The briefing for Wednesday, June 24.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency signaled Wednesday that inspectors will visit Iranian nuclear enrichment sites, providing the clearest confirmation yet of a key component in the interim U.S.-Iran deal. IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi told reporters that a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both presidents explicitly states nuclear activities will be supervised by the agency, and that inspections "are going to happen" whether in days or weeks.

The confirmation comes after days of contradictory statements from U.S. and Iranian officials. On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said UN inspectors were not scheduled to examine nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. last year, directly contradicting Vice President JD Vance's claims that discussions with inspectors could begin immediately. President Trump insisted Iran had "fully and completely agreed" to inspections, warning that without such agreement, negotiations would end.

The inspections are critical for verifying Iran's uranium stockpile, which is believed to contain enough highly enriched material to potentially build up to 10 nuclear weapons if Iran chose to pursue them. Since Israel's 12-day war on Iran in 2025, the IAEA has been blocked from visiting enrichment sites. Iran is the only country in the world to have uranium enriched up to 60% purity without an acknowledged weapons program. The interim deal calls for Iran to dilute its stockpile from highly enriched levels, with both sides given 60 days to hammer out broader agreements.

A federal judge in San Francisco barred the government Tuesday from making arrests at immigration courts, ruling that the Trump administration failed to provide sound reasoning for reversing an 80-year policy. U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts wrote that the policy change resulted "not from merely unreasoned decision-making but a complete lack of decision-making," and that authorities failed to address the chilling effect such arrests would have on court attendance.

The practice of courthouse arrests took hold shortly after President Trump took office last year. Hearings across the country often ended with cases being dismissed by government attorneys, setting the stage for plainclothes agents to make arrests in hallways. Judge Pitts faulted the administration both for carrying out the arrests and for holding people in nearby cells longer than the prescribed 12-hour limit.

The ruling applies nationwide and marks the second federal court setback for the policy since May, when a New York judge issued a similar order that applied only in that state. Department of Homeland Security General Counsel James Percival criticized the decision as "naked judicial activism," arguing that if a defendant is taken into custody after sentencing, the same should happen when an immigration judge orders removal.

The House gave final approval Tuesday to a broad bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the nation's housing affordability crisis, with lawmakers in both parties eager to show progress ahead of midterm elections. The 358-32 vote sends the legislation to President Trump, who is expected to sign it Wednesday at the Capitol. The Senate passed the bill 85-5 on Monday, representing a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation in an otherwise contentious congressional session.

The legislation combines dozens of bills negotiated over months to reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, speed construction, and curb corporate landlords' influence by limiting their ability to purchase single-family homes. It would expand financing for housing, encourage development of modular homes, require new renter protections, and provide funding to local governments that exceed median homebuilding rates. The bill also offers a framework for communities wanting to reform outdated zoning regulations that often limit larger housing developments.

The effort addresses a severe housing shortage estimated at 10 million homes, according to the April Economic Report of the President. The U.S. housing market has been in a prolonged slump since 2022 when mortgage rates began climbing from pandemic-era lows. Sales of existing homes reached a 30-year low last year and remain sluggish, while median monthly rent remains 17.2% higher than pre-pandemic levels despite declining for nearly three years. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters noted the median age of first-time homebuyers has reached 40, while rents have soared 47% since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will provide $17.5 billion in federal financing to speed development of 10 new large nuclear reactors to meet surging power demand from massive data centers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright cited "tremendous interest" among data center developers, utilities, and energy companies, saying the nuclear plants could begin construction by 2030 and become operational in the mid-2030s.

Seven utilities and energy companies signed letters of intent identifying sites for the reactors, which will use Westinghouse's AP1000 design—the same used at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle, the only new large reactors built from scratch in the U.S. in recent decades. The Energy Department plans to select five sites to host two reactors each. Wright acknowledged Vogtle struggled with bad planning, supply chain problems, and the pandemic, but expressed confidence that building at volume and multiple locations will improve timing and costs.

Data centers consumed 4% to 5% of the nation's total electricity in 2024, a share that could nearly triple by 2028 according to government estimates. Some analysts predict nationwide electricity use could rise as much as 20% over the next decade, with data centers driving much of the increase. The federal financing would purchase nuclear components with long lead times rather than serving as construction loans. The Energy Department said the loans could speed development by up to three years and lower construction costs, with utilities and Westinghouse expected to contribute up to $5 billion in total equity across the five projects.

A federal judge ruled Monday that the government cannot block SNAP benefits from being used to purchase candy, soda, and other sugary drinks, scuttling restrictions now in place or planned in 23 states. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the ruling wasn't commentary on whether such restrictions are good policy, but rather that the administration "cannot violate the law and their own regulations along the way."

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had encouraged states to limit what food aid could purchase as part of the "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, reasoning that soda and candy fuel obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease epidemics. The Agriculture Department gave 23 states permission to implement restrictions, with some already in effect and others queued for the coming months and years. Colorado reversed course earlier this year after beneficiaries and advocates raised concerns about stigma and confusing rules.

Judge Jackson determined the main legal problem was that restricting SNAP benefits contradicted Congress's definition of "food." Under the law, SNAP benefits can be used for "any food or food product for home consumption" except alcohol, tobacco, and hot foods ready for immediate consumption. The government can waive requirements, but improving nutrition isn't listed as a reason to do so. The legal challenge was filed by SNAP beneficiaries in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The program serves nearly 39 million Americans—about one in nine—and has faced increased scrutiny since Trump returned to office.