Politics - CBSNews.com
6/9: The Takeout with Major Garrett
Primary day wrapping up in Maine as voters grapple with Graham Platner's scandals; U.S. launches retaliatory strikes against Iran.
Center
Politics - CBSNews.com
6/8: The Takeout with Major Garrett
Center
Iran and Israel say they've halted military operations after weekend flare-up; Trump attends NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden.
Compare Perspectives
Found 8 stories
Latest Political News on Fox News
Collins secures GOP nod in Maine Senate battle that could decide GOP majority
Sen. Susan Collins wins Maine GOP primary unopposed as she seeks a sixth term, facing Democrat Graham Platner in a crucial Senate majority battle.
Right
Raw Story
Blanche hit with major Epstein accusation as he's accused of witness tampering
A Democratic lawmaker hurled a major allegation at Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday, one they said amounted to “witness tampering” in the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.Blanche was nominated by President Donald Trump on Monday to serve as permanent attorney general, and during an appearance on CNN, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) was asked whether Blanche’s handling of the Justice Department’s (DOJ) release of Epstein-related files would help or hurt his chances at being confirmed by the Senate.Lynch poured cold water on Blanche’s chances – calling him “unqualified and untrustworthy” – while also leveling the allegation that Blanche had “interfered” with the criminal probe into Epstein’s potential co-conspirators.Last year, Blanche – then deputy attorney general – conducted an interview with Epstein accomplice and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, during which the two spoke “for a few minutes” before the conversation was recorded. Not long after, Maxwell was quietly transferred from her maximum-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas, a move that ran afoul of DOJ policy as it relates to sex offenders.“Todd Blanche's involvement with the Epstein case is disastrous. He actually went and met with Ghislaine Maxwell, took her out of a heavy security prison, gave her a sweetheart deal,” Lynch told CNN’s John Berman.“She never agreed to cooperate. [Blanche] put her in a much more permissive environment [that] has given her extensive privileges. I believe that is witness tampering on his part – he interfered with the investigation! She is less likely to talk to us now since Todd Blanche got involved with this case.”Maxwell has enjoyed extensive privileges at the detention facility she was transferred to in Texas, privileges reportedly not afforded to other inmates that include access to computers, a "security risk not typically allowed,” CNN previously reported. Maxwell has since gushed about her experience at the prison, claiming to be “much happier” there and calling her privileges “fantastic.”Regarding the federal investigation into Epstein, @RepStephenLynch accuses Acting AG @DAGToddBlanche of "witness tampering" and of having "interfered with the investigation.""He's clearly unqualified and untrustworthy" pic.twitter.com/v0MiJXFcxq— Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) June 9, 2026
Far Left
Raw Story
Bari Weiss on verge of major promotion for 'fantastic job' bosses think she's doing at CBS
Bari Weiss could be taking over the editorial leadership of another news network.Paramount has begun preliminary conversations with several top media executives about a business-side counterpart to Weiss, the CBS News editor-in-chief, as the company awaits regulatory approval of its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios."The search implies that if Paramount Skydance's deal with Warner Bros. Discovery goes through, Weiss would oversee all news editorial across both CBS News and CNN," Axios reported. "Her potential counterpart would manage business operations across both companies."Among the candidates under consideration are NBCUniversal News Group chairman Cesar Conde, CNN Worldwide CEO Mark Thompson and former NBC News president Noah Oppenheim. Paramount had also weighed Ben Sherwood, CEO of the Daily Beast and former ABC News president, and David Rhodes, former CBS News president and current Sky News executive chairman, according to a source familiar with the search.One candidate faces a procedural hurdle. Because Paramount is still awaiting regulatory clearance to acquire WBD, company executives are barred from holding conversations with any WBD personnel — which would include Thompson.Currently, CBS News president Tom Cibrowski serves alongside Weiss, reporting to George Cheeks, chair of TV media at Paramount. Weiss reports directly to Paramount chairman and CEO David Ellison.The role being sought would fill a void left by former CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon, who oversaw all business operations before resigning last year ahead of Skydance's merger with Paramount. No direct replacement was ever named.The search comes amid turbulence surrounding CBS News' flagship program "60 Minutes," though a source close to the process disputed recent reports suggesting Weiss' authority could be curtailed."The Paramount brass loves Bari Weiss," the source said. "She has the full confidence of David Ellison, who believes Bari has done a fantastic job as editor-in-chief."The search has not yet concluded. Federal regulators are expected to approve the merger, though attorneys general from California and New York are among a group preparing a lawsuit to block the deal.
Far Left
Alternet.org
Trump attack on First Amendment receives major 'benchslap' from judge
Attacks against the press have been characteristic of President Donald Trump’s second term, and now it’s being reported that one of his most notable efforts to stifle the 1st Amendment has received a major “benchslap.”“Just in,” tweeted Politico Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein on Monday. “Judge Roy Altman benchslaps Trump's attorneys in his $5 to 10 [billion] libel lawsuit against BBC, citing late filings and a missed deadline.”His post was attached to an image of the latest legal filing from Trump vs. British Broadcasting Corporation, in which the judge asserted, “Rather than timely file his response, the Plaintiff filed two eleventh-hour procedural motions the day his response was due. Neither motion explained why the Plaintiff delayed so long in seeking the requested relief or asked that we extend the response deadline…And, as of this writing, the Plaintiff has missed the deadline to file his response.”None of that is good for Trump’s case, but the judge’s conclusion was even worse: “We hereby order that by June 10, 2026, the Plaintiff shall file notice with the docket explaining: (1) whether we should consider the Motion to Dismiss unopposed and (2) why we shouldn’t sanction the Plaintiff’s counsel for their apparent disregard of court deadlines.”In other words, the Trump legal team has just two days to explain why the case shouldn’t be thrown out entirely and why they themselves should not face consequences for wasting the court’s time. This is an embarrassing blow amidst Trump’s wide-ranging war against the media, in which he has suffered losses but also achieved high-profile victories. Trump’s wins have included high-value settlements with ABC and Paramount, the latter of which, it has been suggested, contributed to the firing of Stephen Colbert. Beyond litigation, the purchase of CNN by a Trump loyalist also resulted in the appointment of a new CBS News chief who has been accused of MAGA sympathies, resulting in a recent string of changes at Trump-targeted 60 Minutes, which fired correspondent Scott Pelley has called an effort to “murder” the legacy news program. But Trump’s campaign against the press has also been checkered with humiliating losses. In April, a judge threw out his $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, saying the claims were a “groundless” attempt to level allegations before looking for evidence to support them. His lawyers have also just announced intentions to request that the Supreme Court reopen a $475 million lawsuit against CNN that was slapped down earlier this year.Now, Trump appears to be losing his fight against the BBC. The president filed suit for as much as $10 billion against the networkunder allegations that it had “maliciously” doctored a speech delivered by Trump shortly before the January 6th insurrection to make him appear responsible for the violence. His case has hit a number of stumbling blocks over the past year, but now it appears that it may be tossed out altogether.
Left
The New Republic
“I’m Worried”: Republicans Revolt Against Trump on Major Bill
President Donald Trump blew up his party’s own Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, renewal in order to install yet another wildly inexperienced MAGA loyalist.A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers has been planning since April to pass a long-term extension of FISA Section 702, which is intended to shield U.S. citizens from the country’s warrantless surveillance program overseas. The key spy power is set to expire Friday, but Democrats have pulled their support over Trump’s decision to install Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence. The federal housing official has none of the military or intelligence background necessary to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and has instead made a name for himself by being Trump’s pit bull, targeting the president’s political enemies and making himself wildly unpopular in the process.“The idea that we’re going to allow Mr. Pulte to be potentially in charge of how this tool is used or manipulated, that’s going to be a very uphill path to convince Democrats,” Virginia Senator Mark Warner told CNN Sunday. “This was a self-inflicted harm.”Trump’s move to place one of his goons at the head of the U.S. intelligence apparatus is yet another example of the president acting impulsively despite the fallout for his own party.“I don’t think he thinks about the impact on us and the timing,” Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski told reporters. “Which is unfortunate because it really has had an impact. Quite honestly, I’m worried about what we’re going to do on FISA.”
Left
Raw Story
Iran says Trump just cleared the way for major attacks on US bases: 'Our forces are ready'
The United States was issued a dire threat Sunday after a wave of Israeli airstrikes pounded Lebanon’s largest city earlier the same morning with supposed backing from the Trump administration, threats that may materialize as major attacks on U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.As Washington and Tehran continue to negotiate terms to end the ongoing Iran war, a key sticking point has been Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, which since early March has killed more than 3,400 Lebanese and injured over 10,200. Iran has demanded that Israel halt its bombardment as a condition to end hostilities.And yet, despite multiple attempts by Trump to force Israel’s hand and end its bombardment of its northern neighbor, Israel has defied the president, and has since expanded its military siege of Lebanon, including with the reported use of white phosphorus bombs, which is a potential war crime.“The naval blockade against the Iranian nation and today's U.S. green light to the Zionist regime turn American and regime bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets,” said Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid. “Our armed forces are ready as always.”Last week, Trump admitted to hurling expletives at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call over Israel’s refusal to halt its bombardment of Lebanon, telling The New York Post he was “a little bit perturbed” at Israel’s defiance.🚨Iranian speaker of parliament and chief negotiator Ghalibaf: "The naval blockade against the Iranian nation and today's U.S. green light to the Zionist regime turn American and regime bases and assets in the region into legitimate targets. Our armed forces are ready as always" https://t.co/ObwY6kTc0U— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) June 7, 2026
Far Left
Raw Story
Major issue flagged as new Epstein investigation kicks off: 'Fox guarding the henhouse'
While a New Mexico legislative committee began its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling compound known as Zorro Ranch last week, one veteran journalist warned that the effort is analogous to “the fox guarding the henhouse,” flagging what they described as a major “conflict of interest.”Established in February by the New Mexico Legislature, the New Mexico Truth Commission was afforded $2 million in spending and granted subpoena power to investigate the potential criminal activity at Epstein’s New Mexico property, the site of which multiple women have claimed to have been sexually abused as minors.The issue, journalist Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez warned in an analysis published on her Substack Saturday, was that the commission, “in reality,” appeared to be “mostly public relations crisis management and damage control for a political establishment in New Mexico that suddenly realized the world could see just how corrupt they’d been with regards to Epstein for decades.”“The commission recently selected a law firm to lead its investigation, and when you look hard enough at the firm you start to see that the commission is mostly a PR stunt that doubles as a bag of cash for political donors,” Valdes-Rodriguez wrote.That law firm was Fadduol, Cluff, Hardy & Conaway (FCHC), an Albuquerque-based personal injury law firm. As flagged by Valdes-Rodriguez, the firm’s founding partners each “donated the maximum allowable contribution of $2,300” to the presidential campaign of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who was accused by prominent Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre of being sexually trafficked to by Epstein. Richardson had also accepted $100,000 from Epstein in campaign contributions in his re-election bids for governor, according to news reports.“[Richardson] is a central figure in the very conduct the commission is supposed to be investigating. Whoops. Nothing to see here, folks. Keep moving,” Valdes-Rodriguez sarcastically wrote.“If that seems like a conflict of interest, rest assured the people who selected this firm, who also got political donations from its members, have considered the matter carefully and arrived at the conclusion that it is fine.”
Far Left