Early Morning Political News: 4‑Minute Read
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Sunday, June 21, 2026
Federal Level
Book Reveals Bessent Called Zelenskyy “Mr. Bean on Crack”
The Guardian reported on Saturday, June 20, that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent privately urged President Trump not to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, calling him “a little bastard,” “a special needs child,” and “Mr. Bean on crack.” The claims are drawn from “Regime Change,” a forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, set for release on June 23. The Treasury Department had not responded to requests for comment as of Saturday. 1
Trump Deepens Feud With Italy’s Meloni Over G7 Photo
President Trump escalated his public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, June 20, posting on Truth Social from Camp David that she had “repeatedly” asked him for a photograph during the G7 summit in France earlier that week. Meloni had called Trump’s original claim “completely fabricated,” and Italy’s foreign minister canceled a planned trip to Washington as a show of solidarity. The feud marked a striking public breakdown between two leaders who had previously been close political allies. 2, 3
DOJ Defies Judge’s Order on Anti-Weaponization Fund
The Justice Department on Saturday, June 20, was widely reported to have refused a federal judge’s demand that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sign a sworn declaration confirming the Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is dead. Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia had issued that demand the prior week after issuing an indefinite injunction blocking the fund. The DOJ argued in a court filing that compelling such a declaration raises “serious separation of powers concerns.” 4, 5
Five Democratic States Pass Anti-Interference Election Laws
CNN reported on Saturday, June 20, that five Democratic-led states, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington, have recently enacted laws designed to protect November’s midterm elections from potential federal interference. The legislation restricts law enforcement access to polling sites, limits federal access to voter rolls and voting machines, and blocks the Department of Homeland Security from obtaining election materials. The moves directly counter the Trump administration’s ongoing push to expand federal oversight of elections ahead of the 2026 midterms. 6, 7
Trump vs. Senate GOP: A Relationship Near Its Limit
Multiple news organizations summarized on Saturday, June 20, what had become a defining tension of the week: President Trump’s deepening clashes with Senate Republicans over the Jay Clayton intelligence nomination, the lapsed Section 702 surveillance authority, and his demand that the SAVE America Act voter-ID bill be tied to any legislation Republicans need his support on. The Washington Post described the relationship as “nearing a breaking point,” with Senate Majority Leader John Thune repeatedly delivering news to the president that he does not want to hear. 8, 9
State Level
Trump’s SC Double Endorsement Raises Influence Questions
Multiple outlets reported on Saturday, June 20, that President Trump had on Friday endorsed both Republican candidates in South Carolina’s June 23 governor runoff, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, after previously giving Evette his full backing before the primary. The move was widely read as a hedge after Trump’s endorsed candidates lost governor’s races in Iowa and Georgia. Senator Tim Scott endorsed Wilson separately on Friday, putting him at odds with the president’s original choice. 10, 11
ICE Targeted Latinos in 93% of NY-Area Street Arrests
The Guardian highlighted on Saturday, June 20, an investigation by The City, a nonprofit New York newsroom, finding that more than 93% of the 430 immigrants arrested on the streets of New York and New Jersey by federal agents over a five-month period were from Latin America. The investigation, based on a review of more than 1,200 habeas corpus lawsuits, found that Latino immigrants represent only 66% of the undocumented population in the region. Columbia University law professor Elora Mukherjee called the findings confirmation of “racial profiling” by ICE. 12, 13
California’s Newsom Rejects Union Compromise on Wealth Tax
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday, June 20, stood firm in his opposition to a union-backed compromise that would have reduced a proposed billionaire wealth tax from 5% to 2%. The Service Employees International Union had sent Newsom an open letter requesting his support for the lower rate, arguing it was needed to offset federal Medicaid cuts. With a June 25 ballot initiative deadline approaching, Newsom’s office maintained that changing the rate does not address what the governor sees as the fundamental flaws of a California-only wealth tax. 14, 15
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Article Sources
1. The Guardian, “US treasury chief urged Trump not to host ‘Mr Bean on crack’ Zelenskyy, book says,” June 20, 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/20/scott-bessent-volodymyr-zelenskyy-trump
2. The Washington Post, “Trump deepens the dustup with Italy’s Meloni over a disputed photo from the G7 summit,” June 20, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/20/trump-meloni-nato-italy-g7-photo/
3. NBC News, “Trump and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni escalate war of words over G7 summit photo,” June 19, 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/italy/trump-italy-meloni-begged-photo-fabricated-g7-summit-france-rcna350836
4. ABC News, “DOJ refuses to issue signed declaration verifying ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ is dead,” June 18-19, 2026. https://abcnews.com/US/doj-refuses-issue-signed-declaration-verifying-anti-weaponization/story?id=134040412
5. CNBC, “DOJ rebuffs judge’s request for Blanche to declare in court that anti-weaponization fund is dead,” June 19, 2026. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/19/doj-anti-weaponization-fund-trump.html
6. CNN, “Democratic states scramble to prevent potential Trump administration interference in their elections,” June 20, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/20/politics/democratic-states-federal-elections-trump-administration
7. Political Wire, “Five States Pass Laws to Block Trump Election Interference,” June 20, 2026. https://politicalwire.com/2026/06/20/five-states-pass-laws-to-block-trump-election-interference/
8. The Washington Post, “Friction between Trump and Republican senators is growing before the pivotal midterm elections,” June 19, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/19/trump-senate-republicans-clayton-intelligence-voting-save/
9. Politico, “Trump escalates his war on Senate Republicans — and senators are striking back,” June 17, 2026. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/17/trump-war-on-senate-republicans-00966490
10. CNN, “After recent losing endorsements, Donald Trump hedges his bet in South Carolina governor’s race,” June 19, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/19/politics/donald-trump-endorsements-south-carolina-alan-wilson-pamela-evette
11. The State (Columbia, SC), “Trump hedges on SC governor’s race. Endorses both Evette, Wilson in GOP runoff,” June 18, 2026. https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article316197262.html
12. The Guardian, “Trump news at a glance: ICE agents disproportionately target people from Latin America,” June 20, 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/21/trump-administration-latest-updates-saturday-reflecting-pool
13. The City (New York newsroom), “We Found 430 ICE Street Arrests in the NYC Area. More Than 93% Targeted Latinos,” 2026. https://projects.thecity.nyc
14. New York Post, “Billionaire tax backers offer to cut proposed levy — but Gavin Newsom isn’t on board,” June 18, 2026. https://nypost.com/2026/06/18/us-news/billionaire-tax-backers-propose-2-compromise-to-gavin-newsom/
15. The New York Times, “Union Behind California Billionaire Tax Offers to Reduce the Rate,” June 18, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/us/union-california-billionaire-tax-reduces-rate.html