Pentagon leaders cite military tactics to show destruction from US attacks on Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon leaders have laid out new details about military tactics and explosives to bolster their argument that U.S. attacks had destroyed key Iranian nuclear facilities. But at a Pentagon briefing Thursday, little more emerged on how far back the bombing had set Tehran’s atomic program. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine tried to shift the debate from whether the nuclear targets were “obliterated” as President Donald Trump has said. Hegseth was asked whether Iran's highly enriched uranium was moved before the weekend strikes. He said the Pentagon is looking at the intelligence to ensure “we have a sense of what was where.”

Iran’s Khamenei resurfaces to warn against future US attacks in first statement since ceasefire

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says his country has delivered a "slap to America’s face” with its strike on an American base in Qatar and warned against any further U.S. attacks on Iran. The speech Thursday marked Khamenei's first public comments since a ceasefire was declared in the war with Israel. American forces hit three Iranian nuclear facilities with bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles Sunday, inserting the United States into the Israel-Iran war. Iran retaliated Monday with a missile attack on the U.S. base in Qatar, which caused no casualties.

Senators diverge sharply on damage done by Iran strikes after classified briefing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators are emerging from a classified briefing with sharply diverging assessments of President Donald Trump’s bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites. Republicans called the mission a clear success, while Democrats expressed deep skepticism. The briefing Thursday was given by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kaine. It comes as questions swirl about the effectiveness of the attack and what’s ahead for America’s military involvement in the Middle East. Senators are also weighing their support for a resolution affirming that Trump should seek authorization from Congress before launching more military action against Iran.

Trump says US has signed a deal with China on trade, without giving details

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. has signed an agreement with China on trade and expects to soon have a deal with India. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Bloomberg TV that the deal was signed earlier this week, but he gave no details. He said Trump is “the dealmaker” and wanted to “close these deals himself.” China has not announced any agreements, but it has said it was speeding up approvals of exports of rare earths, materials used in high-tech products such as electric vehicles. The deal mentioned by Trump followed meetings in London where officials said they had set a framework for resolving trade disputes.

Justice Department says Kilmar Abrego Garcia will face US trial before any move to deport him again

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department says it intends to try Kilmar Abrego Garcia on federal smuggling charges in Tennessee before it moves to deport him, addressing fears that he could be expelled again from the U.S. within days. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville, Tennessee, recently ruled that Abrego Garcia has a right to be released from jail while awaiting trial on the smuggling charges. But she decided Wednesday to keep him in custody for at least a few more days over concerns that U.S. immigration officials would swiftly detain him and try to deport him again. But DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin told The Associated Press on Thursday that Abrego Garcia will first be tried in court on the charges.

What to know about states blocking Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood

The Supreme Court is letting South Carolina block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. For abortion opponents, it's a victory for the idea that states with more restrictive abortion laws shouldn't have to support groups that provide services policymakers disagree with. Abortion rights supporters frame the ruling as a blow to health care access. The ruling comes as the U.S. Senate is considering a national ban on federal funds for Planned Parenthood. Federal policy already blocks paying for most abortions. The restrictions in question would bar public funding for other services offered by Planned Parenthood.

Kennedy’s advisers back flu vaccination, but not shots with a rarely used preservative

ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vaccine advisory committee endorsed fall flu vaccinations Thursday for just about every American but with a twist: The group says people should only be given shots free of an ingredient antivaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. The seven-member panel, which includes vaccine skeptics, replaced the previous 17-member group earlier this month. Public health officials are worried that ideological decisions could make vaccines less accessible and more expensive for millions of Americans.

Key Medicaid provision in Trump's bill is found to violate Senate rules. The GOP is scrambling

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate parliamentarian has advised that a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill doesn't adhere to procedural rules. It’s a blow to Republicans rushing to finish the package this week. The guidance from the parliamentarian is rarely ignored and GOP leaders swiftly worked to revise the proposal. Majority Leader John Thune says, “We have contingency plans.” Trump hosted GOP lawmakers Thursday for an event at the White House with Americans the administration says will benefit from the bill. He said he doesn't want any “grandstanders” to hold up the bill and wants it passed by the Fourth of July.

Prosecutor tells jury 'it's time' to convict Sean 'Diddy' Combs as sex trafficking trial near end

NEW YORK (AP) — A prosecutor began two days of closing arguments at Sean “Diddy” Combs' sex trafficking trial by telling a jury that the music mogul used “power, violence and fear” to rule a criminal enterprise for two decades. The closing on Thursday was delivered by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik in Manhattan federal court. The defense will get its turn Friday. Afterward, another prosecutor will deliver a rebuttal closing argument before Judge Arun Subramanian instructs the jury on the law so it can begin deliberations. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. The trial is in its seventh week.

Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary turned acclaimed TV journalist, dead at 91

NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Moyers, the former White House press secretary who became one of television’s most honored journalists, has died at 91. His career ranged from President Lyndon Johnson’s press secretary to newspaper publisher and senior news analyst at CBS News. But it was for public television that Moyers produced some of TV’s most intelligent and provocative programs. During hundreds of hours on PBS, he proved at home with subjects ranging from government corruption to modern dance, from drug addiction to media consolidation, from religion to environmental abuse. He called himself a “citizen journalist.”