June 23, 2026: All Newsclips

Lead Stories

GOP embraces speculation about China’s role in data center backlash

Republicans are embracing allegations that data center opposition in the U.S. is being fueled by foreign actors, raising questions over how influence operators are contributing to one of the fiercest debates in the tech policy space. Reports, including from OpenAI, recently emerged suggesting China and other countries are carrying out influence campaigns to fan the flames of Americans’ frustration with the data center build-out. Data centers — the server warehouses powering the AI boom — once enjoyed support from politicians on both sides of the aisle. But public opinion has rapidly deteriorated in the face of concerns about the infrastructure’s impact on electricity bills and the environment. Democrats have seized on this backlash, especially around energy costs, while Republicans have struggled to coalesce around a message addressing voters’ worries ahead of the midterms.

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“It makes sense for Republicans to point out China’s genuine efforts to influence American politics,” Ryan Fedasiuk, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told The Hill. “I’m glad we’re doing so. But on some level, it’s cope … it’s not going to make the problem go away.” President Trump largely supports industry development, arguing tech companies need to be able to build without obstacles to effectively compete with China in the so-called AI race. He has sought to speed up the approval of data center projects, curtailing environmental reviews and pushing for faster grid connections. But the White House is also grasping the reality of data centers’ increasing unpopularity. Earlier this year, Trump secured commitments from leading AI firms to cover rising electricity costs from data centers. As the president and his fellow Republicans try to balance a pro-tech agenda with constituents’ concerns, at least one key administration official and several GOP lawmakers are latching onto the reports of foreign influence campaigns. “Any place that’s trying to build data centers is getting bombarded with foreign-directed propaganda to try to block these from being built,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox Business Network late last month.

‘The president seems to revel in chaos’: Cornyn goes his own way

A few days after losing his Senate runoff, John Cornyn did something unusual for him: He used his leverage against his own party. The Texas Republican was frustrated by a nearly year-long delay in getting his state reimbursed by the Trump administration for more than $10 billion in border security spending that Congress had already approved. Cornyn had something valuable to withhold as lawmakers prepared to take up President Donald Trump’s $70 billion immigration spending bill. “Basically, I told Senator Barrasso and Senator [John] Thune: ‘There’s a price for my vote, and it is to get the administration to release the money,’” Cornyn told Semafor in a recent interview in his hideaway office on the Capitol’s third floor. “Next thing I got is a call from [White House budget director] Russ Vought, and Russ said, ‘we’ll put a notice of funding.’”

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Cornyn added a reminder that, with more than six months left in office and a sophisticated understanding of the Senate, he’s positioned to play more hardball if he has to: “That’s one example I think of what you can do when you have some cards to play.” The four-term incumbent is already setting some conditions on his critical undecided vote for Trump’s attorney general pick, Todd Blanche. Cornyn has returned to the candor he displayed for years in the Senate halls, offering withering assessments of Trump’s Iran deal and legislative strategy — a pattern he might continue on Wednesday, when the president visits GOP senators in person. One thing the two-time campaign arm won’t threaten to withhold is his largesse on the trail. He is organizing a large September fundraiser for his colleagues and favorite Senate candidates: Sens. Jon Husted of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, plus former Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire and former Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan. Cornyn draws the line, however, at sending money to Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general who defeated him in the GOP primary with Trump’s endorsement. Working for other candidates in cheaper states makes more sense to Cornyn, who isn’t sure Paxton can win. “The president picked Paxton, and he’s got $350 million dollars. I think he can spend his money,” Cornyn said of Texas and Trump. “I’m going to try to help in other places.”

Democrat James Talarico shifts focus to rising costs in new ad

Standing in a small market with a bag of groceries in hand, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico uses his latest ad to promise relief for Texans struggling with rising costs. The spot marks a shift in emphasis for Talarico, whose campaign has spent weeks responding to Republican attacks centered on his past comments about religion, gender and other cultural issues. “Too many Texans feel like they’re drowning — the cost of groceries, gas, healthcare,” Talarico says directly to the camera. The 30-second ad features the state representative from Austin walking through the store before touting what he describes as a bipartisan record in the Legislature.

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“Capping the cost of insulin, cutting taxes for small businesses, and passing the largest property tax cut in Texas history,” Talarico says in the ad before climbing into his Chevy Colorado pickup. “In the Senate, I'll take on corruption and keep fighting to lower your costs.” The focus on affordability contrasts with much of the race's early messaging, as Republican nominee Ken Paxton and his allies have targeted Talarico over his views on cultural and social issues. Paxton, after defeating Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP runoff last month, released an ad featuring short clips of Talarico asserting there are six biological sexes, calling the American flag a complicated symbol and making other statements. Republicans also have used social media to share snippets of Talarico, from saying God is “nonbinary” to talking up the environmental benefits of reducing meat consumption. Talarico has acknowledged some past statements were intentionally provocative and cringey – and he has chowed down on a pile of barbecue in front of cameras to rebut suggestions he is vegan.

Fatal Tesla crash into Texas home now under federal safety investigation

U.S. auto-safety regulators have opened an investigation into a fatal wreck involving a Tesla that crashed into a home Friday evening and killed one person inside. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the top auto regulator in the country, said Monday that it would examine a crash involving a Tesla Model 3 near Houston. The driver of the Tesla told police he was operating with an automated driving assistance system, according to a statement by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle left the roadway, “entered through the brick residence at a high rate of speed,” and struck a woman who was inside, sheriff’s officials said. The woman, identified as Martha Avila, later died from injuries sustained in the crash, officials said.

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Footage from a home camera that was posted on social media and shared with The Wall Street Journal shows the blue Model 3 speeding up to the house in Katy, Texas, crossing over the yard and driveway, and slamming into the front wall of the home. NHTSA said Monday it was launching a special crash investigation into the incident. The regulator’s division that handles such investigations opens more than 100 cases annually to examine incidents involving unique circumstances or outcomes from an engineering perspective, according to NHTSA’s website. Tesla didn’t immediately return a request for comment. In a post on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, Tesla’s vice president of AI and software, Ashok Elluswamy, said that the driver manually pressed the car’s accelerator pedal down and had the pedal pressed even after the crash. The incident marks the latest effort by NHTSA to examine Tesla’s suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies. The agency has been conducting a defect investigation of Tesla’s system, known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which controls driving and steering functions but requires drivers to continuously monitor the road. Defect probes can result in automakers conducting a safety recall.

State Stories

Chevron plans massive Texas power plant for Microsoft, eyes oilfield wastewater as water source

Chevron announced Monday it plans to develop a massive power plant in West Texas to fuel a Microsoft data center as a boom in artificial intelligence reshapes the state’s oil and gas industry. The power facility, which will be co-located with the data center in Reeves County, is expected to deliver 2.67 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power roughly 667,500 homes for one hot summer day in Texas. The Houston oil giant said the project — its first power plant for AI — will benefit the Texas economy while mitigating impacts to water resources and the grid. Large Texas oil companies such as Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Diamondback are branching into electricity generation for the first time, cashing in on AI growth as data centers create surging demand for power.

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Locating the power facility on the same site as Microsoft’s data center enables Chevron to sidestep grid connections and supply it directly with electricity, which will be made onsite using natural gas produced in the Permian Basin and gas turbines, the company said. Chevron said the project will generate more than $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and will support nearly 2,000 jobs. “Chevron is uniquely positioned to deliver power to customers with certainty, speed and at a competitive cost, leveraging Permian natural gas and our proven execution capabilities,” Jeff Gustavson, Chevron’s president of New Energies, said in a statement. “This project links Chevron’s traditional strengths to emerging demand, creating differentiated value for our shareholders and the communities where we operate.” Chevron plans to use non-potable, brackish groundwater sources for its power generation operation, it said. The company also aims to reuse oilfield wastewater, known as “produced water,” as a water source.

Oak Cliff gas explosion: Judge approves restraining order against Atmos Energy

An attorney representing victims of a deadly Oak Cliff apartment explosion says gas line records show the building had six reported leaks in the weeks before the blast — and that Atmos Energy knew the pipes were dangerous but failed to act. The five-alarm explosion at The Clyde Apartments killed three people, including Sylvia Collins, a community activist and Democratic Party volunteer. Her daughter, Michelle Collins, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Atmos Energy, Barba Drilling, and the building's owners, alleging negligence. Attorney Chris Hamilton, who is also pursuing a separate lawsuit against Atmos Energy, said the pattern of leaks at the property was a clear warning that went unheeded.

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"At this particular property there were six leaks reported, six different 811 calls since March 20, so in the seven weeks approximately before," Hamilton said. Hamilton said drilling crews followed proper procedure before the explosion, calling 811 to have gas lines marked before breaking ground. But he said the lines were marked in the wrong location — off by 15 feet or more. "There was no way that this driller could possibly know there was a pipeline here," Hamilton said. "He drilled exactly where he was supposed to." Atmos Energy disputes that account. In a statement, the company said the driller — who was not working for Atmos — struck the pipe, and that Atmos had hired a third party to mark the gas lines. "The safety of our communities and employees is our first priority. Our hearts go out to the people who were lost, their families, and everyone who has been impacted," a spokesperson said in a statement. A Dallas County judge on Monday indicated she would sign a restraining order requiring Atmos Energy to notify Hamilton of any work in the area around the explosion -- needed, he argued, because he plans to argue the pipes in the area were old and leaky and contributed to the blast.

Gov. Abbott orders Texas agencies to expand trade and workforce training

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday directed four state agencies to immediately expand workforce training programs, apprenticeships and career education opportunities as Texas employees cointnue to seek more skilled workers to fill high-demand jobs. Speaking at a press conference at the Governor's Mansion, Abbott announced a series of directives developed by the Texas Jobs Council, a group created by the Governor in March to identify ways to strengthen the workforce pipeline in Texas through executive action, or actions conducted by an agency. "The demand for a high-skilled workforce has never been greater," Abbott said. "We want to make sure we have the best-trained workforce in the United States."

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Texas Jobs Council co-chairs Megan Mauro, interim president of the Texas Association of Business, and Brent Taylor, Southern Region vice president of the Teamsters, joined Abbott at the announcement. The directives affect the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Under Abbott’s order, the Texas Workforce Commission is directed to do the following: Expand apprenticeship opportunities. Create a centralized online hub for career planning resources and develop career pathways for Texans facing barriers to employment, including veterans, foster youth and people with disabilities. Work to improve connections between employers and jobseekers by launching digital Learning and Employment Records through the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative.

City audit petition certified, moves forward to November ballot

Austinites will get a chance to vote on an amendment that would force regular external audits onto the city of Austin in the upcoming November ballot. This follows a petition, backed by Save Austin Now, sent to the city early June regarding a proposed charter amendment related to city spending and accountability. Those signatures were certified by the Austin city clerk on Monday, moving the amendment forward to the November ballot.

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Save Austin Now launched the charter petition effort last year. It would require regular external audits of the entire city budget within a year of the contract engagement — with the independent contractor selected within 120 days. It also requires the city of Austin to review its budget every five years, or no less than one year before the city of Austin asks voters for more money in a tax rate election. “The more than 20,000 Austin residents who signed our petition only want transparency, accountability and efficient spending for the high taxes that we pay,” Save Austin Now co-chair Matt Mackowiak said in Monday’s press release. “If Austinites want to see their tax dollars spent wisely and efficiently, then we must pass this outside audit amendment

Ye concert still on at the Alamodome despite blowback from Mayor Jones, others

The city of San Antonio appears to be keeping a concert by Ye on the city-owned Alamodome’s schedule despite blowback from Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and other elected officials over the rapper’s history of antisemitism. City spokesman Brian Chasnoff didn’t directly say whether the controversial show would go on as planned, but he said it’s expected to draw more than 60,000 people. As of Monday, 50,000 tickets have been sold, including more than 14,000 within Bexar County and thousands of sales from outside Texas.

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“Once Alamodome staff books an event, conceptually, the City Council can direct the City Manager to cancel it,” Chasnoff said in a statement late Monday. It’s unclear if Jones or City Council members want to call a vote on the concert. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is slated to perform at the Alamodome on July 4 as part of his international tour promoting his new album, “Bully.” Ye announced June 14 that he was coming to the Alamo City and tickets went on sale June 18. Jones took to social media on Saturday evening to call for the concert to be canceled. Her post drew national attention, appearing in the New York Times, USA Today and Rolling Stone, among other outlets. “Military City USA should not host someone with a record of hate speech and antisemitic comments in a city-funded facility like our Alamodome — not ever, and certainly not on July 4th, our Nation’s 250th birthday,” Jones wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Standing up to antisemitism is exactly what it takes to achieve a more perfect Union.”

Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership names new leader

The economic development and innovation group in charge of creating industry partnerships with Texas A&M-Fort Worth has a new leader. Cameron Cushman, former assistant vice president of innovation ecosystems at UNT Health Fort Worth, replaced Darryl Heath as executive director of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership. The partnership’s mission is to develop innovation hubs around the area’s key industries: aerospace, agriculture, media and healthcare. The organization is funded by the city, the county and Texas A&M University. Heath, who retired in 2015 after more than three decades at the consulting firm Accenture, returned to work and launched the program, Cushman said.

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“As an A&M graduate and with an extensive background in innovation, Cameron is the perfect person to continue with Darryl Heath’s leadership and carry us to new heights,” said John Goff, CEO of Crescent Real Estate and a driving force behind Texas A&M’s Fort Worth investment. Texas A&M had already brought Cushman in to focus on some of the hubs. Now, with the first Texas A&M building opening in time for fall 2026 classes, it was time for the organization to begin finalizing those partnerships, he said. The $185 million Law and Education Building broke ground in June 2023. The second structure is the $260 million Research and Innovation Building that will be home to collaboration and research in key sectors, including engineering, aerospace, defense and health sciences. That building will also include key Texas A&M research programs, including a transportation institute, engineering experiment station, AgriLife and the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

3 killed at Midland trucking company — city's second large shooting in 10 days

Authorities are investigating a deadly shooting in the Midland area that happened Monday morning in East Midland. The shooting happened in the area of North County Road 1140 and East Highway 80, at JAT Partner Logistics, a local trucking company, at approximately 6:58 a.m. Details are limited at this time, but a company spokesperson confirmed that at least three employees are dead following the incident. The Midland County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the deaths are from apparent gunshot wounds.

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A witness at the scene claimed that the an employee had arrived at the scene and shot two coworkers before turning the gun on himself. Neither the company nor law enforcement officials have confirmed such details. One victim has been identified so far. The family of 45-year-old Jeff Waugh, has come forward to identify him as an employee of the company who passed away in the incident. Family members described Waugh as a hardworking father who is now survived by his two teenage children. Officials say that the motive for the incident remains unclear. An investigation is underway by the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. There is no risk to the public at this time.

Lackland flu outbreak raises questions about Pentagon vaccine policy

At least 222 trainees have gotten sick during a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. The Air Force says it has been working to contain the virus for the past three weeks. The Air Force says medical personnel are isolating and treating sick trainees, monitoring those who may have been exposed, and administering antiviral medications to help contain the outbreak. The number of reported illnesses has climbed to 222, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio. Earlier in the week, Castro said nearly 160 members of the 37th Training Wing had gotten sick.

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Castro has called for a full accounting of the outbreak and an investigation into the death of trainee Keon McDaniel, who suffered a medical emergency during the outbreak. Military officials say the cause of death remains under investigation and have not said whether influenza played a role. In April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ended the military's long-standing influenza vaccine requirement, arguing the mandate weakened military readiness. A Pentagon spokesperson said the policy change was intended to "maximize operational readiness, lethality, and force generation, while safeguarding at-risk populations." The spokesperson said the department remains committed to the health and readiness of service members and civilian personnel. San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, who previously served as Undersecretary of the Air Force, said the outbreak was preventable.

Robert Wilonsky: Still no concrete plans for Dallas’ 112-year-old Concrete House, owned by a state senator

State Sen. Royce West was wondering who was taking pictures of the house next to his Oak Cliff law offices Saturday. And: Why? Uh, well, that was me, I told him Monday morning. Because it’s among the entries on Preservation Dallas’ latest Endangered Places List being released this week. “List for what?” he asked. I told him again, then ticked off some of the other places: the 10th Street Historic District, the perennial concern not far from the West & Associates digs on South R.L. Thornton Freeway; the 151-year-old Garvin Cemetery on Northwest Highway, a city landmark yet again being eyed by developers; the former Hotel St. Germain in Uptown, imperiled by a planned high-rise; the crime-ridden Cole Manor Motel on Harry Hines Boulevard, which is more than endangered, as it’s coming down as I type.

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And, of course, Dallas City Hall, whose abandonment creeps ever closer with each vote of City Council members who forget they’re but transient occupants. “That house has been there since 1914,” said West, referring to the manse designed and built by Czechoslovakian immigrant Joseph Kovandovitch. It’s made almost entirely of concrete. One of the city’s first poured concrete houses, actually. Which is why city Landmark Commission designation documents refer to it as — wait for it — The Concrete House. “It’s not going anywhere,” West said. Then he laughed. I’ve seen the future of Dallas City Hall. It’s where Eads Street in Oak Cliff dead-ends into vacant land and a thicket of trees, also owned by West, adjacent to the burgeoning Bottom neighborhood. An architectural marvel made entirely of concrete. Indestructible. Meant to last for a few lifetimes. Which it has, despite numerous fires set by the unsheltered and, according to one history, a cult. And boarded up for as long as anyone can remember.

Data breach exposes personal information of over 3 million Texas hunters, fishers

A cybersecurity incident involving the vendor managing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) license system may have exposed the personal information of more than 3 million hunting and fishing license customers. The Texas Cyber Command “recently detected a cybersecurity incident” in the TPWD license vendor system, according to a press release. Data exposed includes driver license information, passport numbers, email addresses, phone numbers and residential addresses. The data was tied to hunting and fishing license holders. The agency said there is no evidence customers younger than 18 were involved in the breach.

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“We recognize the seriousness of this issue and have identified and implemented additional security options to better protect customer information,” said TPWD in its press release. There is no evidence that any specific group was targeted, according to the state agency. “Many of our staff are hunters and anglers and were affected by this incident. We are committed to continuing to work with the license system vendor to implement increased safeguards to prevent future incidents,” TPWD said. No Social Security numbers, dates of birth or financial information, including credit card details, were believed to have been leaked. TPWD said it is working with its license system vendor to improve security and implement additional safeguards. Those impacted by the breach will get a free year of credit monitoring and can call 844-959-7123 if they have questions. The enrollment deadline for free credit monitoring is Sept. 14. License sales still continue on schedule for August and the next license year, according to the release. “We recognize the seriousness of this issue and have identified and implemented additional security options to better protect customer information. Many of our staff are hunters and anglers and were affected by this incident. We are committed to working with the license system vendor to implement increased safeguards,” the department said in a statement.

Texas board hears heated testimony on social studies standards as final vote nears

Dozens of speakers called on the Texas State Board of Education to move forward with a set of revised social studies standards during testimony that began Monday afternoon and stretched well into the night. Dozens more asked the board to amend the standards to give more attention to certain cultures or chapters in history. Monday’s meeting represented the last opportunity for the public to weigh in on the standards before the board takes them up for a final vote. More than 250 people signed up to give public testimony on the issue. Board members are expected to discuss proposed amendments in the coming days before taking a final vote on Friday. The proposed standards would lay out what students are expected to learn in their social studies classes at each grade level. The standards have drawn controversy, with critics saying they place too much emphasis on Christianity while giving short shrift to other world religions. For example, biblical figures such as Abraham and Moses are included alongside figures from American and Texas history such as George Washington and Sam Houston.

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The portrayal of Islam in the standards was a point of debate during the meeting. The mention of Islam in the proposed standards is limited, and mostly centers on conflicts like the Spanish Reconquista and acts of terrorism like those that occurred on Sept. 11. Earlier versions of the proposals included material dealing with the development of Algebra and astronomy in the Muslim world, but those were stripped out in the amendment process. Yusuf Shaikh, a Plano ISD graduate, said accurate portrayal of Muslims in world history classes matters. When Muslim students see Islam portrayed in history textbooks only as a source of conflict and not its contributions to math, science and other disciplines, they can be left with the impression that they don’t belong. He also noted that the seventh grade standards include the 1948 creation of the modern state of Israel, but don’t mention the mass displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians that followed. Inshirah Daher, a 15-year social studies teacher and a Palestinian American, took issue not only with the standards’ portrayal of Islam, but also the grade levels at which that material is introduced. She noted that fourth graders would be asked to learn about al-Qaeda before they’re taught foundational skills like how to read a map or how to distinguish a fact from an opinion. “This is not education,” she said. “This is a shortcut that skips the hard work of actually teaching children to be critical thinkers.

Supporters raise over $125,000 for woman who made anti-Islam remarks

A viral video of a woman making anti-Islam comments at a grocery store prompted one state lawmaker to condemn hate speech — but also sparked a groundswell of support for the woman from conservative influencers and their followers who raised more than $125,000 for her. The video shows a woman in medical scrubs telling two women, “You need to leave. You’re not welcome here. This is not a Muslim country, this is a Christian country.” The text on the video says it’s an H-E-B in Conroe, but the grocer didn’t reply to the Houston Chronicle’s inquiry. The confrontation drew attention from figures ranging from Democratic state Rep. Suleman Lalani of Sugar Land to online conservative commentator Sara Gonzales.

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A white nationalist influencer with the display name Tom Hennessey launched the fundraiser after social media users shared the woman’s personal information, such as an address and phone number they believed to be hers. The fundraiser on GiveSendGo — a Christian platform — says the woman was fired as a result of the viral interaction. The woman did not respond to requests for comment from the Chronicle. “She said the quiet part loud in the grocery aisle while the rest of us are simply trying to shop without a full-blown cultural invasion,” the GiveSendGo description says. Lalani condemned the comments in the video, saying they weren’t an isolated incident. “Perhaps the most disturbing part is the conviction this woman has in believing neighbors shopping at H-E-B are a threat to her and her country,” he wrote on social media. “This ‘hate virus’ is a contagion we must confront with facts, truth, and unity.” Muslims in Texas have been raising concerns regarding their safety as the GOP has spent months campaigning against “Sharia law,” which members of the faith group say is a moral and spiritual framework central to their faith. Muslims say the rhetoric from Republicans is putting them at risk.

National Stories

Why Democrats are running against the ‘Epstein class’

After Graham Platner secured the Democratic nomination for Senate in Maine, his first ad of the general election didn’t mention his opponent, Sen. Susan Collins, or the Republican Party. It focused on the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and who he called the “Epstein class” of elites in both parties. “Some of the most powerful Democrats and Republicans in the country were on Epstein island,” Platner said in the ad, referring to Epstein’s former residence in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Platner, whose economic-populist campaign combined with controversial online statements and a since-removed tattoo of a Nazi symbol have drawn national attention, framed himself in opposition to this elite class. “It seems the only thing the party establishments can agree on is a love of Jeffrey Epstein, and a hatred of me,” he said. “I’m Graham Platner, and I approve this message because together, we will take back our government from the Epstein class.”

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It’s not just Platner: In midterm races from Texas to Maine, Democrats and at least one Republican are running against Epstein and “the Epstein class,” a term Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California first used last year to describe the men among the economic and cultural elite who traveled in Epstein’s social circles and helped rehabilitate his reputation after the multimillionaire ex-financier became a convicted sex offender in 2008 for soliciting prostitution of a minor. “I’ll give the survivors credit, but I did coin the phrase ‘Epstein class’ because they’re a group of rich and powerful people who are not playing by the rules, and it offends the sense that we have one tier of justice,” Khanna told The 19th. The number of candidates highlighting Epstein in their campaign messaging, Khanna argued, “shows what a powerful issue this is to win the midterms and win back the trust of the American public.” In two of the most competitive races to determine control of the U.S. Senate, Platner and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who is running for reelection, have castigated the “Epstein class” and what they say is elite corruption in their ads and messaging.

What to watch Tuesday: Mamdani, AI industry flex political power in New York

Two opposing factions in the artificial intelligence industry square off in a Democratic primary for a U.S. House seat. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tests his political clout by backing fellow democratic socialists. And President Donald Trump, after two of his chosen candidates for governor lost Republican primaries this month, ensured it won’t happen again — by endorsing both candidates in a South Carolina runoff. Those are a few of the races to watch on Tuesday as voters head to the polls for primaries in Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Utah. The crowded Democratic primary became a proxy battle between two powerful camps of the artificial intelligence industry because of one candidate: New York Assemblyman Alex Bores.

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Bores, a former Palantir employee who cited ethical concerns in leaving the company, pushed one of the more sweeping state-level AI regulation bills in the country. Now, Bores points to that legislation — which faced some industry pushback — as a framework for how he’d approach regulation in Congress. So when he stepped into the race for the New York congressional district being vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, a political group underwritten by investors in OpenAI spent more than $7 million on ads against Bores. Then an opposing wing of the industry, one more in favor of regulation, rode to Bores’ aid. Political groups partly funded by Anthropic, which makes the chatbot Claude, spent more $10 million to boost Bores’ candidacy. Anthropic was co-founded by former OpenAI employee, Dario Amodei, who left the company partly over concerns about AI safety. The election will offer some measure of the political might of the two AI industry factions. The New York City mayor endorsed Democratic primary candidates hailing from his own political camp — a progressive and two democratic socialists — who are challenging more established candidates, some backed by party leadership.

As Vance leads Iran negotiations, Trump creates disruptions in his path

As Vice President JD Vance entered the fifth hour of negotiations with Iranian leaders over the weekend, President Trump weighed in with an ill-timed threat to start bombing again. If the Iranians closed the Strait of Hormuz, Mr. Trump told a Fox News reporter, the negotiators talking to Mr. Vance would never make it back to their country — in fact, they would have no country to return to at all. For Mr. Vance, this was the latest example of his increasingly tricky role as the frontman in the U.S. negotiations with Iran, as Mr. Trump repeatedly creates disruptions in his path. On Monday, Mr. Vance said the first round of talks had laid “a successful foundation” for peace. But now, Mr. Vance will have to find a way to end a war that he opposed at the start, while navigating his boss’s whims and an adversary that has proved itself, at least in part, immune to Mr. Trump’s threats.

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“What we told the Iranians yesterday is when you guys engage in what us millennials might call trash talk, you can’t expect the president of the United States not to respond and not to correct the record,” he said on Monday at a news conference. “So when they say things that aren’t true, the president is going to respond to it.” Both sides have signed a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities and are now trying to strike a lasting nuclear deal in 60 days. But for Mr. Vance, the presumptive favorite for the 2028 Republican nomination, the situation remains politically precarious. “If it works out, I’m going to take the credit,” Mr. Trump said of the peace deal last week. “If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD.” Mr. Vance has said the president was joking, but Mr. Trump has never shied away from deflecting blame onto others — and how Mr. Vance handles the future of the negotiations will factor into Republicans’ performance in the midterm elections and his future as a potential successor to Mr. Trump.

America’s intractable air traffic problem

Hours after a fatal collision at New York’s LaGuardia airport last March, America’s accident investigation agency dispatched one of its top air traffic control specialists to the scene. She barely made her flight. At the time, a partial government shutdown meant security agents at US airports were not being paid and often did not show up for work. Travellers across the US were forced to wait hours to be screened. Aides had to “beg” officials in Houston to get the investigator out of the queue she’d been stuck in for three hours and on to her flight to New York, said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board. “It’s been a really, a really big challenge to get the entire team here, and they’re still arriving as we speak,” she told reporters the day after the crash.

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America’s air transport system is under strain as never before. Insiders speak of near misses in the air and of staffing shortages in critical sectors that have heightened concern about passenger safety. With traveller numbers at near-record levels, congestion is rising around major hubs while occasional federal government shutdowns are wreaking havoc on operations. Frequent flight delays and cancellations caused by technology outages have prompted federal auditors to warn of the danger posed to air safety by ageing infrastructure. The World Cup, which is bringing millions of football fans to venues across the US, will only ratchet up the pressure — just as the summer travel season peaks. “The US system moves a lot of traffic very efficiently and has for years, but it’s super-strained by a lack of funding and understaffing,” says Brian Vogelsinger, a former Chicago-based air traffic controller. Vogelsinger is not the only one to worry about the staffing crisis in his profession. The National Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (Natca) puts the shortfall at 3,800. That means a lot more work for those currently in the system. “Forty per cent of our facilities are working six days a week, 10 hours a day,” says Anthony Schifano, a controller in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Some of these people?.?.?. never see a weekend off.”

Federal judge halts Trump administration effort to subpoena Walz in immigration enforcement probe

A federal judge has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, calling it an effort to “harass and retaliate against them.” In a ruling unsealed Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz found the “dominant purpose” of the subpoenas was to “coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.” The subpoenas were served in January as part of an investigation into whether Walz and other officials obstructed or impeded law enforcement during a sweeping immigration operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

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The subpoenas, which seek records, were sent to the offices of Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties. The judge ruled that there appeared to be “extremely weak to nonexistent” connections between the information sought in the subpoenas and any possible criminal violation. The subpoenas seek materials “that largely if not entirely relate to constitutionally protected conduct,” the judge wrote, noting that Minnesota has the legal right not to devote its resources to enforcing federal immigration law. The Justice Department “is not conducting a criminal investigation,” the judge wrote, “but is instead using the grand jury process for other (unlawful) purposes.” The evidence that the subpoenas were issued for unlawful reasons is overwhelming, the judge said, arguing that the Justice Department “has struggled — without success — to identify a single plausible investigatory justification” for them.

House Republicans slam Trump’s ‘risky and uncoordinated’ military funding strategy

House Republican appropriators are publicly rebuking the Trump administration for seeking must-have military cash through a party-line reconciliation bill that’s not guaranteed to clear Congress. In a report they plan to release later this week, obtained by POLITICO, House appropriators warn that the White House is trying to fund “critical efforts” like weapons and military equipment through the party-line process, rather than using it to “scale up” military dollars beyond Congress’ regular government funding bills.

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“This approach is risky and uncoordinated,” reads the report, an official addendum that goes along with the chamber’s defense funding bill for the fiscal year that starts in October. In particular, appropriators criticized President Donald Trump’s budget request for splitting funding for the F-35 fighter, the most expensive program in Pentagon history, between the two bills. The annual government funding bills and the reconciliation process are “entirely separate tracks, with different timelines, committees of jurisdiction, and approval processes,” the report notes. Many Republican lawmakers are also doubtful GOP leaders will succeed in enacting another party-line package this year.

Five arrested as part of Trump’s reflecting pool ‘vandalism’ crackdown

Five people have been arrested and an additional five cited for vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, President Trump said Monday as he blamed political saboteurs for the peeling paint and a green algae bloom wrecking his much-hyped $14 million renovation. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that vandals “very violently” cut close to a 300-foot gash in the pool’s new “American flag blue” lining with “a box cutter or knife of some kind.” A White House official added that 14 police reports were filed in connection with vandalism on the Reflecting Pool, including one report regarding the large gash Trump described.

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National Guard members and officers from various regional law enforcement agencies have been patrolling the area around the Reflecting Pool since this weekend, when Trump said “disgraceful vandalism” was responsible for damage to the newly renovated pool. He said the pool would once again be drained and fixed. “We had people lifting up – it’s not a lot of damage, but we’ll probably have to let the water out and fix it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. Neither the president nor the White House has offered specific evidence that the pool was purposefully vandalized, and questions remain whether the fast-tracked sealing and painting of the pool may be to blame. The Trump administration awarded Atlantic Industrial Coatings a no-bid $6.89 million contract in April to resurface the pool with his color choice, “American flag blue.” Millions more were added to the contract in May and June, bringing the total cost for the paint job and waterproofing to nearly $15 million.

Senate passes bill to lower housing costs and restrict Wall Street from buying homes

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to pass a sweeping housing affordability bill aimed at lowering costs, putting Congress on the brink of a rare bipartisan victory in President Donald Trump’s second term. The vote was 85-5. Several senators missed the vote due to severe thunderstorms in the Washington area that led to a ground stop at Ronald Reagan National Airport. The legislation, which would make it easier to build homes and slap limits on Wall Street investors’ buying up houses, now goes to the House, which hopes to vote on it in the next few days. Then, it would go to Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

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The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act would be a desperately needed win for Republicans, who have seen their 2026 midterm election prospects deteriorate throughout the year as voters believe Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress haven’t done enough to tackle the cost of living. A mid-June poll by The Associated Press found that Trump’s overall approval rating is 37%, dragged down by the fact that just 33% said they approve of his handling of the economy. Other surveys have shown him getting low marks on handling the cost of living, the main issue that powered him to victory in 2024. And a June NBC News poll showed nearly 80% of U.S. voters believe the “American Dream” is harder to achieve than it was a generation ago. The bill represents a tangible victory on a top affordability concern. The “four corners” deal reached last week among key committee chairs, which was blessed by party leaders, brought together an eclectic mix of lawmakers from all over the ideological spectrum. It was negotiated by Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Reps. French Hill, R-Ark., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

Tucker Carlson says he'll no longer support GOP

Longtime conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said on a podcast that “there’s no chance I would support the Republican Party” ahead of the November midterm elections, dismissing the political affiliation he’s defended as a pundit for decades, including as one of Fox News Channel’s most popular hosts. “Not gonna support the Democratic Party,” Carlson was quick to add, speaking late last week on the show “Can’t Be Censored.” “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Carlson, who has amassed a large following on his own podcast since being fired from Fox News in 2023, has more recently diverged from the party, a disillusionment supercharged by President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran in February.

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Carlson supported Trump in 2024. After the war began, he apologized for supporting the then-presidential candidate and “misleading people,” saying it wasn’t intentional. He’s repeatedly criticized the war as being at the behest of Israel at the expense of Americans, and attacked the party for failing to represent its own voters, citizens and nation. “They are making decisions on the basis of other criteria, what’s best for this company, what’s best for Israel, what’s best for our donors,” he said. “That’s not just, like, they are off in the wrong direction, like, that is unacceptable, that’s treasonous, it’s immoral, it can’t continue.” “I’ve been a consistent defender for 35 years of the Republican Party, I mean very consistent defender, but there’s no defending this,” he said. “So no, I’m out. And if I’m out, then I think a lot of other people are out.”

Copyright June 23, 2026, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved