How America’s Birthday Got Hijacked

UFC Freedom 250: White House hosts MMA card for Trump’s 80th birthday – live updates

UFC takes over White House lawn for seven-fight cardThe stratospheric rise of the UFC’s Dana WhiteUFC to pay fighters in crypto from Trump companyReach out to Bryan on Bluesky or by emailThe most dangerous opponent on the card may prove to be the weather radar. Thunderstorms remain in the forecast over Washington, with a 60% chance of rain, heavy downpours and wind gusts approaching 34mph threatening to disrupt tonight’s festivities. While the canopy should keep the octagon dry, UFC officials will be monitoring lightning closely. A single strike within eight miles of the venue would trigger an automatic 30-minute suspension of the event.The Weather Channel highlighted the meteorological challenges earlier on Sunday, warning that oppressive humidity, triple-digit heat indices and even swarms of mosquitoes and gnats could complicate proceedings alongside the threat of thunderstorms. Continue reading...

Trump says he’ll refuse FISA spy power extension without SAVE America Act tacked on

President Trump declared Sunday that he will back an extension of the now-lapsed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrantless spy power unless the SAVE America Act is attached.

America at 250 is riven with doubt and pessimism — but with glimmers of hope

Americans have a bleak outlook on the nation’s future ahead of its 250th birthday next month, with most saying the U.S. has already seen its best days and a record-low number saying they are extremely proud to be Americans, according to a new NBC News poll

Steve Kornacki: America 250 poll shows nation marked by doubt and pessimism

NBC News chief data analyst Steve Kornacki joins Meet the Press to break down a new NBC News poll ahead of the nation’s 250 birthday next month, with most saying the U.S. has already seen its best days and over one-fifth of respondents saying they are only a little or not at all proud to be Americans.

‘Reeks of corruption’: protesters rally as Trump hosts UFC event on his birthday

Demonstrations took off in Washington and across US as Trump throws first private, for-profit sporting event ever held on White House groundsDozens of people stood across the entrance gates to the Ellipse, the park south of the White House, on Sunday afternoon, holding protest signs and chanting as the president prepared to host seven mixed martial arts fights on the lawn.Thousands of fight fans streamed past the protesters into the sprawling public viewing area that the Trump administration and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is hosting the fights, erected steps from the White House. The cage fights, marketed as a celebration of the country’s “fighting spirit” ahead of its 250th anniversary, are being held on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Continue reading...

Trump Uses SAVE America Act As Leverage for Major Security Legislation

Trump won't back FISA renewal without his SAVE America Act voting bill

President Trump is demanding Congress attach his sweeping voting overhaul to legislation renewing a key U.S. surveillance authority.Why it matters: Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is among the government's most contested surveillance authorities, long opposed by privacy advocates and supported by security hawks. Its fate now hinges on Trump's unrelated demands for a voting bill.Driving the news: In a Truth Social posts Sunday, Trump tied renewal of Section 702 to the SAVE America Act, his stalled bill requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to cast a ballot."I'm against FISA if it doesn't come with The Save America Act (Full version!) firmly attached to it," Trump wrote in one post.He also defended his controversial pick of Bill Pulte, a MAGA enforcer and housing regulator with no national security experience, as acting director of national intelligence.Between the lines: Trump had appeared to defuse the fight by naming Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as his permanent nominee. But on Sunday, he slammed Republicans for "moving too fast on nominations!!!" to replace Pulte.Clayton has a confirmation hearing set for Wednesday.Catch up quick: Section 702 lapsed Friday for the first time since the program began in 2008. The House failed to extend it following a 198–218 vote, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats to block the law.The law allows the government to surveil foreigners abroad, and, in the process, sweep up and search Americans' communications when they're in contact with those targets.Conservatives, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Chip Roy and Sen. Mike Lee, have pushed unsuccessfully to require warrants for searches involving Americans.The big picture: The FISA fight is now another front in Trump's yearlong push for stricter voting laws, a campaign that has increasingly targeted his own party's senators. He has pressured Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to scrap the filibuster and pass the bill on a party-line vote, even as Thune has said the votes "aren't there."The SAVE America Act drew 50 votes earlier this month but couldn't clear the 60-vote threshold.Supporters say the law ensures only citizens cast ballots and bolsters confidence in elections.Critics warn the new rules would block millions of eligible Americans from voting.Reality check: Audits and studies by election officials and researchers have found noncitizen voting, which is already illegal and carries severe penalties, is rare.What they're saying: Thune and other Republican senators have refused to vouch for Pulte, who has used his housing post to send criminal referrals against Trump's perceived enemies. "We don't need a weaponized DNI," Thune told reporters.Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worried what Pulte could do with FISA's expansive warrantless spy powers. Screenshot / Truth Social

Markwayne Mullin praises Trump for ‘still working – on his birthday!’

President Donald Trump received praise from his own Homeland Security (DHS) secretary on Sunday for apparently not taking the day off on his 80th birthday, which comes as the White House scrambles to seal an interim agreement with Iran to end the president’s deeply unpopular war.Markwayne Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem as DHS secretary, appeared on Fox News Sunday and was asked about security at the president’s White House birthday blowout, which included a motorcycle stunt performance and, later, an unprecedented Ultimate Fighting Championship event.“We're gonna have a great time and everybody should feel very confident in the fact they're gonna be safe wherever they're at,” Mullin said. “In fact, I spoke to the president this morning – on his birthday, he's still working!”Mullin went on to refer to the White House as “the president’s house” and stressed the significance of June 14.“Today's a great day: my 29th anniversary, president's birthday, Flag Day, and the birthday of the Army,” he said. “So we have a big day today and we're celebrating it in a big way in front of the president's house at the White House.”