Capitol Hill: the seat of U.S. Congress and a historic Washington, D.C. nerve center
A Guardian feature details Kevin Kotoko and Austin Franklin, two Fox World Cup watchers who are stationed in a Times Square viewing cube for the tournament, offering a window into the surreal setup and the challenges of the assignment.
The Democratic National Committee has released a 192‑page autopsy of the 2024 election that it had kept secret. Chair Ken Martin has said the report "does not meet my standards" and has apologised for withholding it; the draft is incomplete, annotated as unverified in places, omits Gaza/Israel, and is prompting internal criticism and calls for his resignation.
President Donald Trump has delayed Jay Clayton’s Senate confirmation and said Bill Pulte will remain acting director of national intelligence. Trump has tied progress on renewing Section 702 surveillance authority and Clayton’s confirmation to passage of a voter ID bill and has ordered Pulte to cut ODNI staff and return employees to their home agencies.
A federal judge has extended a court order blocking the Trump administration's proposed $1.8bn "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and has demanded sworn declarations from top officials that the plan will not proceed. The Justice Department has argued those written attestations are unnecessary and has warned the judge her request raises separation-of-powers concerns.
A Nigerian Federal High Court ruling ordering INEC to deregister five political parties has been stayed by the Court of Appeal, which also rebuked the trial judge for proceeding despite a stay order. The development preserves the parties’ registration ahead of 2027 elections, while INEC and parties prepare for ongoing appeals.
Multiple outlets report that Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has told associates he will return to Washington on June 30 after months of absence due to a personal health issue. He has missed hundreds of votes but is planning a public return and a campaign push in New Jersey’s 7th District ahead of November’s election.
The White House has asked Congress to approve roughly $87.6 billion in supplemental funding for the Iran war and related programs, with major portions for the Defense Department, farmers, Ebola response, and a Penn Station renovation. Republicans warn of costs and the political risk ahead of the midterms; Democrats press for scrutiny and accountability.
Bill Gates has testified before a House committee about his association with Jeffrey Epstein, describing it as a serious error and saying Epstein sought to leverage information about Gates’s infidelities. The transcript shows Gates stating he was never blackmailed, though he acknowledges “veiled” threats and discusses attempts to raise funds for global health through Epstein’s network.
The president has cancelled a Capitol signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a priority Republicans say would curb noncitizen voting and tighten voter ID. The House and Senate-backed housing package remains on track, while the White House and GOP leadership trade signals about timing.
The president has met with Senate Republicans amid tensions over Iran policy and a stalled bipartisan housing bill, as Republicans push to overhaul or end the filibuster. Cassidy challenges the president over the Iran plan; Trump defends his approach and pressures GOP allies to back the SAVE America Act.