NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (June 1)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top story tonight, President Trump declaring that Iran peace talks are advancing at a rapid pace. That's as the president says he has to do what's right in negotiations, emphasizing that he won't be rushed by political pressure or negative commentary from the media. Mario Tsu at the White House. President Trump giving an update on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, saying Israel will not send troops into Beirut, and that Hezbollah has agreed to stop attacking Israel. Jason Perry reports. Multiple arrests were made outside of the Delaney Hall ICE facility in New Jersey following multiple nights of vandalism and violence. Jason Blair brings us the latest. And California voters head to the polls Tuesday as election officials investigate fire damage ballots found inside an L.A. drop box. Meanwhile, new polls are offering a clearer picture of the race for California governor and L.A. mayor. Christina Corona reports. And a former election clerk convicted of lying to Colorado state officials now released from prison. Her release comes after the state's governor commuted her sentence last month. This is NTD Evening News, live from our global headquarters in New York City. Here's Kerry Dunst. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight. President Trump saying that Iran negotiations are continuing at a rapid pace, emphasizing that he won't bow to political pressure to rush an imperfect deal. And how the president says talks are being complicated by relentless negative chirping from political opponents and the media. NTD's White House correspondent Mari Otsu brings us the details from the North Lawn. You're calling President Trump a statesman. You're saying that he is taking a statesman like position, that he has a a core belief and he believes that the most important thing is for Iran never to have a nuclear weapon. President Trump declaring that he won't be swayed by political pressure as he says peace talks with Iran are continuing at a rapid pace. Then it gets maybe carried into, you know, the next election, whether it's a midterm or not. So you have a very short window for doing anything having to do with war. But I don't view that window. I view it. I have to do what's right. The president saying he's in no hurry to get a deal as Iran is, quote, losing a fortune and that a deal must include a reopened Strait of Hormuz, no nuclear program and no enriched uranium. President saying these negotiations would be far easier, though, without negative interventions from lawmakers and the media, writing, don't the Democrats and, quote, various seemingly unpatriotic Republicans understand that it is much tougher for me to properly do my job and negotiate when political hacks keep negatively chirping at levels never seen before over and over again, that I should move faster or move slower or go to war or not go to war or whatever. Urging instead, just sit back and relax. It will all work out well in the end. It always does. And amid these ongoing negotiations, the U.S.' naval blockade on Iranian ports is holding strong with the Central Command now announcing that 121 commercial vessels have been redirected from either entering or exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran International reporting that Iran's president has asked to resign amid power struggles, telling the Supreme Leader's office that he and his government have been excluded from major decision making, rendering him unable to fulfill his responsibilities. While Iranian officials deny the report, the White House has continued to cite fragmented leadership in Iran as a main reason why it's been so difficult to negotiate with the regime in the wake of Operation Epic Fury. We wipe out everything, we wipe out their leadership and then we wipe out their leadership a second time and then a two and a half time we're dealing with the other half. And by the way, they're much more reasonable and you could say that's regime change. The White House saying that President Trump is being patient as the three pillars of Iran's government, the IRGC, the clerics and the elected government are having trouble communicating with one another. The White House adding though that the president's patience is not unlimited and reminding us that the U.S. military remains ever ready to go in for further strikes if the perfect deal isn't reached. Reporting from the White House, Mario Tsu, NTD News. And with President Trump saying Iran talks are continuing at quote a rapid pace, what's really happening at the negotiating table? Analysis tonight on Capitol Report with Steve Lance at 7 p.m. Eastern. Next, President Trump announcing on Truth Social that Israel will not send troops into Lebanon's capital city of Beirut. Trump also saying that Hezbollah terrorist group has now agreed to stop attacking Israel. And today's Jason Perry brings us the latest. Traffic jams were seen in Lebanon's capital of Beirut on Monday. Residents apparently attempted to flee a Hezbollah stronghold after Israel ordered more strikes in the area. This comes as Israeli troops continue to take over parts of southern Lebanon as they battle the Iran-backed terrorist group. Also on Monday, Israel releasing this video saying it shows a strike on three Hezbollah terrorists who attempted to launch an attack drone toward Israeli soldiers. And another strike on what Israel says was a Hezbollah weapons storage facility as secondary explosions were seen after the strike. And over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces reported taking control of this ancient castle, part of the Beaufort Bridge, said to be a key geographic asset for Hezbollah. An Israeli general saying the terrorist group had fired more than 400 launches from the area. The infrastructure built by Hezbollah is Iranian infrastructure, serving as a significant command and control center, both above and below ground. We are pushing back Hezbollah's capabilities and continuing to further the damage inflicted on it. This area also marks the farthest advance of Israeli troops into Lebanon during the last quarter century. However, on Monday, President Trump saying on Truth Social that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that Israel has agreed not to send troops into Lebanon's capital city of Beirut and that any troops who are on their way have already been turned back. Trump also saying in the Post, Likewise, through highly placed representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop, that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel. The Lebanese government on X also confirming the recent agreement, saying that Lebanese authorities received confirmation of Hezbollah's agreement to the U.S. proposal, which calls for a reciprocal cessation of attacks. Afterward, Netanyahu on X saying that he told President Trump that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking Israeli cities and citizens, then Israel will, quote, strike terror targets in Beirut. Netanyahu adding that the agreement does not affect Israel's military operations in southern Lebanon and that troops will continue operating there as planned. Jason Perry, NTD News. Next, at Asia's premier defense summit, dozens of nations sent their top defense ministers, except China. Beijing opting instead for a low-level delegation. That absence was glaring as China's military aggression in the region, of course, dominated the agenda. NTD's Washington correspondent Jack Bradley has more. When we look across the region today, there is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond. At Asia's premier security forum over the weekend in Singapore, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned of China's growing military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific, pledging the U.S. will maintain its strength to preserve stability, but also urging allies to ramp up their own defense spending. The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates. Japan addressed that call head-on, increasing its defense spending rapidly, and also announcing the end of its ban on weapons exports. Over the past few months, the Chinese Communist Party has worked to label Japan as undergoing a new form of militarism. But Japan's foreign minister firing back, calling that accusation deeply ironic, as China continues sending warships for drills in disputed waters in the South China Sea and also building up its own military at unprecedented levels. There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons. And yet, Japan is labeled new militarism. China's external approach and military activities are matters of serious concern for Japan and the international community. Missing from the forum for the second year in a row was China's defense minister, which speaks volumes to where Beijing's military leadership may stand, weakened by relentless purges and the instability at the very top. The Chinese delegation was led by a lower-level official, Major General Meng Xiangqing, an academic from the National Defense University. Defense Minister Dong Jun did not go. Dong Jun succeeded former Defense Minister Li Xiangfu, who was stripped of his rank, disappeared, and sentenced to death for bribery. Over 36 senior commanders and generals have been purged over the past few years. This includes the top former general and former vice chairman Zhang Youxia, who was Xi Jinping's second-in-command. All of this has been raising some serious questions about the stability of China's military currently. Reporting by Jack Bradley, NTD News. And at least 20 people were arrested outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. This comes after violence and vandalism further escalated on Friday and Saturday. NTD correspondent Jason Blair brings us more. What I think the best thing that's happened at the detention center in New Jersey right now is the fact that state police finally was able to respond when the governor, Governor Sherrill, allowed them to. Authorities made at least 20 arrests on Sunday outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark. A curfew is in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. within a half mile of the facility. New Jersey police issued multiple warnings to people in the area to clear out before the arrests began. This is after vandalism and unrest peaked on Saturday night. They threw projectiles. They used barriers as weapons and lit tires on fire in the street. Trash was also strewn throughout the area in front of the facility. We know that people from outside the state have been interfering in the protests and escalating them. And some national extremist groups have become involved in the process here today. Videos have captured large stashes of supplies like masks, goggles, and first aid kits around the facility. Starting on Sunday, New Jersey law enforcement set up a perimeter around the ICE facility. The Department of Homeland Security says the perimeter around Delaney Hall is fully closed and our ICE operations continue undeterred. Before then, protesters were seen regularly blocking vehicles from entering and exiting the facility. Once police established the perimeter, visitations to Delaney Hall were allowed again. Today, I'm announcing that the Department of Homeland Security has agreed to restore family visitations starting today at noon. The DHS says visitations were temporarily suspended because, quote, violent riots outside the facility made it unsafe for our officers, detainees, families, and lawyers to visit the facility. Protesters and some lawmakers are alleging poor conditions in the facility based on an open letter allegedly signed by detainees. Delaney Hall should be shut down. The DHS refutes the claim, saying adequate food and care are provided and that ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons. It's because they're on a hunger strike when there was only a handful of individuals that was refusing to eat because they want their ethnic right food. Well, they can go back to their country and get whatever food they want. And a man from New York City was federally charged with threatening to assault and murder an ICE officer. Last week, a man was captured on video outside Delaney Hall yelling death threats. I have your face. You're dead. Children, your wife, all dead. The FBI says the man was arrested within 24 hours of the incident after they identified him using facial recognition technology. U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Robert Frazier warned in a statement that, quote, threats against federal officers and their families are serious crimes and will not be tolerated. Jason Blair, NTD News. And next, U.S. Border Patrol has a new chief. The CBB commissioner today appointed and sworn in Rosario Pete Vasquez. Will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Vasquez has 26 years of experience in Border Patrol. He served across the southwest border, the northern border and abroad. As chief, Vasquez will oversee nearly 20,000 agents and staffers lead efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations, as well as disrupt human and drug trafficking networks. The new chief says he will ensure the U.S. Border Patrol remains the most effective border security force in the world. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott says Border Patrol agents are continuing to achieve the most secure border in history under President Trump. Next, multiple musical artists are pulling out of a concert, commemorating America's 250th birthday. Should we let politics get in the way of celebrating our nation's history and culture? NTD's Sam Wong was out on the National Mall in D.C. to speak with the people. It's America 250. There's going to be a lot of celebration here in D.C. What do you make of all of those undertakings? I think it's great. I love the banners I've seen, the signs all around the city, their revitalization. I've been here several years ago and there's a noticeable shift and just kind of a patriotic feel all around. I think it's great. We are super excited about it. We've seen some stuff on TV and online, on social media. So we're really excited about celebrating our 250th anniversary. Yes, we're in Pennsylvania, which we were a couple days last week. We saw a lot more there. We are Americans, we're patriots, and we love celebrating America. I think it's pretty cool. It's always good to celebrate our country and what it stands for. So to come out here and see everything that has to be offered and learn about our nation's history is pretty awesome. We're pretty excited. We're from a small town in Kentucky and we are going all out there. And that's one reason why we decided to come here this year for vacation. It's the 250th, where else can you be? Gearing up for the celebration, some celebrities, some artists have already dropped out of the performance for America 250. Do you think we should let politics get in our way of celebrating America's history and culture? Politics should never get in the way. I mean, I understand everybody's got a side they want to play on, but this is America. We're a whole. We should be a whole. That's why it's called We the People. It's our country. We should be proud of it. And I don't think it should be you're proud of it because of who won an election or you're not proud of it because of who lost an election. It's our country. I think we should be celebrating our freedoms and our liberties and our uniqueness. If you're an athlete, an artist, a musician, that you have an obligation to you have your own personal beliefs, but you should you should set that aside. Or don't enjoy the freedoms that you were given. Go, you know, go to another country if you don't think it's so great here. Regardless of where you stand, we're all Americans. So to me, let's celebrate. Let's that's what makes America America. We don't have to agree. We can choose right, left, middle, red, blue, black, white, whatever. Politics are one thing, but this is America. And coming up, California's primary election is just a day away now, but election officials are investigating fire damage ballots found inside an L.A. dropbox. Plus, new polls are showing tight races for the California governor and the L.A. mayor. Christina Corona reports. And a former election clerk convicted of lying to Colorado state officials now released from prison. Her release comes after the state's governor commuted her sentence last month. The bladder control aisle. You won't shop here again. Your private business is your own. The constant struggle is over. Now there's a better way. It's HGIS. We home deliver bladder control products. We understand how you feel. For over 25 years, we've home delivered to many of the 20 million Americans who deal with incontinence. We offer all brands. We pay shipping and use plain unmarked boxes. If we can help you or someone you care for, call for your free product sample pack and $45 in money-saving coupons. Our counselors will help you choose the right product. And unlike stores, we're always in stock. You'll get what you need. Satisfaction guaranteed. HGIS, the better way. 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United told People Magazine the flight was forced to turn back after a potential security concern. According to a social media post from passengers on the flight, there was an active Bluetooth network on the plane that was particularly concerning. The Wi-Fi network was named BOM. Passengers were told multiple times to turn off Bluetooth networks during the flight, so the plane turned around mid-flight. It landed back at Newark without incident. Passengers then had to get off the plane for Port Authority police and canines to check it out, and then they had to be re-screened by TSA before reboarding. Airline staff told passengers they believe the incident was a selfish joke. The flight eventually continued on to Spain with a new crew and without incident. Next, a former election clerk convicted of lying to Colorado state officials has now been released from prison. Her release comes after the state's governor commuted her sentence last month. She was convicted of illegally tampering with voting machines in pursuit of evidence of fraud in the 2020 election. Peters served less than two years of her nine-year sentence. President Trump had issued her a pardon in December, but then a court ruled that authority rested with Colorado's governor since her convictions were state-level. Peters' conviction stemmed from a 2021 incident in which she lied to obtain security credentials for Gerald Wood, a private citizen, so he could witness the state's upcoming election software update. Peters then gave those credentials to software technician Conan Hayes, who posed as Wood to witness the update in his place. Hayes also made a copy of the election software server before and then after the update. Colorado authorities opened an investigation after data from those copies were posted online. A jury convicted Peters in 2024 on multiple charges, including attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, and first-degree official misconduct. And as California voters prepare to head to the polls tomorrow, election officials are investigating damaged ballots that were found inside an LA dropbox and vandalism at a vote center. New polling is also offering a clearer picture of these closely watched races for California governor and for the LA mayor. And it is Christina Corona has more from LA. Over the weekend, Los Angeles County election officials investigated possible election interference after damaged ballots were found burned inside this dropbox behind me. And in a separate incident, vandalism was discovered at a Long Beach voting center, although officials say voting operations were not disrupted. Officials say a small number of ballots were damaged by fire between scheduled collections at a downtown Los Angeles dropbox. The county says only a limited number of ballots were affected because the damage happened sometime between a scheduled ballot pickup on Saturday and the next collection Sunday morning. Election workers also discovered vandalism Sunday morning at a vote center in Long Beach's Cesar E. Chavez Park. Officials say voting was not disrupted in either case, and voters whose ballots may have been affected will be contacted and given options, including replacement ballots if needed. Both incidents remain under investigation. In Los Angeles's mayoral race, a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the LA Times shows Mayor Karen Bass leading with 26 percent support. City Council member Nithya Raman follows at 25 percent, while Spencer Pratt is at 22 percent. Bass told CNN what she thinks Pratt would be like as mayor. I can't even imagine. I don't think I understand. He has a degree in political science, but he does not have a background or knowledge in how our government works. Pratt responded to that on X, saying, quote, We don't have to imagine Bass as mayor. We're living that disaster. That's why I'm taking her job. Actors Jane Fonda and Samuel L. Jackson have publicly backed Bass for re-election. Meanwhile, Entourage creator Doug Ellen voiced his support for Pratt, citing concerns about the city's direction and safety. Five years ago, didn't lock a door here, but you know what happened? Two animals invaded my house and all putting cameras and hiring security guards because we're all getting broken into. It's not made up. It's not false. And this city has collapsed in the last five years. Meanwhile, a new Emerson College poll shows former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Javier Becerra leading the governor's race with 28 percent support. Democrat Tom Steyer follows at 22 percent, with Republican Steve Hilton close behind at 21 percent. California voters still have time to cast their ballots. Voting centers across the state will be open Tuesday on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Reporting from downtown Los Angeles, Christina Corona, NTD News. And to explore the California governor's race more closely, NTD's David Lam brings us more. Now, in the parking lot next to the Registrar of Voters office, I saw many booths set up and they told me that it was for couriers to drop off the ballots when they come by. About half of Californians say the most important issues the state faces are cost of living, inflation and housing costs and availability. The majority think things are going in the wrong direction in the state. Oh, there's so many things. I am now homeless. So, you know, it's hard to find housing. And right now there's just so many things that are tied to it and not tied to it that it's hard to get anywhere right now. The agencies say, oh, we're here to help people. But yet, you know, I think it's more towards favoritism and whatnot, you know, because I hear some agencies have the money, the ability to do things for people. And I just did not encounter that. The state's gubernatorial race has generated high levels of interest as it's uncertain who the top two candidates will be to move on to the November election. Now, I did try to speak to voters, but many of them didn't want to go on camera. One lady came with a child and she said that public education was a big deal for her. And she said that her child used to be in public education, but she switched to homeschooling and then now private school. The state is wrapping up early voting and voters will determine the top two candidates for governor and other statewide candidates for office. In San Jose, California, David Lam, NTD News. And the Justice Department saying it will comply with a court order blocking the Trump administration's anti-weaponization fund. DOJ also noting that it, quote, disagrees strongly with the judge's ruling. NDD's Chris Bobb has the latest. Press reports that Trump says he will table his $2 billion MAGA slush fund. But a promise from Trump is worthless. The Department of Justice says it strongly disagrees with a judge's decision blocking the recently established anti-weaponization fund. DOJ argues the program was intended to compensate Americans who were unjustly targeted by the government, but says it will comply with the court order. The Justice Department posting this statement on Monday, quote, This fund was open to anyone who was so weaponized, targeted or persecuted, whether they were Democrat, Republican, conservative, independent or otherwise. The department will abide by the court's ruling. The anti-weaponization fund was created through a Justice Department settlement tied to lawsuits involving President Trump's tax returns. The issue has now become tied to Senate Republicans' efforts to pass a funding package for ICE and Customs and Border Protection through 2029. But Republicans delayed plans for a Senate vote before recess after some Republicans disagreed with the fund and expressed concerns that Democrats could force politically difficult amendment votes tied to the anti-weaponization fund during the reconciliation process. Democrats are now signaling they plan to continue pressing the issue if the reconciliation package returns to the Senate floor this week. If Republicans try to force through their reconciliation bill again, the first amendment I will offer will be to ban the slush fund permanently and forever. Senate Republican leaders are still hoping to advance the reconciliation package this week, potentially Wednesday. Chris Bobb, NTD News. And coming up, as we heard from NTD's reporters, Christina and David, the California primaries are drawing national attention. We're going to unpack it with the panel. Stay with us. I debate all day. It's what I do. But there are some things that are undebatable, like your mental health, my own mental health. I was in a dark place when my brother passed away in a car accident. I've never been more devastated than the day I lost my mom. I was depressed, miserable in ways I never imagined. I reached out, my sisters came, my pastor, my therapist. They helped me get through it. I found that the more I spoke up, the healthier my mind became. The chaos that was in me began to subside. I was more focused, clear. When you love your mind, that's not up for debate. Find mental health resources at loveyourmindtoday.org. My mom and dad were traditional Asian parents. Now my father would go to work before I woke up in the morning, and then he would come home too tired to play with me. I tell my son, I love you every single day. Now my dad has never said that to me, not because he doesn't love me, but because culturally it was uncomfortable for him. So I teased him the other day and I said, how come you never say that to me? And he said, you're too old now. Now that he's a grandfather, he says I love you to my son every time he sees him. My advice to all the fathers out there, forget the material things, forget the cultural restrictions. They grow up way too fast for you to waste even a single precious minute or moment. Say bye-bye. Bye-bye. Welcome back to Antity Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. A surprise victory for the right-leaning candidate in Colombia's presidential election. A political newcomer who's friendly to the U.S. and to President Trump takes the win in the first round of the elections. Meanwhile, Colombia's political left now questioning the results. Antity's international correspondent Eran Pazdar is in South America with the story. Right-leaning criminal defense lawyer Abelardo de la Freya with a surprise victory in the first round of Colombia's presidential elections. Polls heading trailing behind two other candidates, but de la Freya getting 44% of the votes. Always polls tend to underestimate these types of sentiments. Evan Ellis is the Latin America research professor at the U.S. Army War College. Ellis was also part of President Trump's Latin America staff during his first term. This is an important decision that Colombians are making about the path that they want to take for security, whether it's standing behind the application of their laws and their institutions or continuing negotiation with armed groups. I think the popularity that de la Freya has reflects the frustration that Colombians felt. Current left-leaning president Gustavo Petro is often being criticized for allegedly not doing enough to counter violent gangs and drug trafficking. Meanwhile, right-leaning de la Freya promising to crack down on violent crime with force if necessary and creating mega prisons in Colombia's jungle, similar to President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. After the first results came in on Sunday night, left-leaning candidate Ivan Zepeda said he wouldn't accept them, alleging outside interference. Ellis says the allegations don't have much impact because the run-off election would be between de la Freya and Zepeda anyways, but the allegations could potentially affect the second round of voting. Having sowed the seeds of doubt in round one, that might be opening stage for questioning those results in round two. De la Freya is expected to absorb the votes of other right-leaning candidates in the second round of voting. Before the elections, predictions had already shown that de la Freya would most likely win the run-off, even if he hadn't won the first round of voting. This is expected to affect the United States, as the U.S. State Department assesses that 97 percent of cocaine in the United States originates in Colombia and production increased by more than four times under Petro, something de la Freya is expected to reverse. This would mean less money flowing to organized crime in the U.S. and fewer drugs trafficked into the country. The election is heading into a run-off because neither candidate got more than 50 percent of the votes, and the second round of voting is set to take place in three weeks. Now, de la Freya is widely believed to win the election, with major online betting platforms saying there's a 90 percent chance of Next, tomorrow's closely watched California primaries feature two races that are drawing national attention. The governor's contest to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom and the L.A. mayoral race, where incumbent Karen Bass faces challenges from both her right and from her left. In both races, the top two vote-getters will advance to a November general election, regardless of party affiliation. To unpack all that, we have an excellent panel of guests joining us now. We welcome Aditi Bussles, Democratic strategist, and Marlee Hornick, Republican strategist. Thank you both so much for joining. Marlee, let's jump in with the governor's race. On the Republican side, your thoughts on Hilton, his Cal-affordable pitch for governor, and his chances of making it to the top two. Well, that's a great question, Kerry. You know, I think we really have to look at the election in the broader context of challenges that we see about election conduct. And I was watching the Ninth Circuit decision process, or the hearing process, about the lawsuit that the Department of Justice has for the California voter rolls, the unredacted list. And I was pretty shocked to hear the attorney representing the state say that data is not a record, and that's why they don't have to share this information with the DOJ. So, you know, we have this competition in the gubernatorial race, and in the mayoral race, it's basically the same competition. It says, do you want to continue down the path of socialism, or are we going to return, as Justice Thomas says, to the principles of limited government and liberty through equal rights for all? And I think that this battle over the voter rolls is really at the heart of these issues. Unfortunately, RealAmerica.Vote, the organization that I lead, has done a pilot study on whether the voters in California elections can be validated. And we discovered in Orange County in 2024, that over 5% of the voters whose votes were counted could not be validated by licensed private investigators using advanced tools. So, you know, whether or not Hilton wins, or whether or not Newsom comes ahead, and the same thing with Pratt and Bass, you know, Pratt released a video today, showing roving Jeeps in neighborhoods in LA, giving out drug paraphernalia to street addicts and homeless people. And that's being done with tax dollars. How do you argue in favor of that as a policy instead of trying to uplift people and allow them to flourish? So really, this is at the core of this argument. And it looks like the election integrity issues are influencing or affecting California elections dramatically. You know, you highlight many great points of the challenges with the election situation in California. But just yes or no, does Hilton make it into the top two? We won't hold you to it, but you do think he will. Absolutely. How could he not, except for these problems? Right, right. Okay. And Aditi, on the Democratic side, you have former HHS Secretary under Biden, Javier Becerra, and then Steyer. What are they offering in terms of reducing the cost of living in California? Because as our previous package showed, that is the number one issue. It's been described as three separate issues with inflation and housing costs, but it all falls under that umbrella of the cost of living in California. Well, I think 2024 has taught Democrats that they have to speak in a language that is accessible. And as an academic myself, I can tell you that using these jargony terms, that really doesn't get to the root of the issue is a downfall of a lot of Democrats. And I think what you're seeing is they are trying to make their plans and policies more accessible to the public and really help them understand exactly how they're going to address the root cause of the problem. I do think that the governor's race and the mayoral race in LA are two different beasts because I have always felt that if there is any magic in government left, it is on the local level where you can truly support a person and not a party. And I was someone who served on city council and really took the nonpartisan nature of my seat seriously and embraced both Trump supporters and Biden supporters in my coalition because as long as you cared about making the city better, that's all I cared about. And I wish Democrats understood that you can't use the same playbook that you're using in the governor's race where it's much more hyper partisan. There are reports of, you know, bots being used to raise profiles. There's a controversy of Eric Swalwell that's still kind of lingering. But on a local level, you know, we want to see what you're going to do to make our everyday lives better. And, you know, I would love to see Nithya Raman make it in the top two. But I think that she's so afraid of the cancel culture that Democrats have created that she isn't really speaking her mind. And so I hope she makes that final plea over the last 24 hours. And we'll see. Otherwise, I think Spencer Pratt has done a phenomenal job in terms of connecting with voters and really talking about his experience as someone who lives in LA. And that's why you see a lot of Democrats get behind traditionally more conservative candidates. And I definitely want to go to the mayoral race next, but put you on the spot as well. Do the top two Democrats edge out Hilton or do you expect Hilton to run off against one of those two candidates? Clearly, Becerra right now pulling ahead. Yeah, well, because of this climate, I think we're going to have one of each. I think anything is possible. And I think we'll have either Becerra and Hilton or Steyer and Hilton. OK. And Marley, to go to you. We, of course, have some very famous Republican governors. We have Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger. But it's been a while since a Republican has held the seat. Is this the year with the current climate and circumstance where Hilton could, in theory, if he can get to that runoff, that he has the opportunity to win? Does his completely alignment with Trump help him or hurt him? What would he have to do if he can make it through the through the runoff to win in the general election? Harry, there are so many deep red conservatives in California who have been broadly disenfranchised by California's gerrymandering practices and by what appears to be rampant election fraud. So I think Hilton is very widely supported in California and he's facing a terrible slate of candidates. Let's face it, Steyer refuses to back down on the transgender issue and continues to make it the front piece of his platform. And Becerra stood over the Department during the time when it was open and millions of unvetted migrants came into the country and were not required to comply with covid mandates that American citizens were complying with for the safety of the nation. So I think that in a fair fight, Hilton has to win. It's unimaginable to think that Californians want to continue down the path of incompetent governance. Yeah, and your earlier point about election integrity then, of course, becomes even more critical should he start getting momentum. And he has certainly a lot of ammo in these things that you just brought up. Aditi, let's now shift to that mayoral race. Of course, L.A., the heart of the entertainment capital of the world. And Pratt has really dusted up a lot of attention internationally with these ads using A.I. And I just want to get a sense of, are the frustrations of the L.A. residents enough to potentially get him over the line where he could, in theory, have a runoff with, it would seem like Karen Bass. But then, of course, there is the Democratic Socialist, as you mentioned, Rahman. And we've seen in New York City, of course, with Mondani that people want change, but they may, if they're Democrats, they may not want change from the right. So who's going to end up in the top two, in your view? Well, I do have to respond. I disagree in terms of some of the issues that the Democratic candidates are focused on. This is California. We're forgetting this is the most left state, probably, in the country. We often look to them as a resident of South Carolina of what hyper-left Democrats are and have been very successful in. So for them to talk about the transgender issue and all of these other issues that in other parts of the country may not be as relevant, I think it's very appropriate. I think we're missing the point that it's California. Now, talking about the mayoral side, I do believe that Spencer Pratt has a very strong chance of making the runoff or hitting the top two. And it does help that he already has name recognition from a previous career in reality television. And I think that if people want to change people's perspective, they need to stop focusing on his past and really focusing on what is he saying that they don't think is feasible or possible. And while if I was in LA, I'm not sure if I would support him, I recognize a strong candidate when it exists. And I think that the Democrats have not done a good job of differentiating what the other two candidates have to offer in a bold way because LA needs, clearly needs, a lot of recovery and a lot of changes with some of their policies around social issues. Yeah, indeed. And with those Palisades fires and some of the health issues happening with the homeless encampments on the street, there is a boil from the middle class celebrity status, whether it be Trump or it be Schwarzenegger, certainly resonates with California voters as well. But as you say, it is the heart of what might be considered the left in the country. So Marley, your response, what do you think on the mayoral race, who will be the top two candidates? Well, I think Bass has disqualified herself again, like you just said over the Palisades issue. First, the water wasn't there, which is a total failure of legitimate government. And second, how many houses have actually been rebuilt? And she has done nothing and her administration has done nothing to the public's knowledge anyway, to fight for those citizens against the insurance agents who are refusing to reimburse folks and help them get those houses built. So it's just a total failure of governance. She appears to apply herself to the principle that if she collects enough in taxes and then gives it back to people, that gives her the clout to be elected. But as we all know, and we're seeing brutally in New York City right now with Mamdani, you can only take so much money before you have to actually accomplish something with those funds. Otherwise, people get highly disgruntled. So I think that's what she's facing. And just to your point, Kerry, the middle class issue, this is classic socialism leading to communism. When you gut the middle class, you are taking out, you're removing the stable force that occupies the center of stability for actually not just the state, but the nation. So you end up having very stratified economic disparities, the total haves and the total have nots. And there's no one left in the middle to fund the social programs that are actually humane and necessary to A, keep the lights on and keep the potholes filled, and B, make sure that the least fortunate in our society do have the resources that they require. So I think she's a failed candidate. I don't understand why anyone would vote for her. Again, just raising this issue again, very shocking because this is within her district in Orange County. 5% of the voters appeared to not exist that had their votes counted. A lot of realamerica.vote work has been submitted into the DOJ and some of it has been validated. We're working on that further. But this is a shocking amount of problems in the election when California promised in the composition clause, the second sentence of the United States Constitution, to validate and qualify every voter before accepting their ballot. That is a an ironclad promise of the United States Constitution. It was a condition of ratification. It's not even in the Bill of Rights. And it looks like they're in breach of contract. So as we're heading into these elections, I think we all have to keep in mind that this is a problem beyond these particular races that has to be solved. Well, election integrity, the middle class, these are all important things that are coming up in California with the governor's race as well as the mayoral race in L.A. Potentially a litmus test for what will happen in the midterms. We appreciate you both joining us. Thank you so much. We have Aditi, pardon me, Aditi Bussels and Marlee Hornick. Thank you so much. It was a very sporting conversation. Appreciate it. Thanks, Kerry. Next, artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has filed a confidential proposal for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's announcement comes as it competes with rival OpenAI. Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI model, did not disclose the terms of the offering. Anthropic said last week it had raised $65 billion in private funding, sending its valuation to $965 billion. That was in March. Competitor OpenAI reported it was heading toward a $852 billion valuation after $122 billion fundraising round. OpenAI hasn't announced an initial IPO filing with the SEC. And up ahead in tennis, after nearly four hours in retirement, Serena Williams is returning to the game she once dominated. Aditi's Dave Martin joins us to discuss. This is such a gentle painting, so beautifully portrayed. A group of people reading together in this simple, everyday-looking living room. A young girl reading along with an adult, a grandparent sitting in the lotus position, a businessman in his typical suit. You see all those people, they look like they have quietly settled down there. And you as a viewer, it looks like you've just stepped in the door. You can't see what it is they're reading, so you're a little bit curious and you're kind of invited to walk in. This harmonious feeling is not by accident. It is the very subject of the work. The book they are reading is the main text of Falun Gong, which is an ancient Chinese spiritual discipline in the Buddhist tradition. At the core of Falun Gong are the values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Unfortunately, the practice is banned in China, where the artist resides. Thousands have been killed for their faith. Golden energy blooms into the room as a result of their steadfast faith. The painting on the back wall reminds us of this work's title, Plum Blossoms in a Muddy World. It's also a metaphor for the practitioners that are sitting in the room as plum blossoms. They signify perseverance and hope that all brutal winters end and life is renewed once again. The magical painting. For the first time ever, we're bringing you my pillow mattresses and mattress toppers for as low as $99.98. Remember, sleep's all about temperature and pressure points. Whatever sleep needs you have, we have the right technology for you. Like our My Pillow Mattress Topper, our queen size has over 10,000 individual comfort supports to help relieve your pressure points. And how about our 3-inch Hybrid Plus Mattress Topper? It's infused with copper and silver to help your body get the restorative sleep it needs. And our My Pillow Encase Coil Mattresses, I personally helped develop these mattresses to make sure they have everything needed to give us great sleep. Plus they're made right here in the USA and they ship right to your front door absolutely free. So go to MyPillow.com or call the number on your screen. Use this promo code to get My Pillow Mattresses and Toppers for as low as $99.98 and free shipping. Now for your sports news, we're joined by NTD's Dave Martin. Dave, we got a lot of stuff happening here. There's basketball, even NFL's starting to percolate a bit, but let's start with tennis. You'd think she'd had had enough. 23-time major champion, she is the undisputed goat maybe of all sports, Serena Williams. Undisputed. She can't just enjoy retirement, right? She wants more. What's happening with Serena? You know, the way she announced her retirement, I still remember that four years ago. Instead of saying I'm retiring, it was like I'm evolving away from tennis. Didn't actually use this retire word, although in essence she did retire. She's not playing, right? Now that was after the U.S. Open in 2022. It's been nearly 40 years. I'm obviously excited to see her back in play. She's obviously very popular. 23 grand slam titles, that's more than anybody in the open era, which started back in 1968. Now she's kind of going to be dipping her toe in this at first. She's going to be playing doubles in next week's HSBC Championships. After that, she's yet to announce what she'll be doing. Will she play Wimbledon? Will she play the U.S. Open? Is she going to do singles? We've yet to hear. I'm also interested to see how she is after a four-year layoff. Bjorn Borg, who dominated the men's side in the 70s and early 80s, retired in 1981, very abruptly, age of 26. He then made a comeback 10 years later. He was 36, was not very successful. I think he played 12 matches over three years to not win a single one of them. So you never know what you're going to get. And even Michael Jordan, he retired three times. Unretired two of those times. The second one was like age 38. He was still an all-star level player when he came back. So we're not sure. And those two were both considerably younger, at least at the times of their retirement. Williams was 44. Those two people were in their 30s. But of course, Williams' older sister, Venus, is still playing. So she's got that anyway. She knows she's a year younger than her sister. So we'll see how this goes. I'm interested to see her, though. And they're a legendary doubles team as well. They are. Those two won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles. Remember, there were some times where they would meet in the finals, play for the title, and then they would also win it as doubles partners. I mean, those two dominated the sport. It's pretty incredible. It is amazing. And their backstory is just as incredible. Let's move to the NFL. Two reported blockbuster trades. We've got the Rams acquiring all-pro defensive end Miles Garrett from the Browns, and then A.J. Brown potentially going to the Eagles. What do you think? You know, they both were kind of, you could tell that both kind of players were at least wanting to be on the move. Like, A.J. Brown, I wasn't sure what team he'd be going to, but it certainly seemed like he would be switching teams in the offseason. He gave off hints last year. He maybe wasn't so thrilled with his role in the team's offense. So he goes to New England for a future first-rounder and a fifth-rounder. That certainly makes sense for the Patriots, giving Drake May a clear number one receiver. Now, regarding the Garrett trade, he requested a trade last offseason, ended up signing a contract extension instead. This year, then, he goes to a contender, and this is really the Rams' M.O., trading future first-round picks for current star players. It's worked well for them. They won a Super Bowl title a few years ago. They've been a playoff contender as well. They gave up a first, second, and third-round pick for him, plus young pass rushing star Jared Versa. I honestly thought this was a little bit too much for Garrett, even though Garrett now the reigning defensive player of the year in the NFL. It's just that he's now 30 years old, which you typically see as decline in most players across the league. We'll have to see how it works out. Of course, he didn't show any decline last year, as I just mentioned, led the league in sacks, defensive player of the year. So, Rams now, you've got to figure they're going to be one of the contenders, the talked-about contender to win the Super Bowl, but they did give up a lot for this guy, so. And New England overachieving. You got to think May and Brown are really good, maybe not. That's a really good pair. Get to the Super Bowl, maybe, but certainly for your fantasy team, we're talking Ka-ching, right? Yeah, you got to plan for that early this year, Kerry, you know. Yeah, last year, not so good. All right, let's talk about what we want to talk about, which is, of course, the Knicks, the matchup in the NBA Finals. It's amazing to say that the Knicks are in the Finals, but we've been waiting for a week now. Now we know who they're playing. The Knicks versus the Spurs. Spurs have a very impressive Game 7 win on the road in Oklahoma City Saturday night. So, you've got the hottest team in the league, New York Knicks, taking on the team that just dethroned the champions. San Antonio got a number of young, good young players. Their biggest, Victor Wembenyama, just 22 years old. Now, most people, you know, thought, like myself, thought they were at least a year or two away from making it to the Finals and dethroning the champions. Instead, they did it. They did it this year. Knicks, much more of a veteran group that are on a tear. They entered these Finals on an 11-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents by nearly 25 points a game during that streak. Pretty incredible. I think the big matchup is going to be at the center position. Wembenyama, 7'4". No one really has anyone ideal enough to guard him. He moves quicker. He moves like a guard, but he's taller than most every center. He's very agile. The Knicks, meanwhile, they counter with Karl-Anthony Towns. He's a 7-footer. I doubt they have him guard Wembenyama, though. Probably, they want to keep Towns out of foul trouble. In fact, even on the reverse, I doubt Wembenyama even guards Towns because Downtown is such a great three-point shooter. They probably don't want to bring Wemby out of the lane. I can see maybe someone was talking about the Knicks using O.G. Ananobi maybe to guard him. I mean, he's thick. That guy is very thick. Wemby is a lot more wiry, so maybe that's who. Maybe on the other side, I don't know, Carter Bryant of the Spurs guards Towns. I'm not sure who then they would guard Towns because that would be... Well, Towns, if he doesn't have Wemby on him, that's going to be a nice matchup for him, I would think. And this team, they're a collection of young guys in their early 20s gelling at just the right time where the Knicks, three of their five starters, were winning national championships in college like almost 10 years ago. So it's like a tale of two cities here. The Spurs have made the playoffs in what, six, seven years? None of these guys were even in high school. They weren't in college. They were in middle school. I know. This is so crazy how great they have become this quick. I blown my mind how quick the Spurs have come up. And believe it or not, I just realized this today. This was the Knicks versus Spurs. They played for the NBA Cup last fall, you know, last December, which I kind of thought the NBA Cup was kind of a bit of a... That in-season tournament is kind of a bit of a joke. Doesn't really see who the best team is. But look at that. We had the two best teams playing for the title. Knicks won that matchup. They won two of their three matchups this season. So maybe so. Wednesday, it all starts. Dave, very excited. UC San Antonio. Thanks for joining. That is all the news we have for you this evening on Evening News. But keep it right here on NTD. We've got Capitol Report coming up next. And then at eight o'clock, you do not want to miss Tiffany Meyer tonight. Thanks for tuning in. I'm Cary Dunst. Good night.