American politician and public servant
President Donald Trump has attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, triggering heavy Secret Service security, street closures, a no-bag policy and the cancellation of an outdoor watch party. The Knicks are 2-0 in the series and ticket resale prices have surged into the thousands, locking many fans out of the arena.
The Knicks have clinched the NBA title, sparking celebrations across New York. Security around Madison Square Garden has intensified due to a presidential attendance, with perimeter controls and TSA-style screenings. Parades and watch parties are planned with limited outdoor viewing options.
The Obama Presidential Center has opened on Chicago’s South Side with a star-studded dedication ceremony and performances. Four living former presidents attended the invite-only event; President Donald Trump did not. The $850 million, 19-acre campus will open to the public on Juneteenth and will house a museum, public library branch, athletic facilities and public spaces.
Across US politics, support for Israel is waning amid calls to reassess military aid; Democrats and Republicans are rethinking the framework, with prominent voices urging a recalibration of aid and diplomacy.
Jewish Americans are increasingly feeling politically homeless as support for Israel and concerns about antisemitism divide Democrats and Republicans. A recent AP-NORC poll shows most Jewish adults feel neither party represents them well, with many invoking fear and isolation amid the Gaza war’s ongoing political fallout.
Representative Ro Khanna has said armed Israeli settlers detained his delegation for about 90 minutes during a visit to the West Bank village of Khirbet Zanuta. Khanna has accused the Israel Defense Forces of siding with the settlers; the IDF has said troops dispersed civilians who were blocking the road and reopened traffic.
House Republicans have advanced a reconciliation budget resolution that would channel roughly $60 billion to the Iran war, boost Pentagon and farm aid and include parts of President Trump’s elections package. Democrats have opposed the plan’s high spending and social riders. Separately, more than 100 House Democrats voted to withhold military aid to Israel, exposing a deep intra-party split ahead of the midterms.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has raised more than $1.7 million for state parties and legislative committees this two-year cycle, showcasing a robust grassroots email-driven fundraising machine. The effort has drawn praise from party leaders in several states and fuels talk of a potential White House run. Other Democrats also contribute to party coffers and key races.
A NATAN-led clinic in Gaza’s Al-Mawasi camp will provide preventive care, vaccinations, pediatric primary care, and rehabilitation for up to 10,000 children, with telemedicine from Israeli doctors. The project faces concerns about the role of an Israeli organization in Gaza’s humanitarian efforts.