Start Here
A straightforward look at the day's top news in 20 minutes. Powered by ABC News. Hosted by Brad Mielke.
Episodes
Deal or No Deal: Where the Iran War Stands
President Trump says an agreement with Iran could be signed as early as this weekend. A short-term extension of FISA fails to pass ahead of an expiration deadline. And complications arise as the World Cup heats up in the US.
AP Photo/Amirhosein Khorgooi
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US strikes multiple targets in Iran
The downing of an American helicopter by Iran has prompted President Trump to amp up strikes in the country. Bill Gates answers questions in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And the upcoming UFC fight on the White House lawn is now the subject of a lawsuit.
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
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Apache Down: The US Retaliates Against Iran
An Iranian drone takes down an American helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the U.S. to launch new strikes. A controversial murder case that divided a Texas community ends with a 35 year sentence for a teenage defendant. And NASA unveils the astronauts that will take part in its latest mission, Artemis III.
(FILE Photo: U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Olivia Cowart)
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What Trump Said to Netanyahu
As Iran and Israel pause their assaults, President Trump describes pleading with Benjamin Netanyahu to not endanger peace negotiations. Spencer Pratt fails to make it to a runoff in the Los Angeles mayor’s race after a lengthy count. And ABC’s Ian Pannell travels to Moscow to ask Russians what they think of Vladimir Putin’s war.
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Back to Battle? Iran Launches Missiles at Israel
Iran fires ballistic missiles at Israel, testing the U.S.-Israel alliance. Maine voters weigh new allegations against Democrat Graham Platner. And Canada halts livestock imports from Texas after a second case of screwworm in cattle.
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Trump Critic Set to Plead Guilty in Docs Case
President Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton is expected to plead guilty over mishandling classified documents, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. An appeals court panel is set to hear arguments over whether the White House ballroom construction should continue. And new reports surrounding Maine’s Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner threaten the party’s path t
The World's Oil Supply is Draining
Experts warn that the Iran conflict is straining the global oil supply to dangerous levels. A dramatic hostage situation unfolds in a bank building in Bakersfield, California. And families who could be impacted by an expected Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship speak out.
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DOJ to Congress: 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund is Dead
After a Republican revolt, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche tries to convince Congress that the “anti-weaponization” fund is dead. President Trump picks a new director of national intelligence after Tulsi Gabbard’s exit, but questions swirl around his credentials. And marine archaeologists announce the discovery of shipwrecks from the Golden Age of Piracy in Nassau.
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Distrust Fund: DOJ Pauses Payment Plan
In the face of angry Republican lawmakers and skeptical judges, the Trump administration halts the creation of a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.” Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer and reality star Spencer Pratt headline a series of California primaries. And a federal appellate court rules the dismissal of transgender service people was likely unconstitutional.
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Trump’s Tweaks to the ‘Final’ Iran Agreement
With doubt over a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, Israel resumes its push into Lebanon. A judge reconsiders a settlement that resulted in President Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund.” And several Laotian miners escape a flooded cave, but two are still believed to be stranded deep within.
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From Missile Strikes…to a Ceasefire Plan?
Sources say American and Iranian diplomats have reached a broad framework for a ceasefire extension, despite strikes from each side this week. Demonstrations outside a New Jersey ICE facility turn into clashes with federal agents. And a raid on the home of a former CIA officer allegedly reveals a trove of gold bars from the spy agency.
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A Chemical Blast Turns Deadly
Authorities believe a chemical tank accident likely killed more than 10 people in Longview, Washington. Sources confirm the Justice Department has opened an investigation into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll. And police arrest a Google employee over allegations of insider trading on prediction markets.
Photo Credit: City of Longview via AP
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How Paxton’s Win Changes the Midterm Map
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton trounces Sen. John Cornyn for the Senate Republican nomination. Iran warns of retaliation for a U.S. strike. And a fishing renaissance takes hold in New York City after half a century of health warnings.
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Senate Runoff: Are Endorsements Bigger in Texas?
Texas Republicans are set to decide between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton for a crucial Senate seat. California authorities say a chemical plant explosion has been averted, but that threats still remain. And an Ebola outbreak is only beginning to come into focus in Africa.
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An Ohio Airman & the Cost of the Iran War
On this Memorial Day, ABC’s Byron Pitts examines the losses sustained thus far in the Iran conflict, and interviews the family of Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, one of the war’s 13 fatalities.
(Photo Credit: Airman First Class Ivy Thomas/U.S. Air National Guard)
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A Republican Revolt Over ‘Weaponization Fund’
A meeting between Republican lawmakers and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche becomes heated. The Democratic National Committee releases a long-awaited “autopsy” on Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss. And cybersecurity experts sound the alarm over Chinese-made humanoid robots.
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Why the US Indicted Raúl Castro
Federal prosecutors secure an indictment against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Two officers who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6 file a lawsuit against President Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” And future Harvard students face a new school of thought towards grading.
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Trump Topples His Kentucky Critic
A candidate supported by President Trump defeats Rep. Thomas Massie in a Kentucky congressional primary. The Justice Department reveals a provision in a settlement that will force the IRS to drop any audits of the Trump family. And police say the two teenage gunmen subscribed to “nihilist violent extremism.”
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San Diego Islamic Center Shooting
Gunmen open fire on the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three. The Trump administration establishes a controversial fund that will send taxpayer dollars to MAGA allies. And the World Health Organization warns of an Ebola outbreak in Africa.
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Trump’s Plan to Primary His GOP Critics
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) gets trounced in a primary, signaling danger for other Republicans who have run afoul of President Trump. The Senate’s rulemaker crosses out White House ballroom security measures from a proposed funding plan. And Palestinians lock their doors in Jerusalem’s Old City as gatherings of young Jewish demonstrators grow increasingly violent.
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China Warns of ‘Clash’ with US Over Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping warns President Trump that the US and China will 'clash' if Taiwan is handled 'improperly.' Sources say Trump will drop his lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for the creation of a fund for his allies. And the Pentagon abruptly cancels troop deployments to Europe.
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Murdaugh’s Murder Convictions Overturned
Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions are tossed out by South Carolina’s Supreme Court. Russia launches nearly a thousand drones into Ukraine as concerns in Moscow rise. And as a national reckoning grows chaotic, gunfire erupts in the Philippine Senate.
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Trump's Trip to China
With wartime inflation surging, President Trump arrives in China for a summit. Meanwhile, a California mayor resigns amid allegations that she’s been serving as a Chinese agent. And FBI Director Kash Patel clashes with Democrats on Capitol Hill.
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Americans from Hantavirus Cruise Begin Quarantine
Passengers from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship are now being monitored in Nebraska and Georgia after possible exposure. Health officials insist the risk to Americans remains very low and stress the differences between hantavirus and COVID. And President Trump supports suspending the federal gas tax amid rising prices from the war in Iran.
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Cruise Guests are Coming Home. Is the Hantavirus?
As cruise ship passengers are evacuated, countries are employing different policies on whether they should quarantine. Virginia’s Supreme Court throws out a congressional map proposed by Democrats, upending midterm plans. And high schools and colleges nationwide scramble to process assignments after the lesson platform was hacked.
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Trump: Firefight with Iran was a ‘Love Tap’
The U.S. fires on military targets along the Iranian coast after a firefight at sea. Health workers conduct contact tracing to monitor whether passengers left a ship with hantavirus. And the Justice Department investigates lucrative oil trades just before key decisions in Iran.
(Photo: U.S. Navy)
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Hantavirus Patients Evacuated from Cruise Ship
A cruise ship that carried passengers with hantavirus is now en route to the Canary Islands, while patients have been evacuated. Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick gives congressional testimony on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And following a Supreme Court ruling, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee and Alabama propose new congressional maps.
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WH: ‘Operation Epic Fury’ is Over
The Trump administration declares an end to Operation Epic Fury, and then pauses an operation to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Senate Republicans propose spending $1 billion on security for a forthcoming White House ballroom. And California regulators file suit against State Farm for allegedly violating the law when handling wildfire cases.
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Has the Ceasefire Shattered?
Iran opens fire on sites across the Strait of Hormuz, including on U.S. naval vessels. The Cuban government tries to rally its people in the face of a foreign oil embargo. And another case of hantavirus is confirmed onboard a cruise ship.
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Spirit in the Sky No Longer
Spirit Airlines goes out of business, leaving some customers stranded. A federal court orders doctors nationwide to stop mailing the abortion pill Mifepristone. And the U.S. prepares to withdraw thousands of troops stationed in Germany.
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Introducing "Blood and Water"
Today, we're sharing something a little different. This is the first episode of the latest true crime podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "Blood and Water," hosted by Stephanie Ramos.
In episode one of "Blood and Water," a woman fails to show up to work. When investigators are called to her home, they find a gruesome crime scene.
To hear the rest of the series, follow "Blood and Water" on App
Pain in the Gas: Fuel Prices Explode
Oil reaches its highest price in years, as Americans express discontent over the economic toll of the war in Iran. The House agrees to a DHS funding deal, ending a 76-day shutdown. And the man suspected of attacking the White House Correspondents’ Dinner declines to challenge his detention in jail.
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A Landmark Ruling on the Voting Rights Act
The Supreme Court puts new limits on how the Voting Rights Act is enforced in electoral map-making. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies to Congress about the cost of the conflict in Iran. And Saudi Arabia reportedly wants out of its sizable investment in LIV Golf.
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James Comey Indictment 2.0
A federal grand jury returns an indictment on former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly threatening President Trump. King Charles presses the importance of NATO in an address to Congress. And the United Arab Emirates withdraws from OPEC, shaking up the world’s dominant oil cartel.
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WHCD Shooting: What We Still Don’t Know
The suspected gunman behind the White House Correspondents' Dinner attack faces charges, but several details about his arrest remain unclear. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis asks state lawmakers to push through a congressional map that dramatically favors Republicans. And a suspected killer in Florida is said to have consulted ChatGPT.
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The WHCD Shooting Suspect
New details emerge about the man accused of a shooting plot at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Hopes dim for peace talks with Iran. And King Charles is set to arrive in Washington, D.C. for a state visit.
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BREAKING: Shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
In a special edition of “Start Here,” Brad reports from the aftermath of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting in Washington.
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Predictable? Soldier Arrested Over Maduro Bets
A U.S. special forces soldier is arrested for allegedly placing Polymarket bets on the removal of Nicolas Maduro. The Justice Department reclassifies marijuana as a less serious drug. And the Trump administration considers a bailout for struggling Spirit Airlines.
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Ceasefire Watch: Strait Back to Where We Started
Iran seizes more ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Rising oil prices force many American travelers to reconsider flight plans. And Virginia’s redistricting vote prompts new concerns for the GOP.
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Trump Extends Ceasefire…Indefinitely?
With a deadline approaching, President Trump extends a ceasefire with Iran. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) resigns under pressure. And the Justice Department files charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center.
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Virginia is for Voters: Will Redistricting Measure Pass?
Control of Congress could hang in the balance as Virginia Democrats press voters to approve a new state electoral map. Embattled Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns from President Trump’s cabinet. And singer-songwriter D4vd is charged with first-degree murder.
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Ships Back Under Fire in the Strait of Hormuz
Hopes fade for renewed peace talks as the U.S. and Iran open fire at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration opens its refund portal for businesses that paid now-disallowed tariffs. And police face nearly a thousand animal rights activists at a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin.
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Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Begins
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon begins to take effect. American farmers share how they’re handling the economic impacts of the Iran war. And two Supreme Court justices’ comments on the direction of the high court are raising eyebrows.
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The DOJ is Still Knocking on the Fed’s Door
Despite a judge blocking subpoenas, federal prosecutors show up at the Federal Reserve, as President Trump once again threatens to fire chair Jerome Powell. Iranian ships begin testing the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. And in a case that could reshape the entertainment industry, a jury rules that concert behemoth Live Nation has acted like a monopoly.
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Peace of the Puzzle: Israel & Lebanon Are Talking
As the U.S. tries to get Iran back to the table for peace talks, diplomats from Israel and Lebanon meet in Washington. Brian Hooker is released from a Bahamian jail without charges, telling ABC News he’ll keep searching for his wife Lynette. And a suspect heads to court after being accused of attacking the home of OpenAI executive Sam Altman.
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Resign-o-Rama: Swalwell & Gonzales Call It Quits
Facing potential expulsion from Congress, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) each announce they’ll step down over sexual misconduct allegations. A naval blockade takes effect in the Strait of Hormuz. And Catholics react to President Trump’s rants about Pope Leo XIV.
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How US And Iranian Negotiations Fell Apart
As negotiations with Iran fall apart, Trump says the U.S. Navy will begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Viktor Orbán loses his reelection bid for prime minister in Hungary. And Representative Eric Swalwell suspends his California governor campaign.
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Why the Ceasefire Could Hinge on Israel
Israel agrees to negotiate with Lebanon, but refuses to stop its attacks on Hezbollah with a ceasefire hanging in the balance. Brian Hooker is arrested in Bahamas in connection with the disappearance of his wife. And the Artemis II crew prepares to splash down on Earth.
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Ceasefire Confusion
As bombs rain down on Lebanon, Iran and the US accuse each other of misinterpreting the terms of their ceasefire. President Trump seems open to a “tolling” system in the Strait of Hormuz. And Rex Heuermann changes his plea in the Gilgo Beach serial murder case.
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US & Iran Reach Ceasefire...For Now
Officials from the U.S. and Iran declare they’ve reached an agreement for a two-week ceasefire, but it’s unclear exactly what each side is conceding. Vice President JD Vance stumps for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of a crucial election. And doctors hope newly FDA-approved devices will mitigate the need for amputations due to Type 2 diabetes.
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