The jury in the sex crimes case against Sean "Diddy" Combs is showing troubling signs as experts warn of a split verdict, Fox News reported. The jury sent several notes during its first two days of deliberations, which could be a troubling sign for jurors.
Testimony concluded on Friday, with the jury beginning its deliberations on Monday. This continued into Tuesday with the jury meeting for 10 hours and sending several more notes during that time.
One of the most consequential notes pertained to the testimony of Cassie Ventura, Combs' ex-girlfriend, and a male escort. Such snags indicate that issues are not cut and dry for the jury, and attorney David S. Seltzer believes it demonstrates the necessity of sequestration.
"I don’t see how people are not influenced by outside factor. We live in a technology world where everyone wants their information now. I know the jury was instructed not to read anything, but I don’t think that was realistic given the length of the trial," Seltzer said.
The trial lasted seven weeks, but deliberations seem to be hitting several obstacles already in what should be a straightforward case. Retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said so far, the trial has been a "rare nail-biter" for the state's attorneys.
"The Southern District’s conviction rate is well-north of 90%. They don’t take cases to lose them," Mauro told Fox News Digital. However, that doesn't mean this is a sure thing for the prosecution.
"That said, the Diddy case has some real challenges. In the end, the evidence came down to how coerced the female victims were," Mauro added.
"As these women reached out affirmatively to Diddy, were they suffering a version of battered wife syndrome? Or was the entire thing transactional?" he went on.
"Further: Without that sexual activity, will the drug and weapons allegations suffice to demonstrate an actual racketeering entity? This is a rare nail-biter for SDNY – far from a slam-dunk. And the possibility of a split verdict here, at the least, is very real," Mauro concluded.
Experts believe that the jury's notes requesting clarification or a return to specific testimony do not bode well for the prosecution. One of the notes asked for clarification of Judge Arun Subramanian's instructions.
Another asked about exactly what distribution of drugs entailed, and these together could mean a jury that won't agree on a verdict. "Courts will always push a jury to get to a unanimous verdict, but at the end of the day, it is up to the jury if they think they can get there," Seltzer said.
"Oftentimes, when there are issues within the jury, they cannot get there, and it ends up in a hung jury," he added. Seltzer believes the answer would have been to sequester the jury, as access to news and other information about the case could cloud judgment, making a verdict unreachable.
"I have been saying from day one that it is impossible to tell people to stay off media and/or computers for six weeks-plus, when people are addicted to their devices. I think the court is relying on the admonishment, but respectfully turning a blind eye," Seltzer said.
The jury is up against the Independence Day holiday while Combs' future hangs in the balance. Combs maintains his innocence, but the rap mogul could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Elon Musk is throwing his support behind Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in his reelection bid, Fox News reported. The Tesla billionaire has indicated he will be donating to Massie, who has been a critic of President Donald Trump.
Musk took to his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to make his point. "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!" Musk wrote.
"And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," he added. In response to his post, another user pledged to donate to Massie, and Musk indicated that he would do the same, a move which likely stunned Trump.
Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!
And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2025
Musk had famously headed the Department of Government Efficiency, which was dedicated to cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in government. However, many, including Musk, were frustrated that Republicans wouldn't codify those cuts into law.
Moreover, the SpaceX mogul was disappointed that Trump proposed his One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was full of government spending. Musk shared his misgivings with the world and is now going against Trump again by supporting Massie.
For his part, Massie has nothing but praise for Musk. "Elon’s purchase of Twitter and cultivation of the X platform for free speech has already helped my cause immensely," the Kentucky Republican told Fox News Digital.
"It’s allowed me to bypass conventional media to refute the lies of both political parties and to provide transparency about how Congress works and what’s actually inside of the bills we vote on. Exposing the worst parts of the Big Beautiful Bill and reasserting Congressional War Powers has recently earned me the ire of the swamp and a fight for my re-election, but my re-election isn’t really about either of those issues specifically," Massie explained.
"It’s a referendum on whether members of Congress can think and act independently based on what’s best for the country, or whether all members of Congress must be reduced to rubber stamps for their respective political parties and swampy special interests. I’m extremely thankful to have Elon Musk’s financial assistance to continue my mission as an independent voice in Congress for my constituents," Massie said.
The president has had trouble with Massie after he opposed Trump's signature legislation. The lawmaker was one of only two Republicans to oppose the bill that passed the House of Representatives last month despite Massie's objections to the spending.
Massie also spoke out against the strikes on Iran, calling them "unconstitutional." Never one to shy away from a fight, Trump has been outspoken in his disapproval of Massie, whom he excoriated on his Truth Social, calling him a "pathetic LOSER."
As The Hill reported, Trump has also publicly pledged his support for Massie's primary opponent with the help of a super PAC's $1 million in ad time. "There’s a large feeling that the chickens have finally come home to roost for Massie," Kentucky-based GOP strategist T.J. Litafik said.
Meanwhile, Massie's campaign touted the candidate's "grassroots donors" in a post to X on Monday. "My campaign is fueled by the grassroots donors on this map; 3,417 of you donated $308,665 last week. Thank you!" the Massie said.
Musk and Trump had a falling out, and it's clear that neither side is backing down from it. Massie could undoubtedly benefit from Musk's money, but voters have already spoken in favor of Trump and may follow him in Kentucky's race as well.
A federal judge in Northern California has blocked the Trump administration from stripping the union protections of two-thirds of federal workers, more than a million in all, but a recent Supreme Court ruling could spell trouble for the injunction.
Judge James Donato ruled in favor of the American Federation of Government Workers (AFGE)'s April lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's March 27 executive order.
Donato's main reasoning for the ruling was that he thought Trump's order was in retaliation for lawsuits and statements against him since taking office in January.
It's an argument AFGE has put forward, but it isn't easy to prove someone's intentions behind an action like this.
“President Trump revoked our members’ union rights in retaliation for our advocacy on behalf of federal workers and the American people, and we are grateful that Judge Donato saw through his disingenuous ‘national security’ justification and has ordered the immediate restoration of their rights,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley.
“Federal employees have had the right to join a union and bargain collectively for decades, including during President Trump’s first term, and at no time have employees’ union rights caused concern for our nation’s national security,” he added. “Revoking these rights was clearly a retaliatory attempt to bust federal unions and wreak havoc on our nation’s workforce and the services they provide to the American people.”
Not only might this kind of shaky argument collapse on appeal, but there's also the matter of the recent Supreme Court ruling barring nationwide injunctions at the local level.
This case is specific enough--referring specifically to the six unions that filed the suit and the 950,000 federal employees covered by it--that the new ruling might not apply, but it's worth a try.
Trump is attempting to cut costs in the federal government through a reduction in force, and union protections are getting in his way as he tries to do so.
The executive order said to continue the RIF and to ignore union regulations to do so.
Not sure he will get away with that, but there's got to be a way to cut out the useless and redundant staff so government can function better.
Unions were useful once upon a time when workers didn't have even the most basic rights, but now they just perpetuate mediocrity and encourage workers not to work hard.
Trump continues to balance competing priorities to cut bloated government spending and to boost employment.
His actions along with DOGE to cut unneeded government employees were largely responsible for a .1% increase in unemployment in April, which remained unchanged at 4.2% in May.
President Donald Trump has refuted claims circulating in the media about the United States proposing an economic package to aid Iran, including a notably large sum intended for a civilian nuclear program, according to The Epoch Times.
The denial comes after tensions peaked in a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, resolved by the United States attacking Iranian nuclear facilities.
At a press briefing on June 27, Trump called such claims "fake news," dismissing the notion that the U.S. would extend a $30 billion offer to Iran. He characterized the circulating information as an attempt to tarnish reputations, asserting he had never heard of such an idea. Despite the complexity surrounding U.S.-Iran relations, Trump stood firm in rejecting the claims.
The backdrop to these denials is the conclusion of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The conflict was abruptly ended after the U.S. launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21 and 22. During this period, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in hiding within an underground bunker for protection against potential attacks.
Despite knowing Khamenei's location, Trump revealed that he decided against targeting him. "His Country was decimated, his three evil Nuclear Sites were obliterated," Trump said, highlighting the U.S. military's decision not to eliminate Khamenei. This approach was, according to Trump, meant to avoid escalating the situation to a full-blown crisis.
The end of the conflict didn't mark the end of rhetoric between the two leaders. Khamenei emerged post-ceasefire to declare victory over Israel, a claim Trump wholeheartedly dismissed as untruthful and misleading. According to Trump, any assertion of Iranian victory was an "abnormal showmanship" given the significant losses Iran faced during the strikes.
In his televised return, Khamenei boasted about Iran's capabilities to strike critical American bases, referencing a previous missile attack on U.S. installations in Doha, Qatar. He argued that these actions demonstrated Iran's strategic reach and warned of potential future attacks should another conflict arise.
Khamenei claimed the United States had gained nothing from its military strikes, questioning the efficacy and purpose behind the attacks. He emphasized that Iran remained undisputed in its determination and resilience against external pressures and American demands.
Meanwhile, Trump reiterated skepticism over Iran's nuclear ambitions, expressing doubt that Iran would renew its nuclear program. He cited the economic and logistical hurdles Iran had faced historically, suggesting that revival efforts would be implausible in the near term, especially following the financial burdens imposed by past nuclear activities.
Despite the dismissal of the economic incentive claims, Trump did not shy away from making clear that subsequent provocative actions from Iran, especially concerning uranium enrichment, could prompt further U.S. military responses. "Without question," Trump responded when asked if the U.S. would strike Iran again should it pursue nuclear enrichment.
This expression of readiness by the U.S. underscored the tense and precarious nature of the relationship between the nations, with both sides openly considering military components as part of their strategic arsenals.
Trump's remarks, made during the press briefing, continue to fuel discussions about the future trajectory of the U.S.-Iran relationship. While recent developments have drawn the two nations closer to confrontation, the global community watches carefully, aware of the potential wider implications of a misstep.
The dialogue between Trump and Khamenei reflects broader geopolitical dynamics, where regional stability and nuclear capabilities are at the forefront of international concerns. Trump's position on avoiding Khamenei's elimination aims to maintain delicate stasis while leaving open the avenues for strategic advancements or retreats.
The renunciation of the alleged economic proposal has confused some analysts, leading to questions about the underlying motivations and communications within the administration regarding Iran policy.
CNN pundit Scott Jennings called out Supreme Court "hack" Elena Kagan for flip-flopping on nationwide injunctions.
In a talk at Northwestern University three years ago, Kagan said, "It just can’t be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks."
And yet, when the Supreme Court put an end to the plague of nationwide injunctions that she criticized just three years ago, Kagan joined the court's other two liberals in a scathing dissent.
While the case centered on Trump's executive order targeting birthright citizenship, the court did not rule on the merits of that action. But the ruling was a seismic victory for Trump, whose agenda has been repeatedly held up by lower court judges issuing nationwide injunctions.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's sophomoric dissent, and the majority's pithy response, received significant media coverage.
Jackson's glib indifference to "legalese" was widely mocked, with the majority accusing Jackson of sidestepping an actual legal analysis to enforce her own views embracing an "imperial Judiciary."
"We will not dwell on Justice Jackson’s argument, which is at odds with more than two centuries’ worth of precedent, not to mention the Constitution itself,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote.
While judicial supremacy has been a pain for Democratic and Republican presidents alike, the hubris of district court judges has been a particularly bad problem for Trump, who has already been hit with 25 injunctions since January.
While she did not write her own opinion, Kagan co-signed the dissents from Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.
“It is not difficult to predict how this all ends. Eventually, executive power will become completely uncontainable, and our beloved constitutional Republic will be no more,” Jackson wrote.
The unhinged response from the Supreme Court's liberal wing was clearly influenced by the fact that Trump is the current U.S. president, as Kagan's blatant hypocrisy makes all too clear.
When Joe Biden was in office, Kagan rightly criticized the absurd practice of letting unelected judges wield sweeping authority over the nation and its policies. But now that President Trump is back, she's changing her tune.
“I was trying to sort out my feelings on this matter, and I came up with a quote from a very smart lawyer, and I just want to quote it, because I think she was right when she said it, ‘It just can’t be right that one district judge can stop a nationwide policy in its tracks,'” Jennings said on CNN’s Saturday Morning Table for Five.
“Justice Elena Kagan in 2022 said that, of course, when we had a Democratic president. Now she voted against the decision on Friday,” the conservative commentator continued. “Just goes to show you that some of these folks really are hacks.”
“I’m glad they went ahead and fixed it because it’s not right that one of these individual district court judges can act like a king or a monarch and stop the elected president from acting,” Jennings added.
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis is retiring, blaming a lack of "independent thinking" in a not-so-subtle jab at President Trump's stranglehold on the GOP.
While citing generic complaints about the political climate, Tillis avoided mentioning the elephant in the room as President Trump builds pressure for Tillis to be replaced by a more reliable Republican.
Tillis announced his retirement shortly after coming out against President Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," with Tillis claiming the bill results in Medicaid cuts that he cannot support.
A senator since 2015, Tillis has never been a reliable supporter of President Trump. Shortly after announcing his retirement, Tillis abandoned all restraint as he compared Trump to Barack Obama in a long speech on the Senate floor.
The senator called Trump's sprawling legislation, which delivers on key Trump agenda items like tax relief and immigration enforcement, a "betrayal" of Trump's promise not to touch Medicaid. Tillis even invoked Obama's infamous broken pledge that people could keep their insurance plans under his health care reform.
"I'm telling the president, you have been misinformed," Tillis said. "What do I tell 663,000 people in two years, three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding's not there anymore."
Republicans have insisted that Trump is not cutting Medicaid benefits, but rather waste and abuse from those who are gaming the system.
For weeks, Trump has ripped the handful of Republicans who have criticized his bill as grandstanders with nothing constructive to offer. Trump threatened to back a primary against Tillis over the weekend.
“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote in a post. “I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”
Despite the vocal opposition from a minority of Republicans, Trump's bill cleared a procedural vote in the Senate on Saturday, with Tillis and Rand Paul (Ky.) being the only Republican to vote no. Trump has been pressuring Congress to get the bill on his desk by July 4th.
Tillis obviously does not want to be remembered as a team player. In a statement announcing his plans not to run for re-election, Tillis touted his "bipartisan" streak.
"In Washington over the last few years, it’s been increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said.
Nobody denies that American politics has become extremely tribal, but that's no excuse to bury our heads in the sand.
While Tillis seems to think he's some kind of hero for compromising with Democrats, the reality is that he can't handle this high-stakes moment we're in - but maybe North Carolina will elect a Republican who can.
Elon Musk is back to attacking President Trump's agenda, but Trump isn't taking the bait.
Trump shrugged off Musk's latest mood swing after the Tesla CEO started ripping into the Senate version of Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill."
Musk had previously apologized to Trump for hurling bitter insults during a dramatic rift that opened up in early June. The Tesla CEO had called for Republicans to kill Trump's legislation, calling it an "abomination" and later tying Trump to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes without evidence.
The president was magnanimous in an interview Sunday with Fox News, calling his former campaign benefactor a "wonderful" guy despite his latest criticism.
However, Trump kept his distance, noting he hasn't spoken to Musk very much since he went haywire the first time.
"I think he's a wonderful guy. I haven't spoken to him much, but I think Elon is a wonderful guy, and I know he's going to do well always," Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo.
"He's a smart guy. And he actually went and campaigned with me and this and that. But he got a little bit upset, and that wasn't appropriate."
Weeks after his initial meltdown, Musk is once again sounding off at a critical juncture as Republicans scramble to finalize the Big, Beautiful bill before Trump's July 4th deadline.
"The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country! Utterly insane and destructive," Musk wrote.
In another post Monday, Musk called for a new political party in a direct shot at Trump and his sway over the GOP.
"It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," Musk wrote.
While Musk insists that his main issue is with federal spending, Trump says Musk is upset that the bill does not advance his electric car agenda.
"Why did he get upset? He just wasn't getting what he wanted?" Bartiromo asked Trump.
"Look, the electric vehicle mandate, the EV mandate, is a tough thing for him. I would, you know, I don't want everybody to have to have an electric car," Trump said.
For now, it seems Trump wants to avoid drawing attention to Musk's latest criticism, but we'll have to see if Trump's approach changes in the coming days.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Numerous firefighters and police officers in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, have been shot and killed in an apparent ambush on Sunday, with someone purportedly intentionally setting a blaze to lure the first responders to the hotspot to be fired upon.
"Send law enforcement now! There's an active shooter zone!" shouted one firefighter pleading for help on his radio.
"Everybody's shot up here! Law enforcement! Code 3 now up here!"
"We now have two deaths. We have an unknown amount of casualties," said Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris.
"We still have civilians coming off of that mountain. We might have civilians that are stuck or in shock on that mountain. So this is a very, very fresh situation."
"It is going to be a tough next couple of hours, absolutely," Norris added. "I'm hoping that somebody has a clear shot, and is able to neutralize. Because they are not, at this point in time, showing any evidence of wanting to surrender. So as soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot, neutralize the threat."
"FBI assets are headed to the scene in Coeur d'Alene to provide tactical and operational support, said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. "It is an active scene."
"Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho," said Gov. Brad Little.
"This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken."
"As this situation is still developing, please stay clear from the area to allow law enforcement and firefighters to do their jobs."
NBC affiliate KHQ in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, reports: "Police and emergency crews are responding to an active shooter situation, where multiple firefighters were reportedly shot.
"Kootenai County Deputies are asking residents to avoid the area. According to Northern Lakes Fire Protection Chief Pat Riley, firefighters were reportedly shot while responding to a brush fire in the area of East Nettleton Gulch Road.
"According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, there is an active shooter situation at Canfield Mountain. Injuries have been reported, but the extent is unknown. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.
"Fire crews were forced to pull back, and the brush fire remains an active threat. Authorities urge residents nearby to remain cautious and alert, as the situation is still unfolding."
Kootenai County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Howard told ABC News that "when fire personnel responded to the blaze, they started getting shot at by an unknown person in the woods."
"Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Howard added."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Ford Motor Company reportedly has a Chinese company in charge of hiring workers at its new battery plant in Michigan, contradicting the auto giant's claims it will be an American-owned and operated project, while raising national security concerns.
Just the News reports: "The plant has generated significant controversy because of Ford's partnership with China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited, known as CATL, which closely collaborates with the Chinese military and government. The U.S. Defense Department earlier this year marked CATL as a Chinese Military Company to warn American firms about the risks of doing business."
Republicans in Michigan's legislature have been critical of the Ford plant, saying the state government failed to adequately vet the project and Ford's partners in the project.
"From the outset of the corrupted 'deal' concocted and championed between Governor Whitmer, Ford, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and China-based and Chinese Communist Party-tied (CCP) Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) has been fast moving and in secret," Joseph Cella, former U.S. ambassador to Fiji and Director of the Michigan-China Economic Security Review Group told Just the News.
"In their haste, unconscionably, parties to this 'deal' performed no strict scrutiny or due diligence, defying the directives given by our national security and intelligence agencies to state and local governments and American corporations when dealing with China-based companies, jeopardizing our national security and taxpayer dollars."
In spite of controversies of Chinese-licensed tech and Republican efforts in Congress to strip tax subsidies from Joe Biden's green-projects agenda, Ford is driving ahead with the Michigan project called BlueOval Battery Park Michigan.
Ford defends its strategy to license technology from CATL, claiming it's an important step in re-shoring U.S. manufacturing. The actual battery being licensed by Ford, known as a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, was invented in America in the 1990s, but the company says at present, there's no way to produce them in the U.S. without Chinese know-how.
"How can we compete if we don't have this technology? Somebody has to take the lead to do this," Ford's vice president of technology platform programs and electric vehicles Lisa Drake told Axios. "I'm convinced this is the right thing to do for the United States."
On its website, Ford calls it an "historic first step" to increasing American competitiveness of in the worldwide EV market.
"An American automotive company is manufacturing – without relying on a foreign joint venture – LFP battery cells and battery packs domestically with American workers for American-assembled next-generation electric vehicles," the company states.
It also says the location will be "wholly owned and operated by Ford."
Despite that claim, job listings on job platforms such as LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter raise questions about whether the battery park is really independent from its Chinese partner.
President Donald Trump will resume trade talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after Canada decided late Sunday to rescind its 3% digital services tax on U.S. companies that profit from Canadian customers.
The tax was rescinded "in anticipation of a mutually beneficial comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States," the Canadian government said.
"Consistent with this action, Prime Minister Carney and President Trump have agreed that parties will resume negotiations with a view towards agreeing on a deal by July 21, 2025," Canada’s Department of Finance said in a news release.
The tax was due to be collected on Monday June 30, but that has now been halted.
Legislation in Canada to rescind the tax is expected to be enacted in the near future.
The tax has been in effect for roughly a year. It impacts companies including Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple.
Trump terminated the trade talks on Friday because of the tax.
"They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also. Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also posted that Canada is "a very difficult Country to TRADE with" and has imposed 400% tariffs on some dairy products it exports to the U.S.
Canada is currently the largest trading partner of the U.S., so the lack of a deal would impact markets in both countries.
More U.S. exports go to Canada than any other country, and Canada is a major supplier to the U.S. of crude oil, natural gas, and electricity.
Trump knows he has to make a deal with Canada, but he also wants to fight for fairness in the trade between the two countries.
Outside of oil imports, the U.S. has a trade surplus with Canada, but with the oil included, there is a deficit.
Canada also holds over $300 billion of U.S. debt, but also owes the U.S. a significant amount of money.