Daily Briefing: NATO charms Trump
Good morning!🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. The internet is loving Mr. Cardamom.
Quick look at Thursday's news:
- NATO leaders heaped praise on President Donald Trump.
- The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
- Forecasters predict the worst of a record-setting heat wave may soon be over.
Unpacking NATO's Trump kindness campaign
Flattery and acquiescence to President Donald Trump seems to have worked for NATO leaders, who got a concession they desperately wanted at the summit this week: The U.S. president's commitment to the alliance's principle of mutual defense among its 32 members.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte lead the charm offensive: After an angry Trump used profanity Tuesday in ripping Israel and Iran for violating the terms of the ceasefire he had helped negotiate, Rutte cheekily said, "Daddy has to sometimes use strong language." Rutte said he was not calling Trump “daddy,” explaining the remark was a metaphor for U.S. leadership.
- Very warm and fuzzy: A clearly pleased Trump then joined his foreign counterparts in endorsing a five-point communique that reaffirmed NATO's commitment to collective defense.
- NATO countries also agreed to Trump's long standing demand to spend more. The vast majority of the NATO countries accepted an increase defense budgets to 5% of their GDP over the next 10 years.
- While abroad, Trump touted moves on Israel-Iran: The president said he believes the deadly, 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran is over and will not restart — and disputed leaked intelligence that assessed U.S. strikes didn't set Iran's nuclear program as far back as original reports said.
Is the heat wave over yet?
I'm sorry, to say no. Millions of Americans still need to take precautions Thursday to stay safe from dangerous, —seemingly relentless — heat. The most significant heat conditions are expected to continue across the Mid-Atlantic through Thursday, with forecasts for sweltering temperature in the eastern Ohio Valley into Friday, according to the National Weather Service. For those still experiencing the oppressive heat, here are some tips for how to find your own bit of relief.
- Daily high temperature records were set this week, from Boston to Baltimore.
More new to know now
- A grand jury indicted Harvard scientist Kseniia Petrova on smuggling charges.
- Take a look inside the RFK-appointed panel that's deciding on childhood vaccines.
- When will the Senate vote on Trump's tax bill? Even senators don't know.
- Gen Z shoppers aren't looking for cheapest price.
- Two Wisconsin researchers are part of a team that discovered a new object in space.
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Meet the future of the NBA: Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg is officially a Dallas Maverick. The franchise selected the former Duke basketball star Wednesday with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 forward will join Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis with the Mavericks, who are looking to turn around the franchise following the shocking midseason trade of Luka Dončić in February. Maybe now Mavs fans will forgive general manager Nico Harrison for trading Dončić ...
Paste BN Sports is following everything about the 2025 NBA draft:
- What Cooper Flagg brings to the table: Dallas just added one of the youngest draft picks in NBA history and just the second-youngest No. 1 overall pick ever.
- Who fared well in Round 1? The Brooklyn Nets were active with five first-round picks. And there was only one real surprise – Portland using the No. 16 pick to take Yang Hansen.
- Lots of hugs and handshakes: See every player selected in the first round and read up on the best players still available for Round 2 of the draft Thursday night.
Have Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial charges been dropped?
As a verdict nears in Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial, prosecutors are no longer pursuing some of their previous claims against the embattled hip-hop mogul, although top charges remain. In a June 24 letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, attorneys for the U.S. government revealed they are withdrawing some of their criminal allegations against Combs ahead of closing arguments in his sweeping federal sex-crimes case, according to court documents reviewed by Paste BN. The move was made as part of an effort to "streamline" instructions that will soon be issued to jurors as they head into deliberations.
Today's talkers
- Revamp your beach chairs.
- Why is everyone obsessed with F1?
- Sabrina Carpenter debuted an alternative "Man's Best Friend" cover.
- We wish we were at Taylor Swift's surprise performance.
- Celebrate Pride Month with one of these 10 new books.
Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez are having a luxury wedding. The internet is enraged.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are gearing up for what will likely be one of the most luxurious weddings of all time − and the internet already hates everything about it. The couple, who went public with their relationship in 2019 and got engaged in 2023, will tie the knot in Venice, Italy, the city previously confirmed. Regional governor Luca Zaia estimates the festivities to cost $23 to $34 million. Backlash online has only grown. As one user put it: "Some 100 private jets will fly to Venice for Jeff Bezos' wedding, and I recycle yogurt cup lids."
- Traveling to Venice? Expect a crowded and commodity.
Photo of the day: 10 years of same-sex marriage in America
As the country marks 10 years of nationwide marriage equality on Thursday, LGBTQ+ couples told Paste BN efforts for LGBTQ+ equality and safety in America are far from finished. The Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision made on June 26, 2015, represented decades of work by LGBTQ+ activists. Paste BN took a look back at celebrations from that day.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.