Early Morning Political News: 4‑Minute Read
Brought to You by the Center Voter |“We Report Only the Facts”
Friday, June 12, 2026
Federal Level
19 GOP Members Join Democrats to Kill Surveillance Extension
For the first time in its history, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is lapsing tonight, Friday, June 12, after the House voted 198-218 on Thursday, June 11, to reject a short-term extension. Nineteen Republicans joined the majority of Democrats in opposing the bill, and Democrats refused to support it as long as President Trump’s ally Bill Pulte remains acting Director of National Intelligence. Speaker Johnson said he will not call members back before the House’s scheduled return on June 23. Experts note that existing court certifications should allow surveillance collections to continue until at least March 2027.¹
Senate Unanimously Bans Members From Prediction Markets
The Senate passed a resolution by unanimous consent on Thursday, June 11, immediately prohibiting all 100 senators and their staff from trading on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. The action follows a series of incidents raising concerns about insider trading, including a U.S. soldier who was criminally charged with using classified military intelligence to place winning bets on a prediction market platform. The House has not yet taken similar action, leaving House members and their staff free to continue trading.²
Trump Administration Says Iran Hostilities Are Over
A senior Trump administration official declared on Thursday, June 11, that U.S. hostilities with Iran have “concluded” for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution, arguing that the ceasefire in place since early April effectively ended the conflict. The formal declaration allows the administration to avoid seeking congressional authorization for the military campaign, which crossed the 60-day limit required under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. Congress has not accepted this argument, and the war powers debate is expected to continue in both chambers.³
New Trump Assassination Video Released; Agent Was Shot
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro released nearly six minutes of high-resolution surveillance footage on Thursday, June 11, showing Cole Allen, charged with the attempted assassination of President Trump, shooting a Secret Service agent point-blank at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed the agent was struck by Allen’s shotgun round, not by friendly fire as some online reports had suggested. The agent survived because he was wearing body armor. Allen was arraigned in federal court on June 11 and waived his right to contest his detention.⁴
Government Shutdown Risk Lingers Despite ICE Deal
Republican members of Congress acknowledged on Thursday, June 11, that the passage of the Secure America Act resolves only immigration enforcement funding, leaving most of the government’s annual spending bills completely unresolved ahead of the September 30 fiscal year deadline. Senator Susan Collins noted that Democrats have made clear they are not willing to cooperate on government funding bills, while Senator John Kennedy predicted Democrats will once again choose a shutdown as political leverage going into the midterm elections.⁵
State Level
Maine Ranked-Choice Tabulation Begins Today
Maine’s Secretary of State announced Thursday, June 11, that ranked-choice tabulation for both the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries will begin today, Friday, June 12, at 1 p.m. at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta. No candidate in either party crossed the 50 percent threshold on primary night. In the Democratic race, Dr. Nirav Shah leads with roughly 27 percent, followed closely by Hannah Pingree and Troy Jackson. On the Republican side, Bobby Charles leads with 37 percent. A winner is not expected to be declared before next week.⁶
Georgia Lawsuit Targets Nonpartisan Election Law
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court on Thursday, June 11, challenging a new Georgia state law that would strip party labels from district attorney and county commission races in five metro Atlanta counties beginning in 2028. The law, signed by Governor Brian Kemp, applies exclusively to Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties, which are the state’s most Democratic-leaning jurisdictions. The lawsuit argues the legislation is unconstitutional and violates the equal protection clause under both state and federal law.⁷
◆
THIS POLITICAL NEWS REPORT IS FREE TO EVERYONE
WOULD YOU KINDLY SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND?
Article Sources
1. The Guardian, “US House will attempt to pass extension of powerful surveillance law,” June 11, 2026.
2. USA Today, “House blocks key spying law that shapes Trump’s daily security briefing,” June 11, 2026.
3. Newser, “House Vote Means Spy Law Will Lapse,” June 11, 2026.
4. Anti-War.com, “House Rejects Bill To Renew Warrantless Spy Powers,” June 11, 2026.
5. Signal Ohio / NOTUS, “Senate Votes to Bar Members From Prediction Market Betting,” June 11, 2026.
6. Presidential Prayer Team, “Senate Bans Prediction Market Trading by Members, Staff,” June 2026.
7. Reuters, “US official says Iran war truce ‘terminated’ hostilities for war powers deadline,” June 11, 2026.
8. BBC News, “Trump tells Congress ceasefire means he does not need their approval for Iran war,” June 11, 2026.
9. CNBC, “Video shows Trump attack suspect Cole Allen casing Hilton, storming checkpoint: Pirro,” June 11, 2026.
10. RadarOnline, “Chilling New Video of Trump’s Third Assassination Attempt Suspect Released,” June 11, 2026.
11. Politico, “Republicans just took ICE spending fights off the table. It won’t end shutdown threats,” June 10, 2026.
12. Maine Secretary of State’s Office, Press Release, “Three races proceeding to Ranked Choice Voting tabulations,” June 11, 2026.
13. New York Times, “Democrats in Maine Governor’s Race Head to Ranked-Choice Runoff,” June 10, 2026.
14. CBS News Atlanta, “Fani Willis ally sues Georgia over law changing elections in Fulton, DeKalb and other metro counties,” June 11, 2026.