Cheers, cake as Trump returns to Capitol Hill; Biden won't commute son's sentence; Panthers take 3-0 lead

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 14 at 8 a.m. CT:

President Joe Biden vowed to continue supporting Ukraine, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is promising to order an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. An aide to Ukraine's president said there was nothing new in the proposals.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. GOP lawmakers find themselves newly energized and reinvigorated by Trump's bid to retake the White House. A packed room of House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump in a private breakfast meeting at GOP campaign headquarters across the street from the Capitol.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Justice Department says Phoenix police discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people, unlawfully detain homeless people and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force.

In other news:

• Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication.
• Supreme Court rules California man can't trademark 'Trump too small.'
• Biden campaign calls on GOP to drop lawsuits over mail ballots, citing Trump's new fondness for it.
• Biden says he won't offer commutation to his son Hunter after gun sentence.
• Elon Musk wins back his $44.9 billion Tesla pay package in shareholder vote.
• Mortgage rates ease for second straight week, leaving average rate on a 30-year home loan at 6.95%.
• US wholesale prices dropped in May, adding to evidence that inflation pressures are cooling.
• Biden and Zelenskyy sign security deal as Ukraine's leader questions how long the unity will last.
• US, Europe agree to lock up Russian assets until it pays for Ukraine war, clearing way for $50B loan.
• European Court of Justice fines Hungary 200 million euros for failing to comply with asylum rules.
• US reporter Evan Gershkovich, jailed in Russia on espionage charges, to stand trial, officials say.
• Ukrainian winemakers visit California's Napa Valley to learn how to heal war-ravaged vineyards.
• Gospel group, basking in resurgence, releases first new music in nearly 50 years.
• Reported birth of rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone park fulfills Lakota prophecy.
• Running out of marijuana, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket get approval to ship pot to the islands.
• The Panthers are a game away from sweeping the Stanley Cup Finals, the Celtics can sweep the NBA Finals Friday, Rory McIlroy makes headlines again on the golf course, and the NHL's new Utah team won't have a nickname next season.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.