Latest Episode
June 2 1200 UTC Brief
In U.S. politics
Republican senators are pressing Donald Trump over his Anti-Weaponisation Fund, a €1.5 billion program meant to compensate people who say they were targeted by politically motivated investigations. Even by modern standards, handing out a billion-plus under the banner of grievance is drawing questions inside his own party.
In Europe
EU leaders are weighing whether to open direct talks on Ukraine at their June 18 and 19 summit, but only after a ceasefire. A draft of the conclusions suggests a special envoy mandate is still a long way off, which is diplomatic language for “not yet, and don’t hold your breath.”
Separately, right-wing MEP Charlie Weimers says the bloc has entered an “era of deportations” after a deal on what is being billed as the EU’s strictest migration law, including return hubs outside the bloc.
In crime and policing
Authorities have found a tunnel under the U.S.-Mexico border between Tijuana and San Diego that was allegedly used to smuggle drugs and weapons. The investigation is now focused on who built it, who used it, and how long it had been operating under everyone’s feet.
In Scotland, a court has heard that former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell used false accounting and fake invoices to conceal embezzlement from the party. Prosecutors say some of the money went on more than £23,000 of luxury stationery and a £3,000 robotic lawnmower.
Kemi Badenoch has also called the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak a “Stephen Lawrence moment” for British policing after bodycam footage and details of his treatment by police were released. She rejected comparisons with George Floyd, said Britain is not institutionally racist, and argued that police guidance and the law need to be reviewed.
In business and tech
Bitcoin fell more than 4.9% in the past 24 hours, trading around $69,393, as long-time crypto bulls started selling. The market’s favorite religion is having a rough week.
HPE said its latest quarter was a record, with revenue up 40% from a year ago to $10.7 billion, helped by networking and AI systems orders. The company says the $14 billion Juniper acquisition is paying off, and investors liked the sound of that.
In sports
Odell Beckham Jr. is back with the New York Giants, signing after a workout with team officials. It reunites him with the team that drafted him 12 years ago and adds another veteran receiver to the group.
Separately, longtime basketball coach Rick Adelman has died at 79. The cause of death has not been released.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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