Some Republican lawmakers plan to share their constituents’ frustrations with Elon Musk. The U.S. is at odds with Ukraine and major European countries over a U.N. resolution on the Russia-Ukraine war. And Lester Holt will step down from “NBC Nightly News” this summer.
Here’s what to know today.
The GOP’s message to DOGE: Show some compassion
At town halls across the country, constituents expressed anger at Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency’s budget cuts and layoffs. And Congressional Republicans caught in the crosshairs said they plan to speak up about it.
Rep. Rich McCormick, whose district includes areas near Atlanta, said he plans to reach out to Musk and urge him to show more compassion after being confronted during a testy town hall last week. “Ironically, the first time I ever met Elon Musk, he was asked, ‘What could Republicans do better?’ And his response was … ‘I think you guys could come across as more compassionate.’ So I’m going to use his own words when I talk to him,” McCormick said.
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Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, of Wisconsin, said he would try to get more information from the Trump administration about federal job cuts after his constituents demanded answers. He, like many other lawmakers, have been given little heads-up about DOGE’s moves, let alone any messaging guidance, which has left them at times flat-footed.
However, other House Republicans brushed aside concerns about contentious town halls. Rep. Kevin Hern, of Oklahoma, said, “I’ve not heard anyone say they don’t want to cut anything. It’s just that they don’t like Elon,” adding that he’s sticking with his support of DOGE.
Read the full story here.
More Trump administration and politics news:
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A midnight deadline has passed for federal workers to respond to Musk’s email asking them to justify their jobs. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management did not immediately share how many workers replied and how many were required to do so. Sources said that workers’ responses are expected to be fed into an AI system to determine whether those jobs are necessary.
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Hours before the deadline, the Department of Health and Human Services warned its employees that any responses to Musk’s request that they share their accomplishments from the past week might “be read by malign foreign actors.”
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A potential vote tonight in the House on a sweeping budget resolution is in limbo after House Speaker Mike Johnson said some GOP lawmakers who are reluctant to get on board with the budget blueprint.
U.S. opposes U.N. resolutions on Russia-Ukraine war
A United Nations resolution that called for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders passed yesterday despite opposition from the U.S. The U.S. broke with Ukraine and major European countries that voted in favor of the resolution and instead voted with Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Sudan and 13 other countries in opposition. Ukraine’s competing resolution also passed despite active U.S. opposition.
Before the vote, the U.S. lobbied for support of its own draft resolution, but was forced to abstain after European countries won support for three amendments to it, which included a commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. The Trump administration has recently suggested that Ukraine would likely have to give up some territory as part of a peace deal.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea blasted the amendments as the pursuit of “a war of words rather than an end to the war.” Read more about the U.S.’s opposition.
Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss issues including the war in Ukraine. Macron pushed back on Trump’s remarks suggesting that Europe was offering a loan to Ukraine. Trump also told reporters that the U.S. and Ukraine are “very close” to a deal on rare earth minerals.
Lester Holt is leaving ‘NBC Nightly News’
Lester Holt, the anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News” who has been named the “most-trusted television news personality in America,” announced that he is stepping down from the long-running broadcast this summer — but he won’t be going far. Holt will continue to be a fixture at the network with a full-time role at “Dateline,” where he has been the principal anchor for almost 15 years.
NBC News did not immediately name Holt’s successor.
In his 10 years at the helm of “Nightly News,” Holt has covered defining events of the era, including the political rise of President Donald Trump, the Covid pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza. He also traveled frequently to areas hit by deadly hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and mass shootings. Read more about Holt’s departure from “Nightly News” and his storied career.
Read All About It
Staff Pick: A bizarre quest for a Social Security number
Jason Kilburn with his daughter, Caroline, who is listed in state records as Unakite Thirteen Hotel.
Caroline is a two-year-old living in Iowa with her father. She doesn’t have a Social Security number of a useable birth certificate. And Jason Killburn’s efforts to get those — so he can obtain services from health insurance to child care for her — have been “very, very taxing.” The reason: Caroline’s name is incorrectly listed in state records as “Unakite Thirteen Hotel.” Reporter Elizabeth Chuck details how the unusual name made it into the official record and spoke to Killburn about the complicated process to get a fix. “It’s like she’s a ghost,” Killburn said. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor
NBCU Academy: How Tom Costello covers breaking news
When news broke this month of a Delta plane landing upside down in Toronto, NBC News senior correspondent Tom Costello reported on the incident as the story developed. NBCU Academy recently followed Costello’s team to see how they cover breaking news with speed and accuracy. Get the inside scoop here.
NBCU Academy is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech.
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
How accurate are food expiration dates? NBC Select editors made a handy food expiration date chart and spoke to experts about how to interpret different phrases. Plus, we rounded up the best deals from the Backcountry semi-annual sale, which includes brands like Patagonia, The North Face and more.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
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This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
