00:01President Trump is heading home from China, trade, Iran, and a possible Boeing deal, all part of the talks with
00:07Xi.
00:08Plus, the Supreme Court is keeping the abortion pill available by mail.
00:12The legal fight is far from over, but access stays in place for now.
00:16And Cuba is running out of power and fuel.
00:20Blackouts are spreading, protests are growing, and any U.S. help may come with conditions.
00:28The stories that matter, clear and credible, from across the country to around the world.
00:34These are your Unbiased Updates from Straight Arrow.
00:40Good morning, I'm Craig DeGrelli.
00:42President Trump is heading home from Beijing this morning after two days of high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi
00:48Jinping.
00:49Talks Trump is calling fantastic.
00:51Both sides also discussed Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
00:55With China again urging the waterway to be fully reopened.
00:59In a statement released today, China's foreign minister said, quote,
01:03Now that the door for dialogue has been opened, then it shouldn't be shut again.
01:07Trump said he and Xi shared a goal of ending the war in Iran, though neither side offered details on
01:14what that would look like.
01:15The president also claimed the two countries reached what he called fantastic trade deals, but without offering many specifics.
01:23What does he want from the U.S.?
01:26A lot of things we talked about.
01:28We talked about a lot of things.
01:30Too many things to discuss, but a lot of things.
01:33We had a very good meeting, but we want things from them.
01:37One thing he agreed to today is going to order 200 jets.
01:41That's a big thing.
01:42Boeing.
01:42Boeing.
01:48So far, China has not confirmed Trump's claim there about the Boeing jets.
01:54When asked about the reported deal, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson avoided the question,
01:59saying only that the two countries can promote their respective development through cooperation.
02:05The Supreme Court is keeping the abortion pill, Mifepristone, available by mail, at least for now.
02:12In a brief order Thursday, the court blocked a lower court ruling that would have required patients to get the
02:17drug through in-person visits instead of telehealth appointments and mail delivery.
02:22The decision keeps the current system in place, while the legal fight continues in lower courts.
02:27The case started after Louisiana sued the FDA over Biden-era rules that expanded access to Mifepristone by mail.
02:36The state argues the policy undercuts its strict abortion ban and puts women at risk.
02:41Abortion rights groups and drug makers say restricting access would create nationwide disruption for patients and providers.
02:49The court did not explain its decision.
02:52Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.
02:55Alito called the order, quote, remarkable and accused the majority of allowing states to circumvent the court's decision overturning Roe
03:03v. Wade.
03:04The issue is expected to return to the Supreme Court again.
03:07Cuba says it has officially run out of oil.
03:10And the country's power grid is now buckling under pressure.
03:14New satellite images from NASA here show large parts of the island of 10 million going dark at night as
03:20the energy crisis deepens.
03:22On the ground in Havana, empty gas stations, traffic lights out, and some neighborhoods are losing power for as long
03:29as 22 hours a day.
03:30Cuba's energy minister now saying the country has, quote, absolutely no diesel and absolutely no fuel oil.
03:37The government is blaming U.S. sanctions and what it calls an energy blockade.
03:42The Trump administration says the problem is Cuba's economy and a government that cannot afford to buy fuel.
03:52The crisis is now spilling into the streets.
03:56Protesters across Havana have been banging pots, blocking roads, and demanding the lights come back on.
04:02For years, Cuba relied on oil from Venezuela and at times Russia and Mexico to keep the country running.
04:08But many of those supplies have dried up after the U.S. threatened penalties against countries shipping fuel to the
04:15island.
04:16Now there are signs of quiet diplomacy behind the scenes.
04:19The Cuban government confirming on state TV that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana this week.
04:25This U.S. government plane was spotted there Thursday, just after President Trump posted on Truth Social that, quote,
04:34And last night, the CIA released this image showing Ratcliffe meeting with Cuban officials.
04:40The State Department says the U.S. is offering up to $100 billion in aid, but only if Cuba agrees
04:46to major reforms.
04:48In the meantime, many Cubans are sleeping on rooftops to escape the heat, cooking with charcoal,
04:54and waiting hours just to charge their phones before the power cuts off again.
04:59Now to the redistricting issue.
05:02President Trump said he wanted South Carolina Republicans to get it done.
05:06And now Governor Henry McMaster is calling lawmakers back to Columbia to try to do exactly that.
05:12McMaster issued an executive order on Thursday calling a special session to deal with the state budget
05:18and a possible redraw of South Carolina's congressional map.
05:21The push follows public pressure from Trump, who urged South Carolina Republicans to be more aggressive about redistricting,
05:29posting on Truth Social this week, that he will be watching them.
05:32At the center of the fight is Democratic Congressman James Clyburn's 6th District,
05:37the only Democrat-held House seat in South Carolina.
05:41But not every Republican is on board.
05:43Some GOP lawmakers worry that breaking apart the district could actually weaken Republican numbers in neighboring safe seats.
05:50There is also a cost issue.
05:53Elections officials say June ballots have already been printed and mailed,
05:56and moving the primary to August, which is also something Trump is pushing for,
06:01could cost taxpayers another $2.5 million.
06:04The special session also changes the political math inside the statehouse.
06:09With lawmakers back under special session rules,
06:12Republicans only need a simple majority to pass a new map and send it to the governor's desk.
06:17The head of the U.S. Border Patrol is stepping down,
06:22marking another major leadership shakeup inside the Trump administration's immigration operation.
06:27Mike Banks resigned effective immediately after returning to lead the agency earlier this year at President Trump's request.
06:35Trump tapped Banks to run Border Patrol at the start of his second term,
06:39as the administration launched a broad immigration crackdown along the southern border.
06:44Banks told Fox News it's just time,
06:47adding that he believes the border has gone from chaotic to the most secure border this country has ever seen.
06:53Banks first joined Border Patrol in 2000,
06:56but retired during the Biden administration,
06:58blaming what he called a collapse in morale and border security.
07:02He returned after Trump asked him to lead the agency.
07:06Banks' departure comes a month after allegations arose,
07:09claiming he engaged in unethical behavior as a federal agent.
07:12The resignation is the latest in a series of leadership changes
07:16across the administration's immigration enforcement apparatus.
07:19In March, Senator Mark Wayne Mullen replaced Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary
07:25after Trump removed her from the post.
07:27That same month, Gregory Bovino retired as the head of CBP Immigration Enforcement Operations.
07:34And former ICE agent Dave Venturella is expected to take over as ICE director later this month
07:40when Todd Lyons steps down.
07:42Finally this morning, President Trump's family is officially getting into the cell phone business.
07:48Trump Mobile says its first phones will begin shipping this week after months of production delays.
07:54The wireless company, backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.,
07:58started taking pre-orders last June.
08:00The device, known as the T1, features a gold exterior with an American flag on the back,
08:06a 6.7-inch screen, a 50-megapixel camera,
08:10and a fast-charging battery powered by Android 15.
08:14The price tag? $499.
08:16Trump Mobile is also offering its own wireless plan,
08:20though customers with Apple or Samsung phones can also switch over
08:24as long as their devices are compatible.
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08:46Hey, we appreciate you making us part of your morning routine.
08:49Those are your unbiased updates for this Friday.
08:52We'll see you back here on Monday.
08:53For all of us here at Straight Arrow, I'm Craig DeGrowley.
08:56Have a fantastic Friday.
08:58Enjoy the preakness if horse racing is your thing, and have a great weekend.
09:04We'll see you next time.
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