Ahmet Kerem Korkaya, a 28-year-old pro-Palestine activist from Milwaukee, pled not guilty Monday to federal charges that he and seven other students at the University of Michigan conspired to commit acts of vandalism, harassment and threats targeting university officials, local businesses, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit in an effort to get the University of Michigan to sever ties with Israel. Online court records show that Korkaya, who appeared before Magistrate Judge Kimberly Altman for the Eastern District of Michigan, was released on bond. 

A grand jury indicted Korkaya and the other activists including 23-year-old Zainab Aliasgar Hakim; 21-year-old Amatullah Aliasgar Hakim, 28-year-old Paige Elizabeth Feyock, 22-year-old Jonathan Hongru Zou, 24-year-old Mariam Muhammed Odeh, and 24-year-old Colin Hunter Weger — all of Michigan — as well as 23-year-old Alexander Matthew Sepulveda of Illinois.

Korkaya was a student at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he was studying medical science, with a focus on cancer and tumor immunology, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. He also conducted research at the University of Michigan in 2023 and 2024, and holds bachelor’s and master degrees from two different universities.

In a press release, the Department of Justice points to public social media posts and activist demonstrations carried out by the group demanding that the University of Michigan enact a “full and complete divestment” from Israel and any businesses supporting Israel. The federal government asserts that when the university didn’t respond the way the group wanted, it engaged in tactics such as occupying university buildings, spray-painting buildings and disrupting university events. 

Some demonstrations involved using red paint to write messages on buildings, to simulate blood staining the hands of demonstrators and on white sheets representing the bodies of some of the at least 75,000  Palestinians killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. Although these were common tactics used by student activists who mobilized across the nation to condemn Israel’s attack on Gaza in late 2023, prosecutors have framed the actions as intimidating. 

Prosecutors also accuse the group of researching home addresses, photographs, business ownership and other details of university leaders. Korkaya and others are accused of discussing ways to “kill,” “torment,” “terrorize,” or “get” these people and their families. The group is also accused of carrying out nighttime actions where businesses and homes were spray-painted with pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages. Prosecutors highlight that some of the incidents involved the spray-painting of a red upside-down triangle which the government claims is associated with Hamas. The Jewish Federation of Detroit was among the buildings spray-painted, prosecutors say. The group is also accused of throwing jars of noxious chemicals into the homes of people they targeted.

The allegations and evidence were not enough to persuade judges to keep members of the group behind bars as court proceedings continue. In considering the government’s claims that the activists pose a  danger to the community and a flight risk, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti said that the alleged actions were “terrorizing, but not terrorism,” Michigan Advance reported, in a separate hearing last week. 

That hearing was protested by about 50 people, who held signs that said: “Drop the Charges” and “Divest Don’t Arrest. Protesters described the arrests as “witch hunts,” asserting that pro-Palestine activists are being unfairly painted as terrorists by the federal government.

The indictments represent the latest move by the Trump administration to target pro-Palestine activism. In January 2025, shortly after returning to office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the deportation of international students who attend pro-Palestine protests. Just a few months later at least 300 students had their visas revoked for “destabilizing” college campuses, and federal agents arrested Palestinian student activists including Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi. This year Salah Sarsour, the president of Milwaukee’s Islamic Society and an outspoken Palestinian activist, was also arrested by federal immigration agents and sent to an Indiana detention center. 

“Our justice system must carefully distinguish between alleged criminal acts and constitutionally protected political advocacy,” Dawud Walid, executive director of the Center for American Islamic Relations Michigan chapter, said in a statement about the arrests.

NSPM-7, a national security order signed by Trump, directs law enforcement members of regional  Joint Terrorism Task Forces  to “investigate, prosecute, and disrupt” groups and individuals with ideologies harboring themes of “anti-Americanism,” “anti-capitalism,” “anti-Christianity,” “extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.” 

Numerous law enforcement agencies participated in what the government called a “multi-state operation” in order to arrest Korkaya and the others. Among the participants were FBI field offices in Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as 12 local law enforcement agencies including the Milwaukee Police Department, the Michigan State Police, university campus police and public safety, and the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, which is one of the nation’s Fusion Centers originally designed for homeland security and counter-terrorism functions. 

The Milwaukee Police Department also maintains a Fusion Center. The department would not comment on whether it was involved in gathering intelligence related to Korkaya’s arrest. The FBI office of Milwaukee also wouldn’t comment on whether the arrests are related to NSPM-7, directing the Examiner to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Michigan, which has not responded to a request for comment.

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The United States has a shortage of the only first-line medication recommended for pregnant women with syphilis to prevent passing it to their baby, even as congenital syphilis rates have been skyrocketing.

Last July, drug manufacturer Pfizer issued a voluntary recall of brand name Bicillin L-A, or penicillin G benzathine — a long-acting injectable of the antibiotic — warning of particulates, or foreign material, in some batches. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says supplies won’t return to normal until December 2027.

In the United States, there’s only one manufacturing plant that makes this injectable penicillin, run by Pfizer’s subsidiary, King Pharmaceuticals, in Michigan. The FDA has allowed the temporary importation of an alternative, Lentocilin, from Portugal.

But because Lentocilin isn’t a permanent solution, and penicillin is difficult and complex to manufacture, experts are concerned that the shortage will worsen infection rates and the disparities associated with congenital syphilis, which occurs when the infection is passed on to developing fetuses and newborns. State health departments told Stateline they are guiding providers to prioritize the medication for pregnant patients with syphilis and their babies, and are connecting patients with the drugs if clinics lack them.

Bicillin L-A has seen intermittent shortages throughout the past decade, said Elizabeth Finley, interim executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. In one survey of health departments across 13 states during a 2023 shortage, the group found widespread challenges in getting the drug in order to treat pregnant patients.

But last year’s recall has created “a shortage that is more significant than we’ve experienced in the past,” Finley said.

Some health centers lost their entire stock of Bicillin in the recall, Finley and others told Stateline. The drug has no generic alternative.

Congenital syphilis can have devastating, irreversible effects. Babies born to women with syphilis can be stillborn or die as a newborn. The infection also can cause serious complications in babies, such as bone deformities, deafness or blindness.

“The biggest fear with the Bicillin shortages has always been that somebody could not get treatment before delivery,” Finley said. “There’s really no length of exposure to syphilis that is safe for a fetus.”

Indigenous babies have had the highest rates in recent years, disproportionate to their share of the population, followed by Black babies.

“It’s really a tragedy, because it’s totally preventable,” said infectious disease physician Dr. Kelly Johnson, medical director of the California Prevention Training Center at the University of California, San Francisco. The center offers training and consultation to medical providers in Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico and Nevada, as well as in California, where congenital syphilis cases rose almost fivefold over the past decade. Under the recall, California had to return nearly 20% of its Bicillin L-A stock.

In recent years, congenital syphilis cases have more than tripled, with nearly 4,000 cases nationwide in 2024 alone — the highest number reported in a single year in three decades.

A federal report showed lack of timely testing or proper treatment contributed to 90% of the nation’s cases. Black and Indigenous women disproportionately lack access to prenatal care, where they could get tested and treated for syphilis. Almost 90% of South Dakota congenital syphilis cases between 2020 and 2023 were in Native American babies, despite Native Americans making up just 11% of the state’s population.

National and state guidelines instruct providers and health departments to prioritize pregnant syphilis patients for their remaining stocks of Bicillin L-A. Non-pregnant syphilis patients can take the antibiotic doxycycline, although that drug’s regimen — two pills a day for up to four weeks — can be harder for patients to adhere to, experts say.

“It’s much more difficult as a clinician or as a public health person to know if people actually complete their (doxycycline) treatment,” Johnson said.

Experts say it’s unclear whether the shortages have been contributing to the rise in congenital syphilis cases. “But I suspect it certainly could make it worse,” Johnson said. “The longer this goes on, the harder that it’s going to be.”

In South Dakota, which had the highest rates in the nation, cases decreased slightly last year, from 40 in 2024, to 37 in 2025. This year as of April, only one case has been reported, though data for congenital syphilis can lag.

Mississippi has seen a gradual drop in cases over the past couple of years, said Dr. Tami Brooks, medical director of the state’s health department. Mississippi and other state health departments told Stateline they connect patients with Bicillin or Lentocilin when a health care center reports it has a pregnant patient but no supply.

Bicillin L-A can also be used for other infections, such as strep throat. Dr. Tanya Fitts, immediate past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Mississippi chapter, said one of her patients had suffered a rare complication of strep throat. For the past five years, the now 18-year-old has had to take daily oral penicillin to keep symptoms at bay, instead of the recommended monthly Bicillin L-A injection, Fitts said.

“We haven’t been able to order it for many, many years,” Fitts said, adding that the price of the drug outpaced what her clinic was getting paid from insurance companies.

In a statement to Stateline, Pfizer said demand for Bicillin L-A is exceeding supply, though it said health providers may request the drug for a pregnant syphilis patient. The company did not answer Stateline’s questions regarding details of the recall nor the manufacturing process, saying it doesn’t disclose details about product supply chain.

If a drug is expensive but has limited use, manufacturers don’t have a lot of financial incentives to make it, said infectious diseases clinical pharmacist Katherine Yang, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco’s School of Pharmacy.

“The more niche a drug is, the less likely it is to have multiple manufacturers and generic products once it is off patent,” Yang said. “It does speak to the vulnerability of our drug supply chain, when there are very limited manufacturers.”

Bicillin L-A is typically sold by the 10-dose box, even if a clinic only needs a few doses — costing thousands of dollars, said family medicine physician Dr. Megan O’Connell, of the Cherokee Nation. She’s the chief public health officer of the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board, which offers epidemiological support, care and advocacy for 18 tribes across Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Patrick Fonge, pharmacy director at the Navajo Health Foundation’s Sage Memorial Hospital in rural Arizona, told Stateline wholesalers have increased prices.

“(Bicillin L-A) is not available in the market, but some vendors, some distributors, do have it in their warehouses and then now triple the price or quadruple the price to make profit,” Fonge said. According to one wholesaler, the average wholesale price for Bicillin at the 1.2mu concentration showed about $4,870 for a 10-dose box, he said. “We don’t have extra (in our) budget for Bicillin.”

Fonge puts in orders for the Lentocilin instead, through the federal Indian Health Service, which pays for the medication.

“It’s clear to us that a single U.S. manufacturer that makes this drug in a singular factory is a challenge,” said Finley, of the National Coalition of STD Directors. “We’re talking about the U.S. not being able to make the drug penicillin. Which is ridiculous.”

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.

People who carry out mass public shootings often display observable warning signs long before an attack, but those signals are frequently fragmented across friends, family members, coworkers and institutions, making them difficult to piece together, according to a new study from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a nonpartisan public policy think tank.

The report, which analyzed a sample of 171 mass public shootings in the United States between 1999 and 2024, such as those at workplaces, schools or shopping malls, found that these attacks are rarely sudden or unpredictable. Instead, researchers describe them as the result of cumulative stressors, concerning behaviors and communications of intent that, if connected, could offer opportunities for earlier intervention.

An overwhelming majority of perpetrators, nearly 86%, communicated violent thoughts or intentions to at least one other person before carrying out an attack, a pattern researchers refer to as “leakage.” These disclosures most often occurred through in-person conversations or text messages and were typically made to people within the perpetrator’s immediate social circle, including friends, family members and coworkers. 

On average, warning signs were spread across more than two different groups of observers, meaning no single person had a complete view of the escalating threat, according to the report.

The researchers also found that perpetrators tended to experience multiple overlapping stressors rather than a single triggering event. On average, people had five distinct stressors prior to an attack, including mental health challenges, job-related difficulties and family problems. Researchers also identified an average of 6.6 concerning behaviors per perpetrator, including suicidal ideation and other forms of emotional distress or aggression.

Planning often unfolded over an extended period. The report’s authors found that perpetrators spent an average of nearly 10 months preparing for attacks, including researching locations and studying prior mass shootings. 

Firearms were most often obtained through legal channels, with nearly 60% purchased from federally licensed dealers. About one-third of perpetrators had at least one factor that would have legally prohibited them from possessing a firearm, according to the report.

Researchers also found that nearly two-thirds of perpetrators had prior contact with law enforcement, underscoring what they describe as missed opportunities for intervention when warning signs appeared across different systems but were not fully connected.

“Warning signs are regularly present, observable, and known to people in the perpetrator’s social network long before the first shot is fired,” Jaclyn Schildkraut, the executive director of the consortium and lead author of the report, said in a news release. “By understanding how these indicators cluster and by building robust pathways for everyday bystanders to report what they see, we can connect the dots and intervene before a crisis turns into a tragedy.”

The report argues that improving communication between schools, law enforcement, mental health providers and community members could strengthen efforts to identify and respond to potential threats. It also highlights the need for clearer pathways for reporting concerning behavior and better systems for assessing risk when multiple warning signs emerge across different settings.

Alongside the findings, the consortium is developing an open-source database and training tools aimed at helping threat assessment professionals and community members recognize pre-attack behaviors and communication patterns. 

Stateline reporter Amanda Watford can be reached at awatford@stateline.org.

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to weigh in on the issue of whether some immigrants with criminal records can be detained indefinitely.

The court accepted a case, Genalo v. Black, from New York state involving a legal immigrant from the Dominican Republic arrested by immigration enforcement after an assault conviction and held for 21 months during deportation proceedings. 

An appeals court ruling in the case found that an “unreasonably prolonged” detention requires a bond hearing in which the government must show “clear and convincing evidence” that the immigrant would be a flight risk or a danger to the community if released. 

The Supreme Court on Monday also asked attorneys for arguments about whether the immigrant’s 2020 release makes the case moot. 

Indefinite Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention for immigrants either with criminal convictions or a record of illegally crossing a border has become legally controversial. Some appeals courts have upheld the Trump administration detention policy, while others have declared it unconstitutional. 

Individual judges have mostly ruled that non-criminals in immigration detention are entitled to a bond hearing or should be freed outright. 

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org.

Days after President Donald Trump’s name was removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a large tarp and scaffolding was still blocking the building’s facade from public view Monday afternoon. 

Construction crews took Trump’s name off the center early Saturday morning after a federal appeals court upheld a Friday deadline for its removal. 

But at the start of the work week, the portion of the building’s facade where Trump’s name was located was almost entirely obstructed. 

According to a Kennedy Center spokesperson, the scaffolding and tarp will remain up while crews perform maintenance on the marble and soffit panels on the building’s facade. 

The center did not provide any indication about how long the maintenance work will take or when the tarps will be taken down. 

The removal of Trump’s name came as a blow to his efforts over the course of his second term to take direct control of the center’s governance and get rid of what he described as “woke” programming. 

Early last year, he appointed a new, hand-selected board of trustees for the center. They subsequently named him chair. Last December, he even personally hosted the Kennedy Centers Honors, the annual tribute show celebrating significant contributions to performing arts. 

In February, Trump announced that he planned to close the Kennedy Center for two years while working on significant renovations. 

Ohio lawmaker sues

In the midst of these changes to the center, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in late December, challenging the legality of the president renaming the center after himself. She amended the suit in February, seeking to block the closure as well. 

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled in favor of Beatty on May 29, ordering that Trump’s name come down, and that the center similarly remove references to Trump from its website and online branding. 

After Cooper ruled, Trump took to Truth Social and blasted the judge, whom he described as an “anti-Trump Hater,” for stopping the “magnificent structural and aesthetic rebuilding of The Trump Kennedy Center.”

Cooper’s order also halted the planned two-year closure of the center. The Trump administration appealed the ruling, but a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld Cooper’s decision Friday evening. 

Beatty, one of seven U.S. House members on the center’s board, said in a statement last week that the Kennedy Center’s newly appointed trustees are “more focused on elevating the president than advancing the arts.”

“The court was clear in its order because the statute is clear: only Congress can change the name of the Kennedy Center,” Beatty said. “My hope moving forward is that the board restores the integrity of the Kennedy Center, rebuilds programming and respects the rule of law. This beloved national treasure deserves nothing less.”

Beatty did not immediately return States Newsroom’s request for comment Monday afternoon. 

But even though Trump’s name is gone, the center is still shrouded in legal uncertainty. 

In his May order, Cooper wrote that his ruling was not an effort to control how the center should be run or set a plan for it going forward. Rather, he said it was to hold the Kennedy Center’s Board to the requirements set by the law. 

Beyond that, he wrote, the court will “let the parties play on.” 

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday he had signed a ceasefire with Iran, moving the two countries one step closer to ending the war that began in February.

Trump, speaking from the G7 conference in Europe, said the memorandum of understanding ensures Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon and clears the way for ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz without paying a toll.  

Trump added he would like the U.S. and Iran to develop a more collegial diplomatic relation in the months and years ahead as additional details of the agreement are worked out. 

“Hopefully it’s going to be a good relationship and we’re going to get along,” he said. “And if we don’t, we go back to where we started but I don’t think that’s going to be necessary.”

Trump said he expects the memorandum of understanding to pave the way for economic sanctions relief subject to several conditions. That document should be released publicly sometime after Friday, when Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend a ceremonial signing.

One potential obstacle to a longer-term deal could be the ongoing Israeli war in Lebanon, which Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a social media post is part of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran. 

“Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Sharif wrote. 

He added that a ceremonial signing event had been scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. 

“With the agreement now in place, mediators will facilitate a series of meetings this week,” Sharif wrote. “These pre-implementation discussions will lay the foundation for the technical talks and the official signing ceremony.”

Trump said from the G7 conference that he would look into ways to end Israel’s war in Lebanon, but didn’t say that is part of the United States’ agreement with Iran. 

“We do want to see if we can straighten out the Lebanon thing because it just seems to just never end,” Trump said. “And that’s a mini version of what we were doing, but it should not be tough. So, Hezbollah we have to have a little talk with them.”

Israel not part of agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a couple hours after Trump spoke that he didn’t plan to withdraw troops from Gaza, Lebanon or Syria. 

“I’d like to clarify, we will stay there in the security zone as long as it takes in order to protect our country,” he said, according to a translator. 

Netanyahu added during his brief remarks that he believed the joint military campaign against Iran prevented that country from developing a nuclear weapon. 

“The most important thing is that we saved the state of Israel from clear and present nuclear danger because Iran was running toward it,” he said. 

But Netanyahu indicated his country’s military would not pull back in the days or months ahead, saying “the struggle has not finished yet.” 

“Today after we achieved all of that, there are those who want to belittle it and cancel these achievements and I’m telling you we are about to achieve many more great things and to eliminate threats,” Netanyahu said. 

The remarks were somewhat different from those posted earlier in the day by the Israeli minister of national security who appeared to oppose the agreement between the U.S. and Iran.  

“Trump’s agreement does not bind us,” Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote in a social media post. “Israel is not subject to the United States, and we are an independent and sovereign nation!”

Israel and the United States began the war in Iran together, but the Israeli military has also struck targets and taken territory inside Lebanon during the past few months. 

Framework for peace

Trump’s comments came just after two senior U.S. officials, who did not wish to be identified by name, told reporters on a call organized by the White House that Vance and Iran’s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf also signed the MOU. 

That document, one official said, creates a framework for how both countries will operate during the next few months as talks over some of the more complicated aspects continue.

“The basic way it works is the more that the Iranians are willing to work with us on their nuclear program, on verifying that they’re not building a nuclear weapon, on not funding radicalism and terrorism in the region, the more that they’re going to be welcomed into the world economy through a combination of sanctions relief and other economic measures,” the official said. 

That official said it would take some time for oil tankers and other ships to operate in the Strait of Hormuz the way they did before the war due to the mines Iran placed in those waters during the past few months. 

“Some crews are ready to go now, and in fact, have been going over the last couple of weeks,” the official said. “Some crews want to see a little bit more stability for the next couple of days, maybe the next couple of weeks. But you will see a significant increase in traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The official noted the relationships built between negotiators from both countries could lead to a new phase of diplomatic relations that hasn’t occurred since before the Iranian revolution in the late 1970s. 

“One of the really cool things and interesting things about this entire process is that we actually have a direct relationship with a number of people at the highest levels of the Iranian government,” the official said. “That really hasn’t happened in 47 years of our relationship with Iran. And I think it’s one of the reasons why we’ve made significant progress and understood, you know, where they’re willing to give and where we still have some wood to chop.”

The official said the heightened U.S. military presence will remain in the region as negotiations take place over how exactly inspectors can ensure Iran doesn’t try to rebuild its nuclear program.

“The agreement contemplates the reduction of military forces in the region upon the agreement of a final deal, which again is the agreement that we assume we can make, so long as the Iranians make some concessions and give up some of their activities and some of their nuclear program,” the official said.

Sanctions and Iran nuclear program

The United States, so far, has not unfrozen any seized Iranian assets or lifted any sanctions, though that will likely change in the months ahead. 

“The way that I think about this is, Iran’s nuclear weapons program has been systematically destroyed. In order to rebuild it, they need a lot of money, and this deal really has two pathways,” the official said. 

“Option one for Iran is they don’t get any money, and so they don’t have the resources to rebuild their defense industrial base or the nuclear weapons program,” the official added. “Option two is they are invited into the world economy with all the prosperity that comes along with it, but only if they provide us the enforcement and verification mechanism to ensure they’re not going to rebuild that nuclear weapon.”

The second official on the call gave a faster timeline for releasing text of the memorandum of understanding than the president, saying it would be shared publicly within 24 to 48 hours. 

“You’ll see in the MOU, we discussed the possibility of releasing frozen funds, sanctions relief, you know, a big $300 billion fund to rebuild their country,” the second official said. “And all of these things are going to be tied to performance.”

That second official added this is “just the first MOU” and that negotiators from the U.S. and Iran are going to begin “technical discussions later this week.”

The second official said that Israel withdrawing its troops from Lebanon “was not a condition” of the current deal between the U.S. and Iran. 

“The deal is a ceasefire. And it will not be a one-way ceasefire, meaning that if Iran is not able to control Hezbollah, and if they attack Israeli positions or Israeli towns, Israel will have the right to defend themselves and respond,” the second official said. 

There is hope within the Trump administration, the official said, that talks between Israel, Lebanon and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would also lead to a ceasefire in that war. 

“The first point in the MOU talks about how Iran and its allies and America and its allies seek to have a ceasefire and end hostilities, end the war and hopefully have a final peace that hopefully will include a lot of these proxy groups,” the second official said. “And hopefully this will help us get the Israel-Lebanon normalization and peace done properly.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday cageside at a multimillion-dollar bloody mixed martial arts event staged on the White House South Lawn, punctuated by fighter jet flyovers, a live military band and fireworks to mark the country’s 250th anniversary.  

It also included the airing of a conspiracy theory about a former first lady, Michelle Obama, during post-fight comments by one of the contestants.

The spectacle promoted by the Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship, billed as Freedom 250, was exclusively shown on the paid subscription platform Paramount+. The Trump-organized event was not affiliated with the national nonpartisan organization America 250, a commission created by Congress.

Aside from a blood sport taking place in the backyard of the White House, the night served as a first for several other extraordinary sights. That included live pre-fight sports commentary from inside the White House, and fighters warming up in offices-turned-lockerrooms at the neighboring Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

VIPs, including members of Congress and tech giants, sat under the lights in the temporary arena able to hold up to 4,300 guests. Tens of thousands of UFC fans crowded the Ellipse, where the fights were displayed on two mammoth screens.

The event reportedly cost $60 million, according to a government court filing. VIP sponsorship packages, including a chance to sit cage-side under “the claw” cost up to the widely reported price tag of $1.5 million.

Between praise for the American military and Jesus Christ, fighters delivered insulting and expletive-laden comments from inside “the Octagon.” Two American fighters, Bo Nikal and Josh Hokit, thanked Trump for having “the balls” to host the event at the White House. 

Hokit, a former NFL player, during his live post-fight comments to massively popular podcast host Joe Rogan, insulted Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira’s mother and then repeated a right-wing conspiracy theory claiming former first lady Michelle Obama is “a man.”

Josh Hokit gifts @POTUS his chain pic.twitter.com/506ZwmKavg

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) June 15, 2026

Rogan did not challenge the comment. Shortly after his remark, Hokit placed his victory chain around Trump’s neck and the two shook hands. The moment was captured and posted on social media by White House special assistant Margo Martin.

The official UFC YouTube clip of the California heavyweight’s speech does not include his unfounded insult of Obama.

Bright lights and flyovers

Spotlights from the UFC’s 92-foot steel canopy that dwarfed the White House and towered over “the Octagon” cage could be seen in the night sky from neighborhoods around Washington, D.C., and several residents took to social media to complain that a B-1 bomber flyover at 11:30 p.m. Eastern woke them. Fireworks exploded until nearly 1:30 a.m.

Drinks in hand, U.S. service members in short-sleeve dress uniforms celebrated from the seats — several sailors even taking part in the “YMCA” dance during the Marine Corps band’s live cover of the Village People’s 1978 hit, a staple at Trump’s events. 

Trump and UFC CEO Dana White entered the arena just before 8:30 p.m. Shortly after, a dozen fighter jets, in a joint “Super Delta” formation performed by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels, flew overhead during the national anthem, performed by country music star Zac Brown.

Trump sat just below the fighting cage between first lady Melania Trump and White, an ally who has delivered primetime addresses in support of Trump at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.

Trump was surrounded by family, including his son, Barron, who sat behind him and shook hands with several guests who approached the president, according to pooled dispatches from the White House press corps.

Several winning fighters jumped over the cage rail to shake the president’s hand following the individual matches.

Eight US fighters

Of the seven-fight card’s 14 competitors, eight were American. The violent bouts were accompanied by cheers of “USA!” and various taunts, including shouts that Canada should be “the 51st state” as American bantamweight fighter Sean O’Malley defeated Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi. Trump applauded O’Malley and shook his hand following the individual fight.

The main event featured a title match between lightweights American Justin Gaethje and Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria. Officials named Gaethje the winner just after 1 a.m., as the badly battered Topuria, with a bloodied face, was declared incapable of continuing, according to pool reports.

Fighters were paid a $250,000 performance bonus sponsored by World Liberty Financial, a crypto currency venture owned by the Trump family, according to broadcast announcers.

Cameras delivering the exclusive Paramount stream showed notable lawmakers and tech moguls in the crowd, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., former wrestler and college wrestling coach Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The press corps reported Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was also nearby.

Trump, Zuckerberg and White spoke for several minutes during a break in the fights just before 10 p.m., according to pool reports.

Other notable guests included Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, one of the event’s two primary sponsors, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal defense attorney and his attorney general nominee, shook hands as he moved through the crowd, according to press pool reports. Several other presidential Cabinet members were present, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Thursday signed a “sports diplomacy” agreement with UFC.

Also in attendance was Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, whose reportedly $111 billion corporate takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, was cleared by the Justice Department Friday, a key last step for the merger. 

Paramount+ has a $7.7 billion multi-year content deal to exclusively carry UFC events.

The event, which was to start at 8 p.m., was delayed for roughly an hour because of the threat of thunderstorms. The fights wrapped up just after 1 a.m.

Weekend festivities included a UFC press conference Friday night in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and a two-day fan festival on the Ellipse that featured motorcycle stunts from the Nitro Circus and a concert from the Georgia-based Zac Brown Band.

The UFC controlled media credentialing for the event on the White House grounds.

‘No Kings’ protest

The event faced sharp criticism but remained unscathed by an eleventh-hour lawsuit challenging the legality of UFC’s use of the White House lawn.

Performers and celebrities staged a counter-concert organized by the Committee for the First Amendment, an activist coalition of artists spearheaded by Jane Fonda. 

The No Kings protest organization promoted a livestream from The Town Hall in New York City, and encouraged people to organize remote watch parties for the “Rise Up, Sing Out” concert featuring Patti Smith, Bette Midler and Rufus Wainwright, among others.

C-SPAN also streamed the nearly two-and-a-half hour concert, though some performances were muted because of licensing restrictions.

BMW used the 24 Hours of Le Mans to introduce the electric M Neue Klasse concept. However, the next-gen M3 isn’t going electric-only.

In an interview, BMW M CEO Frank Van Meel confirmed the next-generation model will be offered with a version of the company’s updated twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six engine that complies with Euro 7 emission standards. Announced last month, the mill uses BMW M Ignite technology to burn cleaner and more efficiently.

More: BMW M Found A Way To Make The M3 And M4 Greener Without Touching Power

The engine will appear in the current M3 and M4 next month, while the M2 will get it in August. However, Van Meel told PistonHeads it will also be used in the next-generation of performance cars.

As he said, “Our motorsport-derived-tech M Ignite Euro 7 S58 comes out this year, so I can say that it will survive to go into our future M cars.” He added, “It won’t be hybrid as we’re sticking with the perfect combustion principle.”

That being said, the ICE-powered version of the next M3 will have mild hybrid technology. However, it won’t follow in the footsteps of the M5 and be a plug-in hybrid. That’s good news, because the latter super sedan has packed on the pounds thanks to a beefy 22.1 kWh battery pack.

Furthermore, despite earlier reports, Van Meel suggested a manual transmission is a possibility as he said “We want to do it for the driving emotion.” This shouldn’t be too surprising as it sounds like the upcoming model will effectively have a carryover powertrain.

The report also suggested the upcoming electric variant might not be called the i3 M as many expected. This could make things confusing, but the company reportedly wants people to know the EV is a ‘proper’ M3. Speaking of which, Van Meel said “The EV won’t just be the quicker car in a straight line, it’ll be faster around a track too.”

Aside from the next-generation M3, the executive revealed they’re “dreaming” about an M1 successor and a production model is “entirely possible.” However, he added that “you have to have the production capacity” to build it.

BMW’s next-generation X5 is almost ready for prime time, and the latest details suggest the Bavarians aren’t holding anything back. Ahead of the SUV’s official debut this year, BMW has released fresh images of a disguised prototype and confirmed several key details, including an absolutely massive battery for the first-ever electric iX5 and a debut date for the hydrogen model.

While BMW’s recently unveiled iX3 was the first model built on the company’s dedicated Neue Klasse EV architecture, the iX5 takes a different route. Like the i5 sedan, it rides on an updated version of BMW’s CLAR platform, allowing the automaker to offer combustion, plug-in hybrid, electric, and even hydrogen powertrains within the same model family.

Related: BMW’s Electric M3 Concept Stands Next To The E30 And Hopes You Approve

Despite sticking with a multi-energy platform, the electric X5 still benefits from much of BMW’s latest EV technology. The iX5 uses sixth-generation eDrive hardware, an 800-volt electrical system, and the same cylindrical battery cells featured in Neue Klasse products. It’ll also support charging speeds of up to 400 kW.

The headline figure, however, is the size of the battery itself. BMW says the iX5 60 xDrive will come with a 144 kWh (net) power pack in North America and a 141 kWh unit in Europe, making it the largest battery ever fitted to a production BMW EV. Expect a less powerful model with a smaller battery to join it later.

BMW hasn’t announced an official range figure, but the numbers are sure to be impressive. The smaller and lighter iX3 is rated at 500 miles (805 km) of WLTP range, so the iX5 60 should comfortably exceed 400 miles (644 km) on paper, and deliver a real-world driving range that could easily top 350 miles (563 km) despite a likely 6,600+ lbs (3,000 kg) curb weight.

Power Bump For The X5 40

Powertrain details for much of the lineup have also been revealed. ICE buyers will be able to choose from the 3.0-liter X5 40 xDrive with 395 hp (400 PS) – that power figure up from today’s 375 hp (380 PS) – or the X5 50e xDrive plug-in hybrid with an unchanged 483 hp (490 PS). The new, bi-motor electric iX5 60 xDrive pumps out 570 hp (578 PS / 425 kW).

BMW also confirmed that the first production hydrogen-powered model in its history will arrive in 2028 as the iX5 Hydrogen. The fuel-cell SUV will use a new flat storage tank system designed to maximize packaging efficiency while allowing it to be built alongside other X5 variants on the same production line. A diesel will be available in Europe at some point for buyers skeptical of what they might consider new-energy nonsense.

Neue Klasse Style And Panoramic IDrive

Although the X5 and iX5s aren’t built around BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, they will get the same design language showcased by the iX3 and i3 sedan, including the flush grille and integrated headlights. As before, double wishbones are stashed under the front arches, but this time BMW will supply wheels up to 23 inches. The hybrids and EV get the option of an adaptive system with air springs, four-wheel steering, and active roll control.

Inside, you’ll find a four-spoke steering wheel, Panoramic iDrive display, and tablet touchscreen. We first saw that setup on the iX3, then the i3, but it has since been rolled out to the updated 7-Series, and is headed for the facelifted 5-Series soon.

BMW

Peugeot is honoring the 100th anniversary of its first participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1926 with a series of special editions across its entire car and SUV lineup.

The Peugeot 24 Hours Le Mans edition will be available for the 208 hatchback, the 308 hatchback and estate, the 408 fastback, as well as on the 3008 and 5008 SUVs. In other words, only the Rifter and Traveller vans escape the special treatment.

More: Peugeot’s First Electric GTi Does 62 MPH In 5.5 Seconds For Under €43,000

The special editions will be based on the high-spec GT trim of the respective models. The full lineup appeared on an official teaser one year before their commercial launch, which is scheduled for the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Peugeot promises “unique” styling touches and a combination of “elegant black” with the signature blue hue of the illustrious race. Still, we can’t spot any differences with the GT variants of the existing models in the dark teaser.

Peugeot

Phil York, head of Peugeot Marketing and Communications, spoke to Auto Express about the upcoming specials. He said that the Le Mans edition is a “different package” compared to the GTi, but claims it will bring “some real value to the customer”.

More: Peugeot’s Next Flagships Are Being Designed For China Whether Europe Likes It Or Not

While the official announcement focuses on the styling aspect of the special editions, the official said, “We won’t make it design only, it has to be the full package. We want technology!”

The equipment and powertrain lineup of the upcoming models will be announced on a later date. However, chances are they will be based on the plug-in hybrid or electric variants of each model, which usually have the highest output.

What Happened At Le Mans This Year?

The announcement lands right on the heels of the 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Toyota Racing returned to the top step of the podium with a stellar 1-3 finish, with BMW M in second place and Cadillac taking fourth. It was a weekend of high drama that saw the end of Ferrari’s three-year winning streak, with the sole surviving 499P Hypercar crossing the line in fifth, just ahead of the Alpine A424. Meanwhile, the updated Peugeot 9X8 hybrid hypercars secured the 11th and 12th positions.

Amazon delivery drivers across the United States have, according to prior reporting and driver accounts, described pressure to meet demanding quotas and the presence of in-van AI cameras that monitor driving, but the challenges don’t stop there. According to a new report, the new electric delivery vans cut the air conditioning when the rear sliding door is left open while drivers step out to deliver a package, potentially posing risks for those working in hot climates.

Several drivers have revealed that the latest Amazon delivery vans, built by Rivian, have been updated to turn off the A/C if the sliding rear door is left open for more than 30 seconds. That’s a nuisance given that workers are always stopping, getting out, and delivering packages, often hundreds of times during a shift, and may open the door repeatedly on a single block.

Read: Rivian Van Owners Are Learning A Small Habit Can Lead To A Big Problem

After finding multiple reports of drivers complaining about the issue, 404Media reached out to Amazon seeking clarification about the recent software update. According to the retail giant, the A/C is only turned off if the sliding rear door is left open for 30 seconds.

Amazon Has Its Say

“Rivian recently released a software update for Electric Delivery Vehicles that actually extends climate control for drivers,” Amazon said. “As a result, the AC now runs for up to 10 minutes after a driver exits the vehicle, ensuring a cool cabin when they return. The timer resets at every stop. The AC only shuts off if the driver’s sliding door is left open for more than 30 seconds — a battery conservation measure.” 

In all likelihood, Amazon doesn’t want drivers wasting power by blasting the A/C while the sliding door is open, letting hot air into the cabin. Nevertheless, it would be frustrating for drivers, particularly if they park in one spot and have to deliver multiple packages to one block at the same time, perhaps forcing them to open and close the sliding door repeatedly, or risk the air conditioning switching off.

Will Amazon do anything to address the complaints? It remains to be seen, although Amazon does note its newer Rivian delivery vans also include ventilated seats to help drivers during the summer.

Update: After publication, Amazon contacted Carscoops to note that its delivery drivers are employed by Delivery Service Partners, which set their own routes, and to clarify that its in-van safety cameras record no audio, are reviewed only by trained personnel after a specific safety event rather than monitored in real time, and can be switched off during breaks.

Just a few short years ago, some car buyers were up in arms that new vehicles from some of the industry’s biggest names no longer shipped with AM radio. As it turns out, it’s not just AM radio that’s at risk of going extinct, as even FM radio is being omitted from some new vehicles.

Among the first new cars not to ship with a basic FM radio are the entry-level versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, and it appears that the new Rivian R2 also comes without it. An image recently snapped from the R2’s owner’s manual notes that while it offers a slew of different media sources, FM radio is not among them.

Read: Rivian Won’t Add Buttons Back, Says You Should Talk To Your Car Instead

The closest thing offered with the R2 is the ‘Rivian Digital Radio,’ powered by iHeartRadio. The typical service provided by iHeartRadio combines digital radio with the ability to tune in to terrestrial FM and AM, and Rivian’s solution presumably does the same. However, iHeartRadio requires cell coverage, so it will probably be useless for Rivian R2 owners looking to venture into the wilderness where they cannot access the internet.

Cost-Cutting?

R2 Doesn’t have FM/HD Radio
by u/AdamUCF in Rivian

The manual notes that the R2 also supports Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Tidal, and TuneIn, but all of these require the Connect+ package or a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. TuneIn operates similarly to satellite radio, providing access to live feeds from over 100,000 local radio stations, but, of course, it requires an internet connection.

News of the R2’s lack of FM radio doesn’t appear to have gone over well among owners on Reddit, with several saying the absence of this feature alone is a deal-breaker. We’ve reached out to Rivian seeking additional information about the lack of FM radio and why it hasn’t been included in the R2 and will update this story when we hear back.

The powertrain the industry left for dead is back, and two of Europe’s biggest names want to lead the revival. Both Ford and Renault see range-extender EVs as important powertrain options for the European market, and as legacy automakers throw their weight behind the technology, expect rivals to follow.

The technology isn’t new. The first mass-market EREV was the Chevrolet Bolt, launched back in 2011, followed a few years later by the BMW i3. However, after BMW dropped the EREV i3 in favor of an all-electric version, extended-range EVs largely disappeared as car manufacturers shifted focus to hybrids and battery-electric models. That was until Chinese brands brought EREVs back into the mainstream during the pandemic, and now legacy brands are starting to see their appeal.

According to Ford’s European head Jim Baumbick, “these vehicles can bring about a fundamental change” in the local market. Ford is already working to bring a dedicated version of the Bronco to Europe and planing several EREV, plug-in hybrid, and traditional hybrid models.

Read: Ford’s European Bronco Won’t Be Fake-Tough, But It Won’t Be A Real Bronco Either

“Electric vehicles are of course part of our portfolio, but the broader spectrum of electrification – from full hybrids to plug-in hybrids and next-generation EREVs – will play a very significant role,” Baumbick told German publication Automobilwoche.

Ford And Renault To Partner On EREVs?

Ford introduced an EREV version of its Chinese Bronco last year, fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and a sizeable 44 kWh battery pack. It’s unclear whether the company will import this powertrain to Europe or develop a new one for the local market. One possibility would be to deepen its partnership with Renault, which is also investing heavily in EREVs.

Renault’s chief executive François Provost says the company’s EREVs could offer all-electric driving ranges of up to 124 miles (200 km) and will be especially well-suited to larger vehicles.

“For large vehicles, it makes sense to use plug-in hybrids or range extenders, because it’s completely insane to have 2.5 or 2.7-ton cars driving through city centers every day,” he said.

Work still needs to be done to win over buyers and to ensure those who own EREVs actually use them properly. Baumbick argues that[Europe needs to do a better job promoting charging for PHEVs and EREVs, with studies showing that many owners don’t plug in and rely mainly on the combustion engine.

Scientists have found that staple-shaped particles can tangle together to create a material that is both strong and flexible. Unlike conventional materials, these particles can be locked into a sturdy structure or rapidly unraveled using vibrations. The unusual behavior could open the door to recyclable buildings, reconfigurable structures, and even futuristic robotic technologies.

A large-scale study suggests that men with higher levels of the amino acid tyrosine may have shorter lifespans, potentially losing close to a year of life expectancy. The finding is especially intriguing because tyrosine is commonly associated with brain health and is often used in supplements aimed at boosting focus and performance.

NASA satellites have detected a vast pulse of warm water reaching the coast of South America, signaling that El Niño is likely developing. The warm water is being carried eastward by massive ocean waves known as Kelvin waves, which also cause sea levels to rise. El Niño can reshape weather patterns worldwide, bringing floods, droughts, and temperature extremes.

Researchers used genome editing to block the production of red pigments in lettuce, causing other beneficial plant compounds to build up instead. The lettuce continued to grow normally, pointing toward a new way to create crops with customized nutritional profiles.

For years, calcium and vitamin D supplements have been promoted as a simple way for older adults to protect their bones and prevent falls. But a massive review of nearly 154,000 people found that calcium, vitamin D, or a combination of both provided little to no meaningful protection against fractures or falls for most older adults.

A new oral GLP-1 medication helped people with type 2 diabetes dramatically improve blood sugar control and lose weight in a major clinical trial. The results suggest that highly effective diabetes treatments may soon become available in a much more convenient pill form.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez led a straw poll in the race for Wisconsin governor released Sunday, followed by state Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and state Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison.