Morning Briefing — June 9, 2026

Pentagon Sanctions Chinese Companies. The Pentagon has added Alibaba and other Chinese companies to its list of sanctioned entities. This action marks a direct federal response to concerns regarding these companies. The move could impact their operations and relationships with U.S. businesses.

DOJ Scrutiny in California. The Trump DOJ has intensified its scrutiny of California as ballot counting continues in the state. This federal action comes amidst ongoing electoral processes. Separately, the GOP has raised concerns over California's elections but has not echoed Trump's claims.

Surveillance Program Warning. Republican senators have warned that a surveillance program may lapse. This potential lapse follows a backlash related to Trump's intel pick. The warning highlights legislative challenges concerning national security powers.

Vance Refers Minnesota Officials to DOJ. Vance has referred Tim Walz, the Minnesota attorney general, to the DOJ for a criminal investigation. The referral concerns the state's alleged fraud. Vance also referred Gov. Tim Walz to the DOJ for the fraud investigation.