Good morning. Here’s a briefing on the top news stories for June 27, 2025, covering major developments from the Supreme Court’s final day and new insights into recent US military action in Iran.
Supreme Court Delivers Key Rulings on Final Day
Today marks the concluding day of the Supreme Court’s term, with opinions anticipated in the remaining six cases. These include decisions on some of the term’s most significant issues, such as a pivotal case concerning birthright citizenship and its constitutional interpretation.
One major ruling already released is a 6-3 decision that significantly limits the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. This means courts may no longer be able to issue broad orders that block government policies across the entire country, making it potentially much harder to challenge Trump administration actions through litigation. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion, while the three liberal justices dissented, raising concerns about the impact on fundamental rights.
While a decision on the core birthright citizenship question was possible, the specific case before the court (Trump v. CASA) centered on emergency applications primarily challenging the nationwide injunctions previously issued against President Trump’s executive order on citizenship. Lower courts had found this order unconstitutional. The administration’s aim appeared to be using this case to establish limits on judicial power regarding widespread injunctions rather than securing an immediate ruling on the legality of ending birthright citizenship itself. The outcome regarding the substantive citizenship question remained uncertain, with possibilities ranging from denying the applications without a formal opinion to deferring the matter to the fall term.
Other awaited rulings today potentially included cases on mandatory LGBTQ+ content in school lessons, age verification for pornography websites in Texas, the configuration of Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district, and whether states can exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid programs.
New Details Emerge on US Strikes Against Iran’s Nuclear Program
The Trump administration has released new details regarding the US airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program that occurred over the past weekend (specifically, on Saturday, June 22nd). This operation, reportedly years in the making and codenamed “Midnight Hammer,” involved a complex mission with 125 US military aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers flying an 18-hour journey from the US. The strikes hit targets at three key sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
A key target was the Fordo fuel enrichment facility, deeply buried under a mountain outside Tehran. To penetrate this heavily protected site, the US employed the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), also known as a bunker-buster bomb. Fourteen of these specialized weapons, developed over years specifically for deep penetration targets, were dropped on Fordo. In total, 75 “precision-guided weapons” were used across the three sites, with some launched from a submarine.
According to the administration, B-2 pilots successfully delivered bombs and returned safely. US General Dan Caine initially assessed “extremely severe damage and destruction” at all three sites. President Trump later characterized the impact as “monumental damage,” stating the Iranian program was “completely wiped out” or “obliterated.” Satellite imagery of Fordo taken on June 22nd showed fresh craters near entry points consistent with MOP strikes, suggesting deep penetration rather than surface blasts.
However, preliminary intelligence assessments have offered a less definitive picture. Reports suggest the damage might be less extensive than claimed, potentially setting back Iran’s program by “a few months” rather than eliminating it. The US intelligence community assessment, unchanged since March, indicates Iran has accumulated enriched uranium but has not yet decided to build a weapon, a view that contradicts President Trump’s assertion that Iran is “close to having a nuclear weapon” or “a few weeks away.” The leak of this intelligence report is reportedly under FBI investigation.
A significant unanswered question remains the whereabouts of 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi stated that Iranian officials informed the agency they took protective measures for the material, potentially hiding it before the US attacks.
These strikes occurred amidst a broader, escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which began with Israeli attacks on Iranian targets on June 13th, aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear program and missile array. Israel claimed these strikes set back Iran’s program but did not eliminate it. Iran has retaliated with its own missile and drone attacks, targeting military sites in Israel and controversially hitting the Soroka Medical Center hospital in Beersheba, which Israel condemned as a deliberate attack on civilians. Verified footage shows extensive damage to the hospital. Casualty figures from the escalating conflict have varied significantly depending on the source.
Iran has maintained a defiant stance, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejecting any call for surrender. The US strikes also took place while the US and Iran were reportedly engaged in talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. Calls for a War Powers Resolution in the US Congress are growing, with some groups arguing the recent strikes were conducted without constitutionally required approval and were partly influenced by pressure from Israel.
Other Key News Briefings
Beyond the major headlines on the Supreme Court and Iran, other notable developments include:
Gaza Food Program: The Trump administration is allocating $30 million for a food program in Gaza, which the United Nations has described as a “death trap.” The program, run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) using American contractors as part of a plan devised by Israel, has led to hundreds killed and thousands wounded among hungry people attempting to reach food distribution sites. These sites are located in military zones, where Israeli troops are positioned, leading human rights groups to warn that countries backing GHF could face liability for complicity in war crimes.
Immigration Enforcement: Concerns persist regarding intense immigration policies. The case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a Salvadoran migrant wrongly deported and brought back, highlights the uncertainty surrounding his future, with the administration planning deportation to a third country. Separately, an Iranian woman, a long-term US resident with no criminal record but a denied asylum claim, was detained by ICE in New Orleans hours after the US airstrikes on Iran, adding to recent reports of ICE actions targeting Iranians nationwide.
- Political & Policy Updates: Senate Republicans face challenges in passing a comprehensive tax-cut and spending bill, particularly after a parliamentarian ruled that proposed healthcare cuts violate budget rules. In New York City, former Governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly plans to run as an independent in the mayoral race. Democrats in Congress have introduced the “No Secret Police Act of 2025” to require federal agents like those from DHS and ICE to display identification and insignia during arrests. The US Navy announced the controversial renaming of the ship USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson, a move occurring during Pride month that sparked debate over honoring a “political activist” versus a Medal of Honor recipient. Economic data showed a rise in a key inflation gauge (PCE) in May, while Americans simultaneously decreased spending and saw incomes drop.
- www.npr.org
- www.nbcnews.com
- www.bbc.com
- www.theguardian.com
- <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-iran-live-updatesn68598197e4b0b1387932337c”>www.huffpost.com
Stay tuned for more updates as these stories develop throughout the day.
