Reader Edition

Wednesday, June 3

File image of Randy Feenstra. He wears a suit as he attends a hearing in the US House
PoliticsJune 3, 2026

Iowa Voters Reject Establishment Pick Despite Trump Endorsement

Iowa voters bypassed a Trump-endorsed congressman in favor of Zach Lahn, a businessman who campaigned on a populist platform of protecting Iowa land and challenging the political establishment.

Smoke billowing over central St Petersburg
Foreign PolicyJune 3, 2026

Ukraine Strikes St. Petersburg as Putin Hosts Economic Forum

Ukraine launched a multi-drone assault on St. Petersburg, hitting energy infrastructure and a naval base in a direct challenge to Vladimir Putin’s prestige economic summit.

This is a head and shoulders pic of Karen Bass who is smiling broadly and wearing a grey, checked suit. The background, slightly out of focus, appears to be red seating
PoliticsJune 3, 2026

Karen Bass Faces Run-Off in Los Angeles Mayoral Race Amid Mounting Criticism

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has advanced to a November run-off election, where she will face either Republican newcomer Spencer Pratt or radical Democrat Nithya Raman to decide the future of a city plagued by homelessness and failed leadersh

Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr arrives to the US Capitol in March for a caucus meeting
PoliticsJune 3, 2026

Absentee Congressman Kean Secures Primary Win Following Trump Endorsement

Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. has clinched his party's nomination for re-election despite a months-long absence from Washington and his home district.

Dominic LeBlanc mid-speech. He is wearing a suit and has black and gray short hair.
EconomyJune 3, 2026

Canada Begs for USMCA Extension as Trump Administration Demands Fair Trade

Canada has formally requested a 16-year extension of the USMCA, hoping to stabilize its struggling economy while the Trump administration maintains pressure over unfair trade barriers and retaliatory tariffs.

President Donald Trump, wearing a white USA cap and a red golfing sweater, waves as he passes by white pillars outside the White House
PoliticsJune 3, 2026

Trump Administration Scraps $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund

The Trump administration has officially abandoned its $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate victims of government targeting after facing significant pushback from both sides of the aisle.

Tuesday, June 2

The backs of two men wearing white can be seen looking out to sea, where the Galaxy Globe bulk carrier and the Luojiashan tanker sit anchored as Iran vows to close the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Muscat, Oman, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
Foreign PolicyJune 2, 2026

Iran’s Hostage Strategy: Tehran Holds 20,000 Sailors Captive in Strait of Hormuz

Approximately 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf as the Iranian regime continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, demanding illicit tolls and defying international norms.

President Putin wearing a white shirt, dotted blue tie and blue suit, gestures with his hands as he speaks at a white podium with two microphones. A light green patterned curtain stands to the left of the picture.
Foreign PolicyJune 2, 2026

Putin Remains Defiant as War of Attrition Strains Russian Resolve

Vladimir Putin continues to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, ignoring the mounting costs of a war that has dragged into its fifth year.

Bill Pulte speaking to the press wearing a suit and tie
PoliticsJune 2, 2026

Trump Taps Housing Chief Bill Pulte to Lead Intelligence Community

President Trump has appointed Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, tasking the housing official with overseeing the nation's 18 intelligence agencies while he continues his work at the FHFA.

A hand holding the Majorana 2 chip in its palm. Including its housing the chip appears to be about the size of a beer mat. It consists of a gold plated metal frame and sits on a dark blue-green board bearing its name. The chip itself is a small silvery square on a dark gunmetal blue square with very fine gold circuitry visible.
TechJune 2, 2026

Microsoft Claims Quantum Breakthrough, Eyes 2029 Commercial Launch

Microsoft is touting a significant leap in quantum computing reliability with its new Majorana 2 chip, aiming to deliver a commercially viable machine by 2029 despite skepticism from the scientific community.

An elderly woman stands in the entrance to a damaged apartment block. To her left is a badly damaged car with no windows. Debris lies all around.
Foreign PolicyJune 2, 2026

Russian Missile Barrage Targets Ukrainian Civilians in Latest Act of Aggression

Russian forces launched a massive missile and drone strike across Ukraine, killing at least 22 people and injuring scores more as they targeted civilian neighborhoods in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv.