Greg Nash

The House tried one last time this morning to extend the U.S.’s warrantless spy powers before Friday’s deadline — and they failed. That means Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is set to expire on Friday.  

What happened this morning?: House Republicans failed to secure enough Democratic votes to pass a short-term extension of FISA. This would have just punted the deadline by a few weeks. However, House lawmakers are now headed out of town for recess without a deal. 

Why most Democrats refused to help: Democrats are furious that President Trump handed the job of acting director of national intelligence (DNI) to Bill Pulte, a loyalist with no intelligence experience.  

The final vote: 198-218. Nineteen Republicans voted against the bill and seven Democrats voted “yes.”  

💬 Follow today’s live blog 

Republicans beat Democrats 11-2 in the annual Congressional Baseball Game. This is the sixth consecutive season that Republicans dominated. 📸 Photos from the game 

Sen. Eric Schmitt’s (R-Mo.) diving catch made it into ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Top 10 plays of the day. 🎥 Watch the play 

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he loves inflation. No, really!  

He was asked about inflation hitting the highest point in the past three years, surging to 4.2 percent over the past year and surged 0.5 percent in May alone. 

“No, I love it. The numbers were great,” Trump said. “I love the inflation.” 

Trump argued the U.S. reached “the best economy we’ve ever hit prior to the Iran war,” noting he now wants to prioritize preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.  

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are losing their sense of humor about the Iran war: Trump did predict this conflict would only last for four-to-five weeks, after all. It’s affecting energy prices, the stock market and inflation — all when Capitol Hill Republicans are desperately trying to cling to their slim majorities.  

Democrats think they are close to having enough votes to limit the president’s war powers. Four Republican senators have voted to discharge the war powers resolution and Democrats think they’re close to finding a fifth.   

Read more: ‘Senate GOP support erodes for Trump’s Iran war stance’ 

The outdoor arena has been set up on the White House lawn for this weekend’s UFC fight.  

📸 New photos of the setup  

🎥 Video of the seats 

What is the price tag of this event: Federal agencies and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are spending at least $60 million on this UFC event, which is happening on Trump’s birthday (which also happens to be Flag Day). 

Where is the money going?: “The funds have gone toward building an octagon fighting arena on the White House South Lawn, purchasing and delivering food and paying up to 900 workers to remain onsite since May 20 for the event’s success, according to court filings. The Executive Office of the President, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, Interior Department, National Park Service, Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration are each involved in coordinating the event — part of the administration’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.” Read more 

No, according to a new report from The Atlantic’s Sarah Fitzpatrick. 

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers last week that the $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to pay MAGA allies, potentially including convicted Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, was dead. But as Fitzpatrick noted, he was not under oath and refused to put that in writing. 

It turns out, the fund may not be scrapped: “Behind the scenes, Justice Department and other Trump-administration officials have quietly assured allies that plans for some form of payout remain on track.” After speaking with eight people familiar with the fund, Fitzpatrick reports that “officials are exploring whether elements of the fund can be reactivated while also examining alternative arrangements to make sure loyalists get compensated.”  

The White House is reportedly quietly waiting for opposition to the fund to blow over. 

Read more: ‘Trump Isn’t Giving Up on His Slush Fund’ 

The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch was onto this, writing over the weekend: "The U.S. government has a limitless pot of money to pay out settlements for claims made against it that are held in the so-called Judgment Fund."

A judge stepped in today: A federal judge rejected a lawsuit that tried to stop the “anti-weaponization fund.”  

A group, which bills itself as nonpartisan, argued the fund was a “jaw-dropping act of presidential corruption” and “brazenly illegal” due to the fact that Congress did not authorize it.  

The judge rejected the request but issued a warning to DOJ attorney Andrew Block, telling him not to “play possum with this court” regarding the fund, according to The Associated Press. 

— The leading OB-GYN group released its recommended maternal vaccine schedule. Its recommendations break with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read its vaccine guidance 

— The war in Ukraine has surpassed the length of World War I. Read more 

— At least six states have said “no” to Trump’s state fair on the National Mall, according to NOTUS, including, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Oregon. Read more 

The Washington Post: Why low U.S. math scores are concerning researchers and economists 

The Wall Street Journal: Erika Kirk Lays Out a Vision for the Conservative Christian Woman 

Politico: America’s doctors just voted for war with RFK Jr. 

The New York Times: Also Expected to Take the Field at the World Cup: Hazardous Heat 

The Washington Post: New Fed chief may soon be forced to defy Trump and raise interest rates 

The Wall Street Journal: You Have No Idea What a Trillion Dollars Is—and We Have Proof