Tuesday morning news: July 1, 2025

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Big beautiful bill » Lawmakers debated on the Senate floor through the night and into the early hours of this morning, as Republicans pressed to pass President Trump’s so-called “one big beautiful bill.”

Democrats argued that the bill only benefits the wealthy and that it will cut benefits to many Americans. Sen. Adam Schiff:

SCHIFF:  No, it does nothing to make it easier for your kids or mine to buy a house, pay their rent, ,or fill up the car for a family vacation. Instead, it throws more coal in the engine, barreling down a track to nowhere.

Republicans said their Democratic colleagues were not telling the truth about the bill. Sen. Mike Crapo:

CRAPO:  This bill does not take Medicaid away from children or the elderly or any recipient. The program was originally designed to help. It increases eligibility to home and community-based services.

He said the legislation would only cut waste, fraud, and abuse from Medicaid while creating new opportunities for all Americans.

The Senate is not the final stop for this legislation. Even though the House already passed it, changes to the bill in the Senate means the House would have to take action on it again before it can head to President Trump’s desk.

Iran latest » Iran says it has no plans to open new diplomatic talks with the United States.

President Trump last week said U.S. and Iranian officials would likely meet this week.

But Teheran says there will be no talks until Washington guarantees no further U.S. military strikes while talks are ongoing.

Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC:

TAKHT-RAVANCHI - We have not agreed to any date. We have not agreed to the modality. Right now we are seeking an answer to this question: Are we going to see a repetition of an act of aggression while we are engaging in dialogue?

The U.S. government felt Iran was stonewalling and trying to buy time during negotiations before last month’s US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

And the Trump administration does not believe Teheran is in a position now to dictate terms.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe:

RATCLIFFE:  Iran's nuclear program's been severely damaged. And it's gonna take, uh, years, not months for Iran to try and rebuild those, uh, nuclear facilities, even if they try.

But the White House indicated that indirect talks with Iran are ongoing through backchannels.

Netanyahu to return to White House » President Trump will reportedly host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office again next week as the president pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT:  This has been a priority for the president since he took office to end this brutal war in Gaza. Uh, it is because of this president that humanitarian aid is being brought into the region.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer says his country has never been the obstacle to peace in Gaza.

MENCER:  The obstacle lies with Hamas, but we are working through various means to overcome it.

But he said after Israel’s recent military campaign in Iran, Hamas may be further weakened. The Iranian government has long funded and supported the terror group.

MENCER: Now with the success of Operation Rising Lion in partnership with our American Allies, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory.

The Associated Press reports that Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Monday. It will be the prime minister’s third visit since Trump returned to White House in January.

Trump EO Syria sanctions » President Trump is hoping a more stable Syria will bring more stability to the Middle East.

He signed an executive order Monday ending U.S. sanctions against the country.

Karline Leavitt told reporters at the White House:

LEAVITT:  This is again, an action that the President promised and shocked the world with in Saudi Arabia because he's committed to supporting as Syria, that is stable, unified and at peace with itself and its neighbors.

Trump met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia in May and told him he would lift sanctions and explore normalizing relations in a major policy shift. That came at the urging of the United Arab Emirates months after deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was driven from power.

Idaho firefighters » In Idaho, investigators say the suspect who fatally shot firefighters battling a blaze in northern Idaho opened fire on them after they asked him to move his vehicle.

But Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris says that doesn’t mean it was an impulsive act.

NORRIS:  We do believe that the, uh, that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional.

The 20-year-old suspect opened fire with a high-powered rifle.

The firefighters took cover behind fire trucks, but two were killed and a third was wounded during a barrage of gunfire over several hours.

The gunman apparently took his own life before law enforcement found him.

No word yet on a possible motive.

Straight ahead: the dueling opinions revealed how divided the justices are on the role of judging. Plus, something that’s ahead but not immediately straight ahead.

I'm Kent Covington.

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