💵 Plus: Trump officials push for $250 bill with Trump’s face
 

12:30 REPORT

12:30 REPORT

 

May 28, 2026 | By Cate Martel

Today in DC: ☀️ 77°  View Online  |  Sign up

Happy Thursday. Have you heard of the infamous egg roll filled with Skyline chili that was sold as a promotion during the Reds-Mets game? This clip of a broadcaster sampling the ~creative~ concoction had me in tears this morning.

 

Also, who else has FOMO from not going to last night’s Bruce Springsteen concert in Washington? 🙋

 

In today's issue:

  • U.S., Iran nearing deal despite trading strikes
  • Trump officials push for $250 bill with Trump’s face
  • Artists deny involvement in America 250 event
  • Jill Biden on husband’s 2024 debate: was he ‘drugged?’
  • Buttigieg leads 2028 field
  • Bruce Springsteen announces stacked pre-election show
 

🪖 In the White House

We may be *very* close to an Iran deal:

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

U.S. and Iranian negotiators have agreed to a peace deal but are waiting for President Trump to give his approval, according to new reporting from Axios today.

What is reportedly in the peace deal?: A ceasefire extension and the start of nuclear negotiations.

The Guardian reports that President Trump is circulating a draft peace agreement to some of the U.S.’s allies, including Israel.

^ For what it’s worth: Conservative political commentator Scott Jennings says a senior administration official confirmed the veracity of this report. “The U.S. appears to be getting everything we want,” Jennings added.

But keep in mind: We have reportedly been close to a deal before and there are still many moving parts that can derail it. And Iran hawks won't be happy about extending the ceasefire without concessions from Iran on its nuclear program. 

Tensions are extra high today because of a little tit-for-tat: The U.S. launched a new wave of defensive strikes on Iran on Wednesday. Iran has already retaliated, saying it fired at an American air base in Kuwait this morning.

U.S. Central Command (Centcom) then accused Iran of violating the ceasefire: “This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom wrote in a post.

💬 Follow today’s live blog

A $250 DOLLAR BILL?:

Trump administration officials are pushing to create a $250 bill with President Trump’s photo to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday, according to new reporting from The Washington Post. 📸 Mockup of the new bill

This would be the first appearance of a living person on American currency in more than 150 years. It was outlawed in 1866.

Tidbit: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mocked this reporting by posting, “By the end of Trump’s term, it’ll be just enough to buy one gallon of gas and a carton of eggs.”

HOPE YOU WROTE THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR IN PENCIL:

Multiple artists who were listed on the America 250 celebration on the National Mall deny their involvement.

Which artists say they will not perform: Young MC, Morris Day and The Time and the C+ C Music Factory group

From Young MC: “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.”

Which artists *are* still expected to perform: Country artist Martina McBride and rappers Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice

NEXT IN THE PRESS BRIEFING LINEUP:

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will take his turn today leading the White House press briefing while press secretary Karoline Leavitt is on maternity leave.

 

📰 Other news

Jill Biden gives us the tea on that infamous June 2024 Biden debate:

The Atlantic obtained an excerpt of former first lady Jill Biden’s upcoming memoir. She describes what went through her mind during her husband, former President Biden’s, disastrous debate in June of 2024 that sparked calls for him to drop out of the presidential race. Yes, the debate where Biden proclaimed that “we finally beat Medicare.”  

When she watched, she thought, “is this a stroke” and “has he been drugged?” She then thought to herself, “oh God—will people watching assume this is how he is all the time?” 

Excerpt from The Atlantic: “Jill Biden concedes that her husband, who turned 80 shortly before announcing his reelection bid, ‘was definitely aging’ in office, occasionally failing in his fight against fatigue and the physical demands of the presidency. He apparently battled ‘excruciating pain most days’ from a November 2020 foot injury that never fully healed. She acknowledges that her husband had ‘privately floated the idea of voluntarily being a one-term, transitional president’ during his 2020 campaign and, deep into his presidency, seriously considered whether pursuing a second term would be the right decision.” Read more 

Memoir release date: It will be published on June 2.  

NEW 2028 POLL: Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is leading in a new Emerson College Polling survey today on a hypothetical Democratic presidential primary in 2028.

Buttigieg: 18 percent support
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D): 16 percent
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.): 11 percent support
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D): 10 percent
Former Vice President Kamala Harris: 10 percent
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D): 9 percent
Undecided: 18 percent

The DOJ’s next target — the writer who accused Trump of sexual assault:

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the former magazine columnist who accused President Trump of sexual assault, according to CNN reporting.

What we know: “The investigation is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in testimony tied to her two civil lawsuits against the president – one alleging he sexually abused Carroll in a New York department store in the mid-1990s, and a second for defaming her when in 2019 he repeatedly denied the assault, said she wasn’t his type and claimed she made it up to boost sales of a book.” Read more

For context: “The probe is the latest move in the department’s ceaseless, and somewhat strained, efforts to meet Trump’s demands to target his long-standing personal foes.”

AN UNEVENTFUL SUPREME COURT OPINION DAY: 

The Supreme Court released opinions this morning but none of the cases were major or high-profile.  

QUICK HITS: 

— The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) X account told White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to “shut up you ugly f—.” That’s in response to Miller mocking Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico (D) as Texas’s “first transgender senate candidate.” Read more 

— The FBI arrested a CIA official who had $40 million in gold bars in his home. Read more 

— There’s a powerful new drug that may lower cholesterol. Researchers may know as soon as this summer whether it cuts the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Read more

MORE READS: 

The Washington Post: Ozempic may be reshaping the brain, scientists say: GLP-1 drugs may be rewiring circuits involved not only in appetite but in emotion, desire and beyond. 

Politico: Factions inside the Trump administration wrestle over how to handle AI 

The New York Times: Prices in the U.S. Are Rising at the Fastest Pace in Years: Officials at the central bank have embraced the possibility of higher interest rates to get resurgent inflation under control. 

🗓️ COMING UP

The House and Senate are out. 🌴President Trump is at the White House. Vice President Vance is in Colorado, speaking at the Air Force Academy’s commencement. (All times EDT) 

 

Happening now: Join The Hill’s senior vice president of editorial content, Bill Sammon, and Decision Desk HQ’s chief elections analyst, Geoffrey Skelley are taking live questions about the news and politics. Submit your question!

2 p.m.: Trump participates in “signing time.” *cue ‘Closing Time*

2 p.m.: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent briefs reporters. 

3:30 p.m.: Trump holds an Oval Office policy meeting.

🐝 INTERNET BUZZ

🍔 Celebrate: Today is National Hamburger Day! Psst, here’s a list of hamburger deals today to celebrate properly.

 

🤘 A pre-election show in DC: During Bruce Springsteen’s concert last night, he announced big show in Washington on Oct. 3, exactly one month before the midterms. It will also feature Foo Fighters, Dropkick Murphys, Dave Matthews Band and more. Read more

 

👋 AND FINALLY…

If you’re ever in need of a bouncer, you should absolutely consider hiring this orangutan to work as security and bag check.

 

You just know she has phenomenal references, too.

 

 Stay Engaged 

📺 Miss yesterday's newsletter? Catch up with a 1-minute video catch-up.

 

I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes 🍪 to cmartel@thehill.com.

 

Check out more newsletters here. See you next time!

I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time!

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