Plus: Senate Works To Pass Massive Spending Bill, But AI Provision Could Get In The Way

Good evening,

Portland International Airport has been crowned the best airport in the U.S., according to the Washington Post’s ranking of the 50 best airports in the country.

What made it special? Portland got high marks from travelers for its small cinema that shows short films by artists from the Pacific Northwest and favorite local restaurants that don’t have typical inflated airport prices. When I’ve flown in/out of PDX, locals told me to look at the airport’s iconic carpet.
- Long Beach Airport in California was a close second, followed by Washington D.C.‘s Reagan National (DCA).
Key factors in the rankings included accessibility, amenities, and punctuality, based on feedback from 2,300 Washington Post readers and data from 450+ U.S. airports. Travelers also highlighted unique features like standout architecture and quirky perks.

Now, how can we make sure the flights go out on time?

Lauren
Producer

🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Hegseth Clashes With Press Over Iran Strike Coverage, Doubles Down on Trump’s Claims

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparred with the Pentagon press corps on Thursday during a briefing on the U.S. attacks in Iran.

Hegseth expressed his discontent with media coverage of last week's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites following the leak of one Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) preliminary report that said the strikes may have only set the Iranian nuclear program back months.
- A CIA assessment, Israeli intelligence, and outside reports have concluded that much more significant damage was done.

The early assessment, based on just 24 hours of satellite data, was noteworthy but incomplete — and it will still take weeks or months for a full picture to emerge.

WAR OF WORDS
Hegseth reiterated President Trump's claim that the sites were "obliterated" in the strikes, and pointed out that the leaked report was preliminary and evaluations are ongoing.

“Whether it’s fake news CNN, MSNBC or The New York Times, there’s been fawning coverage of a preliminary assessment,” Hegseth said. “I’ve had a chance to read it. Every outlet has breathlessly reported on a preliminary assessment.”
- The Secretary said it is in the press's "DNA" to cheer against Trump and the efficacy of the strikes.
Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin questioned whether all of the enriched uranium was in the Fordow nuclear site at the time of the strikes and pointed out to Hegesth that a fleet of trucks were observed leaving the facility in the days before the strikes. Hegseth then went after his former Fox News colleague, saying she’s “been about the worst. The one who misrepresents the most intentionally.” She pushed back, saying she has covered all the successful aspects of the strike.

Bottom line: Both the media and the Trump administration are missing the mark: the media is overplaying a preliminary DIA intel report, while the Trump team is taking an all-or-nothing approach — crying “fake news” and making it harder to get accurate information. It’s important to explain some of the nuance. See Mosheh’s take above.

After days of delays, Trump officials briefed senators Thursday on the Iran strikes — but the White House is limiting the intel its sharing over fears of leaks to the press.

MORE TO KNOW
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine told reporters Thursday that the 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) "bunker buster” bombs dropped on the Fordow site hit their intended speed and targets as designed.

He noted that the bombs were developed over the last 15 years specifically for the sites and were used for the first time last weekend when the U.S. joined Israel’s campaign to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
- He showed test footage to demonstrate the lethality of the bunker-busting weapon.

What about the uranium? The Pentagon’s top officials largely dodged questions about whether Iran managed to relocate enriched uranium from Fordow before the U.S. strike. Preliminary European intelligence assessments indicate the stockpile remains largely intact because the Iranians had moved it to other locations in advance of the U.S. strike.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, made his first remarks Thursday since the U.S. strikes — he has been in hiding for nearly two weeks in a secret bunker. He said his country had delivered a “slap to America’s face” with its strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, which U.S. officials report experience little damage in the Iranian strike.

🚨 ONE THING WE’LL BE FOLLOWING

AI Regulation Becomes States’ Right Issue As Senate Debates ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

A provision in President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ would ban states that take certain federal funds from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) for at least 10 years.

The latest version of the provision, as released by the Senate Commerce Committee, would restrict states from regulating AI if they take federal money from a $500 million fund that supports AI infrastructure.
- On Thursday, the Senate parliamentarian who enforces the chamber's rules asked the committee to rewrite the language to clarify the move would not impact $42 billion in broadband funding, as it initially would have.
- It’s not the only issue the nonpartisan parliamentarian raised Thursday. She also said Medicaid cuts — critical to efforts to reduce the bill’s price tag and garner GOP support — did not comply with Senate rules.

Republicans who like the idea of limited regulation have argued it’s important to give the tech industry leeway, while preventing a patchwork of differing state laws in regards to AI. But there are other lawmakers, including some Republicans, who argue this provision is a threat to state rights and doesn’t address common concerns with AI, such as misinformation, deepfakes, and job losses.

ISSUE AT PLAY
The loudest GOP opponent of the provision has been Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) who said that she was unaware of the AI regulation ban when she voted to pass the bill in the House last month. She has vowed to vote against the bill when it returns to the House if the Senate doesn’t remove the provision.

Other Republicans like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) are also against it, with Hawley vowing to work with Democrats on an amendment that would strike the policy from the final bill.
State lawmakers are unhappy, with a bipartisan group of 260 state lawmakers from all 50 states signing a joint letter opposing the measure. Forty state attorneys general have also come out against it.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is a union that represents more than 1.3 million workers, has called the measure, “a disaster for communities and working people,” and suggested it denies local leaders the ability to make choices at the state and local level.

On the other side, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the measure would end “the chaos of 50 different state laws and makes sure American companies can develop cutting-edge tech for our military, infrastructure, and critical industries.” Tech industry trade groups have also backed the move, saying it will allow for U.S. innovation.

It is unclear whether the Senate will vote on stripping the AI provision, but it would likely happen shortly before the bill’s final passage, which Republicans hope to accomplish before July 4.

THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

Supreme Court rules states can cut Planned Parenthood from Medicaid (MO NEWS)
Adams launches independent bid for mayor, says NYC is not a socialist city (MO NEWS)
Legalized same-sex marriage turns 10 after landmark Supreme Court decision reshaped American law and culture (FOX)
Trump administration says California violated Title IX by letting trans athletes compete (NBC)
Mississippi executes the longest-serving man on the state’s death row for 1976 killing (AP)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

Israel halts aid into northern Gaza, officials say, as clans deny Hamas stealing it (REUTERS)
Ukraine halts Russia's advance in northern Sumy region, commander says (AP)
Dozens killed in Central African Republic school stampede (DW)
North Korea to open beach resort as Kim bets on tourism (BBC)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

Unemployment among young college graduates outpaces overall US joblessness rate (AP)
Proposed Medicaid cuts could threaten vital services for people living with HIV and AIDS (AXIOS)
Stocks rise, lifting S&P 500 to within inches from new record (CNBC)
RFK Jr’s CDC panel recommends RSV shot for babies (ABC)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Orlando Bloom arrives at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding after splitting with Katy Perry (PEOPLE)
Thieves scaled fence, busted window before ransacking Brad Pitt's L.A. home, sources say (NBC)
Michelle Obama addresses divorce rumors — and why she’s rarely seen with Barack: ‘We’re 60, y’all’ (NEW YORK POST)
Faith Kipyegon comes up short in bid to break 4-minute mile (ESPN)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… Famed Vogue editor Anna Wintour announced Thursday she is stepping down as editor-in-chief of the influential fashion magazine. She will continue to work for the magazine as the global editorial director and for its parent company, Condé Nast, as its chief content officer.

Since assuming the position of editor-in-chief in 1988, Wintour transformed Vogue into a trendsetting, boundary-pushing publication. She is also the inspiration for the character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada.