Morning news brief

6/4: CBS Evening News

Trump says he will nominate Todd Blanche to be "top cop;" NTSB releases new images from a Newark airport near-disaster.

Alex Jones rips into Trump for backing aide he says 'sold everybody out': 'Terrible news'

Alex Jones unloaded on Donald Trump Thursday over the president's decision to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice, calling it "terrible news" and accusing Blanche of betraying Trump's MAGA base.Trump announced his intent to nominate Blanche during a White House event Wednesday evening. Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, has served as acting AG since April after Trump fired Pam Bondi.Jones tore into the nomination on his show Thursday morning. "Terrible. Democrat lawyer. Sold everybody out," he said on the Alex Jones Network. "Killed the investigations into the government weaponization against Trump's top supporters. It's just really terrible news."The criticism carries a personal edge. Jones lost control of Infowars after The Onion acquired it in a bankruptcy auction tied to a $1.5 billion Sandy Hook defamation judgment against him — a takeover Jones is still fighting in court. In September 2025, Blanche ordered a DOJ official, according to the Associated Press, to drop an inquiry into that lawsuit — one Jones had celebrated as proof the DOJ was fighting "illegal lawfare" against him.Jones also seized on the controversy surrounding UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who claims in a social media video that he was barred from a White House UFC event over his criticism of Israel — framing it alongside the Blanche pick and Jones's own Epstein file grievances as evidence of a "social credit score" being imposed on Trump supporters.Blanche's nomination requires Senate confirmation.

Trump news at a glance: Senate Republicans keep president’s $1.8bn ally payout fund alive – for now

Trump’s plan for an ‘anti-weaponization’ fund that could issue financial settlements to people connected to the January 6 insurrection has sparked dissent in his party – key US politics stories from Thursday 4 June at a glanceSenate Republicans on Thursday narrowly scuttled an attempt by Democrats to stop Donald Trump from creating a $1.8bn fund to pay his allies, even as signs emerged that dissent over the proposal was spreading inside the US president’s own party.Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer had proposed inserting language barring the payouts into Republican-backed legislation to fund Trump’s mass deportation campaign through the duration of his term. Continue reading...

The Morning Briefing: Marco Rubio BRILLIANTLY Buzzsaws House TDS Dems During Hearing

Trump news at a glance: rare rebuke for president as four House Republicans side with Democrats to pass war powers resolution

Vote sends resolution to the US Senate, where the chamber must promptly take up the measure under law – key US politics stories from Wednesday, 3 June at a glanceThe US House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump over his war on Iran on Wednesday, as representatives backed a move to force him to seek approval from Congress or withdraw US forces.The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution, as four Republicans voted with Democrats. The dissident Republicans were Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Tom Barrett of Michigan. Continue reading...

6/3: CBS Evening News

FBI kills hostage-taker in California after 15-hour standoff; President Trump declines to say whether he's dropped "anti-weaponization" fund plans.

Fox News Poll: Democratic unity, Republican crossovers shape Ohio Senate race

A Fox News poll shows Democrat Sherrod Brown leading Republican Jon Husted by 8 points in Ohio's Senate race as Trump's approval drops sharply.

Chaotic race to succeed Newsom comes down to ex-Biden official, Trump-backed former Fox News host

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to allow Alabama to use a redrawn House map that gives Republicans one additional seat after a lower court previously blocked it. […]