News wrap: Judge orders Kennedy Center to remove Trump’s name from building

In our news cover on Friday, a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove Donald Trump’s name from the building, the US and Iran appear to remain far apart on a potential deal to end the conflict, and Romania says a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building near its border with Ukraine, the first time that has happened on NATO territory since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Amna Nawaz:

President Trump met in the White House Situation Room for about two hours today, he said, to make a final decision on a potential deal to end the war. The President did not make any announcement and this meeting ended.

US officials describe the potential agreement as a memorandum of understanding that would open the Strait of Hormuz and then begin a second phase of negotiations on limiting Iran’s nuclear program and lifting US sanctions.

But today, Tehran publicly insisted that the current negotiations do not include the nuclear issue. One of the lead negotiators, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, struck a tough tone on X, saying: “No step will be taken until the other side acts.”

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s so-called Arms Control Fund, a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim they have been targeted by the justice system. The order halts the formation of the fund and any potential payments for at least the next two weeks.

Since its announcement last week, the fund has been challenged in at least three lawsuits. It also drew bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill, including from Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

Meanwhile, in another legal setback for the president, a federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove Donald Trump’s name from the building. Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the venues’ board violated the law, writing – quote – “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”

In response to the judge’s ruling and in a major concession, President Trump said he would seek a full and complete transfer of responsibility for the Kennedy Center to Congress.

In Louisiana, Republican state lawmakers approved a new congressional map that could help the Republican Party gain another seat in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections. Just a month ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s current map as an illegal racial gerrymander.

New boundaries would eliminate one of the state’s two majority-black districts, leaving only one Democratic stronghold around New Orleans. The state’s U.S. House primary has been postponed until the summer so the map can be redrawn.

Turning to Lebanon, Israel says that its forces have penetrated deep into Lebanese territory and expanded its attack against Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire that had little effect. Israeli forces entered the village of Dibin today, across the Litani River, which is the long-standing ceasefire border between the two countries.

The IDF advance came as Israeli air strikes killed at least six people in southern Lebanon, according to state media. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops during a visit to the northern border that the fighting would remain unabated.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through translator):

We are working in Beirut, in the Bekaa, across the entire width of the front, and we are working to eliminate Hezbollah and push them to flee.

Amna Nawaz:

In the midst of all this, the dialogue continues. Delegations from Lebanon and Israel met in Washington today in the first direct military talks between the two countries in decades. More talks are expected next week.

Romania said a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building near its border with Ukraine, injuring several people in the NATO member state. The drone that went down last night was not the first to fall inside Romania, but it was the first to cause casualties. President Putin disputed that the drone was of Russian origin.

Romania responded by closing the Russian consulate there. NATO allies condemned the incident, including Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who pledged, in his words, “to defend every inch of Allied territory.”

Back in the United States, in Texas, an ICE agent was arrested today. He was wanted for the non-fatal shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s anti-immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year. Hennepin County officials charged 52-year-old Christian Castro with assault and false reporting of a crime.

Castro was one of two federal agents who faced charges related to the crackdown in Minnesota, which raised concerns about officers’ conduct, especially after the shooting deaths of two American citizens.

On Wall Street, major stock indexes continued to increase their record gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.7 percent, hitting a new record high. The Nasdaq index also reached new heights, rising by 55 points. The S&P 500 finished with its ninth straight weekly gain.

14-year-old Shree Parikh battled his way to victory last night in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which ended with a quick playoff round.

man:

Torron.

Shri Parikh, winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee Award:

Torun.

man:

Enthymeme.

Shri Parikh:

Enthymeme.

man:

Educate me.

Shri Parikh:

Educate me.

man:

Denebola.

Shri Parikh:

Denebola.

Amna Nawaz:

Letter by letter, he read a record 32 words in just 90 seconds.

Fellow finalist, 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta, managed to spell 25 words correctly. It is the third time the mascot has been decided since its introduction in 2021.

Barrick’s win represents a stunning comeback. Just last year, illness and a shaky performance in his school’s spelling bee knocked him out of the competition. Congratulations to Sherri, who we are very confident will be saved.