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For the reader, the practical implication is clear: the threshold for criminal risk regarding public statements has been lowered. Expression that was previously protected by religious exemptions may now be subject to police investigation and prosecutorial scrutiny. ------------ Deeply troubling.

Consider, then, the position La Sierra’s leadership has built. Suppose the university one day declines to terminate an employee for conduct its handbook forbids. That employee’s lawyer will not need to manufacture evidence of insincerity. He will introduce a photograph of the president on a chapel platform, beneath rainbow flags, assuring LGBTQ graduates that “La Sierra is big enough for all.” The handbook says one thing; the president performed another, in front of cameras, with the provost beside him. A church that disciplines a conservative preacher for his theology while celebrating what its own statutes forbid does more than play favorites. It assembles, in public, the exhibit that defeats its own exemption. More people need to be aware of this.

Exhibit two. La Sierra University, and the drift that skips the vote entirely. On June 5 in Riverside its president stood under rainbow flags at a Lavender Graduation and told seven graduates the school “is big enough for all.” Adventist Fundamental Belief 23 calls marriage the union of a man and a woman. The La Sierra University Student handbook promises adherence to this very policy in two places, on pages 57 and 58. The platform said otherwise, the provost beside him. This is the quieter rot, the daylight between what an institution prints and what its leaders bless. The denomination that suspends conservative preachers for their sermons and lets a campus stage what its own statutes forbid. Two gospels, one letterhead, and nobody will say which one is real, and they can’t provide any assurance as to why church members shouldn’t be confused about what is going on not only in California but in the rest of North America. ---------------- Disturbing.

But what if they are members already. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago they were baptized as a youth, but now, choose Homosexual behavior. I know several cases of that. They don't openly broadcast it because that would cause problems. But their family and friends know. I don't see anyone addressing this issue.

Judge Gives Stark Warning to Trump’s DOJ Over His Slush Fund The judge responded to concerns that the DOJ could say one thing and then do another. A judge issued a stern warning to Donald Trump’s Department of Justice not to go back on its word that the president’s Jan. 6 slush fund was dead on arrival. The DOJ last month announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund that would make secret payments to Capitol rioters and other Trump allies who say they were wrongly prosecuted by the Biden administration, without any legal or congressional oversight.The fund was created as part of a dubious “settlement agreement” arising from a $10 billion lawsuit Trump brought against the Internal Revenue Service over tax returns leaked to the press by an independent contractor. But Trump and his DOJ said they were abandoning the scheme after the fund was temporarily blocked by the courts—and after congressional Republicans staged a mutiny, refusing to pass Trump’s other priorities until the fund was axed. During a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, a federal judge warned the DOJ not to try to revive the moribund fund, The Washington Post reported. “Don’t play possum with this court,” Judge Richard Leon said. The DOJ’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was the subject of at least five federal lawsuits, including one brought by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). On Wednesday, Leon denied CREW’s request for a temporary restraining order against the fund, saying the case appeared moot because acting attorney general Todd Blanche had testified before Congress last week that the fund had been abandoned, which DOJ officials have since repeated in court filings, according to the Post. CREW’s attorneys, however, argued that the DOJ still hadn’t rescinded Blanche’s May 18 memo establishing the fund, and Trump himself had refused to back Blanche’s congressional testimony that the fund had been scrapped. The plaintiffs in a separate case in Virginia made a similar argument on Wednesday, urging the court not to take the DOJ at its word because the department’s position could be temporary or unreliable. Leon said he would rule at a later date on CREW’s request for a preliminary injunction against the fund. In the meantime, he pointed out that while Trump can make statements about the fund for political benefit, DOJ lawyers could face sanctions for making misrepresentations in court filings. The DOJ’s lawyers assured the court, “Our briefs are assurances in writing. And those submissions are in court documents,” the Post reported. Separately, the judge in the Virginia case, Leonie Brinkema, ordered the government not to proceed with the fund until at least Friday, when she’s scheduled to hold a hearing. Judge Kathleen Williams, the judge overseeing the original IRS suit, also reopened the suit and ordered an investigation into whether the fund was “premised on deception.” Williams had questioned whether there was a valid dispute between Trump and the IRS, given that the president oversees the Treasury Department, and asked the parties to submit briefs on whether a real case or controversy existed. Rather than answer the court’s questions, Trump dropped the suit and—without informing the court of a settlement—struck a deal with his own DOJ. The move came after Trump himself said at a rally in December that he was in a “strange position” suing his own IRS, NPR reported. “I’ve gotta make a deal. I negotiate with myself,” he said. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-gives-stark-warning-to-trumps-doj-over-his-anti-weaponization-slush-fund/?

👋 Good morning! I still can't wrap my head around the Knicks' win last night. Unreal. In today's edition: A comeback for the ages in New York (and San Francisco!), World Cup kicks off, Mahomes signs historic extension, Serena's comeback on pause, new MLB metric, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⚾️ Walk-off slam: The Giants staged the comeback of a lifetime against the Nationals on Wednesday, turning a 9-1 deficit entering the eighth inning into an 11-10 victory thanks to a walk-off grand slam from rookie Bryce Eldridge. The win snapped a 4,291-game losing streak (!!!) by teams down 8+ runs in the eighth inning or later. 🏈 Moneybags Mahomes: The Chiefs have added two years to Patrick Mahomes' existing contract, which will keep the two-time MVP in Kansas City through 2033 on a deal valued at $504.75 million — the NFL's first half-billion dollar contract. 🏀 All eyes on MSG: Monday's Knicks vs. Spurs game at Madison Square Garden was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since Bulls vs. Jazz in 1998, averaging 23.8 million viewers (and peaking at 26.3 million) on ABC/ESPN. 🎾 Comeback stalled: Serena Williams' first tournament back has been cut short after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, injured her knee in Wednesday's singles match, forcing the pair to withdraw from today's quarterfinal at the Queen's Club Championships. 🏈 Sign of the times: USC is hiring a Director of AI to join its coaching staff, with last season's director of football analytics, Conor McQuiston, being elevated into the first-of-its-kind position. The exact parameters of the role are unknown at this time.   🏆 NBA FINALS THE GREATEST COMEBACK IN NBA HISTORY Karl-Anthony Towns celebrates after a victory he'll never forget. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) The Knicks pulled off a comeback for the ages on Wednesday night, rallying from a 29-point deficit to beat the Spurs, 107-106, and take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Absolutely incredible stuff. Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports: It can't be too easy to try to hype up a crowd that just watched the hometown team get absolutely decimated in the first half of an NBA Finals game. But that's why you pay professionals like the Wu-Tang Clan, you know? After the final song of their excellent set, as Wu-Tang exited the floor at Madison Square Garden, Method Man said, "Knicks in five, what y'all talking about?" In the moment, that optimism seemed wildly misplaced. The Knicks had spent most of the first half on tilt, unmoored, bereft of composure and answers against a Spurs team that was running them ragged. After giving up a Finals-record 14 first-half 3-pointers, missing eight free throws and logging as many turnovers as assists (seven), the Knicks went into intermission down by 27 points — the largest halftime deficit of any home team in NBA Finals history. The lead, and the gravity pulling the Knicks down from the soaring heights of taking a 2-0 lead on the road toward a crushing 2-2 tie without home-court advantage, seemed insurmountable. But through Wu-Tang, all things are possible. "Had to give 'em a little Wu-Tang prayer, nahmean?" Ghostface Killah told Yahoo Sports. God must be pretty into Wu-Tang. Wu-Tang Clan performs at halftime. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) What we witnessed in New York on Wednesday night was nothing short of the greatest comeback in NBA history. Oh, other teams have come back from larger deficits. The Jazz hold the regular-season record, trailing by 36 before beating the Nuggets in 1996. The Clippers have the playoff high-water mark, surging back from 31 down to knock off the Warriors in 2019. But this was Game 4 of the NBA Finals. This was the Knicks, after spending the last several days in vibe-shift hell, playing their worst basketball in months, watching their best chance to win a championship in three decades slip away. This was the Spurs, a bad-ass young team led by a once-in-a-lifetime game-changer whose time had evidently come, announcing their primacy and dominance by making their veteran opponents melt down and puke all over their shoes. This was history; when a De'Aaron Fox pull-up jumper pushed the lead to 29 a couple of minutes into the third quarter, it seemed like all that was left to decide was the final margin and just how early Knicks head Mike Brown would decide to pull his starters to start getting ready for Game 5 back in Texas. And against most teams, things probably would've played out that way. But not these Knicks. The game-winner: O.G. Anunoby tipped in a missed 3-pointer in the final seconds to lift the Knicks to victory. "Right hand of God," said Karl-Anthony Towns postgame. "That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball," added head coach Mike Brown. Further reading: Epic collapse leaves Wemby, Spurs searching for answers The 10 wildest numbers from the Knicks' historic comeback De'Aaron Fox's gaffe in final seconds helps give Game 4 away   ⚽️ THE BEAUTIFUL GAME THE WORLD CUP HAS ARRIVED (Yahoo Sports) At long last, our wait is over. The 2026 World Cup is finally here. Bigger than ever: This year's tournament features a record 48 teams playing a record 104 matches across a record 39 days in a record three countries. The U.S. will host 78 of those matches across 11 cities, while Mexico (three cities) and Canada (two cities) will host 13 each. The field: Teams are split into 12 groups, and some are more stacked than others, as you can see below. To wit, seven groups (C, E, F, H, I, K, L) have multiple teams ranked higher in our power rankings than any in Groups A, B and D. But hey, that's why they play the games. Group A: Mexico (20), South Korea (22), Czechia (28), South Africa (37) Group B: Switzerland (18), Bosnia and Herzegovina (30), Canada (33), Qatar (45) Group 😄 Brazil (6), Morocco (11), Haiti (39), Scotland (40) Group 😧 USA (19), Turkey (21), Paraguay (27), Australia (34) Group E: Germany (7), Ecuador (13), Ivory Coast (26), Curaçao (42) Group F: Netherlands (8), Japan (17), Sweden (29), Tunisia (35) Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (23), Egypt (31), New Zealand (44) Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (14), Saudi Arabia (38), Cape Verde (41) Group I: France (1), Senegal (12), Norway (16), Iraq (47) Group J: Argentina (3), Austria (25), Algeria (32), Jordan (48) Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (10), DR Congo (43), Uzbekistan (46) Group L: England (4), Croatia (15), Ghana (24), Panama (36) Format and schedule: The Group Stage (June 11-27) will whittle the field down to 32 countries, with the top two teams in each group and the eight best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32 (June 28-July 3). Then comes the Round of 16 (July 4-7), Quarterfinals (July 9-11), Semifinals (July 14-15) and Final (July 19). (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) At a glance: Best teams: Spain has the best odds to win it all (+450), followed by France (+500), England (+700), Portugal (+800), Argentina (+900), Brazil (+900), Germany (+1400), Netherlands (+2000), Belgium (+3300) and Norway (+3300). Best players: Lamine Yamal (Spain), Kylian Mbappé (France), Harry Kane (England), Ousmane Dembélé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) are among the most notable names to watch. Best games: Brazil vs. Morocco (June 13), Netherlands vs. Japan (June 14), England vs. Croatia (June 17), Turkey vs. USA (June 25), Norway vs. France (June 26), Uruguay vs. Spain (June 26) and Colombia vs. Portugal (June 27) are among the biggest group stage matches. Predictions: Who gets the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, biggest disappointments, championship picks and more The action starts today, with Mexico hosting South Africa in the opener (3pm ET, Fox), and South Korea taking on Czechia this evening (10pm, FS1).   ⚾️ SWING AND MISS NEW METRIC: WHIFF DISTANCE Behold, the biggest swing-and-miss on record, courtesy of Clayton Kershaw. (Baseball Savant) "He missed that by a mile!" is a popular phrase uttered by baseball viewers and broadcasters alike to describe a particularly egregious swing-and-miss. Well, we can now measure exactly how big that hyperbolic "mile" actually is. New metric: "Miss Distance" and "Swing Timing" are now available at MLB's Baseball Savant. The data, tracked since the 2023 All-Star Game, tells you how much any given pitch misses a bat by across three dimensions: above or below, inside or outside, and early or late. By the numbers: The average miss comes by three inches, and no pitchers induce bigger misses across their entire arsenal than Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz and Padres closer Mason Miller (7.0 inches). Miller stands alone with the filthiest individual pitch, though: His slider misses bats by an average of 10.7 inches, which helps explain his sterling 0.94 ERA. Some of the other best pitches by miss distance are Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh's sweeper (9.7), Reds starter Andrew Abbott's curve (9.3), Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen's sweeper (8.3) and Cruz's splitter (8.0). As you might expect, not all pitches are created equal. Offspeed and breaking pitches like forkballs (5.8), slurves (5.6) and sweepers (5.0) miss bats by the most, while four-seamers (1.0), sinkers (1.4) and cutters (2.1) miss by the least. Why does this matter? Missing by an inch yields the same result as missing by a foot, but the data shows that pitchers who miss bats by the greatest distance also tend to be most successful in other metrics. Makes sense; if you're elite at fooling hitters, the contact they eventually make is unlikely to be very good. Worth a watch: Here are the 10 most extreme whiffs on record, led by a vintage Clayton Kershaw curveball thrown last year, which landed well in front of the plate and missed Mets infielder Ronny Mauricio's bat by 57.5 inches (almost five feet!).   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 11 An aerial view of Estadio Azteca, aka Mexico City Stadium. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images) ⚽️ World Cup, Day 1 It all starts today, with tournament co-host Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City (3pm ET, Fox), and South Korea vs. Czechia in Guadalajara (10pm, FS1). Third time's the charm: Estadio Azteca (which will be called Mexico City Stadium for the duration of the tournament) is the first stadium ever to host three World Cup openers after also earning that honor in 1970 and 1986. 🏒 Stanley Cup Final, Game 5 The Hurricanes host the Golden Knights tonight (8pm, ABC) in the latest installment of a thrilling Cup Final. With the series knotted up, it's now a race to two wins. Historic performances: Mitch Marner (Vegas) is the fifth player in the last 106 years to record eight or more points in his first four career Cup Final games, and Jordan Staal (Carolina) is the fourth player in the expansion era to score a goal in each of the first four games of a Cup Final. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Sky at Fever (7pm, Prime); Mercury at Wings (9pm, Prime) … The season reached its quarter-point this week. Who are the winners and losers so far? ⛳️ PGA: Canadian Open (7am, ESPN+; 3pm, Golf) … World No. 4 Matt Fitzpatrick headlines the field at TPC Toronto, one week out from the U.S. Open. ⛳️ LPGA: Dow Championship (11am, Golf) … World No. 1 Nelly Korda headlines the tour's lone team event at Michigan's Midland Country Club. ⚾️ MLB: Mariners at Orioles (7pm, ESPN) … Bryan Woo (3.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) starts for Seattle (36-33), which has won 11 of 15 to climb into first place in the AL West. 👟 NCAA Track & Field: Championships (8pm, ESPN2) … Day 2 of 4 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   ⚽️ FLASHBACK WORLD CUP TRIVIA A goal is scored during the 1930 World Cup Final. (Keystone/Getty Images) The 23rd FIFA World Cup kicks off today in North America, 96 years after the inaugural event was held in 1930 in South America. Question: Who won that first tournament? Hint: They were also the host. Answer at the bottom.   ⚽️ WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS The world's biggest soccer tournament has arrived! Pick your group stage winners now in 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. How to play: Make picks each round, earn points for correct predictions and climb the leaderboard. You can play solo against the field, create a private group with friends to compete for bragging rights, or join a public group to play with other fans. Most popular picks so far… (Yahoo Sports)   Trivia answer: Uruguay (over Argentina in the Final)

Midwest storms Storms swept through the Midwest on Wednesday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers and causing more than 1,000 flight delays or cancellations at Chicago airports. Local officials warned residents that conditions were expected to intensify and could bring tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and flash flooding. See the latest. El Nino is here and scientists fear it’ll be big, bad and costly with heat, floods, droughts, fires WASHINGTON (AP) — El Nino, Nature’s chaotic climate agent, has formed in a warmed-up Pacific Ocean and is expected to grow to historic strength, meteorologists announced Thursday. https://apnews.com/article/el-nino-climate-change-flood-drought-damage-7eafacd2bcf04ade9d7f555dfd488178?

Iran war The latest exchange of attacks between the US and Iran is testing an already fragile ceasefire. It comes as President Trump on Wednesday warned of further strikes if a deal is not reached, adding that the US military could again target critical infrastructure in the region. Read more. CONTEXT: Why a frustrated Trump is turning to bombs to force Iran's hand

Law enforcement relied too heavily on AI, falsely arrested a suspect, ACLU argues A Fort Myers man and the ACLU of Florida are suing Jacksonville Beach for relying too heavily on an artificial intelligence program that fingered him as a suspect in a now-dropped 2023 child luring investigation. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/10/law-enforcement-relied-too-heavily-on-ai-falsely-arrested-a-suspect-aclu-argues/? Feds order a Florida power plant to keep burning dirty coal Walt Disney World is supposed to be the Happiest Place on Earth. It’s certainly the most popular tourist destination. Fifty million people, some from Florida but most from elsewhere, flock to the rodent-themed amusement park every year to spend big bucks seeking a good time. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/11/feds-order-a-florida-power-plant-to-keep-burning-dirty-coal/? Florida Supreme Court rejects emergency petition to stop DeSantis’ redistricted congressional map Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently redistricted congressional map that could net Republicans up to four additional seats this fall will remain in place after the Florida Supreme Court rejected an emergency petition to stop the map from taking effect on Wednesday. https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/florida-supreme-court-rejects-emergency-petition-to-stop-desantis-redistricted-congressional-map/? UF trustees unanimous in backing former Alabama president Stuart Bell gained unanimous support from University of Florida trustees Wednesday, moving him a step closer to becoming permanent president in Gainesville, the first to hold that post since summer 2024. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/10/uf-trustees-unanimous-in-backing-former-alabama-president/?

This week, the SBC goes hard right while PCUSA and Adventists drift to the left. Catholic Church is consistent. The post Everybody’s Wrong, and Rome Is Filling Up appeared first on ReligiousLiberty.TV. View the full article

Trump’s ‘Secret Mission’ Story Gets Humiliating Reality Check The president claimed a covert nighttime operation was keeping oil flowing past Iran—but it was already public knowledge. Donald Trump’s dramatic Oval Office boast about a covert nighttime operation sneaking oil out from under Iran’s nose turned out to be anything but secret. The president made the claim Wednesday morning, telling reporters he had been quietly steering oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz—and that Iran was only finding out about it at that very moment. “I can say it now. Something you didn’t know,” Trump, 79, boasted. “Do you know we’ve been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn’t know about it? Iran — until right now.” That may well have been the case, but only if the Iranians don’t read The New York Times, which had reported on the exact same operation nearly 11 days earlier, on May 31. According to a senior U.S. military official, who spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity, Trump was describing an American effort to guide commercial vessels through the narrow waterway. While the ships have been switching off their transponders to avoid detection, the operation was far from secret—U.S. Central Command had already shepherded around 70 commercial ships through the strait before the Times first reported it. That number has since climbed to more than 200. Trump also described the maneuver in overly dramatic terms. “We took out, the other night, 22 ships, late at night, with no lights, because they don’t have any radar, because we blasted the crap out of it,” he said. Later that day, on social media, he claimed the operation had put more than 100 million barrels of oil onto the open market—a figure that could not be independently verified. U.S. officials have declined to specify what types of vessels made the crossings or the exact routes taken, though one official indicated at least some traffic avoided the Iranian coastline. Shipping analysts say the guided crossings appear to follow routes closer to Oman. Before the war, around 3,000 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz each month. The episode comes as the conflict with Iran spirals. As the Daily Beast reported Wednesday, Trump issued an ominous threat against Tehran on Truth Social the same day—warning Iran would “pay the price” for failing to agree to a peace deal—after both countries exchanged fire following Iran’s shooting down of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the strait on Monday. Trump also told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst he is “getting close to ordering new strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges.” CNN analysis found Trump has claimed on at least 38 occasions since the April 7 ceasefire that the war would end any day now. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-iran-war-secret-mission-story-gets-humiliating-reality-check/? ps:Pathetic!!!!!

Trump Hit With Blistering Filing in Epstein Lawsuit The Wall Street Journal has responded to the president’s latest attempt to sue the publication over his Epstein birthday letter. The Wall Street Journal asked a judge to dismiss Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the paper “once and for all” in a blistering court filing accusing the president of attempting to “subvert” the First Amendment with his Epstein-related suit. The Journal published a bombshell report in July 2025 alleging that Trump had sent a graphic 50th birthday letter to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that was included in a book compiled by Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in 2003. Trump denied writing the letter and sued the Journal and its Rupert Murdoch-controlled parent company for $10 billion for defamation, only to have the case thrown out in April for coming “nowhere close” to pleading actual malice, the standard required for a public figure to bring a successful suit. The court, however, left the door open for Trump to file an amended complaint, which the Journal has now responded to in a scathing motion to dismiss. The filing argues that the new complaint “does not remedy any of the defects identified in the Court’s dismissal order” and in fact “compounds them” by recycling allegations already rejected by the court. “This Court held once that Plaintiff failed to state a defamation claim against Defendants. The [amended complaint] only bolsters the conclusion that he can never do so,” it adds. To show actual malice, Trump’s must prove the Journal knowingly published a false statement that harmed his reputation, or published the statement with a reckless disregard for the truth. The article never said that Trump personally crafted the letter to Epstein—just that a bawdy letter “bearing Trump’s name” appeared in the birthday book, a fact that was confirmed when Congress released a letter from the Epstein estate that was identical to the one published by the Journal, the filing argues. The letter shows an imagined conversation between Trump and Epstein framed by a doodle of a nude woman or girl, with Trump’s infamous Sharpie signature appearing where the pubic hair would be. The filing also notes that the article reported on Trump’s “well-documented relationship with Epstein” and the fact that the two men were socializing around the time the book was compiled, as evidenced by Trump’s own 2002 interview with New York magazine in which he said he’d known Epstein for 15 years and considered him a “terrific guy.” And the amended complaint “re-packages” allegations previously rejected by the court that the Journal did not investigate the story before publishing, and that its article included “glaring omissions”—even though most of the information that was supposedly omitted does in fact appear in the piece, along with evidence of the journalists’ investigative efforts, the filing argues. The filing stresses that the article included the president’s insistence that he later had a falling-out with Epstein and banned him from his Mar-a-Lago club prior to the disgraced financier’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from minors. Epstein died in 2019 in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, with law enforcement ruling the death a suicide. Trump’s complaints argued that the Journal had failed to reach out to Maxwell, the only living person besides Trump who could verify the article’s details, or had interviewed her and “intentionally failed” to report on her comments. In fact, the article explicitly states that Maxwell—who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s crimes—didn’t respond to a letter requesting an interview. Her attorney provided a published statement saying she was focused on her appeal. After the article appeared, Maxwell told then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that she did not remember Trump submitting a letter for Epstein’s 50th birthday book. The amended complaint claimed those comments should have been included in the article—even though they were made a week after its publication. The amended complaint also claims the Journal failed to include “any denial from President Trump as to whether he signed the letter,” despite the article dedicating three paragraphs to Trump’s insistence that the letter was a “fake thing” and that, “This is not me.” Despite having “every opportunity” to plead a defamation case against the Journal, the case “remains groundless,” the filing argued. It asked for the suit to be dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can’t be amended, and to be awarded attorneys’ fees and costs under Florida’s anti-SLAPP laws protecting against frivolous lawsuits aimed at suppressing constitutional free speech on a public issue. A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told the Daily Beast in a statement: “President Trump has filed a powerhouse lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and all of the other Defendants. The President will continue to hold those who mislead the American People with Fake News and smears accountable for their actions.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-hit-with-blistering-filing-in-wall-street-journal-epstein-birthday-card-lawsuit/?

Trump, 79, Sets Alarming Medical Record as Health Concerns Mount A top doctor called the revelation “extraordinary.” Records-obsessed Donald Trump has a new one to add to the list, but it’s not so flattering. The president, who turns 80 on Sunday, spent three hours at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on May 26. He emerged after being pricked and prodded by some 22 specialists, an apparent record. A Washington Post analysis of public statements by the president’s personal medical team found that was nearly double the number of physicians involved in his last physical. Last year’s check-up saw him examined by a comparatively meager 14 doctors. The figure of 22 is also the highest number of specialists present at a single examination of a president, the Post reported. Another record for Trump. “It is an extraordinary number,” said Jonathan Reiner, who served as cardiologist for Dick Cheney, the late vice president, and keeps a watchful eye on Trump’s health on CNN. “What specialties do they represent? Why so many?” The White House replied to the Post’s findings by declaring, “The involvement of multiple specialists reflects a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation consistent with best practices for executive-level medical care.” “We have nothing to hide,” a White House official added. But it was Reiner who sounded the alarm before the check-up at Walter Reed, Trump’s fourth medical evaluation of his second term. “This White House just doesn’t seem to want to acknowledge any physical ailment, but older people develop medical issues, and the president is almost 80 years old,” he told The Washington Post the day before the visit. “There just seems to be a lack of candor from the White House.” Indeed, after the check-up, Trump crowed that he was in “perfect” health. “Just finished my 6 month physical at Walter Reed Military Medical Center,” Trump wrote on Truth Social that afternoon. “Everything checked out PERFECTLY. Thank you to the great Doctors and Staff! Heading back to the White House.” His personal physician, U.S. Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, said Trump “remains in excellent health, demonstrating strong cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, and overall physical function.” Notably, Trump called the trip his “6 month physical,” while Barbarella described it on official documents as his “annual physical examination.” The optics don’t match the brags. Trump has a seemingly permanent bruise on the back of his right hand. The White House blamed it on excessive hand-shaking, then one emerged on his other hand. He has a litany of other issues, too. He often displays a wonky walk, skin issues, leg-dragging, cankles, a propensity for anger, and impromptu naps, and his freewheeling, often seemingly nonsensical rants don’t paint a picture of the “perfect” health that he and the White House claim. An April poll conducted by Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos found that fewer than half of U.S. adults believe Trump has the mental sharpness or physical health to serve effectively as president. “I think concern for the president’s physical health is probably at an all-time high, and I think advanced physical age is the No. 1 concern,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman, who served as a White House physician for more than a decade under Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The White House insisted to the Daily Beast that the aging president remains in “excellent health.” “President Trump’s sharpness, unmatched energy, and historic accessibility stand in stark contrast to what we saw during the last administration when Democrats and the legacy media intentionally covered up Joe Biden’s serious mental and physical decline from the American people,” spokesman Davis Ingle said. “President Trump is the sharpest and most accessible president in American history who is working nonstop to solve problems and deliver on his promises, and he remains in excellent health.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-sets-alarming-medical-record-as-health-concerns-mount/?

Honda recalls more than 880,000 cars due to a problem with rear suspension components Honda is recalling more than 800,000 vehicles because rear suspension components may fail and cause drivers to lose control, increasing the chances of a crash or injury. https://apnews.com/article/honda-acura-recall-safety-nhtsa-b435e89c8961bc3874652b8a6402f2ca?

Bill Gates testifies about his ties to Epstein, calls meeting him a ‘grave error in judgment’ Bill Gates said Wednesday that he “should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” but that he “never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.” Read more. Why this matters: The tech billionaire became the latest powerful figure linked to the disgraced financier to testify before the House Oversight Committee. As Gates arrived at the Capitol, he noted that his appearance was voluntary. He did not take questions from reporters at the conclusion of the interview late Wednesday afternoon. Most Democratic members who participated in Wednesday's questioning described Gates as cooperative. They said some of the most useful information he provided involved other influential people in Epstein’s orbit. Lawmakers also said they pressed Gates on why he continued interacting with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Gates says he hopes his testimony will help lawmakers ‘find justice for the victims’

FACT FOCUS: Is inflation a red state vs. blue state issue? It’s increasing no matter how you cut it WASHINGTON (AP) — After cooling slowly in 2024 and 2025, inflation is rising again, squeezing most Americans’ budgets and making it harder to afford gas, groceries, and other necessities. Inflation reached 3.8% in April from a year earlier, the highest in three years. https://apnews.com/article/inflation-blue-states-fact-check-9cb276119b4dcaa9e433106cc29ca3a1?

Trump has a new, surprising take on the higher cost of living: ‘I love the inflation’ When asked about the new report that the consumer price index in May had jumped 4.2% over the last year, the president took a surprisingly optimistic tack with the challenging news. Read more. Why this matters: His optimistic take was unexpected given that voters ahead of the November midterm elections have ranked the economy as a top concern — and have given President Donald Trump low marks on that issue. Within minutes of his on-camera comment, Democrats quickly rushed to promote it on social media. Trump had pledged in his 2024 campaign to quickly vanquish inflation, but his argument now is that higher prices are solely a function of the Iran war raising energy costs. On Wednesday, he claimed that relief is already on its way because of a secret military operation that had ferried what he said was 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump says ‘I love the inflation’ US households, businesses stung by higher energy prices that have pushed inflation above 4% FACT FOCUS: Is inflation a red state vs. blue state issue? It’s increasing no matter how you cut it US launches a second day of strikes on Iran and Iran fires back at the Gulf states and Jordan Judge rejects watchdog’s bid to block Trump administration’s $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund Trump signs bill giving nearly $70B to his immigration enforcement agenda through end of his term Trump sticks with Pulte for intel job as risk grows of lapse in spy powers Solar power hits new milestones in the US even as Trump boosts coal over clean energy FBI seizes 13 websites that officials say were used by China to target and recruit US workers Florida court allows use of new US House districts drawn by Republicans for midterm elections Nevada GOP voters choose Trump-backed US House candidate in one of state’s high-profile races Trump accuses Democrats of hypocrisy on Platner, despite questions about his own conduct Nancy Mace’s unpredictable career is up in the air after finishing last in South Carolina primary Administration plans intensive, year-round construction schedule for Trump’s triumphal arch $60M and 7 federal agencies required to stage Trump’s UFC fight at White House

June 11, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning from a New York City in thrall to its Knickerbockers, who pulled off the biggest comeback in N.B.A. finals history last night to take a 3-1 lead on the Spurs. See game highlights. Today we’re going all in on sports. Estadio Banorte in Mexico City. Hector Vivas/Getty Images Goooooal! The FIFA Men’s World Cup gets underway today, as Mexico takes on South Africa in Mexico City and South Korea meets the Czech Republic in Guadalajara. A record 48 countries are competing in Mexico, the United States and Canada to reach the final game in New Jersey on July 19. (The United States enters the fray tomorrow, playing Paraguay in Los Angeles.) There’ll be more than 100 games. It is a lot of soccer. Even if you’re a fan, that could prove to be overwhelming. The Morning turned to colleagues here at The Times and The Athletic to understand what we should know about this massive competition. First, we had questions for Tariq Panja, our global sports correspondent. This is his seventh World Cup! How does this tournament work? It seems as though there are a lot of countries. Tariq: This is the biggest World Cup in history on a number of fronts. For the first time, we will have three host nations. The tournament also features more teams than ever before, having expanded from the 32 teams organizers settled upon in 1998, to 48. That means 72 games will be played in the group stage alone, which is more than the entirety of the last tournament. The expansion has given us the risk of lopsided games and the potential for the tournament to drag, but it has also given opportunity to first-time qualifiers like Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Curaçao — a Caribbean island nation with a population of around 160,000, just under twice the capacity of the Mexico City stadium where the tournament kicks off. After that marathon group stage, the top 32 teams move onto the knockout rounds, which follow the model of a classic tournament bracket, and that’s where the drama will peak: a kill or be killed situation in every game, where the winner makes it through to the next stage until there will be only two left standing at the final. France is considered a front runner. Franck Fife/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Who are the favorites to advance? It is hard to look beyond the heavyweights of European soccer, notably Spain and France, who come into the tournament with stacked rosters. Behind them is a group of teams that could go deep, including Portugal, England and the Netherlands. Outside of those, there are the South American heavyweights: Brazil, the team that has won the World Cup more times than any other, and Argentina. Brazil has not quite been its old self, but it is Brazil, at a World Cup, so they have the pedigree to progress. Argentina, which features Lionel Messi, now 38, arrives with much of the same roster that won the tournament four years ago. But I worry it could be one tournament too many for an aging team. I’m also excited about Morocco, which last tournament became the first African team to reach the semifinals; Norway, which is returning for the first time since 1998, but with Erling Haaland, one of the world’s best strikers; Ecuador, which could prove to be a sleeper; and Japan, which comes into this tournament stronger than ever. Is it possible that the U.S. could play … Iran? Yes! This is very possible. Should Iran and the U.S. each finish second in their groups, the teams will meet in a tantalizing matchup in Dallas on July 3, a day before the United States’ 250th birthday. Tariq was on “The Daily” recently, to tell listeners everything they need to know about the World Cup. Listen to him here. The home team Christian Pulisic Jamie Squire/Getty Images The United States men’s national soccer team is about to have a moment. And you should know who you’re rooting for. We asked Henry Bushnell, who covers U.S. soccer for The Athletic, to tell us a bit about this year’s squad. What’s one reason American fans should be hopeful about our team’s chances? Henry: This, top to bottom, is the most talented U.S. men’s World Cup team ever. Players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have done things for prestigious European clubs that none of their American predecessors ever did. How about a reason we should be worried? Goalkeeping, long a position of strength for the U.S., has become a weakness. Toss in shaky central defenders, plus an aggressive style, and this team might concede some goals. Henry wrote a beginner’s guide to the team, which you can read here. More on the tournament In Kansas City. David Robert Elliott for The New York Times FIFA’s security requirements restrict parking and tailgating near stadiums. Kansas City has set up temporary transit systems to bus people to the games for cheap. Tariq and Rebecca Ruiz investigated FIFA’s yearslong effort to win Trump’s favor. U.S. immigration policy has prevented journalists, fans and an esteemed referee from getting into the country. If you’re traveling to see a game, here is a guide to every host city. The Athletic has a new daily newsletter to follow the action. Sign up to get it in your inbox. A HISTORIC COMEBACK In New York. Vincent Alban, Victor J. Blue, José A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times Early in the third quarter, with the Knicks facing a 29-point deficit, Madison Square Garden was morose. But the San Antonio Spurs’ lead began to shrink, shot by shot, and the crowd began to rouse. Finally, with 1.2 seconds left, a tip-in by OG Anunoby put the Knicks up for good. The biggest comeback in N.B.A. finals history was complete. Spike Lee danced on the hardwood. Taylor Swift waved her Knicks rally towel. Timothée Chalamet appeared to fight back tears. Outside, the streets were bedlam. Revelers climbed atop cars, halal carts and scaffolding. Chants of “Knicks in five!” rang out. Passing garbage trucks and buses blared their horns. “It’s been a long time coming,” said one fan. “This is what New York dreamed of.” NBA INFLATION RISES, AGAIN Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. The New York Times Talks to end the war in Iran have stalled. The Strait of Hormuz remains throttled. Energy prices are high, and consumers have to pay. The Consumer Price Index was up 4.2 percent in May compared with a year earlier. That’s its fastest growth since April 2023. Energy costs drove the bulk of the increase — and they’ve been spilling into categories like airline fares and some food (but not eggs!). There are some other factors. The data center boom has supercharged demand for chips, reversing a long slide in the cost of technology. And over previous months a persistent drought has thinned production of some crops and livestock. More on the war The United States and Iran traded strikes for a second day. Iran’s foreign ministry says the cease-fire is now “meaningless.” Satellite images suggest that U.S. strikes hit an Iranian drinking-water facility. It is unclear if the United States intentionally attacked the facility or knew what it was. President Trump seemed to announce on live television a secret U.S. mission to move oil through the Strait of Hormuz. But the operation has been public knowledge for weeks. THE LATEST NEWS Around the World In Australia. Matthew Abbott for The New York Times Six months after Australia barred kids under 16 from using social media, many teens are back on the platforms. The war in Ukraine has now gone on longer than World War I. There are parallels — from the grinding nature of the fighting to the reshaping of warfare by new technologies. Other Big Stories Nine-year-olds who were preschoolers when the pandemic hit are now reading at the same level as children their age before Covid. Older students still lag behind their predecessors. Gun violence is declining across major U.S. cities but the share of victims who are children is going up. The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, strengthened its ban on women as church leaders and preachers. OPINIONS The New York Times Ezra Klein talked to Matt Duss, who has advised progressive politicians, about what the left’s foreign policy looks like. Click above to watch. Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens discuss whether there’s anything a candidate can do to turn off voters. Human made. Human played. 75% off. Subscribe to New York Times Games for 75% off your first year. Our best offer is only available for a limited time. Relax and recharge with our full portfolio of games, including Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, the Crossword and more — all mindfully made by humans. MORNING READS Do the math: Mathematicians build their careers by developing proofs and solving complicated theorems. Now A.I. is getting there first. Free lunch: A Minneapolis restaurant stopped charging for food. Profits are up. Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was a video about how Trump’s advisers handled the Epstein files. TODAY’S NUMBER 100 — That’s how many guitars, and ideally guitarists, Reg Bloor needs to bring to David Geffen Hall in New York on Friday night, when she’ll conduct her late husband Glenn Branca’s “Symphony No. 13 (Hallucination City) for 100 Guitars.” RECIPE OF THE DAY Julia Gartland for The New York Times What I love about the chef Roy Choi’s recipe for carne asada is how perfectly it encapsulates a kind of Los Angeles skater-kid Zen, with flavors that speak Spanish in a California accent. There’s nothing remotely “authentic” about it. It’s just delicious. Bonus points if you can eat it outside, sitting on concrete, looking at twinkling lights. SUMMER IN THE CITY The New York Times For 40 years, SummerStage has been one of the premiere performing arts series in New York, playing host to stars like David Byrne, Patti Smith, M.I.A. and Sonny Rollins. As the anniversary season gets underway this week, The Times spoke to more than 20 artists, producers and supporters about its history, its most memorable gigs and its significance to the city. More on culture Steven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” hits theaters this weekend. Manohla Dargis, our film critic, loved it. “Widow’s Bay” is the most fun new show of the year so far, writes James Poniewozik, our television critic. “The series is that tricky chimera, a horror-comedy, and it is equally — and more impressive, simultaneously — effective at both.” It’s on Apple TV. Late night hosts questioned the price of Trump’s gold coin. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Read “Trash!: A Garbageman’s Story,” by Simon Paré-Poupart. Dwight Garner, our critic, says it’s been compared to Anthony Bourdain’s classic “Kitchen Confidential,” adding: “Usually, comparisons to Bourdain are fatuous. This time it’s accurate.” Live longer, even if you’re strapped for time. We’ve got some hacks. Consider a reclining chair. The lazybones at Wirecutter found some excellent options. (I visited their testing facility to try the choices for myself. That was an excellent day.) GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was mooching. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 11 1963 University of Alabama desegregated Facing National Guard troops, Alabama Governor George Wallace allows two African American students to enroll at the University of Alabama for the first time. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT American Revolution 1776 Congress appoints Committee of Five to draft the Declaration of Independence Ancient Middle East 323 B.C. Alexander the Great dies Arts & Entertainment 1982 “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released 1949 Hank Williams Sr., makes his Grand Ole Opry debut 1979 John Wayne dies Asian History 1989 China issues warrant for Tiananmen dissident sheltering in U.S. embassy European History 1509 Henry VIII marries his first wife, Catherine of Aragon Exploration 1788 Russian explorer Izmailov arrives at Yakutat Bay, Alaska Sports 1955 Race car at Le Mans crashes into spectators, killing 83 U.S. Presidents 1944 John F. Kennedy receives medal for gallantry Vietnam War 1963 Buddhist immolates himself in protest

🏛️ Spy powers in deep trouble Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios One of America's most powerful spy authorities is nearing an unprecedented lapse, threatening to plunge intelligence agencies and telecommunications companies into legal uncertainty if allowed to go dark tomorrow, Axios' Kate Santaliz writes. Why it matters: Members in both parties are warning that an expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act could jeopardize U.S. national security. Section 702 feeds more than half of the president's daily briefing and has been credited with helping thwart terror plots. It allows the attorney general and director of national intelligence to compel electronic service providers to provide communications involving foreign intelligence targets overseas. 🔎 Zoom in: Democrats are refusing to back an extension of Section 702 unless Trump reverses his decision to name Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Before Trump picked Pulte, GOP lawmakers appeared close to assembling a bipartisan coalition for a longer-term 702 extension. Keep reading.

⚽ World Cup collides with Trump's agenda Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images President Trump touted the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase American exceptionalism and global unity on U.S. soil, Axios' Avery Lotz writes. But the feel-good vibes surrounding the world's biggest sporting event — which starts today in Mexico — have been dampened by stories of immigration crackdowns and visa restrictions. 🔬 Zoom in: Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was denied entry at Miami International Airport due to "vetting concerns," according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for hours at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. (Reuters) Restrictions on Iranian nationals created a diplomatic quagmire for FIFA. While Iran's players were granted visas, staff members were reportedly turned away. Sports reporters have faced visa restrictions, according to a letter from the International Sports Press Association. Keep reading ... Full World Cup schedule. World Cup After years of anticipation, the 2026 World Cup finally gets underway today in Mexico City. The monthlong tournament opens at the iconic Estadio Azteca, where Mexico faces South Africa in the first of 104 matches that will culminate with the crowning of a champion next month. Read more. STAY UPDATED: Sign up for CNN's daily FIFA World Cup newsletter

📉 Charted: Wage gains wiped out Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart: Courtenay Brown/Axios A year's worth of inflation-adjusted wage gains vanished in just four months, leaving workers little better off than when President Trump returned to office, Axios Macro authors Courtenay Brown and Neil Irwin write. After rising for much of last year, real wage growth has effectively stalled. Keep reading.

🎁 Trump gifts Dems ready-made ads President Trump has been on a roll of rhetorical missteps that could come back to bite Republicans in the midterms, Axios' Mike Zapler writes. Why it matters: Trump has served a platter of ready-made campaign ads to Democrats. Trump delivered three eye-popping quotes in the past month: "I don't think about Americans' financial situation," he said on May 12. Two weeks later, on May 27, Trump said, "I don't care about the midterms." And when Trump was asked yesterday about the latest inflation numbers showing a 4.2% rise in prices, he responded, "I love the inflation." More on the quotes.ps:Obviously he's not concerned about his missteps or anything else, because of all the gerryrmandering that he's hoping will bail him out!!!!!

How Pulte tried to fire Gabbard Via Truth Social Tulsi Gabbard, the outgoing director of national intelligence, got an unexpected call Tuesday from her controversial successor, Bill Pulte. "Today is your last day," he said. Gabbard was surprised. She had announced she was leaving at month's end, not Tuesday. "I need to hear it from the president or the White House," Gabbard told Pulte, two officials briefed on the discussion told Axios. Why it matters: The call, unreported until now, was the latest flashpoint in the intelligence wars that erupted last week in D.C. after President Trump picked Pulte as Gabbard's temporary replacement. 📱 After the conversation with Pulte, Gabbard reached Trump, who didn't request her immediate resignation. "What day works best for you?" the president asked, according to one of the sources. Gabbard said June 19, and Trump then posted on Truth Social her new exit date. Keep reading. ps:What a pathetic bunch of people in this administration!!!!!