Wednesday morning news: June 17, 2026

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FBI disrupts planned White House attacks » The FBI says it broke up a domestic terrorist plot to attack the UFC mixed martial arts event at the White House this past weekend.

Court papers lay out the alleged plan: explosive drones were to be flown near the White House to force a mass evacuation—then, snipers would gun down the fleeing crowd. One suspect called it a bid to "jumpstart a revolution."

Vice President JD Vance credited law enforcement for thwarting the attack:

VANCE: I think it's important for us to recognize that for every bad incident, there were 100 bad guys who were trying to do something worse, and thank God we've got smart and good people protecting us.

The event packed the South Lawn Sunday—part of the nation's 250th-birthday celebrations.

Vance called the foiled plot a sad reflection of the nation's political climate.

VANCE: It doesn't surprise me at all because again, so much of the far left rhetoric is driving itself towards violence. It is unfortunately an inevitable consequence.

At least five people are now charged across several states, and investigators have identified nearly two dozen people in the network. The first arrest, 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio, came after his own mother called police about his gun purchases.

Iran deal latest » The U.S. and Iran are set to sign a deal Friday to end their war. But Israel—which isn't even at the negotiaging table—is the wild card.

President Trump is leaning on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop bombing Hezbollah in Lebanon, so as not to put the deal at risk.

TRUMP: I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to, uh, be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.

Israel joined the U.S. in striking Iran back in February and is still battling the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group inside Lebanon.

Iran now says that the deal requires Israeli forces to pull out—but Israel says it is staying put unless Hezbollah disarms. A U.S. official says the text of the deal demands no withdrawal at all, but some worry that the dispute could still sink the agreement.

President Trump also pointed to a recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut:

TRUMP: Two hours before we're signing the agreement, that, there was an attack in Lebanon, in Beirut. It wasn't like in the southern side—it was in Beirut. I did not like that.

Assuming the deal holds up, it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and open 60 days of nuclear talks with Iran. 

But as of this week, Israeli officials say they still have not seen the final text.

Ukraine latest » President Trump's remarks came as he gathered once again with world leaders in France:

SOUND: [Leaders gathering]

That's where many of the world's most powerful economies met again Tuesday for the second day of the annual G-7 summit.

The main topic of discussion: Russia's war with Ukraine.

Calling the meeting a success, Zelenskyy said the members of the G-7 all agreed on one thing:

ZELENSKYY: Putin has to stop this war, and I have unanimity from all the leaders and EU presidents. So we had the unanimity that Russia is not winning, losing a lot of people, and they have to make a deal as quick as possible.

President Trump said the United States was preparing to reimpose sanctions on Russian oil shipments to persuade Russian leader Vladimir Putin it is time to cut a deal.

Zimbabwe train/bus crash » In southern Zimbabwe, a freight train struck a passenger bus at a railroad crossing on Tuesday, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more.

The bus was crossing the tracks in the town of Triangle when the collision occurred. The country's national railway says the driver never stopped to check for oncoming trains.

Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of fatal auto accidents in the world.

MLB warns players about Bible verses on Pride Night caps » Major League Baseball has warned three San Francisco Giants pitchers for writing Bible verses on their Pride Night caps. 

WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Starter Landen Roupp wrote "Genesis 9:12-16" beside the rainbow-colored logo on Friday. That passage describes the rainbow as God's promise to Noah never again to flood the earth. Roupp says that's what the rainbow means to him: God's covenant, not LGBT activism.

The league says the warning wasn't about the message. Its rules bar any writing on uniforms—the same warning it's given for caps reading "Dad" or "Happy Mother's Day."

Players aren't required to wear the Pride cap. Teammate Sam Hentges wore the standard one instead.

And players have pushed back before. Five Tampa Bay Rays declined Pride jerseys in 2022 over their faith—and several NHL hockey players refused Pride warmups, prompting that league to drop them.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin

Election results » President Trump's endorsements got a mixed verdict in Tuesday's Republican runoff electoins across the South.

In Georgia, Trump's U.S. Senate pick—current Congressman Mike Collins—won the nomination, beating a candidate backed by Governor Brian Kemp. That means it is Collins who will challenge Democratic Senator incumbent Jon Ossoff in November in a top Senate battleground.

But in the Georgia governor's race, Trump's choice lost. Healthcare businessman Rick Jackson beat the president's pick, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. Jackson now faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor.

And in Alabama, Trump-backed Congressman Barry Moore won the Senate nomination—moving a step closer to replacing Tommy Tuberville, who's running for governor.

I'm Kent Covington.

And still to come: We’ll take a closer look at that foiled UFC White House terrorist plot. Plus, speech and debate students learn to find Christian truth in unexpected places.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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