The Evening: House rebukes Trump on Iran

June 3, 2026

	By Matthew Cullen

Good evening. The N.B.A. finals begin tonight, and New York is basically vibrating in anticipation.

Here’s the latest news:

House directs Trump to halt Iran war
Primary elections are close in California
Plus, the year’s best audiobooks

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, pictured in between trees.

Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The House votes to end the Iran war

Four House Republicans sided with Democrats this afternoon to direct President Trump to halt U.S. engagement in Iran and require permission from Congress to continue operations in the Middle East. The vote was a remarkable rebuke of Trump and his handling of the war.

The adopted resolution, which now heads to the Senate, was the latest sign of divisions between the White House and Republicans on Capitol Hill. In a vote last month to move forward with a similar measure, a handful of G.O.P. senators also broke ranks. But even if the measure were to pass the upper chamber, the ability of Congress to force a president to withdraw troops remains a contested legal question.

Today in the Middle East: Iran fired a barrage of missiles and drones at Kuwait, killing a civilian and injuring dozens of others at the country’s only international airport. Videos verified by The New York Times showed one of the airport’s terminals ablaze as people ran for safety.

Iran also launched missiles and drones at Bahrain, another U.S. ally in the Gulf region, saying it was targeting the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. The attacks further inflamed tensions as negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz have dragged on without a resolution.

For more: Where is Iran’s highly enriched uranium?

A television screen shows photos of Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer with the vote count so far

Mark Abramson for The New York Times

The governor’s race in California is close

Yesterday’s primary election to lead California, the most expensive governor’s race in American history, is still too early to call. Steve Hilton, a Trump-endorsed Republican, and Xavier Becerra, a former Biden administration official, currently lead with millions of ballots left to count. Follow here for the latest updates.

Elsewhere:

Republican voters in Iowa dealt a shocking defeat to a Trump-endorsed candidate for governor.
In Montana, Sam Forstag, a former smoke jumper, won the Democratic primary for a House seat. He will test the left-leaning theory that progressives can outperform moderates in Republican strongholds.

The Port of Baltimore last year. Alyssa Schukar for The New York Times

Trump officials fight a court order to refund some tariffs

The Trump administration is resisting an order requiring that the government refund the full $166 billion collected from tariffs that were found to be illegal. Now, it’s unclear when or if many businesses will get back the full sum they paid to the government.

Trump’s aides have also settled on a new rationale to justify his broad tariffs. Last night, they proposed a tariff of 10 percent to 12.5 percent on 59 countries and the E.U.

In other Trump administration news:

Several Republican senators indicated that they would oppose a bill funding Trump’s immigration crackdown unless it also blocked Trump from creating a fund to compensate his political allies.
The president suggested that Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, and JD Vance, the vice president, should split the presidential ticket in 2028.

More top news

Business: Elon Musk’s SpaceX set a price for its initial public offering of $135 a share, which would make it the largest I.P.O. ever.
Ukraine: On the first day of an economic conference intended to serve as a showcase for the Russian economy, Ukraine’s military attacked St. Petersburg with drones.
California: The F.B.I. killed a man this morning who was suspected of holding hostages in an office building in Bakersfield, Calif.
Health: Previously, Americans exposed to Ebola were brought home for monitoring and treatment. Under the Trump administration, their status is unclear.
Gambling: George Santos, a former House member, was referred to federal authorities for insider trading after he bet on his own attendance at the State of the Union address.
Michigan: At Interlochen, the art school and camp where Jeffrey Epstein is said to have met two of the earliest victims of his abuse, a lodge once named after him will be torn down.
Birds: Black-crowned night herons are rugged birds and quintessential New Yorkers, but a new study suggests they could soon go extinct in the city.

IT’S FINALS TIME

A crowd of fans in front of an ambulance, one of whom is climbing it in a Carmelo Anthony jersey.

Fans in Manhattan after the Knicks advanced to the N.B.A. finals on May 25. Vincent Alban for The New York Times

The N.B.A. finals begin tonight, between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. It’s the most culturally significant championship series in recent memory, and I’m not just saying that because we’re the hometown newspaper. So, until one of the teams take home the trophy, my colleague Jessica Testa, who loves the Knicks but is bored by stats, will send postcards from New York City, where the vibes are high (at least for now).

Here’s her first dispatch:

If you’re just now tuning into the Knicks’ long-suffering journey, welcome. Your fever will last eight to 17 days. Our city has repealed children’s bedtimes; the bagels have been dyed orange and blue; we might even have the pope on our side. Here are two things to know:

Our hero is Jalen Brunson, the stoic king of New York. His father played for the Knicks the last time the team reached the finals — 1999! When they lost to the Spurs! Brunson is an avatar for underdogs, beloved by fans and the “SVU” star Mariska Hargitay.

Then there’s the Spurs’ star: Victor Wembanyama, a 22-year-old Frenchman who goes by Wemby and has trained with monks. He’s also … 7-foot-4 (at least). Even New York’s mayor isn’t immune to his charms, recently praising the thobe that Wemby wore to Game 6 of the conference finals. A writer at The Athletic moved from Boston to San Antonio just to cover the generational talent. Here’s his report.

I’m hosting a watch party at home tonight, serving Prince Street Pizza and this famous-in-my-household salad. LGK. — JESSICA TESTA

TIME TO UNWIND

A grid of eight differently shaped cutouts showing details from various audiobook covers.

The New York Times

The best audiobooks of the year (so far)

Some stories are particularly well-suited for audio. I found that to be true about Patrick Radden Keefe’s “London Falling,” which retraces the life of a 19-year-old Londoner who fell in with a gangster underworld. I started listening to it during my commute into work one day last month, and I didn’t want to turn it off.

It’s on our Book Review’s list of the best audiobooks through the first five months of 2026. Check it out and find your next listen.

Assorted objects against a white backdrop, including a black collared longsleeve shirt and gray skirt, red suspenders, a pile of old books, a poster for “Annie Hall” and a black square clock.

via Bonhams

Dinner table topics

Diane Keaton’s estate auction showcases her distinct style. Which of her items would you bid on?
Thatched cottages, once associated with peasant life, are now coveted. But the thatchers are feuding.
Movie theaters are becoming hot wedding venues.
Peruse this list of the 100 greatest living American songwriters, according to all of you.

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

A baking dish with a deep red torte and a plate with a scoop and ice cream.

Christopher Testani for The New York Times

Cook: This plum-almond crumble might be just what you need at the end of a long day.

Watch these movies and shows coming to Netflix this month.

Read “The Traveler,” about the fascinating teen who sailed the world with Captain Cook.

Get inspired by our fashion photographer’s casual look of the week.

Wear these headphones while you run.

Play: Here are today’s Connections,