Primaries, Reflecting Pool, Guinness World Record

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By Nadja Lovadinov

June 23, 2026

By Nadja Lovadinov

June 23, 2026

 
 

Welcome back, thank you for joining us. Primaries are happening today. I’ll be watching the results closely, and below we’re checking in with one of our political reporters on the ground. Also in the headlines: The Pentagon has told lawmakers it needs roughly $80 billion for the Iran war; and the National Guard and U.S. Park Police patrol the Reflecting Pool as Trump looks for a renovation do-over. 

 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, in Washington.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

POLITICS

Pentagon seeks $80 billion from Congress for Iran war

The request adds to what is already a sizable military spending boost being sought by the president. The White House has requested $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon — a nearly 50% increase over the current fiscal year’s funding levels. Read more.

Why this matters:

  • The White House Office of Management and Budget has yet to make a formal request to Congress. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill. The funding package will almost certainly run into trouble from lawmakers who refuse to support Trump’s decision to go to war and are reluctant to give the Pentagon more money at a time of high costs of living for Americans.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Iran’s president heads to Pakistan as US-Iran teams work to finalize a war-ending deal

  • Senate passes a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices

  • Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan dies at 100
 

POLITICS

What to watch in Tuesday’s Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Utah primaries

What to watch in Tuesday’s Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Utah primaries

We’re doing something a bit different today. Joining me is national politics reporter, Meg Kinnard, who’s been reporting for the AP for over 20 years. Meg is in South Carolina covering the GOP governor runoff tonight, but first, she’s here with us this morning to answer a few questions about today’s elections.

 

What do you think today’s races will tell us about where things are heading in the November midterms?

We will see a bit of how much sway President Donald Trump still has; he’s played a large role in South Carolina’s primary, and while he’s made picks in the other states, his influence there may be a bit muted given how deeply red this state is. I’ve talked to voters who like being in line with Trump’s picks — as well as plenty who say his endorsement doesn't matter to them.

 

What’s the race you find most interesting? 

I’m watching to see how much influence New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has in the contests where he's aggressively endorsed candidates challenging Democrats supported by party leadership. Mamdani made a big splash when he won, but if his chosen picks have success — like Darializa Avila Chevalier, the 32-year-old he’s supporting against Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat — that can strengthen his status as a democratic socialist kingmaker. It can also risk deepening fractures in his own party.

If you want more from Meg, she also writes our political newsletter Ground Game. Subscribe here.

If you want more from Meg, she also writes our political newsletter Ground Game. Subscribe here.

 

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Mamdani tests his political clout in New York’s primary as he looks to reshape the Democratic Party

  • What to watch in Tuesday’s primaries

  • South Carolina voters will choose between two Trump-backed governor candidates in Republican runoff

  • Redrawn US House map in Utah sets up heated Democratic primary in Salt Lake-area district

  • Judge blocks use of federal database to check citizenship, saying it could wrongly purge voters
 

POLITICS

National Guard and US Park Police patrol Reflecting Pool as coating peels

The Trump administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix a botched renovation before the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. Read more.

What to know:

  • The patrols came two days after President Donald Trump said authorities had made “multiple arrests” of people he insisted were responsible for damage to the peeling coating after an algae bloom occurred. He has not backed up those claims, and even if anyone has deliberately peeled or cut the lining, that would not explain the algae bloom that appeared more intensely than what typically occurred before the renovation. The Park Police did not immediately respond Monday to AP’s questions about how many arrests were made.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Trump is the frontman for his own party as rival groups vie to shape America’s 250th anniversary
     
  • Authorities arrest 2 more suspects in planned attack on Trump’s UFC show 

  • From peace talks to Pennsylvania: Trump visiting Mack Truck facility
     

  • Federal judge halts Trump administration effort to subpoena Walz in immigration enforcement probe 

  • Tucker Carlson says he’ll no longer support the Republican Party 
 

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