The R&R Daily Brief: June 11, 2025
Yesterday's News in Five Minutes or Less Because Even We Can't Talk About Everything
Hey friends!
Today we're covering major developments in ongoing Los Angeles riots over immigration enforcement, RFK Jr.'s unprecedented shake-up of federal vaccine policy, and the historic NCAA settlement that will fundamentally change college athletics. From coast-to-coast protests to backroom boardrooms reshaping American institutions, here's what you need to know to stay informed.
FEATURED STORIES
Los Angeles Riots Escalate as Trump Deploys Marines Amid ICE Protests - Fourth day of violent demonstrations leads to military deployment and constitutional crisis
RFK Jr. Fires Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Panel - Health Secretary removes all 17 members in unprecedented move to "restore public trust"
College Athletes to Receive Direct Pay After Historic $2.8B NCAA Settlement - Judge approves landmark deal ending century-old amateurism model
Trump Confirms US-China Trade Deal Following London Negotiations - President announces agreement on tariffs and rare earth minerals
Elon Musk Apologizes for Trump Feud Comments - Tesla CEO says some posts "went too far" after public spat
May Inflation Rises to 2.4% but Beats Expectations, Providing Relief - Consumer prices tick up from previous month
Now let’s get into the news!
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June 11, 202
TOP STORY
LOS ANGELES RIOTS ESCALATE AS TRUMP DEPLOYS MARINES AMID ICE PROTESTS
Los Angeles entered its fourth consecutive day of violent anti-ICE protests, with President Trump deploying over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city over the strong objections of Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass. The unprecedented federal intervention has created a constitutional standoff between state and federal authorities while riots continue to spread to major cities nationwide.
The violence began Friday after federal immigration raids across Los Angeles resulted in 118 arrests, sparking demonstrations that quickly turned violent with protesters hurling concrete chunks at officers and police responding with tear gas and flash-bang rounds. Weekend clashes escalated with reports of pipe bombs, looting of Apple stores and jewelry shops, and Waymo self-driving cars being set ablaze, prompting Mayor Bass to declare a downtown curfew from 8 PM to 6 AM.
Trump defended his military deployment, stating in a social media post: "If I didn't 'SEND IN THE TROOPS' to Los Angeles the last three nights, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now." However, Newsom filed an emergency motion to block the troop deployment, calling it "a serious breach of state sovereignty" and describing it as "purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions."
The protests have spread nationwide to cities including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, and Dallas, with the Texas National Guard being activated ahead of planned demonstrations. In New York, NYPD made multiple arrests during anti-ICE protests at Trump Tower, while San Francisco police arrested 242 people over two days of demonstrations.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell disputed federal claims of a delayed response, while Democratic officials criticized the military response as excessive, with Rep. Nancy Pelosi suggesting some violence may be the work of "anarchists" rather than legitimate protesters.
Further Reading
Right: National Guard Rolls Into Los Angeles After Days Of Anti-ICE Riots - Daily Wire
Center: Los Angeles unrest: The projectiles flying in both directions - The Hill
Left: June 10, 2025 - Los Angeles protest news - CNN
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
TRUMP CONFIRMS US-CHINA TRADE DEAL FOLLOWING LONDON NEGOTIATIONS
President Trump announced Wednesday that the US and China have reached a comprehensive trade agreement following intensive negotiations in London, subject to final approval by both leaders. The deal addresses key sticking points that had stalled implementation of the Geneva trade consensus reached in May.
"Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China. Likewise, we will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!)."
The agreement follows the Geneva consensus that reduced US tariffs from 145% to 30% on most Chinese goods, while China lowered tariffs on US products from 125% to 10%. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the London framework puts "meat on the bones" of the earlier trade truce, specifically addressing China's commitment to ease barriers on rare earth mineral exports.
Implementation had previously stalled after both sides accused each other of violations, with the US claiming China was making "slow moves" on rare earth exports while China raised concerns about semiconductor restrictions and student visa policies. The new framework is designed to resolve these disputes and maintain the trade relationship through August 10, when a more comprehensive long-term deal is expected.
China's Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang confirmed the agreement, noting it remains subject to approval from both presidents. Trump claimed he had a "very good" call with Xi last week despite previously describing the Chinese leader as "very tough, and extremely hard to make a deal with."
Further Reading
Right: U.S. and Chinese trade teams meet in London - Washington Times
Center: US, China reach deal to ease export curbs, keep tariff truce alive - Reuters
Left: China has a valuable card to play as it holds trade talks with the US - CNN
TECHNOLOGY
ELON MUSK APOLOGIZES FOR TRUMP FEUD COMMENTS
Tesla CEO Elon Musk issued a rare public apology Wednesday for comments made during his heated social media feud with President Trump last week, acknowledging that some of his posts "went too far."
"I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far," Musk wrote on X, without specifying which posts he most regretted. The billionaire's mea culpa came after Trump said he wished Musk well and the Tesla founder replied with a heart emoji, signaling a potential thaw in their relationship.
The public spat had erupted when Musk denounced the administration's "Big Beautiful Bill" as an "outrageous, pork-filled" measure and a "disgusting abomination," urging Republicans to "kill" the legislation. The feud escalated dramatically when Musk suggested Trump was withholding Jeffrey Epstein documents because he had something to hide, posting: "Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public."
Trump had responded by saying Musk had gone "crazy" and "lost his mind," threatening to cut off government contracts to the tech mogul's companies. The president also mused about Musk's influence, questioning whether their once-tight relationship was salvageable.
Sources close to Musk indicated his anger has begun to subside following their public reconciliation, with some believing he may want to repair his relationship with the president. The olive branch came after Trump told reporters: "We had a great relationship and I wish him well — very well, actually."
Further Reading
Right: Elon Musk claims President Trump is in Jeffrey Epstein files amid social media feud - Fox News
Left: Trump-Musk feud explodes online, turns personal with Epstein comments and contract threats - NBC News
Left: Epstein files: Allies tried to broker Trump-Musk peace but a personal allegation complicated things - CNN
ECONOMY
MAY INFLATION RISES TO 2.4% BUT BEATS EXPECTATIONS, PROVIDING RELIEF
Consumer prices rose 0.1% in May compared to the previous month and increased 2.4% annually, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday. While the annual rate ticked up from 2.3% in April, both monthly and annual figures came in better than economists' expectations, providing some relief amid ongoing concerns about persistent inflation.
Core prices, which exclude volatile food and gas costs, also rose 0.1% monthly and 2.8% annually, both coming in below economists' expectations of 0.3% monthly and 2.9% annually. The data shows that while inflationary pressures persist, they remain more contained than many analysts had predicted.
Food prices contributed to the monthly increase, rising 0.3% in May and registering 2.9% higher annually. However, egg prices provided some relief, falling 2.7% for the month as the industry continues recovering from last year's avian flu outbreak, though they remain 41.5% higher than a year ago.
"High inflation has created severe financial pressures for most U.S. households, which are forced to pay more for everyday necessities like food and rent," analysts noted, with price hikes particularly challenging for lower-income Americans who spend more of their paychecks on necessities.
The mixed inflation data comes as the Federal Reserve weighs its next policy moves, with persistent price pressures potentially influencing interest rate decisions. Food away from home rose 3.8% annually while grocery prices increased 2.2%, reflecting continued cost pressures across different segments of the food market.
Further Reading
Center: Consumer Price Index Summary - 2025 M05 Results - Bureau of Labor Statistics
POLITICS
RFK JR. FIRES ENTIRE CDC VACCINE PANEL OVER CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERNS
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in an unprecedented move citing concerns over conflicts of interest and lack of transparency. The committee, which has guided U.S. vaccine policy for decades, makes recommendations that influence what doctors prescribe and insurance companies cover.
Writing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Kennedy argued the panel was "plagued with persistent conflicts of interest" and had become a "rubber stamp" for vaccine manufacturers. He stated that "ACIP has never recommended against a vaccine, even those which were later withdrawn for safety reasons" and criticized the committee's enforcement of conflict of interest rules as "weak to non-existent."
The move alarmed medical organizations, with American Medical Association President Dr. Bruce Scott stating Kennedy's decision "undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives." Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who had received assurances that Kennedy would maintain ACIP "without changes," expressed concern, saying "now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion."
The terminated members received formal notices reading: "Per the June 9, 2025 directive from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this email serves as formal notice of your immediate termination as a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)." The committee is still scheduled to meet June 25-27, with new Kennedy appointees expected to run the meeting.
One dismissed member told CNN: "I've never seen anything this damaging to public health happen in my lifetime. I'm shocked. It's pretty brazen. This will fundamentally destabilize vaccination in America."
Further Reading
Right: RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine panel - Fox News
Left: RFK Jr. removes all current members of CDC vaccine advisory committee - CNN
CULTURE
COLLEGE ATHLETES TO RECEIVE DIRECT PAY AFTER HISTORIC $2.8B NCAA SETTLEMENT
A federal judge approved the landmark House v. NCAA settlement Friday, paving the way for colleges to directly pay athletes for the first time and ending the NCAA's century-old tradition of amateurism. Starting July 1, schools can share up to $20.5 million annually with their athletes, with the cap expected to increase each year during the decade-long deal.
The settlement includes two major components: $2.75 billion in back damages for former college athletes who played before 2021 when NIL rules changed, and the new revenue-sharing model going forward. Football and men's basketball players from major conferences could earn six-figure payments, while athletes in other sports might receive smaller amounts based on their sport and school.
"This is a landmark case that's probably going to be the single biggest structural change in the entire history of collegiate sport," said Noah Henderson, director of the sports management program at Loyola University Chicago. The settlement also creates a new enforcement organization called the College Sports Commission, run by the power conferences, to monitor athlete compensation and regulate booster spending.
While athletes will receive direct compensation potentially worth seven figures, they still won't be classified as employees but rather as independent contractors. The settlement establishes a new clearinghouse called "NIL Go" run by Deloitte to review all athlete deals over $600 and determine if they meet fair market value standards.
About half of the NCAA's 365 Division I schools are expected to adopt the new framework, primarily those in major conferences, while smaller schools may opt out and continue with scholarship-only compensation.
Further Reading
Right: Judge OK's $2.8B settlement, paving way for colleges to pay athletes - ESPN
Center: U.S. judge approves settlement allowing NCAA schools to pay athletes - CNBC
Left: Federal judge approves $2.8B settlement, paving way for US colleges to pay athletes millions - CNN
That's all for today's morning update. Stay informed and have a great Wednesday!
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