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State lawmakers continued to weaken child labor protections in 2026 Efforts to strengthen protections have stalled https://www.epi.org/blog/state-lawmakers-continued-to-weaken-child-labor-protections-in-2026-efforts-to-strengthen-protections-have-stalled/? New research reveals how work permits reduce child labor violations In recent years, child labor violations have been on the rise across the country. At the same time, lawmakers in many states have proposed bills to reverse long-standing state child labor standards that prohibit employers from exposing youth under 18 to hazardous jobs or overly long work hours that interfere with their health and well-being. Youth work permits—which many states have historically required—have been a repeated target of this coordinated, industry-backed campaign to weaken child labor laws. Such permits typically require employers to outline the potential hours and work duties for a minor worker, as well as parental approval and verification that the minor is attending school. https://www.epi.org/blog/new-research-reveals-how-work-permits-reduce-child-labor-violations/?

🛑 House Republicans hit a ceiling Data: Axios research; Chart: Kathleen Hunter/Axios The next viability test for House Republicans seeking statewide office comes Tuesday with Senate contests in Georgia and Oklahoma. In Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), who finished first in the May 19 Senate GOP primary, is facing former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley in the runoff. The winner will challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. In Oklahoma, Rep. Kevin Hern is favored to win the GOP nomination to replace Markwayne Mullin, who President Trump named as DHS secretary in March. That race could go to an Aug. 25 runoff if no candidate wins a majority on Tuesday. Why it matters: At least seven House Republicans who opted against seeking reelection to pursue statewide office this year have fallen short in their primaries. That should flash warning bells for incumbents across the board. Serving in the House has historically been viewed as a solid stepping stone to higher office. The House has broken the record this year for the most retirements in the 2000s (you'd have to go back to 1992 to find more). — Kathleen Hunter

☢️ Budget nuke House conservatives are pushing GOP leaders to test the limits of budget rules in "reconciliation 3.0," according to lawmakers involved in the talks. Why it matters: Some Republicans want to take a pre-midterms government shutdown off the table by passing TSA and SNAP funding this summer. "It takes away their political ability to hold it hostage," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told us, referring to the Democrats. But appropriators in both chambers are wary of eroding the annual, bipartisan funding process. For Speaker Mike Johnson, it's a familiar pain point: He's got to keep his conference united when conservatives and appropriators are pulling in opposite directions. Zoom in: President Trump called on Congress this week to pass $350 billion for the Pentagon, and the SAVE America Act. The president's public push gave new momentum to discussions that have been taking place for months. The big picture: Using reconciliation — which allows legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority — to fund parts of the government would mark a significant departure from the traditional bipartisan appropriations process. Congressional Republicans used reconciliation this year to provide funding for ICE and the Border Patrol after Democrats refused to fund those agencies without reforms. "It's just the reality of what the Democrats have demonstrated, is that they're willing to shut down the government for political reasons, and we can't let that happen this time," Burlison told us. There have been "lots of discussions" around including elements of traditional government funding, House Republican Study Committee chair August Pfluger (R-Texas) told us. "What we have seen the last year is something that's completely opposite of anything that's happened before, where they're just obstructing, you know, all the funding," Pfluger said. "I think the reality is that we want to be bipartisan in the appropriations process, but I think it demonstrates that that's not possible." The other side: "I've heard it talked about and I think it's a bad idea," Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who sits on the Appropriations Committee, told us. "What we just passed for parts of Homeland, sadly, was done out of necessity." Between the lines: Republicans are deeply skeptical they can pass another reconciliation bill. "I think it's safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill, so it's really not an option," former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during a hearing Tuesday. "I agree with that assessment," Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) replied. "If it's not good for our district, I'm not going to vote for it," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told us. The bottom line: Republicans agree on at least one thing. If there's going to be a reconciliation 3.0, they need to move fast. House Freedom Caucus members are expected to roll out a framework for reconciliation 3.0 as soon as next week. — Kate Santaliz

Workers at the Kennedy Center this afternoon. Photo: Andrew Leyden/Bloomberg via Getty Images 🏗️ Workers were seen removing President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center this afternoon. A judge denied Trump's request to pause a ruling requiring his name to be pulled from the iconic venue.

🚀 SpaceX IPO takes off Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance via Getty Images SpaceX shares were up over 25% in initial trading by midafternoon, launching it into the pantheon of the largest U.S. companies, Axios' Madison Mills reports. Shares were trading at about $170 this afternoon, indicating a $2.22 trillion market cap. 💰 The offering made CEO Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire, Forbes declared. Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios SpaceX went into its IPO trading at 90 times its sales (not profits — sales). Adam Johnson, portfolio manager of the Bullseye American Ingenuity Fund, says that suggests the company's valuation is divorced from its underlying fundamentals. 👀 What we're watching: What happens after the lock-up period ends. Once the company's next earnings report drops, early investors can sell up to 20% of their initial holdings to realize some gains. Get the latest.

New UFO records released Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios The Trump administration released a sweeping cache of government records and videos today that include colorful UFO-like orbs flying across the sky in seemingly impossible ways, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. The disclosure is part of a wave of releases aimed at shedding light on the government's probes into such sightings. 🕵️‍♂️ The documents indicate that government agents have spent years monitoring, investigating and documenting suspected unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) incidents — the modern term for UFOs. Among the items: Videos showing orbs emitting red and yellow light, some of which appear to split apart and reattach as they fly across the sky. Memos from government agents describing their UAP sightings. An illustration of a grayish-white, balloon-like object hovering near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Another illustration depicting incidents that took place in the "western United States" where government officials reported UAP sightings in 2023. 👽 The new records don't indicate whether the government believes the UAPs represent the existence of alien life. Nor do they indicate conclusions regarding any national security threat. Go deeper.

Faith Amid the Shaking: Adventists Respond to Major Earthquake in Mindanao Several Seventh-day Adventist churches and educational institutions sustained significant damage after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on June 8, prompting damage assessments and relief efforts across the region. This, according to an article released by the Southeastern Philippine Union Mission. https://atoday.org/faith-amid-the-shaking-adventists-respond-to-major-earthquake-in-mindanao/

ADRA Serves Vulnerable Communities as Ebola Spreads in Central Africa DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is strengthening prevention and community education efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as health officials battle an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo Disease, according to an article in adra.org. https://atoday.org/adra-serves-vulnerable-communities-as-ebola-spreads-in-central-africa/

Shooter kills 1 and injures 10 in Texas days after firing at a police officer, officials say A man who opened fire in the West Texas city of Midland in an attack Friday morning that left one person dead and 10 injured had shot at a police officer just days earlier during a chase, authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/midland-texas-shooting-1b4308bda97427c695623ed5cf988eee?

SpaceX stock soars in debut and makes Elon Musk the first trillionaire NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire after shares of his rocket company SpaceX soared in Wall Street’s biggest initial public offering of stock. https://apnews.com/article/musk-spacex-tesla-ipo-trillionaire-billionaire-worth-rockets-7723f82b6063a9a17c194e25982cd66d? ps:Going to have to change this threads name to include trillionaire's!

Diehard Trump Voters Turn on Him With Furious ‘Buyer’s Remorse’ Republicans have blasted the man they voted for over his poor handling of the economy and broken promises. Some diehard Donald Trump supporters have finally had enough of the 79-year-old president, saying he has broken his promises during his second term. In a segment on MS Now’s The Briefing with Jen Psaki, voters who backed Trump in the past three elections told reporter Alex Tabet that they regret voting for him in 2024 because of his poor handling of the economy and other issues. While introducing the segment and noting Trump’s poor polling numbers on the economy and inflation, Psaki suggested that some Trump supporters are experiencing “buyer’s remorse” as his second term enters its 18th month. “I actually have panic attacks. I’ve had a couple this past week, and I get very emotional over it,” Annette Dombrowski, a three-time Trump voter from Ohio who is at risk of losing her job because the power plant where she works as a janitor is closing at the end of the month, said. “I don’t want to work anymore, but I can’t afford to retire.” When Tabet asked whether she believes Trump, who has an estimated net worth of around $6.5 billion, understands the financial hardships facing tens of millions of Americans, Dombrowski immediately replied, “No.” “He hasn’t lived it to understand it. He sees it, he has not lived it. He needs to live it. Wear the clothes. Wear the shoes. Wear your Walmart clothes. Wear your Walmart shoes. Do your thrift store shopping. Don’t eat steaks. I don’t get to go out to dinner,” Dombrowski said. “It’s been two years now. You said you’d bring down the grocery prices. I must be the most angry person when I grocery shop because I buy the same things every week and I see it jump every week. It is not every couple of months. It’s literally every week.” Chris Tackett, a truck driver from Ohio who also voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, expressed similar frustration that the president has failed to keep his pledge to tackle food prices, inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis.Instead, the 79-year-old has exacerbated these hardships by launching a war with Iran, which has sent gas prices soaring in the U.S. “He’s backtracked on every single pitch point he had during his election,” Tackett said. “All we heard was drill, drill, drill during the election, and now all we’re getting is drilled into the dirt with these prices. “So I’m not a fan of him,” Tackett added. “I voted for Trump all three terms. To be honest with you, I’m not a big supporter of him at this point.” When asked by Tabet what he would say to Trump if he had the chance, Tackett replied: “Get it together, man.” “The average American is struggling to make ends meet right now. And nobody wants to hear ‘the war’s almost over.’ Nobody wants to hear ‘it’s gonna get better,’" he said. “You’ve had a year to make it better at this point. Make it better. ‘Make America Great Again,’ right?” Finally, Psaki introduced Rob Couch, a one-time Trump voter, who said he had a “more explicit message” for Trump that “encapsulates the buyer’s remorse we’ve been seeing lately.” “You want me to really say it on air? I’d say f--- you,” Couch said. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful to any leader, but he’s disrespectful to us, and he doesn’t care.” The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/diehard-trump-voters-turn-on-him-with-furious-buyers-remorse/?

Republicans Freak Out About Trump’s Chaotic Plan From centrists to MAGA loyalists, Hill Republicans are privately—and not so privately—alarmed. Republican lawmakers are losing their patience with President Donald Trump’s flip-flopping Iran strategy. A growing number are now openly warning that the war, and the inflation it’s fueling, could cost them their congressional majority in the November midterms. Trump said last month during a Cabinet meeting that he does not “care about the midterms,” but Republicans on Capitol Hill certainly do. Hours after Trump threatened to seize a major Iranian oil hub, several key Republicans told CNN they were deeply uncomfortable with the president’s willingness to escalate without a coherent endgame. The anxiety spans the party’s spectrum, from centrists to leadership allies to die-hard MAGA loyalists, and is rapidly growing as gas prices and consumer costs continue to climb. This is another concern that the 79-year-old billionaire has downplayed, calling the affordability crisis a “hoax” cooked up by political foes. “I think people are really feeling it,” said Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. “It’s not just gas prices, food prices, and other things, and I think there’s a level of frustration. So I think the pressure is for the president to reach a peace solution and move on.” Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a centrist from New Jersey who says he supports the broader goal of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, was more blunt. “Get it done. Get out,” he said. “We need an exit strategy.” Trump’s main domestic response to the economic fallout has been a push to temporarily freeze the federal gas tax, a proposal widely panned by his own party as offering negligible relief. Republicans say the White House isn’t helping itself with recent side projects, either, and his “I love the inflation” comment this week landed like a grenade in the camp. “Makes absolutely no sense to me,” said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who was beaten by Trump’s hand-picked candidate, controversial Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a runoff election last month. “The fact that we’re not talking about or focused on the things that most people care about at election time, kitchen table issues, I think, is a problem,” he said. Behind the scenes, the frustration runs deeper. Several senior lawmakers, including the House GOP’s top spending leader, Rep. Tom Cole, have complained they’ve been left in the dark about the war’s total cost. Trump has floated a Pentagon funding request of up to $350 billion, due sometime by August, and Republicans are already balking. Others say Trump has failed to make a convincing public case—or a private one—for the conflict. “I think we can lay out the case right, but we haven’t done a good job at it,” said retiring Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who has made a habit in his last days in office of dissenting against the MAGA figurehead. The prospect of ground troops is where Republican alarm reaches its crescendo. Trump’s threat to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub, drew swift warnings from within his own party. “I don’t support boots on the ground. I don’t think America has the stomach for that,” said Rep. Nick LaLota of New York, who declined to rule out backing a formal congressional vote to authorize the conflict—against party leaders’ wishes. Even Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, one of Trump’s most reliable allies, said he was “worried” about the Kharg Island idea, offering a stark historical warning: “This is how it started in Vietnam.” Kennedy acknowledged the economic toll but stopped short of condemning the strategy outright, noting he’s not privy to classified briefings. “I think the president has clearly decided to take the pain,” Kennedy said. “I think he’s decided that long-term, the benefits of crippling Iran permanently, if possible, are worth the costs to our economy, to our inflation rate, and the world’s economy. I think he’s made that decision, and it has been painful.” One Republican lawmaker, granted anonymity to speak candidly, offered a grim outlook for the party. “It needed to happen even if it costs us our majority. And it might.” Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota framed the electoral stakes plainly. “People often vote their pocketbook,” he said. “If people don’t feel secure financially, they oftentimes obviously respond by choosing somebody else.” He added, with unusual candor, “I don’t think people have a great deal of confidence in any of us right now, quite honestly.” Sen. Josh Hawley called this week’s inflation numbers a “wake-up call.” “If Congress doesn’t deliver the relief,” he warned, “I think voters are not going to be pleased.” The White House has been approached for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-freak-out-about-trumps-chaotic-iran-strategy/?

Did the Euphrates Originally Empty into the Mediterranean? The Euphrates River was one of the great arteries of the ancient Near East. Flowing from modern-day Turkey through Syria and Iraq before joining the Tigris and emptying into the Persian Gulf, it supported some of the world’s earliest cities and empires. Many of the cultures that emerged along its banks intersect with the historical and literary background of the Bible. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/did-the-euphrates-originally-empty-into-the-mediterranean/?

A Pentagon list overhaul puts Mormon church’s Christian identity back in the spotlight The Pentagon’s revision to its list of Christian religions this week has reignited a nearly 200-year-old debate: Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Christian denomination? Most Latter-day Saints do see themselves as Christians. But there are many prominent Christian clergy and scholars who disagree, citing core differences in how they view God and the Trinity and revere a scripture that is not part of the two-testament Christian Bible. Read more. Why this matters: Utah U.S. Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both Republicans and Latter-day Saints, challenged the Pentagon’s exclusion of their faith from its list of Christian religions. It was part of the Department of Defense’s recent effort to significantly pare down a list of more than 200 religious affiliations that troops could choose from, deleting categories such as Unitarian Universalists, pagans, atheists and Wiccans. The Pentagon responded by removing the Christian label from 20 other traditions, including Catholic, Lutheran and Pentecostal, and stayed away from labeling Latter-day Saints as Christian. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31 Mormon church lowers minimum age for women missionaries to 18 Russell M. Nelson, oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies

As UFOs go mainstream, the jury is out on what the existence of alien life might mean for religion In his new film “Disclosure Day,” Steven Spielberg is once again inviting audiences to ponder the existence of extraterrestrial life — and the implications it would have for religion on Earth. But Spielberg isn't the only one making headlines of late about UFOs and the possibility of life on other planets. What was once considered fringe or conspiratorial has in recent months popped up everywhere from the White House to the Catholic Church, as public fascination with unidentified anomalous phenomena — or UAPs, as the government calls them — becomes more mainstream. Read more. Why this matters: The Pentagon in May made public large swaths of UFO files with very little context, leaving curious sleuths to piece together their own interpretations. The dump came just weeks after former President Barack Obama set off a media frenzy for stating that aliens are real. Some religious adherents, as well as some nonbelievers, maintain that the existence of life on other planets might undermine many faiths because it would complicate assertions that humans are unique. But others argue the opposite. UFOs are often thought of as hostile. But some religions see them as good or even part of a divine plan. Some adherents to the Nation of Islam, for example, believe that its founder will inaugurate an apocalyptic return to Earth on a spaceship. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Bright lights and hot orbs: UFO files shed light on sightings but leave interpretation to the public Washington archbishop removes priest as exorcist after comments on UFOs and demons Movie Review: ‘Disclosure Day’ is classic Spielberg

Pope tells traffickers of migrants in the Canary Islands: Stop, repent or face God's wrath Pope Leo XIV warned human traffickers that they will face God's wrath for exploiting the desperation of migrants, demanding they stop and repent during his final day in the epicenter of the African migration route to Europe. The American pope insisted on the inherent dignity and rights of migrants and demanded they be welcomed and integrated into society, in some of his strongest comments on the divisive issue. Read more. Why this matters: Leo wrapped up his weeklong trip to Spain in the Canary Islands, an archipelago which is closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula. It is a key point of entry for migrants who make the perilous Atlantic crossing from West Africa. He was fulfilling Pope Francis' wish to visit the islands to commemorate the thousands of lives lost at sea. He was also drawing attention to the Catholic Church’s biblically-mandated mantra to “welcome the stranger,” amid anti-migrant sentiment in Europe and the Trump administration's mass deportation program in his native United States. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Pope honors Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia as masterpiece of stone, color and light on Gaudí centenary Catalonia’s famed human tower climbers greet Pope Leo in Barcelona Pope’s youth rally in Spain gets raw, with frank discussion of depression and domestic violence Pope gets caught up in Spain’s great debates over soccer and language

🎉 Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. Quick favor: If Yahoo Sports AM is part of your morning routine, we'd love to learn a little more about you. This short survey takes less than two minutes, and your feedback will help shape the future of the newsletter. Thank you! In today's edition: The USMNT's four-year journey, Canes go up 3-2, Kucherov wins MVP, Mexico and South Korea win World Cup openers, inside MLB's labor fight, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES 🏒 Kuch wins tight MVP race: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov beat out Oilers center Connor McDavid to win his second Hart Trophy in the closest vote in 24 years. Kuch earned 1,436 points and 72 first-place votes, while McDavid earned 1,426 points and 68 first-place votes. ⛳️ Lefty expelled after accusation: Phil Mickelson's longtime membership at The Farms Golf Club in San Diego County has been revoked after he was accused of "nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact" with a female employee. 👟 College runner sets world record: Auburn junior Ja'Kobe Tharp broke the 110m hurdles world record at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, running a time of 12.75 seconds to eclipse the previous record of 12.80 set back in 2012. 🎾 Increased prize money: Wimbledon is increasing this year's purse to $85.8 million ($4.8M for each singles champion), a 20% bump that represents "by far the biggest annual increase in the history of the event." This comes three weeks after players at Roland Garros protested over prize money at Grand Slams. 🏈 Payton extended: The Broncos are giving head coach Sean Payton a five-year contract extension through 2030. Denver has gone 32-19 and made back-to-back playoff appearances since he took over three seasons ago.   ⚽️ WORLD CUP USMNT: THE ROAD TO 2026 (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports) The USMNT's World Cup journey began the moment its 2022 campaign ended in Qatar. Today, after four years of preparation and speculation, the Americans finally take the field against Paraguay (9pm ET, Fox) as co-hosts of the biggest event in soccer history. Road to 2026: So much has changed over the past four years — new players, a new manager, new expectations — and fortunately for us, Rand Getlin and his team at Park Stories were there to document it all. The result: A five-part series called "U.S. Against the World," which is available to stream on HBO Max. Episodes: The Golden Generation: Head coach Gregg Berhalter guides Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and several emerging U.S. soccer stars to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Not So Golden: A disappointing group stage exit at the 2023 Copa América triggers Berhalter's firing and raises questions about the state of the USMNT. You Have To Fight: Less than two years from the 2026 World Cup, Mauricio Pochettino takes over as head coach, introducing a fresh vision and new philosophy. That Is Football: New USMNT contributors break through during the 2025 Gold Cup, culminating in a high-stakes showdown against rival Mexico. 26 Brothers: The USMNT's final roster is revealed for the 2026 World Cup. USMNT players during a training session this week. (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images) How the series came together: Getlin and his team were introduced to U.S. Soccer through Tyler Adams, who they had worked with on a 2019 project called "Prodigy," where they followed eight elite athletes under the age of 21. Tyler told us in 2019 that he wanted to go on and become the captain of the national team, and it just struck us that these young guys were about to go on the ride of a lifetime, and we wanted to be there to document it all and humanize them. So we approached U.S. Soccer in February of 2020, and started the conversation. In May of 2022, we got a call asking us if we could be in Cincinnati in 48 hours to go cameras up, and we've been cameras up ever since. 700 hours of footage: How do you turn 700 hours of source material into a five-hour story? It's an "unbelievably difficult task," says Getlin, who credited supervising editor Lucas Harger and the many other teammates who helped deliver the final cut. The process of preparing for this project was a lot like what I did in my previous role as an investigative reporter. You do your homework, sift through everything that's public, and gather as much information as possible to create a snapshot of what you think the story is. Then, of course, you get into the field and all bets are off. We don't get to write the beginning, middle and end. We know the 2026 World Cup is coming, so that's our North Star, but we have no idea what's going to happen during that four-year stretch leading up to it. By the end of episode five, we've covered 12 or 13 different players — telling their stories, and contextualizing their lives. You have to take those hundreds of hours of footage, distill it to five hours, and make sure those five hours map to life and reality. The Starting Eleven ahead of last week's friendly vs. Germany. (Michael Miller/ISI Photos via Getty Images) Zooming out: Getlin believes the long-term approach for this project — maintaining access over four years — allowed them to tell an honest, nuanced story that could serve as the emotional on-ramp to the largest soccer event in history. If you're looking at a four-year stretch, with some guys that are going from age 19 to 23, and experiencing so much during that time, and they're letting you inside for the good and the bad, then you can tell a story that really moves people. Everyone wants everything to be black and white. This is a study in all the shades of gray. And I hope people see that — that it's super human. We're not drawing a lot of conclusions other than, over four years and 300 days of production, you learn a lot. And what I learned is that these guys care so much. That doesn't mean they're perfect. That doesn't mean that the results have been good enough. But they're gonna work their tails off and do everything in their power to make this country proud.   🌍 SNAPSHOTS THE WORLD IN PHOTOS (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) 🇺🇸 Raleigh, North Carolina — The Hurricanes beat the Golden Knights, 4-2, on Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final, putting them on the precipice of winning their first championship since 2006. Rare feat: Carolina captain Jordan Staal scored yet again, making him just the fourth player (and first in 70 years) to light the lamp in each of the first five games of a Cup Final. The others are all Hall of Famers: Jean Béliveau (Canadiens, 1956), Maurice "Rocket" Richard (Canadiens, 1951) and Cyclone Taylor (Vancouver Millionaires, 1918). Raúl Jiménez celebrates his goal. (Carl Recine/Getty Images) 🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico — The World Cup started with a bang, as co-host Mexico took down South Africa, 2-0, behind goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. Wild stat: This game saw three red cards, which is just one fewer than the entirety of the 2022 World Cup. Meanwhile, in Guadalajara: South Korea beat Czechia, 2-1, in Thursday's other game behind a goal and an assist from Hwang In-beom. Korea's captain, LAFC star Son Heung-min, was held scoreless despite taking a match-high six shots. (Paul Harding/Getty Images) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London, England — Serena Williams may be out of the tournament after her doubles partner withdrew with an injury, but the 23-time major champion was back on the court practicing today at the Queen's Club Championships. Looking ahead: Williams will partner with Karolína Muchová at next week's Berlin Open as she gears up for a potential return at Wimbledon.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST (Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports) 🏀 NBA Finals, Game 5 The series resumes tomorrow night in San Antonio (8:30pm ET, ABC), where the Knicks will look to clinch their first championship since 1973 and the Spurs will look to stay alive. Comeback kings: The Knicks have almost as many 20-point fourth-quarter postseason comebacks in the past three weeks (2) as the rest of the NBA has in the past three decades (3). ⚽️ World Cup, Opening Weekend The USMNT take the field tonight (9pm, Fox) against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which will host two of their three group stage matches. Best of the rest: There are nine other games this weekend, starting with co-host Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina this afternoon in Toronto (3pm, Fox). Plus: Brazil vs. Morocco tomorrow in New Jersey (6pm, Fox) and Netherlands vs. Japan on Sunday in Dallas (4pm, Fox). 🏒 Stanley Cup Final, Game 6 A champion could be crowned on Sunday night (8pm, ABC) in Las Vegas. Will the Hurricanes finish the job? Or will the Golden Knights force a decisive Game 7? Tall task for Vegas: In order to win the Stanley Cup, the Golden Knights must win two games in a row against the Hurricanes… who have not lost back-to-back games since Jan. 13. ⚾️ College World Series The eight-team double-elimination tournament begins today in Omaha, with No. 16 West Virginia vs. Troy in the opener (2pm, ESPN), followed by No. 5 North Carolina vs. Ole Miss (7pm, ESPN). Tomorrow, it's No. 7 Alabama vs. Oklahoma (3pm, ESPN) and No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Texas (6pm, ESPN). Wild stat: This is the first time in 50 years that no teams from Florida or California reached the College World Series. USC was the last team standing before losing its Super Regional to UNC. 👊 UFC Freedom 250 The highly-anticipated event on the White House's South Lawn (Sun. 8pm, Paramount+) will be headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the lightweight belt and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title. Pre-fight reading: How Freedom 250 became the ultimate symbol of TKO's growing political power (John S. Nash, Uncrowned) More to watch: 🏈 UFL Championship: DC Defenders vs. Louisville Kings (Sat. 3pm, ABC) … The Defenders go for their second straight title at their home stadium. ⚾️ MLB: Braves at Mets (Fri. 7pm, Apple); Phillies at Brewers (Sat. 7pm, FS1); Cubs at Giants (Sun. 3pm, ABC); Rangers at Red Sox (Sun. 7:20pm, Peacock) 🏀 WNBA: Valkyries at Storm (Fri. 10pm, ION); Fever at Sun (Sat. 6pm, NBCSN); Lynx at Aces (Sat. 8pm, CBS); Mystics at Liberty (Sun. 3pm, NBA) 🏎️ F1: Barcelona Grand Prix (Sun. 9am, Apple) … Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli goes for his sixth straight victory. ⛳️ PGA: Canadian Open (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf/CBS) … Brooks Koepka and five other golfers finished the opening round tied for the lead at 6-under. ⛳️ LPGA: Dow Championship (Fri-Sun, Golf/CBS) … Three pairs are tied for the lead at 3-under after Thursday's alternate-shot format in the team event. Plus: 🏁 NASCAR at Pocono (Sun. 3pm, Prime) | 🏎️ 24 Hours of Le Mans (Sat. 10am, HBO Max) | 🎾 Queens Club Championships (Fri-Sun, Tennis) | 🏈 IFL Week 14 (Fri-Sun, Yahoo Sports) | 👟 NCAA Track & Field Championships (Fri-Sat, ESPN2) and more. Got plans this weekend? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   📚 GO DEEPER GOOD READS Bruce Meyer took over as MLB Players Association president in February.(Pacific Press via Getty Images) ⚾️ Shlomo Sprung: The fight that could shut down baseball … again Back in 1994, the players went on strike to avoid agreeing to a salary cap, causing the season to end early without the playing of a World Series. Thirty-two years later, the union's stance hasn't changed. Led by interim executive director Bruce Meyer, the players seem steadfast and united against what they view as an artificial ceiling on their guaranteed earnings. People wave USA and pre-revolutionary Iranian flags as they protest the Iranian regime outside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. (Sarah Lai via Getty Images) ⚽️ Jeff Eisenberg: The World Cup dilemma dividing Iranians: Root for Iran — or against it? Many Iranians across the world are torn whether to celebrate their pride in their heritage by supporting the national team or show their contempt for the existing political system by rooting for Iran to lose. Emotions are especially fraught in Los Angeles, which is the heartbeat of the Iranian diaspora, and the place where Iran will play two group stage matches. Preparations continue for Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 🇺🇸 Ben Fowlkes: Why UFC at the White House has so many people thinking about ancient Rome The UFC has, in the past, leaned into the gladiator analogy. But this White House event seems to cast the equivalence in a different light, and to a degree that makes some uncomfortable while others rejoice. How apt is the comparison, really? And what does it say about our current cultural moment in the United States? (John E. Moore III/Getty Images) 🏈 Dan Wolken: Texas Tech deserves more hate in Brendan Sorsby's sordid eligibility case The Red Raiders still have time to do the right thing. They can tell Sorsby that despite the ruling, they are taking a stand for a sensible and necessary NCAA rule and that he should pursue his football career elsewhere. Anything short of that will forever make Texas Tech a pariah and national embarrassment that deserves every bit of scorn coming their way.   🌍 GEOSPORTS TAP THE MAP GeoSports is a five-question daily trivia game that combines sports with geography. Tap where it happened! The closer you are, the more points you get   🏎️ START YOUR ENGINES YAHOO SPORTS x APPLE TV (Apple) This weekend's Formula 1 MSC Cruises Gran Premio de Barcelona-Catalunya 2026 continues our season-long partnership with Apple TV for F1 coverage. Tune in: All three practice sessions (Fri. 7:30/11:30am ET; Sat. 6:30am) and tomorrow's qualifying (10am) will air for free on Yahoo Sports, while Sunday's race will stream on Apple TV, the new U.S. home of Formula 1.

Lawsuit claims proposed property tax amendment’s ballot language is ‘biased’ A week after the Florida Legislature placed a constitutional amendment aimed at reducing homestead property taxes on the statewide ballot, a nonprofit group has filed a lawsuit seeking a declaration that the ballot language is “unconstitutionally biased, misleading and inaccurate.” https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/11/lawsuit-claims-proposed-property-tax-amendments-ballot-language-is-biased/? One school’s cell phone ban offers preview into how students, administrators may adapt to new law Just after 9 a.m. on a Thursday morning in April, Brewer High School student Dylan Unobskey walked into the main office and handed his cell phone to Office Secretary Megan Gobeil. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/12/repub/one-schools-cell-phone-ban-offers-preview-into-how-students-administrators-may-adapt-to-new-law/? Paul Renner is ‘not a huge fan’ of GOP’s proposed amendment on property taxes Former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner has made property tax reform a central tenet of his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/11/paul-renner-is-not-a-huge-fan-of-gops-proposed-amendment-on-property-taxes/?

Severe storms A tornado emergency warning issued to millions late Thursday capped a violent day of severe weather across the Midwest. But it was hurricane-force winds that proved deadly: A man in Des Moines, Iowa, was killed by a falling tree, while hundreds of thousands of others were left without power across several states. Read more on today's forecast. WATCH: Illinois man rescued from beneath home destroyed by tornado

National Mall vandalism Huge numbers reading "8647" — a phrase generally used to signal opposition to President Trump — appeared etched into the grass on the National Mall on Thursday. The number "86" is often used in the restaurant industry as a code meaning to get rid of or remove an order or patron, while Trump is the 47th president. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior condemned the vandalism and said authorities are investigating. Read more. Trump Mobile's T1 Phone Is Just an HTC U24 Pro, iFixit Teardown Finds 'What you have is not an 'American-Proud Design,' but a phone designed in China, made in China, with the vast majority of parts sourced from China,' iFixit says of Trump Mobile's T1 handset. https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-mobiles-t1-phone-is-just-an-htc-u24-pro-ifixit-teardown-finds? ps:So once again trumps maga followers are deceived by there criminal leader into thinking that this cellphone is of high quality!!!!! But as all his other garbage it's made in china!!!!! Think about that for a while!!!!! Judge extends block on Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A federal judge agreed on Friday to extend indefinitely a court-ordered block on the Trump administration’s creation and operation of a $1.8 billion settlement fund for compensating people who claim to be victims of a weaponized government. https://apnews.com/article/trump-settlement-fund-irs-lawsuit-d8345ce8f5c7f8062b858e54c396c450?

Iran war President Donald Trump is claiming that the US has "ended the war with Iran," predicting a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend that would resolve the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said reports of a deal were "merely speculation" and that his country has not yet reached a final decision on any agreement. Read more.

Team USA The 2026 World Cup arrives on US soil today as Team USA takes on Paraguay in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET. Mexico opened the tournament on Thursday with a win over South Africa, setting the stage for more than a month of nonstop action and packed stadiums worldwide. See when and where your favorite team plays with the full World Cup schedule. Team USA preview USA's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring in a May 31 friendly against Senegal in Charlotte, N.C. Photo: Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images The U.S. men's soccer team starts World Cup play tonight, facing Paraguay in Los Angeles (9 p.m. ET, Fox). 😰 These are nervy days for U.S. fans, Axios' Bob Gee writes. On paper, the American squad should have its best chance ever for a deep run. But fans worry the team hasn't lived up to its potential — and could flame out. 🙏 Fans are pinning their hopes on the return of center back Chris Richards, who was just cleared to resume training after an ankle injury. Strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, new to the World Cup roster, could bring some much-needed firepower. Star forward Christian Pulisic is coming off a rough club season. He must play great for the U.S. team to advance. Go deeper ... How to watch.

A Popular Doctor Had Long Warned That Vitamin K Shots Are Risky for Newborns. Now He’s Changed His Tune. For more than a decade, Dr. Joseph Mercola cautioned parents against a potentially lifesaving shot of vitamin K for their newborn babies: “Vitamin K shots are completely unnecessary for your newborn.” https://www.propublica.org/article/vitamin-k-shot-joseph-mercola-reversal-babies? How a 25-Cent Pill Became a Hundred-Billion-Dollar Business Reporter David Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer and soon learned that one of his drugs would cost almost $1,000 per pill. He set out to discover why, and uncovered financial records and legal filings that shocked him. The drugmaker’s strategy to raise the price over and over again helps explain why our healthcare system is the most expensive in the world. Read the original reporting: https://www.propublica.org/article/revlimid-price-cancer-celgene-drugs-fda-multiple-myeloma https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-a-25-cent-pill-became-a-hundred-billion-dollar-business/id1896058335? Lawmaker Pushes for Ban on Special Treatment for Convicted Drug Traffickers After ProPublica Report A federal lawmaker is pushing for a provision that would bar the Federal Bureau of Prisons from offering taxpayer-funded VIP perks to pardoned drug lords and child traffickers. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-bureau-prisons-pardons-juan-orlando-hernandez-norma-torres? What You Need to Know About How Tear Gas Harms Kids In city after city, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has been met by protests and rallies from members of the local community opposed to the White House’s deportation policies. Federal agents from the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have repeatedly attempted to break up and drive back these crowds through the use of airborne irritants like tear gas and pepper spray, which can cause an array of immediate reactions — from eye pain to shortness of breath to nausea and vomiting — intended to temporarily disable their targets. https://www.propublica.org/article/how-tear-gas-harms-kids-trump-ice-cbp-minneapolis-portland?

Raging Trump, 79, Melts Down Over Impeachment Threat The president went nuclear in a furious 195-word screed. Donald Trump called for Rep. Jamie Raskin to be expelled from Congress because the “bum” wants to launch impeachment proceedings against him. In a typical Truth Social meltdown, the 79-year-old launched a 195-word tirade against the Maryland Democrat while sharing an X post from Fox News host Mark Levin demanding Republicans “move to expel” Raskin from the House. It is unclear what exactly set Levin and Trump off on their rants against Raskin. The longtime nemesis of the president has frequently hinted that Democrats will launch impeachment proceedings against Trump should Democrats retake control of the House in the midterms, as they are widely expected to do. Trump’s post also came after The Wall Street Journal reported that he is working on an entirely symbolic effort to pressure lawmakers into passing a resolution to “expunge” his two existing impeachments. “Jamie Raskin, a Loser in Life, who worked endlessly during my First Term to impeach me, and failed miserably, wasting the Country’s money, time, and effort, will guaranteed be trying to do it again, despite one of the most successful Presidencies in History,” Trump wrote. The president carried on his rant by lashing out at “pathetic soul” Texas Rep. Al Green and his fruitless attempts to impeach Trump late last year. The 79-year-old also desperately suggested Raskin would “be in jail right now” if former President Joe Biden hadn’t issued sweeping preemptive pardons just before leaving office. “Something should be done about people like this who do bad things, but always come up on the short end because of their illegal or unscrupulous behavior, and hurt our Country in the process,” Trump continued.“I agree with Mark Levin when he says to, EXPEL THE BUM. Congress can never be great with people like this, who suffer massively from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), casting their vote of HATE!” In his X post, Levin said that if Raskin continues to “abuse our constitutional system and undermine our electoral process,” then Congress should take the “necessary steps” to expel him. Getting a member of Congress expelled is extremely rare, as the process requires a two-thirds vote in either the House or the Senate. An expulsion has occurred three times since the Civil War, with New York Republican George Santos the last member to be kicked out in December 2023 amid a string of fraud and ethics scandals. In an interview on All In with Chris Hayes, Raskin responded to Trump’s Truth Social post by suggesting the president is “having nightmare flashbacks about impeachment.” “There’s a very easy way to not get impeached: Stop committing impeachable offenses,” Raskin added. “Stop committing high crimes and misdemeanors. Don’t go to war and usurp the powers of Congress to declare war. That’s up to us. Don’t spend money in a way different from how Congress has appropriated money. Don’t impose illegal taxes and tariffs on the American people without congressional consent. “The president needs a basic constitutional primer. There are a lot of lawyers around him, but he should find one who actually understands what the Constitution says.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/raging-trump-79-melts-down-over-jamie-raskin-impeachment-threat/? ps:Don't waste your time, because there are to many weak maga republicans who would vote to do this!!!!!

https://theapproachingstorm.com/ This is a 7 part series by the VOP