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California's primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two

(NPR) The primary election for California governor is too close to call, with vote counting continuing Wednesday. Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican business executive Steve Hilton lead the field with Democrat Tom Steyer in third place. The winner will lead the country's most populous state, where leaders often take on national political prominence. Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom is at his two-term limit and could be a Democratic contender for president.

allegorical oracle

Trump threatens to keep the UFC construction up permanently -- like the Eiffel Tower

(Huff Post) President Donald Trump on Tuesday compared the structure being built on the South Lawn of the White House for this month’s UFC fight to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. And he thinks it might have a similar fate. Speaking in a TikTok video, the president said the Eiffel Tower was a temporary structure set up for the 1889 Paris Exposition. "It was supposed to be taken down immediately after the world’s fair,” he said. “Well, they never took it down.”

Zorro

DHS chief dodges questions on obeying court orders

(Washington Post) Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesday accused some federal judges of politicizing their decisions and dodged questions from lawmakers about whether the Department of Homeland Security would abide by court rulings under his leadership. During a testy exchange with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), Mullin stated repeatedly that he would never violate the Constitution. At the same time, he suggested that some judges “make a political opinion from the bench” because they view themselves as above the law.

AZProgressive

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and ex-Mayor Gregg Hull to face off for New Mexico governor

(AP) Deb Haaland is planning to lean into her roots as she seeks to become the first female Native American governor of any U.S. state, while her Republican challenger in New Mexico wants to end the Democrats’ nearly decade-long dominance of statewide offices. Haaland easily clinched the Democratic nomination Tuesday, putting the citizen of Laguna Pueblo on a path to yet another potential first. She was one of the first two Native women elected to Congress and was the first Native American to hold a Cabinet secretary position in the U.S. government.

KS Toronado

Wednesday's Condensed News Cartoons

applegrove

CBS Fires Scott Pelley

(Political Wire) CBS News fired veteran ‘60 Minutes’ correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday, hours after a contentious meeting with management in response to his criticism of the newsmagazine’s new leadership, CNN reports.

AverageOldGuy

Supreme Court allows Alabama to use GOP-friendly map for midterms, cutting seat held by Black Democrat

(CNN) The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Alabama to use a congressional map that will benefit Republicans in this year’s midterm elections, permitting the state to ditch one of two House districts represented by a Black member of Congress who is also a Democrat. The court dealt with the case in an unsigned order over the dissent of the three liberal justices.

RandySF

NJ-07: Bennett wins Democratic House primary to take on Kean in New Jersey

(The Hill) Democrat Rebecca Bennett is projected to win her party’s primary and will face incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District this fall, according to Decision Desk HQ. Bennett, a former U.S. Navy helicopter and officer in the Air National Guard, will face Kean in the general election, with the latter seeking a third term in Congress despite a monthslong absence from Capitol Hill and the campaign trail for months.

AZProgressive

Pentagon hires convicted Jan. 6 rioter for counterterrorism post

(The Hill) The Trump administration has hired a convicted Jan. 6, 2021, rioter to work in the Pentagon’s office that oversees sensitive special operations and irregular warfare matters. Elias Irizarry, who was 19 when he participated in the attack at the U.S. Capitol, was appointed to a position within the Defense Department’s Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

2naSalit

'Just stop it': Public sours on Trump's naming campaign

(CNN) CNN chief data analyst Hary Enten looks at a poll showing a clear plurality of the American public being opposed to using President Donald Trump’s name on government buildings.

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Jared Kushner's Albanian Resort Faces a Corruption Probe and Mass Protests

1 hr ago - The project involves a “network of shady individuals and companies,“ according to an investigative report. Judd Legum 3 hours ago Jared Kushner’s efforts to negotiate an end to the Iran War are not going well. But he is only moon ... (motherjones.com)

Virginians are 'buying the living daylights' out of AR-15s and other soon-to-be illegal guns

2 hrs ago - The countdown to Virginia's new assault weapons ban is playing out at gun counters across the commonwealth. Customers are snapping up AR-15s, gun manufacturers are rushing shipments to Virginia retailers and store owners say firearms are flying off s ... (Roanoke VA Times)

Trump says Iran has agreed to not have a nuclear weapon

2 hrs ago - June 3 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed not to have a nuclear weapon and that he would probably meet with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at some point if things "work out". "They've already agreed they're not going to hav ... (Reuters)

Senate moving forward with reconciliation bill, dropping ballroom funds

3 hrs ago - Washington — Senate Republicans are moving forward with a package to fund the Department of Homeland Security's immigration agencies on Wednesday, following a back-and-forth over the Justice Department's "anti-weaponization" fund that threatened ... (CBS News)

Child dies after inflatable castle tossed into air in Montreal park

3 hrs ago - Updated 12:28 PM CDT, June 3, 2026 MONTREAL (AP) — A 3-year-old girl died from injuries she sustained when strong winds tossed an inflatable castle into the air during a party at a Montreal park last weekend. Eleven people were injured with six ... (AP)

Wim Wenders pulls 1975 film over nude scene with then-13-year-old Nastassja Kinski

4 hrs ago - By JAKE COYLE Updated 12:12 PM CDT, June 3, 2026 German filmmaker Wim Wenders on Wednesday said he has pulled his 1975 movie “The Wrong Move” over a nude scene featuring a then-13-year-old Nastassja Kinski. Kinski, now 65, has urged Wenders ... (AP)

US factory orders post biggest gain in 11 months in April

5 hrs ago - US factory orders post biggest gain in 11 months in April By Reuters June 3, 2026 10:38 AM EDT Updated 25 mins ago Employees work on the production floor of the General Stamping & Metalworks building in South Bend, Indiana, U.S., March 23, 2026. ... (Reuters)

Top ultra-processed food researchers call for sweeping policy change: 'The system is rigged'

5 hrs ago - Health Top ultra-processed food researchers call for sweeping policy change: ‘The system is rigged’ Special issue of American Journal of Public Health lays out the case for government action over personal responsibility Joe Raedle/Getty Ima ... (STAT News)

Lahn's win in GOP primary for Iowa governor is a setback for Trump that could signal MAHA strength

6 hrs ago - By HANNAH FINGERHUT and ALI SWENSON Updated 8:34 AM CDT, June 3, 2026 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Businessman Zach Lahn’s win in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary over President Donald Trump’s pick, Rep. Randy Feenstra, delivere ... (AP)

Trump library says no Twitter DMs can be found, despite evidence he sent them

7 hrs ago - WP Exclusive Trump library says no Twitter DMs can be found, despite evidence he sent them Records show that Trump's first administration opted not to save DMs in its library archives, raising questions about compliance with the Presidential Records ... (Washington Post)

Trump threatens tariffs on 60 trading partners including UK and Canada over 'forced labour'

8 hrs ago - Proposal for 10-12.5% levies, to also include EU, Taiwan and Australia, would allow US president to skirt court-imposed limits Donald Trump has threatened tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 trading partners including the UK, the EU and Australia ... (The Guardian)

Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg as Putin's flagship economic forum opens

8 hrs ago - 1 hour ago Laura Gozzi Ukraine has carried out a strike on the outskirts of Russia's St Petersburg, hours before the opening of a major economic forum designed to attract foreign investment into the country. As dawn broke black plumes of smoke rose ... (bbc)

Private payrolls grew by 122,000 in May, stronger than expected, ADP reports

9 hrs ago - Economy Private payrolls grew by 122,000 in May, stronger than expected, ADP reports Published Wed, Jun 3 2026 8:15 AM EDT Updated 3 Min Ago Jeff Cox @jeff.cox.7528 @JeffCoxCNBCcom Key Points * ADP reported said companies added 122,000 workers in May ... (CNBC)

Tensions rising and negotiations falling flat as WV beer distributor strike enters fourth week

10 hrs ago - By: Caity Coyne - June 3, 2026 5:55 am Negotiations are stalling and tensions escalating as employees for The Beverage Market, in Charleston, West Virginia, are entering the fourth week of their strike. The employees — nearly 50 drivers, warehou ... (West Virginia Watch)

California's primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two

10 hrs ago - National California's primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two June 3, 20264:14 AM ET KQED By Marisa Lagos Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, and Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial c ... (NPR)

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and ex-Mayor Gregg Hull to face off for New Mexico governor

15 hrs ago - By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and SAVANNAH PETERS Updated 11:17 PM MST, June 2, 2026 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Deb Haaland is planning to lean into her roots as she seeks to become the first female Native American governor of any U.S. state, while her ... (Associated Press)

DHS chief dodges questions on obeying court orders

15 hrs ago - At a Senate hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin declined to confirm that his department would follow legal rulings, accusing some federal judges of politicizing their decisions. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Tuesd ... (Washington Post)

Peabo Bryson, timeless tenor of Disney ballads and R&B legend, dead at 75

16 hrs ago - Peabo Bryson, whose smooth tone and operatic control produced classic Disney hits as well as R&B standards, has died, according to a statement from his family. He was 75. The statement said he died Tuesday evening “surrounded by the love of ... (CNN)

GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan draws an unusual opponent in Alaska's primary -- and he's not happy about it

18 hrs ago - By BECKY BOHRER and KEVIN FREKING Updated 7:43 PM CDT, June 2, 2026 JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is running for reelection in Alaska and faces a field of 15 competitors. One of them is Dan Sullivan. The senator told re ... (AP)

Rebecca Bennett wins Democratic primary in New Jersey to take on Rep. Tom Kean Jr.

18 hrs ago - By MIKE CATALINI Updated 9:51 PM CDT, June 2, 2026 BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, won the Democratic primary in a battleground New Jersey congressional district to take on Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., ... (AP)