst of all of this, dialogue continues. Delegations from Lebanon and Israel met in Washington today for the first direct military talks between the two countries in decades. More talks are expected next week.
Romania says that a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building near its border with Ukraine, injuring several people in the NATO country. Last night’s stray drone is not the first to fall inside Romania, but was the first to cause injuries. President Putin questioned that the drone was of Russian origin.
Romania responded by closing the Russian consulate there. NATO allies condemned the incident, including Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who vowed to — quote — “defend every inch of allied territory.”
Back in the U.S., in Texas, an ICE agent was arrested today. He was wanted for the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year. Hennepin County officials had charged 52-year-old Christian Castro with assault and falsely reporting a crime.
Castro was one of two federal agents to face charges related to the Minnesota crackdown, which raised concerns about officer conduct, especially after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed.
On Wall Street, the major stock indices kept adding to their record gains. The Dow Jones industrial average ticked up 0.7 percent, posting another record high. The Nasdaq also reached new heights with a 55-point gain. The S&P 500 ended with a ninth strait weekly gain.
And 14-year-old Shrey Parikh spelled his way to victory last night in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which ended in a rapid-fire tiebreaker round.
Man:
Torrone.
Shrey Parikh, Scripps National Spelling Bee Winner:
T-O-R-R-O-N-E.
Man:
Enthymeme.
Shrey Parikh:
E-N-T-H-Y-M-E-M-E.
Man:
Iguape.
Shrey Parikh:
I-G-U-A-P-E.
Man:
Denebola.
Shrey Parikh:
D-E-N-E-B-O-L-A.
Amna Nawaz:
Letter by letter, he zipped through a record 32 words in just 90 seconds.
Fellow finalist, 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta, correctly spelled 25 words. It’s the third time a spell-off has decided to bee since it was introduced in 2021.
Parikh’s win marks an astounding comeback. Just last year, an illness and shaky performance at his school spelling bee knocked him out of competition. Our congratulations to Shrey, who we are very confident can spell redemption.
