Wednesday, 3 June 2026

U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fresh strikes on June 3, with one killed and 63 hurt in an Iranian attack on Kuwait airport. Trump said ceasefire talks remain ongoing and claimed a peace deal could be reached "over the weekend," but tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.

Trump confirmed he had profanity-laden calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "crazy" and demanding retreat from a military offensive in Lebanon against Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The exchange signals a widening divide between the two leaders.

The House passed a war powers resolution on June 3 to rein in President Trump's military campaign in Iran, marking the first successful congressional rebuke of Trump's Iran war effort after multiple previous Democratic-led attempts failed.

Trump threatened tariffs of 10-12.5% on 60 trading partners including the UK, Canada, EU, Taiwan, and Australia, citing forced labor concerns. The administration claims the approach allows the president to skirt court-imposed limits on tariff authority.

Federal workers who were unlawfully fired by the Trump administration reported severe mental health effects, with 95% of more than 300 surveyed probationary employees experiencing continuing psychological distress described as "PTSD-like symptoms."

Trump administration officials announced plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million network that has provided crucial climate data. Environmental experts have expressed dismay at the proposed cuts.

The White House proposed a new plan to vet public grants for "American values," sparking broad alarm among scientists and experts who warn it would amount to a "devastating blow" to scientific research and funding.

Disgraced former congressman George Santos was reportedly investigated by the Department of Justice for suspicious betting activity on prediction market Kalshi, including a bet on whether he would be at Trump's State of the Union speech.

Primary elections were held on June 2 in six states including California and Iowa. In Iowa, a Trump-backed candidate lost the governor's race, while in California the governor's race remained too close to call with Republican Steve Hilton narrowly leading.

Senate Republicans introduced a revised immigration enforcement funding bill and expressed concerns about a proposed "anti-weaponization fund" that would allow the president to pay people claiming to be victims of government persecution. The Senate voted 53-46 to advance the measure.