23m ago / 7:46 AM EDTParks official says caulking was cut and delaminating surface material destroyed in alleged Reflecting Pool vandalismOvernight, a National Parks Service official provided a federal judge in D.C. details on vandalism he says occurred at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in recent weeks.“On June 9, 2026, after the rehabilitation project was substantially complete, the U.S. Park Police responded to an NPS report of damage to the reflecting pool, including a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material, Frank Lands, Deputy Director for Operations for the National Park Service, wrote in the court filing. “In addition, approximately 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool.”The National Park Service plans to begin draining the reflecting pool following Independence Day, “to conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining,” Lands said.26m ago / 7:42 AM EDTBinding war powers resolution fails in the Senate a day after a symbolic one passedSenate Republicans defeated an Iran war powers resolution last night on a 47-50 vote, just one day after senators approved a House-passed nonbinding version.This resolution, unlike Wednesday's, had teeth. Yesterday's measure was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and directed Trump to “remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran” unless authorized by Congress.A procedural motion to bring the resolution to the floor passed 50-47 last month, as four Republican senators voted to advance it. But one of those four, Rand Paul, of Kentucky, voted present today after having said hostilities “seem to be over.”Another one of the four, Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, who had a contentious exchange with Trump over the Iran conflict during a GOP lunch today, voted against the measure.Cassidy told reporters after the lunch that he intended to vote for the resolution until he got a briefing on Iran. Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff briefed him in the White House Situation Room later in the day, Cassidy said.“I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” Cassidy wrote on X.Wednesday's resolution included similar language to today’s but had no force of law. It was entirely symbolic, expressing the sentiment of Congress, and did not require Trump’s signature.27m ago / 7:42 AM EDTTrump kicks off the Great American State Fair after musicians pulled out Trump dances on stage after speaking during the kick-off celebration for the "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall last night. Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty ImagesTrump treated the kickoff last night to the Great American State Fair as a victory lap for the U.S. — and for himself.“Tonight, as we stand at the edge of our 250th year, I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” Trump said in a speech on the National Mall. “As you know very well, a short time ago we were a dead country. We were dead. Now we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected by everybody. Nobody’s laughing at us anymore.”The event, organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump that labels itself as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, marked the beginning of the 16-day exposition, envisioned as a modern-day world’s fair to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.Planning for the event stirred controversy last month when several musical artists booked to perform, including rapper Young MC and country singer Martina McBride, backed out, citing concerns about the political nature of an event backed by the Trump White House.Read the full story here.27m ago / 7:42 AM EDT