The U.S. and China struck a deal that could reshape everything from smartphones to fighter jets.
Plus, Trump claims Iran’s nuclear program was obliterated, but some senators remain skeptical. A classified briefing raised new questions about the extent of damage caused by the strike.
Also, the Supreme Court wraps up its term with decisions that could impact Americans’ vote, their kids and their health care.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, June 27, 2025.
US, China strike trade deal on rare earth mineral exports
The U.S. and China have struck a new trade deal, paving the way for China to start exporting rare earth minerals to the U.S. These minerals power everything — from smartphones to electric cars to military weapons — and China controls most of the global supply.
Under the agreement, China will evaluate export requests, and the U.S. has agreed to lift some trade restrictions. However, China hasn’t specified which export limits it will remove.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s White House event on Thursday, June 26, where he touted what he called a big, beautiful agreement with Beijing. The two sides had previously stalled over tech bans and student visa restrictions, but this deal could signal a reset.
It’s a sign that after months of tension, the world’s two biggest economies may be edging back from a full-blown trade war.
Senators split on whether Iran’s nuclear program was truly crippled
The White House continues to defend its actions as doubts increase about whether U.S. strikes genuinely damaged Iran’s nuclear program, as Trump asserted. Senators recently received a classified briefing on the operation.
While Republicans believe the damage was significant and durable, some Democrats remain skeptical. This follows a leaked intelligence report earlier this week suggesting that the strikes may have only delayed Iran’s progress by a few months.
The Trump administration claims this is completely mistaken, as CIA Director Jon Rattcliffe now asserts that the damage was extensive and important nuclear sites were destroyed. Still, some Democrats left the briefing unconvinced, calling the president’s claim of total obliteration misleading and saying they heard no clear endgame.
“Listen, to me it still appears that we have only set back the Iranian nuclear program by a handful of months. There’s no doubt there was damage done to the program, but the allegations that we have obliterated their program just don’t seem to stand up to reason,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. “I just do not think the president was telling the truth when he said this program was obliterated.”
“President Trump said that the nuclear stockpile was completely and totally obliterated. I did not receive an adequate answer to that question. What was clear is that there was no coherent strategy, no endgame, no plan, no detailed plan on how Iran does not attain a nuclear weapon,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said.
“My personal view, based on what I heard, is Iran continues to be a threat. A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to the entire world, an unacceptable threat, and right now we have no final battle damage assessment,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said.
Now, Trump is responding by blaming Democrats for the leak and stating on Truth Social that they should be prosecuted. The FBI is investigating how that classified report was released, and the White House might now restrict intelligence sharing with Congress.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down, criticizing the media for “cheering against Trump and undermining the military’s success.”
“You see, we’re here this morning because, in hunting for scandals all the time, in trying to find wedges and, and spin stories, this press corps and the press corps, miss historic moments. Because you, and I mean specifically you, the press, specifically you, the press corps, because you cheer against Trump so hard, it’s like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump. Because you want him not to be successful so bad, you have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes. There are so many aspects of what our brave men and women did that, because of the hatred of this press corps, are undermined because people are trying to leak and spin that it wasn’t successful. It’s irresponsible.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The Pentagon also revealed new details about the strikes, including that they were 15 years in the making, bombs were dropped into ventilation shafts, and a small team of U.S. troops was left behind in Qatar to prepare for possible retaliation.
GOP scrambles to save sweeping MAGA bill before July 4 deadline
It’s crunch time on Capitol Hill, and Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” has hit a major obstacle. During a rally at the White House on Thursday, June 26, Trump promoted the broad legislation as a way to secure the border and restore the American Dream. However, an influential Senate referee at the Capitol rejected several important sections of the bill.
The Senate parliamentarian, responsible for interpreting the chamber’s rules, determined that major issues such as Medicaid reductions and student loan modifications cannot be kept under the expedited process that Republicans are employing.
That’s a setback for GOP leaders working to meet Trump’s July 4th deadline. Some Republicans are furious, calling the ruling undemocratic, while others are now pushing for changes to safeguard rural hospitals in their states.
Still, Senate leaders insist the bills are not dead. At least, not yet.
Final day for Supreme Court rulings this term
Friday, June 27, marks the final day of the Supreme Court’s term, and we anticipate rulings in six significant cases that could alter everything from voting rights to online privacy.
At the top of the list: Can states consider race when drawing congressional maps?
This Louisiana case could influence Black voter representation and the future of the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, the court will consider the authority of federal judges to continue blocking significant federal policies across the country, such as Trump’s executive order to terminate citizenship.
Some other cases we’re watching Friday:
- Can states require you to prove your age to access online porn?
- Can parents opt their kids out of school books with LGBTQ themes?
- And can religious employers deny preventive health care under Obama?
Straight Arrow News will deliver updates on all six decisions throughout the day.
Controversial vaccine panel questions longstanding ingredient in flu shots
During a meeting in Atlanta on Thursday, June 26, the CDC’s vaccine panel, now including input from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to advise against using flu vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury preservative, despite extensive evidence indicating its safety over many decades.
Kennedy has long promoted debunked claims linking thimerosal to autism. Most flu vaccines in the U.S. already contain little to none of it.
One of his allies, an anti-vaccine activist, was allowed to present. Drawing backlash from doctors who said the panel ignored science. Critics warn the move could spark more vaccine fear and limit access, especially in lower-income areas.
The CDC director — or Kennedy — still needs to approve it for it to become policy.
NASA’s Webb telescope captures image of planet beyond our solar system
NASA’s James Webb Telescope recently detected a massive exoplanet, TWA 7, orbiting a nearby young star. The planet is roughly the size of Saturn but orbits at a distance 50 times greater than Earth’s from the sun.
This discovery involved advanced technology and patience, and NASA successfully captured it. It serves as a reminder that the universe is vast, unpredictable and full of surprises.
