Border funding clears Senate, but House Republicans defy Trump on Ukraine aid

A Republican dispute threatened to slow President Trump's immigration bill, but by dawn this

morning the Senate passed it. Plus, a growing number of Republicans are breaking with the president on Ukraine

They just joined Democrats to push billions of dollars in new aid across the finish line

And he went from Trump insider to Trump critic. Now John Bolton is about to plead guilty in a classified information case and pay a multi-million

dollar fine. The stories that matter, clear and credible from across the country to around the world

These are your unbiased updates from Straight Arrow. Good morning, I'm Craig DeGrelli. We begin with breaking news this morning

After an all-night session on Capitol Hill, the Senate has just passed a bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol through 2029

After nearly 18 hours of votes on amendments, senators approved the $70 billion package just before 5 this morning on a 52-47 vote

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote no. Much of the overnight drama centered on President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund

with both Democrats and some Republicans trying and failing to add language that would have permanently blocked it

Lawmakers also rejected amendments aimed at preventing federal money from being used

on Trump's proposed White House Ballroom project. The bill would provide three years of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

and the Border Patrol, taking those agencies through the end of Trump's term

The package now heads to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson says he expects a vote as early as next week

And speaking of the House, a growing number of Republicans are breaking with President Trump on Ukraine

On Thursday, 18 House Republicans joined Democrats to advance a new aid package, despite opposition from GOP leadership

The House voted 226 to 195 to approve nearly $2 billion in new aid for Ukraine, with 18 Republicans crossing party lines to make it happen

Only one Democrat Minnesota Ilhan Omar voted no The bill would also hit Russia with new economic penalties including additional sanctions on its energy industry tighter restrictions on financial institutions doing business with Moscow and 500 percent tariffs on Russian imports

The vote reached the floor through a rare discharge petition, a procedural move that

allowed lawmakers to bypass House leadership after supporters gathered the 218 signatures

needed to force action. The result exposes a deepening divide inside the Republican Party

over Ukraine, where a growing number of lawmakers are openly parting ways with Trump's approach to

the war. The vote also comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for direct talks

with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the four-year conflict. Putin said Thursday

he is prepared to pursue a diplomatic end to the war. Just two days after naming Bill Pulte to lead the nation's intelligence community

President Trump is already making one thing clear. This is not a long-term job

Trump told reporters Thursday that Pulte's appointment as acting director of national

intelligence is only temporary and that the White House is already interviewing candidates

for the permanent role. Pulte currently runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency

and oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He has no known intelligence or national security background

And it's an acting position. It's not a problem. He's not going to be permanent because, you know, I don't think he'd want to be permanent

But he's a very smart guy and he may find out some things about the rigged elections, etc., etc

I think he'd like to do it. I'd like to. I think he wants to do it very much

Got a lot of energy. But he'll be very good. Again, it's not a permanent position

We're looking at we're interviewing people right now. but it's somebody just to take it over for a little while

The pick has drawn criticism from both parties. On Tuesday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted this election

The appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence

is another indication of how unserious, reckless, and dangerous Donald Trump and his administration are with respect to the national security of the American people On X Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote Pulte is quote a partisan thug with no experience in intelligence

But Trump defended the choice, saying Pulte is smart, has high integrity, and can figure the job out quickly

And as you just heard in the soundbite, Trump also suggested Pulte could look into what he again described as rigged elections

a comment that's already drawn some attention, given former DNI Tulsi Gabbard's high-profile appearance at an FBI seizure of election records in Fulton County, Georgia, earlier this year

One of President Trump's most prominent former advisors turned fierce critic is about to plead guilty in a classified information case that's been hanging over him for years

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has reached a deal with federal prosecutors

and is expected to plead guilty to a single felony count of illegally retaining sensitive national security information

Under the agreement, Bolton would pay more than $2 million in fines and could avoid prison time

A federal judge still must approve the deal. The case stems from notes and diary entries Bolton kept after leaving the first Trump administration

while working on his 2020 memoir, which was highly critical of the president

Last August, FBI agents searched Bolton's Maryland home after investigators discovered what court filings described as classified national security information in personal

records and email accounts. Prosecutors originally brought 18 counts against Bolton, including allegations he shared more than 1,000 pages of material with family members

who did not have security clearances. The plea deal would narrow the case to a single

retention charge. A hearing is scheduled for June 26th. The FDA is taking a new look at the safety

of the abortion pill, a review that could shape future restrictions on how the drug is distributed

A senior FDA official tells CBS News the agency has started a large-scale study of

mifepristone, yzing hundreds of thousands of cases in which women use the drug. Preliminary

findings could be available sometime in July. Trump administration officials told the Wall

Street Journal the review has been in development for some time but gained urgency after discussions with anti advocates and a court October deadline in a Louisiana case challenging the mail delivery of the drug

The FDA first approved Mifepristone in 2000, and it is used in the majority of abortions in the U.S

For now, the FDA continues to maintain the drug is safe and effective when used as directed

Finally this morning, Britain is debating what belongs on its money. And for the first time in decades, the choice is not between historical figures, it's between wildlife

The Bank of England is giving the public a month to help choose new designs for future banknotes

The shortlist features native wildlife, including Atlantic puffins, red foxes, kingfishers, bumblebees and dolphins

The proposal would mark a major change. British banknotes have long featured historical figures, including former Prime Minister Winston Churchill

Critics have accused the Bank of England of trying to erase Britain's history

while supporters say the designs would better reflect the country's natural heritage

Voting runs through July 3rd. After that, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final decision

No pressure, Mr. Bailey. I have one question. Don't they have bigger fish to fry

I mean, just asking. All right, a busy afternoon across politics, policy, and the courts

Here's what we're tracking. At 1130 Eastern, Governor Greg Abbott gets a briefing on Texas' response to the state's screwworm outbreak

At 1, a federal appeals court takes up the fight over President Trump's planned White House ballroom

Later today, Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner holds his first major event since the texting scandal rocked his campaign

At 4, Trump heads to Wisconsin to promote his agenda for farmers

At Straight Arrow, we give you facts first and the news straight. NewsGuard gives us a perfect score for reliability

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Those of your Unbiased Updates for this Friday, we'll see you back here on Monday. For all of us here at Straight Arrow, I'm Craig DeGrelli

Have a fantastic Friday and a great weekend