“Digital tools have amplified the reach, scale, and speed of trafficking,” Blinken wrote in the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report. “They use online platforms to sell illicit sexual content. They leverage encrypted messaging and digital currencies to evade detection.”

Blinken said the use of online tools has made it possible for traffickers to expand their reach.

“Trafficking is the very definition of a problem that no one nation can solve alone,” Blinken said.

The International Labour Organization estimated in 2021 27.6 million people were in forced labor, an increase of 2.7 million from 2016. Of those 27.6 million, the ILO estimated 6.3 million were in forced commercial sexual exploitation and 3.9 million in forced labor imposed by a state.

“Unfortunately, some governments are part of the problem,” said Ambassador at-Large Cindy Dyer.

The State Department identified 13 countries as “Tier 3” countries, meaning the governments had a documented “policy or pattern” of human trafficking. That included trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers, the report said.

In 2024, the 13 countries identified as “Tier 3” were Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Turkmenistan.

As the migrant crisis intensifies across the world, Dyer said countries are more likely to see an increase in human trafficking.

“We encourage governments to prevent trafficking and prioritize screening among migrants, who often assume debts to pay migrant smugglers and are then vulnerable to trafficking when they are unable to repay the money,” Dyer said.

Dyer said the United States follows the “3P” paradigm – prosecution, protection and prevention, to combat human trafficking.

Next year the court could decide if states can legally ban transgender minors from accessing hormone blockers.

This court decision will have a huge impact on countless families living in states with similar gender care restrictions and set the tone for future debates surrounding transgender rights in America.

"The decisions about the health of our kids, the decision about the welfare of our kids that should be up to parents or a doctor,” said Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign president.

The country's leading LGBTQ organization is rallying behind efforts to protect access to gender affirming care.

The court says it will now take up a Biden administration challenge to a Tennessee law which bans treatments like hormone blockers for transgender minors.

"Care that every major medical organization supports,” said Robinson.

Right now, 25 states restrict or ban gender affirming care for teens.

Robinson calls the bans discrimination.

"We need to see this for what it is, this is a politically motivated attack meant to divide us,” said Robinson.

Conservative groups argue the bans are lawful.

The Heritage Foundation says the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade increases their confidence that justices will agree this is also a state matter.

"Listen the states have spoken, these laws pass constitutional muster,” said Sarah Parshall Perry of the Heritage Foundation.

Sarah Parshall Perry, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation, argues the bans are no different than laws barring minors from drinking alcohol.

"And the Supreme Court for decades have recognized that minors lack the capacity and the judgment and the maturity to make lifelong decisions,” said Parshall Perry.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this fall.

"We've already seen the number of encounters at the border go down as a result," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said.

Coons said the president took great steps but Congress needs to pick up the slack.

"Let's put down the tools and find a lasting solution," Coons said.

The Senate worked on a bipartisan deal for months, but Republicans shot it down. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) blames the former president.

"We were just two days short of voting on it when Donald Trump said no and the Republicans walked away," Warren said. 

Warren called for Republicans to cooperate on an immigration deal with more security at the border, financial support for places housing migrants, and "a pathway to citizenship for people who are here for spouses, for dreamers, for essential workers."

However, Republicans are frustrated about the president's latest action shielding undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation.

"The reason the border is broken is Biden chose to overturn every policy Trump had," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.

Graham pins the blame on President Biden for the current status of the border and says Republicans are not at fault.

"The largest number of people on the terrorist watch list came in last year," Graham said.

Democrats argue, if Congress does not step up, there is a limit as to what the president can do with the border.

Gallant is in Washington this week to meet with top U.S. officials. 

His visit comes as clashes continue between Israel and the Biden administration. 

Even so, State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller says, "Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad."

Miller says that's what the U.S. will emphasize to Gallant. He says the U.S. will also reiterate the need for Israel to form a plan for after the war, amid reports that Israel is winding down major operations in Rafah.

"For there to be an enduring defeat of Hamas, there needs to be a plan for what replaces them," Miller said. 

The meetings also come on the heels of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims that the U.S. has dramatically slowed down weapons shipments to Israel.

"It's inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel," Netanyahu said. Miller denies that. 

"I don't understand what that comment meant at all. We have paused one shipment of high payload munitions. That shipment remains on pause. It remains under review. There are other weapons that we continue to provide," Miller said. 

Gallant is scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Tuesday and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday. 

Miller said the U.S. hopes to walk away from these meetings with commitments that Israel will do more to get humanitarian aid to Gaza and move closer to a ceasefire.

Most national Democrats want to restore Roe at the federal level while Republicans largely support leaving abortion policy to the states.

"This is a health care crisis,” said Vice President Kamala Harris.

On the campaign trail Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris accused former president Donald Trump of stealing reproductive rights from women.

"When he was in the White House, Donald Trump hand-picked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Harris.

Protesters faced off Monday in front of the Supreme Court which still has an abortion rights case to rule on this term.

Harris warns a second Trump presidency would be even worse.

"He proudly takes credit for overturning Roe,” said Harris.

Over the weekend Trump celebrated the decision's anniversary.

"We've gotten abortion out of the federal government and back to the states,” said Trump.

While President Joe Biden wants to bring back the federal right, Trump said voters in each state should decide.

"And that's the way it should be,” Trump said.

Ahead of the candidates' first debate in this presidential election Thursday, South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem said she supports Trump's stance.

"Every state will look different, and I think that's appropriate,” said Noem.

However, New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul says it’s an advantage for President Biden.

"He should lean hard into the fact that now one out of three American women live with an abortion ban,” said Hochul.

A growing list of anti-abortion groups are calling on Trump to commit to a national abortion ban if elected, but he has yet to do so.

In response, several Democrats have announced they will skip the address.

“His extremist right-wing government needs to hear from the United States that we need peace in the region. Not escalating war,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas.).

Congressman Casar said he will not attend Netanyahu’s speech next month. The Hill.com reported Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are among the Democrats who will not be at Netanyahu’s speech.

“He should be making sure he gets the Israeli hostages home,” Casar said about Netanyahu.

At a press conference on Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he would attend Netanyahu’s address.

The address comes at a time of increasing strain in the relationship between the Biden administration and Netanyahu.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu released a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, criticizing the Biden administration for withholding weapon shipments to Israel.

“It’s inconceivable that the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel,” Netanyahu said.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the administration wasn’t aware Netanyahu would be releasing that video.

“It was vexing and disappointing to us,” Kirby said. “As much as it was incorrect.”

The Biden administration said in May it was delaying one shipment of heavy offensive weapons to Israel, over concerns they would be used in Rafah, a place with more than a million civilians.

Republicans meantime have emphasized their unwavering support for Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks.

“Israel is our ally and she needs to be defended,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Israel said nearly 1,200 people died and 250 people were taken to Gaza as hostages because of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.

Since then, the Palestinian Health Ministry said more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed.

In an eight to one ruling, the court says the government can stop dangerous people from getting guns, specifically those found by a court to pose a credible threat of physical safety to someone else.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said those with domestic violence restraining orders can be barred from having a gun.

“This ruling is a huge relief for women and children in this country,” said gun violence prevention advocate, Emma Brown.

Emma Brown, with the gun violence prevention group, Giffords, says if justices had overturned the law, it could have been catastrophic for survivors of domestic violence.

“The fact that we are litigating whether people with domestic violence or restraining orders should have firearm access is ridiculous,” Brown added.

The decision reverses a lower court ruling that said a Texas man who hit and threatened to shoot his girlfriend could have a gun.

Syracuse law professor Lauryn Gouldin didn't expect the court to rule in his favor.

"He was purportedly seen dragging his then girlfriend out of the car by her hair,” said Gouldin.

In his opinion, Justice Roberts wrote, "Since the founding, our Nation's firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms."

Georgetown Law Dean William Treanor said justices based their opinion on a broad view of history at the time of the founding.

"So, you don't look at, were there bans on guns for people who committed domestic violence, you look at it, were there bans on guns for people who were dangerous?" asked Treanor.

Treanor says the court's lone dissenter, Justice Clarence Thomas, took a narrower view of history.

"They don't all take the same approach to what the original understanding was,” said Treanor.

Last week the court overturned a federal ban on bump stocks.

The proposals would expand the draft to women for the first time and automatically register those eligible for conscription. 

"I think we'll take that out," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who is leading the charge against the idea. "I don't think the draft will be reimplemented any time soon."

Senate Democrats added the proposed requirement for women to the annual defense spending bill, arguing it is in the best interest of national security to include all able-bodied citizens ages 18 to 25 in the draft. 

However, the proposal is not gaining traction among Republicans.

"It is outrageous," said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). 

"I would be very much opposed to that," said Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.).

Boozman said the proposed requirement is unnecessary.

"We've got a lot of men and women that are willing to serve and so right now, that's working fine," he said.

The Pentagon has warned Congress it is facing recruitment challenges as conflicts around the world escalate.

"We live in a very dangerous world, but we're not in a sense of national emergency," Boozman said. 

Defending the idea, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill, "If we go to a draft, we're in a serious, serious situation."

A separate proposal in the spending bill would make registering for the draft automatic. Most states already do this for eligible men when they get a driver's license or apply for college.

"We can recruit good young men and women in the military without a draft," Wicker said. 

Wicker argues Congress should instead focus on pay raises and better recruiters for the military.

None of the proposals would activate the draft. The president would ultimately have to do that, which last happened in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War.

"Social media as designed today is a dangerous product," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Senator Graham says it's about time Congress takes action against the dangers of social media.

"I totally support what he's saying," Graham said.

The only way to implement warning labels of any kind is through Congressional action, and Graham says the numbers justify it.

"We've seen suicide rates among teenage girls go fairly dramatically. Depression among the younger population," Graham said.

He's not alone. Some Democrats, such as, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), see this as an opportunity for Congress to do something.

"We have to keep trying. And I think that the Surgeon General's approach is a good step," Gillibrand said.

Gillibrand is also pushing for regulation because of criminal organizations that target kids online, by posing as young girls and soliciting nude photos for ransom.

"And say, we’re going to publish these if you don't give us money. And one young boy, 17-year-old, just succumbed to suicide because of it," Gillibrand said.

In his three years in the role, the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has spoken with lawmakers on social media dangers. This week he stated he wants Congress to take the next step and not just verbally support his call for warning labels.

"What we have to do is finish the deal. You've got to, like, get something across the line and actually implement it," said Murthy.

Even with Congressional approval, tech companies would likely challenge warning labels in court.

The filing said the federal government’s potential ban of the act violated the First Amendment. It also said TikTok worked with the federal government on a 90-page draft agreement, that would’ve addressed the government’s concerns. 

Instead, the filing said, Congress chose to force the sale or ban the app.

Earlier this week, the Federal Trade Commission referred a complaint to the Department of Justice, alleging TikTok violated or will violate the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

“The FTC’s investigation of these companies began in connection with our order compliance review of Musical.ly following a 2019 settlement,” the FTC’s statement said.

It noted the FTC doesn’t normally release statements when it refers a complaint, but released one this time because it was in the public interest.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the department consulted with FTC before the referral.  “As always, the Department will be guided by the facts and the law as well as our responsibility to protect the American people."

TikTok, for its part said, it remains committed to protecting children.

“We strongly disagree with the FTC’s allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed,” a spokesperson said.

The filing in court said TikTok has 170 million users in the United States, who have made more than 5.5 billion videos. Oral arguments challenging the potential ban are scheduled for later this year.

"Firearm technology that essentially convert semiautomatic weapons into nearly fully automatic weapons and machine guns," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

Kaine co-sponsored legislation to ban bump stocks.

 Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) who introduced the bill calls this a common sense approach.

"As someone who has owned and used firearms for most of my life, for hunting, for sport, for self-defense, I know for a fact that bump stocks serve no legitimate purpose," Heinrich said.

The Trump administration put the ban in place after a mass shooting in Las Vegas, killed 60 people and injured hundreds more.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says the bump stock made it easier and this should never be repeated.

"That gunman was able to fire around 90 shots every 10 seconds," Murphy said.

The Senate tried to pass a bump stock ban through unanimous consent earlier in the week, but Republicans blocked it.

"Does anyone seriously believe this lawless Biden administration would interpret this law in a way that respects law abiding gun owners? Not," Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) said. He thinks the bill isn't about banning bump stocks.

"This bill is about banning as many firearm accessories as possible, giving the ATF broad authority to ban most semiotic firearms," he said.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) says she's a defender of the Second Amendment and "I am probably not going to get on any bill as this moves forward so I can, weigh the pros and cons."

However, a debate over funding for nutrition programs, including SNAP, is trapping the farm bill in limbo.

"If you don't take care of the farmers, it just doesn't work," said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, (R-Ark.), the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee. 

Boozman warns it's growing harder for farmers across the U.S. to make a living.

"The things that help them manage their risk simply aren't working," he said. 

That's why Boozman wants to include better safety nets, the programs that provide risk protection and income support to farmers, in the bill.

"Borrow the money that they need to keep going and continue to give us the cheapest, safest food supply of anybody in the world," Boozman said. "We take that for granted."

Senate Democrats argue much of the proposed $1.5 trillion bill focuses on the wrong things.

"It invests hundreds more millions of dollars in commodities where there's nothing for fruits and vegetables. Nothing," said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, (D-N.Y.). "It's pretty terrible."

Gillibrand also worries about potential GOP funding cuts to nutrition programs for low-income Americans.

"They want to cut SNAP benefits by $30 billion," she said. "So, you can just imagine how many people would go hungry with that kind of cut."

However, Boozman doesn't see the proposal as a cut, noting SNAP funding has increased 85% since the last farm bill in 2018.

"There is a limit to the amount of money that we can push into that program," he said. 

An extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expires at the end of September. Lawmakers may first have to pass another one before agreeing on a full 2024 farm bill.

The bipartisan bill announced Thursday comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a deal with North Korea to defend each other if either country is attacked.

The U.S. currently considers Cuba, Iran, Syria and North Korea state sponsors of terror. Two senators want Russia to join that list. Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal says Russia should be considered a state sponsor of terror.

"Russia deserves to be in this small, selective club of atrocity committing killers,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal and South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's bill would do just that.

During Putin’s visit he witnessed a show of North Korea’s military and signed an agreement with Kim Jong Un to defend each other in case of attacks.

The senators call it the last straw.

"We have lost deterrence,” said Graham.

Lawmakers say their resolution would strengthen sanctions, isolate Russia on the world stage, and boost morale in Ukraine.

"It is time for us to push back. Now is the moment,” said Graham.

Blumenthal says this is no substitute for sending more military aid to Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia.  He says it's about being on the right side of history.

"Democracy is under siege,” Blumenthal said. Lawmakers last brought this proposal up in 2022. 

The White House said it's not the most effective way to deal with Russia and could have unintended consequences.

"Public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed and maybe most importantly underappreciated," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). 

Sanders says his "Pay Teachers Act" would require teachers make at least $60,000. 

"They should not be forced to be on food stamps," Sanders said. 

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher in Philadelphia, says he's forced to use his own money for classroom supplies.

"Just this school year alone, I've spent over $1,000 on those things just so that I can be effective at what I do," said Keyes.

Senators critical of the bill say it's less about money and more about getting back to the core mission of education. 

"Some education leaders prioritize social agendas and progressive ideology over academic progress," said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). He says schools aren't spending the money they have wisely.

"There are now more staff collecting paychecks at schools than ever before," said Cassidy. 

Nicole Neily with Parents Defending Education doesn't believe there are fewer teachers in the classroom. 

"We don't have a teacher shortage; we have an allocation issue, particularly when you look at the fact our children cannot read," Neily said.

All agreed education in America needs more attention to ready the country's next generation.

“U.S. and particularly Texas based agriculture are deprived of the water they need in order to grow their crops and earn a living,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “We’re trying to get the attention of the Mexican government.”

The 1944 treaty with the United States requires Mexico provide 1.2 million acre-feet of water, measured every 5 years, an average of 350,000 acre-feet every year. Data released from the International Boundary and Water Commission shows Mexico has delivered 385,163 acre-feet since 2020.

Data released from the International Boundary and Water Commission shows Mexico has delivered 385,163 acre-feet since 2020, well below the more than 1.2 million acre-feet required by the treaty.

“This is a very life or death matter for many farmers and ranchers,” Cornyn said.

The Texas Farm Bureau said the Rio Grande Valley was hit the hardest by the water shortages. 

Brian Jones is a fourth-generation farmer in that region.

“A lot of the nation, especially the state of Texas, but also across the eastern part of the nation relies on the Rio Grande Valley to supply the fall and winter vegetables,” Jones said. “It will start impacting customers in the grocery store quickly.”

Jones said he usually plants cotton, sorghum and food-grade corn. Other farms in the valley plant greens, citrus and sugar cane, too. He said, this year, the water shortages forced farmers to plant different crops that don’t use as much water.

“This is the first year, in my 38 years, where I’ve had zero irrigation of water,” Jones said.

Representatives from the Mexican consulate in Washington, D.C. did not return requests for comment.

Last week the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the lawsuit. The justices ruled pro-life doctors did not have legal grounds to sue the FDA.

Following the decision, Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Erin Hawley, who represented the three doctors before the Supreme Court, said the ruling was based on a technicality not the merits.

Hawley remains “encouraged” the states will be able to hold to the FDA accountable.

ADF, Missouri, Kansas and Idaho accuse the FDA of illegally bringing the drug to market.

In a statement issued minutes after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called the drug “dangerous” and “untested,” adding it “would cost the lives of both women and their unborn children.”

The Biden administration is promising to protect access to mifepristone. In a statement the White House says the drug has been proven “safe and effective for more than 20 years.”

The state attorneys generals effort would effectively ban access to mifepristone in all states.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), husband of Erin Hawley, argues the suit is necessary to keep the abortion pill out of the more than a dozen states with abortion bans.

"I don't want the federal government coming on top of our voters and saying never mind what you want we're going to mail in chemical abortion drugs,” said Hawley. “That’s just wrong."

The legal effort in Kansas is more complicated. In 2022 voters there rejected efforts to restrict abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

“Kansas has been so clear where we stand,” says Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.).

Davids represents Kansas’ lone Democratic district. She calls Kansas Attorney General Kobach’s efforts to ban mifepristone “extreme.”

"They're attacking something that's been safely used for so long,” says Davids.

The group of black veterans are making history once again. 

"They played a role in every war," said veteran Mose Rayford. 

Mose Rayford, a Marine veteran, made the trip from Georgia. 

"Some of these things are coming in late, just like Juneteenth did," Rayford said. 

On the flight up, veteran Vernon Hickman said something in the cockpit stood out to him. 

"First time that I have flown on a plane that the captain, the first officer were both Black," said Hickman.

Vernon and his fellow veterans braved the 90-degree weather to visit war memorials and monuments in the nation's capital.

Vernon said the heat was nothing compared to the sacrifices these brave Americans made.

"When you're called on to serve your country, you in fact do that," Hickman said. 

For many of the veterans it was their first time seeing some of the war memorials. 

"I've seen pictures of it before, but I never visited here," said veteran Michael Gaines.

Gaines says he is honored his service is being recognized. 

"It's long overdue. Black veterans were not recognized for their service. What they had to endure when they came back from rendering that service," Gaines said. 

Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has hosted nearly 300,000 veterans on flights and tours of Washington, D.C.'s landmarks.

Democrats are teeing up another vote that aims to restore Roe v. Wade, while Republicans are promoting their own policies in this presidential election year.

"Our crusade on reproductive rights will continue," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "June has been a month of MAGA Republicans showing their true colors."

Schumer said the next vote, likely in July, would reestablish a national right to an abortion before the third trimester of pregnancy by codifying Roe. 

Abortion is currently banned at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states and after about six weeks of pregnancy in three others.

"Every woman in every state is at risk," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). 

Stabenow argued another Trump administration would guarantee a nationwide abortion ban.

"Nobody's OK in this country," she said. 

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) stressed one in three women of reproductive age now live in states with abortion restrictions.

"I bet the house that anti-choice Senate Republicans will vote to ban abortion nationwide if they're given the chance," Rosen said. "None of us here will be fooled by their cover-ups of their anti-choice records."

Republicans tried to pass a series of their own reproductive rights bills this week, but Democrats blocked them.

"The Republican Party is the party of families," said Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). 

Britt's legislation would provide various prenatal and postpartum support for women.

"You can absolutely be pro-life, pro-woman and pro-family all at the same time," she said. 

Another measure, sponsored by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), would expand resources to address the root causes of infertility, which she called a complementary measure to IVF protections.

"What we are trying to do here is promote long-term healing for couples struggling with infertility," Hyde-Smith said. "We want to empower childbearing generations so that families can address fertility concerns in a cost-effective manner." 

Last week, Republicans largely opposed Democrats' bill that would protect access to IVF.

The Democrat-controlled Senate also tried to pass legislation earlier this month to protect access to birth control in another largely symbolic move that Republicans ultimately blocked. 

"What we fundamentally need to prioritize is making the platforms themselves safer," Dr. Murthy said.

Murthy is calling for a warning label on social media platforms, similar to labels on alcohol and cigarettes.

"And the warning label would be part of our effort to make sure that parents know what we know in public health and medicine, which is that social media use is associated with mental health harms for kids," Murthy said.

But what would a digital warning label look like?

"It's a message that would pop up regularly or be displayed regularly, when people used their social media account," Dr. Murthy said.

Murthy said how often this warning pops up and the appearance and style of it, would be determined during a testing phase, approved by Congress.

Critics, like Carl Szabo with NetChoice, argue the government should not be in charge of deciding what's appropriate for kids to view on social media.

"Every child is different; every family is different. And the views of those families and children are basically only known to the parents," Szabo said.

Szabo encourages the surgeon general to push for digital literacy in schools and to "encourage parents to take the devices away rather than try to control what teens do and replace parents with government."

However, Dr. Murthy pushed back saying this has nothing to do with restricting free speech.

"It's giving people information. It's not telling people, you know, that they can and can't use something. It's warning them about the risks that are associated with social media use," Murthy said.

Dr. Murthy says he's optimistic Congress will get on board with his plans.

The two authoritarian leaders are pledging to support each other.

The U.S. and allies say they're watching this partnership closely.

It could mean Russia gets more weapons to fight Ukraine, and North Korea gets economic aid and technological help.

Kim rolled out the red carpet for Putin in a sign of strengthening ties. The two leaders signed a pact to support each other with aid if either faces aggression.

Putin's visit comes as U.S. leaders say North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia in its war in Ukraine.

"These are the countries of concern,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Russia’s move to shore up support with the rogue state is reason for concern.

"...because this is what's keeping the war going,” said Blinken.

The White House downplayed the visit.  It's the first time Putin’s been to North Korea in 24 years.

"We're not concerned about the trip, said NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says what is concerning…” Is the deepening relationship between these two countries."

The visit also has international allies on alert about how Russia could help North Korea.

"...when it comes to supporting their missile and nuclear programs,” said Jens Stoltenberg NATO Secretary General.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says what happens between Russia and North Korea impacts the world.

"Everything is intertwined and therefore we need to address these challenges together,” said Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg said in response to this, NATO members will work to strengthen ties in the Asia-Pacific region at a summit in Washington next month.

If passed, big tech companies could be forced to get more aggressive in policing

Lawmakers say Washington and Big Tech need to get ahead of this problem, especially as it relates to kids in school.

 “It was really scary to even go to school…just out of fear,” said teenager Elliston Berry.

Elliston Berry told senators her sense of security was shattered after someone at school used AI to create and share nude pictures featuring her.

“I was so excited for high school, but this totally threw off my year,” said Berry.

 Lawmakers say big tech companies must take this emerging problem more seriously.

“He didn't take someone else's nude images and put their faces on them. Instead, he took their actual bodies, using AI, to make the images look even more real,” said Anna McAdams.

 Now senators are pushing for passage of the “Take It Down” act.

The proposal builds on existing federal law and would force social media companies to remove deepfake revenge porn images within 48 hours.

 “We're going to look for a way to move those bills forward…very important bills to us,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The move is a rare bipartisan effort in Congress, to address a problem some lawmakers say tech companies already know exactly how to handle.

 “If you put online a scene from the Lion King, that'll get pulled down immediately,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas.).

Senators say tech companies would be held to account by FTC action, potentially including fines if the law passes, and said those corporations will soon have to decide soon how to respond.

“This is the right solution, and frankly it’s what they should be doing anyway,” said Cruz.

The legislation was introduced this week, so far, it’s not scheduled for a full floor vote.

The plan offers protection to immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens and have lived in the country for at least ten years.

This is expected to impact about half a million immigrants who currently live in the U.S. and will give them a pathway to work and live here permanently.

"It's good for America, period,” said Biden.

President Biden announced plans to allow undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to apply for permanent residency and eventually citizenship, without risk of deportation.

To qualify, the immigrant has to have lived in the U.S. for ten years and be married to a citizen as of Monday.

These couples have been raising families, sending their kids to church and school, paying taxes, contributing to our country for every, for ten years or more,” said Biden.

The move draws a contrast to the president's recent border crackdown restricting crossings into the U.S.

"We can both secure the border and provide legal pathways to citizenship,” Biden said.

Democrats are praising the new executive actions which Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) called bold and exciting.

“Not just bringing fairness and justice but hope and opportunity,” Padilla said.

Republicans like Senator Joni Ernst are slamming the new policy.

"President Biden has rolled out the red carpet for illegal migrants,” said Ernst.

The president's chief political rival, Donald Trump, is criticizing the announcement too.

"Crooked Joe is sending a message to the world that he rewards illegal entry,” said Trump.

Trump contrasted the new policy with his own immigration plans.

“We're going to get them out as fast as we can. We're going to have the largest deportation,” said Trump.

 President Biden accused Trump of using the hotly contested issue for political gain.

"Folks, I'm not interested in playing politics at the border or immigration. I'm interested in fixing it,” said Biden.

About 50,000 undocumented children could also qualify for the new process.

"I refuse to believe that to secure our border, we have to walk away from being an American," Biden said.

The policy protects the spouses of U.S citizens from deportation and allows them to obtain work authorization, as long as they have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years as of Monday.

"It doesn't tear families apart while requiring every undocumented spouse to fill their obligation under the law," Biden said.

It will also streamline work visa access for dreamers, kids whose parents illegally brought them to the U.S.

"So many of them have graduated from high school and college and are starting families on their own. Building successful careers, serving our nation in uniform and so, so much more," Biden said.

Over on Capitol Hill, Democrats like Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) celebrated this move by the president.

"It's going to help keep hundreds of thousands of families together. That's what it does, bring families together," Schumer said.

However, Republicans like Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) argue this policy sends a message to those who want to get into the U.S.

"They're going to say, well, if I can just make it to the United States, I'm going to be able to stay, and eventually I'm going to get a green card and probably end up being a U.S. citizen," Cornyn said.

"President Biden has rolled out the red carpet for illegal migrants," Ernst said.

This change will impact more than 500,000 undocumented spouses and more than 50,000 dreamers.

That changes Friday, June 21st when the Folger Shakespeare Library reopens to the public after an $80.5 million renovation during the past four years.

"This is a writer who we are not done with, and he is not done with us," said Michael Witmore, the outgoing Folger director.

The library and theater on Capitol Hill houses 10,000 Shakespeare editions and nearly 230,000 printed books and thanks to the renovation, many are out of the vaults and displayed in public for the first time.

Visitors can see the new star of the gallery, Shakespeare's "First Folio" from 1623. Without it, classics like "Macbeth" and "The Tempest" could have been lost.

"He wrote about race, about sexuality, about conflict," Witmore said. "Those are questions and themes that we can take up today."

That's why Witmore said the library's location is so important, not only in D.C. but also just two blocks away from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court.

"We are surrounded by the institutions where words matter most in this country," he said.

Karen Ann Daniels, the theater's artistic director, said the renovations allow her to bring Shakespeare's words to life for younger and more diverse audiences.

"There's kind of a whole new world that's opened up," Daniels said.

Witmore hopes the increased accessibility will help discover the next Shakespeare.

"They're out there," he said. "And the question for us is what will they want to see."

Timed-entry passes are currently available and free on the Folger website, with a suggested donation of $15.

The “TAKE IT DOWN Act,” if passed, would treat real photos and photos created using artificial intelligence the same way. It would also require social media companies to unpublish those photos within 48 hours, Cruz said.

“We deliberately borrowed the legal mechanism from copyright law and applied it here,” Cruz said. “If you put online a scene from the Lion King, that’ll get pulled down immediately.”

The Texas Senator said one of his constituents, Elliston Berry, inspired him to introduce this bill.

Berry, a 15-year-old, said she was a freshman in high school when a pornographic image of her circulated. She said someone created the image using artificial intelligence.

“He didn’t take someone else’s nude images and put their faces on them. Instead, he took their actual bodies, using AI, to make the images look more real,” said Anna McAdams, Elliston’s mom.

McAdams said she tried to contact Snapchat to get the photo taken down. They didn’t respond, McAdams said. That’s when she called Cruz’s office, she said.

“These images are child pornography,” Cruz said.

Cruz, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and 11 other senators representing both parties cosponsored the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday the bipartisan “TAKE IT DOWN Act” was among his priorities targeting AI imagery.

“We’re going to look for a way to move those bills forward,” Schumer said.

Snapchat said it doesn’t allow pornography of any kind on its platform and said it has built in protections to prevent people from creating AI-generated imagery on its app.

"We're going to see a new record of deaths this year," Jean Su, Center for Biological Diversity said.

Some environmental groups say the impacts from extreme heat should be treated just like a tornado.

Su said that means the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should classify it as a major disaster.

"We believe that it's broad enough for you to basically recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke, just as you did for Covid-19," Su said.

By recognizing extreme heat as a major disaster it would open access to federal dollars for state governments to help with resources like water distribution and cooling centers.

In a statement FEMA said, “FEMA has a well-established process for how we assess if there is a need for additional federal support for state and local entities that are dealing with any type of hazard. The foundation of that process is an evaluation that the need exceeds the capacity of the state, local, tribal or territorial entity. There is nothing specific in the Stafford Act that precludes a declaration for extreme heat. The Stafford Act is fairly broad in how it describes the circumstances in which we could provide assistance to under emergency declaration -- it's an area in which there's an immediate threat to life and safety that is beyond the capability of the state to respond to.”

FEMA did not offer a reason why it hasn't taken that step.

Su says it is prepared to take legal action if FEMA doesn't act.

The American Red Cross says it's important for everyone to be cautious during this heat.

At the White House press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stepped away from the podium to help someone who passed out.

"It is hot in here," Jean-Pierre said.

Nicole Maul with the American Red Cross offers these tips:

-Slow down by postponing or limiting outdoor activities. If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks and avoid the hottest part of the day. Never leave children or pets in your vehicle alone.

-Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks. Check that animals also have access to fresh water and shade.

-Spend time indoors in an air-conditioned place. If you don’t have air conditioning, go to a public library, shopping mall or public cooling center. Check on loved ones and neighbors who may be at risk and don’t have air conditioning.

Clariss Moore said she wants answers after her daughter Danielle was killed in a Boeing crash in Ethiopia in 2019.

"I want them to be held accountable," Moore said. "I will never get a chance to see, hold, hug, kiss and hear my daughter's voice ever again."

Moore said the company's stated commitment to safety rings hollow to her.

The Ethiopian crash came just months after another crash in Indonesia.

"It doesn't mean anything when 346 people died,” Moore said.

Moore and other victims' families attended a Senate hearing about Boeing’s safety culture where Boeing CEO David Calhoun directly addressed them.

"I apologize for the grief that we have caused," Calhoun said.

Calhoun told senators the company has heard concerns loud and clear.

"Our culture is far from perfect. But we are taking action, and we are making progress," Calhoun said.

It's his first testimony to Congress since a door panel blew off a jet during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

It also comes after whistleblowers alleged defective parts are going on jets and employees who speak up face retaliation.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Boeing needs to stop putting production and profits over people.

"These are chilling allegations," Blumenthal said. "This is not an industry where it's ok to cut corners."

Calhoun said the company has made changes like revamping engineering and establishing a safety management system.

Tuesday’s hearing comes as the Justice Department is considering whether to prosecute Boeing over its two fatal crashes.

Family members of victims say they want that to see that happen.

"These harms to kids have got to stop," Julie Scelfo, Mother Against Media Addiction founder, said. Scelfo says this an important step forward.

"Spending endless hours on screens is not it," Scelfo said.

Dr. Murthy said kids who spend more than three hours a day on social media deal with double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms. Last summer, average daily use in that age group was just below five hours.

"If I had known the things I know now, I never would have allowed my children to have access to social media," Scelfo said.

However, some critics say the surgeon general should focus on putting parents back in control.

"Putting warning labels is one step away from government controlled free speech," NetChoice VP Carl Szabo said.

Szabo fears these warning labels will be too general.

"We have difficulty in our society even deciding what books are appropriate for our schools. Now you're going to tell me politicians are going to decide what's content and speech is appropriate on social media websites?" Szabo said.

The White House called the op-ed powerful.

"There are risks, making sure that parents are aware, making sure that kids are aware that there is a real risk," White House Press Secretary Karinne Jean-Pierre said.

They refused to say whether President Biden supports a warning label.

"We want to see a bipartisan approach," Jean-Pierre said.

The White House urged Congress to take action to protect kids online.

This executive order is expected to impact about 100,000 people.

Governor Wes Moore’s administration says it's the largest state pardon in history, affecting more than 175,000 marijuana convictions.

"This is a big deal,” Moore said.

The executive order applies to misdemeanors for possessing marijuana or paraphernalia.

Moore says it's a step toward addressing racial inequality.

"Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than white Marylanders before legalization,” said Moore.

Maryland legalized marijuana last year.

Moore says no one should be held back from housing or employment opportunities because of an old conviction.

"We cannot celebrate the benefits of legalization if we do not address the consequences of criminalization,” said Moore.

The order won't release anyone from jail or expunge the charges, but a person's criminal record will soon show it's been pardoned.

Paul Larkin with the Heritage Foundation says when a state decriminalizes conduct, "It is entirely legitimate, reasonable and laudable for the governor to pardon people who previously had been convicted of that conduct."

However, Larkin said this mass pardoning could be too broad, as it is unlikely everyone was a victim of discrimination. It also includes people who once committed felonies but pleaded down to a misdemeanor.

"The public needs to be aware that this has broader effect than just the category of misdemeanors,” said Larkin.

Maryland's move comes after the Justice Department announced it's planning to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, which acknowledges it has a lower risk for abuse.

“This is a responsibility that I take very, very seriously. And that is why this morning, with deep pride and soberness, I will pardon over 175,000 convictions,” Gov. Moore said.

The Democratic governor said the convictions are related to marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. Gov. Moore called Monday’s executive order the “largest such action in our nation’s history.”

Gov. Moore was joined by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and other officials as he signed the order at the State Capitol in Annapolis.

“Maryland is going to use this moment to right many historical wrongs,” Moore said.

 Maryland decriminalized possession of personal use amounts of cannabis on Jan. 1, 2023. To date, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana.

“Legalization does not erase the fact that nearly half of all drug arrests in Maryland during the early 2000s were for cannabis,” Moore said. “It doesn’t erase the fact that Black Marylanders were three times more likely to be arrested for cannabis than White Marylanders before legalization.”

According to a summary by the governor’s office, more than 150,000 misdemeanor convictions for simple possession of marijuana will be affected by the order. It will also cover more than 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

“Undoing decades of harm cannot happen in a day, but we’re going to keep up the work,” Moore said.

Some people may have more than one conviction pardoned through the process.

The pardons will not result in anyone being released from incarceration. It will absolve people from the guilt of a criminal offense, and no action needs to be taken to receive the pardon.

The governor’s office said the Maryland Judiciary will make sure each individual electronic docket is updated with an entry indicating the conviction has been pardoned by the governor. The process is expected to take about two weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

“There is no seatbelt for parents to click, no helmet to snap in place, no assurance that trusted experts have investigated and ensured that these platforms are safe for our kids,” Dr. Murthy wrote. “There are just parents and their children, trying to figure it out on their own, pitted against some of the best product engineers and most well-resourced companies in the world.”

Dr. Murthy also acknowledged that a warning label is just a small step towards making social media “safe for young people.”

The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory last year, in which research showed that up to 95% of 13-17 year olds report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.”

In his essay, Dr. Murthy referenced the societal responses to 20th-century issues like tobacco use and safe driving measures, or more recently commercial air travel safety. The regulation and implementation of protection from the risks of social media would, in theory, use those historical examples as a road map.

The “strong bipartisan support” for making social media safe for children is a tenet of Dr. Murthy’s confidence that more specific recommendations are achievable. Some examples of such recommendations are the requirement of social media companies to provide all data they have on the health effects of their platforms and allowing independent safety audits.

Legislation and government intervention are not the only suggestions that the surgeon general has for the U.S. He also pointed to groups like Log Off movement and Wired Human that focus on supporting young people in adjusting their relationship with social media.

“We have the expertise, resources and tools to make social media safe for our kids. Now is the time to summon the will to act. Our children’s well-being is at stake,” Dr. Murthy warned.

A star-studded fundraiser helped the Biden campaign pull in a multi-million-dollar haul, while former President Trump made stops in a key swing state.

The Biden campaign says they raked in a record $30 million from that fundraiser and Team Trump touted his weekend events in the battleground state of Michigan.

Headlined by Hollywood stars the Biden campaign hosted a Los Angeles fundraiser where celebrities rallied behind his re-election pitch.

George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and former President Obama all took the stage in support of President Biden and comedian Jimmy Kimmel questioned the president about the stakes of the election.

Kimmel asked, “What can we do about this?' and President Bidden responded, “Elect me, again, And I'll tell you why."  

In a clip shared to social media, President Biden took aim at the Supreme Court criticizing them for overturning abortion rights and warning the next president will likely have the chance to appoint new justices.

"I think it is one of the scariest parts. Look, the Supreme Court has never been as out of kilter as it is today,” said Biden.

In Michigan, former President Trump made back-to-back stops in the battleground state, speaking at a church roundtable geared towards Black voters.

"It's an honor to be here. It's a very important area for us. We've done more for, and I say this, I say proudly, more for the Black population than any president since Abraham Lincoln,” said Trump.

He also railed against the Biden administration at a conservative convention.

"Less than four years ago, our border was secure. Inflation was nowhere to be seen. We didn't have inflation,” said Trump.

Just 10 days from now the two candidates are set to face off on the debate stage that will be hosted by CNN in a studio in Atlanta, Georgia.

Luckily, the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt, but it has had its credit rating downgraded due to the “political brinksmanship” that has surrounded the subject.

What is the debt limit and why is it important?

The debt ceiling, or the debt limit, is the maximum amount that the U.S. government can borrow to meet its legal obligations by issuing bonds. If the government cannot agree on raising it, the U.S. will default on its loans and will not be given favorable borrowing terms, or even get denied, in the future.

How did the debt limit start?

Before 1917, Congress sold bonds with very specific limits and intentions. In passing the Liberty Bond Act of 1917, Congress gave the Treasury more flexibility regarding the types of bonds they could issue. In 1939, Congress instituted an explicit debt limit. They did this in conjunction with eliminating separate limits on different types of debts, in effect creating the aggregate debt that we observe today.

Why does it keep coming up so often?

One possible explanation can be the events coming out of the 2008 housing crisis and subsequent political discourse about spending.

In 2011, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to raise the debt ceiling without severe cuts to the budget and instead offered a new rule to allow the president to propose increases while delegating veto power to Congress, instead of the other way around.

This was the first time that explicit budget constraints were demanded in exchange for debt limit increases, which injected a partisan aspect to the topic that had previously been absent.

How was the debt limit treated before that?

After 1939, the debt limit was a procedural vote that did not break through in the headlines. However, in the 1970s, Congress passed legislation that constructs the modern process and the vote to raise the debt limit became a sticking point.

The Gephardt Rule was then instituted which allowed a workaround for the House to vote on a budget resolution and include raising the debt limit without an explicit vote.

Despite the fiscally conservative label, the Reagan administration saw an explosion in national debt in the 1980s. Economists tend to attribute this to the steep drop in revenue that the federal government experienced as a result of large tax cuts.

At the same time, the debt limit was codified into law, which put more pressure on the Treasury to manage debts despite the revenue decrease.

The government started experiencing shutdowns more frequently and the Treasury utilized “extraordinary measures” to go around Congress and fulfill its financial obligations. The Gephardt Rule helped in some instances but not in all.

The budget was balanced during the Clinton administration in the 90s, and the U.S. experienced a surplus for the first time since 1981.

Defense spending rose greatly starting in 2002 and increased exponentially due to the Iraq War the following year. Deficits became the norm and widened further because the housing crisis caused federal government spending to increase sharply.

What was the fall out from the “McConnell Rule” in 2011?

The S&P downgraded the credit rating of the U.S. and cited “political brinksmanship” during the debt limit crisis as the cause.

A major change that accelerated urgency was the repealing of the Gephardt Rule, also in 2011. Congress could no longer use budget resolutions to raise the debt limit.

With the new partisan dynamics at play, Congress started using a new tactic to avoid default: suspend the debt limit.

In 2013, instead of settling on a number, Congress agreed to essentially extend the amount of time that debt could remain outstanding. This allows the Treasury to continue paying debts while Congress gets ready for the numerical debate.

These new tactics and rules could play a major role in why the debt limit debate keeps surfacing so frequently. Congress alternates between suspending the limit and raising it and neither option offers a longstanding solution, at most pushing the issue back by two years.

"We brought the voices of American agriculture to the table," Thompson said.

The House farm bill includes nutrition program assistance and rural support funding like net crop insurance.

"It allows a farmer and a rancher to pay, to pay enough bills off to keep farming for the following year," Thompson said.

Thompson is also proud the farm bill includes critical support for dairy farmers, especially in his central Pennsylvania district.

"Dairy is our largest commodity. And the dairy margin coverage is, a fairly new, risk management program," Thompson said.

About 80% of the farm bill is dedicated to food and nutrition programs, like SNAP, which Thompson says is necessary.

"The nutrition title is about food security and it and, and rural America. We should take great pride that we help neighbors in need," Thompson said, "This is a really strong bipartisan bill."

House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) doesn't agree.

"That, in fact, is an inaccurate statement. But no surprise," Jeffries said.

Jeffries criticized the bill for cutting nearly $30 billion in food and nutrition assistance and says it will fail because of that.

"No one. Believes with any degree of credibility that the farm bill that emerged out of the AG committee has a shot," Jeffries said.

Despite Jeffries’ expectations, the Senate has a similar version of the farm bill and Thompson is confident both versions will pass, and the chambers will meet in the middle.

House Republicans say the Defense spending bill strengthens the military at a critical time.

"It's necessary. We got a world in crisis," Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) said. 

The roughly $844 billion plan includes a nearly 20% pay raise for junior troops and a smaller raise for all other servicemembers. Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett says it's long overdue. 

"I like the fact that some of our service members can come off of food stamps for goodness sakes," Burchett said. 

It also allocates more than a billion dollars to improve military housing. Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser says the changes will help lagging military recruitment. 

"This is done to send a message that we value you, we want to pay you more, we want you to have a better quality of life for you and your family," Meuser said. 

The bill had numerous amendments and Democrats pushed back on several from the GOP they say poison the bill. 

One reverses the Pentagon's policy to pay for travel of those seeking abortions. Another eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion positions at the Defense Department. 

"Like a bulletin board for a bunch of right-wing graffiti. Anti-gay, anti-DEI , anti-affirmative action, so-on," Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said. 

Raskin said that's why a majority of Democrats voted against what's usually a largely bipartisan bill.

"It's totally wrong to use national defense legislation as a billboard for all of your right-wing ideological causes," Raskin said. 

The legislation now heads to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it's likely to change. 

"I totally expect them to wreck it," Rep. Burchett said. 

The visit was historic, as Francis was the first Pope to ever come to the G7 Summit.

At the event, he delivered a speech urging political leaders to keep ethics in mind when developing and using AI. 

"We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: human dignity itself depends on it," Pope Francis said. 

He also sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the leader of the war-torn nation shared a message of gratitude. 

"Thank you so much. Thank you for your prayers for Ukraine, Ukrainians, for peace," Zelenskyy said. 

Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia has been a major focus of the summit. 

On Thursday, the G7 leaders announced an agreement to give a $50 billion loan package to Ukraine, with the funding coming from frozen Russian assets. 

President Biden also signed onto a 10-year security agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine. 

"We know what Ukraine is capable of doing when given the material to defend themselves. And that's exactly what they're doing now," Biden said. 

He then reaffirmed his promise that Ukraine's allies will support the war effort for as long as it takes. 

"They'll have what they need and get it there as quickly as we possibly can," Biden said. 

The Supreme Court the ruled Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course from previous administrations and banned bump stocks.

"It's something you add on, just to have fun with,” said plaintiff Michael Cargill.

The ban came after a gunman used bump stocks, a rapid-fire gun accessory, to open fire at a music festival in Las Vegas killing nearly 60 people.

Michael Cargill sued the government over the ban and is now celebrating the ruling.

"The Supreme Court answered that superbly, exactly the way I wanted them to answer it,” said Cargill.

Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett and Alabama Republican Congressman Dale Strong say the court has spoken.

"It's the Second Amendment, and I stand by it,” said Burchett. While Strong said, "The Supreme Court has ruled, let's move on with it."

Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin slammed the court's ruling.

"The idea that anybody can have any arsenal they want in order to overthrow the government is ridiculous,” said Raskin.

Vice President Kamala Harris says the Biden administration will continue to work to reduce gun violence.

"What the court did today is really rolling back what otherwise is important progress that we made to prevent gun violence in America,” said Harris.

President Biden is now calling on Congress to act.  He wants lawmakers to ban bump stocks and pass an assault weapons ban.

The Pope spoke to the group of world leaders about the dangers of AI controlling decision making in the future.

“We would condemn humanity to a future without hope if we took away people’s ability to make decisions about themselves and their lives, by dooming them to depend on the choices of machines,” he said. “We need to ensure and safeguard a space for proper human control over the choices made by artificial intelligence programs: Human dignity itself depends on it.”

Biden is set to meet privately with Pope Francis this afternoon. The two shared a handshake and photo opportunity while the Pope made his way around to speak with each world leader.

The Group of Seven includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as representation from the EU as a non-enumerated member.

Pope Francis also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Both sides say this is far from over since the ruling was not about the safety of the medication but whether abortion opponents had the legal right to sue.

All nine U.S. Supreme Court justices rejected a lawsuit seeking to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone but both sides of the debate say that's not the final word.

"Will continue to advocate for women's health and seek to restore common sense safeguards for abortion drugs,” said Erin Morrow Hawley, Senior Counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom.

Erin Hawley with the Alliance for Defending Freedom represented the plaintiffs.  She argued against FDA regulations that allow easy access to the drug calling it dangerous.

"We're hopeful that the FDA will be held to account for putting politics above women's health,” said Hawley.

The Supreme Court decision allows people to still easily access mifepristone which is used in about two-thirds of all abortions.

"This is not a cause for celebration because the reality is certain things are still not going to change,” said Vice President Kamala Harris.

Vice President Kamala Harris argues too many women still lack access to abortions.

"Two-thirds of women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban,” said Harris.

Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states and after about six weeks of pregnancy in three others.

Republicans, like Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, say the federal government should stay out of it.

"This is an issue states are going to make decisions on,” said Donalds.

The Senate's top Democrat, Leader Chuck Schumer, argues Republicans in Congress are still working to roll back access.

"This shouldn't be decision women are forced to fear year after year,” said Schumer.

Schumer has been bringing reproductive rights legislation to the Senate floor for votes largely to put Republicans on the record in an election year. The latest on federal protections for IVF treatments failed Thursday.

“We are ready to work with anyone in good faith,” Neguse said.

The Congressional Gun Violence Protection Task Force called for universal background checks, safe storage laws and preventing the illegal trafficking of guns.

“We have more mass shootings than we have days in the year,” said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif).

Their calls came a day after Congress paused for a moment of silence, to honor the 49 people who died in the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016. Wednesday marked eight years since the shooting.

On Tuesday, high school graduates in Newtown, Connecticut remembered the 20 classmates who didn’t graduate, because they died in the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.

“I do feel like, for the first time, the gun violence prevention movement is stronger than the gun lobby,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.).

Meanwhile, last month, former president Donald Trump spoke at the NRA convention, encouraging voters who care about gun rights to vote this November.

“Let there be no doubt: the survival of our Second Amendment is very much on the ballot,” Trump said. “If the Biden regime gets four more years, they are coming for your guns.”

Democrats believe public opinion is on their side about this issue.

On Thursday, Senate Republicans voted down a Democratic IVF bill, after Democrats blocked a GOP-backed IVF bill Wednesday. 

Without IVF, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) wouldn't have his son. 

"My wife and I welcomed this amazing little man, Jack Hickenlooper, into our family. In vitro gave us what we hoped for," Hickenlooper said. 

It gave Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)  what she hoped for, too. 

"It is only thanks to IVF that I get to be embarrassingly proud when I hang my six-year-old's drawings on my Senate office walls," Duckworth said. 

Democrats' "Right to IVF" Act aimed to ensure access to IVF nationally and make it more affordable through insurance. 

"We need to make sure women have the freedom to make our own reproductive decisions," Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) said. 

The bill failed, largely on party lines. 

Republicans say it isn't needed, since no states currently ban IVF. 

The issue gained national attention after an Alabama Supreme Court decision in February forced many clinics to pause operations, before state lawmakers passed protections. 

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy says Democrats are politicizing the issue. 

"A deceiving, disrespectful bill to misinform and scare the public to gin up Democratic votes for November," Cassidy said. 

Cassidy says Republicans made their support for IVF clear with their own bill that Democrats blocked Wednesday. It would have denied Medicaid funding to states that ban the procedure.

"I support IVF. Republicans in the Senate support IVF," Cassidy said. 

After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it's a sad day. 

"Republicans cannot say they're pro-family but then vote against protecting IVF. But that's exactly what they did," Schumer said. 

House Democrats have a similar bill, but don't currently have the votes to bring it to the floor. 

The decision protects access to the drug for now, but its future remains uncertain. 

Erin Hawley, with the Alliance for Defending Freedom, represented the plaintiffs and argued against the FDA regulations that allow easy access to the drug. 

"The decision based on a legal technicality, allows the FDA to continue its reckless disregard for women's health," Hawley said. 

The justices didn't rule on the arguments' merits, instead saying the plaintiffs don't have the legal right to sue. 

"That leaves the door open for a future plaintiff to make a challenge and hopefully win on the merits," Heritage Foundation expert Melanie Israel says. 

Israel calls the drug dangerous and says it lacks important safety standards. 

"The status quo of frankly, the wild, wild west of abortion pills, is not good for women and girls," Israel said. 

Abortion rights advocates argue mifepristone is safe and effective. However, they aren't really thrilled about the ruling either. 

Vice President Kamala Harris argues too many women still lack access to abortions. 

"This is not a cause for celebration, because the reality is certain things are still not going to change," Harris said. "Two-thirds of women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban. This ruling is not going to change that." 

Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) says Republican lawmakers are working to roll back access even further.

"The assault on women's healthcare and reproductive rights is still front and center," Warner said. 

Abortion opponents agree that the battle isn't over. 

"We live to fight another day, and this is absolutely not going to be the last word," Israel said. 

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other Republicans are going after Bragg.

"Alvin Bragg's prosecution of President Trump was personal. It was based on politics. And it was wrong," Jordan said.

Jordan calls the indictment unprecedented. He says Bragg targeted former president Donald Trump by charging him with felonies for falsifying business records, which he says is usually filed as a misdemeanor.

"That's the story. And that story is consistent with the facts," Jordan said.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) doesn't think the verdict has legs to stand on.

"So, the irony here is this is going to be vacated. And this trial was all about trying to influence an election," Massie said.

Democrats criticized Republicans for holding the hearing in the first place, and say the GOP is only focused on influencing American's perception of the former president.

"House Republicans are willing to do just about anything to protect Donald Trump from the consequences of his actions," Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) said.

Nadler called the allegations baseless, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) took time to make fun of Republicans who met with Trump during his visit to DC.

"Show hands for anyone in the room who hung out with a felon today. Hey, guys, I want to get your hands up," Swalwell said.

This won't be the last hearing about Bragg, as he has agreed to testify in front of Congress on July 12th, the day after Trump is sentenced.

This was former President Trump's first visit to Capitol Hill since leaving office.

It comes as most polls show trump tied with President Joe Biden in the race for the White House.

"There's tremendous unity in the Republican party,” said Trump.

He spoke behind closed doors with House and Senate Republicans about the upcoming election and legislative priorities, from immigration to tax policy.

"We're going to bring back common sense to the government,” said Trump.

Even though a New York jury convicted the former president, who still faces a number of other charges, congressional Republicans have embraced him as their presumptive nominee.

"We are 100 percent unified behind his candidacy,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).

Congressional Democrats say the meeting comes as no surprise.

"House Republicans have capitulated and done the bidding of former president Trump every day for the past 18 months,” said Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.).

The White House is pushing back on Trump's plan to cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations.

"Benefiting those disproportionately at the top of the income distribution and making the rest of us fit the bill,” said Heather Boushey of the Council of Economic Advisors.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he's going down to Mar-a-Lago on Monday to talk more with Trump about House races.

“This is about systemic change and there’s a lot of work to be done,” Whitaker said.

In February, Boeing was given 90 days to develop a plan to fix its quality control and production issues after the door plug of a Boeing 737 Max 9 blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5. Boeing submitted its plan to the FAA on May 30.

Senators grilled Whitaker about Boeing’s new plan and what the FAA is doing to ensure the aerospace company is following through on the plan.

“The FAA must guarantee, that not only are they certifying that an aircraft is safely designed, but that the manufacturer is building them to that safe design. Clearly, that was not always happening at Boeing,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said.

Whitaker acknowledged the FAA could have been doing more before the January 5 incident.

“The FAA’s approach was too hands off, too focused on paperwork audits and not focused enough on inspections,” he said. “We have changed that approach over the last several months and those changes are permanent.”

Whitaker testified that the FAA has taken several steps to ensure quality production and safety, including adding more inspectors at Boeing facilities to closely monitor production, additional inspections throughout the production process and audits of the quality systems and build process.

“This increased visibility will play a vital role in identifying emerging safety trends before they become problems,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker also testified that the FAA has capped production of the Max, and that Boeing will not be allowed to increase production until the FAA believes it can be done safely.

This was the first major abortion ruling since Roe vs. Wade was struck down in 2022.

The court ruled unanimously that a group of doctors and medical associations opposed to abortion rights did not have the right to sue the FDA to stop the pill’s distribution.

The plaintiffs argued the FDA inappropriately relaxed rules for the drug’s use in 2016 and 2021.

The court’s decision did not address that claim, but rather the plaintiffs simply lacked standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place.

The ruling doesn’t prevent mifepristone’s use from being challenged again but does mean that recent steps by the FDA to make the drug more accessible will remain in place.

If the challengers had prevailed access to the abortion pill would have become more challenging, even in states where abortion is legal.

“ADF and our clients will continue to advocate for women's health and seek to restore common sense safeguards for abortion drugs. We're hopeful that the FDA will be held to account for putting politics above women's health,” said Erin Morrow Hawley, Senior Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom.

The Supreme Court still has several more major opinions to release which should happen by the end of the month.

Eight climate protesters ran onto the field during the charity event, some with shirts that read “End Fossil Fuels Now.”

Police quickly wrangled the protestors and play resumed. The activist group Climate Defiance claimed on social media that they were responsible for the interruption.

The Republican team went on to extend their winning streak by beating the Democrats 31-11, a more common score for football than baseball. The Democrats have not won since 2019.

It's now up to the Justice Department to decide whether the contempt resolution becomes a court case.

The Justice Department refused to hand over the recordings from President Joe Biden's special counsel interview about his handling of classified documents.

"The Attorney General doesn't get to decide whether he hides the tape,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

The Justice Department released the transcript, but President Biden invoked executive privilege on the tapes blocking their release.

"We have a right to know if Robert Hur's recommendation against prosecuting President Biden was warranted,” said Johnson.

Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, who led the push to hold Garland in contempt, argues the recordings are the best evidence.

"That's why we have the contempt resolution. We've assumed this is going to wind up in court, but we think our case is strong,” said Jordan.

The vote effectively recommends the prosecution of Garland.

It is now up to the Justice Department to decide whether to turn the resolution into a case.

Some Republicans say they should challenge President Biden's use of executive privilege in court to force Garland to turn over the recordings but Democrats, like California Congressman Pete Aguilar, say this is really just about one person, former president Donald Trump.

"They will do whatever he asks them to do. That's been that's been very clear,” said Aguilar.

Trump will return to Capitol Hill Thursday for the first time since the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol to meet with House and Senate Republicans

Garland became the third attorney general in U.S. history to be held in contempt of Congress. The other votes happened under the Trump and Obama administrations, but the Justice Department never took action.

The visit marks Trump’s first return since the January 6^th Capitol riot. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says lawmakers are “anxious” to exchange ideas with the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

Republicans say they feel confident they can win the House, Senate and White House this November.

"Change is coming…November cannot get here soon enough,” said Johnson.

Johnson says Republicans are prepared to advance a series of bills and executive orders within the first hundred days to reverse President Joe Biden’s policies.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who endured a public spat with Trump, says he will attend Thursday’s Senate meeting with Trump.

Casey Burgat, the Legislative Affairs Program Director at George Washington, says he expects Trump will quickly sign executive orders reversing Biden-era policies on immigration, energy, oil and trade deals.

Burgat says it remains unclear how effective a Republican Congress will be.

"It's one thing to agree on a bumper sticker, but to actually agree on all the details that are required to do big legislative overhauls that's a very different calculation,” says Burgat.

Congressional Democrats are brushing off Trump’s visit.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) said the visit is, "just another example of House Republicans bending the knee to Donald Trump.”

Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and James Comer (R-Ky.) led the push to hold Garland in contempt.

The House subpoenaed the recording of President Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur’s office.

The Department of Justice provided the transcript, but the White House invoked executive privilege on the recordings.

“One former president is being charged. Joe Biden is not being. We think, we actually know, we’re entitled to all the evidence and the best evidence,” Jordan said on the House floor.

Democrats admonished the Republican vote, calling it a show.

“Do they think the Holy Grail of the 118^th Congress, evidence of a presidential high crime and misdemeanor is lurking in the pauses or the background throat clearings and sneezes on the audiotape?” asked Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

The Department of Justice is prosecuting former president Donald J. Trump in Florida and Washington, D.C.

Amid threats and allegations he’s weaponizing the Department of Justice, Garland wrote a rare op-ed in the Washington Post on Tuesday in response to what he calls attacks on the Department of Justice.

He said the department has seen increases in falsehoods, conspiracy theories, violence and threats of violence.

“Continued unfounded attacks against the Justice Department’s employees are dangerous for people’s safety. They are dangerous for our democracy. This must stop,” Garland wrote.

The vote to hold Garland in contempt passed, 216-207.