\u201cI would think that JD and Marco as a team would be very hard to beat,\u201d Trump told Miranda Devine in a podcast aired on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s interesting, human thing, the human equation. So I watch them together, they get along great,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Trump has continued to fuel the succession talk even as both Vance and Rubio downplay their 2028 ambitions.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n A set of sweeping policy changes unveiled by the White House would leave officials appointed by Donald Trump<\/a> vetting every public grant issued to universities and nongovernmental organizations on the basis of their fidelity to \u201cAmerican values\u201d, as defined by the president, triggering widespread concern.<\/p>\n All federal grants approved by Trump\u2019s political appointees must \u201cdemonstrably advance the president\u2019s policy priorities\u201d, according to a lengthy proposal published by the office of management and budget (OMB).<\/p>\n Federal awards during the Biden administration \u201cwere often used during those years to promote a \u2018woke\u2019 policy agenda that did not reflect the values of the vast majority of the American public\u201d, the proposal claims in its executive summary. \u201cCollectively, these policies wasted a great amount of taxpayer resources and caused great harm to public trust in government.\u201d<\/p>\n A 400-page document proposing rule changes was published<\/a> Friday without a press release or other formal attention, and first reported<\/a> by the New York Times. Nonetheless, by Tuesday afternoon, more than 3,000 public comments<\/a> had been offered about the proposal, almost exclusively in alarmed opposition.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump says Vance-Rubio 2028 ticket would be ‘unbeatable’<\/p>\n In his interview with the \u2018Pod Force One\u2019 podcast, Trump said that vice-president JD Vance and US secretary of state Marco Rubio running together in 2028 would be \u201cunbeatable\u201d.<\/p>\n Both men are seen as contenders for the 2028 Republican nomination, and Rubio\u2019s recent turn at the White House podium drew praise from Republicans<\/a> and even some Democrats who noted his smooth performance, which included quips and a 1990s hip-hop reference to describe Iran\u2019s negotiating position.<\/p>\n \u201cI would think that JD and Marco as a team would be very hard to beat,\u201d Trump told Miranda Devine in a podcast aired on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s interesting, human thing, the human equation. So I watch them together, they get along great,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Trump has continued to fuel the succession talk even as both Vance and Rubio downplay their 2028 ambitions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> said he believed he would make acting attorney general Todd Blanche permanent the top US law enforcement officer.<\/p>\n Asked in an interview broadcast Wednesday on \u2018Pod Force One\u2019 if Blanche would be US attorney general, Trump said, \u201cI think he will.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.08 EDT<\/p>\n Uwa Ede-Osifo<\/p>\n Karen Bass has come out ahead in Tuesday\u2019s heated primary for Los Angeles mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n Bass will face either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman, in November. As of Tuesday evening, it was still unclear who would move on.<\/p>\n In remarks to voters on Tuesday evening, Bass said she would spend the next four years addressing homelessness and building more housing units.<\/p>\n She described Los Angeles as a rebounding city, and vowed to build on the progress made over the last three and a half years. Invoking the \u201cdark day\u201d a year ago when Donald Trump<\/a> sent immigration troops into the city, Bass declared: \u201cWe are a city that is unified.\u201d<\/p>\n Los Angeles\u2019s next mayor will be tasked with showing progress in curbing the homelessness crisis, an issue that has long vexed the nation\u2019s second-most populous city, revitalizing Hollywood amid a production exodus and shoring up emergency response programs after last year\u2019s deadly wildfires.<\/p>\n The race initially seemed poised to be an intra-party match-up between Bass and her former ally Raman.<\/p>\n But the contest took a turn in its final weeks as Pratt made substantial gains in polling and sparked national attention with controversial campaign videos and a combative debate performance.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Federal workers experiencing \u2018PTSD-like symptoms\u2019 after unlawful firings by Trump administration<\/p>\n Michael Sainato<\/p>\n US federal workers laid off by the Trump administration<\/a> said they are experiencing mental health effects, including PTSD-like symptoms, from losing their jobs, according to a new survey.<\/p>\n More than 300 fired probationary employees were surveyed, with 95% reporting ongoing mental health effects, according to 27UNIHTED, a network of former National Institute of Health (NIH) employees. Nearly half said they are experiencing PTSD-like symptoms, and a quarter are taking new medications to manage symptoms.<\/p>\n Survey respondents were located across 43 states and the US Virgin Islands and had worked in 12 different departments across 15 agencies, bureaus and subgroups.<\/p>\n The employees are a tiny fraction of the more than 300,000 federal workers who were laid off or pushed to resign or retire since the start of Donald Trump\u2019s second term. More than 25,000 workers were laid off in the middle of their probationary period, meaning they had started their positions within a year or two when they were abruptly fired.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Some of the most crucial races to flip are now set for November, with massive spending expected in contests seen as toss-ups, but even in those rated to lean toward Republicans<\/a> given the national headwinds against the party in power.<\/p>\n In New Jersey, Democrats<\/a> nominated former healthcare executive and US navy veteran Rebecca Bennett after a crowded primary to take on Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr, who ran unopposed, in a suburban swing district that Trump carried narrowly last year. The race took on a renewed importance in recent months, as constituents \u2013 and colleagues \u2013 question his whereabouts amid a mysterious three-month absence from Congress.<\/p>\n In Iowa<\/a>, where Democrats are expected to spend big, rematches were set in districts that two years ago produced some of the closest House races in the country. And a more moderate challenger running on a \u201cprairie populism\u201d message gave Democrats hope they could win the US Senate seat that is open after incumbent Joni Ernst decided not to run.<\/p>\n Josh Turek, who represents a Trump-friendly legislative district in the state legislature beat out state senator Zach Wahls, who was running a more anti-establishment campaign, and will face former broadcaster Ashley Hinson this fall.<\/p>\n After Turek\u2019s win, Cook Political Report moved<\/a> the race from \u201clikely Republican\u201d to \u201clean Republican\u201d, noting that Turek\u2019s life story (he was born with spina bifida from his father\u2019s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, uses a wheelchair and is a Paralymic gold medalist) and moderate appeal could grab voters in a dismal environment for Republicans.<\/p>\n In a statement after his win, Turek said: \u201cI will be a real fighter for Iowans, the middle class and our working families. So from now until November, I welcome all Iowans \u2013 Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike \u2013 to join our team.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>California primary unresolved as voters choose midterm candidates<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to the US politics<\/a> live blog.<\/p>\n California\u2019s crowded primary for governor remains up in the air after three leading candidates tested voters\u2019 appetites for an experienced politician or promises of sweeping change.<\/p>\n Though votes were still being counted, Democrats<\/a> Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and Republican Steve Hilton started looking to November, laying out their visions for leading the nation\u2019s most populous state and one of the world\u2019s largest economies.<\/p>\n It followed Tuesday\u2019s primary votes, that could see critical districts flip in both the House and Senate, setting up a series of high-stakes general election contests in a midterm year expected to favor Democrats.<\/p>\n Among the most watched races are: a New Jersey Democrat who could oust a Republican incumbent absent with a mystery medical issue for months, several Iowa Democrats hoping to flip their red-leaning state, as well as California\u2019s redrawn maps that have given Democrats an advantage in the heavily blue state.<\/p>\n In the golden state\u2019s governor race, only two will advance to the general election, however, and the Associated Press has not yet called the primary for any candidate but Hilton and Becerra were leading so far, with Steyer running slightly further back.<\/p>\n \u201cChange is coming to California, and it\u2019s long overdue,\u201d Hilton told supporters after polls closed, reflecting his campaign message that the state needs a dramatic reset after more than 15 years of Democratic rule.<\/p>\n Steyer also campaigned on change and declared Tuesday that he would prevail over monied interests that strived to defeat him.<\/p>\n Becerra pitched himself as the steady hand who can lead the state against intrusions from the Trump administration<\/a>. \u201cThe underdog stayed in the fight,\u201d Becerra said to applause.<\/p>\n In other developments:<\/p>\n Karen Bass came out ahead in Tuesday\u2019s heated primary for Los Angeles<\/a> mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November\u2019s general election. She\u2019ll likely run against either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman.<\/p>\n Iowa state representative Josh Turek won the Democratic nomination for the state\u2019s open US Senate seat \u2013 setting him up to face off against Ashley Hinson in the November general election. A former television anchor turned state senator, Hinson was endorsed by Donald Trump and retiring senator Joni Ernst.<\/p>\n Adam Hamawy won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey\u2019s 12th congressional district, teeing the army doctor and political newcomer<\/a> up to face off against Republican Gregg Mele in November\u2019s general election. Hamawy decided to run for office after returning from a medical mission in Gaza<\/a> in 2024 and meeting congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who announced her retirement in November 2025.<\/p>\n Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico. If elected in the November general election, Haaland would become the first Native American woman governor elected in the country.<\/p>\n Christina Bohannan won the Democratic nomination for Iowa\u2019s 1st congressional district. She will compete against incumbent Republican congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the November general election<\/p>\n Zach Lahn narrowly won the Republican nomination for governor, and will face off against Democrat Rob Sand in Iowa\u2019s general election this November. Five Republicans competed for the nomination to replace retiring Republican governor Kim Reynolds.<\/p>\n Former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Benett won the Democratic nomination for New Jersey\u2019s 7th congressional district, and will challenge Republican congressman Tom Kean Jr. in the general election. Kean, who\u2019s been absent from Congress, citing a health issue, since March<\/a> shared a statement on social media saying he\u2019s \u201cmore energized than ever\u201d and will \u201cbe completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition\u201d when he returns to work in \u201ca matter of weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"George](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/George-Chidi.jpg\")
George Chidi<\/p>\n![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Lauren_Gambino.png\")
Lauren Gambino<\/p>\n