Good Morning, and Happy Saturday! Welcome to The Flag's Five, your nonpartisan breakdown of the week’s five most pressing headlines. Dive into what happened, why it matters, and how perspectives from the left and right shape the conversation.

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1. Trump–Musk Feud Rattles GOP Unity

Here’s what happened: On June 6, Elon Musk blasted President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination,” after which Trump threatened to yank SpaceX contracts; Tesla shares slid 14 percent before aides arranged a private call to avert more damage. (Joseph White, Reuters)

Here’s why it matters: Their bust-up fractures a marquee Republican tech alliance, scrambles House vote-whipping on the bill, and injects fresh volatility into markets already fretting over tariffs and interest-rate jitters. GOP fund-raisers warn mega-donors are skittish, while defense analysts note Trump retains leverage because SpaceX’s Pentagon launch cadence depends on federal approvals. (Melissa Quinn, CBS News)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Washington Examiner argues Musk is “handing Democrats a distraction” and risking space contracts that safeguard national security; columnists urge him to park the ego and hash out differences off-line. They also fault Trump advisers for “zero-sum chest-thumping” that spooks Wall Street and defense hawks, branding the spat “an avoidable own goal for a party already juggling tariff turbulence.” (Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian calls the clash “Alien v Predator for political nerds,” asserting both men have trashed their own brands and given Democrats a popcorn moment; writers say the feud exposes GOP dependence on mercurial billionaires and predict a paper truce that leaves a residue of mistrust in 2026 races. (David Smith, The Guardian)

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2. TSA Kills Secret ‘Quiet Skies’ Watchlist

Here’s what happened: Homeland-Security chief Kristi Noem on June 5 scrapped TSA’s decade-old “Quiet Skies” program after audits showed $200 million spent and zero terror arrests since inception. (Press Office, DHS.gov)

Here’s why it matters: Civil-liberties groups long attacked the list for flagging travelers over innocuous behavior like fidgeting; its demise signals a move toward targeted, intel-driven vetting and could spur wider reviews of post-9/11 watchlists. (Jennifer McDermott, AP News)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: New York Post hails the shutdown as proof the program morphed into “airborne cancel culture,” urging Congress to bar any future resurrection and funnel the savings to border security. The editorial argues weaponized watchlists erode conservative faith in federal agencies and warns bureaucrats will always expand unless reined in. (Editorial Board, NY Post)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The ACLU brands the end “an overdue victory,” calling for audits of related programs and compensation for people tailed on thousands of flights; attorneys say sunset clauses should become standard so emergency tools don’t turn permanent. (Hugh Handeyside, ACLU Blog)

3. Media Left & Right Sound Alarm on Palantir Deal

Here’s what happened: On June 4, AllSides highlighted rare bipartisan concern after leaks showed Palantir will knit IRS, SSA, and HHS data under a new Trump order; lawmakers demanded oversight hearings within days. (AllSides Staff, AllSides)

Here’s why it matters: Critics fear an AI-powered mega-database could evolve into a de-facto national ID, challenge privacy law, and complicate next spring’s FISA renewal. (Andrew Stolz-Faherty, Yahoo Finance)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Washington Examiner concedes Palantir’s fraud-busting value at Medicare but insists Congress embed real-time IG audits and sunset triggers, warning that a “master-key data trove” could later be misused by a progressive administration. (Byron York, Washington Examiner)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: WIRED recounts Palantir ejecting reporters from a D.C. expo and argues secretive algorithms risk entrenching bias; journalists urge a public registry of government AI models and citizen rights to request audit trails. (Caroline Haskins, WIRED)

4. Xi–Trump Call Rekindles Trade Hopes

Here’s what happened: Xi Jinping and President Trump spoke for 90 minutes on June 5, agreeing to resume talks and consider reciprocal visits later in the year. (Liz Lee & Trevor Hunnicutt, Reuters)

Here’s why it matters: Markets cheered hints of a 90-day consumer-tariff pause, yet disputes over rare-earth exports and chip IP linger as both leaders face domestic pressure before 2026 elections. (Karina Mitchell, ABC News)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox Business lauds Trump’s brinkmanship for “forcing Beijing back,” but commentators caution U.S. negotiators against trading tariff relief for vague promises, urging iron-clad enforcement and currency triggers. (Edward Lawrence, Fox Business)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: The Guardian contends Trump needs a quick optics win as GDP cools and warns a skinny deal could reignite tensions before holiday shipping season; progressive economists say tariff flip-flops have already shaved 0.6 percent off global growth. (Phillip Inman, The Guardian)

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5. Trump Expands Travel Ban to 12 Nations

Here’s what happened: On June 4, Trump’s proclamation barred most visas from 12 countries—including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran—and imposed partial curbs on seven others, effective June 9. (White House Office, WhiteHouse.gov)

Here’s why it matters: Critics dub it a reprise of the 2017 “Muslim ban,” previewing courtroom battles while rural hospitals warn of staffing gaps if medical visas stall; State’s waiver workload is set to surge. (Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, NPR)

Here’s what right-leaning sources are saying: Fox News calls the move “vital insurance” amid foiled terror plots and highlights polling that shows two-thirds of Republicans approve; analysts praise carve-outs for investor visas as balancing security with commerce and urge tighter overstay enforcement. (Greg Wehner, Fox News)

Here’s what left-leaning sources are saying: Vox brands the policy “Muslim Ban 2.0,” warning it will fracture families, chill refugee resettlement, and trigger diplomatic backlash; legal scholars predict court challenges under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s nondiscrimination clause. (Nicole Narea, Vox)

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