{"id":13281,"date":"2026-05-30T00:28:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:28:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/30\/trump-says-hell-back-away-from-kennedy-center-renovation-after-judge-orders-his-name-removed-ap-news\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T00:28:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T00:28:36","slug":"trump-says-hell-back-away-from-kennedy-center-renovation-after-judge-orders-his-name-removed-ap-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/30\/trump-says-hell-back-away-from-kennedy-center-renovation-after-judge-orders-his-name-removed-ap-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump says he&#8217;ll back away from Kennedy Center renovation after judge orders his name removed &#8211; AP News"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"blogBody\">\n<p><b><i>Today\u2019s live updates have ended. Read what you missed below and find <\/i><\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/\"><b><i><u>more coverage at apnews.com.<\/u><\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-module data-gtm-region=\"Here's what we're following: A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump\u2019s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center cultural and arts venue and blocked the administration from closing it for major renovations. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, the judge said, and only Congress can change it. Hours later the president said in a social media post that he would cease involvement in the Kennedy Center renovations and return control of the historic venue to Congress. Trump said Friday that he\u2019s holding a White House Situation Room meeting with his advisers as he looks to make a \u201cfinal determination\u201d on moving forward on a deal to extend a ceasefire with Iran. Trump confirmed the high-level talks a day after the AP reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had reached a tentative agreement to extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days and start new talks on Iran's nuclear program. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions on Trump\u2019s involvement in the release of case files on Jeffrey Epstein as she defended the administration\u2019s actions in a closed-door interview before House lawmakers on Friday. Lawmakers have scrutinized the Justice Department\u2019s release of the files, which was delayed and revealed the personal information of potential victims.\" data-align-center>\n<p><b>Here\u2019s what we\u2019re following:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul id=\"rte-aab365e2-5b49-11f1-878f-3b355b332400\">\n<li>A federal judge ruled Friday that <b>President Donald Trump\u2019s name was <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-kennedy-center-renovations-closure-1857159baf8db4692324acb7ef62f249\"><b>illegally added to the Kennedy Center<\/b><\/a><\/span><b> <\/b>cultural and arts venue and blocked the administration from <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-kennedy-center-lawsuit-renovations-f85861dc66e5a1a8619926dd0bc76273\">closing it for major renovations<\/a><\/span>. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, the judge said, and <b>only Congress can change it. <\/b>Hours later the president said in a social media post that <b>he would cease involvement in the Kennedy Center renovations<\/b> and return control of the historic venue to Congress.<\/li>\n<li>Trump said Friday that he\u2019s holding a White House Situation Room <b>meeting with his advisers as he looks to <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-war-ceasefire-nuclear-talks-cac5206df0f0c7b79fe9321c08d63096\"><b><u>make a \u201cfinal determination\u201d<\/u><\/b><\/a><\/span><b> on moving forward on a deal to extend a ceasefire with Iran<\/b>. Trump confirmed the high-level talks a day after the AP reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-war-oil-may-28-2026-8f5ed2813ba63df7ae9ccbe991688d29\"><b><u>reached a tentative agreement<\/u><\/b><\/a><\/span><b> <\/b>to extend the fragile<span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-7-2026-421ee64fdc9a5c26460df8119c7d1b3f\"> <u>ceasefire<\/u><\/a><\/span> by 60 days and start new talks on <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c\"><u>Iran\u2019s nuclear program<\/u><\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Former Attorney General <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/pam-bondi\">Pam Bondi<\/a><\/span> <b>refused to answer questions on Trump\u2019s involvement in the release of case files on <\/b><span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/jeffrey-epstein\"><b>Jeffrey Epstein<\/b><\/a><\/span><b> <\/b>as she defended the administration\u2019s actions in a closed-door interview before House lawmakers on Friday. Lawmakers have scrutinized the Justice Department\u2019s release of the files, which was <b>delayed and revealed the personal information of potential victims.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">                      <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump claims he\u2019s making food more affordable but his examples ignore the big picture\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7618-deda-adbe-feb811c10000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780100143129\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7618-deda-adbe-feb811c10000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump claims he\u2019s making food more affordable but his examples ignore the big picture         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>In a Truth Social <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116647792196617911\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a><\/span> on Wednesday, the president proclaimed \u201cTRUMP\u2019S MAKING FOOD AFFORDABLE,\u201d and cited falling prices for a range of groceries, including avocados, fresh berries, and a variety of pantry staples. Yet just two weeks earlier the Labor Department had released inflation figures showing grocery prices up nearly 3% in April from a year earlier.<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-450000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"FILE - Beef is displayed for sale at a grocery store Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley, File)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/f878bda\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8009x5339+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fc9%2Fc6%2F65f86f88417893abae24dc70216d%2Fap26149617475806.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>FILE &#8211; Beef is displayed for sale at a grocery store Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>FILE &#8211; Beef is displayed for sale at a grocery store Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley, File)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>So where\u2019s the reality?<\/p>\n<p>The graphic shared by Trump may be correct about the specific items he listed. It\u2019s hard to know because he used data that isn\u2019t publicly available and he didn\u2019t specify what time frame he used.<\/p>\n<p>But specific grocery items go up and down all the time, and his post ignores the broader reality consumers are facing at the supermarket: Overall, food prices <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/consumer-prices-food-groceries-war-fuel-f5e442ef60858c96a2fc4b4ee9e18780\">have risen<\/a><\/span> since his inauguration, and at a faster pace than they typically did before the pandemic. Most economists expect them to continue to do so in the coming months as a spike in diesel fuel prices lifts the cost of shipping groceries to stores around the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-food-prices-cheaper-fact-check-cd9cc431819a1bb3564bc616b1e1cc03\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Pentagon-led talks between Israel and Lebanon conclude\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7620-d80e-afff-fe32d4880000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780098595743\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7620-d80e-afff-fe32d4880000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Pentagon-led talks between Israel and Lebanon conclude         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The Pentagon said the security-related talks were \u201cproductive\u201d but stopped short of noting any accomplishments or achievements.<\/p>\n<p>The statement released late Friday said the \u201cmilitary-to-military talks focused on building practical frameworks for regional security and stability\u201d and \u201ctangible outcomes\u201d from the discussions will directly inform negotiations with political leaders conducted by the State Department next week.<\/p>\n<p>Talks between senior Israeli and Lebanese officials have been going on since last month but are complicated by the fact that Hezbollah, Israel\u2019s target, is not participating and has refused to accept their results.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"ICE officer arrested in shooting during Minneapolis immigration crackdown\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7619-dd2f-a3df-7e5b6a200000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780098305781\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7619-dd2f-a3df-7e5b6a200000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             ICE officer arrested in shooting during Minneapolis immigration crackdown         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Christian Castro, who was wanted in the shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown, was arrested Friday in Texas, authorities said.<\/p>\n<p>Castro, 52, was taken into custody 11 days after Minneapolis prosecutors <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/minneapolis-immigration-crackdown-charges-sosacelis-bd78efd7f341a9bd9c1acc2c0037a958\">charged him with assault<\/a><\/span> and falsely reporting a crime in the Jan. 14 nonfatal shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors in Hennepin County, Minnesota, said the state\u2019s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension located Castro in Texas, and the Texas Rangers said they assisted in the arrest in Cameron County, which borders Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>Online court records did not list an attorney for Castro, and it was not immediately clear if he has one.<\/p>\n<p>Castro is the second federal agent to be charged over conduct during the Minnesota crackdown and one of two agents that ICE Director Todd Lyons said lied about the circumstances of the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors say Castro fired through a home\u2019s front door and shot Sosa-Celis in the thigh after Castro and another officer chased a different man to the Minneapolis apartment duplex where he and Sosa-Celis lived. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Tomatoes become latest symbol of America\u2019s affordability squeeze\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75d0-dea9-a9de-77dbd48b0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780097707508\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75d0-dea9-a9de-77dbd48b0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Tomatoes become latest symbol of America\u2019s affordability squeeze         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center data-video-orientation=\"landscape\">\n<p>Tomatoes, ubiquitous in everything from fast-food burgers to haute cuisine, are taking on a new role beyond the plate: A nagging reminder of rising costs.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Tomatoes, ubiquitous in everything from fast-food burgers to haute cuisine, are taking on a new role beyond the plate: A nagging reminder of rising costs.<\/p>\n<p>Prices for those red orbs have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.<\/p>\n<p>Tomato prices are up about 40% over a year ago, according to the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/us-inflation-consumer-iran-war-3f11b7fdd20ea56d2f0895e5241af7b6\">latest Consumer Price Index<\/a><\/span>, dwarfing increases for other groceries, <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/coffee-inflation-prices-starbucks-1a809b2d3e650d5e92e2c0f5a5f4f85b\">including coffee (up 18.5%)<\/a><\/span>, beef roasts (up 17.8%) and frozen fish and seafood (up 12%), among other products that have become symbols of America\u2019s affordability squeeze.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside crop yields, experts blame price increases for tomatoes, in part, on two pillars of President Donald Trump\u2019s second-term policies: the Iran war and tariffs. The war spiked gas prices and increased shipping costs. Meantime, the U.S. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/mexico-tomatoes-duty-commerce-e1b113bfb9458d2443d5bb999795375c\">withdrew from a deal allowing duty-free imports of tomatoes<\/a><\/span> from Mexico, which grows most of America\u2019s supply.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/tomatoes-inflation-prices-groceries-mexico-tariffs-trump-1176fd9d4213f2b568181809937c2170\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump jumps into GOP governor primaries in South Carolina and Iowa\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75fb-d8c9-afff-77ffaef10000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780097410577\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75fb-d8c9-afff-77ffaef10000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump jumps into GOP governor primaries in South Carolina and Iowa         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president waded into primary contests that have pitted allies against each other in a fierce competition for their party leader\u2019s blessing. In a pair of social media posts, he gave his backing to South Carolina Lt. Gov. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pamela-evette-south-carolina-governor-election-2026-496ef055e03f5a37273b070e2874cb32\">Pamela Evette<\/a><\/span> and Iowa Rep. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iowa-governor-race-2026-randy-feenstra-election-a8f4d14ff0034a060a2c50ea4c67931b\">Randy Feenstra<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump expressed appreciation for Evette and her state, noting that she stumped for him in 2024. He also said \u201cA BIG added plus\u201d for her is that Henry McMaster Jr. \u2014 the sitting governor\u2019s son \u2014 may be Evette\u2019s running mate.<\/p>\n<p>Separately Trump described Feenstra as \u201cMAGA all the way\u201d and said he would \u201cfight tirelessly\u201d on issues including the economy, border security and support of law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>Both Evette and Feenstra have been vocal about wanting Trump\u2019s endorsement, in the hopes that it would carry weight in states that helped propel his return to office in 2024. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"What to know about the artists backing out of the Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75ed-dd2f-a3df-7fefed610000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780095887070\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75ed-dd2f-a3df-7fefed610000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             What to know about the artists backing out of the Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThe Great American State Fair\u201d is a series of concerts, exhibits, tributes and other programs scheduled for June 25 to July 10 on Washington\u2019s National Mall. It was organized by Freedom 250, which is billed as a nonpartisan organization but was launched last year by the president and is headed by a Trump State Department appointee from his first term.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, Freedom 250 announced that Bret Michaels, the Commodores and Martina McBride would be among the musical performers. But by late Thursday, all three <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/freedom-250-milli-vanilli-young-mc-bb9c58cb68d3af91cd8aeb5c5c5d26a1\">dropped out<\/a><\/span>, as did Morris Day and Young MC.<\/p>\n<p>Michaels and others have said they were misled about the theme of the shows or were otherwise wary of being caught up in a political fight. <\/p>\n<p>Freedom 250 organizers have yet to respond to AP requests for comment. Spokesperson Rachel Reisner told The New York Times that \u201cFreedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/freedom-250-concerts-cancellations-what-to-know-8f506ad99fc1aee7413514e37ce59604\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"US and China trade journalist expulsions days after Trump visits Xi in Beijing\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75c9-dea9-a9de-77cbb2ee0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780094985075\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75c9-dea9-a9de-77cbb2ee0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             US and China trade journalist expulsions days after Trump visits Xi in Beijing         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The Trump administration has revoked the visa of a Chinese national working for state news agency Xinhua, an apparent reciprocal act to Beijing\u2019s decision to expel a New York Times reporter.<\/p>\n<p>A person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because it involves visa privacy confirmed the visa had been revoked. A State Department official confirmed there was a plan to revoke it.<\/p>\n<p>The move followed China\u2019s expulsion of Times correspondent Vivian Wang, apparently over the appearance of the Taiwanese leader in <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iP8noIxQ94A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a DealBook event<\/a><\/span> in which Wang had no role. <\/p>\n<p>The Times, which first reported the reciprocal move, said it does not ask governments to revoke media credentials or otherwise interfere with the work of any journalist. It called for Wang\u2019s reinstatement and urged both governments to \u201creverse this deterioration in journalist access.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"US commander meets with Cuban military officials as Trump continues pressure on island nation\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75b7-dd2f-a3df-7fff759f0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780092610844\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75b7-dd2f-a3df-7fff759f0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             US commander meets with Cuban military officials as Trump continues pressure on island nation         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The top U.S. military leader in Latin America and the Cuban officials met Friday in what Southern Command characterized as a \u201cbrief exchange on operational security matters\u201d near the U.S. Navy base on Guantanamo Bay.<\/p>\n<p>Gen. Francis L. Donovan also \u201cled a perimeter security assessment of the naval base and discussed force protection, safety of service members and their families, and operational readiness with base officials,\u201d Southern Command said on the social platform X.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting comes as the U.S. military maintains a presence of warships in the Caribbean Sea and the Trump administration applies pressure on Cuba with an oil blockade. Trump has warned that Cuba \u201cis next\u201d after capturing Venezuela\u2019s autocratic leader in a January military operation. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says he\u2019s backing away from Kennedy Center renovation and returning control to Congress\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75ab-dc07-adbf-7faf2d190000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780091415774\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75ab-dc07-adbf-7faf2d190000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says he\u2019s backing away from Kennedy Center renovation and returning control to Congress         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-110000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"512\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"512\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"400\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"400\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts is seen in Washington, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Cliff Owen)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/1c19dc8\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6016x4016+0+0\/resize\/599x400!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F87%2F78%2Ffa7105e742919021f7607bb216e2%2Fap26149774197726.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts is seen in Washington, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Cliff Owen)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts is seen in Washington, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Cliff Owen)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>Hours after a federal judge ordered his name removed from the arts institution, the president said the judge \u201cshould be ashamed of himself\u201d in a social media post.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into \u2018NEVER NEVER LAND,\u2019\u201d Trump said on his Truth Social platform.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also said he has instructed his administration to \u201cmake all necessary arrangements\u201d to have the center transferred to Congress.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Trump says \u2018I have no interest\u2019 in Kennedy Center renovation after judge orders his name removed from arts institution\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-75a7-d20b-adde-7dffee440000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780090611299\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-75a7-d20b-adde-7dffee440000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Trump says \u2018I have no interest\u2019 in Kennedy Center renovation after judge orders his name removed from arts institution         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"SEC moves to kill climate disclosure rule\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-756a-d20b-adde-7dfac7380000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780087646526\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-756a-d20b-adde-7dfac7380000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             SEC moves to kill climate disclosure rule         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday proposed repealing a rule that requires some public companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions and the risks they face from global warming.<\/p>\n<p>The climate-disclosure rule has been on hold since last year, after the commission said it was pausing its legal defense in the wake of legal challenges by business groups and Republican-led states.<\/p>\n<p>The SEC said in a statement that the disclosure rule, finalized in 2024, imposes substantial costs on public companies and shareholders that are not justified by informational benefits they may provide.<\/p>\n<p>Environmental groups said the action would leave investors without data they need to accurately assess financial risks related to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/sec-climate-change-disclosure-rule-trump-d70ee730c8a124f6767ca327fe903846\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Federal judge says New Hampshire must loosen requirements to prove citizenship to vote\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-755e-dc07-adbf-7fffe9260000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780086224886\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-755e-dc07-adbf-7fffe9260000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Federal judge says New Hampshire must loosen requirements to prove citizenship to vote         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>New Hampshire must make voter registration easier by allowing applicants to attest to their U.S. citizenship if they don\u2019t have the documents to prove it, the judge said.<\/p>\n<p>The case was seen as the first major legal test of an election reform that has been <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/voting-elections-trump-executive-order-4e9edb53f47e61e241a43ceef8164022\">pushed nationally by Trump<\/a><\/span> and has gained favor among many Republicans, although U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot said she was not deciding whether requiring proof of citizenship itself is constitutional. <\/p>\n<p>Her ruling late Thursday night on a narrower question of New Hampshire law was significant, however, because it underscored the potential perils of implementing strict requirements for voters to document their U.S. citizenship so they can cast a ballot.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/voting-citizenship-new-hampshire-court-ruling-a69ed324cc6e242cb9061e9a37d3e293\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Federal judge sides with voting rights groups, says New Hampshire must loosen requirements to prove citizenship to vote\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7542-d80e-afff-ff5294900000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780085612484\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7542-d80e-afff-ff5294900000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Federal judge sides with voting rights groups, says New Hampshire must loosen requirements to prove citizenship to vote         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Kennedy Center board broke the law putting Trump\u2019s name on the building, judge says, and blocks its closure for renovations\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7539-d5ba-a5fe-77f9250c0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780083444569\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7539-d5ba-a5fe-77f9250c0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Kennedy Center board broke the law putting Trump\u2019s name on the building, judge says, and blocks its closure for renovations         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper concluded Friday that the board \u201coverstepped its statutory bounds\u201d by unilaterally adding Trump\u2019s name to the center. Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, he said, and only Congress can change it.<\/p>\n<p>The judge also ruled that the board\u2019s March 16 vote to close the facility was \u201cill-informed and seemingly preordained\u201d with no regard for its legal obligations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe trustees might have assessed the propriety of closure in a number of prudent ways. This was not one,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-kennedy-center-renovations-closure-1857159baf8db4692324acb7ef62f249\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Iran\u2019s nuclear issues remain unresolved\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7534-d39c-a99f-fd3eebc20000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780083137114\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7534-d39c-a99f-fd3eebc20000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Iran\u2019s nuclear issues remain unresolved         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>A deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz \u201chas not yet been finalized,\u201d Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told a state broadcaster on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance suggested negotiators were trying to strike general terms on Iran\u2019s nuclear program, with the specifics to be hammered out in the ensuing talks.<\/p>\n<p>Baghaei, however, said Friday that Iranian officials were \u201cfocused on the end of war and are not discussing the details of the nuclear plan at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump\u2019s Situation Room meeting on Iran ceasefire has concluded\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-752f-deda-adbe-fdaf6dda0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780082861452\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-752f-deda-adbe-fdaf6dda0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump\u2019s Situation Room meeting on Iran ceasefire has concluded         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Trump has finished his meeting with national security aides to weigh a framework of an agreement that would extend the U.S. ceasefire with Iran by 60 days and kickstart new talks on Iran\u2019s nuclear program, according to a senior administration official.<\/p>\n<p>The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, would not comment on whether Trump had made a decision to sign off on the tentative agreement following the roughly two-hour meeting.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Judge says Kennedy Center board violated law putting Trump\u2019s name on building, orders it removed\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7517-d5ba-a5fe-77ffd8b00000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780082501487\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7517-d5ba-a5fe-77ffd8b00000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Judge says Kennedy Center board violated law putting Trump\u2019s name on building, orders it removed         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump administration grants a rare reprieve, shielding 11,000 Lebanese from deportation\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74fa-dea9-a9de-76fb724f0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780080955170\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74fa-dea9-a9de-76fb724f0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump administration grants a rare reprieve, shielding 11,000 Lebanese from deportation         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The decision on their Temporary Protected Status allows them to stay and work in the United States for another six months.<\/p>\n<p>Unusually, the decision was automatic, meaning the administration missed the deadline to decide on whether to extend TPS for Lebanese people covered by the program.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday that officials \u201cwere unable to make an informed determination on Lebanon\u2019s TPS designation.\u201d It comes amid ongoing fighting in southern Lebanon between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have harshly criticized the TPS program, which was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Rubio calls Lebanese president as Israel-Lebanon security talks begin at the Pentagon\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7514-d8c9-afff-775fb9790000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780080827380\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7514-d8c9-afff-775fb9790000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Rubio calls Lebanese president as Israel-Lebanon security talks begin at the Pentagon         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The U.S. secretary of state had a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to praise him for pursuing peace talks with Israel, as Israel and Lebanon held their first security-related meeting in Washington at the Pentagon.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio \u201ccommended President Aoun\u2019s courage and vision in pursuing direct negotiations with Israel, even as Hezbollah continues its attempts to derail those talks at the expense of the Lebanese people,\u201d the State Department said in a statement Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Talks between senior officials from Israel and Lebanon have been going on since last month but are complicated by the fact that Hezbollah, Israel\u2019s target, is not participating in the discussions and has refused to accept their results.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio told Aoun that Hezbollah \u201cis entirely responsible for the ongoing fighting and emphasized the need for Hezbollah to immediately cease its attacks and provocations to enable de-escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"White House moves to give political appointees more power over federal grants\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74f7-d80e-afff-fef759940000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780079029091\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74f7-d80e-afff-fef759940000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             White House moves to give political appointees more power over federal grants         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Scientists say this would put critical research funding into the hands of partisans without relevant expertise. It would be the most sweeping change to the federal grantmaking process in years.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed regulations would require senior appointees to review funding to see if it complies with the law and the president\u2019s priorities. The rules would also give administration officials more freedom to terminate grants that have already been awarded, a process that could jeopardize millions of dollars in ongoing research.<\/p>\n<p>The Office of Management and Budget claims the reforms are needed for greater accountability. It says the Biden administration wasted taxpayer dollars on \u201cwoke\u201d programs.<\/p>\n<p>Published Friday, the plan will enter a public comment period before a final rule will be issued.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/white-house-federal-grants-political-appointees-trump-3322627ce23162d55179484184ea5d8b\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Former head of Iowa school district who was arrested in Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown gets 2 years in prison\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74c7-d59d-a5de-f7dfa7640000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780078825728\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74c7-d59d-a5de-f7dfa7640000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Former head of Iowa school district who was arrested in Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown gets 2 years in prison         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Ian Roberts pleaded guilty in January to <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ian-roberts-ice-superintendent-iowa-schools-8bc3cc1a8605814b4d650071d71e967e\">falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen <\/a><\/span>and illegally possessing firearms, which together carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>He would serve the sentence before he is likely deported to his native Guyana in South America.<\/p>\n<p>His lawyers had proposed that he be put on probation \u201cto facilitate his removal from the United States.\u201d Prosecutors recommended a sentence of more than three years, saying his likely deportation should not be a factor.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ian-roberts-ice-superintendent-iowa-schools-87a22ce7f208fc29b26bcae1c6e0b2d6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"UN chief hopes diplomacy on Iran will end conflict and open Strait of Hormuz\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74b5-dea9-a9de-76fff4a10000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780075699963\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74b5-dea9-a9de-76fff4a10000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             UN chief hopes diplomacy on Iran will end conflict and open Strait of Hormuz         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes \u201cvery much\u201d that diplomatic efforts aimed at extending the ceasefire in the Iran war \u201cwill prevail,\u201d U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe hope to see an end to this conflict,\u201d he said, \u201cand we want to see a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to free and unhindered navigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Louisiana lawmakers pass a new congressional map designed to pick up a Republican seat\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74b2-d8c9-afff-77ffe3d40000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780074482739\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74b2-d8c9-afff-77ffe3d40000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Louisiana lawmakers pass a new congressional map designed to pick up a Republican seat         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The new map is also likely to leave the state with just one of its two majority-Black House districts represented by Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Approval of the new House map came a month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state\u2019s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander, <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-louisiana-alabama-4e3225083caccda5ec73a98533a79add\">weakening the landmark 1965 federal Voting Rights Act<\/a><\/span>. That decision intensified <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/redistricting-house-congress-gerrymander-voting-rights-f78310aed323bfeec3430f236f7b6e03\">a national redistricting battle<\/a><\/span> fueled by Trump\u2019s efforts to protect the Republicans\u2019 slim House majority in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>Louisiana Republicans <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congress-redistricting-voting-rights-louisiana-1b02199b18bad2efe259a24f5e3278bf\">had considered<\/a><\/span> drawing a map giving the party a shot at winning all six of the state\u2019s U.S. House seats. But that would have required adding more Black voters to Republican-held districts, potentially backfiring with losses. Some Republicans said a 5-1 map better protects U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from facing a difficult reelection.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign the new map into law.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Louisiana Legislature approves new congressional map to give Republicans another winnable seat\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74af-d39c-a99f-fdbf87bc0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780074220301\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74af-d39c-a99f-fdbf87bc0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Louisiana Legislature approves new congressional map to give Republicans another winnable seat         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Bondi interview concludes after 4 hours\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-74a3-d39c-a99f-fdbbed4c0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780074118899\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-74a3-d39c-a99f-fdbbed4c0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Bondi interview concludes after 4 hours         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The former attorney general has ended her interview with a House committee investigating how the Department of Justice has handled case files on Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic lawmakers said Bondi told them she would not answer questions about Trump\u2019s involvement in the release of case files. She also said that Todd Blanche, her former deputy who is now the acting attorney general, had overseen the publication of case files.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Bondi refuses to answer lawmakers\u2019 questions about Trump\u2019s involvement in Epstein files release\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-748c-d5ba-a5fe-77edde900000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780072501645\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-748c-d5ba-a5fe-77edde900000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Bondi refuses to answer lawmakers\u2019 questions about Trump\u2019s involvement in Epstein files release         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Bondi was on Capitol Hill for a closed-door interview in which she defended the administration\u2019s actions before House lawmakers who are scrutinizing a process that was delayed and included personal information of potential victims.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic lawmakers said Bondi told them she would not speak about the president in Friday\u2019s interview and, accompanied by a lawyer from the Department of Justice, cited her ability to decline questions because she agreed to appear before the committee voluntarily.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a sham in there. They are not answering any questions,\u201d said Democratic Rep. Dave Min during a break in the interview.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Pam Bondi declined to answer questions on Trump\u2019s involvement in the Epstein files, Democratic lawmakers say\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-748c-deda-adbe-fcac97760000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780071848003\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-748c-deda-adbe-fcac97760000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Pam Bondi declined to answer questions on Trump\u2019s involvement in the Epstein files, Democratic lawmakers say         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Rubio thanks Pakistan for \u2018constructive role\u2019 in supporting Iran ceasefire efforts\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7482-deda-adbe-fcaa98e00000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780071598056\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7482-deda-adbe-fcaa98e00000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Rubio thanks Pakistan for \u2018constructive role\u2019 in supporting Iran ceasefire efforts         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>In a meeting on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for his country\u2019s efforts in trying to mediate an end to the Iran war.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate statement, the foreign ministry said \u201cSecretary Rubio acknowledged Pakistan\u2019s sincere diplomatic and mediatory efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neither statement offered details on Pakistan\u2019s recent involvement, although Pakistani officials have been heavily involved in shuttle diplomacy and hosted a meeting between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad last month.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting took place shortly before Trump suggested he may be ready to sign off on an agreement to extend the current fragile ceasefire, re-open the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on Iran\u2019s nuclear program.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump says only US and China capable of removing Iran\u2019s enriched uranium\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-746b-df16-adff-7f6fa2120000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780069935211\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-746b-df16-adff-7f6fa2120000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump says only US and China capable of removing Iran\u2019s enriched uranium         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president in his online post also turned back to his on-and-off demand that the highly-enriched uranium buried under nuclear sites badly damaged during last year\u2019s U.S. air bombardment of Iran be removed as part of a deal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe enriched material, sometimes referred to as \u2018Nuclear Dust,\u2019 which is buried deep underground with virtually collapsed mountains, caused by our powerful B2 Bomber attack 11 months ago, sitting on top of it, will be unearthed by the United States (which, it is agreed, is the only Country, along with China, with the mechanical capability of doing so!), in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has offered mixed messages over the course of the three-month conflict on the importance of removing the enriched uranium. Earlier this month, he told Fox News\u2019 Sean Hannity he\u2019d \u201cjust feel better if I got\u201d the uranium, but that \u201cit\u2019s more for public relations than it is for anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Louisiana Republicans are poised to pass new US House districts in wider redistricting fight\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7463-dd65-a7bf-fdebac150000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780069666486\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7463-dd65-a7bf-fdebac150000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Louisiana Republicans are poised to pass new US House districts in wider redistricting fight         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The state\u2019s Republican-controlled Senate is poised to pass a plan Friday to help the GOP maintain control of the U.S. House in November, potentially becoming the latest Southern state to eliminate a majority-Black congressional district that elected a Democrat.<\/p>\n<p>The state Senate is set to vote on a redistricting plan that would give Republicans a chance to pick up an additional seat in response to late April\u2019s <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-redistricting-louisiana-aa5d7dbde7c13654f341d152c2ad5229\">U.S. Supreme Court ruling<\/a><\/span> that Louisiana\u2019s congressional district map constituted an illegal racial gerrymander.<\/p>\n<p>An amended map <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congress-redistricting-voting-rights-louisiana-1b02199b18bad2efe259a24f5e3278bf\">overwhelmingly passed the House<\/a><\/span> on Thursday. Once the final map clears the Legislature, Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign it.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/congress-redistricting-voting-rights-louisiana-de8084df5f9c96ce90c4a7aa0a45e902\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Hegseth meets with leaders of Vietnam and Singapore at Asian defense conference\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7457-df16-adff-7f7f23370000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780069143152\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7457-df16-adff-7f7f23370000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Hegseth meets with leaders of Vietnam and Singapore at Asian defense conference         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has met with leaders from Vietnam and Singapore to discuss shared security interests, the Pentagon said Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The separate meetings occurred on the sidelines during the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/china-trump-shangrila-singapore-hegseth-vietnam-22a71b2d8b20f69c397bd87a63c6ed0a\">Asia\u2019s annual defense and security forum<\/a><\/span> in Singapore.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth praised Vietnam\u2019s decision to join the Board of Peace and for committing troops and police to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. Hegseth also applauded the modernization of Vietnam\u2019s military and discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation, including on unmanned naval capabilities.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth and Singapore\u2019s leaders discussed expanding the U.S. military\u2019s presence in Singapore with rotational deployments from the Navy and Air Force. Meanwhile, Hegseth reaffirmed the American commitment to support advanced training for Singapore\u2019s military in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Pam Bondi defends administration\u2019s release of Epstein case files as she testifies before lawmakers\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7449-d856-a5ff-f5c9c3e70000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780068169667\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7449-d856-a5ff-f5c9c3e70000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Pam Bondi defends administration\u2019s release of Epstein case files as she testifies before lawmakers         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The former attorney general stood behind the Trump administration\u2019s release of the case files on <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/jeffrey-epstein\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a><\/span> as she testified Friday before House lawmakers scrutinizing a process that was delayed and included personal information of potential victims.<\/p>\n<p>Bondi, who arrived Friday morning on Capitol Hill for her closed-door interview, <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pam-bondi-house-judiciary-committee-justice-department-6d7502b80e42e9e9454264e242507bbd\">was defiant<\/a><\/span> in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. In her opening statement, she kept to the same tack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe bottom line is: justice and transparency in this matter have been delivered at the direction of President Trump and his administration,\u201d she said, according to a written copy of her opening statement.<\/p>\n<p>The transcribed Bondi interview gave lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of Epstein\u2019s former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-trump-9ca5612e397ff8365dfb212a214c97c9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Trump meeting with aides to make \u2018final determination\u2019 on moving forward with Iran deal\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7441-d39c-a99f-fd7b91240000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780067445748\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7441-d39c-a99f-fd7b91240000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Trump meeting with aides to make \u2018final determination\u2019 on moving forward with Iran deal         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The president says he\u2019s holding a White House Situation Room meeting with his advisers.<\/p>\n<p>Trump confirmed the high-level White House talks Friday, a day after The Associated Press and other news outlets reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiators had come to terms on a tentative agreement.<\/p>\n<p>The deal would extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days as new talks are held on Iran\u2019s disputed nuclear program.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-war-ceasefire-nuclear-talks-cac5206df0f0c7b79fe9321c08d63096\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Trump says he\u2019s meeting with aides to make a \u2018final determination\u2019 on moving forward on deal to extend Iran ceasefire\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-742a-d8c9-afff-777f271a0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780066907765\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-742a-d8c9-afff-777f271a0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Trump says he\u2019s meeting with aides to make a \u2018final determination\u2019 on moving forward on deal to extend Iran ceasefire         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"White House declines comment on judge\u2019s ruling blocking payouts from \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-741d-d39c-a99f-fd3f84f10000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780065024755\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-741d-d39c-a99f-fd3f84f10000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             White House declines comment on judge\u2019s ruling blocking payouts from \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The White House referred all questions to the Justice Department, which didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Plaintiffs\u2019 attorneys from the legal advocacy group Democracy Forward are seeking a court order halting the fund\u2019s implementation and preventing the Trump administration from disbursing any payouts from it. The federal suit claims there\u2019s no legal basis or accountability behind the fund.<\/p>\n<p>At least two other lawsuits, both filed separately in Washington, also are challenging the fund\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Rubio meets with Pakistani foreign minister as tentative Iran deal hangs in the balance\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7406-dea9-a9de-764f3f340000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780064547250\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7406-dea9-a9de-764f3f340000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Rubio meets with Pakistani foreign minister as tentative Iran deal hangs in the balance         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, as a tentative deal to extend a fragile ceasefire with Iran hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n<p>Neither Rubio nor Dar \u2014 whose country has emerged as a main player and mediator in talks to end the conflict \u2014 spoke or responded to questions from reporters as they posed for photographs at the State Department on Friday. Dar has been in the United States since earlier this week to attend meetings at the United Nations in New York.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting came just a day after U.S. officials said an agreement in principle on a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and return to talks on Iran\u2019s nuclear program had been reached. That agreement, though, must still be approved by President Trump and Iran\u2019s top leadership and there was no indication when that might happen.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump\u2019s \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 settlement fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-73fa-dea9-a9de-73fbe93c0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780063022268\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-73fa-dea9-a9de-73fbe93c0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump\u2019s \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 settlement fund         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>A federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump\u2019s administration from paying any claims through <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-lawsuit-irs-leak-3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8\">a new $1.776 billion settlement fund<\/a><\/span> for Trump allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday also barred the government from moving forward with the fund\u2019s creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.<\/p>\n<p>The judge scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend the order blocking payouts from an \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund,\u201d which the government created to resolve Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.<\/p>\n<p>The fund has created a fierce backlash since it was announced last week, with even Republicans pressing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche over the eligibility considerations and the possibility that even violent rioters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, would be free to seek compensation.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-settlement-fund-antiweaponization-8baaee6aa8d83f0ad2905f5f8d457dec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"JUST IN: Federal judge temporarily blocks any payouts from Trump administration\u2019s $1.8B \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 settlement fund\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-73e1-dc07-adbf-7beff5750000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780062279349\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-73e1-dc07-adbf-7beff5750000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             JUST IN: Federal judge temporarily blocks any payouts from Trump administration\u2019s $1.8B \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 settlement fund         <\/h2>\n<p>                                        <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Pam Bondi interview gets underway on Capitol Hill\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-73db-deda-adbe-fffb57100000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780060640254\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-73db-deda-adbe-fffb57100000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Pam Bondi interview gets underway on Capitol Hill         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The former attorney general is appearing before House lawmakers as they investigate how the government has handled the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n<p>Bondi was ousted as attorney general last month, but her in her previous testimony to Congress she has been defiant in the face of lawmakers\u2019 questions about how the Department of Justice handled the release of case files on Epstein. She is also accompanied today by Department of Justice officials \u2014 an arrangement Democrats have criticized.<\/p>\n<p>Several survivors of Epstein\u2019s abuse also appeared outside the House office room where the interview is happening behind closed doors. They pressed the committee chair, Republican Rep. James Comer, to closely question Bondi.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want justice for the survivors, we do,\u201d Comer told them.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Pam Bondi arrives for her deposition on Capitol Hill\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-73d1-d5ba-a5fe-77f96a340000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780059621148\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-73d1-d5ba-a5fe-77f96a340000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Pam Bondi arrives for her deposition on Capitol Hill         <\/h2>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-190000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives for her deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Friday, May 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Manuel Ceneta)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/5ffc7fc\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4705x3136+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fd7%2F8e%2F080849ab46cf87f83095b9c66a54%2Fap26149455046901.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>Former Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives for her deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Friday, May 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Manuel Ceneta)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>Former Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives for her deposition at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Friday, May 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Manuel Ceneta)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"South Carolina Democrats expected to celebrate after failure of Trump-backed redistricting push\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-73a1-d5ba-a5fe-77e9d98e0000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780058226277\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-73a1-d5ba-a5fe-77e9d98e0000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             South Carolina Democrats expected to celebrate after failure of Trump-backed redistricting push         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Democrats may be in a more celebratory mood than usual as they gather Friday in South Carolina, a state led almost entirely by Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>The party is holding events days after the GOP-led state Senate <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/redistricting-congress-voting-rights-trump-6d2daecd387cc0ad1dd56e94f621eda5\">shot down an effort<\/a><\/span> backed by President <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/span> to redraw House district lines to help Republicans this fall. That move was aimed at ousting longtime Rep. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/james-clyburn\">Jim Clyburn<\/a><\/span>, the state\u2019s lone congressional Democrat and a party powerbroker who\u2019s been in office since 1993.<\/p>\n<p>Friday\u2019s gatherings kick off with the Blue Palmetto Dinner, an annual party fundraiser that typically showcases potential presidential contenders and the party\u2019s national figures. Kentucky Gov. <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/andy-beshear\">Andy Beshear<\/a><\/span> will be the headliner.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/andy-beshear-south-carolina-democrats-clyburn-c445346b74d065b4d79a044053cc1669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Pam Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over Epstein files\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-736a-d856-a5ff-f3ea00a20000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780052865820\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-736a-d856-a5ff-f3ea00a20000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Pam Bondi to face closed-door questioning from House lawmakers over Epstein files         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center>                      <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-6a0000\"><\/a>                                      <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\"  ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\"  ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Attorney General Pam Bondi faces questions in the House Judiciary Committee over the Justice Department's handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)\"   fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/8526f25\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4347x2898+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F57%2F3d%2F7333bdc0b94d7430fbc4ebf2f374%2Ffbb106420acb440fa6ffaba81d26910c\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi faces questions in the House Judiciary Committee over the Justice Department\u2019s handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi faces questions in the House Judiciary Committee over the Justice Department\u2019s handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                  <\/div>\n<p>Former Attorney General <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/pam-bondi\">Pam Bondi<\/a><\/span> is testifying before House lawmakers investigating Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sexual abuse cases, a long-awaited appearance that brings fresh scrutiny of the administration\u2019s botched release of the Epstein case files.<\/p>\n<p>Bondi <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pam-bondi-house-judiciary-committee-justice-department-6d7502b80e42e9e9454264e242507bbd\">was defiant <\/a><\/span>in previous public testimony when she was confronted by lawmakers about the Epstein investigation. It\u2019s unclear whether she\u2019ll bring the same approach Friday, now that she is no longer in charge of the Justice Department. The session will be held behind closed doors.<\/p>\n<p>The transcribed interview will give lawmakers a chance to dig for information on the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the Epstein files and other related matters, including the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department moved Maxwell to a <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e\">prison camp<\/a><\/span> in Texas last August.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to,\u201d said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. \u201cNow it\u2019s a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-trump-9ca5612e397ff8365dfb212a214c97c9\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There\u2019s no immediate effect on the midterms\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-735d-d80e-afff-fb5f43c00000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780052718573\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-735d-d80e-afff-fb5f43c00000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting. There\u2019s no immediate effect on the midterms         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>A federal judge has declined to halt Trump\u2019s <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-trump-mail-voting-elections-47cc334b1fb7742244a9c4f176b355cd\">executive order<\/a><\/span> creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups that had argued Trump\u2019s order would likely be <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-election-executive-order-democrats-voter-list-ac61e7d4bb77f9901eb6f1a2c1f4b087\">found unconstitutional<\/a><\/span> because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules. Nichols agreed with the Republican Trump administration\u2019s contention that it was too early to block the order because it has yet to be implemented.<\/p>\n<p>Nichols\u2019 ruling leaves the door open for further challenges when the Trump administration moves to implement the president\u2019s directive. A separate lawsuit seeking to block the executive order is underway in Boston. No matter how rapidly the administration acts, no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which continue into next month.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-elections-mail-voting-executive-order-9474fae41161dc5954295ae1370bcb88\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms limited steps toward a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-735a-d59d-a5de-f35ad7060000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780051951034\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-735a-d59d-a5de-f35ad7060000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Treasury Secretary Bessent confirms limited steps toward a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<div data-align-center data-video-orientation=\"landscape\">\n<p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday he doesn\u2019t think \u201cthere\u2019s anything untoward\u201d about President Donald Trump\u2019s face appearing on the $250 bill in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, but he said the final decision is up to Congress.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that his department has prepared the design for a $250 bill featuring Trump, anticipating the passage of stalled legislation in Congress to put the president on a new denomination of legal tender.<\/p>\n<p>Bessent said at the White House that authorizing the new currency will be up to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but that \u201cwe\u2019ve created the bill\u201d because \u201cwe have to be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The secretary downplayed the idea that the administration is pushing the matter, despite Trump\u2019s penchant for infusing his name and likeness across the nation\u2019s capital and into the observances of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Yet he also insisted there is nothing inappropriate about Trump\u2019s visage being part of the seminal national celebration.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-trump-250-bill-c48e35fd945fe7983c7481b2fbd6416c\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7358-dd65-a7bf-fbd885490000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780051791529\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7358-dd65-a7bf-fbd885490000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>The top federal prosecutor in Chicago denied Thursday evening that his office had opened an investigation into <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888\">E. Jean Carroll<\/a><\/span>, the longtime advice columnist who has said Trump sexually assaulted her 30 years ago, hours after multiple news organizations reported that the Justice Department was investigating whether she had lied during the course of civil litigation against Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that the federal prosecutors\u2019 office in Chicago had opened an investigation into Carroll.<\/p>\n<p>But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office \u201chas not opened \u2014 and has never opened \u2014 a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, initially told the AP on Thursday morning that investigators were focused on Carroll but later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund her case.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/justice-department-trump-carroll-columnist-ec802c40674fabeefab4dd8ed51aa4b6\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post> <bsp-liveblog-post data-gtm-region=\"US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start new nuclear talks\" data-post-id=\"0000019e-7356-d856-a5ff-f3ded4840000\" data-posted-date-timestamp=\"1780051639709\" data-seconds-delta-text=\"sec ago\" data-minutes-delta-text=\"min ago\" data-hours-delta-text=\"h ago\">              <a id=\"0000019e-7356-d856-a5ff-f3ded4840000\"><\/a>                          <\/p>\n<h2>             US and Iranian negotiators reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire and start new nuclear talks         <\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>U.S. and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement Thursday to extend the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-april-7-2026-421ee64fdc9a5c26460df8119c7d1b3f\">ceasefire<\/a><\/span> in the 3-month-old war by 60 days and start a new round of talks <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-nuclear-timeline-war-146b4072f1f6cc43cfd3bde740313a5c\">on Iran\u2019s nuclear program<\/a><\/span>, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n<p>Iran did not immediately confirm any deal. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday evening confirmed there was a tentative agreement, but said it was unclear if Trump would approve it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say exactly when or if the president\u2019s going to sign,\u201d Vance told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cWe\u2019re going back and forth on a couple of language points.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/iran\">the war<\/a><\/span> between the U.S. and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.<\/p>\n<p>\u25b6 <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-us-war-oil-may-28-2026-8f5ed2813ba63df7ae9ccbe991688d29\"><i>Read more<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>          <\/bsp-liveblog-post>               <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s live updates have ended. Read what you missed below and find more coverage at apnews.com. Here\u2019s what we\u2019re following: A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump\u2019s name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center cultural and arts venue and blocked the administration from closing it for major renovations. Congress gave the Kennedy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13281\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}