Washington, DC

1. Black Caucus faces crisis
2. GOP to miss June 1 deadline
3. Trump $1.8B fund in limbo
4. Iran, US trade blows
5. War powers debate
6. Platner scandal
7. Cash floods Mont. primary
8. 250th celebration controversy

PDB: Hegseth sidesteps Taiwan issue

Trump signs executive order … House returns Wednesday … Colombian election heads to runoff

Black Caucus facing identity crisis

With the Supreme Court shattering the district lines that created majority-Black seats in the American South and legislators scrambling to stay in office, the Congressional Black Caucus is wrestling over its identity, Semafor’s Nicholas Wu and David Weigel report. Fallout from the Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision leaves the Black Caucus, the most powerful House Democratic bloc, preparing to shrink by as much as a third. For a group that’s relied on its strength in numbers, the high court ruling is an existential crisis. It’s also spiking anxiety and stoking tension among Black Democrats. “We may get to a point in this country where you have only Black representatives who represent white areas. And that then impacts the ability of Black representatives to speak to the concerns of Black people at large,” said Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga.

GOP immigration enforcement bill delay

Republicans won’t make today’s self-imposed deadline for passing $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding, mostly due to GOP opposition to President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Today, Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. — each of whom has been targeted by the Trump administration — are dropping the “Drain the Slush Fund Act” to shut down the fund. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is vowing that “no matter what Republicans do, we will force them to vote on it.” The courts could also ultimately strike down the fund, which would allow Republicans to more easily pass their party-line bill and avoid Democratic amendments. Privately, plenty of Republicans agree with former Vice President Mike Pence, who said on NBC yesterday that it’s “deeply offensive” for a government fund to pay Jan. 6 offenders, and urged the administration “to drop it.”

— Burgess Everett

‘Anti-weaponization’ fund faces hurdles

The future of Trump’s $1.8 billion fund for individuals allegedly victimized by the government is in doubt after a federal judge temporarily blocked further action on the initiative. The controversial proposal faces several legal hurdles — a different judge on Friday signaled she may revive Trump’s $10 billion case against the IRS that led to the fund — as well as resistance among Republicans on Capitol Hill. But the Justice Department appears to be still sorting out its legal strategy; the DOJ did not respond to a request for comment on next steps. Officials face a June 12 deadline to respond to the judge overseeing the IRS suit. Even Republicans who support the fund tell Semafor they have doubts it will ever come to fruition, and its future is being debated internally, as The Wall Street Journal reported.

— Shelby Talcott

Iran peace talks tested as strikes resume

Washington and Tehran again traded blows, driving oil prices higher and raising questions over the viability of peace talks. The US hit Iranian radar and drone installations, while the Islamic Republic targeted an American military base in Kuwait. Trump posted on Truth Social Monday that “Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A.” The president earlier sent back changes to the ceasefire deal his aides negotiated, apparently seeking tougher language regarding Iran’s enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz; it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to achieve the desired changes. Some Republicans doubt that the memorandum of understanding being negotiated will ultimately prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Asked by Fox News whether there’s confidence the Iranians will keep their promises, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he believes Trump will “hold them to it.”

— Shelby Talcott

House returns to war powers debate

The House might finally pass a Democratic-led measure to rein in the Iran war this week. Republican leaders shelved a previously planned vote when it appeared that low lawmaker attendance might result in the legislation passing. Previous attempts to pass similar Democrat-led measures have barely come up short, with the most recent vote ending in a tie. Some Republican lawmakers are feeling skittish about the war’s effects on the economy and the administration’s refusal so far to seek further authorization from Congress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will face pointed questions this week when he testifies before several congressional panels on his department’s budget. The Iran war powers measure isn’t the only legislation circumventing GOP leaders that will likely get on the floor this week; there could be votes on legislation to restrict US involvement in Lebanon and on a Ukraine aid package.

— Nicholas Wu

Platner in hot seat over sexting leaks

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is on the back foot after damaging leaks about him exchanging explicit texts with women who were not his wife. Former campaign aide Genevieve McDonald told The New York Times that Platner’s wife had found the messages and worried about them becoming a liability. Platner’s current campaign strategists, who spent last week defending his old Reddit posts, denounced McDonald as “incompetent” and “opportunistic”; McDonald wrote on Facebook that she had shared the story with reporters “months ago” and that Platner strategist Morris Katz told her the campaign would denounce her if she went on the record. Platner stayed on the trail, appearing at canvass launches ahead of the June 9 primary. Jordan Wood, a Democrat running for the state’s competitive 2nd Congressional District, ousted McDonald from his campaign, while Platner’s wife recorded a video accusing the media of spreading “gossip.”

— David Weigel

Montana’s expensive Dem Senate primary

Democrats and Republicans see the Montana Senate race as down to favored Republican Kurt Alme and independent Seth Bodnar. Yet the whole race may hinge on Tuesday’s Democratic primary, which attracted more than $5 million in outside spending. The More Jobs, Less Government PAC, aligned with retiring Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is running ads describing Reilly Neill as “too liberal” and claiming “Alani Bankhead will work with Trump,” according to one ad shared with Semafor aimed at tanking Bankhead with Democrats. Then there’s a campaign from Progressive Vet PAC boosting Bankhead. What’s behind the meddling? Republicans suspect Bankhead will essentially cede the race to Bodnar (despite her denials), which would make the general election more competitive. Meanwhile, Democrats see Neill as more likely to split the vote. That means both sides are backing candidates who have no shot at winning in November.

— Burgess Everett

View: America’s negative-sum birthday

I recently ran into Democratic strategist Doug Thornell, who was worried about America’s 250th anniversary this July 4. “Trump wants to make it a partisan two-to-three months where he can beat Democrats over the head for not being patriotic,” he mused, calling on Democrats to “go on offense.” No! A cherished American moment turning into a bitter partisan food fight? Couldn’t happen. The first flickers of how badly this all might go came last week, when musicians you hadn’t heard of for years began pulling out of a Freedom 250 concert series on the National Mall during the Great American State Fair. “I had no clue it was considered a ‘Trump-backed’ event,” Young MC complained. Is this good or bad for Trump’s politics? Who knows. But Thornell was right to believe Trump and his aides are happy to seize the opportunity to paint Democrats as unpatriotic.

Blindspot: Armor and stock

Stories that are being largely ignored by either left-leaning or right-leaning outlets, curated with help from our partners at Ground News.

What the Left isn’t reading: Federal prosecutors charged a man working for a violence prevention group in Los Angeles with allegedly possessing body armor as a convicted felon.

What the Right isn’t reading: President Trump purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 in stock in the parent company of UFC ahead of the White House announcing plans for a UFC event around America’s 250th anniversary, The Athletic reported. 

On Thursday, June 11, Steve Preston, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries International, will join Semafor on stage for The Future of Philanthropy.

For generations, philanthropy has backed ideas ahead of their time — from early childhood education to breakthrough research that later became public goods. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the sector faces a pivotal moment: under increasing political scrutiny, it’s more vital than ever to expanding opportunity and driving innovation.

Semafor editors will host on-the-record conversations on how philanthropy can scale solutions for workforce mobility and community resilience. Featuring: Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics and CEO & Co-Founder, UNITE; Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, Bipartisan Philanthropy Caucus; Emma Bloomberg, Founder & CEO, Murmuration; Marla Blow, President & Chief Operating Officer, Skoll Foundation; Richard Buery, Jr., CEO, Robin Hood Foundation; Asha Curran, CEO, Giving Tuesday; and Stacey D. Stewart, CEO, MADD and former CEO, March of Dimes.

June 11 | Washington, DC | Request Invite