博客

Clinton judge indefinitely blocks Trump’s $1.776B anti-weaponization fund

2026-06-12 4:55pm EDT / Fox News

Judge Brinkema said public assurances were insufficient after Trump expressed disappointment the fund wasn’t moving forward

By Elaine Mallon, Fox News

Published June 12, 2026 4:55pm EDT | Updated June 12, 2026 6:43pm EDT

Todd Blanche says DOJ will not move forward with Anti-Weaponization Fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the Justice Department is abandoning plans for the Anti-Weaponization Fund, ending the effort after a federal judge temporarily blocked its creation.

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

blob:https://www.foxnews.com/09ccee90-5d69-47f7-9adc-660b2e82b0d4

Listen to this article

3 min

A federal judge on Friday indefinitely blocked the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, even as another federal judge earlier this week declined to intervene after the Justice Department said the fund was no longer moving forward.

The court disputes have heightened pressure on the administration to formally dismantle the fund. While Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the fund would not move forward, the settlement agreement and departmental directives that created the fund have not been formally rescinded. Critics argue this leaves open the possibility that the fund could still proceed in the future.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, a Clinton-appointed judge, extended a court order Friday preventing implementation of the fund, concluding that public assurances from administration officials were insufficient to eliminate concerns that it could later be revived.

Brinkema noted how Trump, “says he’s disappointed that something is not going forward,” suggesting this was evidence that the fund may “rear its head” at some point in the future.

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP DOJ’S NEARLY $2B ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION’ FUND

President Donald Trump signs an executive order during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 3, 2026.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Over the weekend Trump shared on “Meet the Press” that he’d like to continue with the fund.

“If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve. People have been destroyed. Lives have been destroyed,” Trump said.

Brinkema gave the Justice Department a week to put in writing that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is being terminated and will not be reinstated.

The ruling comes days after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected a separate request from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) seeking emergency intervention, saying he was willing to rely on Justice Department representations that the fund had effectively been abandoned.

ACTING AG BLANCHE REVEALS FATE OF TRUMP’S ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND’ UNDER PRESSURE FROM HOUSE LAWMAKERS

But Leon, a George W. Bush-appointed judge, simultaneously warned administration officials not to treat his decision as permission to revive the program.

“I give the Justice Department this warning: Don’t play possum with me,” Leon said from the bench.

Blanche announced during a hearing earlier this month that the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was born out of President Donald Trump’s lawsuit settlement with the IRS, would not be proceeding. The fund was intended to compensate alleged victims of government “lawfare,” but its creation sparked immediate backlash from Democrats, who characterized it as a “slush fund” that could ultimately benefit Trump’s political allies and individuals charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

TRUMP ADMIN PUSHES BACK ON ‘SLUSH FUND’ ATTACKS AGAINST ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND AND LAYS OUT WHO QUALIFIES

FILE – Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche was directed to obtain a certificate of pardon for Buyer.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Justice Department attorney Andrew Block argued before Leon that Blanche’s congressional testimony effectively mooted CREW’s challenge because the government had publicly committed not to move forward.

Leon repeatedly questioned why Blanche has not formally rescinded a May 18 order that established procedures for the fund in the first place, a question Block could not answer.

CREW attorney Nikhel Sus argued the settlement agreement that established the fund remains legally operative and contains upcoming deadlines requiring action.

WAY HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE: WHY CONGRESS MAY BALK ON $1.7B COMPENSATION FUND

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies during a House Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on June 2, 2026.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

According to Sus, a five-member board overseeing the fund must be established by June 17, while funding transfers are scheduled by July 17.

“On paper, the fund is still a legally operating entity,” Sus argued.

However, Leon ultimately accepted the government’s assurances for now that the fund is moot, but he noted that he can sanction attorneys who make false representations to the court.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

He also indicated he will continue considering CREW’s request for a preliminary injunction and suggested he could intervene if evidence emerges that the administration is attempting to revive the fund.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

中国水利部对七省份启动洪水防御四级应急响应

2026年6月13日 07:50 / 联合早报

中国水利部星期五（6月12日）对浙江、福建、江西、湖南、广东、广西、贵州七省份启动洪水防御Ⅳ级应急响应。

新华社消息，6月12日至14日，受冷暖空气共同影响，中国西南东部南部、江南大部、华南大部将有一次移动性强降雨过程，以大到暴雨为主，其中贵州中部、湖南南部、江西东部南部、浙江南部、福建西部、广东北部、广西东部北部等地部分地区将有暴雨到大暴雨，并伴有短时强降雨。

根据预报，暴雨区内广东北江英德段、福建富屯溪和建溪、湖南湘江支流南川水、贵州乌江支流野纪河等河流可能发生超警洪水。

中国水利部要求地方水利部门和流域管理机构密切关注雨水情和汛情发展变化，加强监测预报预警，强化会商研判和应急值守，突出抓好短历时强降雨可能引发的中小河流洪水和山洪灾害防御工作，确保群众生命财产安全。

水利部也派出工作组赴广东省协助指导暴雨洪水防御工作。

延伸阅读

中国沙漠今夏面临极端洪水风险

中国国家防汛应急响应级别共分四级，即I级、II级、 III级、 IV级，其中 IV级为最低级别。

New Yorker confronts unruly Knicks fans: “This is our city”

June 12, 2026 / 7:03 PM EDT / CBS News

By Jared Ochacher

Jared Ochacher Multi-skilled Journalist

Jared Ochacher covers national breaking news at CBS News. He is based in New York City.

Read Full Bio

Jared Ochacher

After the New York Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday, a large group of people took over a street in midtown Manhattan — and one New Yorker tried to stop the chaos.

The crowd became increasingly rowdy, violent and destructive on a street adjacent to a watch party in Bryant Park, according to the New York City Police Department.

Videos posted on social media show fans fighting, ripping out street signs and banging on cars. Fans also blocked traffic and climbed on top of light poles and police vehicles, police said.

In a now-viral video, 32-year-old Balladoli Mieses stepped in front of people attempting to pull a street sign from the ground and asked, “What are y’all doing? This is our city.”

“New York City means a lot to me because this is where I was raised…this is where my daughters live,” Mieses told CBS News on Friday.

The father of four said that people ignored his pleas to stop, and instead started booing and slapping him.

Mieses said he “didn’t care” about the negative reaction, explaining that he acted on an instinct to protect where he lives.

“We’ve got to take care of our city for the future, like my daughters,” Mieses said.

When asked how he had the courage to risk his safety on behalf of the city, Mieses responded that his parents always taught him to “do right,” and to “never be scared of saying what you want to say.”

Police took 21 people into custody Monday night. Two days later, after the Knicks won Game 4 of the series in dramatic fashion, police took 56 people into custody when another crowd became rowdy and disruptive, according to police.

As the Knicks prepare for Game 5 on Saturday, Mieses plans to celebrate the team and hopes other fans do so safely.

Still, if faced with a similar situation in the future, Mieses said, “I would do it again for my city.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/knicks-fan-intervened-crowd-destructive/

Trump calls off strikes on Iran and says that US ‘settlement’ could end the war

6:32 PM EDT, Fri June 12, 2026 / CNN

By Sebastian Alvarez, CNN

Trump calls off strikes on Iran and says that US ‘settlement’ could end the war

President Trump says a ‘great settlement’ could end the war with Iran and open Strait of Hormuz, suggesting it would be finalized soon. Preparations continue for Trump’s UFC fight on the White House South Lawn. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports on the week at the White House.

4:23 • Source: CNN

Inside Politics Highlights 16 videos

Trump calls off strikes on Iran and says that US ‘settlement’ could end the war
04:23
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Last night the jury was split in half. Juror tells CNN what changed
03:49
Now playing
• Source: CNN

GOP strategist: Biden’s speech may have ‘stopped the bleeding’ with Black voters, but not enough
02:03
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Why Manchin says everyone should be ‘ashamed’ of Congress
03:18
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Analyst weighs in after Supreme Court hears arguments on obstruction law used against January 6 rioters
02:22
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Republican senator won’t rule out leaving the GOP. Hear why
01:13
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Could Trump be forced into bankruptcy? Hear why former investment banker thinks so
02:50
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Why lawmakers can’t agree on sticking with standard and daylight saving time
02:37
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Brownstein says this makes Trump a different candidate than he was in 2016
01:41
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Nikki Haley says she’ll continue to fight as long as race is ‘competitive’
01:19
Now playing
• Source: CNN

See what McConnell said on Senate floor after announcement
01:33
Now playing
• Source: CNN

‘I hope Nancy gets the help she needs’: McCarthy on Mace
01:58
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Tapper presses Rubio’s decision to not support bipartisan border security deal
05:28
Now playing
• Source: CNN

‘Chuck Schumer’s nightmare’: Former governor announces Senate run
02:09
Now playing
• Source: CNN

‘I will not bring myself to vote for a registered Democrat’: Why Santos won’t vote
02:54
Now playing
• Source: CNN

‘Height of stupidity’: Dan Crenshaw calls out GOP lawmakers on border reform bill
02:30
Now playing
• Source: CNN

Mike Waltz says Gulf allies back Trump’s Iran pressure campaign after regional trip: ‘Zero daylight’

U.S. ambassador to the UN visited Bahrain, UAE and UK as reports of a possible Iran deal emerged

2026-06-12 4:01pm EDT / Fox News

By Efrat Lachter Fox News

Former CIA Chief of Station Dan Hoffman discusses the potential Iran deal, expressing doubt about its sincerity. He highlights U.S. military strikes, sanctions and blockades as key leverage points. Hoffman questions whether Iran’s recent ‘maximalist demands’ indicate a genuine desire for a breakthrough after intense pressure.

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Gulf allies are backing President Donald Trump’s blockade and economic pressure campaign against Iran, telling Fox News Digital after a trip to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom that regional leaders believe Tehran is feeling the pain.

Waltz spoke to Fox News Digital on Thursday evening shortly after landing back in the United States, as reports of a possible deal with Iran began to emerge. He said the situation was still shifting by the hour, noting that Iran had launched another strike on Bahrain shortly after he left the region.

Waltz, the highest-level U.S. official to visit the region since the war began, said Gulf partners strongly support the administration’s efforts to keep pressure on Iran through both the blockade and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s “Operation Economic Fury.”

SCOTT BESSENT SAYS IRAN UNDERSTANDS ‘BRUTE FORCE’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS OPTIONS AMID NUCLEAR STANDOFF

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is joined by Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei of Bahrain (left), Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Issa Abushahab,(right) and other Gulf states ambassadors as he speaks to reporters after the passing of a U.N. Security Council draft resolution on the situation with ships in the Strait of Hormuz on May 7, 2026 in New York City.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“They very much support the blockade,” Waltz said, adding that allies shared with him “in a number of ways” how Bessent’s economic campaign is affecting the regime. The pressure campaign, Waltz said, is designed to squeeze Tehran while Trump continues negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

On Friday, an unnamed U.S. official told reporters in a briefing: “We do expect to be signing this agreement with Iran over the next few days. We assess it at 85%, but not 100%. We feel very good about the deal. We are not quite at the finish line, but we are very close”

Waltz said, “The UAE, in particular, believes that you have to keep that pressure and a very credible pressure,” he told Fox News Digital. “That’s what the Iranians understand and respond to.”

Waltz said leaders in the region validated U.S. assessments that Iran’s economy is deteriorating under the combined weight of sanctions, military pressure and isolation. He said Iran’s currency is “tanking,” foreign currency reserves are running out, inflation is continuing to rise and the regime is struggling to pay the military, government employees and police.

TRUMP’S ‘ECONOMIC FURY’ SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?

An Emirates aircraft flies past plumes of smoke from a fire near Dubai International Airport in Dubai on March 16, 2026, following missile and drone attacks across the UAE.(AFP/Getty Images)

“I think the regime is going to be increasingly desperate,” Waltz said, adding that Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would use that pressure “to their advantage.”

In the UAE, Waltz met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the foreign minister, describing the Emiratis as among the most active regional partners against Iran. “There is zero daylight,” Waltz said.

Waltz added the UAE has “both the capability and the will” to act, and said the Emiratis are prepared to take “short-term pain” to achieve the longer-term goal of blocking Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The UAE has been hit hard during the war. Waltz said the country had taken “by far the most missiles, the most drones, the most hits,” but had moved quickly to repair damage and restore operations.

Aftermath of an Iranian missile strike on a Navy 5th Fleet installation in Bahrain is shown above.(Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Waltz also pointed to the Abraham Accords as a major factor in the UAE’s posture, saying the country’s growing partnership with Israel has become an “important shift” in the regional alignment against Iran.

Bahrain was another central stop on Waltz’s trip. The country hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and has been directly exposed to Iran’s attacks and threats around the Strait of Hormuz.

MIKE WALTZ PUSHES UN RESOLUTION TO STOP IRAN MINING KEY GLOBAL SHIPPING ROUTE

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz speaks at an emergency Security Council meeting on the situation in Iran at United Nations headquarters on Feb. 28, 2026 in New York City.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“Until you go and really sit with them, you can’t appreciate what a strong ally they are,” Waltz said.

He said U.S. and allied teams in Bahrain are working with global shipping companies, local shipping officials, insurance companies and other maritime actors as the U.S. seeks to keep vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.

Waltz accused Iran of making a “phenomenally bad decision” by attacking its neighbors, including hotels, port facilities and energy infrastructure. During one visit to a petroleum site, he said he saw evidence that Iran had targeted fire suppression systems and first responders before striking storage tanks, in an apparent effort to maximize damage.

A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026.(AFP/Via Getty Images)

“The Iranians were deliberately targeting fire suppression systems,” Waltz said. “They were deliberately targeting first responders first.”

Despite the strikes, Waltz said allied air defenses have had “over a 90% success rate” in shooting down Iranian missiles and drones, with U.S. forces working “hand in glove” with Gulf partners.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Waltz ended his trip in the United Kingdom, where he said officials have been strong partners at the U.N. Security Council on Iran. He acknowledged “hiccups” and “speed bumps” over basing and access issues, but said many of those concerns had been “smoothed over.”

“When we’re working to keep the Iranians isolated diplomatically,” Waltz said, “they’ve been very good to work with.”

Efrat Lachter is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to efrat.lachter@fox.com.

Justice Department says Paramount’s Warner deal wouldn’t harm competition

2026-06-12 21:56:40 UTC / Reuters

By Reuters
June 12, 2026 9:56 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

The Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California, U.S. November 18, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

June 12 (Reuters) – The United States Justice Department said on Friday its antitrust division had completed a review of Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros and determined it was not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by David Ljunggren

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

伊朗外长披露伊美谅解备忘录草案部分内容

2026年6月13日 07:18 / 联合早报

伊朗外长说，霍尔木兹海峡管理机制将进行调整，不会简单回到战前模式。阿曼飞地深入这条海峡，6月8日无人机照片显示海面上有许多船舶。 （路透社）

伊朗外交部长阿拉格齐披露伊朗-美国谅解备忘录草案部分内容，涉及停火安排、霍尔木兹海峡航运和经济议题等。

新华社报道，阿拉格齐在星期五（6月12日）晚播出的伊朗伊斯兰共和国广播电视台节目中说，当前讨论的谈判框架分为“两阶段”。第一阶段聚焦结束冲突和恢复地区稳定，第二阶段就核问题及相关事项展开正式谈判。

他强调，伊方高度警惕美方的履约能力和意愿，通过“分阶段安排和严格执行机制”防止对方违约。

关于停火安排，阿拉格齐说，谅解文件涉及结束所有战线军事冲突，涵盖黎巴嫩。伊方明确告知美方，达成协议需要以色列从黎巴嫩南部撤军。

据目前讨论情况，美国将承诺不主动发动战争、不以武力相威胁；伊美双方将彼此尊重主权，互不干涉内政。

就霍尔木兹海峡航运，阿拉格齐说，美国解除对伊朗的海上封锁是谅解文件首先涉及并被重点强调的内容之一。

他进一步说，霍尔木兹海峡主权属于伊朗和阿曼，两国长期承担海峡航行安全保障及相关服务工作。未来海峡管理机制将进行调整，不会简单回到战前模式，航运服务将进行收费。伊朗正与阿曼就此协调，联合方案预计近期公布。

在经济议题方面，阿拉格齐说，如果谅解文件最终签署，伊朗被冻结海外资产将逐步解冻。围绕战争赔偿问题，双方正在讨论一项重建与经济发展方案。

关于核问题，阿拉格齐说，伊方目前尚未作出任何实质性决定，相关议题留待后续谈判处理。伊方坚持，若需处理现有高丰度浓缩铀库存，唯一可接受的方式是在伊朗境内进行“稀释处理”，而非转移至境外。

他强调，谅解文件尚未最终签署，相关内容仍可能进行调整，伊方将在最终敲定后公布具体细节。如果有关内容无法落实，最终协议谈判将无法推进。

伊朗外长：美伊谅解备忘录或数日内远程签署

2026年6月13日 07:21 / 联合早报

伊朗外长：美伊谅解备忘录或数日内远程签署

5月14日，伊朗外长阿拉格齐（中）到印度新德里出席金砖国家外长会议。 （法新社）

伊朗外交部长阿拉格齐说，与美国的协议草案定稿后，双方将以远程方式签署，这可能“在未来几天内”发生。

法新社报道，阿拉格齐星期五（6月12日）接受伊朗国家电视台访问时说：“一旦完成最后阶段的谈判，谅解备忘录将立即签署并公布。第一阶段将以远程电子方式签署。“

他说：“这可能在未来几天内发生。我对此感到乐观。”

阿拉格齐还说，在伊美谅解备忘录的谈判中，美国承诺不发动战争，也不以武力相威胁，双方彼此尊重主权，互不干涉内政。

阿拉格齐早前在社媒平台X发文称，伊朗和美国距离达成名为“伊斯兰堡谅解备忘录”的框架协议“仅一步之遥”。

Kennedy Center must remove Trump’s name tonight, appeals court rules

2026-06-12T23:20:23.409Z / CNN

By Devan Cole

Updated Jun 12, 2026, 7:28 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jun 12, 2026, 7:20 PM ET

An appeals court is keeping intact a federal judge’s ruling requiring the Kennedy Center to remove President Donald Trump’s name from its building by the end of Friday.

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a last-minute effort by the center to freeze the judge’s ruling so that it wouldn’t need to comply while more court proceedings play out.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Justice Department clears way for Paramount Skydance to buy Warner Bros. Discovery

June 12, 2026 / 7:39 PM EDT / CBS News

By

Federal antitrust enforcers on Friday cleared Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a statement, the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division said it had closed its probe of the acquisition after determining that the transaction “is not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.”

“The extensive investigatory record reviewed by the division suggests that the impact of the transaction will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers,” it said.

Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News, owns the Paramount studios and cable networks, including Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Warner Bros.’ movie studio has produced hits such as the “Harry Potter” franchise and the company also owns cable networks including CNN, HBO Max, TBS and TNT.

In a statement, Paramount said, “This deal is pro-competitive, resulting in a stronger company better positioned to compete against dominant technology platforms in an industry increasingly defined by intense competition for audiences, talent, technology, and investment. We remain focused on completing the transaction as soon as possible and delivering its benefits to consumers, creators, and the entertainment industry as a whole.”

The Justice Department’s decision to close its investigation into the deal removes a major obstacle to Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros.

The transaction still faces potential legal hurdles from multiple state attorneys general who have threatened to challenge the deal.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta posted on X:,”The merger of Warner Bros and Paramount is not a done deal and remains under investigation by my office.”

The takeover has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and prominent figures in Hollywood, who contend that merging two of the largest U.S. entertainment companies could result in lower pay for actors, writers and other movie industry professionals.

But the Justice Department rejected such claims, concluding that the deal is unlikely to reduce competition in developing, producing or distributing movies for theatrical release.

“Instead, the evidence shows extensive competition within the industry, which has generated greater output and diversity of film offerings, and is likely to continue unabated,” DOJ said in its statement.

Critics have also raised concerns that combining the two companies would give it excessive power over TV programming, news and other forms of content.

“This is terrible news for every American who doesn’t want Trump-aligned billionaires to control what they watch and how much they pay,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement on social media. “The Paramount-Warner Bros. deal has reeked of corruption and influence-peddling. This fight isn’t over. State AGs must block this merger.”

Paramount Skydance clinched a deal for Warner Bros. earlier this year after outdueling Netflix, which had bid $83 billion.

Edited by Paula Cohen